Chapter 78: Rain’s Aftermath and New Beginnings

The steady drizzle gradually began to subside.

Dark clouds appeared to be dispersing.

Li Che, holding an oil‐paper umbrella and clad in sleek black attire, strode over with spirited determination to fetch his daughter home.

He knew all too well what had transpired at the Divine Cultivation Institute.

Although his notorious identity as the Ogre was long exposed, he still preferred to conceal it whenever possible.

Seeing Granny Mu’s pale face and the disordered courtyard, Li Che instinctively put on an act.

“Granny Mu, what happened here?”

Granny Mu exhaled a soft sigh upon spotting Li Che, who had just strolled out of the rain with an air of refined calm.

As if finally finding a confidant, she hurriedly recounted how the Yang Family had attacked the institute and how the Ogre had ruthlessly annihilated everyone.

“It’s terrifying—truly terrifying…”

Horror etched across his face, Li Che shook his head repeatedly.

His enhanced physical resilience had also sharpened his knack for even the slightest facial nuances, making his performance all the more convincing.

Beside him, the big-headed Lu Chi tilted his head, silently stunned.

He simply watched Li Che’s performance in silence.

After absorbing Granny Mu’s account, a still-shaken Li Che picked up XiXi and immediately arranged for her to stay away.

“Granny Mu, XiXi won’t be coming to the Divine Cultivation Institute for a while. I’m worried about her safety.”

Worry was written all over his face.

Granny Mu readily agreed; after all, the Xu Family Divine Cultivation Institute was no longer safe. Not a single expert from the Xu Family had shown up today—it was clear they had resorted to underhanded tactics.

Once something like this happens, there’s always a next time; trust has been shattered.

Leaving XiXi behind was far too risky, and Granny Mu understood Li Che’s concerns.

In fact, she was reluctant to let her stay at all.

In the midst of the soft, persistent rain…

Granny Mu watched as Li Che left with XiXi in his arms, a trace of wistfulness crossing her face.

That melancholy soon faded, replaced by a tinge of relief.

Even though Li Nuǎnxi had apprenticed under a ruthless villain like the Ogre, having a gentle, honest father like Li Che meant that her future was unlikely to go astray.

She was destined to grow up well…

and become an outstanding, cheerful female cultivator.

……

……

Li Che returned with XiXi to their home in the Inner City.

He stowed away his umbrella, shaking off the lingering raindrops.

Carrying XiXi in his arms, he headed toward the warm house where the charcoal stove glowed.

Casually, he infused the little girl with some inner energy to dispel the moisture from her body.

“Daddy, I won’t have to worry about you getting beaten to death anymore! Master Niu Niu will make me incredibly strong so I can protect you!”

Cradled in Li Che’s arms and bathed in his inner energy, XiXi relaxed against him. She wrapped one arm around his neck and cheerfully exclaimed,

“That little girl’s wild enthusiasm is endless.”

Back at home, no sooner had XiXi slipped from Li Che’s embrace than her expression changed.

“Mommy, boo hoo… I’m so scared. There are so many bad guys…”

XiXi dove into Zhang Ya’s arms, tears welling up as she sobbed. Alarmed and confused, Zhang Ya fumbled for words, fearing that XiXi had been bullied by the An Family children at the institute, and quickly held her tight to comfort her.

“Mommy, XiXi is terrified! I want some meat—braised meat!”

Finally, XiXi peeked out from Zhang Ya’s embrace, a few tears trailing down as she declared boldly.

Filled with maternal compassion, Zhang Ya naturally agreed.

“Mommy, I love you…” XiXi said joyfully as she hugged Zhang Ya.

Soon after, XiXi tugged at Zhang Ya’s hand and began boasting about her Master Niu Niu.

Zhang Ya listened patiently, her rosy cheeks betraying a flush as she shot a sideways glance at her husband, stifling a laugh.

Being both a father and a mentor is no easy feat…

That old man truly has it rough.

……

……

Night had deepened as the torrential rain finally abated, leaving behind a chilling winter breeze.

In the study, an oil lamp was lit.

After his wife and daughter had gone to sleep, Li Che entered the study to tally up the day’s brutal harvest.

Of course, what excited him most was the Divine Essence Technique.

Yang Family’s [Xin E Jing Gang] and Zhou Ruoguan’s [Chaos of Joy and Confusion]…

Regrettably, there were only two.

