Chapter 488: The Tumult of Supreme Might

Huh, huh, huh——!!!

The blood-red sky seemed to be shrouded in countless streams of light in an instant, as if reality itself were warping under a colossal pressure that burst forth like a river breaking its banks.

Half-Step Supreme!

The faces of the five remaining Patriarchs instantly twisted in grotesque shock, their spirits trembling in terror!

Between a Patriarch of the Two Calamities and Three Tribulations and a Supreme, there lies an immense chasm and bottleneck—a barrier that an ordinary person might spend a lifetime never surmounting.

Even among the various Pantheons, the Supreme represents the pinnacle of power, the strongest being beneath a god.

Every Supreme has braved the Three Calamities simultaneously—overcoming the Annihilating God-Wind, Netherfire, and Divine Xiao Thunder—to condense calamity and Dao essence into the Calamity Wheel, forging the Divine Mark of the Great Way!

They are beings who have truly stepped onto the path of the Great Way!

A Half-Step Supreme has touched upon that path, needing only one final leap to ascend fully.

Once that distance is bridged, the transition from Two-Calamity Patriarch to Supreme is complete!

In truth, reaching the Half-Step Supreme stage is no simple feat!

Generally, most Half-Step Supremes retreat to a location within a Bizarre Temple to seclude themselves, enduring long periods of closed-door cultivation to shatter that bottleneck.

If they risk battle and suffer even minor injuries, they might lose the precious insights they’d painstakingly accumulated regarding the Divine Mark of the Great Way.

The consequence would be a fall back into the Two Calamities and Three Tribulations realm—a price far too steep.

Thus, a Half-Step Supreme appearing openly is even rarer than a Supreme!

At least after the advent of the Pantheons, that has been the situation.

So when Fang Han Shu, a Half-Step Supreme, appeared amid the calamity of flag wars, the five Patriarchs were utterly stunned and shaken.

Fang Han Shu wore a starry mask, with sparkling starlight in his eyes; his fingers clenched as a torrent of righteous aura condensed into a ruler.

The ruler, nearly ten feet long, flashed with a milky white brilliance!

Li Che ordered him to leave no one alive; thus, Fang Han Shu showed no sign of mercy.

With a single step, he leaped across the void; the ground seemed to burst apart as pillar after pillar of blinding white light shot skyward.

Like the columns of a dragon, these beams crashed into the five Patriarchs. One among them—a Two Calamity and Three Tribulation patriarch—glared furiously, yet did not retreat.

Even though the oppressive aura of a Half-Step Supreme made his divine essence seem almost frozen, still…

When it came to risking his life, he claimed a Half-Step Supreme would never dare match him!

A Half-Step Supreme cherishes life far more than any Patriarch!

How could he possibly throw himself into the fray?

So if he fights even a bit more fiercely…

There’s a chance to turn the tide!

However, Fang Han Shu merely cast him a sidelong glance, remaining calm. With each step, it was as if the Divine Mark of the Great Way flashed beneath his feet, and the Heavenly Dome sparkled with what looked like drifting stars.

One luminous fragment after another flowed continuously!

The ground cracked open once more as countless pure and resplendent breaths of righteous energy roared out, coalescing into a true dragon-like form.

Its white scales flashed incessantly, its massive body imposing, and its five claws stretched out as if to tear apart reality itself!

The great dragon burst forth from the earth. With a strike from Fang Han Shu’s ruler, the majestic dragon unfurled itself like a sweeping blade and slammed into the intervening Two Calamity and Three Tribulation Patriarch!

The air quivered and shuddered in waves!

That patriarch bellowed as a Buddha-like radiance ascended, coalescing into an immense golden Buddha visage, his glare filled with unyielding fury!

Yet behind Fang Han Shu, the Calamity Wheel materialized. With a crisp crack, it split open without hesitation…

A surge of concentrated Calamity and Dao essence burst forth.

“Ah?!”

