Chapter 157: Li Che Discovers the Heart Monkey Temple's Secret

Chapter 157: Li Che Discovers the Heart Monkey Temple's Secret

Li Che's eyes narrowed slightly, and his brow furrowed as he unconsciously activated the Star Extractor Pupil, a powerful supernatural ability.

"Infinite Analysis, Soul Extraction and Spirit Enlightenment, Penetrating Illusions and Returning to Truth, Evil Repelling and Evil Punishment!" With the Star Extractor Pupil, Li Che could see through any evil, leaving nothing hidden from his sight.

Thus, Li Che had never doubted the judgment of the Star Extractor Pupil.

In his eyes, the peaceful Heart Monkey Temple in the midst of the snowstorm suddenly became shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

It was not a problem with his vision, but rather, something was amiss with the temple itself.

"Eerie atmosphere, overflowing with deathly energy, this Heart Monkey Temple... is actually a ghost temple?" Li Che furrowed his brows.

Perhaps there were ghosts lurking within the temple?

Or...

"Could this be related to the Corpse God Sect?" Li Che's heart skipped a beat.

He couldn't help but consider this possibility, and verifying it would not be difficult.

In his chest, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit began to throb, and the next moment, his consciousness immersed itself into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

The chessboard's intricate web of lines instantly enveloped the entire temple, capturing its eerie atmosphere.

Li Che's consciousness hovered within the chessboard, and he gently tapped his finger against the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal, which had been refined to a large extent.

A Pure Heart Dao Fruit suddenly slammed into it, causing a violent explosion!

Then, a second one followed...

It was as if an ancient bell had been struck with great force!

Invisible black ripples, like the waves of a bell's sound, spread out from Li Che's body, expanding further and further...

Like a black tide, it surged towards the Heart Monkey Temple, guided by Li Che's peculiar gaze.

Under the influence of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, one, two, three...

Countless Corpse Curse Seals erupted with energy.

Even Li Che was left speechless at the sight.

He suddenly understood where the Corpse God Sect experts, who had evacuated the city, had gone.

So...

They had hidden in this temple?

Of course...

This Heart Monkey Temple might just be one of the Corpse God Sect's outposts outside the city.

But what a coincidence!

Li Che couldn't help but smile.

Far from being intimidated, he felt even more excited.

His heart was racing, and he couldn't help but rub his hands together.

It seemed that after searching high and low, he had stumbled upon his target by accident.

Li Che slowly released the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, and his consciousness withdrew. The Star Extractor Pupil, which had been heating up his brow, returned to its quiet state.

"Supervisor Gong, this Heart Monkey Temple... I heard it was once a branch of the glorious Qi Tian Temple?" Li Che asked, steering the conversation towards the temple.

Gong Yunli scoffed at his question, "The Heart Monkey Temple is just trying to bask in the glory of the Qi Tian Temple. During its heyday, the Qi Tian Temple dominated the Six Paths and Twelve States, and it was no exaggeration to call it the number one sect in the world..."

"Although the Qi Tian Temple declined and split due to the uprising of the Mystic Temples and human factors, it is now divided into three major sects..."

"But in reality, these three sects only share a superficial connection with the Qi Tian Temple."

"The Qi Tian Temple was too strong, while these three sects are too weak."

"This comparison alone reveals the severity of the decline in the Dao lineage." Gong Yunli explained.

"Sects are different from the imperial court. Sects place great importance on the Dao lineage, and a Dao lineage that has been passed down for a thousand years is not something to be taken lightly."

Li Che nodded in agreement.

The Qi Tian Temple was a colossal sect that encompassed the Six Paths and Twelve States, but what was the Heart Monkey Temple? It was merely a small sect located in Yunzhou, outside the Jin Guang Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Lingnan Dao.

If the Heart Monkey Temple was not colluding with the Corpse God Sect, then there was only one possibility: the Corpse God Sect had completely infiltrated and corrupted this weak sect.

