Chapter 140: Seven Elements Corpse Curse Detection, the Sect Master, and the Divine Guardian's Patro

Chapter 140: Seven Elements Corpse Curse Detection, the Sect Master, and the Divine Guardian's Patrol

Grandmaster?

Li Che... has become a Grandmaster?!

Old Chen felt the powerful true energy entering his body, evaporating and eliminating the hidden corpse qi and death qi that had been lurking within him.

Every inch of his flesh and blood seemed to tremble uncontrollably.

These death qi and corpse qi were very subtle, and if it weren't for Old Chen's innate talent in perception, it would have been extremely difficult to sense them.

Old Chen was well aware of the Corpse Deity Sect, that evil sect. How could he not know about it?

It was the Corpse Deity Sect that had forced him to leave his hometown and abandon his former residence.

He knew about the Corpse Curse Seal, the method the Corpse Deity Sect used to control their followers.

When Old Chen sensed the corpse qi within his body, he realized that it hadn't affected his physical body, so he understood that the target wasn't him.

Instead, it was Xi Xi!

As soon as Old Chen realized this, he decided to move out of Li Che and Zhang Ya's courtyard, fearing that the corpse qi in his body might infect the two of them.

As for the source of the corpse qi in his body, Old Chen suspected that the beggar gang job recommended by his fellow villager was the problem.

The day after he found out about the situation, he secretly went to look for his fellow villager.

However, he discovered that his fellow villager's entire family had been killed.

Old Chen fell silent. The danger in the capital city was even more chilling than the outside world. At least those who died outside could cry out in their final moments, but those who died in the city did so silently, without a sound.

In Old Chen's opinion, the Beggar Gang was truly powerful, so he didn't want to involve Li Che's family or Xi Xi.

Old Chen silently moved out of the courtyard and refused Li Che's request to see Xi Xi.

Even though his heart ached like it was being torn apart, even though he was reluctant to part with her...

He had to make this decision.

It was for Xi Xi's sake.

Even though Old Chen was a rough and tough warrior, in the quiet of the night, he couldn't help but shed tears, his heart filled with melancholy and reluctance.

Today was Xi Xi's fourth birthday, and he remembered it clearly.

So, on this night, he drank alone in the darkness.

But Li Che arrived.

The troublesome corpse qi that had been bothering him was easily dispelled by Li Che.

The stubborn corpse qi seemed to have encountered the blazing sun, instantly evaporating without a trace.

Moreover, Li Che's cultivation had reached the grandmaster realm!

A realm beyond Old Chen's imagination.

After connecting the meridians, one becomes a grandmaster, but Old Chen knew very well how difficult it was to reach the grandmaster realm...

"Old Chen, I've become a grandmaster," Li Che said with a gentle smile.

He already knew what Old Chen was planning to do, so he came out tonight to stop him and dispel his thoughts of seeking death.

"How long have you been cultivating?" Old Chen swallowed.

What kind of monster was this?

Li Che's martial arts training could be considered half-taught by Old Chen, even though it was Xu Beihu who taught him in Xu Ji's Woodcarving Shop.

Nevertheless, Old Chen was still his mentor.

As a result, in less than four years, Li Che had become a grandmaster!

Old Chen closed his eyes and sensed the corpse qi and death qi within his body, and indeed, he couldn't feel a trace of it anymore.

He opened his eyes, and they were slightly moist...

"I..."

"Old Chen, if you have any troubles, you can come to me. Xi Xi grew up under your care, so you're like family to us."

"Do you understand the meaning of family?"

Li Che picked up a cup from the stove and poured himself a drink.

He raised the cup towards Old Chen and drank it in one gulp.

Old Chen let out a breath, his tense body relaxed, and he sat down on the ground under the eaves.

"Ah Che, someone wants to use me to deal with Xi Xi... They planted corpse qi in my body, and their target is Xi Xi."

Old Chen raised his head and said solemnly.

"I know..."

"I know everything."

