Chapter 485: Xixi's Sudden Calamity and the Inevitable Fate of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 485: Xixi's Sudden Calamity and the Inevitable Fate of Heaven and Earth

In the imperial mausoleum, the hall was brightly lit with sparkling gems embedded in the ceiling, casting a dazzling glow that dispelled the darkness.

On the altar, ancestral tablets were neatly arranged, and incense smoke wafted upwards, while candle flames flickered in the breeze.

The emperor's icy words echoed through the hall, instantly chilling the atmosphere within the mausoleum to an extreme, as if piercing through everyone's hearts.

Lian Gonggong bowed deeply, not daring to lift his head or even breathe, as if sensing the emperor's anger at that moment.

The Second Calamity Honored One, shrouded in a black robe, slowly opened his eyes, revealing a faint smile.

The emperor must have been pushed to his limits, or else, given his temperament, he might have tried to delay matters further.

The emperor was reluctant to hand over the Juxian Xuanqi, as this divine weapon held immense importance for the Dajing royal family and could not be lost.

The emperor had been stalling, hoping to see if the Ghost Emperor, who was on the verge of burning out, would truly be extinguished. However, three months had passed, and indeed, he had not burned out.

Moreover, with the invitation to the Succession Rite conveyed by Lvtai Bai through his sword intent, the emperor felt his imperial dignity compromised and made a decision.

"Your Majesty, you've finally made a decision," the black-robed Honored One said as he slowly rose from the ground. A terrifying aura of a Honored One surged from his body, causing the void around him to twist uncontrollably as if about to shatter.

The dragon-shaped emblem on the emperor's golden yellow robe seemed to come alive, and his eyes, filled with divine essence and profound understanding, glanced indifferently at the black-robed Honored One.

Facing the oppressive aura, the emperor remained calm, his expression as serene as still water.

"Honored One, please do not disrupt the affairs of the Supreme One," the emperor said calmly.

The black-robed Honored One laughed, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Annihilating the Qan Yuan Shen Zong is not a difficult task. The Supreme One will most likely agree."

"You may send a message to inquire," the emperor replied, crossing his arms.

The black-robed Honored One narrowed his eyes and, in the next moment, formed hand seals. His divine essence began to stir, and faintly, divine characters woven from his essence intertwined around him, forming a unique divine array.

After a moment, the black-robed Honored One opened his eyes, "The Supreme One has agreed."

For the Supreme One, possessing the Juxian Xuanqi meant being able to temporarily block the will of heaven and earth, allowing them to descend upon the mortal realm. In the mortal world, the Supreme One's power was unparalleled, capable of crushing everything in its path.

After all, in the mortal realm, where the will of heaven and earth was suppressed, even the Second Calamity Honored One struggled. With a Supreme One rampaging, who could stop them?

Therefore, the black-robed Honored One was not surprised that the Supreme One agreed to this matter.

Moreover...

The Qan Yuan Shen Zong also had the daughter of Yu Lian! The emperor's request was as good as delivering the Juxian Xuanqi to the Supreme One's doorstep.

The emperor waved his hand, "Lian Gonggong, prepare yourself. I have the Juxian Xuanqi ready, and you will accompany this Honored One to deliver it. Remember, you must personally witness the Supreme One receiving the Juxian Xuanqi!"

Lian Gonggong's face turned solemn, "This old servant is willing to sacrifice everything to ensure the safe delivery of the Juxian Xuanqi to the Supreme One!"

The emperor nodded, and Lian Gonggong had been his trusted aide for many years.

When Lian Gonggong handled matters, the emperor was at ease!

The emperor's fingers intertwined, and a sword light seemed to cut through the void. A purple sandalwood box slid out of the void and was held in the emperor's hands. This box contained the Juxian Xuanqi.

The emperor's gaze fell upon Lian Gonggong.

Lian Gonggong immediately felt an immense, oppressive pressure.

As he received the purple sandalwood box, he felt as if his body was about to shatter under the weight of the mountains and seas.

Lian Gonggong tightly held the box and deeply bowed his head.

...

...

The green mountains seemed to float like a maiden's hair, hidden amidst the clouds.

