Chapter 122: The Hundred-Foot Purple Qi of the Innate Divinity, Sensing the Corpse Curse's Death Qi

Chapter 122: The Hundred-Foot Purple Qi of the Innate Divinity, Sensing the Corpse Curse's Death Qi

Li Qingshan almost laughed out loud as he could sense Zhu Hongdou's eagerness and desire.

It was rare for this woman to show such enthusiasm. Her admiration for Xixi and her desire to accept her as a true disciple, inheriting her teachings, were almost written all over her face.

"Go and tell Xixi's father."

Zhu Hongdou hugged her chest, her ample bosom bursting with an astonishing curve, but she turned her head away, refusing to look at Li Qingshan.

She could almost guess the mischievous smile on Li Qingshan's face.

Not to mention why Li Qingshan dared to tease her, but despite being a Divine Sage Cultivator, their relationship was quite good. Back when she was still a Phantom Realm Cultivator, they had even teamed up for missions.

Now, as Li Qingshan was about to achieve the Divine Sage realm, a realm above her, their relationship was naturally free from the constraints of hierarchical differences.

"Elder Zhu, are you begging me?"

"Is this the attitude one should have when asking for a favor?"

Li Qingshan was in high spirits, his aged face blooming with a radiant smile like a chrysanthemum.

Zhu Hongdou was annoyed, "Are you going to talk to him or not?"

"Don't worry, leave it to me, but... A three-year-old with Bone Tempering Mastery, and even cultivating an artistic conception, such talent... She's going to be very popular."

"Look at Zhang Qingzheng, he may have a bitter face like he's eaten bitter medicine, but in reality, he's smiling brighter than a chrysanthemum. It's just that his face is so sour that it cancels out his smile."

Li Qingshan furrowed his brows, speaking with some difficulty.

Zhu Hongdou's eyes narrowed, and she suddenly became tense.

"Not to mention Zhang Qingzheng, look at Elder Xu Jiuqing and Elder Weng Wuyu, who among them doesn't have a gleam in their eyes?"

Li Qingshan spoke leisurely.

He also knew that Xixi would not become his disciple. With such talent, she was naturally destined to become an Elder's true disciple. He had not yet broken through to the Divine Sage realm and was not an Elder of the Divine Sect.

However, seeing several Elders eagerly waiting to recruit her, he also found it quite amusing.

Zhu Hongdou was clearly anxious, her dark brows furrowed as she stared at Li Qingshan, "My Crimson Cloud Peak is absolutely suitable for Xixi. Go and talk to her parents, and after you break through to the Divine Sage realm, I'll help you with the protection!"

Li Qingshan narrowed his eyes, "Alright, then it's settled."

He gave Zhu Hongdou a way to save face.

Even though many people would not want him to succeed after breaking through to the Divine Sage realm, they might take action to disrupt or obstruct him.

However, since he was breaking through on Zheng Lei Peak, located beside the Divine Sect's main gate, Jin Guang Peak, they would not dare to be so bold.

Moreover, when he breaks through, the Sect Master, Nan Li Huo, would personally provide protection, and Li Qingshan would not mind having another Divine Sage expert.

Zhu Hongdou only relaxed after Li Qingshan agreed, proudly raising her head, her red dress resembling a blooming flower as she returned to the grandmaster chair and sat down.

The Sect Master, Nan Li Huo, glanced at the two of them, sensing their little exchange. A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he had thought of something, but it was so subtle that it was barely noticeable.

...

...

The misty drizzle slanted down, and the spring rain fell in abundance.

The chill of the late spring made it especially noticeable at the foot of the mountain.

Many people had to put on extra layers to keep warm, shivering from the cold.

Xixi leaned against Zhang Ya, who caressed her head and asked what she wanted to eat for dinner.

Xixi tilted her head, listing various dishes.

Li Che stood by, watching his wife and daughter with a gentle gaze, the scene filled with peace and contentment.

On the high platform.

The other arena battles also came to an end, marking the conclusion of the first round of trials.

Zhang Qingzheng stood tall on the platform, his scholar's robe fluttering in the wind, concealing a hidden breeze within his sleeves.

