Chapter 380: The Half-Step Divine Beast, the Celestial Prison Thunder Sword, and the Ultimate Gamble

Chapter 380: The Half-Step Divine Beast, the Celestial Prison Thunder Sword, and the Ultimate Gamble

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The howling wind never ceased, causing the countless peach trees in the orchard to sway, their branches and leaves rustling with a soft, whispering sound.

High above, the bright sun shone down, its radiant light filtering through the dense peach tree branches and leaves, as if scattering crushed gold across the ground, shimmering with a dazzling glow.

The towering peach trees, reaching a height of hundreds of feet, had thick, sturdy branches and lush foliage.

At this moment, the wind blew through them, causing the trees to sway incessantly.

Li Che, adorned in a black robe with golden lotus embroidery, stood calmly facing the wind, his gentle expression belying the storm within. The wind ruffled his hair, causing strands to fly wildly, yet he remained composed, as if bathed in the gentle spring breeze.

As he faced Zhang Xuanlei, the latter's eyes, like thunderbolts, flashed with rage.

Zhang Xuanlei suddenly lifted his head, the red-date-like mark on his forehead pulsed and twitched uncontrollably, causing the wooden hairpin to shatter into pieces, and his black hair danced wildly in the wind.

"You've become a little stronger?"

"Your daughter killed my son, and I'm killing you, Li Che. Is there a problem with that?"

Zhang Xuanlei raised his phoenix eyes, his gaze as fierce as thunder. With a single step, his black Daoist robe instantly filled with divine energy, making even the hem of his robe as sharp as a blade.

"If you have a problem with me killing your son, then I'll kill you, Li Che. Is there a problem with that?"

Zhang Xuanlei's words, like spring thunder, rumbled and echoed through the peach orchard.

Beside Zhang Xuanlei, the two Daoists, Zhang Xuanhe and Zhang Xuanyu, stood with their gray-black Daoist robes fluttering in the wind. Their divine energy surged, swelling with the wind.

The three of them shared a common goal: to avenge Zhang Yunlong by killing Li Che.

However, if Li Che chose to retreat from the peach orchard and abandon the Peach Festival, it would be challenging for them to kill him.

But they bet that Li Che wouldn't easily give up this opportunity at the Hero Society.

Zhang Xuanlei clenched his fist, and a peach wood sword appeared in his hand. It wasn't an ordinary sword; its surface was engraved with divine inscriptions, and these ancient inscriptions were imbued with divine energy, as if they possessed a unique power of communication with the heavenly deities.

Zhang Xuanlei wasn't concerned about Li Che's claim of becoming stronger.

Even if Li Che had truly made a breakthrough, it was impossible for him to advance from the Divine Embryo First Transformation to the Divine Embryo Fourth Transformation and ascend to the Great Deity Realm in such a short time.

Divine energy cultivation, like martial arts, required time for refinement.

Divine energy needed to be accumulated, and some individuals were born with exceptional divine energy talents, like the divine children with Purple Qi Connecting Heaven or Purple Qi Reaching a Thousand Feet. These divine children differed greatly in their efficiency of accumulating divine energy.

The transition from the Divine Embryo First Transformation to the Divine Embryo Second Transformation, from the embryonic five organs to the embryonic hundred bones, required an immense accumulation of divine energy, even with the aid of divine energy crystals. It still took time to refine and temper this energy.

Martial arts cultivation followed a similar principle, requiring time to temper the physical body, refine the vital energy, and cultivate the human pill.

Therefore, Zhang Xuanlei never believed that Li Che could achieve a significant breakthrough in his Divine Embryo cultivation in a short time.

Nonetheless, Zhang Xuanlei, as the first hero of the Purple Qi Connecting Heaven Divine Sect and a divine child with exceptional talent, had already cultivated his Divine Embryo to the Third Transformation in his forties. He was on the verge of breaking through to the Great Deity Realm a decade ago!

This was Zhang Xuanlei's confidence.

Li Che's smile gradually faded, and his gaze slowly swept over the three of them.

"There's no problem..."

"But since you want to kill me, I won't hold back either."

Li Che spoke calmly.

Zhang Xuanlei's black hair whipped in the wind, and his eyes flashed with thunder.

