Chapter 356: The Torrents of Fate at the Imperial Watch Tower

Lead-gray clouds piled high as if thick ink had fallen into a water basin, spreading and churning within.

Drip-dropping rain gathered into delicate strands, resembling countless translucent pearls scattered by the winds and rains across the heavens and earth.

White jade bricks carved with intricate patterns formed uneven grooves where water pooled and gradually spread out.

“I wish for the Grand Inspector to calculate—”

“Who murdered my mother?!”

Kneeling on the ground, head bowed deeply, droplets splashed as the torrential rain burst forth; a titanic surge of chi stirred that shook heaven and earth like the toll of a dusk drum and a dawn bell.

The Third Prince knelt with eyes bloodshot, determination and resolve burning in every word.

His voice echoed, reverberating before the Imperial Watch Tower.

The sound of rain dripping from the black eaves and corners was drowned out by the overwhelming downpour.

In an instant, the atmosphere turned icy and desolate.

At the rear of the kneeling Third Prince stood the venerable Zi Yi Diao Si, shoulders squared and head slightly bowed, with hands clasped calmly in front.

His expression remained largely unchanged.

Li Che and Hong Shifo, standing to the side, showed subtle shifts in their countenances.

It was mainly the Third Prince’s resolute determination——

Urging the Grand Inspector to deduce who killed his mother.

Li Che had heard many legends about the Grand Inspector’s mysterious powers——

Whether speaking of Lü Taibai or Hong Shifo, whenever the subject turned to the head of the Imperial Watch at Divine Capital, reverence and admiration were unavoidable.

Lü Taibai even once speculated that this Grand Inspector——

might have already broken into the Divine Tribulation Realm. Of course, it was mere conjecture, as cultivators who reach that level in the mortal realm typically invoke the heavens’ and earth’s wrath through calamities.

The true scale of the tri-disasters and nine tribulations is astonishing; suppressing or concealing them is near impossible.

If the Grand Inspector had truly endured those calamities, no one could possibly ignore it.

After all, Divine Capital teems with formidable experts, and the Grand Inspector almost never leaves the Tower.

Thus, when the Third Prince pleaded for the Grand Inspector’s calculation——

Li Che’s heart shuddered involuntarily.

The Grand Inspector——

Can he really compute it?!

A ripple of inner emotion surged within him.

At the same time, Li Che glanced at the Third Prince, whose fierce resolve was unmistakable. Though a royal, he dared crawl on his knees and bow in public—even if his supplicant was the Grand Inspector of Divine Capital or, indeed, the entire Great Realm’s most enigmatic and powerful presence.

After all, Lü Litong was the Third Prince, emblematic of royal lineage. His desperate need to uncover his mother’s murderer fueled his bold stance.

As for the Imperial Order, Li Che was mildly astonished. According to the Third Prince, the Imperial Order was a gift bestowed by the Emperor upon every prince. Every royal could wield it to summon the Grand Inspector’s aid.

Since there was just one chance, this Imperial Order was of paramount importance to each prince.

In crucial moments it could even alter fate or save a life!

Hong Shifo, carrying a chessboard, spoke with complexity, “The Imperial Order…”

“I see now—perhaps the Third Prince is putting on a performance. Yet there’s no denying that activating this Imperial Order at such a moment is bound to leave a good impression on the Grand Inspector.”

“The Imperial Order is part of an accord between the Great Jing Emperor and the Grand Inspector. Upon the birth of every prince, the Grand Inspector bestows one. It is perhaps the moment when a prince can impress the Grand Inspector.”

“The Imperial Order allows the Grand Inspector to run a crucial calculation—if that calculation is of utmost importance, it might alter the Inspector’s impression. Winning his favor would virtually seal the future as crown prince.”

Hong Shifo murmured this to Li Che in a low voice.

The roaring, clattering sound of rain filled the air endlessly.

“Mourning one’s mother and avenging her death is the true display of filial piety—perhaps the Third Prince intends to demonstrate his loyalty to the Grand Inspector through this act.”