Either way, it was not good news.

Li Che and Gong Yunli did not continue their conversation. The carriage broke through the snowstorm, slowly entering the vast courtyard in front of the enormous Heart Monkey Temple.

Li Che and Gong Yunli alighted from the carriage, and the snowstorm howled around them.

Gongshe Liancheng approached and joined Gong Yunli.

Li Che and the other woodcarving masters stood quietly in the line, awaiting the instructions of Gongshe Liancheng and Gong Yunli.

To reach the Fiery Eye Astonishing Monkey Temple, they needed the guidance of these two.

In Jin Guang Prefecture, aside from the Eight-Armed Lotus Wrathful Third Prince's Mystic Temple, which was of the Four Divine level, there were two other Mystic Temples: the Fiery Eye Astonishing Monkey Temple and the Iron Crutch Happy Head Monk Temple.

Both were Mystic Temples of the Eighth Level, suppressed by the imperial court.

To enter these temples, one required a temple entry permit.

Gong Yunli had obtained the entry permits from the Temple Guard Office a few days earlier.

However, the chief officer stationed at the Fiery Eye Astonishing Monkey Temple had sent word that the temple's mystic gate had been shaking for some time.

The temple visit had been postponed, but now, they finally received permission.

Gongshe Liancheng's expression turned solemn as he checked the list of names. "Everyone is here. Prepare yourselves; we're about to enter the temple and witness the temple deity."

"This is a rare opportunity for all of you, so make the most of it."

Gongshe Liancheng's demeanor towards the third-rank guest scholars was far from the obsequiousness he displayed towards Lin Xiu, the deputy supervisor. He even exuded a certain amount of official authority.

In the distance, two elderly monks emerged from the Heart Monkey Temple, their white eyebrows and beards indicating their advanced age.

"Master Xuan Li and Master Xuan Yuan..."

Gongshe Liancheng clasped his fists and bowed, greeting the monks with a warm smile.

"Master Xuan Li is the abbot of the Heart Monkey Temple. The temple's assistance in guarding the Mystic Temple has been invaluable, and Master Xuan Li's help has been indispensable."

Gongshe Liancheng introduced the monks to Li Che and the other third-rank guest scholars.

The guest scholars all bowed respectfully in response.

The old monk clasped his palms together, his eyes filled with kindness and a gentle smile. "All of you are masters of woodcarving, and if you can gain something by observing the Temple Deity, it will not be in vain for the Heart Monkey Temple and the Temple Guard Office's joint efforts to suppress this Mystic Temple."

Li Che was among the many scholars, also holding a respectful demeanor.

However, Li Che's heart stirred, stimulating the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal, and he scanned the two Heart Monkey Temple masters in the Divine Appearance Realm, wondering if they had any connection to the Corpse God Sect.

Hmm?

But just as Li Che stimulated the Seven Elements Corpse Curse Seal, which was suppressed within the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, suddenly trembled violently.

Li Che's eyebrows rose, and he directly brought out a dark golden Heavenly King Divine Chess Piece.

He forcefully suppressed the seal.

Through the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, Li Che also saw Xuan Li and Xuan Yuan, the two masters of the Heart Monkey Temple...

Their bodies emanated a dense death aura and corpse energy so intense it was almost like an evil ghost breaking free from the depths of hell.

Amazing!

Li Che was taken aback, his heart exclaiming, "Amazing!"

These were Corpse God Sect heretics disguised as monks?

Li Che's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm, a skill he had honed over the years to maintain an unreadable facade.

Ordinary people couldn't detect the Corpse Curse Seal, which was why the heretics of the Corpse God Sect could freely corrupt many of the higher-ups within the Jin Guang Prefecture.

Because even if they were marked with the seal, it wouldn't be discovered, allowing them to hide their inner evil.

So, even if they were marked, what harm could it do?

However, everything changed when the Ox Demon appeared in the Jin Guang Prefecture.

