Chapter 392: Thunderous Clash at Jade Plaza

A terrifying roar of explosion drowned out even the booming spring thunder that split the sky.

Clad in resplendent armor, Ji Mo Li advanced with a dazzling dark luster; his Umbrella Spear clenched tightly, radiating an essence of pure, unadulterated power.

And then, it burst forth!

The very air seemed to cry out under unbearable strain.

It was as if the Milky Way had been severed in two, pouring down in torrents, with overwhelming, inverted blood energy stirring up wild winds and furious torrents—like a hurricane determined to shatter everything in its path!

In a single calculated step, Ji Mo Li joined the fray with lightning speed.

He slammed down his Umbrella Spear, unleashing an explosion of brilliant radiance.

Lü Taibai’s silvery hair flew as he wielded his Taibai Sword; with a fierce sweep, a cascade of sword light rained down, aimed at the soaring Ji Mo Li.

The resounding sword light, infused with the power of the Tao Calamity Sword, clashed violently with Ji Mo Li’s thrust. The two forces annihilated each other, but not before suppressing the domineering aura of Ji Mo Li.

Onlookers witnessed the mighty presence of the Four Divine Guardians—the Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise, the White Tiger, and the Vermillion Bird—as well as the awe-inspiring Ji Mo Li clutching his Umbrella Spear.

An immense pressure crashed down upon him like a tidal wave.

Lü Taibai’s silvery hair streamed as his sleeves bulged with sword qi. A cold laugh escaped him: “What a splendid Peach Banquet!”

“Is this meant to trick us into slaughtering our own Divine Sect Leader in the Divine Capital? The Peach Banquet, a tradition maintained by the Imperial Court for decades, might have its reputation ruined by you lot!”

“Next time, let’s see which Divine Sect Leader dares step into the Divine Capital!”

Lü Taibai’s entire body shimmered with sword qi—relentless and unreserved—as it swirled around him.

Li Che, holding XiXi’s hand, stood quietly behind Lü Taibai, safeguarded by the shield of sword qi.

Lü Taibai tossed a glance at Li Che and said, “Ah Che, since XiXi refuses the role of Crown Princess, then you as her master and I as her guardian must honor her wishes.”

Li Che’s jet-black hair crackled like lightning; his Mud Pellet at his brow trembled as divine energy began to surge frantically.

“Naturally.”

With those words, his resolve was clear.

In an instant, the air around Li Che seemed to solidify like an inflated balloon, expanding to envelop and fully protect XiXi.

It was obvious that a massive battle was inevitable.

Li Che couldn’t fathom why the Emperor would issue such an edict. Whether it was due to the National Teacher’s influence or an attempt to force Lü Taibai into rebellion—perhaps even out of fear that the Qianyuan Divine Sect might suffer a double catastrophe—the order had been issued in the Divine Capital.

Or maybe the Emperor had his eyes on XiXi for some reason.

From the moment the Emperor first expressed his desire to adopt XiXi as his daughter, Li Che sensed something amiss. At first, he brushed it off; after all, if the Emperor only admired XiXi’s extraordinary talent enough to wish her into the family, that made a modicum of sense.

But after XiXi refused, the Emperor said little—only to reveal another strategy in play.

Was it that XiXi should serve as Crown Princess and inevitably become the head of the Peach Banquet division—ultimately rising to Empress?

To become the epitome of grace in the Great Jing Court—a status befitting the most revered woman!

No other Divine Sect maiden could possibly resist such an offer.

After all, it symbolized not only status but also a close tie with the Western Queen Mother Bizarre Temple, marking the pinnacle of future achievement!

For the Divine Sect, having a female member as Crown Princess—and eventually Empress—was seen as a way to ease tensions with the Great Jing Court.

Though the Court wasn’t as prosperous as its heyday, repeated uprisings in bizarre temples had forced it to allow the sect to govern these temples independently.

Yet, the pressure from the Court on various Divine Sects remained very real.

Thus, from the Emperor’s perspective, this reward offered the Qianyuan Divine Sect two choices.

One was to accept, thereby easing the conflict with the Great Jing Court and gaining time to develop—realizing the grand feat of withstanding a double divine catastrophe.