“Of course——we can’t rule out that he genuinely wishes to avenge Consort Ji by uncovering and slaying the culprit.”

Hong Shifo and Li Che stood close together, whispering in tones meant to be concealed from the Third Prince, using their divine aura to mask their conversation.

Both knew that speaking out of turn about a prince was a dangerous habit; being discreet would avoid needless troubles.

Li Che raised an eyebrow as he looked at the Third Prince kneeling in the frigid rain, a peculiar glimmer in his eyes.

The Third Prince’s plea, along with the gleaming Jade Pendant he held, shimmered brilliantly in the downpour.

Moments later, an ethereal voice drifted out from within the Imperial Watch Tower.

“The Imperial Order grants but one chance. Have you truly decided, Your Highness?”

The Grand Inspector’s voice resounded from within the Tower, devoid of any emotion.

Perhaps due to the Imperial Order, his usually aloof demeanor softened somewhat.

Kneeling, the Third Prince gritted his teeth, “Grand Inspector——I have decided!”

His voice trembled with a mix of uncontrollable heartbreak and sorrow.

“My consort, my mother, bore me—she gave me flesh and blood. How can a son remain unmoved at her death?”

“I intend to hunt down the culprit, to kill him with my own hands, and sacrifice his life in honor of my mother’s spirit in heaven!”

The Third Prince’s voice emerged low and hoarse, filled with grief and resolve.

Such resounding emotion even made the rain tremble.

Nearby, Hong Shifo and Li Che shared glances of mixed admiration and emotion.

Li Che felt touched—a son so dutiful! Whether his display was mere pretense to impress the Grand Inspector or genuine sorrow, those heartfelt words moved him deeply.

The sheer depth of emotion in his words stirred Li Che.

He was nearly compelled to grant the Third Prince’s wish immediately, to reunite him with his late mother.

So that mother and son might be together once more.

“Then come in together.”

A voice, devoid of both joy and sorrow, drifted calmly.

It betrayed no hint of emotion.

Soon after, accompanied by the sound of creaking, the door of the Imperial Watch Tower swung open, as if the relentless rain outside had come to a standstill.

Within, two figures in white robes with billowing sleeves slowly approached.

Their garments flowed like celestial beings exiled from the heavens.

“Third Prince, please.”

The lead figure, with his snowy hair and youthful face, offered a gentle smile as he looked at the Third Prince.

The other, a middle-aged woman with striking beauty and an otherworldly air, accompanied him.

The Third Prince rose, his chi surging as he evaporated the rain from his trousers.

“Lü Litong greets Deputy Inspectors Yue and Fang.”

The Third Prince, Lü Litong, bowed deeply as his sorrowful eyes betrayed his inner anguish.

At the headquarters of the Imperial Watch, there were two Deputy Inspectors. Though their titles paled in comparison to the Grand Inspector’s, they were mighty experts listed among the greats.

One hailed from the illustrious Yue family of Divine Capital; the other from the esteemed Fang family of Jiangnan, renowned for generations of scholarly cultivation.

On the road where the carriage had come, Hong Shifo had already introduced them.

Deputy Inspectors exchanged glances with Li Che and Hong Shifo. The female Deputy Inspector Fang smiled at Li Che, as gentle and encouraging as a spring breeze caressing willow trees.

“Li Bansheng, the matters for the Special Guest Minister’s assessment have been arranged. Please follow.”

Deputy Inspector Fang Shangzhen announced.

This distinctly different tone caused the Third Prince’s eyes to harden slightly.

Deputy Inspector Yue Taofu maintained a simple, amiable smile, reminiscent of familiar faces from the Yue family.

It was only natural, coming from Divine Capital’s Yue clan.

However, Yue Huanglong had never been well-regarded within his family, assigned instead to Qianyuan Daocheng—a fate that filled him with silent resentment.

The group entered the Imperial Watch Tower.

Suddenly, the ornate wooden door closed with a sound that completely severed them from the outside world.

The falling rain was as if completely erased from the interior, barely perceptible.

