Chapter 135: Who Said the Sect Master is Definitely Innocent, Li Qingshan Heavily Employs Horse Face

Chapter 135: Who Said the Sect Master is Definitely Innocent, Li Qingshan Heavily Employs Horse Face

Creak!

The heavy temple doors swung open with a thunderous sound.

Nan Lihuo, dressed in white, with his black hair flying, strode out from the main hall. The ground seemed to shrink beneath his feet as he took a step, covering several zhang with each stride.

Yuan Bo, standing guard outside the hall, and Sang Guanyin, who was anxiously waiting, both turned to look at Nan Lihuo as he emerged.

"Young Master," Yuan Bo said, bowing with his back hunched.

Nan Lihuo nodded, then turned to Sang Guanyin, "Tell me the details of what happened during the monthly assessment."

Sang Guanyin quickly recounted the events of the assessment, making sure not to leave out any details.

Nan Lihuo stood with his hands behind his back, listening quietly, his face calm and gentle.

After listening carefully, his brows furrowed, and a hint of sternness flashed in his eyes.

"Indeed, they are quite audacious."

"To use a child as a weapon, this was truly unexpected... But it was because of the resentment in Shangguan Qinglei's heart that he couldn't resist the temptation and became a tool for the Corpse Deity Sect."

Nan Lihuo spoke in a deep voice.

"Is Xi Xi okay?"

Sang Guanyin nodded, "She's fine. Zhang Elder acted in time and blocked the Corpse Deity Sect's method. However, that Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal disappeared into thin air for some unknown reason..."

Upon hearing this, Nan Lihuo's eyebrows raised, "It seems someone acted in secret. With Zhang Qingzheng's abilities, it's impossible for the Corpse Curse Seal to disappear. According to his temperament, he would have likely drawn the Corpse Curse Seal into his own body."

"Is there another expert within the Divine Ancestral Sect that we are unaware of?"

Nan Lihuo pondered.

Suddenly, on the large plaza at Jin Guang Peak.

Another person rushed over, it was Liu Yangyuan, accompanied by a cultivator from the Healing Pavilion.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, Shangguan Qinglei... has been killed."

"His five viscera, six entrails, flesh, muscles, and tendons have all turned into bloody water... The method was extremely cruel!"

The cultivator from the Healing Pavilion said, bowing with a solemn voice.

As his words fell, the atmosphere in front of the temple turned cold and severe.

Nan Lihuo's body burst forth with a terrifying pressure that seemed to distort space.

"Good... What a despicable person!"

This was a murder to silence the witness...

"Master, Elder Zhu killed the Shangguan Clan, and is currently fighting with the Divine Form Elder of the Shangguan Clan, Shangguan Jie..."

The third disciple, Liu Yangyuan, had a solemn expression on his handsome and charming face.

"Let her have her way. She was already holding resentment in her heart. Xi Xi was supposed to enter her Crimson Cloud Peak, but I intercepted her. She was looking for a place to vent her anger, and the Shangguan Clan delivered themselves right to her,"

"First, there was Shangguan Zhengheng, and now Shangguan Qinglei. The Shangguan Clan's upbringing is lacking."

Nan Lihuo said indifferently, unconcerned.

"As long as she didn't kill him, it's fine."

Nan Lihuo seemed amiable, but in reality... he was also a protective person.

"Shangguan Qinglei was silenced... Who needed to silence him?"

Nan Lihuo narrowed his eyes.

"Let's go and check on Xi Xi's situation first. The Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal is no small matter... Any influence it has will affect her for life."

Nan Lihuo spoke softly.

Sang Guanyin nodded silently beside him.

Yuan Bo quietly retreated, blending into the darkness, continuing to guard the temple.

Liu Yangyuan was sent to keep an eye on Elder Zhu's side, preventing the situation from worsening. He had to be careful, as Elder Zhu was known for her explosive temper, and even passing dogs would get kicked if they crossed her path.