The other option, naturally, was to break away altogether.

At first, the Emperor presumed that neither XiXi nor Li Che would refuse.

But Li Che’s refusal was decisive.

With steely eyes, Li Che fixed his gaze on the Emperor perched high on the pedestal.

Recalling the Emperor’s earlier intent to adopt XiXi, Li Che sensed nothing but ill intent from him.

Indeed, a father’s intuition was never wrong.

Writing the Emperor’s name in the Book of Life and Death proved it all too clearly!

That old scoundrel… his intentions were anything but pure!

Although XiXi’s talent was exceptional, her victory at the Young Dragon Championship was due not only to intricate schemes but also to the power of the Prison Lotus within her.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed as he coldly pierced through a myriad of sword qi to fix his gaze on the Emperor on the high platform—dressed in a brilliant yellow robe and emanating an aura of authority.

What had the Emperor truly set his sights on—

Was it the hidden power of the Prison Lotus within XiXi’s body?!

BOOM! From amidst the four Divine Guardians, a burly man clad in red armor crashed down onto the Emperor’s platform. With arms outstretched, a vast, shadowy projection of the Black Tortoise spread out, completely intercepting the clash between Lü Taibai and Ji Mo Li, leaving the Emperor, Empress, and others undisturbed on their high dais.

Elsewhere, within the Divine Capital’s Xuanwei, cultivators of divine nature ignited their powers as divine runes flickered on the walls of the Divine Capital Second City.

“Divine Talisman Formation.”

A tear split Lü Taibai’s brow as the hidden power of his Tao Calamity Sword surged uncontrollably.

His eyes filled with gravity while his aura climbed steadily.

Legend had it that the nine cities of the Great Divine Capital were founded by the First Ancestor of the Great Jing Court; beneath every city lay inscriptions of a Divine Talisman Formation obtained from the depths of the Bizarre Temple. If all nine were activated simultaneously, even a half-step divine catastrophe could be suppressed.

Yet no one had ever witnessed all nine formations activated at once in the Great Divine Capital.

Even a single city’s formation instilled in Lü Taibai an overwhelming sense of oppression, visibly changing his expression.

He had to break through and escape—no time for needless entanglements.

After all, this was not Qianyuan Divine Sect’s home turf.

Lü Taibai glanced at Li Che, who, with XiXi ensconced within the swirling Fa Tian Xiang Di, quickly grasped Lü Taibai’s concerns.

“Sect Leader, we must break through.”

“Let’s head back to Qianyuan Divine Sect first.”

Li Che declared.

Lü Taibai nodded. Facing the oppressive forces of the Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and the formidable Ji Mo Li, who had leapt skyward with daunting presence, he knew his best option was retreat.

Lü Taibai was no fool.

In this situation, engaging in reckless battle just made no sense.

Not to mention that even though the Great Jing Court was not as mighty as its prime, it was still a vast dynasty that had flourished for thousands of years!

Its deep-rooted legacy, exemplified by the top commanders of the Divine Guardians, was enough to make Lü Taibai feel the pressure.

Not to mention Wang Kui of the Temple Guardian Division, ranked first at the Heavenly Gate.

There was no time to dawdle—break through and retreat!

Tao Calamity Sword—

In an instant, Lü Taibai’s eyes were bathed in blinding white radiance as the force of his Tao essence erupted in a wild outpouring!

To break free from this formation,

Lü Taibai knew he had to pay dearly in blood!

Yet the leader of the Azure Dragon in the Divine Guardians seemed to have anticipated Lü Taibai’s move. His body shuddered as the clanging of his armor rang out, and a formidable torrent of blood surged from his back, transforming into a sinuous, azure divine dragon—its coils like the twisting whiskers of a beast peeking from behind the clouds!

As the top expert from Heavenly Gate ranked sixth, the Azure Dragon had reached the pinnacle of martial prowess on the Divine Way—a legacy inherited from the Great Jing Court’s mysterious powers obtained in the Bizarre Temple.

With a savage claw swipe, it shattered the air as if every inch of space were exploding.