The patriarch who had roared froze momentarily, his eyes wide in disbelief.

As a Half-Step Supreme, why would you be so reckless with your life?!

Are you insane?!

Which Half-Step Supreme would fight so recklessly?!

As the Calamity Wheel shattered, it unleashed the barely contained power of the long-forged Divine Mark of the Great Way, making the majestic dragon even more terrifying!

It was as if the dragon had been infused with the boundless power of the Great Way, growing exponentially in strength!

Boom, boom, boom——!!!

Fierce gales raged and intertwined, howling and shaking with destructive force!

They battered relentlessly between the Bizarre Temple and the heavens!

The towering golden Buddha visage shattered under the onslaught, swallowed by a torrent of blinding righteous energy. The cataclysmic explosion twisted space as violent ripples surged outward.

Meanwhile, Fang Han Shu’s black robe flapped wildly. Beneath his starry mask, a refined yet fierce expression could be discerned—as he moved amidst the ruins, taking lives in the chaos.

With each strike of his ruler, yet another Patriarch’s flesh exploded into fragments!

The five Patriarchs, masquerading as Lie Shen Pavilion Assassins, were shattered into pieces by his relentless ruler. Their divine essences howled in despair, trying futilely to escape Fang Han Shu’s crushing suppression.

Li Che had ordered not a single one be spared.

And so Fang Han Shu carried out his task.

This was not only his obedience as a Spiritual Confinement to his lord’s command, but also repayment for Li Che bestowing him with a new lease on life!

……

……

Boom, boom, boom, boom——

Deep within his chest, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit pulsed violently, its rhythm sending ripples cascading outward.

A formidable surge of emotion filled him, as the flesh at his brow split apart to reveal his Star Plucking Gaze.

……

[Mythic Weapon (Upper Fourth Emissary): Ju Xian Xuan Flag (Fragmented)]

[Description: The Eight Ju Xian Flags gather the cosmic forces, commanding the pantheon and governing destiny.]

……

Glowing streams appeared, with hints and characters emerging vividly.

Li Che’s eyes sparkled with renewed brilliance.

They were identical to the Ju Xian Flag he had obtained in the Peach Garden of Xi Wangmu’s Bizarre Temple—both were fragmented flags.

This time, however, it was a genuine Ju Xian Flag!

Li Che’s mood soared as the beat of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit stirred tumultuous emotions within him.

He still recalled how the Pure Heart Dao Fruit had once ravenously absorbed a strange will from the Ju Xian Flag.

He wondered… does this Ju Xian Flag also harbor such a will?

Li Che’s brows furrowed slightly.

Clenching the Ju Xian Flag, his spirit surged, compelling it to be drawn and subdued into the Cosmic Chessboard.

Rumble——

The Cosmic Chessboard trembled violently as another Ju Xian Yellow Flag erupted with pulsating energy, its surface fluttering as if caught in a gale.

Then, a projection of the Seven Aperture Luminous Heart appeared above the Chessboard.

Thump, thump, thump——

In his chest, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit beat rapidly; with every pulse, strands of white tendrils lashed out wildly.

Smack, smack!

One by one, those white tendrils speared into the Ju Xian Flag.

Upon the Ju Xian Xuan Flag, accompanied by a sizzling sound, dense black qi ascended, only to be ravenously devoured by the white tendrils.

“Ah——!!!”

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

A piercing, agonized scream unexpectedly emanated from within the Ju Xian Xuan Flag.

A fierce surge of malevolence assaulted Li Che’s spirit, as if trying to drag him down into utter depravity!

For a brief moment, Li Che’s eyes were stained with scarlet.

But that moment passed quickly; under the crushing force of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, the scarlet was shattered into oblivion!

Slowly…

The screams and wails from the Ju Xian Flag subsided into eerie silence.

Yet Li Che’s heart surged with fervor, his breathing growing rapid.

Now, the Pure Heart Dao Fruit had reached LV7, with its maturity at 20%. Could the absorption of the special black qi from the Ju Xian Flag catapult its evolution?

