As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 1523 - 406: Kill Until the Imperial Court Retreats 800 Miles, Underworld Gains Fame Through Assassination, Fairy in the Painting’s Fourth Molt [Monthly Ticket Requested]...
Previously on As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life...
Fang Hanshu spoke with a cold indifference.
“To align with the Corpse God Cult, those traitors against the Imperial Court… what is Ji Moli’s true objective?”
The trio conversed as they made their way back toward the Divine Sect Mountain Gate.
The situation within Qianyuan Taoist City was currently being handled by Feng Zhiqi and Zhao Fangzhou. With Feng Zhiqi commanding the four Great Generals of the Divine Guard Army, the city was effectively under their thumb.
Truthfully, this monumental triumph had greatly energized the spirits of Qianyuan Taoist City. Even several prominent Noble Families and Clans had decided to commit their own forces to the Divine Guard Army.
The defensive capabilities of Qianyuan Taoist City had seen a massive upgrade compared to recent days.
The primary driver behind this change was that overwhelming and absolute success on the battlefield!
Even though peak-level powerhouses on Qianyuan Taoist City’s side had perished—most notably the City Lord, Yue Huanglong—it mattered little to the momentum.
On the contrary, it was that very display of martyrdom that served as a beacon for the other experts in Qianyuan Taoist City.
As if merging into one with the Divine Sect, the entire city was now radiating an unprecedented level of unity.
...
...
Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
Outer Sect, Disciple City.
Elder Court.
Li Che arrived back at the court alongside Fang Hanshu and Lv Taibai.
The Golden-haired Hou, who had been keeping a silent vigil, broke into a smile: “My congratulations to the Master for ascending to the Realm of Divine Sculpture Saint Hand!”
The Golden-haired Hou’s joy was entirely genuine.
The sacred sculptures produced by a Divine Sculpture Saint Hand are considered strategic assets, serving as vital cultivation resources for powerful beings of his caliber.
Even in a place as prestigious as Wushen Mountain, those who have attained the rank of Divine Sculpture Saint Hand are incredibly few.
Li Che gave a small nod. Just then, Xi Xi leaped down from the rooftop, sparks trailing behind her as she dashed excitedly toward him. Li Che caught her in his arms, affectionately rubbing her head.
“Sect Master teacher, Demon Cave... Great Elder!”
Xi Xi greeted Lv Taibai and Fang Hanshu with polite obedience.
Having recently marked her seventh birthday, Xi Xi’s eyes were bright with the anticipation of future travels and adventures.
Li Che patted her head before turning a serious gaze toward Lv Taibai and Fang Hanshu: “Sect Master, we cannot afford to relax. Commander Xie Yun’s forces haven't pulled back yet; they are currently entrenched on the riverbank, a mere eight hundred miles from the Grand Canal...”
“Furthermore, those two Divine Tribulation Cultivators are unlikely to suffer any setbacks. Now that our hidden strengths have been revealed, Xie Yun Shen will likely summon even more powerful figures to crush Qian Yuan.”
Li Che spoke with heavy gravity.
Through the sensory link of the Heaven and Earth chessboard and the Thunder Chess Piece embedded in Grandmaster Huang Mei, he could feel it.
The Imperial Court’s resolve to storm the mountain and dismantle the sect was firmer than ever.
Lv Taibai narrowed his eyes.
“Xie Yun Shen... his obsession with destroying our sect is relentless. More importantly, A Che, his sights are locked onto you.”
Li Che wasn't shocked by this revelation.
Emperor Jing had likely deduced that the Gathering Immortal Yellow Flag from the Flat Peach Victory Meeting was in his possession, which explained why Xie Yun Shen was so desperate to breach the mountain.
“In the immediate future, Xie Yun Shen will likely maintain a stalemate with our Qian Yuan Divine Sect... He won't dare to launch a reckless assault again so soon.”
“Still, we cannot ignore the two Divine Tribulations on their side. Now that A Che has finished his own tribulation, he can no longer utilize the Saint Hand Tribulation as a weapon to drive back the enemy.”
Lv Taibai let out a long breath.
“I’ve decided to enter seclusion. I must push my Martial Path toward the Half-step Martial God Realm and attempt to cross the Heavenly Gate!”