Qan Yuan Shen Zong.

Elder's Court.

Li Che sat in the courtyard, a hot stove boiling water. The hot water bubbled, and green tea leaves were scattered within.

As the tea leaves unfurled, they danced with the boiling water, releasing a rich aroma into the rising steam.

Zhang Ya, having been away for a long time, was busy cleaning.

Li Che's heart stirred, and his mind sank into the Tian Di Qi Pan. The chessboard rumbled, and the chess pieces intertwined and changed.

Then, an image appeared, showing Lian Gonggong, the emperor, and the black-robed Honored One secretly meeting in the imperial mausoleum.

Li Che's gaze fell upon the purple sandalwood box that the emperor had taken out.

Lian Gonggong held the box, and even the box seemed to be beyond his grasp, as if his body was about to shatter.

"Something's not right," Li Che frowned slightly, instantly sensing the difference.

His heart stirred, and the Wu Xian Yi Zhi within the Tian Di Qi Pan expanded, causing the Ju Xian Huang Qi to swiftly fly over and land in his grasp.

Facing the purple sandalwood box, the Ju Xian Huang Qi showed no response.

Li Che couldn't help but smile coldly, "Well done, Emperor, you've hidden it well."

Even his trusted aide was deceived, and now he planned to deceive others?

However, the emperor's deception was meaningless because once the Supreme One obtained the box, they could determine whether the Juxian Xuanqi was inside.

After all, only by possessing the Juxian Xuanqi could one block the will of heaven and earth and leave the Qi Tian Neicheng...

Therefore, this deception was pointless.

As expected, when the black-robed Honored One turned to enter the Gui Que Lu Jing, the emperor stopped Lian Gonggong and handed him a jade box.

Lian Gonggong, as the emperor's trusted aide, instantly understood.

The emperor didn't distrust the Supreme One; he distrusted the black-robed Honored One.

It must be said that the emperor was cautious and vigilant, but unfortunately, everything was happening right under Li Che's nose.

Li Che's fingers gripped the Ju Xian Huang Qi, and it trembled as if alive.

It seemed that the jade box the emperor had given to Lian Gonggong truly contained the Juxian Xuanqi.

Even if someone tried to steal the flag, their target would undoubtedly be the divine weapon within the purple sandalwood box, giving Lian Gonggong enough time to crush the divine talisman and teleport the jade box away.

Indeed, the emperor was quite cautious, keeping a backup plan.

Li Che nodded in admiration, and the emperor's caution earned the approval of Li Che, who was accustomed to walking on thin ice!

The Wu Xian Yi Zhi spanned the Tian Di Qi Pan, constantly monitoring the situation with Lian Gonggong.

The path to the mysterious Guique was opened, and the Black-Robed Honored One had brought a Jiao Long Chariot, drawn by two Shen Jie Da Zun. On the chariot was a purple sandalwood box, and the terrifying pressure emanating from it left no doubt in the Black-Robed Honored One's mind that the Juxian Xuanqi was indeed hidden within.

After all, even the Black-Robed Honored One couldn't fathom why the Emperor would deceive the Supreme One.

The Emperor seeking help from the Supreme One and then deceiving them made no sense; with the Supreme One unable to leave the Qitian Neicheng, the destruction of the Qianyuan Shenzong was impossible.

Thus, the Black-Robed Honored One had no suspicions about the Emperor.

A convoy of chariots shattered the eerie mist and ventured into the boundless, hazy, and mysterious Guique realm.

Lian Gonggong, dressed in purple, quietly followed the convoy without any unusual movements.

Buzz...

The Tiandi Qipan gradually became hazy, and even with the presence of the flying thunder chess piece on Lian Gonggong, the perception of the Tiandi Qipan became blurred.

Perhaps it was due to the isolation of Guique being too far away, or maybe it was because the mist of Guique was becoming denser, obscuring everything.

Fortunately, there was still a vague sense of perception.

Li Che did not immediately rush to the scene but maintained his observation, waiting for the convoy to move further away before planning to seize the flag.

Li Che continued to perceive the situation with the understanding of the Wuxian Yi Zhi.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ya, who had just finished cleaning the courtyard and had a cup of hot tea with Li Che, accompanied him up the mountain towards Taibai Peak.

