Chapter 394: Celestial Inferno

Boom!!

A terrifying explosion heralded a blazing, magnificent furnace of brilliant golden light that spanned the heavens and earth, radiating scorching brilliance!

In an instant, the unleashed power seemed to freeze time itself!

Monstrous shockwaves spread without ceasing, while the waters of the Grand Canal surged and churned, raising colossal waves!

Above Jade Plaza, debris and swirling dust formed a curtain as cracks rippled outward.

Then came the burst of shattered flesh and blood, sizzling hot as it splattered across the heavens and earth, igniting the very temperature of the world.

“Ahhh!!”

A dreadful wail of sorrow, anger, and defiance erupted—a martial spirit and telepathic energy from Qinglong, the pinnacle warrior, whose body had been shattered into pieces!

It was as if his connection to the cosmos had been severed!

Pfft, pfft…

Fragmented flesh rained down like boulders, the overwhelming force cratering the ground with each impact. Qinglong’s once-mighty body exploded into pieces, like a meteor pulverized by a single fist upon impact!

Everyone was rendered dumbfounded, their eyes wide in disbelief!

Amid the swirling dust and haze atop the city walls and beneath the towers surrounding Jade Plaza, martial artists and powerful figures watched in rapt attention.

One…

A top-tier peak fighter!

Fell!

Quickly!

That was too fast!

From atop the Shandu city wall in the Underworld, Yama leaped down, shattering the air as he launched his attack.

And Qinglong, the supreme warrior, was slain in merely two strikes!

Yeah—…

It really was just two moves!

It seemed almost unimaginable—beyond belief!

After all, Qinglong was no weakling. He was the leader of the Divine Capital’s four elite Xuanwei, the very top fighter of the Great Jing Court!

Ranked sixth at the Heavenly Gate and nurtured by the Court from childhood, his training and countless trials had honed him through fierce competition with many prodigies.

Ultimately, he emerged victorious, winning the Emperor’s favor and inheriting the Qinglong Temple Spirit legacy of the Great Jing Court.

Reborn anew, he ascended to command!

He led 30,000 elite warriors of the Divine Capital’s Qinglong Division!

Yet…

Such an imposing figure of divine might was obliterated by two mere moves, right before the eyes of countless powerful experts!

A single punch crushed the heavens and took his life!

Roars of dragon-elephant might echoed alongside the furious cry of the golden furnace, as if it were unleashing a torrent of blazing war smoke to illuminate the skies!

The howling winds and chaotic currents raged unchecked as shockwaves from the explosion rippled outward through the ruins of Jade Plaza, tearing at even the soaring clouds of dust!

In the distance, Baihu and Vermilion Bird, who had been calling for aid from Qinglong, surged with powerful energy. Breaking away from their duel with Lü Taibai, they sped to his location.

But barely had they moved when their bodies stiffened in shock.

One was clad completely in crimson armor—Vermilion Bird—and the other in armor of white jade and glazed glass—Baihu!

It was as though time itself had frozen them mid-air.

They couldn’t even move an inch!

Through their masks, their eyes—filled with terror, despair, shock, and bewilderment—fixed on Qinglong, whose shattered flesh and shattered will to fight lay before them…

They watched as the punch turned Qinglong to dust, while behind him, on the furnace, the fearsome silhouette of a roaring, demonic dragon-elephant loomed.

Silence reigned over the heavens and earth.

Every skirmish halted abruptly.

The brutal clash between Ji Mo Li and Shi Jian, the sect leader of True Martial Divine Sect, ceased; even the furious duels of Xuanjiu Zhuan’s myriad talismans with Gu Changqing, Bai Buyi, Zhao Chunqiu, and other sect leaders, as well as Lü Taibai’s shadowy conflict with Tiancan Diqu, were all suddenly frozen in time.

“He’s dead…”

A voice of despair rang out, sparking a sudden, fevered murmur that sent the scene into uproar and clamor.

At this Peach Festival, the first top-tier peak fighter had fallen!

When the Underworld strikes, death is inevitable!

No wonder the Underworld has such a fearsome reputation—any news concerning it seems to end in death.

