Chapter 320: The Prison Lotus is Her Father and Mother, How Could a Father Sacrifice His Life for Hi

Chapter 320: The Prison Lotus is Her Father and Mother, How Could a Father Sacrifice His Life for His Child? [Seeking Monthly Votes]



Crackle, crackle!

Electric flashes and thunder roars intertwined like dancing snakes!

The raging thunderbolts writhed in the sky, roaring and howling. Their power was no longer like the heavenly punishment that Xi Xi summoned when she carved the Divine Form of the Three Pure Ones.

It was because a terrifying existence, unwelcome by Heaven and Earth, was about to cross the two realms and descend, causing the fury and madness of the will of Heaven and Earth!

It was as if the entire world, at this moment, wanted to target Xi Xi!

Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared, like a giant net, covering the sky, with a hideous and terrifying appearance, as if a spider web covered everything between Heaven and Earth.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

The high temperature continued to spread!

The snowflakes within dozens of miles of the sky all melted into snow water, turning into raindrops that fell heavily, pattering onto the ground!

It was as if a terrifying aura was emanating from the enormous hand formed by the Prison Lotus Fire.

The Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince?!

The giant hand, resembling a lotus blooming, caused everyone on the platform to change their expressions.

This sudden change was truly unexpected!

No one had imagined that when Xi Xi carved her Divine Foundation into the Divine Form, such a change would occur.

Except for Lu Tai Bai, Li Che, and Fang Hanzhu, the others had not seen the enigmatic temple that appeared behind Xi Xi, nor the Third Prince who emerged from it!

But the giant flame hand formed by the Prison Lotus Fire was enough to make them feel that something was amiss.

Zhang Ya's face immediately showed extreme panic.

"Ah?! What's happening?"

"Husband... what's wrong with Xi Xi? Why is this sudden appearance of the flame hand?"

Zhang Ya's face was filled with panic.

"Wife, don't worry. Xi Xi won't be in any danger. She is cultivating the Divine Form of the Three Pure Ones, which is a bit special. Let's go and take a look. Don't worry too much; I won't let anything happen to Xi Xi."

Li Che comforted his wife, Zhang Ya, and gradually calmed her down.

A surge of ink-colored mist rose, and Zhang Ya immediately understood that her husband had taken action.

He left behind only an incarnation.

Zhang Ya couldn't care less about her husband's incredible incarnation technique; her eyes were filled with worry.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The sound of breaking through the air erupted almost instantly.

"How dare you—!!!"

Lu Tai Bai stood with his hands behind his back, his silver hair flying wildly. His tongue unleashed a thunderous roar like a spring thunderclap.

In an instant, it was as if the void was being sliced by invisible sword qi.

On the other side, Fang Hanzhu's brows furrowed, and behind him, countless strands of white, righteous energy gathered like flowing silk!

Fang Hanzhu's scholar's robe fluttered, and he was about to take to the sky.

However, Lu Tai Bai's entire body seemed to have transformed into silver, and his hand pressed down on Fang Hanzhu's shoulder.

"Watch over the Divine Sect."

Lu Tai Bai spoke.

His body shot out, transforming into a silver sword light.

In the instant when the giant flame hand of the Prison Lotus completely closed, he darted into it.

As a top-tier expert, his speed was truly astonishing.

This speed was so fast that almost everyone was caught off guard before realizing that Lu Tai Bai had disappeared.

The others finally reacted to this sudden change.

The Second Elder, Zhao Fang Zhou, and the Third Elder, Ding Zi, two powerful elders, also soared into the sky.

But how could their speed compare to Lu Tai Bai's? Before they could get close, they saw the giant flame hand of the Prison Lotus, covering and closing, as if isolating itself from the outside world.

Zhao Fang Zhou's hair and beard flew wildly, his body swelling with power. His vigorous qi and blood surged like a ferocious wild bear rising from the earth.

"Stop."

However, as Zhao Fang Zhou was about to break through the Prison Lotus Fire, he was stopped by Fang Hanzhu.

"Don't act recklessly."

Fang Hanzhu's expression was solemn, his scholar's robe fluttering, and his body surrounded by a river of righteous energy.

Zhao Fang Zhou respected Fang Hanzhu, after all, he had been beaten by this scholar before.

"Elder Fang... what's going on?"

Zhao Fang Zhou's qi and blood calmed, and his brows furrowed.

Everyone looked at him.