Clenching the peach wood sword, it seemed to draw forth thunder, emitting a buzzing sound.

Zhang Xuan Lei was brewing a deadly sword move, intending to slay Li Che with a single strike.

Suddenly, Zhang Xuan He's figure surpassed Zhang Xuan Lei's, taking the lead in the battle.

Three against one, three formidable heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect joined forces to besiege a single person.

Such a formidable lineup in the siege could be said to instill despair.

Especially, the three were extremely well-coordinated master and disciple brothers.

On the other side, Zhang Xuan Yu's eyes turned deep blue in an instant, like crystal-clear ice, but unlike Zhang Xuan He, she didn't clench her fist and take the initiative to attack.

Instead, she sat cross-legged on the ground, with a divine shrine floating behind her, showering strands of divine essence.

Her soul shook the earth, as if a female deity suddenly emerged from the shrine, spreading her arms and praying to heaven and earth.

Zhang Xuan Yu recited ancient and intricate incantations, and Zhang Xuan He's body slowly grew to a hundred feet tall, amidst the lush branches and leaves of the peach trees.

Dark clouds gathered, and cold winds howled.

Suddenly, crystal-clear water droplets floated from Zhang Xuan Yu's body, and the dark clouds above were torn apart. A water dragon, entirely formed by these transparent water droplets, struggled and pounced out, like a heavenly dragon emerging from the clouds.

One head, two heads, three heads...

The divine essence was unleashed and consumed, and within a few breaths, the dark clouds brewed six ferocious water dragons with bared fangs and claws, roaring incessantly.

Countless water vapors rose, and the water dragons spewed, creating layer upon layer of clear water curtains, like cascading mountain springs, with a loud whooshing sound.

Crack! Crack!

Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the rain from the dark clouds precisely covered the area of the peach orchard, forming a water curtain like a heavenly waterfall.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan He clenched a burning fist, aiming at Li Che above. He unleashed a terrifying aura, ready to strike.

The six water dragons hovered in six directions, spanning sixty feet in the air and expanding to a hundred feet in range, forming a water curtain domain.

Zhang Xuan Yu's eyes were crystal blue like ice.

Her wooden hairpin broke, and her long hair flew like a waterfall.

"The divine realm is formed!"

"Li Che, you're undoubtedly going to die."

In just an instant, the three launched their ultimate moves. This domain was about to be formed...

Even isolating Li Che, they aimed to seize the opportunity to manipulate the divine essence of the Western Queen Mother and kill Li Che with less resistance."

This was their determination to kill Li Che!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In just a moment, the situation turned extremely unfavorable for Li Che. The oppressive intent triggered every self-defense restriction on the peach trees within a radius of several dozen feet.

Whoosh!

Scorching heat waves rolled, and the air seemed to ripple with ripples.

Powerful gusts of wind, like cascading waterfalls, pressed against Li Che's body.

As Zhang Xuan Yu's small divine realm was formed,

Zhang Xuan He's fist, already unleashed, seemed to suppress countless brilliance within, its power immense, combining divine essence and martial arts flawlessly. It was the ultimate divine essence martial art!

The fist tore through the air, dispersing all surrounding qi flows.

With the fist's might, everything turned to ashes, and nothingness prevailed.

Witnessing Zhang Xuan He's fist, Li Che couldn't help but praise its perfect fusion of power and divine essence. The fist, like a heavenly waterfall, the water curtain spread horizontally with a loud whooshing sound.

Crack! Crack!

Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the rain from the dark clouds precisely covered the area of the peach orchard, forming a water curtain like a heavenly waterfall.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan He clenched a burning fist, aiming at Li Che above. He unleashed a terrifying aura, ready to strike.

"Are you ready... to be killed by me?"

...

...

Capital City Second District.

Silence prevailed, and only the rustling of the wind through the willow trees on both sides of the street could be heard.

The sun tore through the clouds, showering down, and the white jade square reflected the heavenly river like a jade hairpin, forming a water curtain that captured everyone's attention.

Almost everyone was fixated on the scene projected onto the Heavenly River Curtain.

Within the projection...

It was the scene of the three Heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect besieging Li Che!

