Chapter 376: The Divine Monkey's Hidden Strength and Li Bansheng's Strategy

Chapter 376: The Divine Monkey's Hidden Strength and Li Bansheng's Strategy

"Each hero, within the Peach Orchard, can only pick one thousand-year-old peach."

The Queen's voice reverberated throughout the second city of the Divine Capital, echoing like the wind through a hall, stirring up the cultivators seated at the numerous banquet tables in the pavilion, causing their faces to subtly change.

It had changed!

The rules for this Hero Festival were indeed different from before, and the changes were quite significant.

The previous Peach Festival's Hero Festival was somewhat similar to the previous Dragonling Competition, as it was a one-on-one battle format.

It was a one-on-one duel, where participants would compete in a battle of skills to determine the winner and ultimately vie for the nine-thousand-year-old peach.

Although there might be some minor changes in the rules, the overall direction was still focused on individual battles.

However, with this session, as the Queen announced the rules for the Hero Festival...

The heroes from various divine sects, noble families, and powerful forces like the princes of vassal states all revealed expressions of astonishment.

Each hero needed to obtain five peaches within the Peach Orchard to advance to the second round and enter the orchard where five-thousand-year-old peaches were cultivated!

According to the Queen, each hero could only pick one peach in the Peach Orchard...

This meant that to obtain five peaches, one could only do so by taking them from other heroes participating in the festival.

With one hundred heroes, it was equivalent to a total of one hundred thousand-year-old peaches in the first round, which could be distributed to twenty heroes on average.

Each hero could obtain five peaches.

However, this was the most ideal scenario.

The peaches had a unique characteristic, which was... they could be eaten.

If any hero felt that advancing to the next round was hopeless and chose to eat the peach...

The impact would be immense.

Moreover, during the confrontation between the two heroes, if one side's cultivator was outmatched and about to lose, they might choose to eat the peach before their defeat... This was also a possibility.

In short...

There were too many uncertainties!

Under the pavilion in the second city of the Divine Capital, the heroes from various powerful forces couldn't help but change their expressions, their eyebrows furrowing slightly.

They were contemplating the possible scenarios under these rules.

The Queen scanned the crowd with a dignified smile.

"After advancing to the second round in the five-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard, you will need to obtain five five-thousand-year-old peaches to advance to the third round... and enter the seven-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard to pick the seven-thousand-year-old peach."

"However, from the seven-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard to the nine-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard, the rules will be more relaxed. As long as you gather three seven-thousand-year-old peaches, you can advance..."

The Queen's voice echoed throughout the venue, crystal clear, as if it were reverberating in an invisible aura, constantly ringing in everyone's ears.

The second and third cities of the Divine Capital seemed to fall into an instant silence.

The Queen calmly scanned the crowd.

"I wish all heroes good luck."

The Queen slightly bowed.

After announcing the rules, she returned to her table, led by the purple-robed Daoist Lian Gong Gong.

Even Lian Gong Gong was surprised by these rules for a moment, feeling a sense of bewilderment. He never expected the rules for this session of the Hero Festival to be changed so drastically.

Undoubtedly, with these rules...

The competition would become extremely brutal, and there would be numerous unexpected developments.

Not only him, but even the Emperor and Queen might not have a clear idea of how this Hero Festival would ultimately unfold.

Who would obtain the last nine-thousand-year-old peach?

No...

Lian Gong Gong's heart suddenly trembled as he looked at the smiling Queen, his eyes filled with intense astonishment.

Because...

According to the Queen's description of the rules, was the nine-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard the limit?

Since the Queen didn't mention that the nine-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard was the limit, did it imply that for many heroes, there was still a chance to enter the ten-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard?

The ten-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard! Lian Gong Gong's heart raced! If this were true, it would indeed be very interesting!

...

...

In the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect's banquet area.

Xixi nestled in Zhang Ya's embrace, enjoying delicious food, her eyes sparkling. While eating, she also looked at Li Che.