Inside the Tower, the space felt vast, as if it had expanded a hundredfold from the modest exterior height.

Each floor spread out like a grand plaza.

At the center stood a rotating red sandalwood staircase, its steps intricately carved with myriad divine statues—each a unique embodiment of mystical will.

Among these, Li Che even glimpsed a replica of the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Temple Spirit—not the original from Jin Guang Mansion, but a masterful imitation.

The staircase was lined with statues modeled after temple spirits!

Almost all were rendered by the hand of the Divine Condor Half-Saint, so lifelike and imbued with divine will.

It was as though the Divine Condor Half-Saint had visited every Bizarre Temple, studied the temple spirits, and crafted replicas to adorn the redwood stairs.

The scale of the work was immense!

Within the Tower, the dense divine aura nearly condensed into droplets.

One could almost taste the divine essence rivaling that of the ancient elders in every breath.

Li Che’s eyes brightened slightly. If he could cultivate within these walls——

he would save the need for divine crystals!

The two Deputy Inspectors led the four of them to the ninth floor.

The ninth floor was even more expansive than imagined: enormous vermilion columns supported the structure like an enormous temple magnified many times over.

At the center lay a huge green turtle, sprawled across the floor.

The turtle was so massive that its shell nearly touched the ceiling beams.

All present saw only the great turtle, yet none caught sight of the Grand Inspector himself.

When Yue Taofu and Fang Shangzhen reached the ninth floor, they approached the turtle and formed a respectful bow.

“The Grand Inspector has arrived with his retinue,” Yue Taofu said with a smile.

At that, Li Che was momentarily stunned——

“What?! The Grand Inspector is a turtle?!”

Creaks and snaps sounded as thunder roared into the heavens.

The heavy rain turned even more formidable, interwoven with flashes of lightning that brightened the gloomy world.

Inside Qianyuan Courtyard, Lü Taibai clutched a white chess piece. Having just completed an identity exchange with the Painted Immortal Lü Taibai, he sat, watching the ceaseless, rhythmic rain with eyes alight.

“Incredible skill,” Lü Taibai murmured.

He whispered about the astonishing teleportation, cloning, and even summoning techniques that could beckon the dead back from the netherworld.

Even someone as powerful as him felt a deep caution toward the Underworld.

After all, the Underworld had sided with them from the start; Qianyuan Divine Sect had no grudges with it.

“What origin does the Underworld truly have?”

“Is it really among those awakened deities created within the Bizarre Temple?”

Lü Taibai rested his hands on the arm of a chair, watching as a charcoal stove beside him bubbled with boiling water, where emerald tea leaves danced up and down.

In the courtyard, raucous laughter resounded. Perhaps spurred by their earlier victory at the Peach Banquet, the young prodigies of Qianyuan Divine Sect and the disciples of Daocheng were training with fiery determination.

Chubby XiXi, hands on her hips, raised her hand to select three lucky prodigies for sparring.

Lü Taibai couldn’t help but laugh. It was undeniable that six-year-old XiXi had far surpassed the strength he had at that age.

“This little girl now is strong enough to go test her mettle——”

“According to the rules set by the Ancestral Patriarch, every young sect master of Qianyuan Divine Sect must venture into the mortal world to be tempered by earthly trials—”

Lü Taibai took a sip of his tea, chewing on the bitter leaves as he squinted his eyes.

Leaving behind the comfort of the Divine Sect’s protection to sharpen one’s spirit through the trials of the martial world, to experience life and understand its truths——

to truly grasp the essence of heaven and earth!

Only then could one forge the Mind Sword——

and earn the Ancestral Patriarch’s recognition and the legacy of the Way, ultimately inheriting the mantle of sect leader.

Back in his day, Lü Taibai roamed the world with his sword, traversing all the Eleven Routes of the Great Realm on foot.

He visited the Bashu Sword Pavilion in Jianan Dao, climbed perilous peaks to seek answers at the Sword Pavilion, and traveled through Jiangnan Dao where erudite scholars set strict boundaries that stifled the realm.