Zhang Xuanlei, Zhang Xuanhe, and Zhang Xuanyu, the three Heroes, unleashed their full power from the moment they met, holding nothing back.

Zhang Xuanlei gathered his thunderous might, forging a sword of lightning, while on the other side, Zhang Xuanlei unleashed an extreme Martial Sage punch, and Zhang Xuanyu even opened up a Water Dragon domain, cutting off the Deceptive Pavilion's divine transmission escape route!

They were clearly aiming to kill Li Che!

Even through the projection, the spectators could clearly sense the overwhelming murderous intent in this siege!

"Cheaters! They're cheating!"

On the edge of the White Jade Square, Xi Xi stomped her feet in anger, her eyes filled with visible panic and fury.

With such a lineup...

Could her father withstand it?

Would her father die?

Xi Xi's heart couldn't help but feel a bit anxious and suffocated, and she was very angry.

She ran to Lu Tai Bai's side with heavy steps.

"Sect Head Master! They're cheating, disregarding martial honor! They're besieging my father! Please... help my father!"

Xi Xi's face turned red with anger.

Lu Tai Bai's eyebrows furrowed as well. After comforting Xi Xi for a while, he looked at the Heavenly River Curtain with an extremely solemn expression.

How would Li Che break out of this situation?

If he revealed his martial cultivation along with his Divine Embryo cultivation, Li Che might still have a chance, and death would likely be impossible.

However, the combined efforts of Zhang Xuanlei, Zhang Xuanhe, and Zhang Xuanyu would undoubtedly be extremely challenging!

Zhang Ya's hands were already tightly clenched, her palms sweaty, as she stared intently at the Heavenly River Curtain, her heart hanging high.

Although she knew that cultivation was dangerous, Zhang Ya still felt tense and blamed herself.

It was because of her that her husband and Xi Xi had to face these risks, wanting to obtain the Nine Thousand-Year Peach for her!

Zhang Ya closed her eyes, her emotions unable to calm down for a long time.

She recalled how their family had emerged from a small, dilapidated shack and reached their current heights, now living a life they couldn't have imagined before.

Her heart felt a bit sour.

All the good days they were having were thanks to Li Che, her husband's efforts alone.

"Husband..."

"He absolutely cannot get into trouble!"

Zhang Ya's face turned pale.

The entire Second and Third Districts of the Divine Capital fell into silence.

On the walls of the Third District, Nie Yang, Li Qing Shan, and others watched with grim expressions, their eyes fixed on the Heavenly River Curtain.

When Zhang Xuanhe's punch landed, Li Qing Shan's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Boom!

The entire Heavenly River Curtain seemed to shake violently with the impact.

The crowd on the Third District's city tower gasped in astonishment at the scene projected on the Heavenly River Curtain.

"That's..."

"A Mechanized Beast?!"

"It seems like the Tang Clan's Half-Eternal Mechanized Beast, the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King?!"

"Wrong! It's not Half-Eternal, just Half-Step World-Class!"

"But even a Half-Step World-Class Mechanized Beast rivals a Martial Sage! Li Ban Sheng is indeed a Godly Carving Half-Saint, and his skill in Mechanized Beast crafting is astonishing, as he has created a Half-Step World-Class Mechanized Beast!"

"There's a chance!"

...

The various martial artists from the Great Jing Dynasty's states suddenly became excited.

These martial artists still held some sense of chivalry, and they felt ashamed of the three Heroes of the Purple Mansion Divine Sect besieging Li Che alone. Thus, when Li Che revealed his trump card, these martial artists cheered in excitement!

Second District of the Divine Capital.

The sun shone brightly, and the canopy originally set up to block the spring rain had been removed.

The sunlight shone down, illuminating the banquet tables.

Lotus Pavilion Master Banquet Area.

The Plain-Clothed National Master, Xie Yun Shen, had a slightly odd expression, "A Mechanized Beast? The Tang Clan's Mechanized Beast... Li Ban Sheng's trump card is this thing?"

The Tang Clan's destruction was believed to be the work of the Gong Shu Clan, with many suspecting the involvement of the Great Supervisor. But in reality...

The Great Supervisor did not interfere in the Tang Clan's destruction; it was all the work of the Gong Shu Clan and Xie Yun Shen's secret manipulation.