"Daddy, work hard! Xixi became the champion of the Dragonling Competition, so Daddy must also become the champion!"

Xixi's mouth was filled with roasted chicken, her face greasy, but her eyes shone with unprecedented determination and anticipation.

Li Che reached out and rubbed Xixi's head.

He recalled how Xixi had won that nine-thousand-year-old peach and given it to Zhang Ya, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Xixi wants to eat that nine-thousand-year-old peach?"

"Then Daddy will win one for you."

Upon hearing this, Xixi's mouth, filled with roasted chicken, lost its appeal, and her eyes lit up with excitement!

Her little body trembled with anticipation!

"Daddy is the best!"

Xixi climbed onto the table, pouting with a greasy mouth, intending to give Li Che a big reward.

However, Li Che seemed to find her too greasy, which made Xixi both happy and disappointed.

How could Xixi, loved by all, be greasy?

Xixi refused to give up, crossing her arms and starting to headbutt him like a stubborn bull.

Lu Tai Bai's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Ah Che, this session's rules are not that simple. With various divine sects, princes, and noble families... there are a total of one hundred heroes!"

"To advance to the next round's Peach Orchard, it's not just a matter of one-on-one battles. Instead, it's about the number of peaches you have, and you'll need to seize and strive for them..."

"Additionally, it's possible for a divine sect to have five heroes who advance to the Hero Festival's main banquet. These five heroes can choose to first support one of them, gathering five five-thousand-year-old peaches to advance to the five-thousand-year-old Peach Orchard!"

Lu Tai Bai's eyebrows furrowed.

Li Che also lost interest in playing with Xixi.

"The rules of this Hero Festival are mainly chaotic."

"It's too chaotic, with various possibilities. Weak heroes may advance to the next Peach Orchard, while strong heroes may fail to advance."

Lu Tai Bai explained.

Li Che thought carefully and understood most of it: "These rules are indeed interesting, and various unexpected situations may occur..."

Lu Tai Bai nodded: "Although these rules give weaker heroes some opportunities, the opportunities are not many..."

"Because a festival is a festival, there will ultimately be winners and losers. Once the weak heroes enter the festival, their peaches will become targets for the strong to seize..."

"The Hero Festival is the most divisive. The heroes who participate in the main banquet may include some weaker heroes at the Three Flowers rank, and there may also be powerful heroes like the Golden-Haired Bull who have reached the Three-Opening Martial Saint Realm."

"So, the rules set by the Queen will fully reveal the brutality of the Peach Festival..."

Li Che nodded.

Unexpected, unpredictable, and beyond estimation, this was the situation of the Hero Festival.

Lu Tai Bai looked at Li Che, his eyes flashing, and finally chose to transmit his voice, "Ah Che, among the many heroes of the Hero Festival, your cultivation is not too weak..."

"But, you will definitely become the target of everyone's arrows..."

"Whether it's the Golden Niu Demon, the Western Buddha Land, or the first and second heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect, like Zhang Xuan Lei and Zhang Xuan He, entering the Thousand-Year Peach Garden, their first target might still be you!"

"So, do you want to expose your martial arts cultivation...? If your true identity as the Monkey God is revealed, the impact will be even greater."

Li Che smiled gently, "Rest assured, I understand."

As the holder of the Golden Iron Divine Rod, Li Che naturally couldn't expose the Monkey God's identity, and once exposed... that would be the true moment of becoming the target of all.

If not relying on martial arts cultivation...

Well, the challenge is high, and the difficulty is not small.

However...

Li Che also prepared a trump card.

...

...

Heavenly Capital Third City.

After the Queen announced the rules, the cultivators in the city were filled with confusion.

As night fell, darkness descended.

But it couldn't engulf the enthusiasm of the cultivators, compared to the Dragon Festival, the Hero Festival's confrontation was even more attractive and captivating for the cultivators.

After all, the spectacle and intensity of the Hero Festival were higher.

However, with the Queen's announcement of the rules, the various gambling houses that opened betting markets on the Hero Festival immediately adjusted their bets.

