Chapter 296: Encountering the Adult Xi Xi Empress in a Dream, Today is Her Daughter's Birthday, Not

Chapter 296: Encountering the Adult Xi Xi Empress in a Dream, Today is Her Daughter's Birthday, Not Suitable for Bloodshed [Seeking Monthly Votes]



Buzz... Buzz... Buzz...

Dream Master!

Enter the Dream!

This was the basic ability of the Dao Fruit, and Li Che only intended to give it a try.

His dual pupils instantly transformed into a rainbow of colors, as if the colors of the rainbow had been crushed and poured into his eyes.

A seven-colored mist rose from behind Li Che, resembling the smoke of ruins, billowing and swirling.

A subtle, invisible ripple seemed to slowly spread from Li Che's body.

The entire world seemed to tremble slightly.

It was as if a transparent pebble had been dropped into a clear pool, causing calm waters to ripple with translucent waves.

Everything around seemed to change, as if Li Che had used the Penetrating Yin Technique to enter a realm akin to the netherworld.

The world was undergoing a transformation.

Countless colorful mists rose and rolled in all directions.

The dog's eyes, after a moment of struggle, slowly closed, cooperating with Li Che's performance.

After all, to be able to attend Xi Xi's birthday banquet, the dog had even sold its laughter. If Li Che wanted more, what could it do to resist?

It was just a dream...

Buzz...

Li Che opened his eyes, feeling as if he had entered the dog's dream.

The surrounding seven-colored mist seemed to rise like the deceptive mist around the Deceptive Tower, isolating the dream space.

Li Che floated in the air, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

Scorching, boiling, and roasting heat seemed to distort all six of Li Che's senses.

The ground was a deep crimson, and the dark earth cracked open, revealing terrifying fissures, like tectonic plates pulled apart to form a great rift valley.

Within the rift, countless boiling lava streams gushed forth, bubbling and flowing, occasionally splashing against the rift's edge, creating lava fountains dozens of zhang high!

As far as the eye could see, the land was scarred and wounded, with countless cracks and fissures. Molten lava flowed between the cracks, emitting an extremely scorching heat!

The air was distorted, and the scorching ground made it impossible to stand!

Li Che's eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, he felt an incredibly terrifying heat, sizzling...!!!

Scorching hot winds howled, pouring down from above.

Li Che's hair stood on end, and relying on the freedom of entering dreams, he controlled the power of the dream, quickly soaring higher.

The next moment, Li Che's body stiffened.

As Li Che rose higher into the sky, he looked down...

And saw that the entire lava-covered ground seemed to tremble, and on the countless cracks, lava erupted with fiery flames, like blood rushing through veins.

Huff... Huff... Huff... Huff...!

The ground suddenly rose, reaching the clouds, and the fierce air currents raged, giving Li Che a suffocating feeling.

It turned out... the place where he had been hovering just now was not some ordinary ground...

It was merely... the surface of a colossal creature!

And the colossal creature lying there suddenly rose, slowly opening its eyes, a pair of eyes so enormous that they seemed to cover the entire sky.

The blurry silhouette also appeared in Li Che's vision.

The thousand-zhang-tall creature, with lava as its blood—this was...

The dog's true form?!

Li Che's breath seemed to freeze.

Entering the dream, he beheld the dog's true self!

The dog's massive head slowly lowered, and countless stars revolved behind it, like a dream within a dream.

Boom...!!!

The dog looked at Li Che, and the next moment, its enormous paw, as if without bounds, slammed down towards Li Che.

...

...

It seemed like only an instant, yet it felt like an eternity had passed.

Li Che opened his eyes, his pupils swirling with colors, his heart filled with intense shock.

His mind was still in a daze, and what he had witnessed in the dream... was the dog's true self?

A dog suppressing a world? What world was that? Hell? The netherworld?!

Li Che's hair stood on end, and he truly felt the dog's extraordinariness, but...

He narrowed his eyes, and a seven-colored glow swirled in his pupils.

Of course, it was also possible that what Li Che saw in the dog's dream was merely a figment of the dog's imagination, although this possibility was extremely low. In dreams, anything could happen.

At that moment, Li Che heard the sound of a bell ringing in his ear, the sound of a kitchen curtain being lifted, causing the hanging wind chimes to tinkle.

Li Che turned to see the boss walking out, carrying a six-layered food box.

Dressed in white, with long, black hair, he looked serene and peaceful.

Seemingly sensing Li Che's gaze, their eyes met.

Then, Li Che saw the boss's dream.

Again, seven-colored mist rose.

