Chapter 100: Dragon Tooth Bodhi, Hundred Mile Soul Lock 【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Chapter 100: Dragon Tooth Bodhi, Hundred Mile Soul Lock 【Seeking Monthly Votes】

The spring rain seemed to turn violent, evaporating under the scorching heat, rising and forming a hazy mist.

Lingering in the air, it left a trail like the aftermath of a raging serpent's fury.

Outside the Qin Mansion.

A terrifying divine essence erupted like thunder, countless electric snakes intertwined, and an extremely cold deathly aura permeated the area!

The Divine Foundation Novice with a gray mask had his brow pierced, and the terrifying inertia of the arrow pinned him to the grand vermillion door of the Qin Mansion, studded with copper nails.

Blood gushed from the back of his head like a blooming lotus.

Only then did a crisp cracking sound echo.

The gray mask shattered, breaking into two pieces and falling to the ground, revealing a middle-aged man's face, pale from years of being hidden from sunlight.

His eyes still held the terror of impending death.

Just one arrow...

A Divine Foundation Novice was instantly killed on the spot!

Boom—!

Silence lasted only for a moment.

A terrifying aura suddenly rose from within the Qin Mansion.

"How dare you—!"

The deafening voice was like a thunderclap, a giant rock plunging into a lake, creating shockwaves that swept out from the Qin Mansion, instantly evaporating the spring rain that had been swaying in the air.

Li Che, wearing the Demon Face mask, unleashed an arrow and immediately concealed his presence, activating the 'Sleeping Dragon Elephant' from the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit to its utmost.

His entire body seemed to transform into a straight black line, blending into the rain and hugging the wall as he made his escape.

After changing alleys several times, he finally stopped and stood motionless against the wall, holding his breath and slowing his heartbeat to an extreme pace.

His gaze fixed on the sky above the Qin Mansion, where a colossal shadow appeared like a mirage, a manifestation of divine essence, causing a suffocating sensation just by its presence.

The shadow's face was filled with sorrow, adorned in golden armor with scales resembling dragon scales, four arms, and muscular body with veins like serpentine dragons. Thin serpentine dragons coiled around his body.

The serpent had nine heads, twisting and winding around its body, its skin turning purple, and its intense sorrowful divine essence was like a storm, nearly dispersing the falling spring rain!

Divine Physiognomy!

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, his heartbeat steadying.

This was a realm above the Divine Foundation, the Divine Physiognomy!

The Divine Physiognomy realm was achieved by focusing one's divine essence, resembling the presence of a deity, and possessing divine power.

The Qin Family, with a lineage spanning hundreds of years in Prefecture City, was a Divine Physiognomy family, not only inheriting the Divine Physiognomy but also having a living Divine Physiognomy ancestor!

This was the foundation of their clan.

Li Che's mind was already connected to the Chess Sage Dao Fruit, preparing to use the power of the Thunderbolt City Divine Hunter to teleport away.

Of course, the prerequisite was exposing himself...

Boom—!

Countless raindrops exploded, and a powerful, almost divine consciousness swept across the long street, scanning like a radar.

Li Che could clearly sense the invisible raindrops forming ripples and creating a picture of overlapping water waves.

This was the Divine Physiognomy consciousness, scanning the ten-mile-long street in an instant...

However, when Li Che felt the divine consciousness sweep across his body, he seemed to sense something and retreated, only to sweep back again.

Li Che remained motionless, blending with the wall.

The divine consciousness left, returned, and then left again.

After about five or six breaths, the divine consciousness swept back again.

After four or five such back-and-forth sweeps, it finally departed.

Li Che couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This old man, Gu Lao Deng..."

However, Li Che's heart was also filled with excitement. With the Sleeping Dragon Elephant of the Dragon Elephant Vajra reaching level 3, its breath-concealing ability could barely evade the divine consciousness of a Divine Physiognomy cultivator.

This realization alone was a significant gain, even with his identity as the Demon Face.

As for other gains...

Li Che remained standing still, not only to avoid the divine consciousness of the Qin Family's ancestor but also because he was using the Heaven and Earth Chessboard ability of the Chess Sage Dao Fruit.

In his eyes, black lines danced and intertwined, forming a chessboard grid that spread out.

Using Li Che's position as a chessboard star, the grid expanded, covering the area in front of the Qin Mansion as Li Che zoomed in.

He didn't dare to intrude and observe inside the Qin Mansion due to the oppressive divine essence of the Divine Physiognomy cultivator.

But this was enough.

Through the Heaven and Earth Chessboard perspective, Li Che clearly saw the situation outside the Qin Mansion.