With the Black Tortoise erecting its barriers and the expansion of the Divine Capital Formation, the Azure Dragon’s sole purpose was to block Lü Taibai’s attempted breakout, effectively trapping both him and Li Che.

Bound by the Emperor’s command, the Azure Dragon, as a leader of the Divine Guardians, obeyed without question!

When the Emperor ordered, it would strike without hesitation!

Meanwhile, the White Tiger and Vermillion Bird also struck in unison. Their martial wills shook the very heavens like ancient, fearsome beasts awakening in a ferocious roar.

The combined assault from these top three experts nearly froze the void itself.

Coupled with the imposing aura of Ji Mo Li, the situation was extremely grim.

Breaking through was no easy feat—even though Lü Taibai had awakened the power of his Tao Calamity Sword, which bordered on a half-step divine catastrophe, the oppressive pressure was palpable.

And this was all before the intervention of formidable warriors like Ye Pengju and Wang Kui from the Temple Guardian Division.

A shift in the battle stirred Li Che’s focus, and with a leap within the swirling Fa Tian Xiang Di, he headed toward the Qianyuan Divine Sect banquet area.

Soon, Li Che landed in the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s ceremonial zone, his Fa Tian Xiang Di expanding to envelop the Second Elder Zhao Fangzhou and numerous prodigies.

Of course, Li Che’s primary concern was for his wife, Zhang Ya—he couldn’t abandon her here!

If they were to leave, they would leave together.

Within the Fa Tian Xiang Di, Li Che gently caressed Zhang Ya’s waist, soothing her with a warm, reassuring tone: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Li Che appeared unnervingly calm.

After all, with the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff and mastery over Feilei Chess Piece, he was virtually untouchable.

Had his Chess Sage Dao Fruit not transcended to Iv6—back when it was still at Lv5—the delayed maneuvering of his Feilei Chess Piece might have posed a risk.

But now, having reached Iv6, the all-encompassing Divine Capital Formation could no longer restrict him.

If things took a turn for the worse, Li Che would simply throw his wife, XiXi, and the children of Qianyuan Divine Sect into Mo City.

He would then use the Feilei Chess Piece to escape on his own.

All around, powerful figures watched in silence, with the sect leaders of various Divine Sects refraining from interfering.

After all, at this moment the Court was clashing with the Divine Sect—as Lü Taibai had said, if today it was the Qianyuan Divine Sect, who knew which sect would be next: perhaps Tian Dan Divine Sect or Xuanfu Divine Sect…

Above Jade Plaza, Lü Taibai grasped his Taibai Sword firmly, his blade imbued with a dazzling, concentrated aura of killing intent. With one decisive strike, it was as if the heavens themselves were shredded apart!

The combined assault of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermillion Bird—the three mighty divine beasts forged from sheer blood and energy—clashed with the forcefully unleashed sword light from Lü Taibai.

A tremendous roar resounded. The Black Tortoise shielded Jade Plaza with all its might as the Divine Capital Formation channeled the explosive shockwave upward, preventing further devastation below.

High above Jade Plaza, as the raw power of this top-tier clash continued to erupt accompanied by colossal booms, a transparent ripple spread outward from the very center of the impact.

It was as if the entire sky over Divine Capital Second City was turning to dust—the very air, spring rain, blood energy, and divine essence disintegrated into powder!

Ji Mo Li, having not participated in that particular clash, gripped his Umbrella Spear and sprinted like lightning toward the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s banquet area.

He charged at Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di with the speed of a gust of wind.

But then,

A vast cascade of pale-gold blood energy, like a breached dam of the Milky Way, crashed down. A massive halberd flew through the air with clanging resonance, its hum and tremor sending shockwaves!

In his black armor, the imposing and robust True Martial Divine Sect Leader Shi Jian gripped an enormous Sky-Blockade Halberd and positioned himself before Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di.

Wreathed in swirling True Martial energy—fiery and scorching—it distorted the very air as though an army of legions, a mountain of corpses, and a sea of blood erupted in an instant.

The halberd trembled as it collided with the thrust of Ji Mo Li’s Umbrella Spear.

It was but one clash—the explosive clang of steel and energy that outshouted even the roar of spring thunder upon the heavens. Two top-tier warriors clashed with raw power, rippling waves of nothingness radiating outward.