The Tang Clan's Mechanized Beasts were incredibly powerful, and with Xie Yun Shen's secret maneuvers, the Tang Clan's Mechanized Beasts now belonged to him. In the border regions of the Great Jing Dynasty, they had shown great prowess, and even the Temple Breaking Temple had traces of Mechanized Beasts.

Therefore, National Master Xie Yun Shen's attitude towards Mechanized Beasts was naturally strange.

"It is indeed the Tang Clan's Mechanized Beast, but it's only Half-Step World-Class, is it the Tang Clan's remnant? No, it seems like Li Che alone created it, and this person's Mechanized Beast talent is so high?"

National Master Xie Yun Shen couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Mechanized Beast crafting and Godly Carving techniques are not the same, and their talents are distinct.

Currently, Li Che's talent in Mechanized Beast crafting is no weaker than a Godly Carver.

The Tang Clan's Half-Eternal Mechanized Beasts were created by dozens of Mechanized Beast masters gathered by the vast Tang Clan, but Li Che alone could also craft a Half-Step World-Class Mechanized Beast!

Xie Yun Shen took a sip of wine and slowly exhaled.

"This person... is truly fearsome."

"If he's not used by the nation, the threat is no less than a Divine Sect!"

Sitting beside Xie Yun Shen with a clenched fist, he stared at the Heavenly River Curtain.

"There's a chance!"

...

The Grand Master's evaluation was indeed reasonable.

...

...

The second round of the Hero Competition.

Within the Five Thousand-Year Peach Orchard.

As the second round began, numerous heroes formed teams outside the bamboo fence surrounding the Peach Orchard. Each team then started sprinting through the orchard.

When the three heroes of the Purple Mansion found Li Che, a young monk with golden hair and a yellow monk's robe, Jia Luo Fashi, was by his side, wearing a kasaya.

There was also a white-robed woman with loose hair, holding a seven-foot-long purple bamboo staff.

Opposite them were three heroes from the True Martial Divine Sect: Shi Xuan, Shi Miao, and Shi Jin Gang.

The six individuals met without much conversation and immediately engaged in fierce combat.

On the other side, Ji Chen from the Ji Clan, Yue Wang Lou from the Yue Clan, and Gong Shu Changgong from the Gong Shu Clan, encountered Zhou Chi Guo, Ao Yuan, and Zhao Jun, the first hero of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect.

After a brief exchange of words, they directly clashed.

In the second round of the Peach Competition, everyone's goal was to advance to the third round.

To qualify for the next round, each person needed to obtain four peaches.

Out of the twenty heroes, only four could advance to the next round.

So...

There was no need for further words.

It was time for battle! The terrifying auras, divine essences, and blood energies erupted.

Not only were Li Che and the three heroes of the Purple Mansion clashing, but battles were erupting everywhere.

...

...

Boom!

The Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King's wings suddenly spread out, composed of countless intricate parts, resembling extremely sharp blades assembled together.

As the wings unfolded, the clacking sounds of the Grand Master's evaluation, and the battles erupting everywhere, had ignited Li Che's desire to fight.

In that instant, the clacking sounds were like extremely sharp blades, slicing through the air with explosive force!

Li Che continuously struck out with divine essence crystals, inserting them into the energy area of the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King.

In an instant, the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King seemed to fully revive.

This was Li Che's trump card. After advancing to LV6 in the Immortal Craft, he had reached the fourth metamorphosis of the Dao Fruit.

Li Che had already made significant progress in his research on the Half-Eternal Mechanized Beast, the 'Thousand-Eyed Four-Winged Dragon King'. However, even with the LV6 Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, the difficulty of creating an Eternal Mechanized Beast was still considerable.

But the research on the Half-Eternal Mechanized Beast was suddenly completed.

Combined with the efforts of numerous Painting Incarnation clones of Li Che in polishing and assembling...

Finally, before the start of the Peach Competition, the creation of this Half-Eternal Mechanized Beast was accomplished.

The nearly ten-foot-long Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King finally revealed its might!

"Roar!"

Manipulating the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King with his mind, Li Che felt a sense of control as if it were an extension of his own body.