"The final defenders of the five arenas have been decided: Hai Chaosheng, Qin Fenghuo, Gong Yuanliang, Jin Ao, and Li Nuanxi. All of them have achieved the top ranking in the first round!"

"Eligible for the True Transmission reserve list."

"There will be a one-hour break before the second round begins. The second round will involve the use of the Divine Perception Array to observe the true disciples' innate divinity and measure the height of their purple qi columns. A height of over fifty feet will be considered top-ranked."

Zhang Qingzheng spoke calmly, but his voice resonated throughout the venue, reaching everyone's ears.

The Divine Perception Art of the Divine Sect was a unique divine nature secret art, an exclusive secret art of the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect. Its function was not limited to sensing divine nature; it had many other uses.

The Divine Perception Array formed by this art was even more accurate than when Li Qingshan had used the Divine Perception Art alone.

After speaking, Zhang Qingzheng lightly tapped his toes and returned to the high platform, sitting firmly in the grandmaster chair with a sour face.

As the first round concluded, the surroundings immediately became lively, filled with whispered conversations.

Many people began to talk boldly.

This was just the True Transmission examination for superior spirit children; there would be further examinations for those below the superior rank. During those trials, the inner and outer sect disciples would also be selected.

However, compared to the True Transmission examination, the subsequent trials were not as complicated.

For any sect, the status of true disciples was extremely important. Becoming a true disciple meant receiving the sect's resources and becoming the sect's future backbone.

Naturally, the examinations were much stricter.

The Divine Sect's examinations were considered fair. They tested both strength and divine nature talent, giving even spirit children from the Five Great Clans and the Five Great Sects a chance to stand out!

Below.

Li Che took Xixi from Zhang Ya's embrace, the little girl still thinking about the dishes she hadn't named, her brows furrowed in a pained expression.

Li Che couldn't help but smile at the greedy little one. He raised his hand and used the Pure Heart divine nature to soothe Xixi's body.

The first round was a martial arts competition, the second round was the sensing test, and the third round... Was it the Temple God Resonance? Li Che turned to look at Lu Chi beside him, "Little Chi, can I ask you something? Is the third round of the Divine Sect's True Transmission examination the Temple God Resonance?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi smiled and shook his head, "No, the Temple God Resonance... requires a specific time point and the use of the divine armament, the Hell Lotus Fire and Light Wheel..."

"For now, let's break through the Deceptive Tower and create a path leading straight to the front of the Mysterious Temple, a hundred zhang away..."

"As for the specific timing... it depends on the situation of the Mysterious Temple."

Upon hearing this, Li Che was momentarily stunned.

"So the 'Temple God Resonance'... isn't it happening today?"

Lu Chi tilted his head slightly, "Probably not. When I entered the sect, there was also the Temple God Resonance, but it was delayed by about six months."

"Six months?" Li Che took a deep breath, "Is the delay that long?"

Before Lu Chi could respond, Shangguan Qinghong, who had walked over from a distance, added, "It's not that long. Many Divine Sects perform the Temple God Resonance, and some sects... for the sake of the Temple God Resonance, might arrange and wait for several years."

Shangguan Qinghong squeezed past Lu Chi and sat down in the chair, taking out a handful of dried fruit and handing it to Xixi.

"Sister Qinghong!"

Xixi was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Xixi, for finding a spot for Sister." Shangguan Qinghong smiled, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.

Although Shangguan Qing Lei was her younger brother, she didn't show any affection and remained indifferent. Seeing Xixi beating up Shangguan Qing Lei, she felt a peculiar joy.

"But..."

Shangguan Qinghong turned to look at Li Che, her expression becoming solemn.

"I know that scumbag of a father very well... he's extremely petty and dotes on Shangguan Qing Lei. Xixi has injured his precious son, and he will definitely not let this go easily."

"He might secretly look for an opportunity to retaliate."

Shangguan Qinghong cautioned Li Che.

"Xixi will definitely enter the True Transmission, so he won't dare to act, but... you and Sister Ya should be more careful."

Li Che narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded in response.