Three figures dashed out of the Qin Mansion at incredible speed, their powerful qi and blood intertwining and spreading, impacting all directions.

Two men and one woman, the men in luxurious attire, and the woman with a dignified and elegant appearance, a beautiful face, and a graceful figure.

Li Che's gaze locked onto the woman.

When the woman saw the gray-faced man killed by the arrow, her face was already as cold as water. Her slender, fair fingers clenched into a fist, and a terrifying killing intent filled the air.

Li Che, wearing the Demon Face mask, stood against the wall.

His expression was unmoved.

Beneath the Demon Face mask, his eyes were deep, as if reflecting the woman's exquisite beauty.

He memorized her.

Qin Yuqing, the Jade-faced Poisonous Rakshasa.

I, the Demon Face, remember you.

The next moment, Li Che's toes gently touched the ground, wearing a demon face, as if merging with the spring rain, and disappeared silently.

...

...

In the Qin Mansion, a thick, bloody smell permeated the air.

The air was filled with the acrid smell of electrical arcs and the scorching heat of evaporated spring rain.

Three noble figures stood at the door, gazing at the shadow that had been nailed to death.

Two middle-aged men's gazes fell on the woman: "Yuqing, was this your person?"

Qin Yuqing's black hair, gently brushing against her fair and delicate cheeks, her well-maintained face flashed with coldness.

"Yes."

"I sent him on a mission. He must have discovered something and wanted to return to the mansion to report, but he was shot dead in front of the mansion."

"That bastard... he dares to treat my Qin Mansion with such contempt!"

Qin Yuqing's eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows radiated a sharp killing intent. The divine foundation's perfected divine essence intertwined, attracting gusts of chilling winds and howls of ghosts and spirits.

At this moment, she really wanted to kill! The gray-faced spy she sent to monitor the carpenter was dead. This was a provocation, but by whom? Was it the stinking carpenter from Thunderstrike City?

Or was it someone from another influential family? Or perhaps the Temple Guard Service? Or the Divine Sect Branch?

There were indeed too many forces within the capital city that could act against the Qin family.

It was too chaotic... It was hard to guess who it was all at once.

Qin Yuqing bit her full lips, her eyes flashing with light, deep in thought. People in the world said that she, Qin Yuqing, was a crazy and venomous woman who enjoyed tormenting others and listening to their cries of pain.

But in reality, she always had a method to her actions, never leaving any evidence behind. She would plan meticulously before acting, striving for a one-hit kill, never giving her targets a chance.

"By sensing the lingering divine essence, one can analyze the divine essence of the attacker... which is the wrathful divine essence."

"Using an arrow to kill with a single shot, a divine foundation novice cultivator, it must be a divine archer, proficient in archery, to have the confidence to kill with a single shot, leaving no chance."

After closing his eyes, one of the middle-aged men opened them again, and in his pupils, a faint red color swirled, as if the air itself was being drawn in, like an ever-turning vortex.

"A divine archer? Also cultivating the wrathful divine essence, to meet such conditions, even among the cultivators in the capital city, it's rare. Even if disguised, the divine essence won't lie... could it be the Heart Monkey Temple? Or perhaps the Gongyang family's divine archer?"

The other middle-aged man also frowned, speculating.

"An arrow shot from several miles away, piercing through a divine foundation cultivator, shattering their inner landscape, this accuracy, this power, this killing intent... it's not an ordinary divine archer. Among the various families in the capital city, which one secretly nurtured such a terrifying divine archer?"

"Why target our Qin family's cultivator? Is this a show of force? Or perhaps... third sister, have you been leaving loose ends in your tasks, giving them a handle?"

Facing her brothers' questions, Qin Yuqing was impatient: "Impossible, if I acted, it would be clean..."

"This divine archer, perhaps not targeting me specifically, but aiming at our Qin family!"

Qin Yuqing was dissatisfied with her brothers' doubts, which questioned her.

Qin Yuqing clenched her five fingers and suddenly pulled out the wooden arrow that had deeply penetrated the wooden door. The wooden arrow had a screw-like pattern and was made of spirit wood, with a snake-like design winding around it.

The divine essence remained on it...

Wait!

"This is..."

Qin Yuqing's eyes suddenly narrowed, as if struck by lightning on a clear day.

"The three-eyed wrathful true monarch's divine essence?!"

"The divine essence born from the three-eyed wrathful true monarch's spirit baby in the mysterious temple in Thunderstrike City?!"

Qin Yuqing was somewhat incredulous.

Her two brothers, Qin Haonan and Qin Leixiao, were also startled, their expressions becoming strange.