“If I can reach the Half-step Martial God Realm... my combat strength should be enough to rival Ji Moli. Even if he returns from the Jizhou Blood Pool, I will be able to hold him off alone.”
A deep, calculating light shone in Lv Taibai’s eyes.
Neither Lv Taibai nor Fang Hanshu viewed Li Che as a mere junior anymore. As a practitioner in the Realm of Divine Sculpture Saint Hand, his standing in the sect was now equal to their own.
After a brief discussion, Lv Taibai and Fang Hanshu departed to attend to their duties.
The army under Commander Xie Yun remained stationed outside Qianyuan Taoist City, looming like a suspended blade over everyone’s heads.
The courtyard grew quiet.
Li Che sat beneath the eaves, lost in contemplation.
He lifted a hand to his brow.
In an instant, the Heaven and Earth chessboard ascended into the clouds, expanding until it covered the land below.
It stretched further and further, blanketing a massive territory and following the path of the roaring Grand Canal.
Before long, the encampment of Commander Xie Yun’s army came into view.
Set against a backdrop of ice and snow, the camp felt oppressive. A fleet of Mystic Iron Spirit Wood warships was moored at the river's edge. Though the soldiers' morale seemed dampened, they continued to disembark, pitching tents and building wooden fortifications in preparation for a long siege.
“Digging in for a long stay...”
“That makes things easy.”
Li Che let out a sigh, feeling a sense of relief.
The real danger would have been Xie Yun Shen immediately using the two Divine Tribulations to strike the Qian Yuan Divine Sect again.
The fact that they were building a camp indicated that Xie Yun Shen intended to wait for reinforcements. Not only did this buy Li Che time to increase his Cultivation, but a stationary camp was a perfect target for his methods.
Under the eaves, Li Che’s eyes snapped open. Golden flames danced within them, causing the very air to shimmer.
A faint, knowing grin touched his lips.
Perhaps people had forgotten...
The Underworld is famous for its art of assassination.
In the courtyard, the Golden-haired Hou, Jin Taixui, and the others suddenly felt an inexplicable shiver.
The sky turned a pale white as heavy snowflakes began to drift down from the leaden clouds.
Li Che patted the hesitant Xi Xi on the shoulder.
“Papa knows you’re eager for an adventure. Don’t worry, I promised you could go after your seventh birthday, and I intend to keep that promise.”
Xi Xi’s large eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.
Later, after spending some quiet time with his wife, Zhang Ya, who had been worried for him, he retreated into his study.
He summoned the Painting Immortal Avatar.
In a flash, Li Che vanished, entering the realm of Mo City.
Mo City, Fengdu!
Rattle, rattle—
A downpour of ink-black rain fell from the sky.
A fierce, burning Qi-Blood surged forth, resembling a blazing sun rising over the city of Fengdu.
Li Che stood in the center of Mo City’s sprawling streets, his gaze cold and calculating.
Piles of mangled flesh and bone were scattered across the pavement.
The remains of Gu Changqing, Master of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect; Bai Buxi of the Haoran Academy; and Zhao Chunqiu of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect were all heaped together.
These were three top-tier Great Gods who had fallen in the fray. At the moment of their demise, Li Che had made sure to harvest their remains.
Rattle, rattle...
The stacks of gore lay on the ground, soaked by the freezing, ink-colored rain.
Li Che’s black robes, embroidered with golden lotuses, snapped in the wind. His dark hair whipped around him like bolts of black lightning.
He spread his arms wide, turning his back to the mountain of flesh.
His fingers curled with intent.
It was as if the spirits from the deepest pits of the Netherworld were let loose, their shrill, mournful cries echoing as they begged for a second chance at life.
“Soul return...”
“Soul Capturing!”
As the command left his lips, a ghostly wind began to howl. The sound of heavy, spectral chains clashing filled the air.
One by one, shadows bound in chains began to rise from the mounds of flesh behind him, swelling like dark, pressurized orbs.
The enemies of yesterday would become the soldiers of tomorrow.
After all, the best kind of allies are those who multiply the more you fight, right?
Li Che’s eyes flickered with a dark, inky light as he manifested his power.
[Dao Fruit: Fairy in the Painting (lv6, 0%)]
Ink began to flow as if guided by an invisible brush, the soft rustle of bristles painting upon a white canvas.
Painting the mountains, painting the waters, painting the very Qiankun!