Yun E, who was taken as a closed-door disciple by Ding Zi, and Jin Taishui, who had gambled and lost, becoming Xi Xi's loyal follower, along with Zhou Peng and others who had come to witness the ceremony, all turned to look.

Xi Xi had a good relationship with them, and they naturally wanted to know what had happened to her.

She had already successfully carved the Divine Form; it was just a matter of pulling it into the cinnabar field interior. Why did this sudden change occur?

It was as if...

Someone was coming to pick the fruit.

They wanted to seize Xi Xi's hard-earned Divine Form!

This caused a tremor in their hearts, and they felt a sense of worry and gloom.

Perhaps the change in the Divine Sect had been sensed by many.

Within the Heavenly Origin Dao City.

Powerful auras erupted one after another, with flowing lights crossing the sky.

Hong Shi carried a chessboard on his back, his hair flying wildly, as he pressed his hands together in a seal, his expression solemn, as if he had emerged from a radiant light.

"Supervisor."

Fang Hanzhu looked at Hong Shi, his eyes cold and unemotional, with little emotional fluctuation. Countless strands of righteous energy formed numerous roaring white pythons around him.

"I just came to check on the situation. I heard that the Young Master of the Sect was going to attempt the Divine Form at the age of six, which should have been a smooth process. But when I divined the situation, I found it to be an extremely ominous sign... So, I came to warn you."

"It seems we're too late."

Hong Shi sighed, his gaze falling on the Prison Lotus Fire, which had formed into a fist-like shape, blazing fiercely.

A flash of peculiar color appeared in his eyes.

"Prison Lotus..."

Nowadays, every cultivator in the world was highly sensitive to the Prison Lotus.

Hearing this, Fang Hanzhu's eyes softened.

"Thank you for your concern, but... I think there shouldn't be a problem."

Supervisor Hong Shi narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"With the intervention of the Great Elder, there shouldn't be any issues. Although this Prison Lotus Fire seems to have formed a small heavenly realm containing Dao essence... it's unlikely to restrict a being like the Great Elder."

Supervisor Hong Shi said with a smile.

In his heart, Li Che gained new insight into Lu Tai Bai's strength.

After all, in the battle a few days ago, although Lu Tai Bai wore the Hunter King mask, he had essentially revealed his identity.

In that battle, Lu Tai Bai first slew the past self of Yellow Eyebrow, and then the Heavenly King Avatara of Ji Mali.

His power was overwhelming.

It's worth noting that Yellow Eyebrow and Ji Mali's rankings in the Great Divine Chart and at the Heavenly Gate Pass were both above Lu Tai Bai. Therefore, this was the reason they dared to send their Avatara and past self with such confidence.

But the strength Lu Tai Bai displayed was clearly much stronger than before.

He even seemed to have touched upon the "Dao Essence."

Boom!!!

Just as Hong Shi Fo finished speaking, a powerful figure emerged from the clouds far away from Tai Bai Peak.

Feng Zhiqi was enveloped in a mighty aura of blood and cloud energy, his body towering. He wore the Governor's robe of the Temple Guard Office, which fluttered in the wind, and his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

His eyes fixed on the Hell Lotus Flame, his brows furrowed. Fang Hanzhu glanced at him but didn't look further, as he knew Feng Zhiqi wouldn't take action against the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect.

Instead, he turned his attention elsewhere...

The clouds parted, revealing a plump figure with a cheerful smile, standing on the distant clouds. Squinting, he looked towards the Hell Lotus Flame with a grin.

It was Yue Huanglong, the Dao Master of the Heavenly Origin Dao City.

When Yue Huanglong sensed the anomaly, he initially thought Lu Tai Bai was setting a trap for him again.

But he vaguely sensed the aura of Dao Essence...

Unable to resist, he poked his head out to take a look.

In Fang Hanzhu's eyes, a white mist began to swirl, and as he clenched his fist, a purple sandalwood ruler appeared in his hand, with ancient-looking characters flashing on it.

Yue Huanglong's face lit up with a cheerful smile.

Fang Hanzhu gave Yue Huanglong a deep look but chose not to take action.

The current situation wasn't suitable for a fight.

Lu Tai Bai had kept him there to ensure the smooth operation of the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect, calm the people, and serve as a stabilizing force.

Fang Hanzhu didn't say more, but Yue Huanglong's eyes flashed with a glint of understanding.

It seemed... something serious had happened.

It wasn't Lu Tai Bai's trap.

However, Yue Huanglong remained cautious, staying at a distance, merely observing from afar, unlike the Supervisor Hong Shi Fo, who fearlessly descended onto Tai Bai Peak.