"Shangguan Zhenheng..."

Is he cautious?

Does the Demon Ox have a big heart?

...

Time passed quickly, and half an hour wasn't too long.

After the break.

The black gong was struck again by Zhu Hong Dou from a distance, and the reverberating sound waves spread out, shattering the spring rain and the whispers of the crowd.

The entire venue fell silent, and Zhang Qing Zheng gracefully ascended the wooden platform, standing with his hands behind his back. His face was like a bitter lotus, and he swept his gaze across the crowd with a dead fish expression. "All Supreme and Superior Spirit Children, come up to the platform."

There were only three Supreme Spirit Children among the thirteen cities under the Capital City, but there were more than fifty Superior Spirit Children. As for the Middle-grade and Lower-grade Spirit Children, there were even more.

Only the Supreme and Superior Spirit Children were qualified to go up to the platform.

"Daddy, Mommy, Grandpa Chen, Grandma Mu, Sister Qinghong, Xixi, come over here."

Xixi had a piece of dried fruit from Shangguan Qinghong in her mouth, and stood with her hands on her hips, her chubby chin raised as she smiled.

Then, she walked towards the arena with a swagger.

The other Spirit Children didn't dare to get too close to her.

After all, everyone had witnessed Xixi's brutal act of using a secret weapon to nearly kill Shangguan Qing Lei. At this moment, seeing the three-year-old Xixi, they felt as if they had encountered a devil.

Xixi didn't mind and, after climbing onto the high platform, stood alongside the Supreme Spirit Children.

"Xixi, come stand over here."

Gong Yuan Liang waved at Xixi.

Xixi looked at Gong Yuan Liang in confusion, "My aunt is a junior official in the Heaven-Enraged Bureau, and your father is also from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau! We're on the same side!"

Gong Yuan Liang smiled brightly.

Xixi suddenly realized and eagerly joined him.

"Me, and my grandfather, Gongyang Liancheng, is also a junior official in the Heaven-Enraged Bureau! We're on the same side too!"

Five-year-old Gongyang Xiu, who was slightly older than Xixi, also joined them.

Xixi's eyes lit up, and she nodded, then took out a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket and gave three to Gongyang Xiu and Gong Yuan Liang each.

Gongyang Xiu and Gong Yuan Liang looked at the three sunflower seeds in their hands and fell silent.

Not far away, Hai Chao Sheng, the genius of the Hai family, stood with his arms crossed, looking cold and indifferent.

He also had connections with the Heaven-Enraged Bureau, as one of his uncles was a guest official there. But would he go and cozy up to them?

He, Hai Chao Sheng, was the cherished genius of the Hai family's old ancestor. In this batch of Supreme Spirit Children, he was in a league of his own.

Shangguan Qing Lei, who had been bombed by Xixi, still had injuries on his body and stood with Qin Feng Huo, feeling apprehensive and keeping his distance from Xixi.

On the small high platform, various emotions converged.

Below the fifteen Supreme Spirit Children, the Upper-grade Spirit Children from the Capital City and the thirteen cities were lined up, numbering nearly a hundred.

"Silence!"

Zhang Qing Zheng, in his Confucian robe, spoke coldly.

His bitter lotus face turned stern, and his gaze was more intimidating than the thunder god's. All the children immediately quieted down and looked at him with fear.

"The inspection begins. No one is allowed to use their Divine Nature. If anyone does, their qualification will be revoked!"

Zhang Qing Zheng scanned the crowd as he spoke sternly.

The Spirit Children nodded repeatedly.

On the high platform.

Li Qingshan suddenly straightened his body and narrowed his eyes.

Sect Master Nan Li Huo's face was gentle as he looked at the other three elders, Zhu Hong Dou, Xu Jiuqing, and Weng Wuyu, and nodded.

The next moment, the three elders stood up, touched their foreheads, and Divine Nature burst forth.

Instantly, the entire Divine Sect's mountain gate was enveloped by a peculiar aura, as if a Divine Nature mushroom umbrella was rising, creating a vast area like a giant mushroom cap.