Could this be the long-awaited Sixth Transcendence of the Dao Fruit?!

An unprecedented sixth transformation lay ahead!

However, Li Che soon realized he might have overthought it.

While Fang Han Shu was cutting a swath of slaughter…

Li Che steadied his mind, allowing the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to absorb and refine the dark power of the Ju Xian Flag.

Swish, swish, swish——

On the Ju Xian Flag, waves of pitch-black energy intertwined.

Li Che fell into deep contemplation.

Gazing at the Ju Xian Flag pinned within the Cosmic Chessboard, ravaged and consumed by the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, he observed the dark energy coursing over it…

His brows knitted in thought.

What is this dark energy…?

It seems intimately tied to the Dao Fruit and can greatly bolster the Pure Heart Dao Fruit’s power…

The Dao Fruit had always been Li Che’s most secret essence. Last time when the Pure Heart Dao Fruit absorbed energy from the Ju Xian Flag, Li Che hardly paid heed.

But this time…

He had no choice but to take it seriously.

“What exactly is this power?”

“Could it be connected to the Dao Tree Space?”

After a long moment, Li Che exhaled slowly, frustrated by the paucity of information and the lack of any guidance.

When it came to the mysteries of the Dao Fruit and the Dao Tree, he had always traveled the path alone.

Perhaps he could share the burden with his daughter XiXi, yet their bond was nothing more than that of the Dao Tree.

Still, just the thought of that bond…

At his current state, Li Che was no slouch. As his cultivation rose, his heart couldn’t help but tremble with anticipation.

“The bond of the Dao Tree… my daughter is the Daughter of Yulian… so could it be that the Dao Tree Space is somehow related to Yulian?”

Li Che drew in a deep breath.

But soon he let the thought go.

Many questions were meaningless until one reached a certain level—they only added worry without solving the real problems. Getting stuck in trivial doubts even jeopardized one’s spirit and goals.

Li Che’s heart quieted, as if granted a sudden cleansing.

His spirit grew clearer and more transparent.

Buzz, buzz, buzz——

When the last wisp of dark energy on the Ju Xian Flag was refined away,

Li Che’s eyes lit up.

The maturity of the Dao Fruit blossomed before him.

[Dao Fruit: Pure Heart (LV7 50%)]

The maturity of the Dao Fruit had surged by 30%—a significant boost.

A trace of regret flickered in Li Che’s eyes, but it was fleeting. He was content, for the Pure Heart Dao Fruit at LV7 was already a huge achievement.

After all, the Ju Xian Flag came in eight parts. If one fragment alone could trigger a massive transformation, gathering all eight would propel the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to the Ninth Transcendence!

Many Dao Fruit masters were stuck at the Ninth Transcendence, unable to break through.

Thus, reaching the Ninth Transcendence was no easy feat.

With that thought, Li Che felt an overwhelming satisfaction.

His eyes widened as a blinding radiance seemed to ripple through space, washing over everything in a purifying surge.

The world looked as clear as if newly born.

“Hoo—”

“Sigh—”

Standing still, with each breath, Li Che calmed his spirit and adjusted his bamboo hat.

In the distance…

Fang Han Shu had finished his massacre but did not come to disturb Li Che; instead, he guarded the surroundings as if serving as Li Che’s protector.

He knew Li Che must be refining the Ju Xian Flag.

“My Lord.”

Fang Han Shu’s black robe fluttered in the wind.

Li Che smiled and nodded, pleased with Fang Han Shu’s demeanor. Truly, an Elder who acted with ease.

“I’ve collected the flesh and blood remnants of those fallen Patriarchs… all of them.”

Fang Han Shu declared.

Being a Spiritual Confinement, he knew exactly what Li Che intended to do with these remnants.

Li Che glanced briefly before clenching his fingers.

He summoned the spiritual remnants of these Patriarchs one after another.