Li Che opened his eyes, but the terror and oppression he had felt in the dog's dream were gone, replaced by a power that seemed to symbolize destruction, even surpassing Li Che's imagination. The contrast was too stark.

The orange-yellow light was like the street lamps in a quiet park at night, gently illuminating the path.

In the soft and tranquil light, a restaurant stood silently between heaven and earth.

Li Che was stunned for a moment. Compared to the dog's mental world, which was like a chaotic and destructive force, the boss's dream was peaceful and gentle, just like his personality.

As Li Che stepped into the restaurant, a sense of tranquility washed over him. The gentle tinkling of wind chimes greeted his ears, and the familiar curtain fluttered in the breeze.

Inside, he spotted the owner, dressed in a meticulously tailored chef's uniform, sitting quietly on a chair, his gaze fixed on Li Che.

"You're here," the owner acknowledged with a nod.

Li Che's heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down his spine.

Was the owner speaking to him?

Had the owner realized that Li Che had entered his dream? The power of the Dao Fruit...

Had the owner seen through him?!

Just then, the wind chimes tinkled again, and the curtain parted. Footsteps echoed, followed by a cold, distant female voice.

"Boss, I'll have a bowl of noodles with two extra eggs, please. Thank you."

The voice, though cold and distant, carried a hint of warmth as she spoke.

Li Che's body trembled as he turned to see a graceful figure in a flowing ink-black dress, her long, lustrous hair cascading like a waterfall down to her thighs, gently swaying as if in an invisible breeze.

Her face was exquisite, with long lashes that trembled, revealing a pair of dark, almost black, pupils.

Li Che stared at her, and in that instant, a sense of familiarity washed over him, spreading from deep within his heart.

His blood seemed to boil at that moment.

It was a feeling of...

...of blood connection.

"Two extra eggs?" The owner asked, his eyes softening with a hint of confusion.

The woman nodded and pulled out a chair. She sat down, her long legs stretched out, and from a nearby chopstick holder, she took out a pair of brand-new, unused chopsticks. With a 'clack,' she broke the two chopsticks apart.

"Hurry up, I'm starving!" She said, grabbing a chopstick and stretching lazily.

"You're hungry?" The owner asked, raising an eyebrow.

She didn't respond.

"Coming right up." The owner, dressed in his meticulously tailored chef's uniform, turned and headed for the kitchen.

The restaurant fell silent, except for the sizzling sound of eggs cooking in the kitchen.

Li Che regained his composure, pulled out a chair next to the woman, and sat down.

She turned her head slightly, her cold and distant eyes reflecting countless flickering lights.

Li Che's eyes glowed with a rainbow-colored mist, and his body trembled slightly.

Because, in the woman's cold and distant eyes, Li Che saw...

...a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood! Countless bodies piled high, like a corner of an endless hell, with crimson blood swirling like a great river flowing into an ocean of blood!

Li Che's gaze dimmed as he exhaled slowly, and a hint of sadness crept into his eyes.

What had this woman been through?

"Your noodles are ready," the owner announced.

"Eat while it's hot," he added, the rich aroma filling the air.

The owner placed a bowl of noodles in front of the woman in the ink-colored dress.

The clear broth shimmered, and the noodles danced within, like dragon whiskers. On top, two fried eggs rested, the golden yolks and white albumen glistening with a sheen of oil under the light.

"Go ahead and eat," the owner said gently.

The woman immediately buried her head and started slurping the noodles.

As she ate, a drop of clear liquid fell, shattering the mirror-like broth.

The rainbow-colored mist in Li Che's eyes gradually dissipated.

The owner picked up a six-layer lunch box and calmly observed Li Che. He set down the lunch box, took out some cigarette paper, and pinched a bit of tobacco from an old, worn-out sachet. He rolled two cigarettes.

"Want one?" The owner offered.

Li Che nodded and patted the sleeping dog's head.

He walked over to the owner, and they both lit their cigarettes, squatting under the dim yellow light.

"Any hardship my daughter faces is due to my own shortcomings," the owner said.

"I need to become stronger..." Li Che exhaled slowly.

The smoke swirled, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

After a few puffs, the owner spoke, "You take the dog and go. I won't be going."

"When you have time, bring Xi Xi for a meal." The owner brushed off the cigarette ash, stood up, and handed the lunch box to Li Che.

Li Che was taken aback, about to ask something, but the owner didn't give him a chance to inquire. He turned and entered the kitchen.

The kitchen was off-limits to outsiders.

Seeing this, Li Che didn't insist. He crushed the cigarette butt, stood up, and the dog woke up, letting out a soft snort.

"Let's go, doggy," Li Che said, stepping on the soft, snowy ground. The big black dog, excited, wagged its tail and followed Li Che.