One collision followed by dozens more, sparks flying and torrents of energy crashing like two massive waves colliding.

True Martial Divine Sect Leader Shi Jian had finally made his move!

Many were startled, yet not entirely surprised.

Shi Jian frequently aligned with the Qianyuan Divine Sect—drinking and conversing with Lü Taibai. Everyone had witnessed this, so his emergence at this moment was hardly unexpected.

The only question was: by stepping forward under such immense pressure, wasn’t he effectively taking a stand against the Great Jing Court?

Yet, those familiar with the unique nature of the True Martial Divine Sect paid him little mind.

After all, if the Great Jing Court was the most lenient towards the eleven major Divine Sects, none would dare act unless True Martial Divine Sect Leader Shi Jian raised his banner in rebellion.

Suspended high in midair, Ji Mo Li, clad in dark armor with a billowing crimson cloak behind him, narrowed his eyes. His gaze burned with divine light as he staked his claim with the Umbrella Spear, fixing his eyes on the True Martial Divine Sect Leader Shi Jian.

“I’ve long heard of your unrivaled strength, King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li—able to singlehandedly subdue six Corpse Gods of the Corpse God Sect in Jizhou. I’ve been dying to learn your secrets. Today, it’s time for you to teach me a lesson,” he growled.

Robust and imposing, Shi Jian’s every hair stood on end like needles, his eyes swirling with faint golden smoke.

“Is the True Martial Divine Sect really going to interfere?”

“If Li Che were a Underworld Divine Monkey wielding the Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff, he’d be beyond redemption—and if he harmed my descendants and my wife, then my vengeance…! Is Sect Leader Shi Jian trying to stop me?” Ji Mo Li thundered.

Ji Mo Li’s voice deepened and darkened as his eyes flashed with cold intensity.

Across the battlefield, Shi Jian was shrouded in a faint golden blood aura, yet he smiled:

“What are you babbling about? Wielding a Freewill Gold-Iron Divine Staff doesn’t make one a traitor. After all, that divine weapon is a gift from the temple’s sacred guardian—just because you hold such a weapon doesn’t render you unfaithful!”

“Perhaps the Grand Inspector foretold something, imbuing this weapon with special significance. But isn’t it true that divine weapons are earned by the merit of a Divine Monkey?”

Ji Mo Li’s brows furrowed as his eyes hardened with an icy glare.

The situation grew increasingly chaotic.

True Martial Divine Sect Leader Shi Jian was no weakling; having long battled powerful adversaries in the depths of Tongyou Road and within the Da Li Wangting, his prowess was hard-won.

Though he ranked only fourth at the Heavenly Gate, the top five warriors there were all formidable in their own right—narrow margins separated them, making it difficult for Ji Mo Li to penetrate Shi Jian’s defenses and capture Li Che.

The standoff suddenly reached a deadlock.

In the Divine Capital, the Four Divine Guardians converged swiftly, while the Golden Scale Imperial Guards massed densely around Jade Plaza.

High above, the leaders of the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermillion Bird, and the fierce aura of Ji Mo Li clashed, fueling an ever-growing, turbulent energy.

Lü Taibai, unleashing all his might with the Tao Calamity Sword, seemed to dominate the combined force of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermillion Bird.

Yet, his inner urgency grew palpable as the power of his Sword of Tao waned, and the Azure Dragon and its cohorts began to close in.

Their singular aim was to entangle and restrain him.

They waited for his Tao Calamity Sword’s power to fade entirely.

The Emperor sat high on the dais, his expression inscrutable.

The Empress, however, furrowed her brows and sighed softly, never expecting events to spiral so far out of control.

She glanced at the Emperor; though she adored little XiXi, she couldn’t comprehend what the Emperor truly planned.

Why issue such radical edicts? The order forced the Qianyuan Divine Sect into an impossible position—essentially giving them a choice.

Was this a ploy to have the Qianyuan Divine Sect turn against him?

Had the Emperor really made that final decision?

His eyes glittered as his gaze swept over, finally resting on the National Teacher Xie Yunshen of Lotus Pavilion.

