Chapter 134: The Black-Golden Heavenly King's Chess Piece and the Evil Intruder

Chapter 134: The Black-Golden Heavenly King's Chess Piece and the Evil Intruder

A crisp sound rang out, like a thunderclap echoing in the clouds.

The sudden noise was followed by a return to tranquility, a deathly silence.

It signified the extinguishing of life, the journey of a departed soul.

Zhao Qinglei's neck twisted, and his eyes held a mix of shock and the revelation of a truth seen just before death.

Deep within his pupils, there was also anger and a plea for mercy...

Before these emotions could erupt, his life was abruptly ended.

He never imagined that his killer would be... this person who appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost, and took his life!

It was Li Che's father!

The gentle and refined young man.

The man with no sense of presence.

The one who had come from Thunderbolt City...

Zhao Qinglei's last thought before death was a single idea...

This was...

The old man has come to settle the score for the young one?!

Li Che looked at Zhao Qinglei, whose neck he had twisted, with indifference, feeling no sympathy or regret.

Zhao Qinglei had tried to kill his daughter, so why should he show mercy?

Did he need to see his daughter's corpse laid out before him, shedding tears of grief, before he could harden his heart?

Did he need to experience pain to become cold-hearted?

That wasn't Li Che's style.

His rule was...

Whoever tries to harm his daughter, he will kill them!

He will search high and low, to the ends of the earth and the depths of the Yellow Springs...

Until he finds them!

Even if he can't kill them now, he will wait until he grows stronger and then finish them off!

Li Che...

Had never been a good person.

Although Zhao Qinglei was young, his collusion with the Corpse Deity Sect, becoming their hidden expert within the Divine Ancestral Sect, ready to harm Xi Xi, was something Li Che would never tolerate.

He wouldn't show mercy.

But who knows, by sparing Zhao Qinglei's life, was he creating a hidden time bomb?

There's always a chance, no matter how small.

Those who hold deep grudges against Xi Xi are highly likely to become ticking time bombs.

So, the way to deal with such a threat is to silence them before they explode, to cut off their lifeline.

Li Che glanced at Zhao Qinglei's unblinking eyes, then pressed his thumb against his index finger and flicked it.

Zhao Qinglei's internal organs shook violently, and his eyes and organs melted away like water.

His body remained intact, but it was enough. Even with the intimidating Divine Essence, it would be difficult to trace his arrival and attack.

This was Li Che's first time using his abilities in front of others, so he made sure to do it cleanly.

After killing Zhao Qinglei, Li Che took the Universe Jade from his body, guessing that it belonged to Zhao Qinglei. After all, he had killed him, so he might as well take it.

As for the Divine Essence, Li Che generously let it go, as there wasn't much of it anyway.

After searching the body, Li Che scanned the empty surroundings, and the Heaven and Earth Chessboard expanded, confirming that no one was spying.

He pressed his thumb against his index finger, and a white Thunderbolt Chess Piece flew out, rolling into the sky.

As it fell, Li Che grasped it in his palm and teleported back to the room prepared for him by Li Qingshan.

He came and went without a trace, like a ghost.

---

In the serene Healing Pavilion, a dark shadow cloaked in perception-blocking black mist appeared silently, moving without a trace, as if floating in the air. Even powerful divine senses couldn't detect its form.

The intruder hovered over Zhao Qinglei's peaceful-looking body, and his eyes narrowed.

"Hmm!"

He waved his sleeve, and Zhao Qinglei's body, like a leaking water balloon, deflated softly.

His pupils, organs, and flesh melted into blood, flowing out.

A thick, bloody smell enveloped the Healing Pavilion.

"Who is it? Someone beat me to it... silencing him!"

"What a cruel and vicious method... flesh and blood melting, even the Divine Essence is completely destroyed, preventing the Divine Essence from being traced back..."

"Which expert poisoner from my sect did this? It's perfect."

The intruder muttered, then realized he was praising the killer.

"Who is it?"

The killer had done it too cleanly, leaving no trace of their identity...

Just as he was thinking, outside the Healing Pavilion, waves of powerful Divine Essence rippled.

They seemed to have sensed Zhao Qinglei's death and rushed over.

The intruder, shrouded in black mist, took a deep look at Zhao Qinglei's body, shook his head, and his form turned into a wisp of black smoke, disappearing with a "hiss."

After the black-smoke figure left, several white-robed figures from the Divine Ancestral Healing Pavilion hurried over.

They saw Zhao Qinglei lying on the bed, his death gruesome.

"The evil Corpse Deity Sect... they've silenced him!"

"Quick!"

"Hurry, inform the Sect Lord!"

