Chapter 347: The Fiery Gamble of Divine Power

Six Great Divine Sects…

All or nothing!

At the observation platform of Xi Wangmu’s Temple.

In an instant, chaos erupted. One after another, immortal divine eagles lit up, and spectators descended in spirit. Perhaps spurred by others’ messages about the battle, people flooded into the Divine Temple to watch the fight.

Originally, Li Nuǎnxi’s appearance was already attracting attention. After all, a high-stakes gamble between the Six Great Divine Sects and Qianyuan Divine Sect was far from ordinary. The storm had enveloped the entire Divine Capital, and across the nine cities—except for Upper Third City—nearly every one of the other six had set up casinos for the wager.

This was a gamble spanning seven Divine Sects. How could only seven be involved?

Casinos are incredibly effective cash machines for major powers, and the century gamble between the Qianyuan Divine Sect and the Six Great Divine Sects was an unparalleled opportunity. As soon as the betting tables opened, wagers poured in within seconds.

Yet even the top casinos backing the great deities likely hadn’t foreseen that Li Nuǎnxi’s third preliminary battle would unexpectedly pit her against Xiao Lingyin Temple. Xiao Lingyin Temple… That should have been the final round.

Just like Li Chong’s seven straight wins, the final victory was practically handed over by a monk from Xiao Lingyin Temple. But once Xiao Lingyin Temple entered the stage, everyone realized that this grand gamble was nearing its climax. Since Xiao Lingyin Temple had gone first, they clearly intended to risk it all.

Meanwhile, Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect—three sects known for throwing in the towel—were hardly expected to deliver any surprises. Their apathetic performance during the preliminaries had cost many Divine Capital gamblers dearly.

Because of the all-out gamble by the Six Great Divine Sects, the spectacle inside the Divine Temple quickly grew, drawing more and more spectators to the viewing platform.

Li Che also descended in spirit. His gaze fixed on the White Jade Arena laid out in the Divine Temple. A trace of cold determination slowly flickered in his eyes as he watched the little monk, who was hoisting a golden pagoda, opposite XiXi on the stage.

The little monk looked to be about fifteen, yet his body was incredibly strong with smooth, well-defined muscles, exuding explosive power. Clearly, this was a warrior monk steeped in martial training.

In Xiao Lingyin Temple, warrior monks are common—after all, when martial arts blend with divine power, the limits are raised so high that they can rival even the divine cultivators. This young warrior monk, it’s evident, is already a grandmaster!

Fifteen years of age, hitting exactly the upper limit for the Young Dragon Preliminary Tournament.

With just a glance, Li Che realized that this young monk was approaching the ultimate level of the Divine Guts grandmaster stage. He had gathered a hundred and eight Divine Guts that XiXi hadn’t achieved even with nearly ten years more cultivation—there was simply a gap.

But what truly caught Li Che’s attention was that pagoda.

In an instant, Li Che grasped the idea behind Huang Mei Great Master’s plan… “Xiao Lingyin Temple… Do you know that XiXi harbors the power of Yulian within her?”

Li Che’s eyes grew even colder.

That golden pagoda was clearly a miniature version of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Golden Heavenly King Tower! Even from afar, Li Che could sense the divine nature of the Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit within it! “So this must be Huang Mei’s true foundation?”

“Huang Mei must have locked onto XiXi from the moment he entered the Divine Capital!” Lü Taibai thought instantly, his gaze cold and grim.

The Yulian Fire within XiXi had always been a sore point for both Lü Taibai and Li Che. For Li Che, it was like a time bomb implanted inside his daughter.

Li Che was seething with anger, brimming with lethal intent.

But there was nothing he could do—it was the ticking time bomb left over after the Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit scheme by the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit.

Li Che could only try every method to bolster XiXi’s physical strength to withstand the full force of the Yulian Fire’s explosion. “This pagoda contains the divine nature of the Golden Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit… What is that bald fool Huang Mei planning to do?!”

