Chapter 503: Thunder Ascendance

A deafening roar pulsed in his heart, as if the storm of the Qiankun Ring’s lightning pool had not fully dissipated but reemerged on Earth.

It was as though countless divine dragons, masters of thunder, opened their jaws and roared, their sound waves reverberating across the mountaintops and rippling even the void.

Li Che stood at the peak, pores flared wide as he absorbed the essence of the storm, releasing a dazzling, misty radiance that interwove and flashed about him.

His heart pounded relentlessly, as though pushed to its limit by an overwhelming force.

His blood surged at breakneck speed—as if high-pressure water were pumped through his veins—forcefully striking the vessel walls with agonizing intensity.

Yet, Li Che’s inner spirit grew astonishingly lucid, plunging into a profound, mysterious state.

His mind became crystal clear, as if linked intimately with heaven and earth, sensing myriad stray particles of thunder.

They slowly gathered, waiting for the next ferocious, tempestuous outburst.

He even detected within those particles an aura of utter destruction.

Li Che exhaled slowly, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Dao Fruit Thunder Magnetic Conduit—Stage Five Transcendence!

Waves of turbulent energy swirled around him as his spirit soared. With the transformation of the Dao Fruit Thunder Magnetic Conduit, he was about to unlock his seventh primordial Dao Calamity!

The convergence of the Nine Calamities was nearly upon him; if achieved, the Eight-Nine Profound Skill he had been refining might finally materialize.

The path of the Martial Immortal had already reached its zenith among mortals and immortals alike.

In this age, where divine tides surge, it is the accumulated divine essence that forms the foundation of cultivation.

Only by centering on that divine essence can one ascend to higher realms. Achieving a divine form—like the True Martial Divine Sect’s path—is merely a route trodden on Earth, their limits plainly set.

Only by wholeheartedly embracing divinity can one tread through tribulations, condense calamity wheels, and perceive the Divine Mark of the Great Way.

Only then can one forge a divine platform, ignite divine flames, and verify the path to godhood.

Eight-Nine Profound Skill——

He would create his very own Eight-Nine Profound Skill.

The Martial Immortal’s path, though obscured ahead, would be carved out by Li Che himself.

The divine path is attainable, but Li Che doubted his ability to reach heights comparable to immortal gods.

For gods are born of divine tides, having weathered one tempest after another to stand atop the pinnacle of divine essence.

How could Li Che confidently claim he could follow in the footsteps of gods and ultimately battle immortals?

Although the Dao Fruit had granted him tremendous support, no Dao Fruit explicitly paves the divine path or directly boosts divine cultivation.

Moreover, Li Che had always harbored a thought——

Divinity is too ephemeral, like a fleeting dream.

Yet martial cultivation is different. In this world, Li Che’s earliest training was in martial arts—each move, every punch or kick, forged through grit and sweat.

Martial cultivation is built upon one’s tangible flesh and blood.

Thus, Li Che fearlessly favored the martial way, for it was the one true light within his heart.

Even without the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit to boost his martial prowess, Li Che would spare no effort in pursuing martial excellence.

As he grew stronger, Li Che began to grasp the very nature of this world. No longer was he the lowly wood-carving laborer in Feilei City, struggling for daily meals to support his wife and daughter.

With greater power comes a wider vantage; one can pierce through the mists, tear apart the hazy veils concealing truth, and face genuine peril head-on.

Yulian, Pantheon, Immortal Gods, Nine Heavens and Ten Earths——

Even now, as Li Che reached the realm of earthly Martial Immortals, he still felt the crushing pressure—pressure emanating from the gods.

Images of Qitian’s unwavering faith and a swift somersault into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths flashed continually in his mind.

Li Che never forgot the kindness shown to him; one day, he vowed to charge into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths and stand shoulder to shoulder with Qitian.

At that moment, his eyes snapped open, radiant as if lightning itself were dancing, wild and interwoven in a frenzied battle.

Around him, countless winds and torrents surged, yet a clear zone formed about his body.

