Chapter 418: The Unfolding of Storms and Dragons

Crash—

Above the Heavenly Dome, dense leaden clouds poured down ink-colored droplets, cascading and splattering onto the ground, bursting into a haze of watercolors.

And Li Che stood rooted in place.

His muscles twisted like pretzels, his body covered in tattered scars, while 36,000 pores swelled in unison, unleashing a powerful surge of golden qi and blood.

His spine jolted as eight mystical orbs glowed simultaneously, roaring like an enraged dragon ready to pierce the heavens and the earth.

His jet-black hair whipped around like a divine whip, lashing at the air with a wailing, shrill roar.

Li Che’s five fingers spread wide as, from the corpse of the Dragon Prince incarnate, a terror-stricken intent emerged—then was brutally annihilated by a fearsome force.

“Spiritual Confinement.”

A cold, indifferent voice echoed through every corner of Mo City.

Twisted, agonizing, and wailing…

An array of chaotic emotions and intents gradually drifted up from the spiritual confinement remnants of the fallen Dragon Prince.

Crash, crash…

The resounding clatter of chains intertwining pierced the air—such excruciating agony that it felt as if it could tear the soul apart.

The defiant anger of death struggled relentlessly, unable to break free, until amid total demise and rebirth it finally chose new life, kneeling in submission before the noble head of the Dragon Prince.

Not only had the spiritual confinement of the Dragon Prince materialized, but far off the forms of three Dragon Sons had also emerged.

They all respectfully bowed in submission to Li Che.

The Dragon God Clan was not as honorable as one might think—their surrender was swift and uncompromising.

“My Lord…”

A fervent voice spoke from the mouths of these mighty Dragon Gods.

Li Che glanced at them coolly.

Then he sent them back to the Grand Canal to meet… their old Dragon God.

So that they might serve as the obedient progeny of the old Dragon God.

Through feedback from Xie Yunshen and Huang Mei Great Master, Li Che naturally learned of the old Dragon God’s arrival.

His imposing aura was truly earth-shattering—a warrior of the catastrophic Calamity realm is a rarity in the mortal world.

Such a formidable opponent was not to be underestimated. Compared to Zhao Beidou and Gu Qianchi, a Calamity-level warrior was far stronger. Li Che wondered if his Qilin Dance unleashed after triggering the eight orbs could shatter the enemy…

However, that was a minor concern; it only allowed Li Che to set up a backup for a surprise counterattack.

“There.”

The spiritual confinements of the Dragon Prince and the three Dragon Sons clasped their fists and saluted.

Li Che even tossed the Dragon Emperor Pearl to the Dragon Prince, instructing him to keep the treasure in his mouth—it was only natural the performance had to be complete.

The demonic aura inside the Dragon Emperor Pearl had been completely absorbed by the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit. Once Li Che grasped it, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit trembled, and in a thought it transmitted all its demonic aura back.

At the very least, it ensured that the Dragon Emperor Pearl remained flawless.

The Dragon Prince and the three Dragon Sons departed to meet their old Dragon God.

Inside Mo City, the atmosphere gradually fell silent.

Rain drifted from the sky, falling in a steady patter.

The entire city lay hushed and still.

Li Che remained standing as every bone in his body resounded, his eyes suddenly alight with determination, while demonic aura roiled and surged all over him.

Dark mists swirled in a hazy ballet.

In his eyes, it was as if boundless demonic energy raged and intertwined, wildly dancing between heaven and earth!

[Dao Fruit: Wan Yao Di (lv5 0%)]

Dao Fruit…

Triple Transcendence!

With every breath, Li Che emitted a thunderous roar, as if his very soul was shaken to its core.

Countless streams of golden light interwove before his eyes, forming a series of prompts:

lv2, lv3, lv4, lv5!

In fact, it could be seen as a quadruple transformation!

However, the official first transformation occurred from lv2 to lv3, after which the Nascent Divine Power was acquired, paving the way to true divine power!

Achieving such a massive and dramatic transformation, Li Che felt nothing peculiar.

After all, the demonic aura contained within the Dragon Prince was in a league entirely apart from that of Jin Mao and others.

Furthermore, the Dragon Prince’s strength was at the pinnacle; most importantly…

The Dragon Prince had ingested a Dragon Emperor Pearl—a treasure whose demonic aura was both fierce and overwhelming, enabling him to step halfway into the Dragon God realm.