Lü Taibai’s tone was chilling as he spoke.

A murderous intent began to surge steadily in Li Che’s eyes.

He wanted to kill!

“Huang Mei must know something. Perhaps he’s aware that XiXi inherited the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit, which is why she harbors the Yulian Fire. He’s using the power of the Golden Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit to restrict her and ensure victory in this battle.”

“Or maybe he isn’t even sure if XiXi has the Yulian Fire, and is simply testing her!” Li Che’s tone was as cold as an ancient, unyielding glacier, his words like a relentless cascade of freezing currents.

“Yulian… Could it be that the Buddhist sect’s scheme involving the Third Prince Temple Spirit was all about Yulian?”

“If so, does that mean Xiao Lingyin Temple has its sights set on my daughter?!” Li Che’s thoughts churned as he pondered.

Amid his contemplation, murderous intent bubbled up uncontrollably. Li Che’s mind trembled as he slowly closed his eyes.

“No rush, no rush,” he muttered. “Take your time… In the end, everyone dies.” aa8888 …

Inside the Divine Temple, on the White Jade Arena.

XiXi stood with her hands on her hips, her little belly protruding as she glared at the little monk hoisting that repulsive golden pagoda. “Amitabha, I am Li Nuǎnxi of the Qianyuan Divine Sect. I am Monk Wu Yuan at your service.”

The warrior monk, with his long, sturdy frame and muscles exuding strength, held his palms out. In one hand he supported the golden pagoda. “I am Li Nuǎnxi of the Qianyuan Divine Sect!”

XiXi briefly introduced herself before clenching her tiny fist.

“There’s nothing unpredictable in this battle… Li Nuǎnxi, let’s settle it quickly.”

The young monk, with a self-assured smile, exuded confidence as if he had the upper hand. After all, this was what Huang Mei Great Master had said.

Huang Mei had declared that if one could even lift the Golden Heavenly King Tower, matching up against Li Nuǎnxi would be effortless—he could even crush her, ensuring the wager’s victory. Wu Yuan intended to help the Great Master win the bet; otherwise, the Great Master would have to self-execute his Three-Life Body.

This was something Wu Yuan was desperate to avoid. In Xiao Lingyin Temple, Huang Mei was like the spiritual pillar.

But XiXi wasn’t one to be pushed around. With her fists gripping the soft flesh on her waist, she fired back at the young monk. Wu Yuan was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled, “Calm down, madam.”

XiXi’s fists creaked as she struck, her blood and energy erupting as she broke through to the grandmaster level without reservation. Bam—!!!

With one step forward, her small feet pounded down, and sparks flew in rapid succession. Amid the clanging sounds, twin bursts of golden light propelled her figure like lightning toward Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan’s toes barely touched the ground before fragments cracked underfoot. Using a sudden thrust, he created a massive wave between them. But XiXi leaned forward, her feet stepping on the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel. Two swift strides closed the distance between her and Wu Yuan!

With no time to evade, Wu Yuan jerked his head back. His eyes flashed with golden light as Buddhist radiance erupted from him, transforming his entire body into a brilliant golden glow. His free hand suddenly swelled, muscles bulging, golden sinews twisting!

His fingers clenched inward; as his knuckles bent, a sound like beans being crushed echoed crisply.

Golden and crimson omnipresent, his Divine Guts burst forth like lightning, tearing through the air as his fist collided with XiXi’s incoming blow. In an instant, before the gazes of countless divinely empowered spectators, the two clashed like colliding meteors!

Boom!

Enormous surges of blood energy exploded uncontrollably from both of them!

Though XiXi was small in stature, she radiated immense power. Her body, honed by countless divine weapons, was as formidable as if it were a weapon! Meanwhile, Wu Yuan’s body, enveloped in Buddhist radiance, was as solid as diamond!

At the peak of Divine Guts, a single clash sent shockwaves of blood energy crashing together, splintering the ground like a spider web of cracks in an instant!