---

---

Li Che returned, his expression calm as usual, showing no signs of emotional turmoil after the kill.

Even though the target was just a young man, some children's cruelty is no less than adults'.

The evil one just hadn't grown up yet.

However, Li Che didn't relax at all, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes filled with sternness.

Because Zhao Qinglei was just a disposable tool, a knife that could be discarded at any time.

The true culprit was the Corpse Deity Sect expert who had manipulated Zhao Qinglei, giving him the Corpse Deity Totem!

The identity of the manipulator remained hidden, and even the Divine Ancestral Sect Lord Nan Lihuo, a powerful Primordial Form Realm cultivator, couldn't detect their presence.

The other party's Corpse Curse Seal is undoubtedly of an extremely high rank! If a master like Nan Lihuo were to encounter the seal-bestowing person of the Ten Cities or the Nine Luminaries, their divine consciousness would surely uncover something amiss.

Even the Eighth Apex Corpse Curse Seal, if not concealed properly, would attract the attention of Nan Lihuo and other Primordial Form experts with the slightest leakage of its aura.

"The person is within the Divine Sect, could they be a high-ranking member? Or just an ordinary disciple? No... it should be a high-ranking one. A Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal, without sufficient cultivation, cannot be concealed, and would be immediately discovered..."

"So, the other party's cultivation must be at least the Illusory Form!"

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

Li Qingshan had previously suspected that there was a big fish within the Divine Sect, but even he couldn't identify who it was.

The other party's concealment was too perfect.

Now it seems that it's indeed true.

The Corpse Deity Sect... they truly have their hands in every pie, even managing to infiltrate the Divine Sect!

"Is it the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal?"

"I only suppressed the Eighth Apex Corpse Curse Seal earlier, so even when it spread out, I couldn't detect the other party."

"But now it's different..."

Li Che's eyes flickered with killing intent.

"You've exposed yourself!"

His mind moved.

Li Che's spirit sank into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard within the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit.

At level 3, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit exerted even greater pressure.

The white bone palm transformed by the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal was suppressed in the center of the chessboard. Countless Pure Heart Divine Chess Pieces, formed from Pure Heart Divine Essence, surrounded and suppressed the white bone palm!

Thick Corpse Qi and Death Qi emanated from the sinister white bone palm, causing even the Pure Heart Chess Pieces to slightly tremble as if they were about to be overwhelmed.

Each chess piece vibrated slightly!

"It's difficult to suppress... indeed, it's the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal. If this kind of Corpse Curse Seal were to enter Xi Xi's body, she would surely suffer greatly, even to the point of being completely insane, neither human nor ghost, from the Corpse Qi and Death Qi."

"Damn it!"

Li Che's heart filled with anger at this thought.

Imagining his daughter's future miserable state, Li Che's killing intent soared, feeling that he had been too lenient with Zhao Qinglei.

He should have let him experience the Thousand Spider Threads!

Li Che secretly hated him.

However, he hated and was more cautious of the hidden Corpse Deity Sect expert who manipulated Zhao Qinglei!

Hummmm...

Suddenly, Li Che's mind focused.

The sinister white bone palm, suppressed within the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, suddenly trembled.

The five white bone fingers clicked and moved, as if transforming into five extremely sharp spears, trying to pierce through the void and tear apart the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

"Remote manipulation? Trying to recall the Corpse Curse Seal?"

"You're dreaming!"

Li Che's expression turned solemn, and his eyes rolled with cold intent.

With a thought, he controlled the Pure Heart Divine Chess Pieces, pressing down forcefully.

...

...

In a pitch-black secret room somewhere.

A figure shrouded in darkness suddenly trembled.

Within the black mist, a pair of eyes flashed with a sinister light.

"Discovered?"

"Who... could actually suppress my 'Corpse Touch White Bone Bodhisattva Killing Claw Seal'?"

A cold light appeared in the mysterious eyes.

"Then... let's fight!"

The figure's hands emerged from the black robe, intertwining ten copper-colored fingers to form a complex hand seal, emitting thick Corpse Qi and Death Qi.

Instantly, countless ghostly shadows appeared.

Click, click, click, click—

The sinister white bone claws extended from the dark ghostly shadows, slowly reaching towards the black mist vortex in front of the figure.

Countless white bone claws emerged, like the countless hands reaching out from the underworld's bridge, filled with the resentment and wails of the dead.

They grabbed at the intruder's feet, trying to drag them into the underworld.

"Come on, let's fight!"

The figure in the black mist let out a low, slightly mad, and twisted laugh.

"The Mother-Son Corpse Curse Seal, my mother seal is still here, how can you suppress the child seal?"

"Mother calls."