It isn’t merely killing—it’s a death march. Such is the Underworld!

Underworld Yama!

Countless eyes fell upon the figure wearing a half-black, half-white mask, their hair standing on end in awe and terror.

Then, with all five fingers outstretched, Underworld Yama gathered Qinglong’s shattered, splintered flesh into his grasp.

In addition, he claimed Qinglong’s Qian Kun Jade.

Without hesitation, he treated Qinglong’s body and the Qian Kun Jade as his spoils of war!

Baihu and Vermilion Bird’s eyes flared red as they roared in anger, their life force surging violently.

Their bloodlines stretched across the heavens, roaring as if on the verge of igniting completely!

The unique Divine Seed within their spines began to vibrate, as though ready to detonate!

Being top-tier warriors, they had naturally cultivated the Eight Mysterious Gates technique—a power to amplify their life force and trigger an explosive surge. It was indispensable.

You might choose not to use it, but you cannot be without it; that’s the idea.

Qinglong had likewise nurtured his Divine Seed, but…

He died too quickly—under the twin crushing blows of Underworld Yama, he never had time to ignite his seed!

Boom, boom, boom!!

Baihu and Vermilion Bird roared as they charged toward Li Che, their combined power that of the four elite warriors from the Divine Capital, their coordination honed since childhood, executing the top-tier Four Symbols Combined Strike.

To unleash such a supreme combo, one must share the tacit understanding of even Tiancan Diqu.

Yet now, with Qinglong fallen, their combined strike was rendered all but ineffective—their final technique’s potency greatly diminished.

Of course, that wasn’t the sole source of their fury.

Qinglong’s death filled them with profound grief!

Baihu’s and Vermilion Bird’s massive blood energies advanced in an instant, their Divine Seeds igniting as if defying death!

They adopted an all-or-nothing stance!

After all, as top-tier warriors, both were once trained as royal death soldiers—raised by the Emperor himself, having sold their lives for his cause.

Qinglong’s death didn’t deter them; it merely inflamed their murderous resolve!

Li Che, clad in the dual-toned Underworld Yama mask, felt the overwhelming, burning might of blood energy as Vermilion Bird and Baihu simultaneously detonated three Divine Seeds, their armored bodies clanging with every surge.

They practiced Divine Martial Arts—no matter how high one ascends, a warrior rarely detonates more than three seeds.

Rumble!

The invisible force around them clashed violently, as if Baihu roared and Vermilion Bird screamed in defiance!

A dreadful thunderous sound reverberated relentlessly!

Facing the ferocious, combined assault of Baihu and Vermilion Bird, who had detonated three Divine Seeds, Underworld Yama’s black robe fluttered as the furnace roared behind him, and the combined might of dragon-elephant beasts surged like seven rising suns!

Underworld Yama did not retreat. With a tip of his foot, the ground collapsed like soft mud, then he swung out a crushing punch.

Countless phantom images of dragon-elephants stretched out across the cosmos!

Boom!

The heavens and earth trembled!

His punch swept out as if from an immortal furnace on high, unleashing torrent-like blood energy that burst forth like blazing fire, reviving the might of divine dragons and demonic elephants.

A massive, ethereal fist surged forward, tearing through swirling dust as it erupted!

Divine Technique: Dragon Elephant Vajra!

As the momentum built, the force escalated like a rampaging Tianhe breaking through its banks, intent on obliterating everything!

Baihu and Vermilion Bird howled as they clashed with that relentless, endless punch!

Then, with a deafening roar that shattered the silence, the force exploded like a sky-splitting thunderclap.

Atop the high platform,

the Emperor abruptly stood, his divine aura and mingled life force blurring his features as his eyes revealed sorrow and shock.

His grief was clear—for Qinglong’s demise.

Yet his shock was equally palpable; for Underworld Yama had dared to engage Baihu and Vermilion Bird in one brutal strike!

Even the Empress’s regal face betrayed a hint of alarm.

“Underworld Yama—so dark and twisted, yet so powerfully righteous and unyielding. His might is almost divine—his raw martial energy surpasses that of the Four Kai Martial Saints, verging on that of a Half-Step Martial God!”