XiXi trembled, stepping back in the midair on her Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel. With the wheel at her feet, the entire sky seemed like flat ground, and she could move at will! Wu Yuan, cloaked in crystalline luster, appeared as an indomitable Angry Gaze Vajra!

XiXi made no move to trigger any hidden mechanism. She intended to rely solely on her freshly attained grandmaster power to exchange blows with Wu Yuan.

As for the difference in strength… XiXi didn’t care. If her father could slay enemies across levels, how could his cherished daughter fail? Wu Yuan’s eyes tracked XiXi, who was dashing atop her Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel.

Even his pupils moved with her.

No matter how fast XiXi moved, it was as if he captured her every move. In truth, however, Wu Yuan’s heart trembled in shock!

“Li Nuǎnxi, you’re a grandmaster now!”

“A six-year-old grandmaster! What a prodigy!”

“Even a Buddha’s child… at six, this is about as far as they go!” Wu Yuan drew a deep breath as fervor surged in his eyes.

“No wonder… the Great Master wanted me to wield that golden pagoda and have you, Li Nuǎnxi, become Xiao Lingyin Temple’s protector!”

Suddenly, as XiXi sped along her Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, her momentum halted abruptly. Her entire body tensed, as if countless firecrackers were exploding, thunderously echoing like rolling waves. Her blood roared as she clenched her fist!

Dragon Elephant Roar—Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

This was the fist method Li Che had taught XiXi. Now, with full force, she unleashed it. Her blood mingled into a thick fog that intertwined into a spectral dragon and giant elephant, roaring together. “I’ll beat you to death!”

XiXi roared loudly!

Her whole body trembled uncontrollably with excitement; her eyes burned with a fire as if they were aflame! Boom!

Just like a dragon and elephant stampeding down!

A deafening thunderclap shattered the still ground!

Young XiXi, newly broken through to grandmaster, displayed an overpowering aura that left many on the platform exclaiming in amazement!

At that moment, many spectators noticed that XiXi had broken through to grandmaster status. A six-year-old grandmaster… the news sent chills down many spines! The impact was as overwhelming as when Li Che used Fa Tian Xiang Di to crush the monk Wukong.

After all, who has ever heard of someone being a grandmaster at six?!

Yet it was a pity—her innate talent was extraordinary, but she was still too young…

At the Young Dragon Preliminary Tournament, though she shone noticeably, she could never compare to those prodigious young dragons from other factions who reached the cusp at fifteen.

Talent-wise, XiXi was no less than those young dragons—but her age was her only drawback! Bam—!!!

Wu Yuan looked up, his monk robe billowing as he clutched the golden pagoda. With a cry, his five fingers clenched into fists while countless rays of Buddha Light erupted from him, resembling a massive bell!

The Buddha Bell Shield! And then—!!!

Like a dragon and elephant stomping down, the Buddha Bell resounded with relentless force!

Gushing forth with wild energy, the ground of the White Jade Arena in the Divine Temple seemed to sink, as swirling dust was swept away by the explosive, interwoven airflow!

Shards of broken white jade tiles were hurled far away!

XiXi’s eyes blazed hot, as if real flames whirled within them. She was utterly exhilarated!

A radiant, almost maddening smile spread across her face. The ecstatic, boiling sensation in her blood had her brimming with uncontained excitement and wild abandon—punch after punch!

Another blow!

XiXi simply could not stop her relentless barrage of punches!

The warrior monk Wu Yuan, encased in the Buddha Bell Shield, wore a solemn expression. Although XiXi wielded only one Divine Guts, her strength was overwhelming!

It was the terrifying might of a body honed by sheer innate power—a raw, unyielding physical force!

Layer upon layer of ripples radiated from where the Dragon Elephant Stomp and the Buddha Bell Shield clashed. In the Divine Temple, a tidal surge of air and energy roared, swelling with thunderous might!

