Chapter 574: Dual Mystic Gates Open, Swallowing Two Hundred Divine Crystals; The Nüwa Empress Hidden Within the Divine Carver and the Blue Ox

Chapter 574: Dual Mystic Gates Open, Swallowing Two Hundred Divine Crystals; The Nüwa Empress Hidden Within the Divine Carver and the Blue Ox

The Blue Ox let out a long bellow, and the Fire Sea roiled!

The many Divine Carvers who were searching for the Blue Ox Heavenly King in the Fire Sea of the Earth Veins all had their expressions change.

Lifting their heads, they saw above them a massive ox-shaped shadow formed by the swirling, radiant golden fire of the Earth Veins.

There was no doubt that someone had found the Blue Ox Heavenly King!

Emperor Shaojia, with his hands clasped together, his monk’s robe billowing in the breeze, and his bald head gleaming, grew extremely serious.

His eyes, marked with cicada patterns, twitched, and he felt a mix of shock and anger.

How... could someone be faster than him?

Who was it?

Fushao Xi? Xuan Yuan Hao? Or the Dongyang Immortal Hand?

There were only these three people who could draw Shaojia’s attention. As for Basha and Jin Miro, he knew their situations well and didn’t think they could surpass him in finding the Blue Ox.

Shaojia’s face darkened, and the cicada patterns seemed to come to life, almost as if cicadas were chirping.

He took a step, and the Fire Sea parted before him as he walked toward the location of the Blue Ox, which he had sensed.

His pace was quick, and his strong will made him more at ease in the Fire Sea of the Earth Veins.

At this moment, he was intensely curious about the person who had beaten him to it.

This might be the spirit of a young emperor, unwilling to be outdone by anyone.

...

...

Li Che’s senses trembled, and the Dragon Elephant Transformation hovered on either side of him.

His perception clearly captured the will of the Blue Ox, and he walked forward, completely unfazed by the burning power of the Fire Sea.

After successfully merging the Fire of the Earth Veins with the Primordial Dragon Elephant Fire and elevating one Mystic Gate Immortal Seed to a Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon, Li Che felt like a fish in water, completely at ease and unharmed by the flames.

What was a torment and test for others was, for Li Che, a continuous enhancement of his own power.

The Cosmic Willpower contained within the Fire of the Earth Veins, though minimal, was the root source of its formidable power.

Thus, Li Che’s Mystic Gate orifices spun wildly, continuously absorbing the power of the Fire of the Earth Veins, using the primal fire to enhance himself.

However, Li Che did not immerse himself in this cultivation.

He was also searching for the Blue Ox, as it related to the position of the Array Immortal.

Li Che wanted to secure a good position.

So, he would not easily back down or hide his true abilities.

With his mind focused, the Dragon Elephant roared, locking onto the Blue Ox’s position, and he headed straight for it.

The Fire Sea quickly parted, forming a labyrinth-like barrier that sealed off the Fire of the Earth Veins from all sides. A scorching heat rose from beneath the plaza, distorting space.

Li Che stopped, and in the center of the plaza, a void appeared.

The intense heat was isolated here.

A Blue Ox lay calmly, a wooden carving, not a real ox, but it seemed to possess a life of its own.

Sensing Li Che’s arrival, the Blue Ox slowly turned its head, its deep, dark eyes seeming to peer down at the stars.

The Blue Ox Heavenly King!

This was not a disciple of Eternal Laojun, but the most powerful Heavenly King under his command.

Even the disciple Golden Crane King was far inferior to the Blue Ox Heavenly King!

Just lying there, the Blue Ox seemed to make the heavens and earth tremble, with the terrifying power of the Heavenly King’s origin surging and intertwining, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

“Is it you?”

The Blue Ox Heavenly King looked at Li Che, quite surprised.

Li Che, looking at the Blue Ox, was equally astonished.

This was a wooden carving, made from ordinary wood, but it depicted a lifelike Blue Ox that exuded the aura of a Heavenly King!

This was undoubtedly the work of a Divine Carver!

And not just any Divine Carver!

Li Che, now a Divine Carver himself, knew he could not carve such a masterpiece.