Yue Huanglong took a deep breath as he gazed at the massive Hell Lotus Flame.

Li Nuo Xi had obtained a divine child from the Jin Guang Mansion's Third Prince Odd Temple. Now, it seemed uncertain whether this was a blessing or a curse. No one expected that during her Divine Form breakthrough, such a situation would occur.

"This girl has sculpted the Divine Form of the Three Pure Ones. Could this Hell Lotus Furious Third Prince from the Odd Temple want to occupy this Divine Form? And then invade the girl's physical body, achieving some sort of alternative reincarnation?" Yue Huanglong narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

"The Eight-Armed Hell Lotus Furious Third Prince Odd Temple..."

"This Odd Temple in the Jin Guang Mansion indeed hides a significant secret."

"Indeed, it's a Four Emperors Odd Temple, one of the highest-ranked Odd Temples beneath the Three Pure Ones. Previously, it had fallen into a deep slumber and was incredibly fierce, making it impossible to enter."

"Now it seems the Odd Temple deity might have awakened."

Yue Huanglong's heart trembled, and a hint of fiery determination flashed in his eyes.

The awakening of the Odd Temple deity...

This meant the Four Emperors Odd Temple might become a target for many, and the "opening" of the temple might begin!

The first entry into an Odd Temple would yield countless treasures, such as the Four Emperors' Divine Nature Crystals, Divine Nature Techniques, martial arts secrets, divine armaments, and more...

Even the Dao Essence Divine Crystal and the remains of the Odd Temple deity might be found! This Odd Temple was located in the Jin Guang Mansion...

Perhaps Yue Huanglong, as the Dao Master of the Heavenly Origin Dao City, had a chance to claim some of these treasures!

The Heavenly Origin Dao City had two Four Emperors Odd Temples...

The Nine-Toothed Demon Subduing Evil Heavenly Pig Odd Temple and the Marvelous Dao Manifested Sage Three-Eyed True Monarch Odd Temple on Meishan Mountain had already been plundered over a thousand years ago.

The Four Emperors' Divine Nature Crystals, Divine Nature Techniques, Dao Essence Divine Crystals, and more had long been claimed by ancient powerful beings.

Only the Odd Temple deity and the Divine Eagle remained, preserved to this day.

As for the Third Prince Odd Temple, which emerged five hundred years ago, it had never been plundered.

In fact, numerous peak experts had their eyes on it!

Although unplundered Odd Temples posed an incredibly dangerous threat, they also presented an irresistible opportunity.

Being rated as a Four Emperors upper-tier Odd Temple, it undoubtedly held the Dao Essence Divine Crystal, a crucial resource for breaking through the Divine Tribulation Realm.

Even though it was a Four Emperors Dao Essence Divine Crystal, it would undoubtedly become a fiercely contested resource among the world's peak experts!

At this moment, not only Yue Huanglong but also Fang Hanzhu, Hong Shi Fo, and other powerful beings realized the significance.

This was why Lu Tai Bai had kept Fang Hanzhu there. If he couldn't bring Xi Xi out of the Hell Lotus within a short time, Fang Hanzhu would need to take charge and become the pillar of support.

Whoosh!

The terrifying and scorching power of the Hell Lotus Flame melted the rain, which fell in a loud patter, turning the area within dozens of miles into a downpour.

The world was shrouded in mist, and the winter mountain peaks were veiled in rain.

The entire Tai Bai Peak, or perhaps the entire Heavenly Origin Dao City, seemed enveloped in white fog.

...

...

Li Che wasn't as anxious as Lu Tai Bai. He directly transformed into a sword light and entered the closed Hell Lotus.

With the Thunderbolt Chess Piece on Xi Xi, Li Che could teleport to her, so he wasn't worried.

After explaining to Zhang Ya, he teleported at the moment the Hell Lotus Flame completely closed, leaving behind the Painter Immortal.

The Hell Lotus Flame's hand clenched tightly, forming a unique space.

The young girl, Xi Xi, had fallen into a deep slumber. A small, exquisite black lotus, like black jade, hovered above her forehead, emitting a faint glow. Above it, Xi Xi's arduously crafted Divine Form of the Invincible Hell Lotus with Eight Arms and Three Faces, floated motionless. Each of its three faces bore a striking resemblance to Xi Xi, as if they were all expressions of her anger, ferocity, and roars.