“Such power—we had never heard of anything like this before.”

The Empress murmured somberly.

And before all eyes,

at the point where Vermilion Bird and Baihu clashed, an overwhelming surge of blood energy erupted, kicking up a fierce wave of dust that billowed upward against gravity!

Boom!! Then a thunderous sound, like celestial spring thunder, shattered the silence.

Two figures, trailing blazing comet-like tails, soared backward, carving out two enormous furrows in the ground!

Then, Vermilion Bird and Baihu, the two top-tier peak fighters, were flung back violently.

Their masks had long since shattered, revealing similarly deformed, grotesque faces—a fearsome, demonic visage.

Yet both fixed their terrified gazes on Underworld Yama.

“Impossible!”

Vermilion Bird roared in shock, her voice unexpectedly hoarse and feminine. Though Vermilion Bird was a woman, in that ruined visage, it mattered little.

They had detonated three Divine Seeds with all their might, yet Underworld Yama had taken the hits without a scratch?!

How could he be so strong?!

Underworld Yama—could it be he has already reached Half-Step Martial God?!

And with Qinglong’s death, Vermilion Bird and Baihu were overwhelmed by boundless despair.

Amid the billowing dust,

Li Che, wearing the dual-toned Underworld Yama mask, stood firm. Surrounded by golden, mist-like blood energy and backed by the scorching, explosive power of the dragon-elephant furnace, he exuded terrifying strength.

It must be said: Baihu and Vermilion Bird acted decisively. As top-tier peak fighters ranked eighth and twelfth at Heavenly Gate, the moment they detonated their Divine Seeds, their surge of power skyrocketed!

Their combined force even posed a slight threat to Li Che,

but alas—

Li Che’s 【Painted Immortal】 Dao Fruit, having evolved to Lv5, granted him the divine technique ‘Mo City Domination’ which allowed him to manifest a dominating clone.

Any damage he received was transferred to the clone, and then to Mo City.

So long as Mo City remained intact, Li Che stood invincible.

Thus, even when faced with the joint assault of Vermilion Bird and Baihu, Li Che appeared completely unscathed, as if he were an immovable mountain.

Domineering. Unyielding—

Invincible!

This was Underworld Yama!

Perhaps only someone like Lü Taibai—who could harness Dao Essence, transmute his Dao Energy, and wield the Tao Calamity Sword nearing the Half-Step Divine Tribulation—could match him.

Vermilion Bird and Xuanwu were in sheer disbelief.

In an instant, they sensed a staggering presence; Underworld Yama took another decisive step, as though shrinking space itself, placing a chess piece on the cosmos’ board.

Where that chess piece landed, Underworld Yama would appear at will!

With a whoosh like instantaneous movement, Underworld Yama’s golden hair flew as he reappeared behind Vermilion Bird.

The detonated Vermilion Bird bellowed in rage as her rising life force swirled like a phoenix reborn, arms outstretched as her blazing energy roiled.

Yet…

Underworld Yama’s eyes turned icy cold; in a sudden shift, he employed the same tactics he had once used against Qinglong!

Faintly, within the cosmic chessboard, another smaller board emerged—a ten-foot grid, neither too large nor too small.

Li Che, behind the dual-toned Yama mask with outstretched fingers, slowly pressed down as if an invisible field was being smashed by his palm!

Buzzing—

—

It was as though the void itself let out a final plaintive cry, with solid celestial might raining down like agarwood, then bursting forth to spread in all directions…

Boom, boom, boom!!

[Heaven-Defying Half-step: Shengtian Dao Domain (20 feet)]

Beneath his mask, Li Che’s eyes shone brightly as he swallowed one replenishing Dragon Blood Paotao after another in the Peach Grove.

His martial prowess surged, his life pool swelling to several thousand feet, his ambitions soaring skyward!

Now transformed into an enhancement of strength, the pressure expanded his Shengtian Dao Domain!

From ten feet it spread to twenty!

Within that twenty-foot radius!

Even the gods bowed before me!

Boom!!

On Vermilion Bird’s ruined face, her eyes widened in terror.