"Today is Xi Xi's birthday, so let's not shed blood."

Li Che patted Old Chen's shoulder.

Old Chen was stunned...

What a scary thing to say.

What does 'not shedding blood' mean?

Li Che smiled, "I know you suspect that the Beggar Gang wants to harm Xi Xi, and someone from the Beggar Gang has joined the Corpse Deity Sect, aiming for this Jiazi Divine Child."

"As for these experts from the Corpse Deity Sect..."

"Just kill them."

"Anyway... anyone who wants to harm Xi Xi, just kill them."

Li Che spoke calmly and peacefully.

This was his determination, an unshakable will.

Old Chen looked at Li Che in a daze, wondering how he could speak so calmly and peacefully about killing the Beggar Gang...

Was this still the gentle woodcarving master Li Che he knew?

"The Beggar Gang... is very strong."

Old Chen reminded him, fearing that Li Che, who had just broken through to the grandmaster realm, might become arrogant and make unwise decisions.

Then, Old Chen saw Li Che smile.

And then.

Old Chen's eyes narrowed.

The courtyard, covered in snow, instantly melted away, and the snow disappeared! Li Che, standing before him, transformed into a towering figure, his massive shadow blocking out the sun and sky, completely obscuring Old Chen's vision.

A cute bull mask was placed over Li Che's face.

Like this...

He looked down at Old Chen.

Old Chen's face turned red, and he stood there dumbfounded.

After a long time...

He plucked a beard and blurted out.

"Damn!"

...

...

Old Chen followed Li Che to the Divine Sect that very night.

This was Old Chen's first time entering the Divine Sect, and he felt a bit nervous, but it was late at night, and the snow was swirling, so there wasn't much to see.

To save time, Li Che carried Old Chen and used the Cloud Falcon Sky Leaping technique.

The speed was lightning-fast, and the air currents blew so fiercely that Old Chen felt a bit disoriented.

It was the first time he experienced the speed of a grandmaster.

Zhen Lei Peak.

Old Chen stepped into the brightly lit courtyard, feeling a bit dazed.

The snow was swirling outside, but the courtyard was spotless, and the newly fallen snow had already been evaporated, leaving the ground dry and comfortable.

A familiar yet long-missed feeling.

Zhang Ya was busy in the kitchen, although Li Che had brought food from outside, she still insisted on making some of Xixi's favorite dishes.

She even cooked a bowl of Longevity Noodles with Dragon Whiskers, adding an egg.

One egg and one bowl of noodles.

Wishing little Xixi a happy and safe new year.

When Li Che brought Old Chen into the courtyard, Xixi, who was playing with Lu Chi, Gong Yuanliang, and Gongyang Xiu on a twist car, suddenly let out a shriek.

"Grandpa Chen!"

Xixi excitedly jumped off the twist car and then, like a little hamster out of its cage, sprinted towards Old Chen.

With a leap, she pounced into Old Chen's embrace.

The powerful impact made Old Chen, who had just experienced high-speed flight, feel dizzy and disoriented.

"Stinky Xi... you've grown stronger!"

Old Chen snapped out of his daze, holding Xixi, and said with emotion.

Four-year-old Xixi had grown taller, but her face was still chubby, and her belly still had a little pouch.

It had been seven or eight months since Old Chen had seen Stinky Xi, and he truly missed her.

But the old man and the little girl only got along well during their first meeting; after that, they started bickering again.

"Stinky Xi!"

"Old Stinky Chen!"

The two of them started arguing, each taking turns to speak.

Old Chen's face, full of wrinkles, couldn't help but break into a smile; he hadn't smiled so happily in a long time.

Zhang Ya came out of the kitchen and saw Old Chen, looking slightly surprised.

"Husband, it's been a long time since Old Chen visited."

Zhang Ya didn't know what had happened to Old Chen.

But since Li Che could invite Old Chen, the problem must have been resolved.

"It's a small issue; when I, your husband, take action, all problems cease to be problems."