Moreover, the Dragon Prince even intended to use the Dragon Emperor Pearl to break into the Dragon God realm…

It could be said that the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit was entirely different from the Dao Fruits that had accompanied Li Che since childhood, such as the Dragon Elephant Vajra, Xiangong, and Chess Sage.

This particular Dao Fruit…

Started at a high level, allowing its cultivation speed to far surpass the others.

“Huu—”

“Ssu—”

In that single rhythmic breath, the ambient sounds of air and falling rain seemed to vanish into a dead silence.

Within his chest, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit pounded like a heartbeat.

Each beat was like a monstrous demon emitting a shrill, miserable scream, echoing as if an ancient bell atop a sacred mountain was being violently struck by a colossal demon!

The shattered bellwaves radiated in circular ripples, expanding through the world, engulfing every fiber of flesh and blood.

Then—

Li Che’s spirit was tugged by a familiar force, irresistibly drawn into a vast, desolate expanse.

A Dao Tree soared skyward, its branches lush and spreading, each leaf etched with intricate patterns as if containing an entire world within.

On this ancient Dao Tree, the branches stretched like glazed crystal, adorned with hanging, dazzlingly bright, multicolored Dao Fruits.

Li Che saw the [Wan Yao Di] Dao Fruit.

In an instant, his very soul trembled, as if witnessing a surge of multicolored demonic aura erupt into the sky, followed by a demon spreading its wings to blot out the heavens.

Whooo—

In a heartbeat, Li Che’s consciousness returned.

Every inch of his flesh vibrated, as if demonic aura was gradually erupting from his pores, saturating his body and sparking minute changes.

[Dao Fruit lv3, Further Transcendence, Nascent Divine Power ‘Wan Yao Di · Demon Suppression’]

[Dao Fruit lv4, Second Transcendence, Nascent Divine Power (Demon Suppression) to Transcendent Divine Power (Demon Immortal) to Divine Art Ascension One (Demon Immortal Transformation)]

[Dao Fruit lv5, Third Transcendence, Divine Art Ascension One (Demon Immortal Transformation) to Divine Art Ascension Two (Demon Immortal Nine Transformations)]

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Li Che’s mind stirred, his eyes flickering as countless golden streams blazed like surging waves, converging and expanding before him.

In a single gasp, his breathing grew rapid.

The impact and shock of the three consecutive Dao Fruit transformations were overwhelmingly intense!

This was Li Che’s first time…

Originally, the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit had just been born, and Li Che had only mastered its basic properties—such as detecting demonic aura—but now its Nascent Divine Power and even the first and second tiers of divine art had been unleashed!

Li Che stood in the heart of Mo City.

His spirit rattled as he sensed the Nascent Divine Power and divine art awakened by the Dao Fruit transformation…

The Nascent Divine Power ‘Wan Yao Di · Demon Suppression’, as its name suggests, is a tool of overwhelming pressure, a natural bloodline suppressant for demonic beings.

It is akin to the heavenly menace in the Shengtian Dao Domain, operating on a similar principle.

In other words, Li Che, by combining it with the celestial might of the Shengtian Dao Domain, could enforce a dual suppression: both demon suppression and heavenly dominance.

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

A luminous stream slowly emerged before his eyes.

[Demon Immortal (Divine Art): Eternal Demon, Undying—such is the Demon Immortal, as the forces of good and evil contend.]

[Divine Art Ascension One: Demon Immortal Transformation]

[Divine Art Ascension Two: Demon Immortal Nine Transformations]

…

The divine mantra flashed before him:

Eternal Demon, Undying—such is the Demon Immortal!

Li Che drew a deep breath, his eyes betraying a hint of terror and awe.

“Undying?”

“So arrogant! Who dares claim immortality? Can a Demon Immortal truly be undying?”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled with a subtle glimmer.

Yet he had long been accustomed to the domineering proclamations of Dao Fruit mantras. He suspected that only a fully transcended Dao Fruit could reach such sublime heights. For now, it still had room to grow.

But power must be displayed; one must first muster the courage!

“Demon Immortal Transformation…”

Li Che stimulated the Dao Fruit, and instantly, a thick surge of demonic aura burst forth from every pore.