The eerie winds wailed as the very fabric of space seemed to vibrate.

The black-robed Patriarch under the command of the Xuan Zhen Supreme was deliberately revived by Li Che, not to be used as fodder for other spiritual remnants.

“My Lord! Under the command of the Dark Heavenly Court, Patriarch Zhou Heng…”

The black-robed Patriarch, a Two Calamity and Three Tribulation being with formidable power, clasped his fists and bowed, his eyes filled with complexity.

Li Che kept Zhou Heng’s spiritual life for his own use, planning to release him back to Qitian Inner City to relay the news of a flag raid by a formidable force from the Hei Xumi faction.

For why would a Patriarch from Hei Xumi come to seize the flag?

Li Che mused that it must be the revelation of the Xuan Zhen Supreme, intercepted by the stronghold of Qitian Inner City under the command of Hei Xumi’s supreme Chag Lou.

Thus, arrangements were made in secret to dispatch a strong Hei Xumi warrior to seize the flag.

Besides, even if it wasn’t Chag Lou, having Zhou Heng relay the news would be enough to spark internal strife among the Supremes in Qitian Inner City.

That, for Li Che, was sufficient.

Moreover, Li Che had other questions to ask.

For instance, how did the Dark Heavenly Court plan and arrange for the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple on the side of Jin Guang Mansion?

Would any truly awakened divine beings be dispatched?

Alas, Patriarch Zhou Heng, stationed in Qitian City, knew little about the situation at Jin Guang Mansion.

Li Che didn’t worry much about Jin Guang Mansion’s affairs… they would be resolved in due time.

The revival of the Third Prince Temple Spirit was even more critical to Li Che than the resurrection of Qitian.

Why?

Because his daughter XiXi’s bond with the Third Prince Temple Spirit was far too profound!

Li Che could never allow any mishap in the revival of the Third Prince Temple Spirit!

If it affected his daughter XiXi, he would regret it for a lifetime!

After a brief pause, Li Che changed the subject: “Among the Pantheons, is there any true divine resurrection?”

With utmost reverence, Zhou Heng replied, “Certainly, divine spirits do return. Every divine tide brings a Temple Spirit back from the Bizarre Temple, but a revived Temple Spirit is vastly different from an immortal god.”

Li Che was taken aback.

“What difference?”

“Divine Flame.”

“An immortal god possesses an eternal path and unextinguishable Divine Flame, fully unleashing their divine might to live for ninety thousand years.” Zhou Heng explained.

“But a Temple Spirit… once its life ends, its Divine Flame extinguishes, never to be rekindled. Should it flare up again, it would signal the complete annihilation of even the Temple Spirit.”

Li Che was horrified; he had never heard such a claim. The revelation reminded him of the recently resurrected Great Sage of Qitian…

No wonder the Great Sage of Qitian appeared so feeble upon revival.

Moreover, Li Che suddenly wondered: if the Great Sage of Qitian were to charge into the Earthly Bizarre Temple, would he face mortal danger? Faced with such peril, might he choose to re-ignite his Divine Flame?

If so, he might vanish entirely from the world.

Perhaps that was the case.

Suddenly, Li Che felt a violent tremor within the Cosmic Chessboard—a Feilei Chess Piece he had once lodged within Old Monkey’s body.

At that moment, the chess piece quaked violently, sending a powerful sense of danger surging back.

Li Che’s heart throbbed.

Ignoring his conversation about Spiritual Confinement, his spirit plunged into the Cosmic Chessboard.

Buzz——

The Martial Immortal Will coalesced, radiating a brilliant golden light.

Li Che’s fingers spread wide, and instantly a Feilei Chess Piece floated upward, its dark mass expanding like an endless black hole.

In that dark vortex, images began to form like a mirrored reflection.

Though the vision was hazy, he glimpsed an old monkey being hunted—a deluge of chains tore through its body, splattering blood…

The image flickered and then vanished in a thunderous rush.

Clearly, the distance was too vast.