"Child, return!"

...

...

Above the Zhao family mansion.

A red cloud rolled in, and an overwhelming divine consciousness swept by, scorching and distorting the air with intense heat!

Within the red cloud, Zhu Hong Dou's eyes burned with flames, and behind her, a distorted divine figure emerged, its entire body engulfed in scorching flames. With an animal body and a human face, it was not an illusory form but a true divine form! Zhu Hong Dou's black hair instantly stood on end, turning crimson. She wore crystal armor and held a spear, with two illusory dragon shadows extending from her feet.

Fireline Crimson Emperor Flame Divine Form!

Instantly, it was like a blazing sun hanging above the Zhao family mansion.

"Old man Zhao Jie, get out here!"

Zhu Hong Dou roared, "Or I'll break in!"

After a moment of silence in the Zhao family mansion, Zhao Jie's figure rose into the air, his hair and beard standing on end, filled with uncontrollable anger.

An extreme fear essence spread through the air.

"You've gone too far! My son is already dead, what more do you want, Zhu Hong Dou?"

"Do you want to destroy my Zhao family?"

Zhao Jie's Extreme Terror Plunder Divine Form rose, and endless fear essence swirled, like black clouds rising, seizing people's hearts.

His hair and beard fluttered as he coldly stared at Zhu Hong Dou, and his aura was even more powerful than hers.

However, Zhu Hong Dou's Divine Form Technique was the Six Ministries Divine Form Technique obtained from the Golden Temple on Jin Guang Peak, and although it was only a lower-grade technique, it was still superior to Zhao Jie's.

Therefore, the gap between their middle and initial realms wasn't as significant as imagined.

"Your Zhao family's Zhao Qinglei used the Corpse Deity Sect's Corpse Deity Totem during the Divine Sect's monthly exam to harm our Divine Sect's Divine Child. This matter is related to your Zhao family!"

Zhu Hong Dou's eyes burned like two fiery suns.

Without further ado, she clenched her five fingers, and a spear forged from flames roared out with a mournful howl.

She didn't want to say more; it was time to fight!

Bullying my little Xi Xi...

What's the point of wasting words with you?

One word!

Fight!

Upon hearing these words, Tyrant Fang was momentarily stunned, but seeing Zhu Hong Dou's unwavering attack, he became enraged, his anger rising from deep within.

This crazy old woman, once she loses her temper, completely loses her rationality!

Damn it!

Tyrant Fang roared in explanation, but...

Zhu Hong Dou seemed to be covering her ears, refusing to listen. The spear split the air, and a sea of fire poured forth.

Tyrant Fang was utterly humiliated!

He quickly moved the battlefield high into the sky.

Otherwise, the Shangguan Family Residence below might be reduced to a fiery ruin.

...

...

The Inner Line Disciple Xi Xi, who was directly taught by the Sect Master, was attacked by the Corpse Deity Sect's methods on the arena of the monthly assessment!

This news spread like a storm, sweeping through the entire Divine Sect within half a day, even reaching the various powers of Jin Guang City.

Among the Five Great Clans, except for the Shangguan Clan who were currently being beaten up, the Divine Form Elders of the other clans all emerged from seclusion, their faces changing drastically.

"Has the Shangguan Family gone mad? They actually want to target the Divine Child of the Divine Sect, the Jiazi Divine Child, who is the hope of Nan Lihuo..."

"It's possible that Tyrant Fang is being framed. Perhaps a high-level expert from the Corpse Deity Sect found Shangguan Qinglei, and a seven-year-old child is too easy to manipulate."

"It can only be said that the Shangguan Family is truly pitiful. After the death of the family head, Zhao Zhengheng, they are now facing the loss of another talented child who entered the Divine Sect..."

...

Many powerful cultivators engaged in conversations across the sky, all expressing their dismay.

They even began to suspect that the Divine Sect was intentionally targeting the Shangguan Family, aiming to suppress and weaken the influence of the Five Great Clans in Jin Guang City.

However, Zhao Zhengheng's cultivation of the Incantation Bronze Corpse was undeniable, and if the sins of the Corpse Deity Sect were exposed, it would be reasonable for the Divine Sect to take action.

Nevertheless, everyone was more concerned about the condition of the Divine Child in the Divine Sect.

But upon further thought, it was likely that nothing serious had happened.

If something truly unfortunate had occurred, more than just Zhu Hong Dou would have emerged to cause trouble at this moment.

The Sect Master Nan Lihuo, a Primordial Sage, would probably have already dealt a severe blow to the Shangguan Family.

...

...

At the Nine Dragon River, the Cliff Stone Treasure Tower.