Li Che's killing intent surged, and the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King sensed this intense emotion, immediately capturing and amplifying it through the mechanized beast's seals!

The terrifying killing intent swept through the Peach Orchard like a storm.

With a flap of its wings, the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King surged forward with suppressed speed, charging towards Zhang Xuan He, who had dispersed the fist imprint blocking its path.

Boom!

The ten thousand mechanized beast seals simultaneously activated, and the terrifying propulsion triggered the divine essence!

The divine essence surged like a tidal wave!

The Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King's tail swept like a steel blade, shaking the sky with explosive force. The air shattered, and the fierce dragon tail seemed to pull out a terrifying Martial Sage's blade aura, almost touching the terrifying aura of the Absolute Apex Martial Sage!

In the blink of an eye, the dragon tail swept across, like a raging dragon descending upon mortals, choosing its prey.

Zhang Xuan He was struck by the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King's entrance and sent flying. Behind him, the divine shrine trembled, and a figure with muscular knots and divine radiance emerged.

A long howl!

Zhang Xuan He's eyes flashed with a terrifying fist shadow, colliding with the dragon tail's blade aura!

Clap, clap, clap, clap—

Zhang Xuan He's body glowed with brilliance, his dantian churning, and his blood energy surged like a wolf's smoke rising to the sky, dyeing the entire Peach Orchard red!

Every pore on his body spewed out blood mist, but he forcefully blocked the fierce strikes of the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King's tail.

"Li Che, die!"

At the same time.

Zhang Xuan Lei seemed to sense something amiss and was startled to see Li Che summon a Half-Eternal Mechanized Beast. His heart skipped a beat.

He couldn't help but recall the scene where Li Che's son, Zhang Yuanlong, was forced into a desperate situation by the Temple Deity's mechanisms.

The killing intent intensified, and Zhang Xuan Lei's Peachwood Sword wove through countless thunderbolts.

"Divine Might, Sword Thunder, Celestial Summon!"

"Command!"

"Command!"

Zhang Xuan Lei's breath was like thunder, his eyes flashed with electricity, and his whole body trembled as if struck by terrifying thunder.

His ten fingers danced, and the Peachwood Sword floated up, transforming into a bolt of lightning that burst forth with the sound of a thousand birds chirping.

With a hand seal, he touched his solar plexus and spat out a sword energy with a command!

It was like heavenly thunder descending!

The Peachwood Sword trembled, its speed skyrocketing, and the accumulated killing intent and thunderbolts were unleashed in this moment!

Zhang Xuan Yu sat cross-legged, manipulating a water dragon to enclose the surroundings, creating a small cave-like domain that severed Li Che's connection with the West Queen Mother's peach branch and any chance of surrender.

This was a fatal move!

"Die!"

"Die!"

"Die!"

Zhang Xuan Lei's Peachwood Sword, enveloped in the divine essence from the shrine behind him, unleashed its full power, aiming straight for Li Che's life!

The deafening explosion, wrapped in sword energy and blade aura, resembled thunder.

The sword energy surged like a flood, accompanied by rolling thunder. It was like a heavenly dragon emerging from the clouds, slashing towards Li Che, who stood atop the Dual-Winged Minor Dragon King's head.

Li Che leaped dozens of feet away, standing on the ground with a cold expression.

(End of Chapter)But the terrifying peach wood sword, woven with electric currents, continued its relentless pursuit!

Li Che's expression remained indifferent, and in his eyes, golden thunder suddenly erupted!

The next moment, he raised his hand and pointed at his brow.

The Divine Embryo of Heaven and Earth Spirit Monkey trembled.

The Secret Art of Heaven and Earth Divine Embryo erupted!

Instantly, a colossal shadow of Heaven and Earth appeared, towering a hundred feet high, reaching the height of the peach trees.

Zhang Xuanlei's thunderous peach wood sword struck the shadow of Heaven and Earth with force.

The surging sword energy, countless thunders, and the raging divinity clashed at the point of impact between the shadow of Heaven and Earth and the thunderous peach wood sword, constantly surging, obliterating, and shattering! The air seemed to boil in an instant, distorting and blurring everything!