He even traversed Xiling Road to witness the earthly paradise of the Buddha Kingdom—a human purgatory where he cleaved numerous Buddhist icons with his sword.

He passed through Tongyou Road battling bloodily with disciples of the True Martial Divine Sect against savage border tribes.

The purpose of these trials was to broaden one’s horizons, to understand the world and the true meaning of cultivation.

To comprehend the essence of Heaven and Earth!

Yet Lü Taibai soon shook his head.

“This little girl is only six—what use is such hardship? Which family sends a six-year-old to endure trials?”

“Whether she should venture out must be discussed with Li Che.”

Lü Taibai downed another sip of tea.

XiXi’s rapid growth exceeded his expectations, leaving him quite troubled about her future training plans.

According to the rules of Qianyuan Divine Sect——

a young sect master who reaches the Grandmaster Realm must be sent into the mortal world to learn from it——

But for six-year-old Grandmaster XiXi——

she is so extraordinarily gifted.

Lü Taibai was at a loss as to how to arrange her future.

He dared not make hasty decisions…

The more extraordinary one’s innate talent, the more carefully their future must be planned.

Lü Taibai was determined not to see another Wei Yuan among his disciples.

“Enough for now. We’ll decide after the Peach Banquet Victory has concluded——”

“Besides, this Peach Banquet will serve as a rare trial for XiXi.”

“This little girl’s journey has been smooth so far——perhaps it’s time she tasted some hardship, to know the bitter flavor of defeat.”

Lotus Pavilion.

The rain continued unceasingly.

Clad in plain clothes that fluttered about, half-white hair of National Teacher Xie Yunshen whipped in the cold wind as he looked at Lu Chi, his eyes filled with encouragement.

However, Lu Chi simply shook his head——

“Child, are you unwilling to speak, or simply too afraid?”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen asked.

Lu Chi pursed his lips as he met Xie Yunshen’s gaze.

In truth, Lu Chi had already surmised who had killed Consort Ji.

His modus operandi was all too familiar——

Ogre!

Li Che!

But… will he really avenge his mother?

Lu Chi slowly bowed his head, feelings swirling as he admitted a vague sense of confusion. He had once longed for his mother’s love, yet she had never spared him a glance.

Consort Ji had lavished all her love on the Third Prince, leaving him feeling abandoned.

And ever since accepting the inheritance of the Third Prince Temple Spirit through the gruesome ritual of bone picking and flesh carving at the Eight-Armed Yulian Furious Third Prince Bizarre Temple,

he had completely severed the emotional bonds to his parents.

Yet now, upon hearing of Consort Ji’s death, his heart trembled.

After all——

he was still a son.

He felt utterly lost, unsure of what choice to make.

Thus, he sought the counsel of the National Teacher, hoping that he might receive an answer.

Xie Yunshen, noticing the turmoil in Lu Chi’s eyes, guided him into the Lotus Pavilion. Servants and maidens lit a brazier, filling the air with warm currents throughout the chamber.

Lu Chi shook off the chill that clung to him, sitting cross-legged on a cushion.

The patter of rain fell into a three-legged bronze cauldron nurturing three lotus plants—no matter how long it poured, the cauldron could never be filled.

“Child, you are lost. As a prince, you should hold your Imperial Order and seek out the Grand Inspector to unburden your heart. Why do you not do so?”

National Teacher Xie Yunshen smiled.

He did not press Lu Chi further about Consort Ji’s murderer,

but instead directly asked about the purpose of his visit.

Lu Chi certainly had his own reasons.

Xie Yunshen spoke plainly.

If it was about the murderer of Consort Ji, Lu Chi remained silent—he would not be pressed.

But if he did not reveal why he had come, the National Teacher would immediately send him away.

The silver and black strands of Xie Yunshen’s hair brushed against the cold spring breeze in the corridor.

He fixed his gaze on Lu Chi.

Lu Chi suddenly looked up.

“National Teacher…”

“I intend to compete!”