The umbrella was a hundred feet tall, semi-transparent, seemingly formless yet substantial, blocking the falling spring rain.

Xixi looked up in awe at this mushroom-like Divine Nature umbrella, exclaiming, "Wow!"

"This is the Divine Perception Array of the Divine Sect, a formation that only a Divine Array Master can set up... It's very powerful."

Seeing Xixi's amazement, Gong Yuan Liang quickly explained.

"I know, my grandfather is an incredibly powerful Divine Array Master!" Gongyang Xiu replied immediately.

Gong Yuan Liang glanced at him, "My aunt is even more powerful!"

"My grandfather is powerful!"

"My aunt is the most powerful!"

"My grandfather can fly into the sky and burrow into the ground!"

"My aunt can eat..."

Xixi quickly tried to smooth things over and, feeling sympathetic, took out a handful of sunflower seeds and gave three to Gong Yuan Liang and Gongyang Xiu each.

"Stop arguing, eat some sunflower seeds to calm down, or else the referee will give you a stink eye!" Xixi said.

Thinking of Zhang Qing Zheng's stern face, Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu stopped their argument and quietly started munching on sunflower seeds.

Below the high platform.

Li Che silently observed Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu huddled next to Xixi, narrowing his eyes slightly.

It was as if he could see their black hair gradually turning yellow.

"Are they the younger generations of the Gongyang and Gong families?"

Li Che exhaled.

Not wanting to dwell on these matters, Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu did show signs of yellowing hair, but... it wasn't completely yellow yet, and it was still acceptable.

Li Che had important matters to attend to, so he lifted his head and looked at the mushroom cap where the Divine Nature had expanded.

"Divine Nature Array..."

An array based on the Divination Technique...

A Divine Nature Array, a formation that only a Divine Array Master could set up.

Like a woodcarving master, they were both special professions that developed from the Divine Nature.

This was Li Che's first time seeing a Divine Array Master's layout, and as he scanned the area, he noticed seven adorable wooden carvings of children crying, laughing, happy, or angry at the foot of the Divine Sect's Jin Guang Peak. These wooden carvings served as the array plates of the Divine Nature Array.

Li Che was indeed curious about the Divine Nature Array, but as he had never studied it before, he couldn't delve into researching it.

Focusing his mind, under the coverage of the Divine Nature Array, all cultivators restrained their Divine Natures, afraid to release them and affect the examination.

No wonder Li Qingshan had said that this was the best time to detect the Corpse Curse Seal.

Even the Divine Sage Patriarchs of the Five Great Clans, who were located in the Divine Sect's main gate, had their Divine Natures restrained states, afraid to release them. Even if Li Che were to detect and probe, he wouldn't be discovered.

This was to ensure the safety of Li Che, the person doing the detection.

Li Qingshan had asked Li Che if his detection method required the use of the Divine Nature, and after Li Che replied no, this plan was formed.

His heart stirred, and in his chest, the Dao Fruit of the Chess Saint trembled slightly!

Li Che closed his eyes.

In an instant, the "Eight Extreme Corpse Curse Seal" that was suppressed in the center of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard suddenly trembled violently, and the pitch-black Death Qi formed concentric ripples like a storm, spreading out with a boom.

Li Che's eyes snapped open, and his pupils seemed to contain a network of chess paths.

The Death Qi from the Eight Extreme Corpse Curse Seal gushed out, like a line of river waves, surging and rolling, rushing towards them.

It swept past the seated silhouettes.

Silently, like a gentle spring breeze, it didn't attract anyone's attention.

But in Li Che's eyes...

In an instant, one after another, the echoes of the Corpse Curse Seal appeared on the chessboard, slowly embellishing and emerging, like a hellish Death Qi mandala in full bloom.

First one, then two, three, four...

It was as if an invisible person was placing chess pieces in mid-air, splashing Death Qi like flowers.

Gradually...

More and more!

Hmm? So many?!

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, and the sternness in his gaze intensified.

...

...

On the high platform.

Nan Li Huo's white robe fluttered in the wind, and his black hair danced gently. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and frowned slightly.

His gaze swept across the entire venue, but he couldn't find any abnormalities.