As the Shengtian Dao Domain engulfed her, she finally understood why Qinglong had been so easily shattered!

“Divine Domain?!”

“No! Minor Cavern of the Heavens!”

An overwhelming celestial might descended like a crushing hammer upon Vermilion Bird, causing the power from her three detonated seeds to falter.

Her martial prowess plummeted rapidly; although her three Divine Seeds still burned bright—

the power they yielded diminished in step with her waning strength—

“What kind of power is this?!”

Vermilion Bird began to panic!

The awe-inspiring celestial force filled her with endless dread.

It stripped her of her cultivation, leaving her in utter despair.

Ahhh!!

But Vermilion Bird refused to simply surrender!

“Baihu! Don’t let him get close! If he approaches, he’ll drain your cultivation and your strength!”

Vermilion Bird screamed urgently.

At that moment, clutching the overwhelming force of the Shengtian Dao Domain, a sudden, nerve-jangling pain surged through her, momentarily restoring her latent human potential despite the crushing pressure.

She desperately tried to break free from the relentless grip of the demonic Yama!

“Everyone with your name on the Book of Life and Death will die, one by one!”

A calm voice emanated from Underworld Yama.

For those whose names were inscribed on the Book of Life and Death…

The Underworld will eventually come to claim their lives!

Li Che’s mind surged as a flash of cutting light erupted from his left arm.

Hidden within the bone of his arm, his exalted Mythic Weapon—the Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade—burst forth with a brilliant, resounding blade song.

A terrifying torrent of blade energy intertwined, wrapping around Underworld Yama’s arm like a vortex, as his grip tightened on the triple-edged blade which now resembled a lance.

Thousand Mountain Lone Wanderer Divine Blade!

This was Li Che’s unique Divine Seed sword technique, now perfected to its apex!

Wielding the blade in one hand, he flicked it, unleashing a burst of dazzling blade energy accompanied by a clang, directing a sweeping arc toward the desperate Vermilion Bird trying to break free of the Shengtian Dao Domain!

A brilliant, crescent-shaped slash erupted—the terrifying blade intent nearly slicing the air itself, with delicate black fissures visible along its cutting edge!

Quick!

That was too fast!

At that moment, Vermilion Bird’s cultivation—suppressed by the Shengtian Dao Domain—continued to plummet, teetering from the realm of Martial Saint Threefold to that of Martial Saint Twofold, barely holding on.

Vermilion Bird reacted swiftly, trying to break out, but it was too late.

With his exalted Mythic Weapon, a sword burst forth; Vermilion Bird’s hand suddenly manifested a long sword as delicate as a bird’s feather—a top-grade divine weapon from the Fourfold Supreme Arsenal.

A crisp, ringing sound!

That Feathered Sword was lopped away by an overwhelming force; as Vermilion Bird fell, confronted by the backing force of Underworld Yama’s dragon-elephant furnace, she was utterly overpowered!

The Feathered Sword was flung aside, and then Vermilion Bird’s body was cut by the sweeping arc of the crescent blade.

Thud, thud, thud—

As a sliver of blade energy pierced into Vermilion Bird’s body, it erupted in a thousand dazzling shards,

spraying crimson blood and shattered flesh everywhere.

Vermilion Bird fell!

Yet before anyone could mourn her passing, Underworld Yama strode onto the next battlefield.

Wielding the Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade, his black robe billowing, he stepped forward as though placing a decisive chess piece on the board of destiny!

That overwhelming killer intent hit Baihu like a breakneck river bursting forth!

Baihu’s eyes splintered; his red gaze filled with sorrow, yet he had no time to grieve. With a ferocious roar, he bolted away, disengaging from the clutches of Underworld Yama!

In mere moments and during a brief exchange, Vermilion Bird was cut down—

sliced to pieces by Underworld Yama’s relentless barrage!

Two top-tier peak fighters—such a tragic end!

These were not ordinary warriors, but the elite of the elite!

In the entire Great Jing realm, unless one could harness Dao Essence, transmute Dao Energy, and reach near Half-Step Divine Tribulation or Half-Step Martial God realms, killing such peak warriors would be unthinkable!