"The three-eyed wrathful true monarch's divine essence? It's really..."

"Third sister, could it be your ex-husband from Thunderstrike City...?"

Qin Haonan couldn't help but speak.

Qin Yuqing's face instantly contorted: "Impossible, shut up!"

"That waste is dead, long dead! His body can't even be found!"

"It can't be him!"

Her fingers clenched, and the wooden arrow instantly shattered into powder. Qin Yuqing's eyes were crazed, making her beautiful face seem twisted and thin.

"Who is it?"

"The three-eyed wrathful true monarch... who else could refine such a divine essence?"

"That stinking carpenter from Thunderstrike City, he definitely can't shake off the suspicion... my person just went to investigate him, and he was killed, shot dead in front of the mansion?"

"Li Che... he can't escape this!"

...

Li Che put away his demon face and, holding a paper umbrella, returned to the bustling street.

His shoes soaked in the wet bluestone pavement, Li Che walked and pondered, recalling the beautiful woman's face he had briefly glimpsed through the Heaven Earth Chessboard.

It should be Qin Yuqing.

But he didn't know her cultivation level.

Earlier, through the Heaven Earth Chessboard, he had caught a glimpse of her, vaguely sensing that her qi and blood strength was definitely not weak. With her temperament, she should have reached the later stage of divine foundation.

"A core true disciple of the Golden Rift Sect, her cultivation is definitely not low. As one of the five major sects in Golden Light City, perhaps not as good as the Divine Sect Branch, but the core true disciples within the sect would have no shortage of pill resources and martial arts techniques. Her qi and blood cultivation... very likely to have reached the level of a true qi grandmaster."

"The first generation Namo Divine Artisan Bodhi Barrett... with a dragon tooth yellow poplar wood body, containing vast spirituality and divine essence, further refined with intricate carvings, infused with Bodhi blood tears and the Spirit Wood Crow Technique's dragon tooth Bodhi bullets..."

"Can it kill a grandmaster?"

Li Che's pupils shimmered with a flickering glow.

Of course, he knew that there could be a huge gap between grandmasters.

There was bound to be a vast chasm between Qin Yuqing and Li Qingshan. When people like Liu He mentioned Li Qingshan, they spoke respectfully, addressing him as Senior Qing Shan. But when it came to Qin Yuqing, they called her "that venomous woman."

This indicated that even if Qin Yuqing was a grandmaster, she was not a powerful one...

So...

"Let's give it a try."

"It would be best to shoot and kill her, but if that's not possible... it should still make her behave."

"A smart person, aware of a hidden threat, will naturally act with more caution and prudence, not daring to stir up trouble easily."

Having just arrived in the capital, Li Che didn't want to cause too much of a fuss.

But in this life, he had to tread carefully, like walking on thin ice. He feared not the thief who stole, but the thief who coveted.

Qin Yuqing...

The mere thought of such a venomous woman made Li Che's hair stand on end. The thought of his daughter encountering such a threat caused his heart to shatter.

Thus, Li Che had to take a gamble to ensure peace and tranquility.

Li Che closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he had already regained his composure.

In the misty rain of Jiangnan, the spring breeze stirred the willows, as if drunk on the wind.

Li Che, dressed in a black shirt and pants, didn't have the elegance of a white-robed scholar, but he exuded a refined aura that blended seamlessly with the spring rain.

The Celestial Surveillance Agency in the capital had its own dedicated building.

Yesterday, Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying had informed Li Che about the specific location of the Celestial Surveillance Agency in the capital.

In the misty rain, by a tributary of the Nine Dragons River, there stood a nine-story pagoda tower with eight overhanging eaves and two dragons arching at the top. The black roof tiles were laid out neatly and intricately, and the spring rain that gathered flowed down the edges like a jade curtain.

Li Che arrived at the Celestial Surveillance Agency to inquire about the requirements for becoming a guest scholar.

Entering the tower, he put away his umbrella and shook off the rainwater.

Li Che stored his oil-paper umbrella in his Heaven-Earth Jade and stepped into the tower.

Contrary to his expectations of a bustling government office, there were no hurried figures or slacking officials. Instead, the place was filled with dazzling treasures.

Transparent crystal cases displayed various items, each laid out on silk and satin.

Li Che's gaze swept across the room, taking in the elixirs, weapons, divine carvings, and more.

Wooden signs categorized the items, separating them into different sections.

Li Che was stunned. Was this the Celestial Surveillance Agency... or a supermarket?