Li Che seemed to be quite boastful in front of his wife.

"Let's cook a bowl of noodles for Old Chen too." Li Che suddenly said.

Zhang Ya paused, looking at him in confusion.

"To celebrate his rebirth and return home."

Li Che smiled gently.

As dinner was about to be served, Li Qingshan arrived with Mu Po Po, as well as Xixi's senior martial brothers and sisters, Sang Guan Yin and Liu Yang Yuan.

The elder of Hongyun Peak, Zhu Hongdou, also joined them.

Shangguan Qinghong followed behind Li Qingshan.

The small courtyard was filled with laughter and joy, which even the winter snow couldn't conceal or disperse.

Xixi, the star of the day, was overjoyed. She had delicious food, fun games, and got to see Grandpa Chen, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. She also received various gifts.

She really wished every day was her birthday.

The night breeze blew, and snowflakes fluttered.

After dinner, Li Che and the others gathered around the brazier in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting casually.

In the courtyard, where Li Che had cleared the snow using his Vital Energy, Xixi and her friends played happily.

Li Qingshan sipped his tea with narrowed eyes; observing the Divine Perception was quite tiring, so taking a break to relax with a cup of tea was a good idea.

Sang Guan Yin and Shangguan Qinghong went to play with Xixi.

The elegant and eccentric Liu Yang Yuan joined Li Che and Li Qingshan for tea.

"Little Yuan, where's your master?"

Li Qingshan took a sip of tea and asked with narrowed eyes.

Liu Yang Yuan carefully sipped his tea and replied, "Master has entered seclusion again. Recently, he's been entering seclusion more frequently."

"Oh? Does that mean our Sect Master is about to break through to the Divine Foundation Realm and achieve the True Man stage?"

Li Qingshan narrowed his eyes.

Liu Yang Yuan shook his head, "The Divine Foundation Realm is not that easy to achieve. Master doesn't have much confidence..."

"After all, Master was injured in the past..."

Li Che quietly listened without interrupting.

After a while, Liu Yang Yuan bid farewell and left, walking side by side with Sang Guan Yin.

Snowflakes danced in the air, but before they could land, they were shredded into powder by a sharp aura.

Li Qingshan let out a breath.

"Liu Yang Yuan and Sang Guan Yin, the third and fourth senior martial brothers, are ultimately not as good as the first and second senior martial brothers."

Li Che gave him a curious look.

Li Qingshan cleared his throat and continued, "Among the Sect Master's true disciples, besides Xixi..."

"The most talented was the late senior martial brother, Zhou Daoyuan, who, like Xixi, was a Jiazi Divine Child with exceptional talent. He completed the Divine Foundation at the age of twelve and forged the Six Ministries Divine Foundation. He later joined the main sect of the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect for cultivation..."

"He performed exceptionally at the Minor Deity Assembly of the main sect, securing a significant amount of resources for our Golden Light Subsect."

Li Che was taken aback, "Minor Deity Assembly?"

Li Qingshan nodded, "One Dao, one Divine Sect, one state, one Subsect. There are ten states in Lingnan Province, including the Golden Light Subsect in Yunzhou, and there are other Subsects in the other states..."

"With so many Subsects, resource allocation is a problem. There has never been a fair distribution; it's not just about the number of Primordial Form Cultivators in the Subsect but also the quality of the disciples..."

"The Minor Deity Assembly evaluates the quality of the disciples."

Li Che's eyebrows rose, and he took a sip of hot tea, his gaze shifting to Xixi, who was happily playing with the twist car in the courtyard.

"With such talent, how did Zhou Daoyuan die?"

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

"This is also our doubt, but I vaguely heard that Zhou Daoyuan's death... is related to the City Lord's Manor."

"How is it related to the City Lord's Manor?"

"Nan Lihuo has a strong desire to kill someone in the City Lord's Manor. Don't be fooled by his usual amiable demeanor; in reality, Nan Lihuo has a heavy killing intent... He truly wants to kill City Lord Su Huaili."