How could one expect to slay such titans?!

“Ahhh—”

Baihu retreated swiftly, his armor clanging like white jade as he fled like a desperate beast.

He dashed in the direction of Wang Kui, the Governor of the Temple Guardian Division.

In a mere moment, Baihu’s thoughts shifted—planning to drag the entire Temple Guardian Division into the fray. If General Ye Pengju could be roused, that would be even better!

Baihu’s retreat was swift, resembling a streaking comet—sometimes visible, sometimes ghost-like!

Clearly, he possessed extraordinary agility!

Wang Kui, who had just dashed away from the banquet area, immediately sensed Baihu’s surging aura. His brows furrowed as he quickly discerned Baihu’s intentions.

Was he trying to involve him?

Although the Temple Guardian Division was under the Court’s jurisdiction, its main duty was to handle matters related to the Bizarre Temple.

Such trivial matters were hardly worth getting involved in!

Wang Kui seethed with anger—he had no desire to act, especially since Li Che’s family was on friendly terms with Tie Shancai, and XiXi and Tie Shancai were excellent companions.

How could he possibly intervene?

It would only further alienate his own son.

Yet, faced with that terrifying, blazing aura, Wang Kui couldn’t help but respond.

As his blood surged, the golden ring on his nose trembled, his body expanding, with veins like serpents coiling across his back—as if a fearsome one-legged blue ox had materialized!

But Baihu still didn’t manage to reach him.

Because—

Underworld Yama, clutching the bloodied Thunder Demon Three-Pronged Twin-Edged Blade, twisted the hilt and sent out glistening blood droplets that splattered everywhere.

In an instant, Underworld Yama had appeared by the side of the nimble Baihu.

No matter how skilled one’s agility, how could it compare to the concept of instantaneous movement exemplified by the Feilei Chess Piece?

It was a higher level of dimensional assault!

“Temple Guardian Division!!!”

He roared!

Baihu bellowed in anger,

but barely managed to utter a single word.

Then, the overwhelming celestial might crashed down, pinning Baihu forcefully onto Jade Plaza and creating a deep crater.

Baihu felt his cultivation being slowly stripped away until, unbeknownst to him, it had dwindled to merely the level of Martial Saint Twofold.

Under the crushing Shengtian Dao Domain, he felt as though he were sinking into a quagmire…

His white armor was pierced; the Thunder Demon Blade gouged through his back and spine, nailing him to the ground.

With a slight shake of his five fingers, Underworld Yama sent a barrage of countless slashes swirling like a storm.

In an instant, Baihu’s figure was obliterated!

He fell into the dust of Vermilion Bird’s aftermath!

Blood splattered, staining Wang Kui’s blood-infused blue ox—a top-tier warrior whose very blood seemed to be a precious gem imbued with tremendous power, only to be evaporated by Wang Kui’s searing energy into thick, billowing black smoke!

Wang Kui stood motionless, his hand outstretched, gripping a trident. The golden ring on his nose trembled, betraying his inner unrest.

Then, Underworld Yama, having slain Baihu, grasped the Thunder Demon Blade in one hand, his golden hair fluttering. Behind his dual-toned mask, his gaze fixated on him as if to say, ‘Are you ready to test me?’

Wang Kui snorted and narrowed his eyes.

Qinglong, ranked sixth at Heavenly Gate, had been slain by Underworld Yama.

Wang Kui himself ranked fifth at Heavenly Gate and was also one of the top elites listed in the Divine Register. Like Lü Taibai, he was a dual-listed peak warrior.

Despite the oppressive aura of Underworld Yama and his fierce presence, he did not flinch.

But Wang Kui had yet to make a move.

Underworld Yama, with his five fingers outstretched, collected Baihu’s corpse and the Qian Kun Jade. Then, with a flash, he vanished, reappearing beside Vermilion Bird’s corpse—

claiming both the bodies and the Qian Kun Jade. The heavens and earth fell silent.

Only the sound of spring rain in Divine Capital’s Third City echoed in the void.