Hell Lotus flames raged around Xi Xi, slowly approaching her prone body, her small belly still protruding. The ancient and dilapidated temple, with its broken black tiles, moss-covered bricks, and faded red pillars, hovered behind her, appearing slightly blurred. It seemed like a mirage, a projection of a distant city.

Xi Xi floated above a white jade staircase, where a child with two pigtails, dressed in a black belly shirt, sat calmly, gazing at something in the distance. Suddenly, the void distorted, and a figure clad in ink-black robes appeared, brandishing the Heaven-Crossing Face. In his palm, a small white-glowing chess piece was held.

The child smiled at the arrival, "We meet again."

But Li Che's expression was one of extreme caution and gravity. "Ji... What are you planning to do?"

Though he didn't sense any murderous intent from the child directed at Xi Xi, his heart still eased slightly.

"Help her... pick her bones for her father, and her flesh for her mother," the child in the black belly shirt explained, spreading his hands.

Li Che's eyes turned cold. "My daughter doesn't need this. I've said that no matter how terrible the offense, I, as her father, will do my utmost to protect her, even if it means giving my life!"

"Or perhaps..."

"You want to use my daughter's body to be reborn?"

Li Che covered his face with the Heaven-Crossing Face, golden smoke drifting from his eyes like sinking incense. Within his chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dharmic Fruit was suddenly stimulated, as if a boundless force was about to burst forth.

Then, from his left arm, a blade gleamed, and a three-pronged, two-edged sword seemed to roar out.

"Don't overthink it. It's not about rebirth; I'm saving her," the Third Prince laughed.

"But... you said you'd give your life for your daughter?"

"Really?"

"It's not just empty words?"

"Many parents only say they'll protect their children, but when a crisis arrives, they might not be able to uphold that promise."

"Can you?" the Third Prince asked, his tone turning cold.

Li Che, wearing the Heaven-Crossing Face, his eyes glowing with golden smoke, held the sword in his left hand, its aura distorting space and time. In his right hand, he gripped the Willful Iron Divine Pole, emitting a radiant glow.

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes, "Interesting... The True Monarch's sword, the Monkey's staff."

"Hmm? And Ji's sword. You're an interesting person," the Third Prince chuckled.

But his laughter abruptly stopped.

"Can you?!" he asked again, his voice like thunder. The Hell Lotus flames around them surged wildly, rushing towards Li Che.

The scorching heat was almost unbearable, as if it would melt Li Che away. However, Li Che's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his heart trembled.

Within his chest, the Dao fruit of Dream Heavenly Master was quivering rapidly, as if eager and longing.

This was...

Li Che suddenly understood.

Perhaps everything happening within this small heavenly realm was a dream of the Temple God? Or perhaps it was a dream-like illusion? Otherwise, the Dao fruit of Dream Heavenly Master shouldn't be this excited.

But at this moment, Li Che didn't pay attention to these thoughts. His gaze was filled with seriousness as he looked at the Third Prince.

"I can!"

"Even if it means being torn to pieces, even if it means death... what of it? I just want my daughter to live!"

Li Che spoke with utmost sincerity.

The Third Prince looked at Li Che's earnest expression and burst into laughter.

"Good, good!"

"Then let's give it a try!"

"Have you seen the black liuli-like Hell Lotus suspended above the girl's brow?"

"Of course, this isn't the real Hell Lotus. The true Hell Lotus... is in the temple."

"There's a Hell Lotus in the temple?"

"This isn't the real Hell Lotus. It's not a heavenly treasure, just a projection. So, during the process of the Hell Lotus projection entering the girl's brow, her physical body will completely disintegrate."

"Flesh melting, meridians breaking, bones turning to powder, it's like stripping the flesh and breaking the bones..."

"In the end, she'll be transformed into the body of the Hell Lotus by the power of the projection."

"And the Hell Lotus projection will be deeply planted in her mind, making her extremely cold and indifferent, becoming a slave to the Hell Lotus, unless... she can obtain the true Hell Lotus."

The Third Prince crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at Li Che with a smile.

"Stripping the flesh and breaking the bones, even if her body is reshaped... you should know that this girl..."

"She doesn't share your blood, there's no bloodline connection, and she's not your flesh and blood. Her soul has been taken by the Hell Lotus, and the Hell Lotus is her father and mother."

"And you..."

"Will no longer be her father."

Li Che's fingers clenched into a fist, and the power of the Dao fruit within him was about to be fully unleashed!

"So, I'll give you a test, a proof of what you said, a proof that you're willing to be torn to pieces for your daughter."