Unlike the Inner Bizarre Temple, even a Feilei Chess Piece couldn’t clearly reveal the scene within the Earthly Bizarre Temple.

“Perhaps the Chess Sage Dao Fruit’s level is too low. If it reached LV7, the vision would be clearer—at least more detailed.”

Li Che exhaled a cloud of turbid air, his heart growing suddenly heavy.

The joy from acquiring the Ju Xian Flag had evaporated in an instant.

It seemed that Qitian, within the Earthly Bizarre Temple, was in dire peril.

Was it being hunted by an immortal god?

Since Qitian’s revival as a Temple Spirit was marked by an extinguished Divine Flame, its power was considerably weaker than that of a true immortal god…

He recalled the hope that had shone in Qitian’s eyes when it charged into the Earthly Bizarre Temple.

A hope that one day, Li Che could wage battle side by side with Old Monkey amidst the nine heavens and ten earths…

In that moment, an oppressive pressure weighed down on Li Che’s heart.

“Nine Heavens and Ten Earths…”

Li Che’s gaze slowly turned icy.

But he knew that mulling over such matters was futile now.

“I am still too weak…”

Li Che exhaled deeply.

“I must raise my martial cultivation soon and break through to the human-immortal realm!”

Gazing intensely at the chaotic vision,

the image faded away and the sense of impending crisis vanished without trace.

Li Che’s spirit returned, though merely as an observer.

With his eyes open, the ambient temperature noticeably dropped.

Fang Han Shu, Zhou Heng, and the other Spiritual Confinements sensed Li Che’s troubled mood.

They sent Zhou Heng off toward Qitian Inner City.

Li Che also dismissed Liu Gong Gong back toward the Great Realm Imperial House…

As for the Spiritual Confinements from Hei Xumi, after obtaining detailed information, Li Che ruthlessly used them as nourishment for his familiar Spiritual Confinements.

Moreover, before using these remnants as fuel, Li Che had them open the Qiankun Space to scour every treasure stored within.

Surprisingly, there turned out to be no shortage of valuable items.

“Ten One-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals, three Two-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystals—but no Three-Leaf Dao Essence Divine Crystal… and there are also treasured pills, Spirit Wood, and other resources…”

A bountiful harvest lifted Li Che’s mood considerably.

Suddenly, the Time-Space Golden Wheel Dao Fruit in his chest trembled once more, drawing considerable time-space energy from the now-collapsing Qiankun Space.

Even these disintegrating spaces could endow the Time-Space Golden Wheel with further maturity!

Buzz, buzz, buzz——

In the next moment, shimmering light danced before his eyes.

The maturity of the Time-Space Golden Wheel Dao Fruit advanced to LV2.

This unexpected boost delighted Li Che.

Huh, huh, huh, huh——

Then suddenly, Fang Han Shu’s expression shifted.

“Let’s move!”

“The waves of the Great Way… a Supreme warrior is here!”

Fang Han Shu instantly declared.

At that, Li Che, with his starry mask, looked up sharply and stared into the distance.

From a direction shrouded in eerie mist, a terrifying aura twisted space as if shattering the void.

A figure clad in white, donning a starry mask, dashed out from the swirling chaos!

“Lie Shen Pavilion!”

Fang Han Shu and Li Che exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding.

They immediately realized that the Supreme, emerging through shattered space with a starry mask, was undoubtedly a member of Lie Shen Pavilion!

The Supreme floated high, surveying the land from a hundred feet above, his masked eyes scanning relentlessly.

A pressure akin to the Three Calamities swept over the earth like a tidal wave.

“How dare you!”

“How dare you impersonate a Lie Shen Pavilion assassin!”

The shout erupted from the professional Lie Shen Pavilion assassin, and in the next instant, Li Che felt waves of terror as interwoven patterns materialized around him.

Countless streams of water consolidated in mid-air, forming a cage that began slicing into his flesh.