"Perhaps it's true, as the rumors say, that City Lord Su Huaili killed Zhou Daoyuan, which is why Nan Lihuo wants to kill Su Huaili..."

Li Qingshan finished speaking and fell silent.

"Then why have you always suspected the Sect Master? There must be a reason; otherwise, it's not right to suspect a Subsect Sect Master.

"

Li Che asked again, a question that lingered in his mind.

Li Qingshan was surprised by Li Che's inquiry, as if he couldn't believe he was asking about this tonight.

Suddenly, Li Qingshan's eyes lit up, and asking this question meant that Li Che had likely completed the refinement of the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal!

"You've succeeded?"

Li Qingshan became excited.

Li Che smiled at his words, not denying it, and nodded.

"Good."

Li Qingshan clapped his hands, then stood up and glanced at the children playing in the courtyard.

"The two of us... should go on a secret trip."

Li Che remained as still as a mountain and asked, "Where are we going?"

"To Jin Guang Peak, to test the Sect Master."

Li Qingshan rubbed his hands, excitedly speaking words that defied the heavens.

Li Che was speechless, and it was a long while before he finally spoke.

"Are you really so eager to turn the heavens upside down?"

Li Qingshan turned solemn, "I just want an answer. This suspicion has been tormenting me for too long, making my heart tremble, filling me with fear, anger, helplessness, and coldness..."

"Besides, don't you want to know who's behind the assassination attempt on Xixi?"

"This is a hidden danger, and with your personality... you can't tolerate it, can you?"

Li Qingshan leaned back in his chair, squinting at Li Che.

Li Che finished the last sip of hot tea in his cup, patted his ink-colored robe, and stood up, "You're really perceptive."

"Regarding hidden dangers targeting Xixi, I advocate..."

"Eliminating them all, leaving none behind."

"No matter who it is."

...

...

Li Qingshan bid farewell and returned, saying he would continue his divine observation.

Tonight, Mu Po Po and Lu Chi stayed in Li Che's courtyard, while Gong Yuanliang and Gongyang Xiu also stayed, returning to their cultivation peaks the next day.

Deep into the night.

Li Che entered the study, lit the lamps, and summoned the Painter of Immortals' clone, quietly and diligently carving a wooden sculpture.

His main body, however, left the study and departed as a dark shadow.

Li Qingshan, wearing a cat face mask, hunched over, had been waiting for Li Che outside the courtyard.

When Li Che arrived wearing the Ox Demon Mask, the Green Bull Duo met in the darkness, nodded slightly, and then both transformed into streaks of light, disappearing into the night.

Below Jin Guang Peak.

The two of them landed on a towering tree, gazing at Jin Guang Peak.

"After all, the Sect Master is a Primordial Form Cultivator, just one step away from achieving the Primordial Spirit. Once the Primordial Spirit is formed, he can leave his physical body and roam freely in the heavens and earth, living a carefree life... Moreover, it's done silently and stealthily. Perhaps the Primordial Spirit is right beside you, and you wouldn't even sense it."

Li Qingshan, wearing the cat face mask, spoke in a muffled voice.

These words startled Li Che, causing the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit to tremble, and the Heaven and Earth Chessboard expanded its coverage.

After confirming that no Primordial Spirit was spying on them, he finally relaxed.

"The Heaven and Earth Chessboard of the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit should be able to detect the Primordial Spirit, right?"

Li Che thought to himself.

"Right here... Can you sense it? If we get any closer, we might be discovered."

Li Qingshan exhaled.

Li Che nodded but didn't immediately take action, "Can you tell me now... the reason you suspect the Sect Master?"

Li Qingshan fell silent for a moment.

The cat face mask's eyes stared at Jin Guang Peak.

"Because... the clues I found indicate that Zhou Daoyuan's death... is actually related to Nan Lihuo."

As he finished speaking, Li Che narrowed his eyes sharply.

The next moment, Li Che stopped talking, closed his eyes, and sank his mind into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Within the chessboard.

