Chapter 348: Night of Fiery Gambits

The night was deep and dark as a cold wind howled.

The last snowfall of late winter drifted down in a gentle cascade, its delicate flakes tumbling from leaden, ink-dark clouds soaked in night.

They blanketed the sky over the nine cities of Divine Capital.

They fell on ancient city bricks, walls, and tiles, steadily building up layers.

Above the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

Snowflakes, still mid-descent, melted into droplets from an unexpected burst of heat; these droplets fell, hissed, and instantly evaporated into vapor that twisted in the night.

Inside the courtyard,

a deathly silence prevailed.

Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, and other Divine Sect patriarchs could not hide their unease as they looked upon the warrior monk Wu Yuan, reduced to ashes—chilling them to the core.

“Yulian Fire—”

Gu Changqing’s eyes shone with a deep intensity; as an alchemical master, he possessed an almost obsessive yearning for flames.

Yulian Fire — an unparalleled, extraordinary blaze from the Bizarre Temple, a rare treasure in the world with scarcely any way to obtain it.

He had long coveted it, though deep down he was cautious.

For the stronger the flame, the more it cut like a double-edged sword, even turning against its master.

And now, its power was even more terrifying than he had ever imagined.

Recall the Paotao Victory Banquet held in the Western Queen Mother Bizarre Temple, where the divine essence of Xi Wangmu imbued the immortal peach branch, teleporting its chosen to the Divine Temple for a battle of magical arts.

Even if defeated, injuries would be swiftly healed by Xi Wangmu’s power—unless one resorted to the desperate act of igniting three or more Qimen Divine Seeds.

Without that, Xi Wangmu’s divine power could rescue them.

But nothing is absolute; just as igniting three or more Qimen Divine Seeds is a desperate move, even the Temple Spirit’s divine power has its limits.

And this time, Wu Yuan’s fate was sealed in just that manner.

Even under Xi Wangmu’s suppression, the Yulian Fire could not be contained; it burst from the Divine Temple, searing through Wu Yuan’s vital organs until the flames consumed him entirely.

How terrifying — was this truly the formidable power of Yulian Fire?

Gu Changqing’s eyes flashed with fervent desire, yet underlying that was deep apprehension.

If he could harness Yulian Fire, his alchemy might reach new heights—even though aspiring to the legendary alchemist’s realm was nearly impossible, with such power he’d at least have a chance.

“Li Nuǎnxi—”

Gu Changqing slowly closed his eyes.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but envy Lü Taibai; how could a swordsman take on such a prized apprentice?

If Li Nuǎnxi, with mastery over Yulian Fire, joined him in refining alchemy, lending her power for his research—it would be perfect!

Indeed!

Every Divine Sect patriarch was well aware of the secret of Yulian Fire; one by one their expressions shifted, complex emotions flashing in their eyes.

Huang Mei Great Master’s long eyebrows danced wildly in the howling wind.

He said nothing, merely staring at his fingers, where his burning flesh had melted away to reveal dazzling golden bones—the very index finger that had touched Wu Yuan’s brow in a futile attempt to suppress the Yulian Fire with his divine power.

He had not foreseen that igniting himself would cost him his finger.

The flesh had vanished, leaving at the junction of his finger and palm a thin, coal-black ring of Yulian Fire slowly burning.

It threatened to spread, to engulf his entire body and consume every bit of flesh.

Huang Mei fixed his gaze on that burning ring, channeling vast divine energy to contain it.

Only then did the fire’s expansion get halted.

This left Huang Mei’s expression even more pained—a look of heavy resignation etched on a weathered face like ancient bark.

“Amitabha—”

He sat cross-legged and began reciting Buddhist sutras to guide Wu Yuan’s soul to rebirth.

Throughout the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, monks of all ages sat on the ground, chanting prayers for Wu Yuan’s passage.

The sound of Buddhist chants filled the entire courtyard.

Yet for other Divine Sect cultivators, a chill of foreboding loomed.

He’s dead————

Killed by Li Nuǎnxi of Qianyuan Divine Sect!

Truly, the first casualty of this preliminary banquet!

Although the Paotao Victory Banquet was not without risk, its safety was usually assured—thanks to Xi Wangmu’s divine presence.

The main banquet’s rules were different, where inevitably someone perished due to the unpredictable nature of the Bizarre Temple.

But in the preliminary banquet, death was rare.

Yet this time—Wu Yuan still died.

He was incinerated by the chasing black flames!