Vaguely, he felt a sense of prying.

However, he couldn't perceive the source of the prying! "Who dares to spy on me?"

Who was so bold? Nan Li Huo frowned, and the divine mark between his brows twisted, emitting a radiant glow.

"Who is it?"

His gaze became sharp, and his terrifying divine sense burst forth silently, without causing any fluctuations in the divine array. Even the closest Divine Sage Elders couldn't detect it, and Li Qingshan was completely unaware.

His divine sense spread out in a fan-shaped sweep, trying to detect any fluctuations from the prying.

But he found nothing.

"No one?"

Nan Li Huo leaned back in the grandmaster chair, and his gaze suddenly fell on Li Qingshan's face, deep in thought.

...

...

Zhang Qing Zheng's Confucian robe clung tightly to his body. When the three elders pointed out the Divine Nature and activated the Divine Perception Array.

He took a step forward in his cloth shoes, and in an instant, his eyes were enveloped in an intense purple color!

It was as if he had connected with the divine array, and his gaze swept across the hundred or so Supreme and Superior Spirit Children on the high platform!

"Innate Divine Nature, I shall observe it!"

"Halt!"

"Rise!"

Zhang Qing Zheng's hair flew, and his bitter yellow face trembled slightly. The next moment, he pointed at the hundred or so spirit children from afar.

Boom—!

On the high platform, all the spirit children held their breath, and it was completely different from when Li Qingshan had detected their Divine Natures.

Xixi felt that something within her body... seemed to want to break free!

She was drawn to the mushroom cap above, unable to suppress it! Thick purple smoke emerged from Xixi's crown, writhing like a small snake! Not only her, but Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu by her side, as well as Hai Chao Sheng, Qin Feng Huo, Huang Si Xiang, and Shangguan Qing Lei in the distance, all had purple smoke rising from their foreheads.

This was the manifestation of their spirit children's innate talent, the Innate Divine Nature.

Below the wooden platform.

In an instant, the quiet crowd fell silent, and only the sound of everyone holding their breath remained.

Even the Divine Sage Patriarchs of the various great clans couldn't help but look at this moment.

Although testing for talent wasn't as exciting as a competition, the sense of awe that came with witnessing the talent of spirit children was unique.

After all, even the Divine Sage Patriarchs had once been spirit children and had their talents tested...

Therefore, they were also curious and couldn't help but compare.

The Parent's Area.

Zhang Ya's body tensed, gripping Li Che's arm tightly as she watched Li Xi anxiously, her breath heavy.

Old Chen's body also leaned forward, his eyes wide, with beads of nervous sweat forming on his forehead.

His precious Xi Xi... Just how extraordinary was her talent?

Old Chen had watched Xi Xi grow up, and he naturally considered her as his own granddaughter, hoping for her talent to be exceptional, his emotions stirred with anticipation and tension!

"Husband..."

Zhang Ya unconsciously called out to the person she trusted the most.

At this moment, Li Che's eyes were dark, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, but he was also scanning the surroundings, his expression grave.

This seriousness seemed as if he were concerned about his daughter's innate talent.

It was a typical reaction for parents.

Regarding Xi Xi's innate talent, Li Che had no worries at all.

Every day, using the Pure Heart Divine Nature to cleanse and purify her innate talent, Xi Xi's primordial deity foundation was now even higher than when Li Qingshan had tested her!

However, Li Che had no idea how much higher it was.

"Qinghong, who is that person?"

Li Che suddenly asked the question to Shangguan Qinghong beside him.

Shangguan Qinghong was taken aback, not expecting Li Che to suddenly ask about Xi Xi's talent assessment at such a critical moment.

Instinctively, she followed Li Che's gaze in the direction he indicated.

"Tide Watching Pavilion Elder... Xiao Baihe, a master of the Phantom Realm!"

Shangguan Qinghong seemed to have been instructed to satisfy Li Che's curiosity, so she immediately introduced the person to him.

"And that one?"

"Tide Watching Pavilion Grand Elder... Zhao Kuyu, a master of the Phantom Realm at the pinnacle..."