Even the Great Immortal Zhao Yuan could not!

Such an existence was perhaps at the pinnacle of the Divine Carver realm!

Who was it?

A name came to Li Che’s mind.

The Mysterious Demon Den, the Nüwa Empress!

Yes, the Nüwa Empress was the most powerful Divine Carver in the Mysterious Demon Den, and her carving skills had even surpassed the Great Immortal level!

She was a unique presence in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

“Senior,” Li Che bowed.

The Dragon Elephant around him vanished, and his body radiated a hissing heat, emitting smoke.

However, as he stepped into the area where the Blue Ox lay, a cool sensation rapidly washed over him, seeping through his pores and into his body.

His pores contracted, and his physical body seemed to grow stronger under the dual influence of ice and fire. This test of the Fire of the Earth Veins was also a form of cultivation.

Clearly, the Divine Craftsmanship Immortal Hand Assembly organized by Eternal Laojun was not stingy with resources.

The cool sensation was an immense divine power, and it came from divine crystals, of a high rank.

Li Che felt it; it was the divine power that had overflowed after crushing three high-rank Three Pure Ones divine crystals.

“Not bad, the Immortal Hand of Canglan Village, Li Che, from the Dark Heavenly Court. First to find the Blue Ox in the first round of the Fire of the Earth Veins test. Score: Eighty-one.”

The Blue Ox spoke, his voice booming.

Then, a powerful divine power condensed beside the Blue Ox, forming a wall of divine crystals.

At the top of the wall, a line of text appeared.

“Find a place to absorb divine power and cultivate. This is a rare opportunity. You have just undergone the refinement of the Fire of the Earth Veins, and your body is in a peak state for absorbing divine power.”

“The divine power around me is a field created by Eternal Laojun after crushing three hundred high-rank Three Pure Ones divine crystals. It is a top-tier realm of cultivation.”

The Blue Ox wooden sculpture's gaze fell on Li Che, and it spoke.

That vivid lifeforce didn't seem like it belonged to a mere wooden carving at all.

Li Che was amazed, and not just by that. The Dao Fruit of the Immortal Artisan in his chest throbbed violently, as if, at this moment, it was filled with a burning desire to study the Blue Ox wooden sculpture.

However, studying this Blue Ox would be far from easy.

It seemed to possess true lifeforce, with extremely sensitive perception.

If Li Che were to touch it, he had no idea what kind of threat it might bring.

But Li Che deeply remembered this Blue Ox wooden sculpture. If there was ever an opportunity... he could take it away for study.

With his research on the Nine Symbols of Heaven and Earth hitting a wall, the advancement of the Immortal Artisan Dao Fruit had also become increasingly difficult.

The Dao Fruit had already undergone seven transformations, and the difficulty of further transformation was even greater than before.

In the past, he could rely on the Nine Symbols of Heaven and Earth, but now, perhaps he could only hope for this Blue Ox wooden sculpture.

Li Che found a spot and sat down in a cross-legged position.

He was not the least bit hesitant, with such a vast amount of divine energy...

Taking a deep breath, it felt as if tangible divine energy was surging into his nostrils.

Three hundred Upper Divine Crystals of the Three Pure Ones—what a grand gesture!

No wonder, coming from the Eternal Laojun, it was truly generous!

Li Che raised his hand and touched his third eye.

The Seven Apertures Jade Heart was currently inside the Arm-Through-Heaven Armor, helping the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff convert the Heaven-reaching Origin.

Therefore, Li Che planned to directly absorb all this divine energy into the Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon he had just formed in the Fire of the Earth Veins!

Li Che's eyes brightened slightly. The transformation from Mystic Gate Immortal Seed to Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon was a significant leap, requiring a tremendous amount of energy.

Now...

It was the perfect time for a boost!

Absorption!

Li Che seemed to transform into a vortex, crazily absorbing the divine energy around him. Instantly, the divine energy from the shattered three hundred Divine Crystals coalesced into three hundred streams, like dragons winding and writhing.

One divine energy dragon was absorbed into the Mystic Gate acupoint, and it vanished like a drop of mud in the sea, continuing the absorption!