"A proof that you're a father who's willing to sacrifice everything for his child."

The Third Prince's voice suddenly lowered, becoming solemn and... expectant.

"You use your hand to support this Hell Lotus projection..."

"For ninety-nine breaths."

"If you don't let go and allow the Hell Lotus to fall, it will prove what you said."

"Ji, will give this girl a chance."

The Third Prince's gaze was fixed on Li Che.

"Okay."

However, the Third Prince suddenly froze.

Because Li Che agreed without a moment's hesitation.

It was as if, for Li Che, this question, this test... didn't require any thought. There was no choice to make.

Li Che took a step forward, and as he did, the energy within his body surged, roaring out.

Boom!

A dragon-elephant shadow appeared!

Dragon-Elephant Fusion!

With each step, Li Che's body expanded and strengthened, reaching a height of two and a half meters. His muscles rippled like a coiling dragon, and his powerful energy shook the heavens.

When he reached Xi Xi, who was floating and sleeping, drenched in sweat with her hair sticking to her head, Li Che had fully unleashed the power of the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Dharmic Fruit.

His palm, as large as a fan, suddenly opened and supported the Hell Lotus projection below Xi Xi's cinnabar field brow.

The crystal-clear black liuli-like Hell Lotus quietly spun, dripping and turning, no bigger than a thumb, and in Li Che's fan-like palm, it seemed like a tiny grain of sand.

It appeared weightless.

"Are you sure about your decision?"

The Third Prince crossed his arms, standing on the white jade steps in front of the Enigmatic Temple, looking at Li Che.

"You—"

"Will die!"

The Third Prince suddenly bared his teeth.

Black Hell Lotus flames suddenly ignited on his body.

"Come on, enough talk."

Li Che said indifferently.

Somewhat impatient, somewhat unquestionable.

"Hahahahaha—"

The Third Prince suddenly spread his arms.

"Then..."

"I'll grant your wish!"

"Let's see... what you're willing to do for your child?"

"Let Ji..."

"Watch closely!"

Boom!

As the Third Prince's words fell, the spinning black liuli Hell Lotus gently fell.

Like a willow catkin blown off a willow tree, Li Che's eyes suddenly focused.

Because, when the black Hell Lotus landed in Li Che's fan-like palm, an extremely heavy weight made it almost impossible to hold.

Moreover, a scorching heat erupted.

It was like boiling water poured from a teapot onto mortal flesh, even emitting the scent of cooked meat.

Even Li Che's powerful energy, having reached the Open Heaven Dan realm of a Martial Saint, was almost instantly evaporated, and the Martial Saint's Primordial Energy couldn't block it at all!

The Hell Lotus seemed to stick to Li Che's palm.

Buzzing—

Circle after circle, black flames slowly spread in all directions like a tide.

Like a lit cigarette, the burning paper slowly spread, eventually turning to ashes! Li Che watched as his palm's flesh truly... turned to charcoal!

His eyes narrowed, and a pain like drilling through bone and marrow seemed to surge in an instant.

His forehead veins popped out, and Li Che's eyes widened, even he couldn't help but tremble slightly.

But...

Li Che's hand holding the Hell Lotus didn't shake.

"The Dao essence of the Hell Lotus will slowly be released. Your current physical body can't bear it. And since you haven't cultivated the Eight-Armed Three-Faced Hell Lotus Invincible Divine Form, you'll be slowly burned by the Dao essence..."

"Until you become charcoal!"

"But, if you withdraw your hand halfway, give up supporting the Hell Lotus, and let it fall, burning the girl's flesh, meridians, and bones, when the Dao essence of the Hell Lotus dissipates and automatically disperses back into this small heavenly realm, your physical body will recover, unharmed!"

The Third Prince's words suddenly echoed in Li Che's ears.

It was like the low whisper of a demon, tempting the heart, shaking the will, and corroding the mind!

"Scram."

Li Che gritted his teeth, glanced at the Third Prince, and said in a deep voice.

The Third Prince burst into laughter.

"Let's see how long you can endure..."

"Even though it's just a projection of the Hell Lotus, it possesses the power of the Hell Lotus Dao Essence. It's called burning, but in reality, you're being flayed and cut to the bone... I want to see how long you can hold on!"

"You will give up!"

"Where are there parents who would sacrifice their own lives for the lives they created?"

The Third Prince's laughter faded as his voice became very low and dejected.

"Ji, I don't believe it."

However, Li Che ignored him.