Shangguan Qinghong seemed to have all the information about everyone at her fingertips, able to recite their names as Li Che pointed them out.

As the two of them quietly exchanged glances and whispered.

On the high platform.

Everyone's attention was drawn.

With the activation of the Divine Perception Array, the innate talents of the supreme and superior spirit children began to surge forth.

The first to transform into purple smoke were the fifteen supreme spirit children, and after five or six breaths, the superior spirit children's talents rose!

Their talents turned into purple smoke columns, rising steadily, as if pulled by a mushroom canopy, resembling purple bamboo shoots after a spring rain, growing taller with each segment!

However...

Everyone's gaze converged on the fifteen supreme spirit children.

Even among the supreme spirit children, there were differences in talent!

Leading the pack was Hai Chao Sheng!

His purple smoke column grew at an astonishing speed, soaring straight up, surpassing ten feet in just a moment!

Close behind was Gongyang Xiu, followed by Huang Sixiang...

Xi Xi's face turned red, her big eyes blinking as she watched the purple smoke column rising from her head.

She ranked sixth among the fifteen supreme spirit children, placing her in the upper-middle level.

Hai Chao Sheng watched his purple smoke column grow the fastest, and a smug smile appeared on his lips. Indeed, he was superior to all!

Whether it was Xi Xi, Huang Sixiang, or Gongyang Xiu...

It was as simple as that!

Hai Chao Sheng was a genius who could receive treasures from his Divine Sage Patriarch, which he cherished dearly.

When the purple columns of the supreme spirit children reached nearly fifty feet, their ascent began to slow down.

Some supreme spirit children couldn't continue, stalling below fifty feet, unable to surpass it.

Hai Chao Sheng's purple column of divine nature directly surpassed fifty feet, breaking through barriers, and continued to rise!

Soon after, the purple columns of Huang Sixiang, Gongyang Xiu, Gong Yuanliang, and Shangguan Qing Lei also broke through fifty feet, earning them top-ranking evaluations.

But the exact height would depend on their final stopping point!

Qin Fenghuo's purple column stopped at fifty-nine feet.

Gong Yuanliang reached sixty-five feet, and Huang Sixiang reached sixty-nine feet.

Gongyang Xiu's purple column also stopped growing at seventy-two feet, still some distance from the hundred-foot canopy.

Hai Chao Sheng's purple column continued to grow.

However, the smugness on his face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.

Because, not far from him, there was another purple column slowly rising!

Although it was slow, it was steady...

Hai Chao Sheng turned to look, his eyes narrowing.

It was that firework girl! How could this be?!

Xi Xi's purple column had started slowly, even slower than Gongyang Xiu and Gong Yuanliang. How could she catch up?

The other supreme spirit children also noticed this, their eyes widening in surprise.

Two purple columns stood out, towering above the rest!

They hadn't stopped yet, still rising!

Hai Chao Sheng's purple column maintained the lead, roughly five feet ahead.

Suddenly, Hai Chao Sheng's face froze.

His purple column had stalled...

Stuck at ninety-one feet! Unable to continue!

He turned, staring intently at Xi Xi, at her slowly rising purple column!

Slowly, slowly...

Xi Xi's purple column, like a snail's crawl, surpassed Hai Chao Sheng's pale face and disbelief, rising above his column and the ninety-one-foot mark.

"Eh?"

Xi Xi's eyes lit up, followed by a blossoming smile.

With her hands on her hips, she stood tall and proud.

Xi Xi, overlooking all!

Kneel, my subjects!

Even Li Che, who was examining the Corpse Curse Seal, couldn't help but shift his gaze at this moment.

On the high platform.

Zhu Hong Dou had completely stood up, her eyes fixed on Xi Xi's purple column.

Even the Sect Master Nan Li Huo was stunned, watching intently.

Rise, rise, rise...

Under everyone's gaze.

Xi Xi's purple column slowly reached the hundred-foot canopy.

Sect Master Nan Li Huo stood up abruptly.

"A hundred-foot divine nature..."

"A Primordial Divine Child!"

PS: Monday, a fresh batch of recommendation votes is greatly appreciated!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end