Xie Yunshen immediately understood, smiled, and then looked at the two elderly figures beside him.

One was emaciated and half-blind; the other, short and stout, had lost a leg.

They were none other than his personal guards—Tian Can Di Que!

Tian Can Di Que burst forth with grins on their faces.

BOOM!

The two flawed elders rocketed upward from the Lotus Pavilion banquet area as a majestic and unique aura surged forth. Their energies intertwined,

slowly merging into a towering, one-eyed, one-armed demonic deity of energy, whose oppressive might erupted wildly as if permeated by the essence of Tao.

High above Jade Plaza, Lü Taibai, who had unleashed his Tao Calamity Sword, looked momentarily stunned.

Tian Can Di Que!

Though these two ranked only tenth and eleventh at the Heavenly Gate—not particularly high—their mastery of a combined strike technique could catapult their power to rival that of a half-step Martial God!

They were the personal guards of the Great National Teacher—rarely seen in battle. Their reputation soared ever since the Peach Banquet when a Hunter King assassin was utterly decimated by the joint strike of Tian Can Di Que.

Lü Taibai had long anticipated such developments.

His expression grew grim as he sensed the mounting pressure.

Yet, on the high platform, the Emperor seemed unwilling to let matters rest.

His gaze swept over to the Temple Guardian Division’s banquet area,

signaling that they were to intervene as well.

Wang Kui, the Commander of the Temple Guardian Division, dressed in splendid brocade, sipped his drink and sighed.

Beside him, Tie Shancai tugged at his sleeve in anxious protest, pleading for Wang Kui not to act.

“Father, XiXi is innocent! Isn’t it wrong that she refuses to be Crown Princess?”

Tie Shancai cried out in distress.

Wang Kui sighed and patted Tie Shancai on the head.

“This isn’t about XiXi becoming Crown Princess any longer—it’s about whether Li Bansheng is a traitor of the Underworld.”

“But father, you have a duty to fulfill…”

Wang Kui murmured helplessly.

Then he rose, his aura exploding with power.

Tie Shancai’s eyes reddened instantly: “Wang Tie Niu, I’m going to tell Mother that you bullied me! Hmph!”

The sudden shift in the battle left the martial artists outside the Divine Capital Third City’s tower, whose faces reddened from the clashing energies, completely dumbfounded.

They watched as prime figures from the Heavenly Gate and top rankings of the Great Divine Register exchanged ferocious blows. Their bodies trembled—this was the true brawl of immortals! After all, these warriors were the very elite who had ascended to the pinnacle of martial and divine might!

Their eyes shifted toward the Qianyuan Divine Sect’s banquet area, where Li Che and his daughter, shrouded by the Fa Tian Xiang Di, exchanged looks of quiet determination.

Many wondered—was Li Bansheng truly the Underworld Divine Monkey?!

A few martial artists sighed inwardly.

For the members of Qianyuan Divine Sect, this situation was one of inescapable doom.

After all, the Great Jing Court’s forces were simply too overwhelming!

Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermillion Bird, and King Ping Luan Ji Mo Li—Tian Can Di Que, among others…

And this was before the intervention of the Temple Guardian Division and the Imperial Watch—the top forces of the Great Jing Court had yet to make their move.

Suddenly, shouts of astonishment erupted from the martial artists.

Their eyes widened in disbelief.

Inside Lotus Pavilion, Xie Yunshen stroked his beard and smiled softly.

“Everyone, now is the time—attack!”

At that moment, a surge of profound energy erupted from the banquet areas of numerous Divine Sect leaders.

Gu Changqing, the Sect Leader of Tian Dan Divine Sect, unleashed his energy and formed a divine hand, whipping toward Li Che’s Fa Tian Xiang Di to initiate the assault.

This unexpected turn nearly stunned all the onlookers!

Li Qingshan, Nie Yang, and others were in utter shock—how could this be?!

Had Gu Changqing of Tian Dan Divine Sect truly aligned with the Court?

Yet not only him, but also the leaders of Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect, Seven Treasure Divine Sect, Haoran Academy, and Bashu Sword Pavilion—five formidable figures from the Great Divine Register—simultaneously launched their attacks!