In his ears, all was tranquil—only the incessant, pounding beat of his Dao Fruit resonated, ferocious and untamed, like the roar of an ancient life unleashing unimaginable force that set the divine drums of fate echoing.

Thunder surged throughout every pore, every cell.

Li Che knew that in this moment, atop the stone peak of Dragon Island, he was being scrutinized by countless onlookers.

But he did not care.

Below him, the mountain’s blood flowed like a river.

Li Che’s eyes narrowed.

He exhaled—a swirling current of air drifting in midair.

It had arrived.

All sound in the world had vanished—the wind, the murmur of clouds, the grind of shifting earth, even the drip of blood—it was all silent.

Not a trace remained, utterly silent.

Only the relentless pulse of his Dao Fruit persisted.

KA-BOOM!!!

In the blink of a thousandth of a breath, his spirit was hurled into the vast, boundless cosmos by an awe-inspiring force.

Familiar and expansive, the wild cosmos loomed—a colossal Dao Tree stretched across the sky, its vast canopy blocking out all light.

Ssssss——

A singular, ever-blazing Dao Fruit pulsed with lightning—a color that was not rainbow but solely the hue of thunder!

Indeed, thunder’s own color. Li Che found words inadequate to describe it; for now, it was simply the color of thunder.

Countless bolts erupted from the Dao Fruit, tearing through space, shattering everything with explosive, devastating energy.

Yet amidst that destruction lay a unique field that warped everything, twisting every life and matter that drew near.

They were all torn apart by its distortion.

Waves of thunder rolled; the scene shifted from the desolate void to a tempestuous sea of lightning where various bolts interlaced.

It was as if a genuine heavenly thunder calamity was gathering unspeakable energy, preparing to deliver the most fatal blow to the one undergoing tribulation.

Li Che’s eyes locked onto a figure at the center of the thunderous sea—minuscule amidst the torrents yet the focus of heaven and earth, encircled by churning lightning like the calm eye of a storm.

That figure, entwined with innumerable bolts, seemed connected to each streak of lightning—a presence brimming with destructive energy, as though capable of incinerating everything.

Li Che saw the silhouette seated in meditation, from which torrents of lightning burst from every pore—as if one mere gesture could summon a storm that engulfed the entire sky.

KA-BOOM!!! The figure suddenly flared to life the moment it sensed Li Che’s gaze.

Like an exquisitely honed spear, it lunged instantly, piercing through the very fabric of space.

Li Che felt a shock race through him as a genuine bolt of lightning intertwined with his heart—a piercing strike that sent shivers coursing through his body.

Numbness spread all over him; in the next moment, he shattered completely under the weight of that annihilating force, like a fragile boat capsizing.

Confusion.

Dizziness!

The heavens and earth overturned!

Dragon Island—the bleeding mountaintop.

Li Che’s eyes reopened; perhaps only a single breath or two had passed, yet he felt as if ages had elapsed.

Uncontrolled, his pores exuded wave after wave of terrifying lightning.

“Another Dao Fruit Master—each one fearsomely powerful; with just a glance, not even time or space can restrain their will.”

Li Che drew a deep breath. These Dao Fruit Masters must wield powers rivaling that of immortal gods.

Now, having understood the transformation of Dao Fruits to Stage Eight, Li Che realized that to trigger such a change, one’s own cultivation must ascend to match the fruit’s evolution.

Otherwise, the Dao Fruit would never transform.

GROAAARR—every cell seemed to leap with arcs of thunder.

The Dao Fruit Thunder Magnetic Conduit, now transformed with a might far greater, made him feel as though he truly commanded the storms.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body and the Thunder Magnetic Conduit merged without conflict, achieving a perfect synthesis.

This granted him a transformation unlike any other.

His Martial Immortal Golden Body was bestowed by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, while the Thunder Magnetic Conduit came from another Dao Fruit—together forging his unique physique.

Li Che’s eyes gleamed as he lifted his head, as though witnessing the night’s black clouds dissolve and reveal the first radiant beams of dawn over Jingguang Prefecture.