The divine constable Zhang Xiangyang’s [Fear Inducing Radiance] still eluded him.

Li Che raised his hand, and as his fingertips slid through the air, it tore open to reveal an inner space.

He produced two Qian Kun Jades, and after breaking the divine lock with his Thousand Analysis Hand, everything inside was laid bare to his senses.

The Yang Family reaped the greatest gains. After decimating the Yang Family, Li Che not only seized the treasures from their top experts but also made a special tour of their vault.

The haul was bountiful.

Not to mention the flood of silver banknotes, gold bars, and silver ingots—there were so many that Li Che eventually gave up counting.

For these venerable families, money was never in short supply.

But apart from the cash, what delighted Li Che most was a precious pill bottle, carefully preserved in the Yang Family vault.

“Pill!”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled.

He took a porcelain bottle and poured out a single blood-red pill, its potent medicinal fragrance instantly filling the courtyard.

Even the circulating energy within his body seemed to simmer subtly, stirred by the pill’s essence.

“Python Blood Martial Pill?!”

Li Che wasn’t initially familiar with this pill, but a nearby explanation in the vault clarified its nature.

The Python Blood Martial Pill, brimming with potent medicinal properties, could only be taken and refined by a skilled martial practitioner. A single pill was worth 3,000 Gold Leaves—an exorbitant price!

The Yang Family vault housed a total of eleven martial pills—a testament to their deep-rooted legacy.

Li Che gleefully collected all the pills.

Besides these treasures, there were also various martial cultivation techniques and combat skills.

Yet what truly captivated him were the Divine Martial Techniques and Divine Secret Techniques.

“Python Dragon Cannon, Cloud Yao’s Nimbus Leap…”

“Nine Luminary-level Divine Martial Arts, and…”

“Nine Luminary-level Divine Secret Techniques… Huanxi Feitou Man!”

He kept the only two treasured volumes of Divine Martial Techniques and the Divine Secret Technique he acquired from Zhou Ruoguan.

It was a pity that neither the Yang Family vault nor Yang Kaihe’s Qian Kun Jade stored any trace of Divine Secret Techniques.

Aside from these three disciplines, he tucked away the remaining manuals. Some mid-level and low-level qi and blood martial techniques were even earmarked for sale on the black market.

The money from those sales would go toward purchasing more pill resources—after all, raising a child in the future also required funds.

When the dust settled, Li Che was left with two volumes bound in yellow covers.

“The Nine Luminary Heart-Stirring Cultivation Scripture” and “The Eight Extremes Chaos of Joy Cultivation Method of Dajing Temple”!

Two cultivation methods!

His gaze then fell on the cultivation method he had obtained from the divine constable Zhou Ruoguan—earlier, he had acquired Fen Nu Mi Tuo’s method from Zhao Xuanhai, both rated at the Eight Supreme Grade.

“The entire series of Seven Emotions Cultivation Methods passed down by the Dajing Temple Authority…?”

Li Che raised his eyebrows, imagining that the Dajing authorities must be quite generous.

Being an official sure had its perks.

“However… they now all belong to me.”

His eyes glimmered as he flipped open the volume.

Within the [Chess Sage] Dao Fruit, the [Chaos of Joy and Confusion] Divine Chess Piece extracted from Zhou Ruoguan’s corpse trembled slightly before settling into his palm, helping him rapidly grasp the cultivation method.

By the time dawn broke and the candle burned out…

In his dark study, Li Che opened his eyes; his gaze glittered as echoes of divine essence danced—like a thousand distant, fleeting laughter.

He exhaled a gust of murky air.

“[Chaos of Joy and Confusion] has been mastered—it has condensed a third strand of divine essence within the inner realm of the Niwan, nurturing it like a lamp!”

In just one night, Li Che not only mastered [Chaos of Joy and Confusion] but also, by refining the chess piece, ascended to the realm of the Cultivation Lamp.

[Chin Ku Zhen Gui], [Fen Nu Mi Tuo], [Chaos of Joy and Confusion]…

By now, Li Che had mastered three cultivation methods.

The seven aspects of divine essence…

He already commanded three!

Li Che’s eyes shone brilliantly, his heart pounding with exhilaration.

Could he ever master all seven facets of divine essence?

If he did master all seven…

and elevated each to the highest level…

what would become of him?

Would…he become a god?

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