As the three flowers of Xi Xi blossomed, thunder rumbled across the heavens and earth.

Li Che sensed the impending breakthrough to the level of a Wushen.

"As I thought, Xi Xi still has a lingering obsession in her heart, wishing to return home in glory. Now that she's back at the Qianyuan Shenzong, this obsession has been released, and the bottleneck to becoming a Wushen has suddenly loosened."

Li Che smiled, for as a Wuxian, he deeply understood the ways of the Wudao. He naturally interpreted Xi Xi's current state.

Over the past year, Xi Xi had been fed countless nourishing substances by the boss, enhancing her physique. Additionally, her dreams of cultivating the Xian Dao Guo and the feedback from the Long Xiang Jin Gang Dao Guo had further bolstered her growth.

As a result, her physical foundation was not far behind Li Che's.

...

...

Crack! Crack!

The sky soared high, and leaden clouds piled up, with thunder snakes weaving and writhing within.

The crisp autumn air brought a sudden chill as thunder rumbled.

Taibai Peak.

As if locked in by the will of heaven and earth, a terrifying aura enveloped the entire mountain.

In front of the Taibai Hall, on the vast courtyard.

Scorching heat surged, as if a blazing flame was burning, creating a scorching heat that enveloped the entire mountain like a tidal wave.

Lu Taibai stood in the Taibai Hall, his eyes revealing a mix of astonishment and doubt.

Eight years old...

Eight years old! She's about to break through to the level of a Wushen!

This little girl's growth rate is astonishing! Is she the daughter of Yu Lian? No wonder she's destined to lead the Yu Lian camp and become the supreme commander of the gods!

It's not just that Xi Xi is the reincarnation of a temple god, but she's also cultivating based on her innate talent. To be able to challenge the Wushen level at eight years old is almost unheard of in history.

Not only was Lu Taibai shocked, but even the founder, Lu Qiongkun, was stirred. He emerged from the Qiongkun Xiaodongtian to witness Xi Xi's breakthrough.

Numerous elders of the Qianyuan Shenzong, such as Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Zhiqi, and Ding Zi, were all astounded.

They knew that Xi Xi's return was because the Sect Master, after breaking through the Shen Jie, intended to pass on the position to her.

But who could have imagined that Xi Xi's cultivation would reach the level of a Wushen!

An eight-year-old Wushen was a shocking notion!

Li Che and Zhang Ya also arrived at Taibai Peak and watched from a distance as Xi Xi sat cross-legged on the vast courtyard.

Xi Xi sat on the ground, with a fiery red maple tree swaying behind her. Countless maple leaves shimmered like the surface of a lake under the morning sun.

Three splendid flowers of essence, energy, and spirit bloomed on Xi Xi's head and shoulders! The fiery flowers spun like golden lotuses!

Scorching heat radiated from her body, and the little girl suddenly opened her eyes wide and exhaled deeply.

Her small body seemed to have transformed into a blazing sun, emitting a terrifying heat capable of suppressing and dispelling all evil spirits.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Xi Xi raised her head and let out a loud roar, stretching her arms as her muscles snapped and crackled!

A deafening boom shook the air, and a vast ripple of blood-red energy, with specks of golden light intertwined, exploded around Xi Xi!

Xi Xi's eyes blazed like two rays of golden light piercing through the sky.

The little girl leaped up and landed on the courtyard, releasing a powerful Wudao Yi Zhi. She stood there, in full view of everyone, with newfound understanding, and began to practice her martial arts.

Her fingers clenched, and as her muscles rubbed against each other, she pushed out a punch and lashed out with a kick. Her movements were neither fast nor slow, but they allowed the Wudao Yi Zhi to gradually merge with her body.

The connection between heaven and humanity was forming, as if linking with the heavens themselves!

It was as if a furnace had exploded around Xi Xi, and she was filled with excitement, her entire body trembling.

She was determined to break through to the Wushen level today!

Xi Xi's eyes gleamed with fiery determination, and she recalled her past experiences, including being hunted by the Wushen of the Tiandan Shenzong, Furukawa. Back then, she had been powerless against a Wushen.