Numerous Pure Heart Divine Chess Pieces surrounded the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal, which hung in the air like a black hole, as dark as ink.

The Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal had been completely refined and was now perfectly obedient.

Li Che's shadow hovered within the chessboard, hands behind his back, and with a flick of his finger, a Pure Heart Divine Chess Piece shot out and was instantly detonated by Li Che.

The explosion of the divine chess piece created an avalanche-like shockwave that slammed into the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal...

In an instant!

The calm sea of the chessboard suddenly churned with raging waves! The Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal trembled, and an invisible storm ripple spread out in concentric circles, forming a fan-shaped wave that surged towards Jin Guang Peak.

Li Che's towering figure stood straight on the tree, his eyes fixed.

The shockwave unleashed by the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal swept across, and anyone who bore the Corpse Curse Seal would be exposed in his sight.

It seemed that he had some means to counter the Corpse Deity Sect's concealment techniques, or rather, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit was a natural counter to the Corpse Curse Seal.

The black shockwave struck out repeatedly.

Li Che's eyes were deep, seeing through everything.

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard had already expanded, covering the entire Jin Guang Peak.

He also saw Nan Lihuo in seclusion within the divine temple.

Nan Lihuo sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his body overflowing with dense, substantial divine energy.

The shockwave from the Corpse Curse Seal swept over his body.

Nan Lihuo abruptly opened his eyes, and his powerful divine perception surged and spread out.

However, he couldn't detect any abnormalities.

Nan Lihuo felt like someone was spying on him, but he couldn't locate them.

Li Che didn't dare to keep the Heaven and Earth Chessboard's surveillance for too long. After confirming that Nan Lihuo didn't have the aura of the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal, he withdrew the Heaven and Earth Chessboard's probing.

Inside the divine temple.

Nan Lihuo's eyes were like two burning golden flames, and his entire body seemed to be cast from divine energy, constantly flowing.

"Who's spying on me? To do this silently and stealthily... Are you a Primordial Spirit?"

"Su Huaili... has broken through to the Primordial Spirit?"

Nan Lihuo's eyes narrowed, and a sense of urgency suddenly surged through every muscle and bone in his body.

A powerful killing intent flashed through his eyes, so intense that it was almost palpable.

Then, a trace of sorrow and pain quietly concealed itself.

"Am I... always going to be a step too late?"

...

...

The gentle breeze stirred, and the snowflakes were icy cold, bringing an unexpected chill.

Thick layers of snow piled up on the branches, shaking and falling with a rustling sound.

Li Che opened his eyes, and Li Qingshan immediately fixed his gaze on him, awaiting an answer.

Li Che did not hide it and shook his head slightly.

"Nothing?"

Li Qingshan asked earnestly.

"Really nothing?"

He asked again for confirmation.

Li Che nodded, indicating that it was truly nothing.

"Unless the Corpse Curse Seal on the opponent has reached the level of the Six Ministries, there's no way to hide the Seven Primordial Corpse Curse Seal."

Li Che was very confident.

Suddenly, Li Qingshan let out a low laugh, his whole body relaxing as if the tension and pressure that had been weighing him down underwent a drastic change in that moment.

"Hahaha... It's really not, that's good, that's good..."

Li Qingshan felt as if the heavy burden on his shoulders had suddenly collapsed and moved away.

It was like a bird breaking free from its cage, or a stone monkey breaking through the mountain's oppression.

Li Che could even sense the changes in Li Qingshan's divine energy.

"I, Li Qingshan, have been thinking too much."

Li Qingshan looked towards Jin Guang Peak.

He clasped his fists and bowed deeply.

It was as if he was releasing all the doubts and frustrations that had built up over the years.

Li Che watched quietly.

"With a clear mind, the unease that had been weighing on my heart is completely gone. As long as it's not the Sect Master... those fly-like people hiding within the Divine Sect are not worth fearing!"

Li Qingshan chuckled lightly, and he seemed to have become much younger.