Within those torrents, divine patterns flickered and intermingled.

The Divine Mark of the Great Way!

The Supreme assassin of Lie Shen Pavilion, hovering a hundred feet above, glared coldly with murderous intent and gripped his fingers tightly.

In an instant…

The Divine Mark of the Great Way that enveloped Li Che and Fang Han Shu exploded with a thunderous force!

“Huh?!”

However, the Supreme’s heart stilled for a moment.

Then, stepping forward, a flash of light appeared from the hundred-foot height onto the ground. The earth trembled violently, cracking and letting forth eerie mists from every fissure.

“It’s gone?”

As the power of the Divine Mark dissipated and the broken space mended,

neither Li Che nor Fang Han Shu’s bodies surfaced. Instead, they had escaped right before the Supreme’s eyes.

“Spatial Transposition…”

“What a bizarre transposition technique.”

The Supreme’s brow furrowed.

Then, his masked eyes glowed with cold fury as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Yet again, using the name of Lie Shen Pavilion to cover petty deeds… if only our Sect Leader weren’t so lax, these Pantheon members would have to answer for this!”

“Now, our reputation as Lie Shen Pavilion assassins is being smeared…”

“Though, to be fair, we assassins never had a good reputation anyway…”

The assassin murmured,

Then, clenching his fingers, he summoned streams of divine energy that converged.

“The Buddhist aura of Hei Xumi…”

“And one of them exuded monstrous demonic aura…”

“The aura of Mythic Weapon… huh?! Ju Xian Xuan Flag!”

“The Great Realm Imperial House has even loaned out the Ju Xian Flag? Surely, only a Supreme from the Dark Heavenly Court could manage that. But judging by the situation… it seems the Ju Xian Flag has been seized…”

“Demonic aura and Buddhist essence…”

“Both the Xie Yao Cave and Hei Xumi struck simultaneously? Are the three major Pantheon factions now at odds?”

“Chaos… such chaos…”

“Heh, this is going to be good.”

……

……

Divine Capital.

Great Realm Imperial House.

Rumble——

Inside the imperial mausoleum temple,

the Great Jing Emperor sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, quietly cultivating as blocks of Dao Essence Divine Crystals surrounded him, exuding their potent energy which he absorbed into his flesh.

Suddenly, the Emperor’s normally serene, godly visage, shrouded in Dao essence, snapped open his tightly shut eyes, revealing countless bloodshot veins in his gaze.

“Ah——!!!”

He clutched at his chest sharply.

His heart felt as if it might burst.

Thump!

His whole body trembled as he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

An invisible surge of energy exploded from him, shattering the meticulously arranged divine formation of talismans into fragments!

“Ah, ah, ah——”

“My Ju Xian Flag!”

The Emperor staggered to his feet, his aura fluctuating ferociously.

He felt the hard-earned connection between himself and the Ju Xian Xuan Flag shatter completely under a tremendous, overwhelming force.

Though he suffered a backlash, the pain from that was nothing compared to the agony of losing the Ju Xian Flag.

“Your Majesty… what’s wrong?”

Suddenly, a waft of fragrant wind stirred.

A graceful figure dashed in—a young lady from the Su Family, Su Da.

However——

The moment Su Da stepped into the imperial mausoleum, the Emperor’s eyes blazed crimson as he appeared before her in a shifting, ghostly manner.

With his fingers raised, he clutched her smooth, swan-like neck and pressed her hard against the temple wall.

In an instant, Su Da’s once-beautiful face contorted in unspeakable agony and horror…

“Is it you?! Is it you who leaked the news about the Ju Xian Flag?!”

The Emperor, his voice cold and murderous, declared.

Su Da’s long legs thrashed desperately, her aura gradually fading as if all life were being stripped away.

Yet the Emperor’s grip slowly loosened as a terrifying force intervened.

“Fool.”

His cold voice resonated.

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon Su Da’s head—it had transformed into that of a white fox, elevated and utterly indifferent.