Even the subsequent betting markets were suddenly in disarray.

But, the gambling houses reacted swiftly.

Within half an incense stick's time after the Queen's announcement, they quickly made adjustments.

They opened bets on the promotion from the first round Thousand-Year Peach Garden to the second round Five-Thousand-Year Peach Garden.

Bets on who would advance to the second round Five-Thousand-Year Peach Garden had higher odds.

In an instant, the seven cities starting from the Third City of the Heavenly Capital fell into a frenzy, almost all cultivators couldn't help but place bets.

Of course, most people bet on Zhang Xuan Lei, Zhang Xuan He, and other first and second heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect.

There were also bets on the first and second heroes of the Yue Clan, Ji Clan, and Gongshu Clan.

Most people still bet according to cultivation strength.

Li Che performed exceptionally well in the pre-banquet of the Hero Festival, defeating Zhou Chi Guo, a hero under Ji Moli's command...

So, Li Che wasn't completely ignored.

He still had quite a few people betting on him.

However, aside from supporters of the Heavenly Dan Divine Sect, there were also Li Qing Shan and Nie Yang, who trusted and bet on Li Che.

Li Qing Shan smiled coldly, taking out all his divine crystals and betting on Li Che advancing to the second round.

As for Li Che, Li Qing Shan had absolute trust.

If Li Che succeeded in advancing, Li Qing Shan and Nie Yang would both reap a substantial reward.

"They actually don't trust Elder Li?"

Nie Yang looked at Li Qing Shan, not understanding.

Li Qing Shan hummed coldly, standing atop a building in the Third City, her eyes narrowed, and said, "Isn't that just right?"

"Our trust will soon bring a bountiful harvest!"

As the cat-faced demon of the Underworld, Li Qing Shan knew Li Che's identity. Therefore...

For Li Che, she had absolute trust.

Her purpose in betting was never to earn those vast resources.

It was to express her unwavering trust in her teammate!

...

...

The night was hazy, and the darkness was like ink.

Lead-colored clouds rolled in the sky, like ink dancing in water.

The falling spring rain dripped, pattering on the pavilion, making a dull sound in the thick and heavy night, shrouding the city in a white, misty veil.

The frenzy didn't last long.

Almost immediately after the Queen announced the rules, large and small gambling houses opened and closed their bets.

After half an incense stick's time of rest.

Liao Yanchang appeared in the ruins of the White Jade Square, his eyes flashing, and his palms facing each other, he suddenly appeared in the air.

His gaze swept across the entire square, and his sharp voice slowly spoke.

"The second round of the Peach Festival, the Hero Festival... begins!"

"Heroes from the four seas, please summon your divine peach branches imbued with the divine nature of Queen Mother of the West!"

Liao Yanchang's voice was high-pitched, like tearing through the night rain.

As soon as his words fell, a cultivator sitting behind a banquet table couldn't restrain himself.

They took out the divine peach branches entwined with the divine nature of Queen Mother of the West.

Their minds led the divine nature, and in an instant, a divine nature flew out from the peach branches, like intertwining divine serpents, swiftly flying out and breaking through the rain, winding their way to the ruins of the White Jade Square.

Nearly a hundred divine natures, almost transforming into intertwining divine serpent-like natures!

The Queen stood up, raised her hand, and with her slender, white fingers, she gently removed a jade hairpin from her topknot.

A boundless divine nature burst forth from the jade hairpin, and in that moment, the void seemed to ripple and tremble!

Almost everyone's gaze was drawn.

"That's... the Divine Spear obtained from the Queen Mother's Strange Shrine, ranked tenth in the Divine Weapon Chart, the Heaven-Equalizing Golden Hoop Rod!"

Liao Yanchang spoke with a deep voice.

Li Che was slightly startled, and his eyes narrowed.

The Heaven-Equalizing Golden Hoop Rod, ranked seventh in the Divine Weapon Chart...