In a flash, XiXi unleashed nearly a hundred punches in rapid succession!

Her entire body radiated heat, sweat poured, and her face turned a fiery red! Meanwhile, fractures crept across Wu Yuan’s Buddha Bell Shield, splintering under the strain of golden Buddha Light!

The White Jade Arena had long since caved in, its surfaces marred by grotesque, spreading cracks that resembled the gnarled claws of a demonic specter emerging from hell!

XiXi’s Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel spun at breakneck speed under her feet, flinging countless sparks as she prepared to surge upward, then dive down! Suddenly,

within the Buddha Bell Shield,

Wu Yuan’s eyes flickered as he abruptly raised the golden pagoda in his hand.

A dazzling burst of Buddha Light exploded from the pagoda.

It seemed to come alive, like a writhing serpent, as the Buddha Light snaked along Wu Yuan’s arm, instantly wrapping around him. A surge of Temple Spirit pressure spread rapidly!

Boom—!

Wu Yuan glared furiously and stamped his foot heavily!

It was as if he had transformed into a deity clad in golden armor, crowned with a fan-shaped golden helmet!

Divine power erupted uncontrollably, tangling with the Buddha Light!

Waves of energy swelled rapidly, crashing like tidal forces. The White Jade Arena was torn apart like a blank scroll, shredded to pieces!

Thud—!!!

Wu Yuan sprang upward, his hand dragging behind him. With furious eyes, he glared at XiXi, who was still riding the Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel.

His eyes glimmered with gold, as if possessed by Temple Spirit!

“Wretch!”

“Get down on your knees immediately!”

Boom—!!

His scream was like spring thunder, reverberating powerfully throughout the Divine Temple.

High in midair, XiXi, perched on her Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, suddenly felt her balance slip.

It turned out that the flames on both Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheels had dimmed in an instant, as if their power had been completely suppressed! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

Steam billowed from the wheels as numerous tendrils of Buddha Light burst forth, coiling around them. The golden luster receded, and the aura diminished!

This scene immediately drew exclamations from the spectators.

As supporters of the Qianyuan Divine Sect in the Divine Capital looked on in shock, Lü Taibai’s hand clenched into a fist, his face turning grim!

Meanwhile, Li Che’s eyes blazed with cold determination like surging tides!

That bald fool… No! I should say, this pagoda… Who is it commanding to kneel?!

My daughter…

Is it really acceptable for you to order her to kneel?!

Li Che closed his eyes, his mind stirred. In that moment, a Feilei Chess Piece burst forth, radiating an overwhelming Unsullied Heart Divine Nature.

That insolent fool dared to involve the Temple Spirit’s divine nature…

So Li Che wasn’t about to abide by their rules either!

And indeed, the intentions of Huang Mei from Xiao Lingyin Temple were exactly as Li Che had suspected.

Huang Mei was targeting XiXi, planning to use the power of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower to trigger the Yulian power within her—in the Cosmic Chessboard.

Li Che’s Heaven and Earth Soul floated serenely as he sat, his Ink Robe fluttering in the wind.

Fingers raised, white, flawless Unsullied Heart Chess Pieces suspended densely around him, like stars in a night sky!

But…

Just as Li Che was about to place his move on the chessboard, his mind stirred subtly.

The sky gradually darkened; the black clouds clung to the night, obscuring the stars.

A drop in temperature, like the last snowfall of late winter, signaled the impending howl of cold winds.

At Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

Sitting in an opulent Buddha Chariot, Huang Mei Great Master’s face broke into a faint smile. Li Nuǎnxi had come from Jingguang Mansion, having obtained the inheritance of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince from the Bizarre Temple,

and the best way to counter the Third Prince Temple Spirit was the power of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower. No sooner had he arrived in the Divine Capital than he visited the Heavenly King Tower to infuse the pagoda with Temple Spirit’s divine nature.

The Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower originally belonged to the Buddhist sect’s Temple Spirit divine weapon. As the divine embryo of the Buddhist sect, it easily absorbed the Temple Spirit’s power. That was why he dared to propose the wager to Lü Taibai.

And even though Li Che wielded his invincible Fa Tian Xiang Di and Divine Nucleus Technique to crush the heroes of the Six Great Divine Sects, he remained unmoved, because Huang Mei knew…

From the very beginning, he had stood in an unassailable position. That Li Nuǎnxi…

Was doomed to fail—no chance at all!

The innate counter of Temple Spirit powers… How can a little girl possibly win?

He didn’t even enter the Divine Temple to watch the battle. It wasn’t necessary… He already knew the outcome.

He only needed to wait for Wu Yuan to return and report the result.

XiXi’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise!

Her wheel’s crushing force appeared to be suppressed! And that Buddha Light…

No!

It was as if that pagoda was pressing down on her wheel!

At that moment, the divine power she had long despised burst forth completely! XiXi furrowed her brows.

Her blood and energy roared as she retracted the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel from her feet. In that instant, a pink Namo Celestial Craft Gatling materialized in her hand, and the Yulian divine pattern on her brow began to smolder fiercely.

Without hesitation, XiXi pulled the trigger.

Countless streams of golden light shot out in a dense barrage.

Though XiXi initially intended to rely solely on her newly attained grandmaster power to gain experience through battle, her opponent was ruthless—so XiXi wasn’t about to hold back either. However—

XiXi’s heart skipped a beat!

She saw Wu Yuan, as if transformed into a general, hurl the golden pagoda. As it spun, a powerful suction erupted, absorbing all the raven-missile projectiles.

Wu Yuan then took a single step as waves of divine energy surged like tidal forces. In a blink, he had appeared right in front of XiXi.

Clutching the golden pagoda with five fingers, it suddenly hovered above XiXi’s head. A magnificent cascade of Buddha Light spilled forth from the pagoda, completely enveloping her. Then,

Wu Yuan’s eyes narrowed. Because…

In the split second that the Buddha Light shrouded XiXi, her eyes turned utterly pitch black. One, two, three…

Black flames intertwined into the shape of a lotus—tiny at first, like clusters of dandelions, coalescing into a gigantic, blazing lotus that burst around XiXi.

“What is this?!”

An intensity so fierce it seemed to ignite the Buddha Light!

Wu Yuan’s pupils shrank as he felt the Temple Spirit power within him completely deplete. Even the pagoda’s radiance seemed burned away by the flames.

Then…

Wu Yuan discovered that on XiXi’s brow, where a black lotus was once engraved, a pitch-black palm had suddenly materialized. It swelled monstrously, utterly crushing Wu Yuan, holding him tight.

Wu Yuan’s heart pounded furiously. He recalled Huang Mei Great Master’s words: as long as one could support the pagoda, victory was assured. And yet, he kept lifting the golden Buddha pagoda.

But that inky palm gripped him relentlessly. In a crushing moment, a surge of blazing light exploded! Wu Yuan let out a chilling, agonized cry…

His entire body was incinerated by flames until nothing remained!

And that golden pagoda melted into a pool of molten gold, utterly rendered useless.

The burning of Wu Yuan’s black palm slowly receded back into XiXi’s brow… leaving only an empty Divine Temple and a slowly self-repairing White Jade Arena.

Whoooosh—

Gales howled, and torrents of heat surged.

With a sharp smack, XiXi’s bare feet landed squarely on the ruined White Jade Arena as she hoisted her massive pink Namo Celestial Craft Gatling—nearly larger than her upper body—and glared in dumb disbelief.

“Where is everyone?!”

The entire viewing platform fell into a deathly silence.

The patriarchs of the great Divine Sects, the authority figures in Divine Capital, and the cultivators of all major forces… were all muted in shock.

What had just happened…

What on earth had occurred?!

How could Wu Yuan, who had so clearly held the upper hand, be defeated in an instant?