The dog's paws left imprints in the snow, like plum blossoms.

The two of them left the alley.

Li Che and the big black dog returned to the Elder's Court of the Divine Sect's disciple city.

After throwing the Great Black Dog into the yard, Li Che went to Tai Bai Peak to bring Xi Xi home.

...

...

The peak was covered in a wintry embrace, transforming the world into a crystal-clear wonderland.

The night sky was serene and clear.

On Tai Bai Peak, snowflakes danced in the air, each one a translucent gem, blanketing the entire peak in a sea of white.

Li Che held an oiled paper umbrella, his ink-colored shirt adorned with golden lotus embroidery, and his figure seemed to soar amidst the swirling snow.

Following the winding path of Tai Bai Peak, the buildings were encased in thick layers of ice crystals, resembling exquisite glass sculptures. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.

Upon reaching the peak, a blazing fire raged, and Xi Xi stood atop two Hell Lotus Fire and Wind Golden Light Wheels, soaring through the air in the open space of the summit. She moved with lightning speed, her agility unparalleled.

With remarkable control, she executed abrupt turns and sudden stops, showcasing her mastery over this mythical weapon.

"Ahahahahaha!"

"Let's set off fireworks!"

Her laughter echoed through the night.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

Golden flames shot downward like arrows, bombarding the snowy ground and exploding into vibrant fireworks.

As Li Che reached the edge of the summit, this scene greeted him.

The snow mist rose, stirred by the gusts of wind, creating a mesmerizing display.

Xi Xi, holding the Namo Immortal Engineering Bloodfire Bodhimanda Gatling, stood on the Golden Light Wheels, expertly firing rounds. She was like a nimble fighter jet soaring through the sky.

The metal barrels spun at high speed, spewing tongues of fire and intense heat, while Xi Xi's excited laughter filled the air.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement at his daughter's antics.

"Xi Xi!" he called out.

"Dad!" Xi Xi's voice rang out from mid-air, followed by a sudden growth spurt. She took a step forward, riding the Golden Light Wheels, and rushed towards Li Che with the enthusiasm of a child running barefoot through the snow.

With a leap, the Golden Light Wheels vanished, and Xi Xi flung herself into Li Che's arms.

Li Che's eyes softened as he embraced his daughter, holding her close.

At six years old, Xi Xi had grown taller, but the changes were not as significant as before.

Her little belly, at least, hadn't shrunk much.

However, the baby fat on her face had diminished, revealing a more defined and charming visage.

Xi Xi wrapped her arms around Li Che's neck, seeking his attention.

"Dad, why did you come so late? It's my birthday today; you didn't forget, did you?" Xi Xi pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"I should have come earlier to pick up our little birthday girl!" Li Che chuckled as he gently rubbed Xi Xi's nose.

"But I'm here now. I went to see the boss and asked him to prepare a birthday feast for you. I also brought back the dog to the courtyard, so our little birthday girl can play with him."

Xi Xi's eyes lit up at the mention of the dog. "The dog is here?!"

She hadn't played with the Great Black Dog in a long time and had been missing him.

In the palace on Tai Bai Peak, Lu Tai Bai's silver hair fluttered in the wind as he stood with his hands behind his back, watching the scene unfold.

"Master, let's go! Let's celebrate Xi Xi's birthday!" Xi Xi waved at him.

"And Chi Kuang, my third senior brother! Come on, let's go!"

In the distance, Chi Kuang, with his massive physique resembling a small mountain, stood with a heavy sword on his back, his purple hair billowing. Hearing Xi Xi's invitation, he paused, his face softening with a gentle smile.

As the prince of the Great Li King's Court, Chi Kuang had become Lu Tai Bai's disciple, but he still felt like an outsider in the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect. The elders and disciples of the Divine Sect often treated him with disdain.

However, Xi Xi's presence seemed to bring a ray of light to his gloomy world.

Chi Kuang's heart softened, but he politely declined, "I won't be going. Happy birthday, Xi Xi."

Lu Tai Bai also shook his head, "I won't be going either. I'll let your Teacher's Wife accompany you. She's quite the foodie, so she might already be there."

"Oh!" Xi Xi didn't insist further.

After bidding farewell to the two, Li Che descended the mountain path, holding Xi Xi and the umbrella.

Xi Xi snuggled against Li Che's neck, chattering excitedly about her recent cultivation progress and her efforts.

"I've been working really hard, and the Sect Master often praises me, saying I might surpass him one day!"

"Dad, praise me!" Xi Xi boasted, raising her head proudly, one hand around Li Che's neck and the other on her hip, accentuating her little belly.