[Dao Fruit Iv7 – Stage Five, Dao Induction | (Thunder Magnetic Extreme Pressure) Universal Upraise, Dao Calamity (Original Shattered Star Thunder)]

Ssssss—like dark golden lightning, with trajectories like tumbling dragons and serpents, screeching as it erupted, surging and crackling around him while the very air exploded.

A terrifying, pure destructive force descended, as if destined to annihilate everything, shattering all existence!

Shattered Star Thunder!

Thunder that destroys and shatters the stars!

The Seventh Calamity!

Li Che’s eyes were shrouded in a dark golden hue; his clenched fist unleashed a terrifying burst of Shattered Star Thunder—a blast with the power to rupture everything in its path.

For a moment, Li Che even experienced the delusion that he could destroy the world.

[Dao Calamity (Original Shattered Star Thunder): Guiding the Calamity, Primordial Heaven and Earth, Original Thunder Calamity, Thunder That Shatters Darkness]

With thunder, shatter the darkness!

Original Thunder Calamity!

Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Wind, Space—Thunder!

The Original Seventh Calamity!

Li Che’s heart pounded violently as his black Ink Robe billowed in the mountain wind.

He fought hard to resist the urge to step directly into the Dao Calamity space to guide the Seventh Calamity.

Scanning his surroundings, he sensed that several hundred zhang away from Dragon Island, numerous hidden experts watched in stunned awe.

Even from the Bizarre Temple where the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple resided, fearsome gazes pierced through the barriers between the divine realm and the mortal world.

These eyes fixated on Li Che with unwavering intensity.

Li Che had successfully expelled his daughter, making him the focal point of everyone’s attention.

Thus, the relentless scrutiny directed at XiXi, the Daughter of Yulian, was greatly reduced—she would no longer be the universal target.

Li Che had achieved his initial aim.

In fact, his Dao Fruit transformation had taken barely any time at all.

Many were still frozen in shock as Li Che’s gaze swept over them before he raised his head to look toward the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring overhead.

Though he had withstood the overwhelming Nine Heavens Xuan Lei, the power within the Qiankun Ring continued to ripple and spread, shaking souls with its intensity.

Buzzing—

That was the sound of the Qiankun Ring trembling; this Mythic Weapon belonging to the Third Prince Temple Spirit reacted with intense vigor.

Perhaps its divine aura was reawakened, or maybe it sensed that the Third Prince Temple Spirit was only a few hundred li away and thus grew restless, yearning to return to divine hands.

Meanwhile, Li Che pondered——

How could he help his daughter seize this Mythic Weapon?

Returning it to the gods was impossible. For XiXi, assembling the complete divine armament was crucial—the divine aura of multiple weapons would counteract the Yulian Curse.

After a moment’s thought, Li Che swept his hands dramatically; his Ink Robe, adorned with golden lotus motifs, whipped about as he stepped into the void.

In an instant, he shot upward like a cannonball, appearing right before the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring.

The Qiankun Ring roared with divine energy, resonating with thunder.

It resembled a mischievous child, angrily hurling space around it as if freshly awakened and incensed at its confinement!

An overwhelming force battered the void, fracturing the very air amid torrents of divine essence.

Li Che hovered beneath the Qiankun Ring, his eyes narrowing while his jet-black hair whipped violently in the wind.

He hesitated, wondering if now was the moment to call XiXi forth from Mo City Shandu to let her claim the weapon.

In the end, he resolved to give it a try.

For Li Che understood that as XiXi’s body and spirit reached a critical juncture, she must unite with this divine weapon—the final and crucial piece of the Third Prince Temple Spirit’s divine armament set!

So Li Che planned to test the waters.

A subtle stirring in his soul.

In Mo City Shandu, under the watchful protection of Gu Changqing and Gu Yinxuan, XiXi’s eyes suddenly fluttered open.

She saw countless droplets of ink-like rain intertwining before her, gradually coalescing into the shape of Li Che.

It was a Dominating Clone formed from the energies of Mo City Shandu, here to escort XiXi out.

“Father!”

XiXi’s eyes lit up.

In truth, XiXi’s awareness was sharp; often the Li Che by her side was merely a clone.