That black flame… transformed into a giant black palm that grabbed Wu Yuan and then incinerated him?! Even the golden pagoda was consumed, melting into searing molten gold!

“That… is Yulian, isn’t it?”

While many failed to recognize it, some did. The patriarchs of the great Divine Sects all knew it.

But none could have foreseen that Yulian would manifest in such a manner. Even Lü Taibai was at a loss for words.

Earlier, when Wu Yuan had brandished the golden pagoda, utilizing the Temple Spirit power of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower to suppress the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit in XiXi, it had seemed that her divine weapon’s power would be silenced…

Lü Taibai was already seething with fury, cursing that bald fool for his treachery. Yet in a blink, Wu Yuan was burned to death!

“Yes, it is Yulian… but… why is there a hand in Yulian?!” “Who is manipulating Yulian?!”

Lü Taibai’s eyes swept across the battlefield, as if searching for Wu Yuan’s XiXi, and fell silent for a long moment. Li Che also reopened his eyes, his expression growing strangely pensive.

It seemed as though he had deduced something… that Big XiXi had helped Little XiXi?

Surprisingly, that thought sent a strange shiver down Li Che’s spine.

But at least, Li Che exhaled in relief—at the very least, XiXi’s Yulian power had not been fully unleashed, and her life was not in immediate danger. Li Che still had time to devise methods to temper her body and fortify her flesh!

“Xiao Lingyin Temple… Huang Mei…”

“And that Four Sovereigns of Divine Capital [the Falling Demon Heavenly King Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Bizarre Temple]!” Li Che was not one to forget a grudge.

Today’s vendetta… Li Che would remember it! XiXi was only six years old!

And he still dared to play dirty!

Li Che’s murderous intent surged anew. He thought to himself…

I’m going to wear the Ogre Mask!

…

…

At Lotus Pavilion.

Master Guo Yunshen, the National Teacher, lay prostrate on a bamboo ladder beside a bronze furnace, watching the unfolding spectacle on the water-drenched screens. He appeared frozen in place.

After a long while, he slowly lifted his head, his brows knitted in deep thought.

He descended from the ladder, his steps faltering so much that he misstepped, tipping over the ladder and falling to the ground. The armed guards outside, hearing the commotion, rushed in only to be struck dumb by the scene before them.

“Master!”

The guards appeared immediately at his side.

But Master Guo merely raised a hand to silence them. “It’s fine.”

Slowly, Master Guo Yunshen got to his feet, brushing the dust off his simple robe. “Yulian… Yulian…”

“This girl… can she really control Yulian?!” “Unbelievable!”

The guard looked at him with concern, only to notice a single strand of hair on Master Guo’s forehead turning abruptly white. Yet Master Guo Yunshen was unfazed.

“Prepare the chariots!”

“Head for First City and report to His Majesty!” 998838

At Divine Capital’s Second City.

In the Ji Family Mansion of the Ancient Clan, within the VIP Hall.

Ji Mo Li slowly opened her eyes.

The golden Immortal Peach Branch in her hand shimmered brilliantly, its light dazzling in the night. “Yulian…”

“This little girl not only inherited the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit, but can also ignite the Yulian Fire. Yet it may be a curse rather than a blessing—Yulian Fire, born from the Bizarre Temple, is terror incarnate. Even buffered by Temple Spirit power, her fragile body may not endure it.”

“If only my royal blood could temper her flesh… then perhaps controlling it would be possible,” Ji Mo Li mused, her eyes glowing faintly.

After a long pause, she exhaled deeply.

Her formidable figure, clad in obsidian armor, clanged sharply as she moved.

Her gaze, as sharp as a knife’s edge, fixed on the timid woman before her. “Consort Ji.”

“Come here. I have something to say,” she ordered.

In the Buddha Chariot at Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

Master Huang Mei Great Teacher sat regally, his long brows drifting in the breeze.