"No flattery."

"When you surpass the Sect Master, I'll praise you then."

Li Che smiled, going against Xixi's wishes.

Xixi immediately grew anxious, "Father, I'm just young, not foolish!"

"Hahahaha!"

Li Che burst into laughter.

Suddenly, his laughter ceased abruptly.

They arrived at the foot of the peak where the horse carriages were parked.

Nie Yang and Li Chengzhou sat on the carriage shaft, one tall and one small, both holding swords, their faces cold and stern.

Beside Nie Yang's carriage, another carriage stood quietly. A tall young man stood beside it, bathed in snowflakes, holding a gift box and an oil-paper umbrella, standing silently.

Li Che's expression instantly changed, his face transforming.

"Su Li?" Xixi tilted her head, recognizing the young man.

The carriage curtain lifted, and Su Chuyang clenched his fists, his face filled with determination. "Xixi, wait! I will surpass you this year! I'll be faster than you in being listed in the True Transmission Record!"

Li Che's gaze swept past, and he saw Elder Ji He Shan, the Fourth Elder, inside the carriage, with a gentle smile, nodding at Li Che.

"Elder Li, Su Li and Chuyang heard that today is Xixi's birthday, so they came to deliver a gift," Elder Ji He Shan explained with a gentle tone.

Li Che's status was now completely different from before.

In terms of identity and position, he was even higher than the Fourth Elder of the Inner Sect.

"Elder Ji," Li Che nodded.

"Elder, I didn't come to deliver a gift. I'm here to make a declaration! I don't like Xixi at all. I want to defeat her and surpass her!" Su Chuyang clenched his fists, his determination soaring.

Li Che glanced at Su Chuyang. This kid... seemed to have a different temperament from the Su family.

Elder Ji He Shan smiled, stroking his beard, paying no attention to Su Chuyang.

Su Li and Su Chuyang had become his disciples due to Su Daoling's promise of numerous gifts.

He had them come to the Sect Master's personal disciple, Xixi, to show their goodwill.

Li Che's face turned cold, "Fourth Elder... Do you know what kind of nature the Su family has?"

Elder Ji He Shan's expression remained unchanged, his voice gentle and sincere, "Elder Li, rest assured. Xixi is different from other girls. She's the Sect Master's personal disciple and your precious daughter. The Su family wouldn't dare use such underhanded methods. This time, Su Li truly likes Xixi and wants to be friends with her. That's why I brought him here."

"Not considering the Su family's face, Su Li is also my disciple. As his master, I want to help him."

Li Che's gaze was indifferent as he looked at Elder Ji He Shan.

"Elder Ji, do you not know what kind of people the Su family are?!"

"Don't have ideas about my daughter."

"Otherwise... even the Sect Master won't be able to protect you..."

Li Che slowly raised his face, his eyes cold and indifferent, staring at Elder Ji He Shan in the opposite carriage.

The raging wind and snow seemed to freeze in an instant, enveloped in a terrifying killing intent.

Elder Ji He Shan suddenly felt a chill run through his body, as if his heart were clenched in a giant hand, ready to be crushed.

He quickly retracted his hand, and the curtain fell, blocking Li Che's line of sight. He leaned back against the soft carriage cushion, breathing heavily.

"This... is Li Che?"

"How could he exert such immense pressure?"

"No! That's... the Door God!"

...

"Old Nie, let's go."

The curtain was lowered, and a faint voice came from within the carriage.

Nie Yang immediately drove the carriage, the wheels turning and crushing the falling snow as they left the plaza.

In the snow, Su Li trembled uncontrollably, as if he didn't even have the strength to stand up.

The terrifying pressure of the Supreme Grandmaster was so overwhelming that even Ji He Shan couldn't shield him from it...

Su Li's arms shook, his pupils constricted, and he stared at the ground, trembling incessantly.

Suddenly, he turned his head to look at the divine armament sword that the Divine Armory Master had crafted for him, with the character 'Xi' engraved on it.

But to his surprise...

The divine armament sword snapped with a 'crack'...

and turned into powder.

...

...

"Dad, this Su Li is so annoying!"

"Xi Xi doesn't like him! He's too weak, and he can't even beat Xi Xi in a fight. He's just a little hothead."

"That Su Chu Yang, on the other hand, has some backbone. He challenges Xi Xi every time he comes, and every time, Xi Xi beats him up so badly that his face is all bruised and swollen!"

In the carriage, Xi Xi hugged Li Che's arm and muttered.

Li Che nodded gently, as if releasing a boundless killing intent that seemed like an illusion.

Xi Xi blinked her big eyes and kept looking at Li Che, her young face beaming with a bright smile.