Li Che’s Painted Immortal Clone could fool many—but never XiXi.

Because XiXi——

She was the only one in the world carrying Li Che’s bloodline.

And a Dominating Clone was entirely different.

On the clone, XiXi could unmistakably feel her father’s aura.

Among all of Li Che’s duplicates, only the Dominating Clone could truly pass as him.

“Father! XiXi’s gotten so much stronger! Look, she has absorbed the essence of so many alchemical pills—it’s extraordinary!”

“The divine aura surging from the weapon is incredible—it not only fortifies your body but continuously enhances your divine cultivation!”

XiXi exclaimed excitedly.

Li Che smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, “Well done.”

Then, with a sudden movement of spirit, he led XiXi out of Mo City Shandu.

Since entering or exiting Mo City always induced a disorienting dizziness, Li Che personally ensured her safe transit each time.

He attentively escorted his daughter every time she passed through Mo City Shandu.

XiXi blinked her dense lashes and her eyes sparkled brightly.

Soon, a potent aura of bloodiness swept over them.

XiXi knew the grand battle was over—it appeared that Father had triumphed!

Oh yeah!

Father truly was the strongest!

XiXi beamed with pride; worthy of being the daughter of the great XiXi Emperor, she was undeniably gifted.

Watching his inexplicably smug daughter, Li Che gently ruffled her head.

“The Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring is here—XiXi, sense it and see if you can absorb it,” he called.

He shouted,

“Try it out—if it doesn’t work, just let it go.”

At his words, XiXi’s eyes shone brilliantly as she was enveloped by his aura, floating high. That sensation of defying gravity, without aid, made her feel like a liberated bird in flight.

“Father believes in you, XiXi. You can do it!”

XiXi clenched her small fists and nodded resolutely.

She would never let her father down!

With Father by her side, XiXi fearlessly surged forward! Li Che charged from Dragon Island’s peak to its base, defying the scheming attacks of the Four Seas Dragon Clan’s Nine Heavens Xuan Lei…

XiXi would surely perform brilliantly; she could not allow all of Father’s sacrifices to be for naught!

XiXi lifted her head high, hands on her hips, her gaze fixed on the enormous, silver Qiankun Ring that spanned ten li across the sky, its silver radiance interwoven with blood-red streaks—the remnants of divine wrath and a fading divine aura.

Though a Martial Saint, in the face of such power she was insignificant.

XiXi took a deep breath.

Then, her expression changed subtly as her entire aura shifted.

Purple Flame Serpent Fire-Tipped Spear, God-Slamming Brick, Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, Undying Prison Lotus Hun Tian Ling, and the Yulian Yin-Yang Divine Sword!

One by one, the divine weapons manifested.

Behind XiXi, a phantom image appeared, the divine silhouette encapsulated within a Divine Essence Golden Pill.

Eight-Armed Three-Faced Unbeatable Divine Vision!

Superimposed over it were visions of various divine weapons; at this moment, XiXi’s aura underwent a significant transformation.

Li Che sensed that the myriad gazes from heaven and earth shifted from him to XiXi.

Emotions of excitement, anticipation, sneers, and ridicule from the powerful forces of the Bizarre Temple’s Pantheon were all evident.

They seemed to know that once XiXi successfully claimed the Qiankun Ring, unpredictable changes would occur.

Third Prince Temple Spirit——

It was very possible he would be resurrected!

Their excitement and anticipation soared because of that very possibility.

Yet their sneers and ridicule came from knowing that the resurrection of the Third Prince Temple Spirit was impossible—it required time, and they would strike during his rebirth!

Thus, they watched XiXi’s attempt to claim the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring with a wry amusement.

It was as if they were witnessing the Daughter of Yulian single-handedly consigning a divine being of the Yulian Camp to death!

In truth, it was a choice.

For the Daughter of Yulian, watching the downfall of the gods in her camp, their eventual demise after the divine flames were exhausted, would slowly scar her soul and lead her to corruption.

Even the mighty beings of the Pantheon began to sense something amiss.