At this, Xie Yunshen burst into laughter, his face lined with wrinkles and his eyes alight with satisfaction.

“Why do you wish to compete?”

Xie Yunshen inquired further.

Lu Chi clenched his fist, closed his eyes, then relaxed and clenched them again——

Finally, exhaling slowly, he said,

“I want to prove…”

“That I am worthy.”

Xie Yunshen beamed warmly and then roared with laughter, as though he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

He laughed until tears streamed down his face.

It was the first time he had heard someone justify vying for the crown prince position with such an odd reason.

Xie Yunshen could tell that Lu Chi’s notion of worthiness was not about the crown, nor the throne in the central palace of the First City.

It was simply about being worthy of a person.

That was all.

Divine Capital Second City.

The eight-sided, double-eaved Imperial Watch Tower,

a nine-story treasure tower crowned with upturned eaves and nine-headed flying dragons, busts alive with divine brilliance, guarded the sacred jewels within.

Li Che looked on, bewildered at the enormous, massive green turtle before him.

The turtle sprawled on the ground, its shell threatening to break the ceiling with even the slightest movement.

Yet the two Deputy Inspectors referred to this creature as the Grand Inspector——

Li Che was dumbfounded.

His heart pounded with anticipation for this mysterious figure, who had been extolled by Lü Taibai, Hong Shifo, Yue Huanglong and others, the revered figure in scripted registers, the Grand Inspector of the Imperial Watch, whom he had long awaited.

In the end——

reality left Li Che numb.

Deputy Inspector Fang Shangzhen noticed his stupefied expression and smiled gently, “Li Keqing,

do not misunderstand—this mysterious dark turtle demon king is nothing more than the Grand Inspector’s pet.”

As Fang Shangzhen’s words faded, the huge dark turtle’s eyes, like bronze bells, turned toward Li Che.

“You’re here?”

The Xuan Turtle spoke in a deep, resonant voice that shook the entire floor.

Li Che, in his dark scholar’s robe, hesitated for a moment unsure whether to address the talking turtle.

But he finally bowed with cupped fists, “I have come.”

“The Imperial Watch has a total of twelve Special Guest Ministers. If you pass the assessment, you will become the thirteenth Special Guest Minister, with the privilege to roam Divine Capital freely outside the First City, and secure a spot to cultivate within this tower.”

The Xuan Turtle said in a resonant tone.

“That is, if you can pass the Special Guest Minister’s test.”

After a brief statement, its gaze shifted to the robed Third Prince Lü Litong.

The Third Prince immediately felt a sense of oppression. His eyes burned red with undying sorrow as he bowed and said, “Please, Grand Inspector, help me.”

The Xuan Turtle’s massive eyes fixed on the Third Prince.

Then it opened its mouth as if expelling endless gusts, and its enormous form began to shrink—

reducing almost to the size of a common dining table. On its shell, a figure coalesced from swirling white smoke.

All eyes strained to see the form of the Grand Inspector, but the figure remained shrouded in mystery.

“Since the Third Prince has made his decision, I hereby reclaim your Imperial Order,” the Grand Inspector stated coolly.

With a single gesture, the Imperial Order in the Third Prince’s hand detached and floated toward the Grand Inspector.

As it ascended, it burst into a shower of sparkling lights.

Weaving countless streams of glowing colors, it transformed into a Heavenly Jade of Divination.

“The answer you seek lies within this Heavenly Jade of Divination—once opened, it will sacrifice itself, severing the bond between you and me,” the Grand Inspector intoned calmly.

The Jade floated gently into the Third Prince’s hand.

The Imperial Order had become this Jade. Once activated, the Jade would self-destruct, signifying the final rupture between the Third Prince and the Grand Inspector.

The Third Prince pursed his lips and, without hesitation, accepted the Heavenly Jade into his Qian Kun Jade.

“Thank you, Grand Inspector, for enabling me,” he said.

“A heart full of filial piety is commendable,” the Grand Inspector replied with a slight nod.