"Sir, is there something you wish to purchase?" a soft voice asked from the side, accompanied by a gentle breeze. Turning, he saw a graceful young woman with fair skin like jade and captivating eyes.

Li Che was startled. How had he not noticed this woman upon entering the Celestial Surveillance Agency? The woman smiled at Li Che and said, "The first floor of the Celestial Surveillance Agency is filled with Ten Cities-level goods, but there are also mundane items of lesser quality. Please tell me your needs, and I can assist you."

Li Che shook his head and bowed, "I'd like to inquire about the guest scholar examination for the Celestial Surveillance Agency."

A hint of surprise flashed across the woman's face.

Before she could respond, a hearty laughter filled the air.

"Ah, Master Li, we've been waiting for you!"

Liu He, dressed in his official uniform, with the Temple Guard Service token fastened at his waist, approached with a broad smile.

After their conversation yesterday, Liu He had formed a favorable impression of Li Che. Although Li Che was from Thunderstrike City, he was well-versed in social etiquette, and with Senior Qing Shan's recommendation, his first impression was excellent.

The graceful woman nodded at Liu He's arrival and said, "Guest Scholar Liu, won't you introduce me?"

"Miss Shangguan, this is Li Che, a woodcarving master from Thunderstrike City. He has been recommended by Senior Qing Shan and is here to participate in the guest scholar examination at the Celestial Surveillance Agency."

Liu He didn't beat around the bush and directly introduced Li Che.

"I am Shangguan Qinghong. It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Li," the woman said with a smile, curious about Senior Qing Shan's recommendation.

"Alright, Guest Scholar Liu, you can get back to work. I heard you took on a big project—carving a 'Eight-Armed Hell Lotus Wrathful Third Prince Temple Deity Statue.' It's not an easy task, Master Li, so I'll take care of your reception."

The woman explained with a smile.

Liu He's face froze for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. He understood that Shangguan Qinghong was here because of Senior Qing Shan's connection.

Liu He didn't mind and turned to Li Che, "Master Li, I wish you success in the examination. Another day, I'll take you to the Yunfang Pavilion for some drinks and music."

Shangguan Qinghong playfully kicked Liu He, who burst into laughter and left.

"Master Li, don't hang out with him. That Yunfang Pavilion isn't a decent place," Shangguan Qinghong said, her demeanor turning sweet and gentle again.

Li Che smiled, his eyes glimmering.

The Shangguan family, one of the five great families in Golden Light City... Could this be someone from the Shangguan family?

Shangguan Qinghong led Li Che to a private room within the tower. A warm stove heated the room, and the rich aroma of tea filled the air.

"Master Li, have some tea. This tea is grown with water from the Nine Dragons River, known as 'Dragon-Soaring Tea.' It's sweet to the taste and fiery in the belly, like a dragon stirring the river. It contains a hint of divine essence and is truly delicious."

Shangguan Qinghong had been reading and drinking tea in the private room and only came out to receive Li Che upon sensing his arrival.

Today was her shift, and reading and drinking tea was the most comfortable way to spend it.

Shangguan Qinghong was an official member of the Celestial Surveillance Agency, certified by the court, unlike Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying, who were guest scholars through the examination.

"Is Master Li from Thunderstrike City?"

Shangguan Qinghong poured a cup of tea for Li Che, her slender fingers coming together to push the teacup towards Li Che.

"Thunderstrike City is not peaceful. I heard that the Marquis is mad, gathering the blood of a thousand infants and capturing the divine essence of a thousand woodcarvers. He intends to sacrifice the entire city's populace to aid the Mysterious Temple's promotion to the Nine Luminaries..." Shangguan Qinghong paused, her expression turning grim, "Fortunately, Senior Qing Shan shattered his plans with the Horned Hammer."

"It's not easy for Master Li to come to the Capital City from Thunderstrike City."

Shangguan Qinghong glanced at Li Che.

"My daughter has a good divine essence, and she's favored by Senior Qing Shan. That's why she left Thunderstrike City early, avoiding a disaster."

Li Che smiled.

Shangguan Qinghong's expression froze upon hearing this.

"What? Master Li has a child?"

Li Che's hand holding the teacup paused. He was already twenty-two years old... Having a child... Was that abnormal? Shangguan Qinghong's posture relaxed, and she slumped back into the Chancellor's Chair like a hooligan girl.

He was a married man, so there was no need to pretend anymore.

"That's truly a pity." Shangguan Qinghong took out various candied fruits, melon seeds, and jerky from the tea table drawer and started eating without any hesitation.

What image did she need to maintain in front of a married man?

He wouldn't marry her anyway.

Li Che: "..."