Accompanied by a thunderous dragon roar.

All of the demonic aura absorbed from the Dragon Prince erupted from his pores.

Then Li Che soared skyward, shattering countless torrents of inky rain, his body elongating and expanding until he transformed into a divine dragon, with each scale radiating brilliant light!

“As long as I’ve absorbed demonic aura, I can transform into a Demon Immortal…”

In a split second, Li Che shifted his inner resolve.

He transformed from the state of a divine dragon into that of a radiant Golden Lion King.

His mane billowed as he roared mightily!

The Golden Lion King streaked through the void like a bolt of gold, his combat prowess far surpassing that of Jin Mao.

When the golden radiance faded and the demonic aura clouded his form, Li Che reverted to his human form, clad in a fluttering black robe, descending gracefully.

“The second tier of Demon Immortal—the Demon Immortal Nine Transformations—can simultaneously reincarnate the power of nine Demon Immortals into oneself.”

Li Che stood at the center of Mo City.

He clasped his hands in a meditative seal.

“Demon Immortal, First Transcendence!”

In an instant…

An overwhelming surge of demonic aura converged and revived. Li Che could feel the power in his body rising with every beat—it surpassed the limits of mere flesh even without igniting divine seeds!

It was the power passed down by the Demon Immortals.

The demonic aura materialized into the spectral form of the Dragon Prince’s divine dragon, encircling Li Che.

“Demon Immortal, Second Transcendence!”

The seal on Li Che’s palm transformed once more!

In a flash, a raging torrent of demonic aura soared skyward as the aura of the Golden Lion King merged with that of the Dragon Prince.

The original divine dragon gradually overlapped with the Golden Lion King, merging into a unique entity.

It was as if a brand new demonic race had been born!

Behold: a Dragon-Lion!

The demonic aura surged mightily, far surpassing the sum of its parts!

Slowly, the remaining aura in the background dissipated.

Li Che’s entire body resounded in a harmonious chorus, his eyes sparkling with renewed brilliance.

In high spirits, Li Che stretched out his five fingers to retrieve the Qian Kun Jade from the Dragon Prince and the three Dragon Sons, lightly counting his treasures. Though they were few, Li Che no longer reveled in the fortune of sudden wealth.

He cherished the thrill of the harvest and the act of tallying his gains.

The only regret was that the battle with the Dragon Prince had hardly aided the maturation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit.

That was understandable; when facing the Dragon Prince, Li Che had utterly dominated the battle.

The martial enhancement provided by his Martial Saint physique was simply overwhelming.

Yet in the fight, Li Che had also honed his own martial path, deepening his understanding and skills.

This, in turn, lent some aid to his ascent to the pinnacle of martial arts.

After tallying the Qian Kun Jade of the Dragon Prince,

Li Che did not retreat; he instead sat cross-legged in Mo City, entering a state of focused cultivation to break through to Martial Saint Four Opening!

……

……

Above the Heavenly Dome, dark clouds and foreboding calamity gathered, brewing an oppressive presence of disaster that loomed over the mortal realm.

All living things held their breath, as if fearing to invoke the wrath of the calamitous thunder that might reduce them to dust.

Rumble—

A rolling dragon majesty surged forth, sweeping all in its path!

At the crest of a hundred-foot tide, the old Dragon God, with a mighty frame and blazing spirit, showed no sign of nearing his end.

“Where are my Dragon Children?”

Such a query startled both Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou, who then turned their gaze to Xie Yunshen.

But Xie Yunshen only smiled and, clasping his fists in salute, said, “Senior Dragon God, please wait. The Dragon Prince and the three Dragon Sons will arrive soon. They had been immersed in cultivation in the Grand Canal, absorbing divine essence to transcend.”

Upon hearing this, the old Dragon God’s deep purple eyes softened with a hint of a smile.

Cultivating at the bottom of the Grand Canal, was it?

That was indeed reasonable. The old Dragon God was pleased, chiefly proud of his Dragon Children’s diligence in cultivation.

Suddenly,

Waves broke apart in the distance as four dragon silhouettes surged rapidly through the canal.

The Dragon Prince erupted from the water, his majestic, elongated body transforming mid-air into that of a handsome young man with nascent dragon horns, exuding a formidable aura.