The Third Prince’s face was etched with sorrow. “My mother is gone; I can no longer repay my filial duty—I can only exhaust every effort to track down the murderer and personally execute him, so that my mother may finally rest in peace.”

The Grand Inspector nodded silently.

Then he said, “Now, you must undergo the Special Guest Minister’s test with Li Bansheng. Your Highness, you may leave for now.”

The Third Prince glanced at Li Che.

He had wanted to stay and witness whether Li Che would pass the assessment,

but he refrained, lest his vengeful emotions over Consort Ji conflicted with the proceedings and incurred the Grand Inspector’s displeasure.

So the Third Prince respectfully bowed to the Grand Inspector and departed.

Disappearing between floors in his golden brocade and purple attire reminiscent of imperial elegance,

the entire ninth floor gradually fell silent.

As Li Che’s gaze lingered on the departing Third Prince, his heart stirred.

On the Cosmic Chessboard, a figure formed by gathered chi hovered above, with a Feilei Chess Piece suspended in his palm.

After a moment of indistinctness, the chess piece slowly dissipated into white mist.

It had, without a sound, landed on the Third Prince’s body.

Li Che gripped his fingers tight and turned his gaze toward the Xuan Turtle carrying the Grand Inspector, whose eyes now stared at him intently.

Li Che’s heart skipped a beat. Had he been discovered?

The Feilei Chess Piece was formed from an almost imperceptible Pure Heart energy, silently blending with the divine aura of the world—like a tasteless, colorless poison…

Surely it would go unnoticed. If discovered, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit would alert them.

Yet, if unnoticed, what was the Xuan Turtle doing as it fixated on him?

At that moment, as Li Che’s mind raced, the two Deputy Inspectors, Yue Taofu and Fang Shangzhen, reached the edge of the ninth floor.

They left space for Li Che, while Hong Shifo had already withdrawn, standing at the periphery with his chessboard, full of anticipation.

It was clear they were all waiting to see if Li Che could become a Special Guest Minister.

Should he succeed, his position within the Great Realm of the Imperial Watch would rank just below the Grand Inspector and the two Deputies…

perhaps even surpassing Hong Shifo, the Inspector of the minor realms of Daocheng.

The vastness of the ninth floor meant only Li Che, the Xuan Turtle, and the faint, smoke-like form of the Grand Inspector remained.

“Li Keqing…are you ready?”

The Grand Inspector softly inquired.

Almost in that instant, Li Che felt a deep, penetrating gaze upon him, as though his very soul were being seen through.

Suddenly, the Xuan Turtle’s eyes snapped open. Its bronze-bell eyes shone with brilliant light as they fixed on Li Che!

And the specter of the Grand Inspector on the Turtle’s back transformed dramatically,

as if countless dreadful forces were compressed into a single point, bearing down on Li Che with the weight of mountains and rivers—making it hard even to breathe!

Every pore on his body tightened.

Within the Mud Pellet, clusters of Golden Pills trembled, and the True Primate Spirit roared.

Inside his chest, myriad Dao Fruits signaled simultaneously!

A mighty, terrifying force—a formidable expert!

Compared to him, Lü Taibai, Huang Mei, and others paled into insignificance!

An overwhelming pressure surged forth, making Li Che’s jet-black hair whip wildly in the storm.

That repulsive force threatened to expel him from the ninth floor altogether.

Li Che’s eyes hardened. He understood: the Grand Inspector was testing his strength.

The Special Guest Minister must possess not only skill but also formidable cultivation.

Li Che raised his hand to his brow.

A roar erupted—a furious bellow that summoned the form of a Luminous True Primate Spirit, its deafening cry echoing through the floor.

The technique Fa Tian Xiang Di materialized with titanic force, stamping down so hard that the entire ninth floor trembled.

At the edge, Deputy Inspector Yue Taofu smiled serenely, “This is the Grand Inspector testing Li Keqing’s cultivation—”

“This, my friends, is the first trial of the Special Guest Minister assessment——

“To have the Grand Inspector personally step in to judge, even the previous twelve Special Guest Ministers never had such an opportunity. I’m quite curious: what qualification does this Li Keqing possess?”