Zhang Xuanlei's eyes shimmered with interwoven electric currents, and behind him, divine energy waves erupted from the divine shrine. He clapped his palms together forcefully!

"Break it!"

Zhang Xuanlei was well aware of Li Che's Heaven and Earth Divine Embryo, after all, Li Che had demonstrated it during the pre-banquet, and even defeated Zhou Chi Guo and Wukong the Monk.

However, Zhang Xuanlei still had confidence. With this secret art, he could behead Li Che.

But...

Zhang Xuanlei's expression changed slightly.

How could it be so hard? Li Che's Divine Embryo realm, with just one divine transformation, how could it be so resilient?

Zhang Xuanlei's eyes narrowed, and his gaze, filled with interwoven electric currents, turned towards Li Che's direction.

He saw Li Che's hands embracing his chest again, and behind him, countless dazzling golden pills suddenly appeared.

A total of thirteen golden pills throbbed with vitality, and the sound of a fetal heartbeat echoed! A heartbeat?

Divine Embryos?

All of them Divine Embryos?

Zhang Xuanlei's eyes narrowed, and even he, with his broad knowledge from the Purple Mansion Divine Sect, couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end at this moment.

What the hell? Thirteen Divine Embryos, and now, with the addition of the Heaven and Earth Divine Embryo, Li Che had actually refined fourteen Divine Embryos?

Boom!

Li Che embraced his chest, and his black hair fluttered.

Indifferently, he stared at the terrifying peach wood sword woven with thunder...

A cold, sharp smile slowly curved his lips.

"Is that all...?"

In his chest cavity...

【Thunder Magnetic Body】

The next moment, a powerful suction force erupted from the shadow of Heaven and Earth, forming an abyss-like void that suddenly swallowed the peach wood sword. It completely devoured the thunder Zhang Xuanlei had been gathering for half a day!

After devouring it completely, the terrifying sword thunder energy began to gradually dissipate.

Li Che's eyes gleamed slightly, as if infinite radiance burst forth!

The mud pill on his brow trembled again.

Ripples of divine energy waves rippled and distorted the space around them.

Then...

A sword energy surged, and another golden pill floated up, accompanied by the sound of a heartbeat.

Another Divine Embryo?

Zhang Xuanlei's face went completely rigid!

One person...

How could he have so many Divine Embryos?

A divine thunder from the Celestial Prison, drawn out by Li Che's mind, combined with the thunder Zhang Xuanlei had just summoned...

All merged into one sword.

"It's my turn."

Li Che embraced his chest.

Suspended in mid-air, countless electric lights flashed around him!

The Divine Embryo of Lu Xuan Sword Immortal trembled.

Then...

Zhang Xuanlei slashed with his sword!

The Celestial Prison Thunder Sword!

All sounds seemed to disappear, leaving only the silent, all-encompassing sword light, which flashed and vanished in an instant. Its silent, overwhelming presence was far more terrifying than Zhang Xuanlei's sword!

It sliced through everything in its path!

Zhang Xuanlei's hair stood on end, and the sense of impending death intensified!

However, Zhang Xuanlei's mind stirred, and behind him, the divine shrine erupted with dazzling light.

The connection between him and the Temple Deity deepened further!

But...

Zhang Xuanlei, prepared to face Li Che's terrifying sword, suddenly changed color!

"Xuan He!"

"Be careful!"

Because Li Che's Celestial Prison Thunder Sword slashed in a wide arc, passing right above Zhang Xuan He's head!

It struck Zhang Xuan He, who was being suppressed by the Half-Step World-Eternal Mechanized Beast!

Zhang Xuan He hadn't even had time to react. He never expected that Li Che, facing Zhang Xuanlei's Divine Might Thunder Sword, would shamelessly launch a sneak attack on him...

Even before he could completely offer his physical body to the Temple Deity in the divine shrine...

He was slashed by the sword, splitting him in two!

His body and life force were severed!

Blood splattered, and a scorching heat engulfed the area!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The heat swept through, blood filled the air, and a raging wind raged, accompanied by Li Che's gradually unleashed, heaven-shaking killing intent, which echoed through the peach orchard with a deep, low voice.

"Don't rush."

"We'll all die."

End of Chapter.

Chapter end