"Dad was so cool just now!"

Xi Xi giggled as she spoke.

Li Che rubbed Xi Xi's head, "If Xi Xi doesn't like them, just ignore them. The Su family isn't a good bunch, so don't pay attention to Su Chu Yang either."

"Just ignore them."

"But what if they keep bothering Xi Xi? They're all inner disciples, and they'll have interactions. It's so annoying." Xi Xi tilted her head, feeling a bit troubled.

Upon hearing this, Li Che's eyes flashed, sensing that the Su family was giving those two kids some tasks.

Their greed knew no bounds, and they had set their sights on his little Xi Xi.

However, Xi Xi's current identity was extraordinary, as she was personally taught by the Sect Master and was the daughter of the only Divine Eagle Demi-Saint in Divine Eagle Ridge, Li Che. Her status was far beyond that of the geniuses from small families or commoners.

If the Su family dared to have any ill intentions, they wouldn't be able to withstand the wrath of Lu Tai Bai alone.

But what if the Su family simply wanted to form a marriage alliance? What if they wanted to leverage Lu Tai Bai's and Li Che's identities and statuses to enhance their family's influence, just like how the Su family sent their women to serve the nobles in the Divine Capital?

It was said that the Su family had indeed succeeded in the Divine Capital, with one of their daughters becoming the Emperor's favorite concubine, and another becoming the concubine of the Third Prince.

After all, the Su family was from Qian Yuan Dao City, and they had now shifted their focus to the Divine Capital, expanding their influence there. It was rumored that they also had a Martial Saint at the peak of the Sea of Qi, stationed in the Divine Capital to support the two Su family women and bolster their confidence.

And now, Xi Xi's identity and status were just right for the Su family, who had just suffered a blow.

Li Che's eyes turned cold.

He gently patted Xi Xi's head, smoothing out the frown on her forehead caused by being too popular.

"Don't worry, with Dad here, Dad will take care of it for you."

Li Che spoke softly.

Hearing this, Xi Xi looked up and smiled brightly.

Li Che patted Xi Xi's head.

His eyes gradually became hollow and cold.

"The Su family..."

Today was Xi Xi's birthday, and it wasn't appropriate to see blood.

They returned to the Elder's Court in the Disciple City without hindrance through the wind and snow.

"Wow—! Doggy!"

Xi Xi spread her arms and laughed heartily.

The lifeless black dog immediately jumped up from the snow, its paws hitting the ground as it launched itself towards Xi Xi.

The dog and its master collided in the snow, laughing happily together.

Inside the Elder's Court, it was already filled with old friends who had come to celebrate Xi Xi's birthday.

Sang Guan Yin, Bian Yuan Long, Gong Yuan Liang, Gong Yang Xiu, Hai Chao Sheng, and other friends of Xi Xi from Jin Guang Fu City, as well as Yun E, Zhou Peng, Tie Shancai, and other young prodigies.

The long-unseen kids gathered, chattering non-stop and making a ruckus, as if they were going to shake the roof off.

Li Che, Li Qing Shan, and Old Chen sat under the eaves, watching Xi Xi play with her friends in the snow, proudly showing off her little belly and her cultivation.

Li Che couldn't help but feel a bit dazed.

In his mind, the image of the woman in the long ink-colored skirt from the boss's dream reappeared.

She seemed to be covered in wounds, stepping on a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, she looked utterly exhausted.

Li Che's eyes gradually became determined.

In this life, he had his dad by his side.

No matter the mountains of corpses or seas of blood, his dad would face them for him.

"Kids, it's time to eat."

The table was already set with a tablecloth, and Zhang Ya came out of the kitchen, bringing out the dishes one by one.

Li Che also took out the six dishes he had packed from the boss.

The lunch box had six layers, one for each dish, representing the boss's blessings for Xi Xi's sixth birthday.

"Xi Xi, come, Mom made you some birthday noodles."

"You must finish it all."

In the kitchen.

After everyone was seated at the table.

With Xi Xi's eyes shining brightly.

Zhang Ya, with a gentle smile, came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of noodles.

She gently placed the bowl in front of Xi Xi.

"Wishing our Xi Xi a happy sixth birthday."

Zhang Ya kissed Xi Xi's forehead affectionately.

Li Che also came over and embraced his wife and daughter.

Suddenly, he noticed something.

In the bowl of noodles, there lay two fried eggs.

Chapter 1: In the daytime, I took my daughter to get her medicine and bandages, and there will be another chapter later. Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and support for continued reading. Old Li aims to refine and continue the burst of updates! Old Li thanks you!

(End of Chapter)

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