The Ox Demon could detect those marked with the Corpse Curse Seal, which was a severe blow to the heretics.

The two masters were unaware that Li Che had discovered their true identities beneath their benevolent appearances.

Li Che didn't expose them.

It would be unwise to do so now; he possessed the Thunder Chess Piece and could leave whenever he wanted.

But others might not be so lucky.

Even Gong Yang Liancheng and Gong Yunli, the two Phantom Realm cultivators, might have to stay.

So, Li Che didn't plan to expose them. He left a Thunder Chess Piece, marking the coordinates, intending to contact Li Qingshan later and find an opportunity...

To destroy this stronghold of the Corpse God Sect!

Li Che had always felt deep resentment towards the Corpse God Sect.

He adhered to the principle of rather killing the wrong person than letting the guilty escape.

Now that he had discovered the Corpse God Sect's stronghold, Li Che wouldn't let them off easily. Perhaps, they were still plotting to capture Xi Xi!

Just thinking about it made Li Che feel like the Corpse God Sect deserved a thousand cuts.

Xuan Li and Xuan Yuan, the two masters, bid farewell to Gong Yang Liancheng and Gong Yunli with warm smiles. They led the team of woodcarving masters deeper into the temple behind the Heart Monkey Temple.

The two monks exchanged a glance, and the smile in their eyes vanished without a trace.

Xuan Li's figure straightened abruptly, and his eyes were now sharp and fierce, devoid of any trace of age.

"Just now... my Thousand Mile Divine Exchange Mirror reacted..."

"Xuan Jiu is nearby!"

Xuan Yuan's bald head gleamed, and he rubbed his head, surprised. "Xuan Jiu... he's not dead?"

"How could he be dead? He was only injured by that old guy from the Heaven Foretelling Bureau. It's not that easy to kill him... after all, he's a Half-step Incantation Silver Corpse."

Xuan Jiu had refined a silver aura and was a Half-step Incantation Silver Corpse.

Xuan Li didn't think Xuan Jiu would die so easily.

"So, you suspect that Xuan Jiu is hiding among the Third Rank Guest Scholars of the Heaven Foretelling Bureau?"

Xuan Yuan frowned.

Xuan Li nodded, watching the team's silhouettes gradually fade into the heavy snow as they ventured deeper into the mountain path.

His eyes flashed with brilliance.

"This Xuan Jiu, he better not ruin our plans."

Xuan Yuan's eyebrows relaxed. "Perhaps Xuan Jiu intends to restore his silver aura by borrowing the Temple Guard Incantation Corpses from the Mystic Temple. You should send him a message, telling him not to disrupt our plans."

Xuan Li nodded in agreement, finding the suggestion reasonable.

...

...

The fierce wind and snow atop the peak quickly passed as they walked along the mountain path.

As cultivators and woodcarving masters, their strength wasn't weak, and the harsh environment didn't hinder their journey.

In about half an incense stick's time, Li Che and his group arrived at the Mystic Temple.

Fiery Eye Astonishing Monkey Temple!

Located on the mountainside, it covered the entire area, enveloping half of the mountain.

Here, Li Che even saw many villagers.

It was evident that the Mystic Temple had originally grown due to the village, but now, with the village's destruction, the Mystic Temple had expanded to its limits.

Thick mist swirled, accompanied by the wind and snow, making the temple appear as if it were situated in another time and space, shrouded in smoke.

The Temple Guard Deities set up barricades around the perimeter.

The defense was much weaker compared to the Four Divine Mysterious Temples.

The Eight Extremes Mystic Temples had already spawned the Mystic Gates, and Li Che curiously observed the gates. Initially, the Thunder City Lord, Cao Guang, had planned to hold a Thousand Infant Banquet to elevate the temple's rank and create the Mystic Gates.

Unfortunately, Li Che had ruined their plans.