Yue Taofu, with his snowy hair, chuckled.

Fang Shangzhen cast him a glance, then looked around with a hint of resignation.

“Han Shu, Han Shu—not that your sister won’t help you, but——”

Fang Shangzhen sighed, explaining that her brother Fang Han Shu had sent her a letter requesting that she extend a limited helping hand regarding Li Che’s assessment.

But now——

with the Grand Inspector personally in attendance, there was nothing she could do.

All that remained was to watch as Li Che faced his fate.

Li Che unleashed Fa Tian Xiang Di, his divine aura and chi surging so powerfully that the entire ninth floor was buffeted by gales of wind.

The Xuan Turtle carrying the Grand Inspector seemed to smile as it looked at Li Che.

“Li Keqing, listen to the requirements for your Special Guest Minister test——”

Within the Fa Tian Xiang Di, Li Che’s jet-black hair crackled like black thunder.

He raised his head, eyes burning fiercely, and bowed with cupped fists.

“Li Che, are you ready?”

The Grand Inspector grinned as the mist enshrouding his form became indistinct.

Then a soft voice echoed throughout the ninth floor:

“I sit atop the Xuan Turtle.”

“Consider me as a temple spirit—sculpt me.”

At these words, Li Che felt a violent tremor within his heart.

At the ninth-floor edge, the three onlookers exchanged glances as the Grand Inspector’s test instructions caused their expressions to shift.

“This is terrible…”

“Isn’t this trial too difficult?!”

“I thought the Grand Inspector would go easy by personally overseeing the exam, but it seems he has cranked the difficulty to the max!”

At the center of the ninth floor, Li Che raised his hand as the Xuan Turtle opened its mouth.

With a soft ‘pfft’, a piece of Spirit Wood was ejected at high speed toward Li Che.

Li Che swiftly caught the Spirit Wood with his hand.

Snapping his fingers, his Divine Weapon Engraving Knife set appeared around him, clanging with fierce energy.

His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the Grand Inspector on the Turtle’s back——

But then——

the Xuan Turtle belched, and with the Grand Inspector atop it, slowly took a step forward.

Then——

both the Xuan Turtle and the Grand Inspector vanished from sight!

Li Che’s pupils contracted sharply.

He whirled around, his jet-black hair lashing like lightning in search of any sign of the Turtle or its rider.

He soon found the Xuan Turtle moving slowly again, then—like a sudden burst of speed—it disappeared once more.

And the Grand Inspector riding the Xuan Turtle was shrouded in smoke, his features utterly indiscernible.

It was impossible to discern him or the divine will and image sculpted in his likeness!

“He’s really fast…”

Li Che exhaled deeply.

Fingers together, he tore open the Qiankun Space and retrieved a carved Two-Hearted Great Sage Divine Eagle.

The Divine Eagle flashed with arcs of lightning, emitting a chorus of crackling sounds.

It was the very Divine Eagle Li Che had once used, channeling lightning during his trial by tribulation.

Although it had been somewhat depleted in the earlier banquet skirmish, it was still sufficient——

Li Che intended only to use it as a diversion, lending his thunderous techniques a reputable origin!

That way, when questioned, he could provide a reasonable explanation!

With a resounding crack!

The Divine Eagle smashed into the ground.

The ground trembled slightly.

Viewing the majestic Xuan Turtle that had just unleashed an eruption of primal might, Li Che felt the thunderous energy of his Dao Fruit Thunder Magnetic Conduit surge wildly within his chest.

Turtle, come on! I’m watching you!

Channeling his divine prowess, he unleashed his supreme technique: Yu Lei, the Heavenly Thunder Barrage!

Within the roaring Fa Tian Xiang Di, Li Che’s eyes flashed with dark-gold thunder.

The Two-Hearted Great Sage Divine Eagle exploded with brilliant light!

Countless dark-gold bolts of lightning spread out like a massive net, permeating the void!

Everywhere!

Across the void!