Liu Yangyuan's face stiffened.

"Master, you want me to stop Elder Zhu?"

That was the explosive Elder Zhu. Once her temper flared up, even passing dogs would get kicked...

Could the master be serious about sending Liu Yangyuan to stop her?

Did the master no longer want him as a disciple? Liu Yangyuan was a hundred percent unwilling, but seeing Nan Lihuo already leaving, he had no choice but to go.

...

...

Boom!

A soul-shaking rumble seemed to echo through the air.

On the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, all the Pure Heart Deity Chess Pieces trembled and shook at this moment.

Li Che's heart was stirred, and it took a long time for him to calm down.

He never expected that the Heavenly King Deity Nature, obtained from the Golden Temple, would be...

So filled with righteous indignation!

Li Che hadn't even tried to use it, but this Deity Nature Chess Piece directly shot out, suppressing the Skeleton Palm.

It dispelled the death energy and corpse energy, extremely domineering, and returned clarity to the world!

"Heavenly King... Truly worthy of the title, not tolerating even the slightest speck of sand!"

Li Che laughed.

His gaze swept over, landing on the shattered Skeleton Palm.

The shattered bones of the palm, along with the death energy and corpse energy, disappeared. After the white bones were gone, it transformed into a Corpse Curse Seal.

It was very similar to the Eight Trigram Corpse Curse Seal, but its aura was even darker and more terrifying, like a black hole floating on the chessboard, devouring all light and heat.

The Black-Golden Heavenly King Deity Nature Chess Piece seemed to no longer reject the remaining Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal.

Thus, the Corpse Curse Seal hovered in the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Li Che quickly mobilized the Pure Heart Deity Nature to suppress it.

Boom!

The Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal was indeed more challenging to suppress and tame compared to the Eight Trigram Corpse Curse Seal.

The shaking and erupting black Deity Nature clashed with each Pure Heart Deity Nature.

However, Li Che continuously piled up the Pure Heart Deity Nature to suppress and refine it.

Although it was slow, there was finally a glimmer of hope, and it was possible to completely refine and suppress it.

"Once I fully suppress this Corpse Curse Seal, it will be like the Eight Trigram Corpse Curse Seal. When it trembles, the spreading Corpse Curse Power can detect other Corpse Deity Sect experts who have received the Corpse Curse Seal..."

"The Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal can reveal those who have received the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal. At that time... the Corpse Deity Sect expert hiding in the Divine Ancestral Sect will have nowhere to hide!"

Li Che's eyes flashed. This was the leverage he had over his opponent!

If the Corpse Deity Sect expert hiding within the Divine Ancestral Sect didn't harm Xi Xi, he wouldn't be exposed, and Li Che wouldn't have a handle on him.

Li Che couldn't wait to complete the suppression and refinement of the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal, but he was ultimately limited by his insufficient cultivation.

Li Che was anxious, but he also understood that this couldn't be rushed.

Calming his mind, Li Che opened his eyes.

He sat quietly in the room, gently tapping the rosewood table and chair. Then, remembering something, he took out Shangguan Qinglei's Universe Jade.

His powerful divine sense directly tore through the barriers of the Universe Jade.

He then sensed the collection within.

There wasn't much, and there weren't any valuable items either; after all, it was just a seven-year-old child's Qiongkun Jade.

He took a quick glance, checking if there were any clues left behind by the mastermind.

The opponent's methods were clean, leaving no traces behind.

After tidying up, Li Che stood up, his entire body resonating with a loud cracking sound.

His spirit was even better than he had imagined.

"Hmm... It seems like my divine sense has become stronger?"

"In the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, manipulating the Pure Heart White Piece and fighting against the White Bone Palm formed from death energy and corpse energy, it actually strengthened my divine sense?"

Li Che was surprised.

It was common knowledge that the strength of one's divine sense was related to the strength of their Divine Foundation. The stronger the Divine Foundation, the stronger the divine sense would naturally become.