“Grandson Ao Fa, greetings from the Dragon God!”

The Dragon Prince strode across the waves, saluting grandly from afar.

The old Dragon God’s eyes swept over and shone with satisfaction, for he sensed that the Dragon Prince was on the verge of breaking through to the Martial God realm.

Even if he had relied on the Dragon Emperor Pearl, honing one’s craft with a treasured artifact was natural.

Once the Dragon Prince completed the refining of the Dragon Emperor Pearl’s aura, he would likely step into the Dragon God realm very soon!

For the Dragon God Clan, that was indeed excellent news.

Though the old Dragon God was robust and burly, he was now white-haired.

He had sacrificed so much for the Dragon God Clan, worrying incessantly for the future of his race. Regrettably, the clan had never produced a second Dragon God—until now… hope seemed to be on the horizon.

Xie Yunshen and Huang Mei Great Master exchanged a barely noticeable glance.

Their lips twitched in restrained smiles.

For they sensed, though with some astonishment, an odd humor amidst the gravity.

Because…

In spiritual confinement, there was a clear mutual resonance among them.

The Dragon Prince—and the three Dragon Sons behind him—had all become one with their fellows!

Xie Yunshen’s expression softened as he watched the heartfelt reunion between the old Dragon God and the Dragon Prince, as if he had foreseen the Dragon Prince’s betrayal aimed at the old Dragon God.

A slight curve played at Xie Yunshen’s lips.

If things continued this way…

The entire Imperial Army might eventually bear the name Li.

……

……

Guangling Dao.

Snowfall fluttered in profusion.

XiXi, Jin Taisui, and the children Yun’e and Zhou Peng, on their maiden journey into the martial world, had entered Daocheng.

For the four who had once lived in Daocheng of Qianyuan, the opulence of Guangling Daocheng was markedly different from what they’d imagined.

The entire city was dazzling and extravagant—its splendor far surpassed that of Qianyuan, which now appeared akin to a mere prefectural capital.

XiXi curiously roamed Guangling Daocheng, believing that traveling was all about broadening one’s horizons.

“Sister Yun’e, what is this?”

Pointing at an exquisitely ornate pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters, XiXi asked Yun’e, puzzled.

Among them, XiXi regarded Yun’e as the wisest and most knowledgeable.

“The Dengxian Pavilion? Such an ostentatious name!” exclaimed Chubby Kid Zhou Peng as he stuffed his mouth with a bun.

From within that sumptuous pavilion, thick wisps of smoke billowed out, resembling heavenly aura in a hazy, unceasing dance.

By the balustrade, numerous finely dressed figures lounged casually, baring chest and midriff, exuding an air of carefree elegance as they leaned against the railings, clutching an elongated, gold and jade inlaid divine weapon while nonchalantly exhaling billows of cloud-like smoke.

With each drawn breath, their faces lit up in exquisite pleasure.

Yun’e’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly as she exhaled through her veil.

“Guangling Dao… Dengxian Pavilion… it’s not a good place.”

“Look around—pavilions like the Dengxian Pavilion are ubiquitous in Guangling Daocheng…”

“I’ve heard they sell a special pill from the Tian Dan Divine Sect at Dengxian Pavilion—a pill that eases the mental stress of cultivation…”

“These pills are pricey. Once ground into powder and burned with pill fire, they release a cleansing aura that purifies the soul… Absorbing that aura can clear one’s divine perception and primordial spirit, which is why cultivators in Guangling Dao hold them in high esteem.”

Yun’e explained.

XiXi frowned at this, “So this thing… can really aid cultivation?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a clamor erupted.

At the entrance of the Dengxian Pavilion, a richly clothed figure was flung out.

With a loud thud, he crashed to the ground and rolled several times.

After getting up, the man pleaded desperately, “Give me another Dengxian Pill! Please, I beg you!”

From within the pavilion, a lithe figure emerged, swaying her hips as she walked.

She said coldly, “You already owe Dengxian Pavilion a hundred pieces of Sevenfold Divine Essence Crystal. If you don’t clear your debt within three days, the pavilion will close its doors to you, and you’ll have to offer your daughter as collateral.”

The graceful woman, with a beauty mark at the corner of her lips and a slim waist, spoke in a chilling tone.