Each breath seemed to stretch the time infinitely.

As the Hell Lotus trembled, it continued to expand and burn Li Che. Li Che watched his palm turn to charcoal, bit by bit, starting from the palm center.

Slowly, the entire palm, large like a fan, turned to charcoal. The circulation of his blood and qi was blocked, and the Vajra transformation triggered by the Dragon Elephant Vajra vanished.

His entire body no longer swelled.

Thus, the spread of the charcoal accelerated. The revolving black crystal Hell Lotus, like an extremely terrifying monster in the world, could turn a person into a charcoal block just by being close, as if carved out of charcoal.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The smell of roasting meat spread continuously from Li Che's body.

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes, now silent, watching quietly.

Boom—!!!

In the distance.

Silver sword light swept through, and Lu Tai Bai, breathing heavily, had cut through countless Hell Lotus flames transformed into dragons. He finally reached this spot. His elegant white robe was scorched and tattered, and he looked as if he had just burst out of a fire, with black patches all over his body.

Then, he saw the Enigmatic Temple, the Temple God, the Third Prince, and the floating Xi Xi, as well as Li Che, wearing the Monkey God mask.

Lu Tai Bai knew Li Che was the Monkey God.

He gripped the Tai Bai Sword and took a long breath.

How could someone enter and be at the end right away?!

So, what was the point of him struggling to get here?

However, Lu Tai Bai's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his expression changed dramatically!

"Dao Essence?!"

He transformed into a sword light and landed before the white jade steps.

The Third Prince, arms crossed, hovered in mid-air, looking down with a condescending gaze. Even Lu Tai Bai, who was at the pinnacle of the Great Divine Chart and Heavenly Gate Pass, was regarded as an ant.

The terrifying temple deity's pressure, like a mountain, crashed down on Lu Tai Bai.

Lu Tai Bai's silver hair flew backward, and his clothes clung tightly to his body.

"You are a temple deity of the Four Emperors, with your will revived. Why must you torment this weak father and daughter?!"

Lu Tai Bai, under the terrifying temple deity's pressure, raised his hand and pointed at his third eye. A sword pattern slowly emerged, as if containing Dao Essence, resonating like the clash of sword blades.

"Don't interfere. If you do, they will all die."

"This is a test, and it has nothing to do with you."

The Third Prince glanced at the sword pattern on Lu Tai Bai's third eye, his gaze flickering as if looking at a slightly fatter ant, but he still warned.

Lu Tai Bai's movements froze upon hearing this.

He understood; this was a test.

He no longer pressed the matter.

His eyes remained fixed.

Subsequently...

He pressed his lips together.

The Dao Essence power of the Hell Lotus continued to spread. Now, only Li Che's head remained, while the rest of his body had turned to charcoal, all life extinguished.

Below.

Xi Xi, who had been in a deep sleep, suddenly furrowed her brow, her face showing signs of panic.

As if in a nightmare, her mouth pouted, and her brow furrowed.

A tear, crystal clear, formed at the corner of her closed eyes.

Li Che, seeing Xi Xi's discomfort, moved his head, which was not yet charred, and his eyes softened.

"Don't worry, Daddy is here. Sleep soundly, and when you wake up... we'll go home."

Li Che's voice was gentle.

Calm, without a ripple, even though his entire body had turned to charcoal, and the pain that pierced his soul seemed not to affect him.

Xi Xi's brow relaxed, and she changed her sleeping position, her mind at peace, a smile even forming on her lips.

Li Che's lips also curled up involuntarily.

The tear that had gathered at the corner of Xi Xi's eye finally broke free, tracing a tear mark.

Plop, it landed on the white jade steps.

Ripples spread out.

Lu Tai Bai fell into a deep silence, his lips trembling slightly, deeply moved.

He already knew what this test was.

If it were him, he definitely couldn't do it.

He was Xi Xi's master, but he couldn't possibly give up his life to this extent...

But Li Che, as a father...

Could he do it?

Lu Tai Bai couldn't help but think of his father, who had thrown him off a cliff when he was just born...

In comparison...

Li Che, as a father, was almost mythical.

"Give up. As long as you think of letting go of the Hell Lotus, you will live. Otherwise, you will die completely, your soul burned to nothing by the Hell Lotus. Is it necessary to do this for a child?"

The Third Prince couldn't help but speak, almost envious.

However...

The response he received was just one word.

"Scram."

After Li Che spoke this word,

Only his lips and teeth remained in his head...

He took his last breath.

And turned to charcoal.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end