This was the second divine weapon Li Che saw from the Divine Weapon Chart!

"This golden hairpin can only be mastered by the Queen, and to become the Queen, one must meet the conditions set by the Divine Weapon Chart..."

Liao Yanchang explained to Li Che, providing additional details about the Divine Weapon Chart and the conditions for becoming the Queen. He also shared insights on the significance of the divine weapons and their impact on the Peach Festival.

Li Che's gaze burned with intensity, and it wasn't just him; the Three Purities-ranked Divine Weapon had captured the attention of all the powerhouses.

Lu Tai Bai took a sip of wine, his eyes openly displaying envy.

"The Queen Mother's bizarre Shrine, ranked at the Three Purities level, contains four Divine Weapons of the Three Purities rank within. The Great Dharmic Treasury held the Peach Blossom Feast, and the resonance between the Shrine Deities was to obtain the inheritance of the Shrine Deity of the Queen Mother's bizarre Shrine, as well as the Three Purities Divine Weapons!"

"This Heavenly River Ruyi Hairpin is one of them. Additionally, the Great Dharmic Treasury obtained the [Three Purities Pure Water Bowl] among the four Divine Weapons..."

"The other two, the [Gathering Immortal Banner] and the [Kunlun Mirror], belong to the Emperor and Empress who hosted the Peach Blossom Feast. They wanted to acquire them through the resonance of the Shrine Deities."

Lu Tai Bai took a sip of wine and shared some secrets with Li Che.

"In fact, if not for the allure of the Peach, many powerhouses wouldn't have traveled thousands of miles to attend. What's the point of holding such a feast if not to test their abilities?"

As Lu Tai Bai shared these secrets with Li Che, a faint smile appeared on the Empress's face.

She extended her slender fingers and gently tossed the Heavenly River Jade Hairpin.

It seemed to draw a path through the sky.

The water of the Heavenly River gushed down like a waterfall onto the White Jade Square, creating a massive curtain of water.

Within the curtain, the falling water reflected the images of numerous heroes in the Thousand-Year Peach Orchard.

In an instant, the entire city fell silent.

Li Che opened his eyes, and a bizarre mist enveloped his vision, revealing a vast and wild landscape, where the mist never seemed to end. The rolling mist constantly swirled across the boundless land.

There seemed to be ghosts and evil spirits lurking within the mist, giving Li Che a sense of overwhelming oppression after becoming a Divine Embryo cultivator.

"The Three Purities-ranked bizarre Shrine... It's indeed located deep within the Bizarre Palace."

"There's an undeniable sense of terror."

Li Che exhaled, without hesitation, his gaze falling upon the bamboo fence surrounding the Peach Orchard.

A black stone tablet stood at the entrance, bearing the words "Peach Orchard" in crooked writing. The ancient script was unrecognizable, but its meaning was clear.

Upon entering the Peach Orchard, Li Che had only taken a few steps when he heard a "swooshing" sound. Turning back, he saw that the entrance to the Peach Orchard had disappeared.

Li Che even witnessed a peach tree growing feet, rushing through the orchard.

The entire Peach Orchard seemed to transform into a massive maze.

"This is the first round of the Thousand-Year Peach? Is this the first test?"

Li Che's gaze flickered, revealing a strange expression.

Everyone's guesses seemed to be wrong.

Originally, the Empress had stated that each hero could only pick one peach. Now, it seemed that once inside the Peach Orchard, a fierce and bloody battle would ensue.

"This test is about... investigative abilities?"

"It's a competition to see who can find the other heroes first, defeat them, and obtain their peaches. The one who gathers five peaches can leave the maze?"

Li Che's expression shifted, forming a new hypothesis about the rules.

"The Queen Mother's Peach Orchard... It should be everyone's first step."

"We all know too little about the Peach Orchard."

Li Che's black robe fluttered, and his gaze flickered.

He took a step forward, his foot landing on the soft ground. The land was covered in green frosted grass, which had turned white as if the peaches had absorbed all its nutrients.