Their combined assault was so fierce it seemed to freeze the very air.

Li Che’s expression turned cold and implacable.

He had long been wary of these sect leaders, so he wasn’t surprised—but he was utterly shocked that they had apparently been recruited by National Teacher Xie Yunshen!

When Gu Changqing suddenly brought down a palm toward his Fa Tian Xiang Di,

Li Che’s expression stiffened.

An explosive surge of violent energy erupted within him.

These relentless foes—will this never end?!

Raising his hand, he pressed it against his brow, preparing to summon Mo City to whisk away his wife, daughter, and the children of the Qianyuan Divine Sect to safety. But Gu Changqing’s strike was deflected by a swiftly dispatched divine talisman.

“Xuan Jiu Zhuan!”

Gu Changqing’s dark hair flew wildly as his azure robe fluttered. His piercing gaze fell upon the exasperated and scratching head of Xuan Jiu Zhuan, the leader of Xuanfu Divine Sect.

“I’ve got to clean up after Lü Taibai again! Dammit! Not only did you lose your sister, but now you have to cover for me—unbelievable!”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan grumbled.

“Aren’t you aware of the perils of mutual dependence? Today’s Qianyuan may well be our tomorrow—”

“The Great Jing Court likely made promises to you, but if you continue this behavior, you’ll end up like the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect—losing your family’s legacy!”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan continued, as a flurry of divine talismans burst from his sleeves.

After speaking, he turned to look at Li Che, who had activated Fa Tian Xiang Di.

“Hurry, let’s get out of here!”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan shouted, “Do you really think breaking through is going to be so easy?”

“If it were only Lü Taibai, he might manage. But with all of you, it’s impossible—”

He bellowed, overturning tables in his fury. “That reckless Lü Taibai—always too headstrong! I never agreed to let the Seven Killers run with him, yet here we are! Damn it!”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan continued his rant, his tone full of resentment towards Yellow-Haired.

Li Che, looking at the frustrated expression of Xuanfu Divine Sect Leader Xuan Jiu Zhuan, felt a kinship in his anger.

Yellow-Haired deserves to rot!

Hearing this, Li Che clasped his fists in gratitude: “Thank you, Senior.”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan’s face softened slightly as he replied, “You’re a good lad. Just keep a close watch on XiXi—don’t let anyone, be it Yellow-Haired or anyone else, deceive her.”

Indignant, Li Che roared, “Rest assured, Senior—I shall never tolerate those scoundrels!”

Xuan Jiu Zhuan laughed heartily.

His gaze swept over Gu Changqing, Ning Caishen, Bai Buyi, Gu Cheng, and Zhao Chunqiu.

Then, with arms spread wide, an overwhelming divine aura burst forth from his Mud Pellet. The Heaven and Earth Soul trembled, as if the very skies darkened, while countless divine talismans shot upward.

Within the tangled flux,

“Divine Talisman Patrol!”

Not just thousands, but millions of divine talismans filled the air!

Gu Changqing’s expression shifted—the fact that Xuan Jiu Zhuan resorted to such a trump card was astonishing.

Suddenly, Gu Changqing’s gaze shifted to the composed Huang Mei Great Master, seated distantly.

“Huang Mei Great Master, why did none of your Xiao Lingyin Temple disciples come to aid, even as the Underworld slaughtered them?”

Gu Changqing’s tone held a note of suspicion.

Huang Mei Great Master, palms pressed together, offered only a gentle smile.

“Not yet.”

Gu Changqing nearly spat blood.

“Not yet? What nonsense is that!”

How had the temper of the Huang Mei Great Master so suddenly cooled?

“You all have your agreements with the National Teacher, but my connection with the Underworld is an old grudge—verily, as vast as a sea of blood. Yet, I have no evidence that Li Bansheng is truly an Underworld villain,” Huang Mei Great Master said calmly.

Gu Changqing’s face darkened.

It was as if Huang Mei’s words implied his refusal to be used as a pawn again!

But he had long been used as such—from the day of the Peach Banquet pre-feast, when he became the tool of the National Teacher against Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Gu Changqing barely spared his breath, exchanging dark glances with the other complacent Divine Sect leaders.