This divine tide from Yulian seemed different from of old.

The growth of the Daughter of Yulian had deviated from its destined path, defying predetermined fate—something the heavens would not allow.

The world required the Daughter of Yulian to be the cold, ruthless executor; the gods needed her to end this divine tide!

If the Daughter of Yulian ever softened and ceased to be ruthless——

then who would put an end to this divine tide?

Thus, they watched with amused glee as the Daughter of Yulian stepped onto her destined path.

Li Che, suspended in midair with Martial Immortal energy radiating, saw golden blood surging like tidal waves.

He was well aware of the myriad gazes fixed upon him.

With his hands clasped behind his back and fists tight, his imposing aura steadily grew.

His duty was to protect his daughter!

Even if XiXi’s claim of the Qiankun Ring would unleash tempest and inferno, Li Che, as her father, would bear it all!

At that moment, XiXi kindled her divine vision, yet also sensed a trace of hesitation.

She seemed to realize something—she felt an inexplicable melancholy welling deep in her heart, gradually enveloping her entire being.

Why was this happening?

XiXi looked over at Li Che in confusion.

Then she noticed that her father was bathed in golden blood—a warm, radiant sun shining upon her.

Her inner sorrow melted away as if snow meeting scorching heat.

“Go on, XiXi,”

Li Che said gently with a smile.

XiXi’s eyes immediately filled with determination.

She nodded firmly!

With her father at her back, XiXi feared nothing!

With Father there, XiXi soared courageously!

Buzzing, buzzing—XiXi’s feet stomped on the Yulian Fenghuo Jingguang Wheel, its resounding clatter heralding as countless sparks burst forth.

She charged at the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring.

Her small frame plunged decisively into the void encircled by the Qiankun Ring.

KA-BOOM!!!

In that moment, XiXi felt an overwhelming, infinite pressure!

A frenzy of divine essence roared in every direction from the Qiankun Ring.

Buzzing, buzzing—

Then silhouettes formed from the coalesced divine essence.

Figures about her size appeared, also riding wind wheels, gripping fire-tipped spears, cloaked in Hun Tian Ling, their hair braided high.

Ssssss—

Xuan Lei interwove around the figures, outlining their forms.

“You—”

XiXi squinted at the vague figure; though its form was obscured, its eyes were as profound as a starry sky, exuding an air of defiance and supremacy!

She felt an overwhelming pressure.

Then she understood the meaning behind the Qiankun Ring:

Defeat it!

Only by triumphing over it could she seize the Qiankun Ring and complete the divine armament set!

This was both a trial and a legacy!

For a moment, the entire cosmos fell silent. The lightning still flashed, and countless bolts intertwined—but as the figure slowly lifted its fire-tipped spear, everything seemed to freeze.

Third Prince Temple Spirit?!

KA-BOOM!!!

The very ground of Dragon Island trembled beneath his feet.

Li Che’s brows furrowed as his deep gaze fixed firmly.

Was it the Lesser Dragon Emperor?!

Awake.

Or was he still feigning slumber?

Then Li Che raised his head, refocusing on the scene unfolding with XiXi.

A young divine spirit stood there!

Not the Golden Third Prince formed in the Golden Heavenly King Temple of old, but an embodiment of the true divine aura of the Third Prince Temple Spirit!

A mighty presence—indeed, among those of similar cultivation, nearly invincible.

Could XiXi prevail?

Li Che, confident in his own prowess—having traversed the unprecedented path from Martial Saint to Martial Immortal—believed he could.

But XiXi faltered, and worry gripped Li Che’s heart.

At worst—

he would intervene to help her cross this divide.

He gripped the hand behind him even tighter.

Yet XiXi sensed something and smiled steadfastly at him, a look that put him at ease.

For the battle-hardened XiXi was no longer who she once was.

Like a fledgling eagle finally mastering flight, she had gained a soaring pride and courage.

“Fight!”

XiXi roared with no trace of fear. Her small body surged with boiling blood and divine weapons clashed as she engaged the figure born of the Third Prince Temple Spirit’s divine aura.