The patriarchs of every Divine Sect trembled like dragons.

“Li Nuǎnxi of Qianyuan Divine Sect — so ruthless!”

“Terrifying! She actually chased the teleportation array to kill Wu Yuan!”

“Unlike his father Li Che’s style—Li Che Half-Saint crushed foes without mercy. The mighty Li Che Half-Saint never caused collateral deaths during this heroic preliminary banquet—”

“Yet Li Nuǎnxi has led to a death!”

Murmurs and fearful voices echoed throughout Xiao Lingyin Temple.

Boom!!!

A powerful sword aura swept across the Heavenly Dome like a comet, shredding the snowflakes rising from the leaden clouds into countless fragments.

Clad in white with billowing sleeves, Lü Taibai soared into the Fourth City’s sky; his silver hair streaming and his grand sleeves trailing magnificently behind.

Before he even arrived, his sword light raced ahead!

His entire presence erupted in a burst of sword aura above the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, a fierce brilliance rising behind him like the mid-day sun.

The terrifying sword aura raged and intertwined, like thousands of dragons roaring in unison.

“Huang Mei! Step forward!”

“How dare you scheme against my prized disciple?!”

“Do you want to die?!”

Lü Taibai’s cold voice rang out, void of emotion and brimming solely with murderous intent.

Everyone looked up to see Lü Taibai striding forward, enveloped in tens of thousands of surging sword auras, like countless dragons writhing around him.

From within his billowing sleeves emerged a radiant silver long sword, its hum as brilliant as a sliver of the moon forged into a blade.

That was Lü Taibai’s Taibai Sword!

Lü Taibai glared coldly at everyone in the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard.

“Using the Temple Spirit’s power from the Seven-Treasure Shěli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower in such a shameless way is unforgivable!”

His murderous gaze surged like a torrent of sword aura, completely enveloping the skies above the courtyard.

Boom, boom, boom!

Throughout Divine Capital’s nine cities, powerful cultivators observed from afar using their Heavenly Soul or Divine Perception.

After all, this uproar had been stirred up by Lü Taibai—could it be that this Taibai Death Star planned to unleash further carnage in Divine Capital?

Lü Taibai’s eyes shone with a clear sword aura, interwoven with countless strands. His furrowed brows summoned an almost soul-silencing cold wind—a terrifying fusion within his blade’s aura!

Tao Calamity Sword!

Lü Taibai seethed with anger as he unleashed the Tao Calamity Sword, ready to fight to the death.

And he wasn’t alone.

Beside him stood three figures—Li Che and Zhao Fangzhou, two elders of Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Clearly, they had come to seek justice.

Li Che’s face was grim; having seen his daughter manipulated, there was no room for any gentle expression.

Zhao Fangzhou too glowered, his Martial Saint aura surging like a mountain assault!

Inside the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

the atmosphere was oppressively heavy.

Lü Taibai had returned, but this time no one dared speak—Huang Mei had nearly betrayed them by provoking the Temple Spirit’s divine power in an effort to restrain XiXi.

Instead, it had backfired, unleashing Yulian Fire that incinerated Wu Yuan.

It was a case of trying to steal chicken only to lose the rice.

And when you steal, you must face the wrath of the robbed.

Watching Huang Mei lead the Xiao Lingyin Temple monks in chanting for Wu Yuan’s passage, everyone sighed softly.

Dressed in elaborate robes, Ning Caishen levitated slightly, his feet off the ground.

Just as he ascended, Lü Taibai’s Tao Calamity Sword locked onto him, its dreadful killing intent surging from all sides.

Ning Caishen’s expression changed instantly as he shouted, “In the Chou Long Preliminary Banquet, I, of the Seven-Treasure Divine Sect, concede!”

Lü Taibai, upon hearing this, saw his terrifying sword aura ease just slightly.

So he had conceded. Fine then.

Ning Caishen’s surrender felt like a small opening.

The Three Defeated Divine Sects unhesitatingly declared their stance.

Bai Buyi of Haoran Academy, Gu Cheng of Bashu Sword Pavilion, and Zhao Chunqiu of Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect all rose, clasping their fists in salute.

They all conceded in the Chou Long Preliminary Banquet, relinquishing any contest with XiXi.

Wu Yuan’s fate—

Tragic beyond words!

He was the first banquet casualty, his demise sending a fearful message.

Li Nuǎnxi had long been dubbed the Demon King by her peers!