“Guys, don’t forget our pact with the National Teacher,” he said firmly.

With that, his tone dropped. The Heaven and Earth Soul trembled as clusters of heavenly pills began to float, exploding in dazzling brilliance like demons taking form, hurling themselves at the towering wall of divine talismans formed by the Divine Talisman Patrol!

One after another, the other Divine Sect leaders launched their fearsome attacks.

The relentless barrage thundered down in a series of ear-splitting booms!

Xuan Jiu Zhuan’s Heaven and Earth Soul quaked wildly, as though an unseen ripple spread across his being, leaving his face pale.

Taking advantage of the moment, Li Che, enveloped by Fa Tian Xiang Di, leapt upward, trampling the air with a single bound as he attempted to break out beyond Divine Capital Second City.

“Not so fast! Stay behind!”

A thunderous shout, akin to a dragon’s roar, rang out.

In the distance,

Lü Taibai’s expression darkened. The combined technique of Tian Can Di Que had ensnared his Tao Calamity Sword.

The Azure Dragon broke free, leaving the White Tiger and Vermillion Bird to join Tian Can Di Que in restraining Lü Taibai.

At that moment, clad in resounding azure armor like a divine dragon exhaling majestic breath, the Azure Dragon loomed in the sky.

One claw. One roar!

It shattered the clouds and cleared the skies as the Azure Dragon swept across with five outstretched, spear-like fingers—each glinting with lethal brilliance.

It was as if the very flow of the winds and light beneath its claws were shattered!

It covered the heavens, solidifying the connection between man and the divine, as if a celestial dragon had descended to reveal itself upon the mortal realm!

Even through the barrier of Fa Tian Xiang Di, the children of the Qianyuan Divine Sect paled in fear, their hearts gripped by awe.

Even XiXi’s small face showed a tremor of shock.

“Father…”

XiXi clutched Li Che’s garment tightly.

Was this the day the family would be stranded here forever?

Seeing the worry on his daughter’s face, Li Che felt an overwhelming surge of remorse.

He ruffled XiXi’s hair gently.

Then, with a grim expression like a gathering dark storm, he looked upward:

“Why force me?!”

Each and every one of you…

Your names will be forever etched in the Book of Life and Death!

I, Li Che, will remember this!

With a rapid movement, Li Che raised his hand to his brow—

He turned his gaze first to the composed Emperor on the high platform—who seemed to control everything—then to Lü Taibai, entangled in brutal struggle alongside various aiding warriors,

and lastly to the menacing Azure Dragon, its claw extended as if carved from solid void.

Li Che slowly exhaled.

“Enough. No more pretense.”

His voice was calm yet struck like a thunderbolt from a placid field.

Even the Azure Dragon, mid-swipe, halted its motion.

All combatants paused, their eyes shifting toward him in unison.

In that moment, Lü Taibai’s eyes darkened with concern.

High on the dais, the Emperor’s bright yellow robe fluttered as he narrowed his eyes.

At Lotus Pavilion, National Teacher Xie Yunshen smiled coyly.

All the leaders of the Divine Sects also fixed their gaze upon him.

And there, Li Che spread his fingers wide, tore through the air, and produced a mask.

Slowly, he pressed it onto his face.

The instant his mask covered his features, every onlooker’s gaze was irresistibly drawn to that masked visage, desperate to discern the secret behind it.

But almost simultaneously,

a deafening roar shook the skies as a stream of light shot upward. Like a burst of fireworks, it exploded in the heavens, rapidly expanding,

and forming a colossal chessboard through which intertwining lines sprawled.

A gentle glow enveloped Jade Plaza’s sky!

A chessboard?!

Every eye shifted from Li Che’s mask to the towering chessboard overhead.

For upon that board, an ominous, inky-black citadel emerged—a structure exuding an aura of dread, despair, death, and utter desolation.

It sprawled across the sky of Divine Capital Second City as if engulfing it completely!

Darkness flooded the heavens!

The Underworld’s Shandu!

And atop the citadel of E Du City…

One after another, figures appeared—masked, each with a distinct, almost sculptural presence—standing impassively.

Their eyes cold and detached.