Having the Temple Entry Permit and the Heaven Foretelling Bureau bringing woodcarving masters to observe the Temple Deity wasn't a first.

So, the Temple Guard Office's chief officer merely conducted a simple inspection before granting them entry.

The officer held a censer, lighting three incense sticks.

He carried the censer forward.

The dense mist of the Mystic Gate parted like a curtain, revealing a wide path leading to the towering temple.

The temple's beams and pillars were intricately carved, with upturned eaves and corners. The black tiles were covered in thick snow, giving it a somewhat dilapidated appearance. The walls were adorned with various images of monkeys in different poses.

It was just as Li Che had seen it the first time.

A powerful suction force suddenly erupted from within the temple, but Li Che was no longer the inexperienced youth he had been when he first encountered the Mystic Temple.

Not only had he achieved a Furnace Master's physique, but the powerful Divine Perception condensed from the Seven Rounds Divine Foundation was enough for him to easily break free from the Mystic Temple's strange allure.

"The Mystic Gate is the most dangerous part of the Mystic Temple. Generally, it's the temple's self-protection measure..."

"Once the Mystic Gate is broken, you can part the mystic fog and see the true temple."

The leader of the Temple Guard Office, holding an incense burner, spoke calmly.

"The Mystic Gate is very dangerous. If you haven't conquered the Mystic Temple, you'll be pulled in by the Mystic Gate and dragged into the temple's illusion, easily getting lost within. Moreover, you'll encounter attacks from the Temple Guard Incantation Corpses..."

"The Temple Guard Incantation Corpses of the Eight Extremes Mystic Temples can rival the Corpse God Sect's Incantation Copper Corpses."

"The Corpse God Sect's Incantation Corpse Technique seems to have originated from the Temple Guard Incantation Corpses of the Mystic Temple."

After a brief introduction, the group walked through about a kilometer of mystic fog before reaching the temple.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll escort you this far. From here on, you'll have to enter the temple on your own."

"When observing the temple deity, you must maintain self-control..."

"If your Divine Perception can't handle it, if your divine essence can't withstand it... then have the sense to withdraw on your own."

"Otherwise, if the temple deity controls your consciousness, and you become a Temple Guard Incantation Corpse, it'll be too late for regrets."

The leader of the Temple Guard Office placed the incense burner, with three incense sticks burning, at the entrance of the Mystic Temple.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please enter."

"You must leave before the three incense sticks burn out!"

The leader, Qi Yanghao, spoke in a deep voice.

The various Third Rank Guest Scholars' expressions turned solemn, indicating their understanding, and they all acknowledged.

Li Che also responded along with the others.

Then, like the other Third Rank Guest Scholars, he stepped over the incense burner and entered the Mystic Temple.

Qi Yanghao crossed his arms, a knife hanging at his waist, standing silently before the temple.

Once the three incense sticks burned out, he would immediately pick up the incense burner and leave.

At that moment...

The Mystic Gate would close, and if these Third Rank Guest Scholars wanted to leave the temple, they would have to rely on their abilities.

The first rule of guarding the Mystic Temple was to avoid engaging with the Temple Guard Incantation Corpses and Temple Guard Demon Beasts as much as possible.

Once they engaged too much, it would be easy to provoke the temple deity's revival, causing the Mystic Temple to riot!

As for the lives of these Third Rank Guest Scholars...

He wouldn't care, as he had already set a time limit.

If these Guest Scholars were greedy and wanted to observe the temple deity for longer, they would have to pay the price for their greed.

...

...

Li Che and the other Third Rank Guest Scholars entered the Mystic Temple.

Compared to the Spirit Infant Temple outside Thunderbolt City, this Spirit Monkey Temple was significantly larger.

White candles were lit all around, providing simple illumination to dispel the darkness within the temple.

However, the Spirit Monkey Temple wasn't actually that big.

With so many Guest Scholars entering, it became quite crowded.

In the small temple, on the altar, there were three statues.