Victory was hard enough, and the Four Great Divine Sects wouldn’t allow their prodigious disciples to die needlessly.

Lü Taibai raised an eyebrow.

But he hadn’t expected all the patriarchs of the Four Great Divine Sects to speak in unison.

That spared him much needless chatter.

Perhaps—

an epic gamble was about to be resolved sooner than expected.

A glint of steely determination flashed in Lü Taibai’s eyes.

“If that’s the case… are you ready to accept your loss?”

Lü Taibai asked coolly.

The Taibai Sword hovering around him resounded with clashing steel, its divine force descending like a mountain, shaking the soul.

“We concede, we accept our loss,” replied Ning Caishen bluntly.

Ning Caishen’s admission was curt and without fuss.

“It’s just a Four-Yu Divine Weapon, isn’t it?”

“Seven-Treasure Divine Sect—big spender, they can afford it!”

Though it stung, it was better than having to send their gifted disciples to their deaths.

Ning Caishen’s five fingers summoned a Qian Kun Jade that floated gracefully; on it, multicolored glimmers and spatial imprints formed a unique array. With crackling sounds, the torn space revealed a Four-Yu Middle Divine Weapon Spear—

Its shaft was interlaced with crimson patterns.

It wasn’t the Mythic Weapon, but a Four-Yu Middle Divine Weapon personally forged by Gu Yao of Qianyuan Divine Sect!

Although it lacked the Temple Spirit’s divine essence of the Mythic Weapon, its quality was nearly identical.

“This spear, the Nine-Dragon Scale Flame Spear, is the result of our divine weapon master’s painstaking efforts—crafted from the molten scales of nine Dragon Kings, capable of channeling divine essence in harmony with the Divine Secret Technique. It is priceless!”

Ning Caishen’s face contorted with pain, yet he still tossed the spear to Lü Taibai.

Lü Taibai caught it without ceremony and then flung it to Li Che.

“Elder Li, you contributed immensely to this wager. This Four-Yu Middle Divine Weapon Spear is yours, since you don’t have a suitable divine weapon of your own.”

Li Che’s gaze fixed on Ning Caishen’s Qian Kun Jade.

Only when the spear was thrown did his lingering gaze break.

This Qian Kun Jade… was extraordinary. It required a precise arrangement of divine imprints to unlock.

Fascinating indeed.

Li Che began to ponder how he would decipher its cipher if he took it.

Grasping the spear, he immediately felt the divine essence surging within the Mud Pellet at his brow, a peculiar gleam flashing in his eyes.

This divine spear was undoubtedly a pinnacle of worldly craftsmanship.

“Thank you, Patriarch.”

Li Che smiled, and after a brief demonstration, he stored the divine weapon within his Qiankun Space.

Lü Taibai smiled faintly while Ning Caishen sighed and descended.

Lü Taibai showed no courtesy, his sharp gaze sweeping over as he raised his Tao Calamity Sword, which spat out razor-sharp energy.

It was as if to say, ‘Ning Caishen, your deference sets a precedent. Everyone else—

since you all have conceded, this monumental gamble is settled. Let’s move on.’

Gu Changqing exhaled and, from a multicolored Qian Kun Jade similar to Ning Caishen’s, retrieved an obsidian bottle.

With a flick of his fingers, the bottle shot forth.

“This is the Four-Yu Heavenly Pill—the Wanbeast Return Pill, the Four-Yu Heavenly Pill.”

Gu Changqing’s face darkened; he hadn’t desired this outcome.

Lü Taibai smiled coolly as he collected the pill.

Bai Buyi of Haoran Academy, Gu Cheng of Bashu Sword Pavilion, and Zhao Chunqiu of Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect also produced their wagered items.

Each wore a pained expression mixed with resentment toward Huang Mei.

After all, it was Huang Mei who had organized the resistance against Qianyuan Divine Sect.

None had expected a minor sniping to escalate so disastrously, exacting such a heavy toll.

Even if Lü Taibai tried to remain stern, a smile betrayed him as he gathered the spoils.

After collecting these treasures, he began to distribute them.

Lü Taibai’s gaze swept over Gu Changqing and the others before resting on the weakened, pallid Huang Mei, still seated among Xiao Lingyin Temple’s monks chanting for Wu Yuan.

He ignored the surrender of Ning Caishen and the others, knowing it was futile to fuss over it.

After all, he could not control their wills—they were not his subordinates.

“Huang Mei.”