Indeed, the suppression caused by a persistent obsession could greatly affect a person.

"Li Che, I'm about to break through. In three days, I will break through to the Divine Image..."

"I'm about to break through. The Temple Deity Resonance is about to begin, and at that time... the Dao City, various states, various sub-sects, and the high-level experts of the Corpse Deity Sect will all gather in the Capital City. In that situation, the danger of my breakthrough will be extremely high."

"Moreover, I need to enter the Divine Image as soon as possible to become the Divine Sect's backbone in the upcoming Temple Deity Resonance!"

Li Qingshan's voice was filled with suppressed excitement and joy.

"In three days?"

Li Che focused his gaze.

"It will still be very dangerous, right?"

The hidden high-level expert of the Corpse Deity Sect had not yet been exposed, so choosing to break through at this time was still extremely risky.

"It's time to fish."

"I'll lure him out, and he will definitely die."

Li Qingshan's voice carried a chilling intent to kill.

"Li Che, what did Horse Face say? Remember to help me contact him."

After finishing his words, Li Qingshan seemed unable to hold back any longer. He said a few words to Li Che and then shot out, treading on the snow without leaving a trace, disappearing into the snowy night.

On the treetops, thick layers of snow piled up.

Li Che transformed into the Ox Demon, towering like a mountain, standing still on the treetop without bending the branches or shaking off the snow.

"Not the Sect Master..."

"Then who could it be?"

Li Che's eyes shone with a mysterious light.

"Tonight, we need an answer."

"You can't hide."

"Xixi's birthday is over... it's time to shed some blood."

Li Che placed his hands behind his back, and within his chest...

The Dragon Elephant Dharmic Fruit pulsed, and his entire body, like a furnace of blood and energy, became even more silent and still.

His whole body descended, landing on the snow-covered plaza, and he walked slowly.

With each step, he left no footprints in the snow.

Dark clouds piled up, thickly obscuring the sky.

Snowflakes fell from above, fluttering and dancing.

Li Che wore a black shirt, a hood, and a cute bull mask.

His shoulders were broad, and his body was towering.

He moved silently within the Divine Sect's mountain gate, passing through every inch of the area.

He walked slowly, blending into the darkness.

Even the disciples who had just completed their tasks in the snowy night and passed by him did not sense his presence.

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard enveloped a hundred zhang area around him, moving with his movements.

Within the chessboard.

Li Che's divine perception condensed his divine energy, and he tapped and shook it with his fingers.

One by one, the Spotless Heart Divine Chess Pieces were detonated by his divine ability, the Great Avalanche.

The shockwave of the explosion struck the Seven Primordial Corpse Curse Seal,

Creating ripples that spread in circles.

It was as if he was walking on the surface of a calm pond, and with each step, concentric ripples spread out.

It was like a surging river current roaring open.

This was the first time Li Che had acted so boldly within the Divine Sect.

With the Furnace Master's cultivation, he had forged the Seven Emotions Seven Revered Divine Foundations...

It was the confidence brought about by his improved cultivation.

When it came to Xixi, the opponent hiding in the darkness did not dare to show himself.

So, Li Che...

Like a divine guardian patrolling the mountains, he personally pulled out the hidden rats in hiding! To kill!

Boom—!

Li Che's target was the four Elder Peaks.

He walked with his hands behind his back, merging with the night.

One by one, the peaks were swept through by his perception.

Suddenly.

Li Che stopped, stomped his foot, and the thickly snow-covered plaza beneath his feet suddenly caved in, as if it had collapsed instantly, and countless snowflakes flew up.

Li Che's black robe danced wildly in the surging airflow.

He adjusted his hood and slowly raised his head.

Snowflakes flew, and under the cute bull mask, his eyes shone with a mysterious light.

He looked into the distance.

The Corpse Qi drawn by the Seven Primordial Corpse Curse Seal twisted and burned like a black mass in the heavens.

"I've found you."

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(End of Chapter)

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