One was a large statue of the temple deity, and the other two were slightly smaller.

But without exception, they were all in the form of monkeys.

The temple deity statue was a monkey wearing armor, its golden eyes seemed to contain flowing flames, and it sat cross-legged on a lotus platform.

Just one glance, and it seemed as if the lively, divine essence of the temple deity was coming to life from the wooden statue.

Li Che found a spot.

Like the other Guest Scholars, he sat cross-legged, releasing his Divine Perception upwards, observing the temple deity.

By observing the divine essence within the temple deity statue, he could simulate the carving in his mind, improving his sculpting skills.

A Guest Scholar raised his hand and traced in the air, demonstrating the Grand View Heaven-Inspecting Seven Elements Thousand-Hand Divine Sculpting Technique.

The atmosphere became lively as everyone seriously observed the temple deity.

Li Che only watched for a while before understanding the theory of observing the temple deity.

It was about comprehending and capturing the essence of the temple deity.

The wooden statue of the temple deity... who carved it?

It was said that it appeared along with the Mystic Temple.

It contained a unique carving technique.

The reason there were woodcarving masters was because they imitated the temple deity statue, capturing and mimicking its essence, allowing Spirit Children and Divine Children to accelerate their cultivation of divine essence.

This was how the path of divine essence cultivation had developed and flourished in this world, building upon the original path of essence and blood martial arts.

With his Star Extractor Pupil, Li Che could almost instantly mimic and learn the carving technique of the temple deity monkey just by looking at it.

This imitation was effortless for him.

However, things like the Avalanche Lotus Shell of Guanyin and the Bodhimanda Lotus Main Battle Tank required step-by-step research and trial and error, even with the Star Extractor Pupil.

The surroundings gradually became quiet.

"Huff—"

The atmosphere was extremely quiet.

Everyone seemed to be immersed in their contemplation of the temple deity, their minds led astray.

Only Li Che's thoughts remained lively and alert.

After scanning the surroundings and confirming that everyone was in a state of silence, Li Che stood up, dusted off his ink-stained robe, and raised his hand to his forehead.

He gently drew a line downward.

"Star Extractor Pupil!"

Infinite Analysis, Soul Extraction and Spirit Enlightenment! His forehead split open, and his flesh seemed to tear in two directions.

A bead of his eye rolled, and a faint golden smoke escaped from his pupil.

With the Star Extractor Pupil, he could absorb the divine essence of the temple deity without even having to climb the altar and touch it.

He only needed to gaze at the temple deity's eyes with his Star Extractor Pupil.

A flash of light shot out and landed on the Fiery Eye Astonishing Monkey.

The next moment, Li Che saw the temple deity statue come to life.

The monkey's fiery eyes swept over, and a monkey's cry seemed to echo through heaven and earth!

Li Che's vision blurred.

As if everything around him had changed, Yanghao felt his consciousness shift from the outside world to the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

In an instant, the heavens and earth transformed.

...

...

A thunderous roar echoed outside the Mystic Temple.

A quiet incense burner sat, with three incense sticks burning peacefully, their smoke rising vertically without disturbance.

Suddenly, Yanghao's eyes snapped open, his hands clutching his chest, and his gaze sharp as a blade.

He stared at the rising smoke from the incense sticks, only to see it sway left and then twist towards the right, as if torn by opposing air currents.

Yanghao's hair stood on end, and he turned to look at the two sides, only to find the Mystic Gate's dense fog slowly closing! He could even see through the gate, the faintly visible Incantation Corpses guarding the temple, and all sorts of illusions that could confuse one's mind!

"Something's wrong!"

"Why is the Mystic Gate closing early?!"

"Shouldn't it wait until the incense sticks burn out?"

Yanghao was horrified, his heart pounding.

The Mystic Temple was in an uproar, a riot without any warning! It was the same procedure every year when the guest scholars from the Heaven Foretelling Bureau entered the temple.

"This is bad!"