But now, things were different.

Xi Xi believed that after breaking through to the Wushen level, she could defeat Furukawa with a single move!

The three flowers burned, radiating a golden brilliance, and as Xi Xi took a step forward, her blood surged, making her entire body seem to glow.

The heavens responded, constantly affirming Xi Xi's martial arts.

A vast divine power began to surge, and the Wanhua Long Xiang that Li Che had taught her, now perfected through her practice, was infused into every move and stance, making them unparalleled and fierce.

Boom!

The invisible force of the air surged, and the fiery maple tree and its leaves were blown by the wind, creating a deafening sound. The leaves fell from the tree, covering the sky and earth like an endless sea of flames.

Countless sparks of fire burst forth, and in the heavens, an infinite divine power began to boil, flowing towards the direction of Taibai Peak.

In the city of Qianyuan Dao, every single temple shook with an eerie aura.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, the entire sky of Qianyuan Dao City transformed, filled with an endless crimson hue. It was the divine essence of blood, swirling and intertwining like smoke and mist, gathering towards Taibai Peak and enveloping the small figure beneath it.

Within each eerie temple, pillars of divine essence soared upwards, resembling towering columns that supported the heavens.

This unusual phenomenon immediately startled everyone in Qianyuan Dao City. The powerful beings from the Guique Gods' camp, hidden within the city, were all stirred by this spectacle.

"Such an unusual phenomenon... Could it be a breakthrough to the Martial Saint realm?"

"Whose breakthrough could cause such a grand phenomenon?!"

"Numerous eerie temples are shaking, and the divine essences are converging into pillars! Good heavens... Could it be that the master of the Gods' camp is breaking through a realm?!"

...

Many powerful beings were indeed shaken by this development.

Among the divine essence pillars that soared into the sky, there was even the temple of Miaodao Xiansheng Sanyan Zhenjun, located on Qianyuan Meishan, which they had been keeping an eye on. How could this not stir their emotions?

They even worried that this situation might cause the temple's deity to revive prematurely!

"We can't let the Lotus Princess break through her realm! We can't let Li Nuanxi succeed!"

A powerful being furrowed his brows, his heart filled with malevolent thoughts.

On Taibai Peak, a sea of blood churned.

Xi Xi raised her head, gripping the purple flame snake spear in one hand and the Fire Tipped Spear in the other. The Prison Lotus Wind Fire Golden Light Wheel spun by her side, and the Chaos Sky Silk danced wildly.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Xi Xi raised her head and let out a long howl, her small figure facing the heavens as she shouted, like a young tiger roaring in the valley. Countless divine essences intertwined and coiled around her, enveloping her entire body.

Gradually, they formed a sphere of divine essence, completely enclosing Xi Xi within.

"Husband... What... How is Xi Xi being enveloped by divine essence like this? Those essences seem to be coming from the various eerie temples of Qianyuan Dao City!"

Zhang Ya tensed up immediately. This unusual situation didn't seem like a typical breakthrough to the Martial Saint realm.

Even Lu Taibai and Lu Qingkun, who had reached the Divine Tribulation realm, couldn't determine what was happening.

Zhao Fangzhou, Feng Zhiqi, and Tang Xiejia, all Martial Saint-level experts, stared in astonishment.

"Our breakthroughs to the Martial Saint realm... were not like this!"

"The human elixir is sacrificed, and when it cracks and splits, the essence and energy are released, and that's when we succeed!"

"This..."

"I've never heard of such a thing!"

One mistake, one strikethrough, one aspect...!

...

Li Che stood still, his brows slightly furrowed. Xi Xi, as the Lotus Princess, indeed had a unique breakthrough to the Martial Saint realm.

A terrifying amount of divine essence, like nine dragons bursting from a dam, surged and intertwined, enveloping Xi Xi's body.

It was like a bright red fireball!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fireball trembled and bounced incessantly.

With each bounce, it was as if a god was beating a drum.

"Ahhhh! Let me out!"

Xi Xi's furious voice echoed from within, and her Fire Tipped Spear stabbed out repeatedly, creating intense, twisted protrusions on the surface of the divine essence sphere.