Li Che tensed every muscle.

Sure enough, from the start, XiXi found herself at a disadvantage.

The Fire-Tipped Spear swept horizontally as if emerging from chaotic void; Xuan Lei intertwined with purple flames as the Third Prince’s domineering divine aura pressed in—his power, though only a condensation of divine essence, was utterly imposing, his wild black hair swirling in defiance!

The collision was fiercer than Li Che had anticipated. Though XiXi was initially outmatched, she gritted her teeth

and counterattacked relentlessly.

KA-BOOM!!!

A roar erupted as faint golden blood splattered from the divine figure, bursting forth from its crown!

Fierce and imperious!

XiXi was sent flying by the impact—golden blood seeping from her lips as she trembled, then snatched up a God-Slamming Brick and charged once more!

Spear for spear, brick against brick; strength versus strength, she fought with unwavering determination!

Lightning clashed, divine essence exploded, and roaring gusts reverberated as the two small figures, both at the Martial Saint level, engaged in a display of unmatched valor and skill!

Their battle showcased feats beyond mortal ken—a peerless display of heroic resolve!

Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou, and other Martial Saints stood aghast, their spines tingling in awe.

Was this truly a Martial Saint battle?

Were these two little ones truly clashing as Martial Saints?

Even Feng Zhiqi, if matched one-on-one, would likely be overwhelmed!

Could it be that these were merely two eight-year-olds in combat?!

No, that couldn’t be!

Li Che’s eyes narrowed as his jet-black hair whipped wildly in the storm; his golden blood surged upward like the rising sun, his gaze fixed intently.

“No, this is not the Third Prince Temple Spirit.”

“Who is XiXi battling?”

“The figure formed by the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring is not the Third Prince—it is another version of XiXi?”

Li Che inhaled deeply, as if he had sensed something.

He raised his head high, perceiving streams of the Divine Mark of the Great Way cascading down.

“So, XiXi is fighting a replica of herself conjured by the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring—”

Li Che frowned. “This isn’t that simple at all!”

The Qiankun Ring loomed high, encompassing a ten-li radius, dominating all within.

It was like a colossal arena—a stage on which life and death were gambled!

“What is the stake?!”

Li Che’s eyes hardened.

“Damn it—the stake is what?!”

Li Che’s golden blood shone even brighter, rising like the mid-day sun, bathing everything in endless brilliance.

When XiXi stepped into the domain of the Qiankun Ring, she must have sensed that the process of absorbing the divine weapon was nothing less than a wager.

Yet XiXi did not confide her thoughts to Li Che.

The little girl had her own resolve.

Li Che could monitor XiXi’s status with Feilei Chess Pieces, but he couldn’t read her mind—nor could he probe her thoughts.

Placing a Feilei Chess Piece on her was his way of ensuring her safety; to invade her mind would be the act of a lunatic—and Li Che was no madman. He always respected his daughter.

“Little one…”

Li Che’s gaze grew complex as he watched the stubborn XiXi locked in battle with herself.

The meaning of the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring was clear: to conquer oneself in order to gain the final piece of the puzzle and awaken one’s inherited power!

Could XiXi defeat herself?

Defeating oneself—how could that be easy?

Even Li Che couldn’t confidently claim to have mastered self-overcoming.

Identical moves, identical strategies, identical fighting styles—how could one defeat and transcend oneself?

And yet, XiXi fought on with boundless determination—ever defiant as the great XiXi Emperor!

During the fight, XiXi’s technique and familiarity with her moves improved significantly until she was locked in a real duel with her divine replica.

But it only went so far…

XiXi’s strength was depleting, while the other version, formed by divine aura, seemed inexhaustible.

This was not a fair fight.

Li Che slowly closed his eyes, unwilling to witness the battle any longer.

He hesitated, conflicted and uncertain—

Should he intervene?

He could step in and help XiXi win this wager.

He could, through the bond formed by the Dao Fruit and his connection with XiXi, channel his own fighting spirit.