“Qingqiu God!”

The Emperor’s previously raging fury instantly cooled, replaced by a calm determination.

“What are you doing?”

On the white fox head, an expression of disdain and cold contempt surfaced.

“The loss of the Ju Xian Flag has nothing to do with my Xie Yao Cave. Why would my Xie Yao Cave need the Ju Xian Flag?”

“The power of the Ju Xian Flag is beyond the reach of us demon clans—it doesn’t suit us. If we were to covet it, we’d be after the divine weapon hidden behind Xi Wangmu’s Bizarre Temple—on the level of the Three Purities!”

“I have already helped you secure the Dan Shu Hu… it is the key. If you can truly unlock that Bizarre Temple, the Heavens’ Imperial Inheritance—be it the Haotian Pagoda, the Jiulong Ten Tribulation Qi, or the Feng Tian Seal—would be far more important than the Ju Xian Flag.”

“Of course, if all eight Ju Xian Flags were assembled, it might tempt me—but it’s only a fractured remnant. Would I trade the acquisition of the far more coveted Jiulong Ten Tribulation Qi for a mere scrap?”

Su Da replied coolly.

The Emperor’s expression twitched.

“Then who could it be…?”

Su Da’s fox-like eyes narrowed slightly.

“Probably those balding brutes from Hei Xumi…”

The Emperor trembled all over.

Su Da’s fox head slowly reverted to her normal visage, her charming features reappearing with a flicker of scarlet on her tongue as it lightly swayed.

“If the Ju Xian Xuan Flag is lost, then you must quickly secure the Ju Xian Yellow Flag…”

“Enough, I will help you…”

“With the imminent revival of the Third Prince Temple Spirit… Li Che will surely come, for the Daughter of Yulian and the Third Prince Temple Spirit share an inseparable bond. Hence, I will go and help you reclaim the Ju Xian Yellow Flag.”

Su Da spoke in a soft tone.

The Emperor’s body shuddered and his eyes brightened slightly.

……

……

Li Che, clutching a Feilei Chess Piece, traversed the barriers between the Bizarre Temple and the mortal world.

The Time-Space Golden Wheel Dao Fruit absorbed more time-space energy, though noticeably less than before.

Li Che then returned to Taibai Peak, where he exchanged places with the Painted Immortal Clone who was attending the inheritance ceremony with XiXi.

“Hoo—”

Li Che exhaled a murky breath.

Facing the pressure of that Supreme assault was indeed overwhelming.

Who would have thought that a Supreme from Lie Shen Pavilion would suddenly rip through space to attack…

It seems that masquerading as a Lie Shen Pavilion assassin carries its own risks.

“It’s our first time taking the blame for Lie Shen Pavilion. We clearly lack enough experience,”

Li Che muttered under his breath.

Next time, once the blame is cast, we’d better run—if we’re too slow, another Lie Shen Pavilion Supreme might appear.

Then, just as Li Che finished his exhale,

inside his chest,

the Chess Sage Dao Fruit began to tremble and pulsate wildly.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom——

Like rolling thunder, it pounded as if the gods themselves were drumming!

Within the Mud Pellet Inner Scene, tremors shook fifteen divine embryos; countless divine essences boiled as if surging waves arose!

And the flesh at his brow tore rapidly outward!

The Star Plucking Gaze revealed itself; in his golden pupils, intricate lines crisscrossed like networks of fate!

Then the golden radiance of the Star Plucking Gaze shifted between black and white.

One eye turned black, the other white!

As if the sun and the moon alternated, yin and yang transformed!

Before him, black and white texts intertwined.

[Dao Fruit: Chess Sage (LV7 0%)]

Chess Sage Dao Fruit!

After countless calls…

Finally, the Fifth Transcendence!

Li Che’s heart danced with elation and passion.

At that moment, he rejoiced not merely in the transformation of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit,

but also in the hope that after its fifth transcension, he might finally uncover

what fate awaited Qitian in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!