Four elite warriors of the Divine Capital had been slain—

Qinglong, Vermilion Bird, Baihu—dead!

These were three top-tier peak warriors!

Across Divine Capital, silence reigned.

No one could describe the shock that filled their hearts.

Was this a battle of immortals?

No!

It was nothing short of a one-sided massacre!

Underworld Yama—

He was slaughtering them!

So ruthless. So domineering—Underworld Yama!

“Hahahaha!”

“What a kill!”

Lü Taibai, with a sweeping sword, decimated the two lifeless figures of Tiancan Diqu, blood splattered across his face as he laughed heartily, overwhelmed with glee!

What a display from Underworld Yama!

Absolutely ruthless!

Yet at this moment, no one paid any heed to Lü Taibai.

Underworld Yama’s gaze swept over the multitude of sect leaders from the various Divine Sects who had ceased fighting and fallen silent.

Sect leaders like Gu Changqing, Bai Buyi, Gu Cheng, Ning Caishen, and others trembled under his gaze.

Instinctively, they huddled together, faces full of wariness.

But Underworld Yama did not attack them—instead, he shifted his gaze, letting them breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Underworld Yama’s vicious record of slaughtering three top-tier warriors left these Divine Sect leaders all too aware that in a one-on-one fight,

they too might soon be cut down!

Underworld Yama’s gaze shifted to Ji Mo Li, who had halted his duel with Shi Jian.

Ji Mo Li felt a chill seep over him.

Underworld Yama—

wanted to kill him!

And his murderous intent burned fiercely!

Clutching his umbrella spear, Ji Mo Li glared at Underworld Yama.

The next moment,

Underworld Yama had vanished without a trace!

“Arrogant!”

Ji Mo Li shouted in shock and anger!

Boom!!

A deafening explosion erupted instantly—this was Ji Mo Li unleashing his blood and summoning his celestial soul in an awe-inspiring display!

The second at Heavenly Gate and third in the Divine Register—

Ji Mo Li’s overall prowess far surpassed that of Qinglong, Baihu, and Vermilion Bird!

Yet Underworld Yama—

still chose to act boldly!

Boom!!

Ji Mo Li’s fingers curled, as if channeling boundless dragon energy that surged forth like innumerable roaring dragons, shaking the heavens!

The spear-turned-umbrella twisted as if summoning a tornado of power, lashing out behind him with an awe-inspiring surge of blood energy!

But Ji Mo Li’s eyes narrowed; he sensed that on the body of Underworld Yama behind him, an infinite, vast celestial might was erupting!

Only when one drew close to Underworld Yama did one truly grasp the terror of his celestial might!

It seemed as though one wasn’t facing Yama at all, but an entire expanse of the heavens!

An overwhelming pressure as if the air within a twenty-zhang radius was being squeezed apart!

A surge of alarm gripped Ji Mo Li’s heart!

He suddenly felt a force determined to strip away his cultivation.

“Pathetic little worm!” Ji Mo Li roared.

His heart thundered with rage as he finally understood why those infamous top-tier warriors at Heavenly Gate had fallen so easily!

Killing a top-tier peak fighter who has reached Martial Saint Threefold or Twofold… is no easy feat!

Feeling that irresistible force threatening to erode his cultivation,

Ji Mo Li’s face contorted as an overwhelming ferocity erupted in his eyes!

Black flames burst forth from his eyes, swirling like dragons around him!

In an instant, the black fire enveloped him in a writhing embrace!

Boom!!

The Tao Calamity Fire roared forth!

Li Che’s fingers gripped the Thunder Demon Blade, his eyes narrowing!

The mighty force of the Shengtian Dao Domain that had pressed down was instantly burned away by the black flames igniting on Ji Mo Li!

Even the cultivation-sapping power of the Dao Domain was seemingly nullified!

Ji Mo Li spun around defiantly, his flames dancing wildly in a terrifying rhythm!

The immobilizing umbrella spear shattered from the pressure and struck down!

Clap, clap, clap—the air exploded in a burst of sound, as if fissures were forming everywhere!

Half-Step Divine Tribulation!

Tao Calamity Fire!