The sound of rushing water filled the air as Li Che took several steps. Behind him, a peach tree seemed to come alive, its branches reaching out like feet, padding on its toes, and it began to run, changing directions to erase Li Che's path.

Li Che's gaze flickered with new thoughts, and he touched his forehead.

Hum—

As he took more steps, his Divine Embryo trembled within, connecting with the will of Heaven and Earth, forming a Heavenly Man.

It was as if his Primordial Energy had emerged from his forehead, transforming into a Yin Spirit that scanned the surroundings.

However, Li Che's expression changed as his Heavenly Man, still in its nascent form, sensed an incredibly powerful oppressive force pressing down on him.

The higher and wider he expanded his Heavenly Man, the greater the pressure! Even the Heavenly Man of a Divine Embryo was suppressed within a ten-zhang range!

"Suppressing the perception of the Heavenly Man... This is like being blindfolded."

Li Che furrowed his brows.

This situation was truly unexpected.

If he couldn't find the other heroes...

By the time the other heroes gather five peaches and advance to the second round, you might still be wandering aimlessly.

"There must be a way to break free yourself.

"It's impossible to be blindfolded."

L

He aimed his Heavenly Man in one direction, unleashing its full power!

The original ten-zhang range of perception was suddenly pulled to a hundred zhang...

Vaguely, in the distance, Li Che sensed a blurry figure!

However, the moment he sensed it, Li Che released his Heavenly Man.

Because that terrifying oppressive force slammed down, like a backlash, trying to scatter Li Che's Heavenly Man.

"So that's how it is... Finding the target opponent through each time the Heavenly Man reaches its limit."

Li Che smiled.

"First, let’s find a matured Peach."

Li Che stretched lazily, his black robe fluttering, and he began to walk briskly through the Peach Orchard.

Each hero was allowed to pick one mature Peach, and finding such a peach was the primary and most important task.

Not every Peach tree bore a mature Peach.

However, searching for Peaches was clearly much easier than searching for the heroes who had already entered the vast Peach Garden.

In just a moment, Li Che’s eyes gleamed, and he caught a whiff of an extremely rich Peach scent.

A blood-red Peach hung from a Peach tree, so bright and vibrant that it seemed to be dripping with deep crimson blood.

"A Thousand-Year Chi Long Blood Peach!"

"Good for replenishing vital energy."

Li Che smiled, his toes lightly touching the frost-covered grass, the ground slightly indenting as he shot forward like an arrow, swift as a black lightning bolt!

However, just as Li Che was about to pick the Chi Long Blood Peach hanging on the tree, a terrifying vital energy surge erupted like a lightning bolt, a shocking hissing sound exploding, and a crimson flame shot out almost like a laser beam.

The scenery inside Li Che’s dantian trembled slightly.

B

Therefore, Li Che did not use his martial path cultivation.

Heavenly emerged the Heaven and Earth Mimicry, a massive Heaven and Earth Mimicry magic ape appearing, blocking the flame jet in an instant. With one palm, he grabbed the creature that had tried to ambush him, lifting it up.

Li Che’s hands were behind his back, his third eye in the dantian glowing like a golden jujube.

He looked at the captured crimson large snake.

The Star-Eye activated.

【Creature (Fifth Rank): Chi Fire Three Flower Python】

【Introduction: A creature born from the divine nature of the West Mother Temple Deity, co-born with the Peaches in the Peach Garden, growing alongside the Peaches. When the Peach matures, the creature eats the Peach to gain a transformation.】

A hint of oddity couldn’t help but appear in Li Che’s eyes.

"Born alongside the Peach, waiting for the Peach to mature and be picked, this Chi Fire Three Flower Python, at the Fifth Rank, is equivalent to a Three Flower Grandmaster, not weak at all."

"In other words, every mature Peach is accompanied by a creature?"

Li Che took a deep breath.

He looked at the large snake captured by the Heaven and Earth Mimicry.

His eyes flickered.