However, Shangguan Qinghong's demeanor became more relaxed at this moment.

The two continued their conversation, and their interaction became more harmonious.

"Brother Li, this is your examination token and identity token. You can come to the Celestial Surveillance Agency tomorrow. No advance preparation is needed for the Guest Scholar examination, but it requires the Supervisor's approval and stamp. I'll report it later."

Shangguan Qinghong handed Li Che a wooden token made from Spirit Wood.

A jade-like glow emanated from her fingertips, and information appeared before their eyes.

...

[Divine Weapon (Ten Cities Top-Grade): Celestial Surveillance Agency Third-Class Token]



[Craftsmanship: Made from 'Southern Fire Pine' Spirit Wood, capable of storing divine essence and inner energy, extremely durable, can be used as a brick, and a symbol of identity]



[Authority: Celestial Surveillance Agency Third-Class Guest Scholar and Celestial Attendant]



...

Li Che played with the token, his eyes lighting up. "Southern Fire Pine?"

Shangguan Qinghong looked at Li Che in surprise. "Brother Li has a keen eye. It's not easy to identify the type of Spirit Wood used for the token at a glance."

"After Brother Li passes the examination, you can input your divine essence or inner energy into it, making it a symbol of your identity."

Li Che nodded and put away the token.

Shangguan Qinghong had Thousand Analysis Hands, she continued to discuss the next day's examination details with Li Che, who then bid farewell and left.

At the carved window, Shangguan Qinghong held a handful of melon seeds, munching as she watched Li Che's black-clad figure merge into the rainy night under an umbrella. Her eyes flashed.

"Crack! Crack! Someone was shot dead at the entrance of the Qin Mansion... It shouldn't be him, right? I didn't sense any Divine Foundation divine essence, and his qi and blood cultivation is only at the blood replacement stage."

"Killing a Divine Foundation Novice with a single arrow, crack! crack! The Qin Mansion's Poisonous Lady seems to have met her match."

...

...

After leaving the Celestial Surveillance Agency, Li Che went to the Fragrant Pavilion, packed some wine and dishes, stored them in the Heaven-Earth Jade, and headed home.

Along the way, the spring rain pattered, tapping on the oiled paper umbrella.

As he arrived at the entrance of Flower Listening Lane.

Li Che took a step, and the accumulated water on the ground instantly rippled, and the Chess Sage Dao Fruit in his chest began to pulsate. The Heaven Earth Chessboard unfurled, spreading out.

In the crisscrossing grid of the chessboard.

Auras rose from the ground, shining brightly in his perception like stars.

"One, two, three... Suddenly, three more gray-masked surveillance agents appeared. Well done, Poisonous Lady."

Li Che's expression remained unchanged as he walked with a straight back, umbrella in hand, into Flower Listening Lane.

Three figures wearing gray masks stood nearby, their eyes glowing faintly, auras restrained, continuing their surveillance as ordered.

The next day, the spring breeze brought rain.

Li Che taught his wife, Zhang Ya, more advanced Open Meridian movements and used his Pure Heart divine essence to help her refine her physique.

He also taught Xixi martial arts and enhanced her body's divine essence-boosted constitution. After that, Li Che left the courtyard.

As he exited Flower Listening Lane, the three surveillance presences reappeared.

Li Che remained unbothered, walking with his umbrella towards the Celestial Surveillance Agency.

Under the watchful eyes of the Qin Mansion's gray-masked surveillance agents, he entered the Celestial Surveillance Agency.

The next moment.

Li Che's five fingers grasped the Thunderbolt City Divine Chess Piece, and in the instant he stepped into the Celestial Surveillance Agency, he disappeared without a trace.

...

...

The workshop courtyard.

The spring rain continued to fall.

Many pieces of wood were soaked.

Li Che sat in a chair, taking out the 'Dragon Tooth Bodhi' made from Dragon Fang Yellow Poplar Spirit Wood and carefully polishing its patterns.

Once the polishing was complete.

Li Che's five fingers tore through the air, grabbing a Horse Face Mask and putting it on.

He donned the hood, pulling it low.

Crack!

The sound of metal friction and collision combined as a long, thin barrel made from Seventh-Grade Spirit Wood Dragon Fang Yellow Poplar was embedded into the gun body.

Li Che held the Namo Immortal Art Bodhi Barrett at an angle, loading the only Dragon Fang Bodhi bullet into it.

Instantly, a scorching heat and a roar like a furious dragon filled the air, ready to unleash!

A hundred miles away, a soul-locking technique!

His toes tapped.

The Horse Face Mask became like a ghost, merging into the fine spring rain.

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end