This situation shocked everyone.

It was as if a ball of flesh had formed, nurtured by the heavens, and only by breaking it open could new life be obtained.

Li Che's brows furrowed slightly, and the next moment, the flesh at his brow split open.

The Star-Plucking Pupil shone forth, emitting a golden light that illuminated the fleshly sphere.

Inside the sphere, Xi Xi roared continuously, stabbing with her Fire Tipped Spear. The terrifying power released a deafening blast, and each strike on the divine essence sphere caused it to deform, emitting an endless clanging sound.

Xi Xi's body was now covered in countless divine essence patterns, intertwining and spreading across her entire being. Her eyes turned crimson, as if her will had been reduced to pure fury.

The endless divine essence continued to merge into her flesh, cleansing and transforming her body, causing a dramatic change.

Li Che also noticed that the Prison Lotus divine pattern between Xi Xi's brows flickered and shone with black light. Black flames burned forth, like black floral patterns, wrapping around Xi Xi's body.

"The Prison Lotus Curse..."

Li Che's gaze intensified.

He slowly exhaled.

...

...

Xi Xi felt as if she had been immersed in an endless world of darkness.

Ding dong.

It was as if a drop of water had fallen, instantly flooding and expanding.

Ripples formed, becoming increasingly terrifying, turning into a terrifying tide that surged in all directions like a tsunami.

Xi Xi opened her eyes. In the distance, a black lotus platform spanned the endless darkness, emitting a black light. Yes, in the boundless dark space, it emitted a black light...

An invisible force pulled Xi Xi forward, and she took a step, appearing on the massive lotus platform.

On the black lotus platform, there was a red egg lying quietly, unperturbed.

"Xi Xi, do you feel resentment? Despair? When you witnessed the slaughter of your parents and the death of your dear friend, when your sect was shattered, did you feel lost and hopeless?"

"Do you ever feel pain when the mountain of corpses and sea of blood surge before your eyes?"

A gentle voice echoed from within the red egg.

"Huh?"

Xi Xi tilted her head.

Her eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment. What nonsense was this egg spouting? Why should Xi Xi feel sad?

Her father and mother were alive and well, Yun'e and Zhou Peng were as lively as ever, and their sect... was not shattered. In fact, it had become even more powerful, with the sect leader daring to challenge and provoke the emperor. The sect was doing great!

"You egg, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you cursing Xi Xi? You bad egg!"

Xi Xi was immediately upset and scolded the egg.

"Xi Xi, don't pretend to be strong. Face reality, accept reality... We need to become stronger, only then can we fight back."

The voice from within the egg continued to echo, filled with sincerity.

"Come, open your heart, and accept my power..."

"We will return all the cruelty of the heavens and the torment of the world to them!"

The voice from within the egg was resolute! Xi Xi's eyes suddenly became blurry, as if she had been bewitched.

In front of her, countless scenes appeared...

In these scenes, her father and mother died tragically, her friends were killed, the sect was shattered, and blood flowed like a river...

Xixi raised her palm, clenching her heart, feeling an endless pain in her chest as if thousands of swords had pierced through her.

"No... How could my father, so strong, possibly die?!"

"You're lying to me, you egg!"

Xixi shouted in anger.

"You still yearn for power..."

The will within the egg seemed to sense something amiss, and its voice echoed eerily.

Xixi's eyes revealed a struggle.

But her steps were uncontrollable, and she walked towards the egg on the black lotus platform, step by step.

Her five fingers spread out, as if reaching for the egg.

Xixi stepped onto the lotus platform, her palm touching the egg's shell, and instantly, it rippled like water.

"You desire power, and I can give it to you, making you incredibly strong..."

"This heaven, this earth, these gods, none can stop you... You can destroy everything that has harmed you, all that has caused you pain, and wipe them out!"

The voice echoed eerily.

Xixi's face was filled with struggle, and her palm slowly sank into the egg's shell.

On the black lotus platform, the egg's shell slowly revealed a pair of eyes.

The eyes stared deeply at Xixi.