Lü Taibai stood in the void, sword in hand.

Li Che’s gaze also fell, a surge of murderous intent flickering deep within.

If his intent hadn’t been this fierce before…

but now it was unmistakable—

To Li Che, Xiao Lingyin Temple was no different from Corpse God Sect, as it now threatened XiXi’s safety.

Murderous intent could not be held back.

Then, suddenly,

Li Che’s eyes moved slightly to observe Huang Mei’s clasped hands, where he saw golden finger bones glowing brilliantly.

There, in the scarred flesh at the base of his finger, a silent, black ring of Yulian Fire burned.

A determined gleam flashed in Li Che’s eyes.

He murmured, “He—he’s injured.”

Like a fierce wolf lured by the scent of blood, Li Che’s entire being surged with excitement as he sensed his enemy’s blood.

Inside the Xiao Lingyin Courtyard,

facing Lü Taibai’s cold interrogation, Huang Mei finally slowly opened his eyes.

“Amitabha—”

“I, a humble monk, accept my loss,” Huang Mei said calmly.

His expression remained placid.

His wager was far higher than that of the other patriarchs—after all, it was his very own Three-Life Body at stake.

The importance of his Three-Life Body was self-evident.

In Daocheng, one had already been severed, leaving him grievously weakened.

But with this failed wager, Huang Mei had no choice but to sever another.

Lü Taibai pressed in aggressively.

Blood and flesh tore at his brow as the Tao Calamity Sword spewed out razor-sharp energy.

Huang Mei’s murky gaze met the sword, a flash of apprehension in his eyes.

“Amitabha, Master Taibai, rest assured—I’m not one to admit defeat. Once a wager is made, there’s no turning back—”

“However, before I honor the wager, I must say one thing.”

“Yulian Fire is a double-edged sword. This miraculous cosmic flame from the Bizarre Temple is dangerously unpredictable—if Li Nuǎnxi fails to control it and it runs rampant, it could transform into a Yulian Demoness, unleashing devastation upon countless lives.”

Huang Mei clasped his hands in prayer as a radiant Buddha light emanated from behind him.

Then, his eyes suddenly snapped open.

The multicolored Qian Kun Jade soared upward, interlaced with Buddha imprints until a crack appeared.

A massive Divine Eagle—appearing as if entirely cast in gold—burst into the sky. A phantom figure emerged atop it, the surrounding air seemingly collapsing.

The Divine Eagle opened its eyes, its delicate lashes coming to life, exuding compassion.

“Master Taibai, this is my future self from my Three-Life Body. I accept the wager—I will sever my future self today!”

As his words faded, Huang Mei thrust his clasped hands upward toward the heavens.

A beam of Buddha light shot skyward like a razor-sharp cleaver, slicing through the darkness.

For a moment, the entire night was bathed in brilliant light!

Across Divine Capital’s nine cities, it was as if a colossal Buddha, forged of pure gold, appeared and wailed, its cry shattering the silence.

The cleaver of light tore through the air with devastating force!

It sliced through, shattering all in its path!

Huang Mei’s future Divine Eagle was cut into nine pieces, and even the slightest tremor upon the Buddha cleaver shattered it completely, denying Lü Taibai any chance to restore it.

Lü Taibai’s face darkened instantly as he gathered the fragments of the shattered future Divine Eagle.

What a despicable, treacherous brute!

Huang Mei had likely suspected that Lü Taibai intended to seize his future self to study Divine Eagle techniques from the Divine Condor Half-Saint.

If another Divine Eagle Half-Saint emerged from such research, Qianyuan Divine Sect’s flagging Divine Eagle operations might be revived!

And with a revived Qianyuan Divine Sect, Xiao Lingyin Temple’s own Divine Eagle business would surely suffer.

“My wager was that if I lost, I’d sever one of my Three-Life Bodies—not hand it over to you.”

“Master Taibai, do not mind me.”

In severing his future self, the vast divine essence seemed to depart from him.

Huang Mei’s face turned pale, his deep eyes dimming as if he had aged a lifetime.

Lü Taibai’s expression remained cold, and Li Che’s face was just as grim, showing no admiration for Huang Mei’s self-severance.

In truth, if Huang Mei had not blamed XiXi just before severing his future self, both Li Che and Lü Taibai would have admired his decisiveness.

But instead, he shifted the blame onto XiXi, insinuating that her inability to control the Yulian Fire would eventually turn her into a fire-drenched monster—a threat that could wreak havoc far and wide.