The tower's flying eaves were shrouded in the mist of the rivers and lakes.

On the top floor, the sound of a melancholy erhu reverberated endlessly, carrying sorrow, grief, and an indescribable pain.

Deputy Lin Xiuyi's robe fluttered as she strode forward, and before she even reached the top floor, she heard the mournful music of the Chief Inspector.

Her inner emotions were stirred, and the feeling of almost shedding tears made Lin Xiuyi quickly sever her sense of hearing.

But the erhu's melody was so sorrowful that it still penetrated her defenses.

After a moment, the erhu's sound finally dissipated.

"Chief Inspector... A disciple of the Corpse Deity Sect has manipulated a seven-year-old child and struck the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal during the Divine Sect's monthly assessment, intending to destroy the Jiazi Divine Child."

Lin Xiuyi respectfully bowed and said.

The Chief Inspector's appearance was accompanied by the background music of the erhu, his hair and beard flying, and his plain clothes fluttering.

"A Divine Child, who wouldn't be tempted? Looking at the entire Dao City, it's filled with geniuses, and encountering such a talent in Jin Guang City is a rare opportunity."

"The hidden person in the Divine Sect finally couldn't hold back..."

Upon hearing the Chief Inspector's words, Lin Xiuyi abruptly raised her head, her eyes fixed.

"Within the Divine Sect... is it really as Li Qingshan said, hiding a high-level expert from the Corpse Deity Sect?"

The Chief Inspector picked up a small stool with his chopsticks, and said indifferently, "Don't underestimate the Corpse Deity Sect. They turned an entire Dao City into a human hell, turning Ji Prefecture into a living hell that even the Pacifying King Jiali couldn't suppress with repeated campaigns..."

"Any one of the Six Corpse Deities... no one in Jin Guang City can handle them. Jiali alone held back six Corpse Deities. Otherwise, the situation in Great Jing would have been even more dire."

Lin Xiuyi trembled all over and took a deep breath, "The Corpse Deity of the Corpse Deity Sect..."

"Sight, hearing, smell, speech, touch, desire... six Corpse Deities, each one is extremely terrifying."

"The origin of the Corpse Deity Sect, that strange temple, what kind of inheritance does it hold to create such a terrifying cult?"

The Chief Inspector stretched lazily.

"However, it's hard to believe that Jiali alone can hold back six Corpse Deities. There are too many things in this world that are beyond comprehension."

The Chief Inspector shook his head and spoke a sentence that landed in Lin Xiuyi's ears, causing her entire body to tremble.

Lin Xiuyi's whole body shook...

"Teacher..."

The Chief Inspector shook his head, "Divine Nature can change, let alone human nature?"

"Speaking of which, this person in the Divine Sect... could it be Nan Lihuo's self-orchestrated scheme?"

The Chief Inspector stroked his beard, deep in thought.

Lin Xiuyi's body trembled again.

Teacher, what are you saying?!

Is this world so complicated?!

The Chief Inspector smiled, "It's probably not... Nan Lihuo..."

"Yes, it's not..."

...

...

At Jin Guang Peak, the Temple.

Sang Guanyin transformed into a stream of light, flying swiftly and landing in front of the temple.

However, she was blocked by someone.

It was an old servant with a hunched back, as if carrying a tortoise shell.

Upon seeing this old servant, Sang Guanyin's heart couldn't help but sink.

Because every time Master Nan Lihuo went into seclusion, this old servant would be summoned to protect him. This old man had watched Nan Lihuo grow up, and it was said that they came from the same family.

He was the person Nan Lihuo trusted the most, even more than anyone in the Divine Sect.

Even these disciples couldn't compare to Elder Yuan.

"Elder Yuan, Xi Xi was attacked. A high-level expert from the Corpse Deity Sect manipulated an Inner Sect disciple and struck the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal... Xi Xi almost fell for it!"

"This matter must be reported to Master. There's a high-level expert from the Corpse Deity Sect within our Divine Sect who can manipulate disciples!"

Sang Guanyin wore a long yellow skirt, which should have exuded an otherworldly aura, but at this moment, her face was filled with anxiety and worry.

The hunched figure, resembling an aged turtle with a broken spine, sat at the temple's entrance, slowly raising his cloudy eyes.

"Xi Xi was attacked... This is indeed a serious matter."

The old man's voice was extremely hoarse, and his hunched, lumpy back made him look like an ancient turtle.

"But the young master is in seclusion, and he instructed me, his loyal servant, to protect the young lady. I cannot let you through, young miss." Elder Yuan spoke with a raspy voice.

Sang Guanyin had also grown up under his watchful eye, from a five-year-old girl to the graceful young lady she is today.