Just as he had once passed on the teachings of the Painted Immortal Dao Fruit to XiXi, teaching her the art of talisman crafting——

Even the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit allowed her to enter a trance-like state and exhibit overwhelming might.

But “No, Father,”

“XiXi can do this on her own.”

In Li Che’s heart, those words rang out.

The great XiXi Emperor—undefeated in his might!

The mighty XiXi Emperor—so formidable!

Li Che’s eyes softened as he opened them, beholding his daughter, stained lightly with golden blood, her spirit unyielding, eyes flashing with determination, never giving up.

Just as she had once faced the crushing might of the Golden Third Prince, XiXi persisted.

Li Che exhaled deeply.

He chose not to intervene.

He would let XiXi battle on her own—respecting the path of a child.

After all, as parents, one must eventually learn that lesson.

KA-BOOM!!!

XiXi let out a long roar as a cascade of pale golden light poured down, as if infinite streams of blood exploded—she discarded all her divine weapons, clenching her fists, manifesting the image of Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant.

This was the martial art Li Che had personally taught XiXi through the Dream Celestial Dao Fruit;

It was his self-created martial technique.

At that moment, XiXi unleashed it with everything she had.

To Li Che’s astonishment, the replica formed by the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring also abandoned all its weapons, attempting to mirror XiXi’s fist—but it failed to master the move.

It looked as though its program had glitched, tilting its head in confusion as it stared blankly at XiXi.

Then—

KA-BOOM!!!

XiXi’s mighty punch shattered it!

Countless bolts exploded, golden light flashed, and divine essence overflowed as XiXi panted heavily, her eyes sparkling.

She stood proudly with hands on her hips, a smug grin on her face despite her slight injuries.

There she stood, within the arena enclosed by the Qiankun Ring.

Her body smeared with blood, she eagerly looked towards her father.

Li Che was momentarily rendered speechless.

Observing the shattered light and smiling softly, his eyes gleamed with mysterious intent.

What did it all signify?

Was it because—I, Li Che, was not bound by fate?

Roaring winds swept and raged, and all eyes once again fixed on XiXi.

After long effort to divert those gazes, they now returned to her, and at this moment, XiXi truly commanded attention.

Divine aura surged from the Yulian Blood Pellet etched on her forehead as streams of divine essence converged upon it.

Even the divine aura itself gathered to her.

The Qiankun Ring began to tremble; its blood-red tints faded, replaced by a quivering silver radiance.

Gradually, it shrank—

The silver ring finally condensed into a one-chi diameter circle, like a blazing arc of light shooting toward her; just as it was about to crash into XiXi, it slowed.

It drifted gently until it settled into XiXi’s hand, where the little girl grasped it.

KA-BOOM!!!

At the very instant XiXi caught the Qiankun Ring, the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Unbeatable Divine Vision behind her seemed to surge with new life.

The once raging Jiulong River suddenly stilled.

But the calm lasted only a few breaths.

KA-BOOM!!!

A thunderous explosion!

Waves as tall as a thousand zhang rose—the ground trembled, as if the crust collided or the slumbering gods finally yawned awake!

On the banks of Jiulong River, a grand royal carriage shook violently as its dragon-horses neighed in agony.

Inside the carriage, Su Da’s expression changed subtly; her bewitching eyes flashed with golden light. Her graceful form transformed into a streak of light as she leapt from the carriage onto the violently trembling earth.

The raging tide smashed in all directions, threatening to engulf everything!

At the center of Jiulong River, the bizarre temple began to desperately absorb the divine essence of heaven and earth.

Countless streams of divine energy surged like tidal waves.

Su Da took a deep breath.

“The Third Prince—he is beginning to revive!”

She declared.

But as soon as her crisp words faded, her face paled dramatically.

Suddenly, the earth cracked open with a mighty roar—she leapt away just in time to avoid the chasm.

Within the bizarre temple came a deafening sound, rumbling like thunder!

“Third Prince?”

“I detest that title!”

“I am from the Santan Hai Hui, the most formidable force of martial devastation!”

“Ha ha ha ha——

“This heaven, this earth, and these Four Seas!”

“I, Nezha, have returned!”