The richly attired man, however, wore a face of pure indignation, “You want my daughter?! Not a chance! Even if I die, I’ll never hand over my daughter!”

“Aah—!!!”

The man roared, then stormed off in a fury.

XiXi and the others, witnessing this, felt a surge of pride for the man’s resolve.

However, the delicate woman at the entrance scoffed disdainfully. As she turned to return to the pavilion, she caught sight of the curious group of four.

Although Yun’e and Jin Taisui were statuesque, she instantly recognized that the four were merely children.

A dazzling smile spread across her face.

“Little girls, you’re from outside Guangling Daocheng, aren’t you?”

“Guangling Daocheng’s signature lies in its Dengxian Pill experience! How about giving it a try? One pill will let you experience a unique sensation in cultivation.”

The woman said with a mesmerizing smile.

Yun’e immediately pulled XiXi behind her.

Jin Taisui and Zhou Peng stepped forward to block the woman.

“No, thank you.”

While Zhou Peng, still munching on a bun, patted his stomach and replied nonchalantly,

The woman insisted with a charming smile, “Don’t worry. Our Dengxian Pavilion is the largest Dengxian Pill experience center in Guangling Daocheng, backed by the Tian Dan Divine Sect. Our pills are the real deal.”

“These pills are even refined by the ancestral patriarch of the Tian Dan Divine Sect… truly divine! They say taking a pill can lead you to the Immortal Realm, where you can converse and roam freely with the immortals!”

“Come on, give it a try! Once you do, you’ll fall in love with Dengxian Pills forever.”

Her words carried a bewitching allure.

But then, XiXi abruptly raised her eyebrows and scolded, unleashing a burst of divine energy that shattered the woman’s enchanting influence.

The woman stared in utter astonishment at XiXi.

How could such a small child, no more than six or seven, possibly break through her divine secret techniques?!

Who is this prodigy?!

To break through her divine secrets, she must be at least in the Divine Vision realm!

The woman wanted to say more, but XiXi and her friends had already departed.

Watching the four leave, the woman’s expression darkened. She immediately signaled for her aides to investigate the origins and identities of these children.

After shaking off the woman, XiXi and her friends didn’t go far; instead, they boarded a restaurant.

Inside, they ordered a lavish array of dishes. Zhou Peng treated generously—being scion of a thousand-year family, money was never an issue.

Naturally, most of the food ended up in Zhou Peng’s belly.

“Ah, this is so satisfying—Guangling Daocheng truly lives up to its fame in pill refining. The chefs here are leaps and bounds better than those elsewhere. Hey, what are you all staring at?”

Zhou Peng patted his rotund belly, noticing that his companions weren’t admiring his enormous appetite but peering out the window.

The atmosphere outside seemed rather grave.

Zhou Peng hurriedly leaped from his chair and joined the group at the window.

“Old Jin, make some room for me,” Zhou Peng said as he squeezed his way to the window.

XiXi and Yun’e had already fixated their gaze outside.

They saw at the entrance of Dengxian Pavilion…

The man, who had earlier vowed not to bring his daughter with him, now wore a wild, contorted expression, his face smeared with mucus, as he pulled his daughter along in a frenzied state.

The abducted girl, however, twisted in terror, unable to break free from the grip of a man endowed with divine vision. Her gaunt, terrified face expressed pure despair; she resisted entering the pavilion as if she knew the fate that awaited inside.

But the girl could not free herself. In a flash, several figures with the might of Divine Guts appeared from within the pavilion and seized the girl, dragging her into an upper hall.

“Xiao Lian, forgive your father!”

“Ha ha ha, the pill has arrived… My precious pill! I’m going to become an immortal, I’m going to ascend!”

A lithe, bewitching woman produced a wooden box. Inside were three pills that she handed to the man.

Her face masked disgust and disdain, yet she still smiled brightly, “Welcome to the Immortal Realm.”

“Ah ha ha ha…”

The man wiped away his tears, his image a stark contrast to his previous righteous fury as he left in high spirits.

Inside the restaurant,

XiXi’s face heated up in anger while Yun’e sighed softly.

Jin Taisui and Zhou Peng remained silent.

They had noticed that such incidents at the entrance of Dengxian Pavilion were not the first to occur.