Elder Yuan thought of Xi Xi, just like Sang Guanyin and the others back then...

He couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh, realizing that as the children grew, it meant he was aging day by day.

How much longer could he protect the young master? Elder Yuan shook his head.

"Elder Yuan!" Sang Guanyin couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Wait a moment, young miss." Elder Yuan closed his eyes wearily.

Sang Guanyin was anxious, staring at the tightly shut temple doors, but there was nothing she could do.

What could she do?

Was she supposed to forcibly break in?

...

...

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Li Che's mind hovered, manipulating thirty-six Pure Mind Deity Nature Chess Pieces, pressing down on the trembling and shaking white skeleton palm.

He wanted to suppress the skeleton palm.

However, it was extremely difficult to suppress it, as the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal was hidden within the skeleton palm, seemingly imbued with life.

Li Che realized that the owner of the Corpse Curse Seal was manipulating it, attempting to retrieve the seal, probably because they had realized their plan had failed.

Li Che's heart turned cold, and his eyes filled with a stronger killing intent. He was shocked and fearful! The opponent could still summon and retrieve the Corpse Curse Seal. Once it was implanted into Xi Xi's body, the consequences were unimaginable.

Xi Xi's small body couldn't bear it; she would be manipulated by the opponent!

How vicious!

What a ruthless method!

The Corpse Deity Sect... was using such despicable means to deal with a three-year-old child!

The Corpse Deity Sect deserved to die! Li Che's eyes turned cold, and his heart trembled. The Pure Mind Deity Nature trembled, and within his inner vision, the Pure Mind Deity Foundation flashed with brilliance.

It was as if a great river was churning, like the Milky Way pouring down.

It condensed into countless Pure Mind Deity Nature Chess Pieces, continuously falling onto the chessboard.

Clap!

The chess pieces fell, creating a rumbling sound, and invisible ripples of divine energy spread out in concentric circles.

Sixty-four pieces!

Then, thirty-two more Pure Mind Deity Nature Chess Pieces fell, like sharp swords swinging towards the skeleton palm! The skeleton palm made a loud 'cracking' sound as it violently twisted and struggled, releasing dense black energy.

The Pure Mind Deity Nature Chess Pieces seemed to transform into shackles, wrapping around the giant skeleton hand.

Suddenly, Li Che's expression changed slightly.

He saw that the skeleton hand was filled with death energy and corpse energy, as if countless white bone claws were trying to drag the trapped bone claw away!

"Are they making a move?"

Li Che's gaze turned cold.

The owner of the Corpse Curse Seal, the hidden Corpse Deity Sect expert within the Divine Sect, was vying with him for control of the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal.

"I pulled this Corpse Curse Seal into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, but they can still sense it... It's not just a spiritual sense."

"It's more like an inherent connection between the mother and child seals?"

Li Che closed his eyes and opened them again, his expression turning extremely cold.

Once this seal is implanted, Xi Xi might not recognize her parents and only acknowledge the mother seal.

How bold!

This bastard is trying to take my daughter's custody!

What nonsense!

Feeling the increasingly terrifying pulling force from the skeleton hand, along with the dense death energy and corpse energy it was emitting, Li Che didn't hesitate and decided to drop all the divine nature chess pieces he had accumulated in the Pure Mind Deity Fruit.

All-in!

Suppress!

However, as this thought arose, the quiet, dark golden chess piece, which had been sitting in the corner of the chessboard without showing any signs of power, suddenly trembled.

Then, it swiftly moved horizontally, causing the vertical and horizontal lines of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard to appear distorted in its path!

As the dark golden chess piece hovered above the skeleton palm.

It was like a deity looking down.

Halt!

You audacious evil spirit!

The dark golden chess piece shook violently, as if a deity was angrily reprimanding them.

An invisible pressure of rank suddenly surged from the dark golden chess piece, like a golden crystal pagoda!

The pagoda struck the skeleton palm.

Li Che thought he heard the sound of bones breaking...

Along with the most piercing wails, the skeleton palm instantly cracked, shattering into countless fine bone fragments.

The dense death energy and corpse energy dissipated without a trace!

...

...

In the quiet and dark secret room, the dense black mist suddenly trembled, then violently shook as if it were boiling.

The figure enveloped in the black mist trembled, and a thick, bloody smell filled the room.

Boom, boom, boom, boom—

The countless white bone claws floating in the air...

Exploded with a loud bang!

The wails of ghosts and spirits filled the air, and the howling winds raged, swirling around the figure.

The black mist revealed a pair of eyes, red as if they were about to bleed.

"Heavenly King Pagoda..."

"Heavenly King!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end