Yanghao hurried to the incense burner.

He shouted at the numerous guest scholars who were still inside the Mystic Temple, immersed in their contemplations of the temple deity.

"Wake up!"

"Retreat!"

But it seemed as if those guest scholars were completely trapped in a peculiar illusion.

His shouts had no effect whatsoever.

"Damn... What's going on?"

Yanghao's face turned pale.

But there was no time to worry about that.

Without even grabbing the incense burner, he took off running, his essence qi surging, and rushed towards the Mystic Gate, which was about to close like a curtain.

Whoosh—

In the last moment before the two Mystic Gates clashed like two massive waves, Yanghao managed to rush out.

In the distance, Gong Yangliancheng and Gong Yunli's faces paled, and they hurried over.

"What happened?!"

Gong Yangliancheng's face was grim.

After Yanghao landed, he stood up, brushed the dust off his official robes, and placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

His eyes were cold.

"What else could have happened?"

"The Mystic Temple..."

"Is rioting."

...

...

Cheers of battle, the sound of flames, and explosions filled the air.

As Li Che opened his eyes, he saw a scene of devastation—a palace in ruins, countless stones scattered and collapsing.

On the ground, countless monkey corpses lay scattered, their blood staining the earth.

Li Che couldn't help but look up, and in the sky, he saw a figure with a flowing red cape, two long feathers fluttering on its head, wearing a golden spiritual treasure armor, and wielding a golden divine weapon staff. Its might shook the heavens, as if the clouds themselves were overturning.

Opposite this figure, dense black clouds rolled, filled with countless silhouettes, their auras overwhelming and oppressive.

They were too far away to hear their conversation.

All he could hear was the echoing, desolate laughter that shook the heavens and earth.

Li Che's heart was filled with sorrow and endless grief.

He lifted his head for a moment.

He wanted to look a little longer.

But he couldn't, not because he was incapable, but because the perspective he was experiencing was now turning and fleeing at lightning speed.

It was as if he embodied the will of the powerful divine monkey holding the golden staff, facing countless mysterious and powerful divine monkeys.

Survival...

The overwhelming sorrow spread, his vision blurred, and the scene shattered.

Countless flames erupted, transforming into teardrops of fire!

It was like a crying divine monkey, leaping and bounding through the wilderness.

"Qitian—"

"Qitian!!!"

In Li Che's ears, the endless cries of the divine monkeys, filled with passion, excitement, and roars, exploded.

Boom...

Countless perspectives shattered.

Li Che felt a sharp pain.

The perspective of the divine monkey he was inhabiting spun and tumbled, and finally, it slammed into the ground.

He had escaped to the foot of the mountain.

With difficulty, he stumbled and reached a standing...

...a stone tablet, scorched and covered in cracks.

He struggled to raise his hand, and his blood-stained palm slapped against the tablet.

Slowly, he rubbed and pulled, leaving a bloodstain...

As if marking the divine monkey's soul with a sense of belonging.

Because, on the tablet, three words were inscribed.

"Flower Fruit Mountain."

Drip, drip...

In the fiery eyes, tears of flame flowed.

"But from now on..."

"There is no Flower Fruit Mountain."

"There is no Qitian."

...

...

The scene shattered.

Li Che's Star Extractor Pupil between his eyebrows released endless heat.

He slowly opened his eyes, not knowing when his face had become wet with tears.

Li Che remained in a daze.

He wiped his wet face.

He hadn't fully recovered from the scene he had just witnessed.

What was that?

Was it the temple deity's obsession? But he hadn't intended to watch the deity's obsession...

He had only planned to absorb the deity's divine chess piece.

Why?

Was it because of his Star Extractor ability?

Li Che didn't know, couldn't understand, and didn't want to think about it.

Suddenly, in his chest, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit throbbed!

His consciousness sank into the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

And he saw...

On the crisscrossing lines of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, a single object floated...

A divine monkey mask.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end