Suddenly,

He abruptly opened his eyes; two piercing beams of light shot forth from them.

He looked in a particular direction—it was where Wu Yuan had taken his seat at the preliminary banquet. A lone Immortal Peach Branch floated there, its divine aura beginning to wane. Then, Wu Yuan’s divine nature was recalled.

Thud.

At the moment of his return, Wu Yuan spat out a massive gush of blood as he opened his mouth.

Huang Mei’s eyes narrowed, “Defeated?”

Impossible!

With the backing of the Seven-Treasure Shеli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower’s Temple Spirit, even though Wu Yuan’s strength hadn’t surged dramatically within the rules of the preliminary wager…

the counter of Temple Spirit power should have completely suppressed Li Nuǎnxi’s Third Prince Temple Spirit.

Wu Yuan coughed up blood in great gulps.

He coughed once, yet he showed no signs of stopping.

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

Back in Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

The patriarchs of the major Divine Sects returned with complex expressions. Strong figures like Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, and Gu Cheng eyed Huang Mei warily. There was no chance left.

That little girl…

Was simply terrifying!

Even those targeted by Wu Yuan’s counter for the Third Prince’s Temple Spirit were instantly obliterated.

Were they really expecting that the disciples from Haoran Academy, Bashu Sword Pavilion, and Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect would defeat this formidable little demon king?!

The patriarchs silently exchanged glances.

They all reached the same decision.

Time to give up!

“Aaaahhhh—”

Suddenly, a piercing, agonized scream sent shivers through the patriarchs as they looked over.

They saw Wu Yuan returning from Xi Wangmu’s Temple, collapsing in excruciating pain, coughing up blood uncontrollably.

“Great Master… save me!”

Wu Yuan writhed on the ground in agony, his body flushed red. His grandmaster body simply couldn’t withstand it; blister after blister appeared.

Scorching heat radiated from him, and a dense white mist began to rise amid the chilly early spring!

Master Huang Mei Great Teacher, seated in the Buddha Chariot, had his face turn ashen—like the bark of a withered old tree, yet filled with cold determination.

He abruptly turned his head toward the direction of Qianyuan Courtyard!

There, above Qianyuan Courtyard, a brilliant silver sword light burst forth. Amid the leaden clouds shrouding the night sky, it shone like a comet defying gravity!

Lü Taibai!

Has he come to mete out punishment?!

But at that moment, Master Huang Mei Great Teacher barely had time to think about Lü Taibai.

With hands pressed together and bathed in Buddha Light, he stepped forward. Interwoven streams of Buddha Light blossomed like radiant golden lotuses. Step by step, a path of blooming lotuses formed!

He approached Wu Yuan.

There, on the ground, Wu Yuan lay curled in pain, coughing up blood everywhere, as if he sensed Master Huang Mei’s arrival.

Wu Yuan abruptly raised his head, his body curled as his hands trembled in prayer…

Amid bouts of coughing and hoarse pleas, he cried, “Great Master, save your disciple! I don’t want to die…” “Oh Buddha… save me…”

Wu Yuan’s will was beginning to crumble. “Child… just relax.”

Master Huang Mei’s brows furrowed.

A finger, enveloped in Buddha Light, hovered and then touched Wu Yuan’s brow.

But in the next moment,

Master Huang Mei’s eyes shrank in horror.

He saw a wisp of black flame oozing from beneath the skin of Wu Yuan’s brow, snaking along his finger and burning into it. Huang Mei jerked his hand away as his finger’s flesh turned to ash, revealing stark golden bone.

His gaze fell upon Wu Yuan’s face.

From Wu Yuan’s mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, black flames seeped out silently, consuming him.

Wu Yuan writhed in agonizing pain, barely able to cry out as he reached for help. Yet his internal organs had already been scorched away.

His entire body continued its plea for salvation until gradually…

He was reduced to a lump of dark ash by the black flames. Xi Wangmu… can’t save him. Even the Buddha cannot save him.