Li Che was incensed—this old brute dared to speak of his daughter!

With Li Che’s steadfast nature ensuring XiXi’s path remained true, how could she go astray!

Lü Taibai understood this well; Huang Mei was clearly warning that if XiXi failed to control the Yulian Fire, disaster would follow.

It wasn’t meant for all to hear, but aimed squarely at someone in Divine Capital’s First City.

If that person took notice, large-scale trouble could ensue.

Lü Taibai cursed Huang Mei under his breath, deeming him despicable.

Yet, though his anger surged, he could not strike out—Huang Mei had fulfilled his wager by severing his future self. Lü Taibai, gripping the Taibai Sword with five fingers, unleashed a dazzling, soaring burst of sword light accompanied by a fierce sword chant.

Lü Taibai coolly declared, “XiXi was personally taught by our Sect Master as the Qianyuan Junior Sect. Our master knows the situation well.”

“You need not concern yourself.”

“It’s only a spark of Yulian Fire. I can hold it down.”

Lü Taibai said calmly.

“This wager is but a warning. If you dare to bully my Qianyuan disciples again without reason—

“then my sword will no longer negotiate with you!”

Boom!!!

Lü Taibai raised the Taibai Sword from the Heavenly Dome.

Its brilliant light roared like a dragon, clashing and thundering.

A streak of sword light suddenly slashed through Xiao Lingyin Courtyard—the ground cracked, dust flew, and stones shattered!

The courtyard seemed to split in two.

The terrifying might of the Tao Calamity Sword was unleashed, leaving everyone with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Lü Taibai departed, accompanied by Li Che and Zhao Fangzhou.

Inside Xiao Lingyin Courtyard, many strong figures wore grim expressions.

Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, Zhao Chunqiu and others descended gracefully, their eyes fixed on a weakened, pallid Huang Mei still seated amid Xiao Lingyin Temple’s monks in prayer.

“Lü Taibai—” they murmured, “his mastery of the Tao Calamity Sword nearly reaches the level to invoke the Annihilation of Gods!”

“Truly, with his natural talent—if Qianyuan Divine Sect’s Ancestral Patriarch hadn’t perished, there might be two Divine Cataclysms in him!”

“And with Li Nuǎnxi controlling Yulian Fire, along with Li Che who reached the Divine Fetus stage in just six years—

“Qianyuan Divine Sect might even become the next Qitian Temple!”

Huang Mei coughed slightly, his pallid face deepening as his words weighed on the patriarchs’ hearts.

The night wind gradually returned to a cold stillness.

After what felt like an eternity,

a lingering voice resonated throughout the courtyard.

“We must not let Lü Taibai finally attain the Annihilation of Gods.”

For the children of Qianyuan Divine Sect and Daocheng,

tonight was destined to be sleepless.

Everyone cheered and celebrated as they were teleported back by XiXi after their meal of paotao.

They erupted in joyous celebration.

“What a pity, Li Nuǎnxi hasn’t had enough yet!”

XiXi clenched her fists at her waist, tilting her head slightly upward with a lingering smirk of satisfaction.

Though she wasn’t sure how she ultimately bested the pressure-cooker Wu Yuan, victory was victory—an unchangeable fact!

Not even Father could interfere!

Lü Taibai and Li Che returned triumphant from the wager, igniting Qianyuan Courtyard with fervor.

Even Nie Yang, usually stoic, couldn’t help but smile.

The clamor eventually subsided.

Li Che returned to his room.

He raised his hand to his brow, and the Cosmic Chessboard sprang to life, expanding and interweaving.

Sitting in his chair, Li Che’s eyes glimmered mysteriously.

The maturation of his Dao Fruits was evident before him.

[Dao Fruits: Dragon Elephant Vajra (LV6 11%), Unsullied Heart (LV6 5%)]

Both Dao Fruits at LV6 showed little advancement in maturity.

Even though Li Che achieved a streak of seven wins, his Dao Fruits barely advanced—roughly 1%, a nod to his combat experience.

He closed his eyes.

Inside his room, chaotic drafts whipped the curtains while candlelight flickered.

After a while, Li Che opened his eyes, murderous intent burning in his gaze—uncontainable.

“Huang Mei!”

Li Che’s calm eyes now boiled with lethal intent.

That Huang Mei—

who nearly triggered the Yulian Fire in XiXi’s body, which filled Li Che with urgency.