Li Che’s heart clenched, yet the Thunder Demon Blade did not falter—instead, the explosive force of the dragon-elephant furnace poured in, and the twin-edged blade lunged forward.

The tips of the blade and the umbrella spear collided!

A forest of chilling, sharp radiance poured out like liquid mercury, forming an ocean of lethal light!

In an instant, the very air around them exploded into fragments over a hundred zhang!

Buzz, buzz, buzz!!

The searing, annihilating aura surged, twisting the air into a suffocating, oppressive nightmare!

Ji Mo Li gripped his umbrella spear, flames burning on his body as his Xuan Armor clanged fiercely, entwined with a dark, deathly blaze.

Meanwhile, the counterpart strike from Underworld Yama had already vanished.

Using his uncanny skills, he had teleported, reappearing far away.

Ji Mo Li’s exposed skin felt as if it were forged of steel, pulsing with terrifying strength, as he turned to follow Underworld Yama’s trail.

Underneath the dual-toned Yama mask, Li Che’s eyes flickered subtly.

“Three Calamities—Netherfire.”

A hoarse voice emerged from Li Che.

At that moment, every eye was fixed on the black flames consuming Ji Mo Li.

Lü Taibai’s eyes grew gravely intense.

“Tao Calamity Fire!”

“Ji Mo Li—look at you! You’re practically at Half-Step Divine Tribulation already!”

Lü Taibai exhaled deeply.

His heart grew ever heavier,

for though he had mastered the Tao Calamity Sword, his Dao remained unrefined, still one step short of the Half-Step Divine Tribulation.

Although it was expected—after all, even Huang Mei had mastered Tao Calamity Thunder—how could Ji Mo Li not?

All eyes, filled with shock, turned toward Ji Mo Li as he coldly glared at Underworld Yama.

Yet within his heart, an unexpected tremor ran through him.

For when he clashed head-on with Underworld Yama and witnessed his Tao Calamity Fire, not even a hint of the Three Calamities was felt on him!

Ji Mo Li drew in a deep breath, and the Tao Calamity Fire within him receded, leaving him silent.

Li Che cast a long, penetrating glance at Ji Mo Li.

Half-Step Divine Tribulation—

truly a foe not easily dealt with.

Li Che originally contemplated whether he might even take down Ji Mo Li—with their long-standing enmity, it was an enticing prospect.

But at that moment, it was clear that slaying Ji Mo Li would be anything but simple.

The Three Calamities—Divine Xiao Thunder, the Annihilating Godwind, and Netherfire—were forces of equal terror, indifferent to hierarchy!

They were the very calamities of heaven and earth!

Li Che casually gripped the Thunder Demon Blade, his golden hair flying as his gaze swept over to the Emperor standing on the high platform, guarded by Xuanwu.

Then suddenly,

Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

For at that moment, the Great Jing Emperor had risen from his seat, shaking off his kneeling, his divine visage and mingled life force obscuring his expression, though the terror and panic in his eyes betrayed him—the panic induced by the deaths of the elite commanders Qinglong, Vermilion Bird, and Baihu.

Yet this display of panic struck Li Che as nothing more than a feeble performance.

“Underworld Yama!”

“How dare you!”

The Emperor thundered, his voice quivering.

Alongside the trembling Xuanwu, enraged over Qinglong’s death, the theatrics of panic took on a genuine note.

Li Che furrowed his brow.

A flash of insight shot through him.

Since the pre-banquet, Great Jing Court’s National Teacher Xie Yunshen, together with several Divine Sect leaders, had been goading Lü Taibai—pushing him to flip the tables and incite chaos…

And the Emperor’s announced reward for the juvenile dragon—

was a clear move to force Lü Taibai’s hand.

Compelling him to create havoc at the Peach Festival!

Why?!

Then Li Che suddenly understood.

It was all for the sake of Temple Spirit Resonance!

Peering through his dual-toned Yama mask, Li Che saw the Emperor in his bright yellow robes, striding in small steps and sneaking behind the Empress.

Then, raising his voice loudly, he commanded:

“Quick! Hurry to the Imperial Watch and fetch the Grand Inspector!”