Cultivating in the Divine Foundation Realm inherently involved tempering one's divine sense.

The stronger the divine sense was tempered, the easier it would be to break through to the Divine Appearance in the future.

But now, Li Che had discovered a way to temper his divine sense independently.

"During the process of refining and suppressing the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal, my divine sense also became stronger..."

Li Che smiled, and indeed, this was an unexpected joy from this mission.

Although he hadn't found the culprit, he had resolved the problem of Shangguan Qinglei, the explosive thunder, and also dealt with the threat of the White Bone Palm.

Li Che's mood lightened slightly.

Without continuing his seclusion in the room, Li Che directly opened the door and left.

Li Qingshan sat in the distance, observing the Divine Appearance, his entire body exuding the pressure of the Divine Appearance's rank. He was truly just one step away from breaking through to the Divine Appearance.

As if sensing Li Che's exit from the room, his eyes flickered, countless electric lights intertwined, and an incredibly powerful Evil Elimination power manifested as invisible ripples of energy that spread out with a boom.

Li Che took a glance from a distance, and Li Qingshan slowly restrained his energy, and the Thunderbolt Divine Appearance gradually dissipated.

He breathed in and out, and thunder roared within him.

The scene was awe-inspiring.

Li Qingshan smiled and walked towards Li Che: "Is it resolved?"

Li Che nodded, knowing that Li Qingshan was referring to the matter of the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal, and he didn't hide anything.

His ability to suppress the Corpse Curse Seal and detect it was the basis for their cooperation, and there was no need to hide it.

"However, to completely suppress it, I'll need some time. The Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal is indeed formidable."

Li Che said.

Li Qingshan nodded, as if it was only natural: "The fact that you can suppress the Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal already exceeds my expectations... Take your time, remember to be steady, and don't get infected. Once infected, the consequences are severe."

Hearing this, Li Che also understood Li Qingshan's meaning.

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Li Che responded calmly.

Li Qingshan looked towards the distant Seven Yuan Divine Statue, his eyes fixed, and his voice deep: "I'm almost there."

"In a short while, I should be able to break through to the Divine Appearance..."

"And within Jin Guang City, and even the entire Divine Sect, there are probably many who don't want me to break through to the Divine Appearance."

Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, the mountain breeze stirring his clothes, outlining his figure.

"Could it be... they'll deliberately disrupt things when I break through?"

Li Che couldn't help but speculate when he heard Li Qingshan's sudden statement.

"I'd say it's certain that someone will make a move to disrupt things..."

"Whether it's within the sect or outside, it's the same. Within Jin Guang City, I've hammered all five major sects, and the five great clans are no exception."

"They are naturally the ones who least want me to break through to the Divine Appearance..."

"Once I achieve the Divine Appearance, they won't have many good days left."

Li Qingshan stretched lazily, quite carefree.

Then, he lazily glanced at Li Che and smiled: "How about it? Are you interested... in lending me a hand?"

"Call Horse Face... I need his sniping ability."

"If I achieve the Divine Appearance, I can offer an Eight Apex Divine Nature Crystal as a reward."

Li Qingshan was very generous.

Li Che was speechless, and the implication was clear: if he didn't succeed and died halfway, the promise of the Divine Nature Crystal would be void.

Although Li Qingshan might be suspected of making empty promises, Li Che's eyes flickered slightly at the mention of the Eight Apex Divine Nature Crystal... it was enough to get Horse Face to make a move once.

Of course, this Eight Apex Divine Nature Crystal was indeed a valuable item, but it was also quite a hot potato.

When Li Qingshan attempted to break through to the Divine Appearance, he would undoubtedly do so at Thunder Peak, which meant it would be within the Divine Sect's mountain gate.

And for someone to dare to kill at the Divine Sect's mountain gate...

They would most likely be no ordinary weakling, at least at the Illusory Appearance stage, or perhaps even a Divine Appearance battle.