He couldn’t help but think of the… Dragon Blood Wine once brewed by the boss.

This creature was indeed a fine ingredient.

Li Che muttered, "The rules set by the Empress state… each hero can only pick one Peach, but there’s no restriction on these creatures."

With a mental command, the Heaven and Earth Mimicry magic ape immediately lifted the large snake with a slap, and after a daze, Li Che tore open the spatial rift, tossing the snake in.

Creatures born alongside the Peaches were treasures all over…

Li Che naturally wouldn’t choose to waste.

Without the disturbance of the Chi Fire Three-flower python that had guarded the Peach for a thousand years, Li Che picked the Peach without hesitation, which the python had guarded for a millennium.

The rich fragrance filled the air, and the scent of the just-picked Peach became even richer.

Li Che held the Peach, sniffing it, a smile curling at the corners of his lips.

"The first Peach..."

"The rules have been tested, now to accelerate, to advance to the second round earlier…”

For Li Che, the allure of a thousand-year Peach wasn’t great enough.

Raising his hand, Li Che tapped his third eye in the dantian.

The Heaven and Earth Mimicry magic ape dispersed, golden light flickering, making Li Che, standing at the center of the Heaven and Earth Mimicry, appear a bit blurry.

And in this blurry moment.

In the chest.

【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit, thumped!

Thump thump thump ——!!!

A terrifying thumping sound, as if thunder had exploded.

The chess board of the heavens and earth!

In the next moment.

With Li Che’s body as the Heavenly origin position, countless crisscrossing lines sketched out.

Then, as Li Che spread his five fingers, pushing, the chess board of the heavens and earth shot into the sky.

Enveloping the entire Peach Garden.

Buzz buzz buzz—

Li Che slightly closed his eyes.

After the chess board of the heavens and earth was summoned, it instantly expanded, enveloping the entire thousand-year Peach Garden.

Each Peach tree seemed to tiptoe and sneakily run, becoming incredibly clear in his perception.

Sure enough, Li Che perceived the figures of heroes rapidly running in the Peach Maze.

These figures chose the oldest method, which was to constantly run, constantly rushing and crashing through the maze to encounter opponents…

Because running fast enough was efficient enough.

Because perception could not be used, they could only use this old method.

But at this moment, Li Che locked onto several heroes dashing headlessly through the Peach maze.

However…

Just as Li Che locked onto a hero.

Li Che’s expression suddenly changed drastically.

He had never had such a drastic change in expression…

In the chest.

The 【Chess Sage】 Dao fruit, which had always been quiet, seemed to perceive something, thumping wildly, as if it wanted to leap out of the chest!

Thump thump thump—

Each thump seemed to want to knock Li Che’s soul out.

It was as if the shadows of spirits were dissipating and expanding!

Such an unusual state of the dao fruit had never appeared!

Since obtaining the 【Chess Sage】 Dao Fruit until now, Li Che had never experienced such an unusual feeling!

What is happening?

Li Che’s expression became unprecedentedly solemn.

Even for the unknown, Li Che had some hesitation.

The changes occurring with the Chess Sage Dao Fruit were situations he had never encountered, thus they belonged to the unknown.

Suddenly.

The 【Chess sage】 dao fruit thumped wildly…

The chess board of the heavens and earth enveloped the sky above the Peach garden, as if countless radiance had illuminated every corner of the peach garden…

Gradually…

Amid the deafening thumping sounds.

Li Che faintly caught a trace of an extremely faint sound.

The faint sound continuously gathered, condensed together, gradually becoming clear.

"Save me…"

"Save me…"

And at the moment this sound resounded in Li Che’s ears.

In the chest, the 【Chess sage】 dao fruit’s thumping instantly halted.

An immensely intense desire and greed…

Erupted from the Chess Sage Dao Fruit…

First update, last night was too late, the whole person was dizzy, wrote a bit late, another update will be out later, Old Li continues to write, requests monthly tickets, requests recommendation tickets, requests reading, Old Li thanks! Continue to charge!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end