Xixi's mind flashed with scenes of being pursued by Tian Dan Shen Zong's Martial Saint, Gu Liuchuan, and she also saw Yun'e and Zhou Peng leaning against a tree, their vitality fading away.

Tears flowed from her eyes, turning into a blood-like color.

She wanted to become stronger!

This was her obsession!

Xixi's heart softened, and her entire arm seemed to be devoured by the egg.

Suddenly, a warm hand, as warm as a blazing sun, pressed against her head, dispelling the bone-chilling cold from all directions in an instant.

The struggle in Xixi's eyes vanished, and she raised her head in a daze.

She saw Li Che with a gentle smile.

"Father..."

"Little girl, your parents are not dead. Yun'e, Zhou Peng, and Jintaisui are all alive and well, waiting for you to break through as a Martial Saint. The sect is thriving, awaiting your inheritance as the sect leader..."

"He's deceiving you. You don't need to be so sad, angry, or in pain. You just need to be happy. With me here, everything will be fine."

"Until you see that I truly fall, don't be sad, and don't let any pain cloud your judgment."

"Because..."

"With me here, you won't suffer."

Li Che's voice was gentle, like a bright sun dispelling the darkness, banishing the gloom from Xixi's eyes.

"Yes, yes, yes, Father is right! This bad egg is deceiving me!"

Xixi's eyes lit up, and she was slightly angry.

Li Che's fingers pressed against Xixi's head, and the Wugou Xindi Dao Guo vibrated. In the Qiao Linglong Heart, the Wugou Shen Xing surged like a tide, purifying Xixi's body.

It was as if he was wrestling with the power within the egg.

Slowly, he pulled Xixi's arm out of the egg's grasp, inch by inch.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Inside the egg, an incredibly sharp voice exploded.

Endless black energy surged from all directions, but Li Che's Martial Saint willpower shone brightly, like a firefly in the boundless darkness, a lone lamp on a boat in the vast sea.

Strong and proud.

As Xixi's fingertips withdrew from the rippling egg shell...

The screams from within the egg completely changed, becoming sharper and crazed.

"Who are you?!"

"Who are you, really?!"

The voice from the egg pierced like countless arrows.

However, Li Che's Martial Saint willpower and the vibrating Qiao Linglong Heart blocked all the attacks and temptations.

"You can't stop it. Even if you block it this time, there will be a next time... Fate is unchangeable, and no one can alter their predetermined destiny!"

"Everything has its fate, the stars, heaven and earth, the gods, and humans... Even you have a fate!"

"Predetermined fate cannot be altered!"

"She will inevitably walk the path of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. She will become the one chosen by heaven and earth..."

"The executioner!!!"

Boom!!!

The endless darkness vanished in an instant.

The egg on the lotus platform became quiet, without a trace of movement.

Xixi gasped for breath.

Li Che's Martial Saint willpower also dimmed, as if it might fade away at any moment.

He furrowed his brows, and a hint of gravity appeared in his eyes.

This egg...

What is it?

Is it truly...

The curse of the Prison Lotus?!

Suddenly, Li Che turned to look at the girl behind the egg.

The girl with long, straight black hair and a black dress walked out, her eyes filled with complexity.

"Big sister!"

Xixi was delighted.

Li Che looked at the girl, his gaze complicated.

"Is the will within the egg you?"

Li Che asked.

The girl with long, straight black hair had dark eyes and a cold expression. She shook her head.

Not her?

Li Che took a deep breath. He knew that Xixi's body contained the awakened will of the Great Xixi.

So, what was this damned egg that tempted Xixi?

If he hadn't appeared, Xixi might have already been tempted by the egg, entered its shell, and undergone an unpredictable transformation.

As Li Che pondered, he felt a slight stir in his heart.

His wavering Martial Saint willpower, like a flickering candle, sensed a turbulent gaze.

He placed his palm on Xixi's small head, his gaze steady, looking at the graceful figure who had stepped out from behind the egg on the lotus platform.

The girl with long, straight black hair had a cold and numb expression, like an ancient, unmelting iceberg.

But as she looked at Li Che, her dark eyes seemed to stir, as if the ice had shattered, and turbulent emotions rose to her throat.

"Father..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end