Li Che began to ponder whether or not to get involved in this matter.

"Just ask Horse Face for one shot, and whether it succeeds or not, I'll pay the reward after one shot, and then he can stop and no longer be involved in any matters."

Li Qingshan spoke in a deep voice.

Horse Face's sniping had pierced through Shangguan Zhengheng's Incantation Bronze Corpse Flesh Body, and that terrifying penetrating power would even give Li Qingshan a headache.

After all, his body wasn't as tough as the Incantation Bronze Corpse.

Li Qingshan was also putting himself in Li Che's shoes, and if it were him, facing the terrifying mechanized cannon of Horse Face...

Unless he was prepared in advance, otherwise, he might be in trouble.

So, to feel secure, Horse Face should be brought into their camp.

Although Horse Face was Li Che's friend, those who performed covert sniping might be swayed by a higher offer from the opposing side.

Therefore, Li Qingshan wanted to talk to Li Che early on and secure Horse Face's availability.

"Your breakthrough will definitely be within the Divine Sect... With the Sect Master present, will there be any danger when you break through to the Divine Appearance?"

Li Che hadn't expected Li Qingshan to be concerned about Horse Face appearing on the opposing side.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he asked his question.

Was Li Qingshan being too pessimistic?

Within the Divine Sect's mountain gate, there were countless experts, and even Yuan Xiang existences like Nan Lihuo. Li Qingshan's breakthrough to the Divine Appearance should be the safest, unless he failed in his breakthrough.

Li Qingshan looked deeply at Li Che: "Didn't Xi Xi also suffer an attack within the Divine Sect?"

"Why do you think I'll be safe when I break through to the Divine Appearance?"

Li Che fell silent.

Indeed, why would it be safe, even with the Sect Master Nan Lihuo present?

Li Qingshan took a deep breath, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the myriad lights of the city below the mountain.

"Moreover..."

"How can you be so sure that the Sect Master is... the most innocent one?"

Li Qingshan's words hung in the air.

Li Che's eyes narrowed suddenly, as if a thunderbolt had struck, deafening!

...

...

When Li Qingshan and Li Che returned to the courtyard, Xi Xi had finally perked up after Zhang Ya promised to make her braised pork, sweet and sour fish, mouth-watering chicken, and up to ten other delicious dishes. She was now full of energy.

In the courtyard, she pulled Lu Chi aside, hands on her hips, chest and belly puffed out like a great emperor, looking down at her disloyal subject.

"Lu Chi, you little brat, let's fight!"

"Xi Xi is ready!"

Xi Xi's fighting spirit soared, and after her battle with Shangguan Qinglei, she still felt unsatisfied. After all, that disloyal subject had played dirty tricks, and she hadn't had enough! So, she sought out Lu Chi.

Mu Po and Zhang Ya, standing by, felt helpless, but seeing Xi Xi's energetic state, they both relaxed, knowing that Xi Xi hadn't been affected by Shangguan Qinglei's Corpse Deity Sect's Seven Yuan Corpse Curse Seal.

Lu Chi, with his large head, scratched it, looking at Xi Xi with a mix of hesitation and affection.

"Xi Xi, how do you want to fight?"

"First, no using your Mechanized Cannon, and no Divine Armament either. Let's just compare our strengths."

Although Lu Chi was only an Inner Sect disciple, he had entered the sect several years before Xi Xi.

While Xi Xi's talent was average, she had experienced the resonance of the Divine Temple, and because she had become a disciple of Li Qingshan early on, her cultivation had remained stable.

Now, at eight years old, Lu Chi's martial cultivation had reached the third level of Blood Exchange, and his divine essence cultivation had reached the level of Nature Like a River, approaching the Divine Foundation Realm.

Lu Chi hadn't expected that three-year-old Xi Xi would catch up to him so quickly.

Three years old...

Xi Xi was only three years old!