Originally, the Yulian Fire within XiXi was like a ticking bomb. But now, with Huang Mei holding an ignition device,

there was no chance for Li Che to remain calm.

Even though the main igniter was the Seven-Treasure Shěli Ruyi Heavenly King Tower of Divine Capital—

the Bizarre Temple and its cultivators were not the same.

“Huang Mei has severed his future self—and, with his past self also gone, only his present self remains. And now, his present self is at its weakest.”

Li Che’s eyes grew somber.

“Not only that, Huang Mei is injured!”

“Time waits for no one—”

Suddenly, Li Che’s body erupted like bursting beans, his vital energy roaring as it surged forcefully.

In the next moment,

with two fingers pinched together, he tore through the air and retrieved a paotao from his Qiankun Space—the very paotao he had bundled from the preliminary banquet.

An 800-year-old Dragon Blood Paotao!

It glowed a brilliant red, scorching with intense heat.

Eating the Black Fengling Paotao brought not only a cleansing at the soul level but nearly pushed his Golden Pill to the Divine Fetus stage.

Without hesitation, Li Che devoured the Dragon Blood Paotao.

The moment the paotao entered his body, his blood began to roar, and energy surged forth in his Qi Sea.

Above him, an extraordinary Qi Sea Gold Pool manifested.

Spanning ten zhang, the pool slowly expanded under the paotao’s influence.

It grew to fifteen zhang, the golden pool churning like an enraged dragon’s roar!

“Not bad—a Dragon Blood Paotao of 800 years can solidify my Qi Sea Martial Saint cultivation.”

“Excellent.”

“A paotao of over a millennium might be even more effective.”

In his dim room, Li Che’s eyes suddenly shone brilliantly.

He stood, his ink-black robe billowing.

Carefully, Li Che removed his robe embroidered with golden lotuses—a birthday gift lovingly sewn by his wife, Zhang Ya.

He couldn’t bear to wear it into battle; with his fighting style, that silk robe would tear in an instant.

“Kill Huang Mei—”

“This is the perfect chance.”

He would not let this opportunity slip by.

Once Huang Mei’s Yulian Fire subsided,

it would be nearly impossible to get another chance like this.

“But to be safe—I should call for reinforcements.”

Li Che changed into a tight black shirt, donned a bamboo hat to mask his face, and retrieved a Divine Monkey Mask from his Qiankun Space with a single finger.

In his chest, his Dao Fruit, the Dragon Elephant Vajra, trembled.

As the Sleeping Dragon Elephant activated, Li Che’s aura seemed to vanish into the night, merging completely with darkness.

Lü Taibai sat cross-legged.

The blood and flesh on his brow gradually mended, while countless sword auras stitched his wounds like delicate threads, as if sealing away the Annihilation of Gods Sword.

After about thirty breaths,

Lü Taibai finally completed his self-healing.

The terrifying oscillations of the Tao Calamity Sword finally subsided.

“Tao Calamity Sword — still too forced,” he mused.

“But its display was enough to intimidate those scoundrels and divert the fire from XiXi onto me—

“if anyone dares, come at me.”

Lü Taibai stretched out his arms, his grand sleeves billowing as he exhaled a burst of sharp sword aura.

The dancing candlelight flickered.

Abruptly, Lü Taibai glanced toward a corner of the room.

There, a figure wearing a Divine Monkey Mask emerged silently from the darkness.

Sure enough, something was amiss—

Earlier, Lü Taibai had been absorbed in healing and sealing the Tao Calamity Sword, barely noticing.

Now, with heightened senses, he detected an almost completely masked aura from the visitor.

Had it not been for his acute sword aura, he might have missed even the faintest hint.

After all, he was at the pinnacle of cultivation!

Mastering such subtle concealment techniques was nearly unparalleled.

The impish smile beneath the Divine Monkey Mask made Lü Taibai smirk.

Of course, he knew exactly who lay beneath the mask.

He was simply surprised that the visitor would come to his room so late at night.

“Li… Underworld Divine Monkey?”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Lü Taibai furrowed his brow. Since Li Che had appeared in the guise of a Divine Monkey, that signified the Underworld—

so Lü Taibai retracted his words without naming Li Che outright.

“Patriarch—”

“You’re early…”

Li Che lifted his hand to adjust the Divine Monkey Mask on his face, his eyes alight with a wild, unrestrained intensity.

“The Underworld invites you to join…”

“to kill Huang Mei!”