“What… what’s happening in Guangling Daocheng?!”

Enraged, XiXi pounded the table and cursed.

Yun’e’s veil fluttered as she tenderly caressed the little bunny in her arms, “This world has always been like this… Didn’t Uncle Li take you away from Feilei City because it was too dark? The entire city was once sacrificed…”

XiXi’s small chest heaved rapidly, anger rising within her.

Recalling the terrified expression of that girl and the detestable visage of the man, XiXi felt that her father was simply the best in the world!

“I want to sneak in and see what these Dengxian Pavilions are really doing with these little girls.”

XiXi declared.

“No way!” Yun’e frowned, immediately stopping and refusing.

But XiXi, puffing out her little belly confidently, insisted, “We venture into the world to stand up against injustice, right? Daddy told me countless tales about heroes who couldn’t stand seeing wrongs in the world… Of course, only if it’s safe.”

“Daddy also warned that rushing into danger without caution is foolish, but one should help when possible.”

Yun’e hesitated as XiXi mentioned Li Che.

Seizing the moment, XiXi quickly clutched Yun’e’s arm and shook her gently.

“Sister Yun’e, don’t worry. The Great Emperor XiXi has mastered the secrets of many masters in the Underworld—I’m unbeatable!”

XiXi lifted her little head.

She activated the Sleeping Dragon Elephant of Dragon Elephant Vajra, and her aura seemed to vanish completely from the world.

Yun’e looked on in astonishment.

“Hehe, this is the Breath Convergence taught by Master Niu Mo—it’s amazing, isn’t it!”

XiXi boasted proudly.

Yun’e fell silent; the Breath Convergence was indeed formidable, as XiXi seemed to evaporate before her very eyes.

“We’ll back you up,” Jin Taisui said in a deep voice.

He wouldn’t let XiXi face danger alone.

XiXi retorted, “You all wouldn’t know Breath Convergence anyway, and besides, I have the Feilei Chess Piece given by Daddy. If I encounter danger, I can just dash away!”

“But I do need you to help cover me,” she added.

Then, bursting with excitement, she tore open the Qian Kun Jade.

With five outstretched fingers, she retrieved a set of intricately carved Spirit Wood masks from the jade. These masks also possessed a breath control function, albeit far inferior to Sleeping Dragon Elephant.

“Alright, I’ve prepared our organization…let’s call it the Little Underworld!”

XiXi exclaimed excitedly.

She handed a Jade Rabbit mask to Yun’e, a fierce Snow Wolf mask to Jin Taisui, and a chubby Pig Head mask to a bewildered Zhou Peng.

She herself donned a cute pink Calf mask.

After adjusting and positioning her mask,

Yun’e, Jin Taisui, and Zhou Peng were momentarily speechless, but as they held their masks and recalled XiXi’s mention of the Little Underworld, their hearts warmed with anticipation.

For the powerful and mysterious Underworld was the dream of youngsters.

“XiXi remembers Daddy’s words: tread as if on thin ice!”

“Little Demon Warrior XiXi, deploy!”

“Heh ha!”

XiXi clenched her small fist and shouted with an over-the-top cry. In the next moment, she pulled a black robe around her body from the Qian Kun Jade, hoisted up the Xiangong Gatling, and with a swift leap, dashed out of the window.

When Yun’e and the others finally reached the windowsill, XiXi’s figure had already vanished.

The three exchanged helpless glances, and in the end, they chose to put on their masks.

Jade Rabbit, Snow Wolf, and Pig Head.

……

……

Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Disciples’ City, Elders’ Court.

Study.

Outside, heavy snow fell relentlessly. In the study, a charcoal stove bubbled with boiling water, steaming in the cold air.

In the midst of his secluded cultivation, Li Che slowly opened his eyes.

A trace of resignation crossed his face.

“And the Little Demon…”

When XiXi produced the Calf Mask, even Li Che was taken aback—since when had this little girl learned to carve?!

This little girl must have been preparing for this day for a long time, waiting patiently.

Little Demon XiXi?

Li Che shook his head with a smile.

“Dengxian Pavilion…” Li Che’s smile gradually faded, replaced by a sharp glimmer in his eyes.

“Go on, little one.”

“No matter how you act up…”

“Daddy will always be your backbone.”