Lu Chi recalled his own cultivation at three years old...

movement.

"Come on, Lu Chi, you disloyal subject!"

Xi Xi's eyes blazed with fiery determination. Xi Xi the Great Emperor intended to conquer all disloyal subjects with her strength, not her beauty!

Ever since Xi Xi had a dream about becoming the Great Emperor and even turning her father into a disloyal subject, she, at her young age, had set her heart on becoming an emperor.

A butterfly landed on Xi Xi's shoulder, fluttering its wings nervously, like a puppy baring its teeth at a stranger.

The anticipated showdown between Xi Xi and Lu Chi never materialized.

Nan Lihuo, in his white robe, appeared, accompanied by Sang Guanyin.

"Sect Master!" Xi Xi exclaimed upon seeing Nan Lihuo, immediately withdrawing her fists and offering a cute and slightly comical bow.

"Come here, Xi Xi," Nan Lihuo said gently.

"I was in seclusion and didn't expect that the Corpse Deity Sect would go so far as to use a child for assassination. It's my fault for not anticipating this," Nan Lihuo explained gently.

His voice exuded a calming sense of stability.

Sang Guanyin, standing by, also breathed a sigh of relief.

If the Sect Master, whose cultivation was at the Primordial Form Realm, standing at the pinnacle of Divine Appearance, said there was no problem, then there definitely wasn't. After all, his divine sense was far beyond her imagination.

He was on par with the Governor of the Temple Guard Office, the Chief of the Celestial Surveillance, and the Lord of the Golden Light City.

In the distance, Li Che and Li Qingshan approached together.

Upon seeing Nan Lihuo, Li Che's steps faltered. He recalled Li Qingshan's words about the Sect Master and couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly.

However, he quickly adjusted his emotions, and his face mirrored Nan Lihuo's gentle demeanor.

Li Che's steps faltered again, and he subconsciously touched his face.

Li Qingshan, an experienced actor, remained composed in front of Nan Lihuo, despite his suspicions.

Nan Lihuo glanced at Li Qingshan and Li Che but didn't pay them much attention. After all, Li Che was someone Li Qingshan had brought from Thunderbolt City, so their closeness was understandable.

"Master Li, I was negligent this time. I was in seclusion and never imagined that the Corpse Deity Sect would be so ruthless as to use a child for assassination. It's my fault for not anticipating this," Nan Lihuo said gently, his voice soothing.

Li Che, however, felt extremely uncomfortable. Although he always wore a gentle smile, once he put on the Bull Demon Mask, he became unrestrained, wild, crazy, and vicious.

Could Nan Lihuo, the Sect Master, be the same as him?

The gentleness was just an act.

"The Sect Master was in seclusion? We can't blame the Sect Master for this. We can only blame the evil members of the Corpse Deity Sect. Shangguan Qinglei was bewitched within the Divine Sect... Sect Master, this matter must be taken seriously."

"We, as parents, are very concerned about Xi Xi's safety," Li Che said earnestly.

Nan Lihuo nodded. "Rest assured, I will thoroughly investigate this matter."

Li Qingshan scoffed, "Thorough investigation... How easy is it to investigate?"

Nan Lihuo gave him a glance.

Li Qingshan quickly put on a smile and approached Nan Lihuo, "Sect Master, how about I handle this matter?"

However, just as Li Qingshan finished speaking.

A terrifying and mighty Divine Appearance aura rolled in from outside the Peak of Heavenly Thunder.

"Li Qingshan, are you trying to take over the work of the Law Enforcement Hall of Flowing Sword Peak?"

"Did you even ask me if I agreed?"

The youth's voice was cold, his black hair flying as he carried a Radiant Light Sword that suppressed his divine essence. He was Xu Jiuling, the Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall of Flowing Sword Peak, and he had arrived by stepping through the air.

Behind him, a man was bound by sword energy, like a chained prisoner.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end