Li Che was not averse to absorbing divine energy because, after being refined, the absorbed divine energy would transform into a form compatible with his body. When he reversed back to a Martial Immortal, this divine energy would also convert into life energy!

Thus, the cultivation of divine energy could even assist Li Che in his cultivation as a Martial Immortal!

So, Li Che was not the least bit hesitant!

Absorb, crazily absorb!

One divine energy dragon after another was devoured by Li Che!

Ten, twenty, thirty...

Li Che was like a bottomless pit, absorbing madly!

Soon, he reached one hundred!

Li Che took a deep breath. The Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon was quickly filled. After absorbing one hundred divine energy dragons, he needed to rest for a while to allow for refinement.

However, Li Che did not stop. He had another Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon!

It was the one opened by the Nine Symbols of Heaven and Earth blade.

Such a rare opportunity—how could Li Che let it pass!

Absorb!

Li Che did not rush to refine the divine energy, focusing first on absorbing the divine energy streams.

Another one hundred dragons were absorbed by the Mystic Gate acupoint, and Li Che finally felt a sense of fullness.

At the same time.

Li Che's black hair fluttered, and his eyes opened, gazing into the distance where the fire sea was parted.

A sharp, cicada-like sound echoed, as if a demon-slaying blade had cleaved through the fire sea.

A figure emerged, palms clasped, wearing a monk's robe that fluttered in the wind.

As soon as he stepped out, his gaze quickly fell on Li Che.

Emperor Shaojia was taken aback. He couldn't have imagined that Li Che would be the first to appear here.

He had thought it might be Fushao Xi, or perhaps Xuan Yuan Hao from the Ancient Village of the Two Sages or the Ancient Village of the Emperor Hong.

But he never thought it would be the Immortal Hand from the Dark Heavenly Court.

"How... did he do it?"

The cultivation of the Immortal Hand from Canglan Village was not particularly strong; logically, he shouldn't have appeared here so quickly.

Li Che's gaze also met him, and Emperor Shaojia quickly regained his composure. The golden cicada patterns slowly faded from his face.

He nodded to Li Che, then his gaze fell on the Blue Ox wooden sculpture and the divine energy-constructed leaderboard beside it.

He stared at the name "Cang Che" for a long time.

After greeting the Blue Ox, the Blue Ox carved Emperor Shaojia's name onto the leaderboard.

"Black Mustachioed Emperor Shaojia, first round Fire of the Earth Veins test, second place, score seventy-one."

Seventy-one, significantly lower than the first place!

Emperor Shaojia's eyes seemed to radiate a Buddha light as he looked at the name above his, softly chanting a calming Buddha verse.

As an emperor, being outdone by an ordinary Immortal Hand was a rare occurrence.

However, Emperor Shaojia did not react. He found a spot and sat down cross-legged, beginning to absorb divine energy for cultivation.

"Divine energy from one hundred shattered Divine Crystals?"

"The Eternal Laojun is indeed quite generous."

Emperor Shaojia sensed the divine energy and sighed.

One hundred Upper Divine Crystals of the Three Pure Ones was a grand gesture, but it didn't surprise Emperor Shaojia too much.

It was less than two hundred, so the Eternal Laojun... was generous, but not overly so.

Emperor Shaojia silently criticized, then sat down, not wasting any time after the Fire of the Earth Veins had refined his body.

Li Che stopped absorbing divine energy and began to slowly refine it.

Time passed gradually.

More and more Immortal Hands gathered around the Blue Ox wooden sculpture.

Fushao Xi, Xuan Yuan Hao, Dongyang, Basha, Jin Miro, and others broke through the Fire of the Earth Veins, finding the location of the Blue Ox wooden sculpture.

Of course, almost everyone's gaze lingered on Li Che for a moment, seemingly surprised that the Immortal Hand from Canglan Village had appeared so quickly.

However, only the top few were still focused on Li Che. Most of the Immortal Hands who found the Blue Ox after them were already exhausted, nearly on the brink of death from the Fire of the Earth Veins.

They had no energy to pay attention to Li Che.

But Li Che's position at the top of the leaderboard still stirred many, making them believe that Li Che must have had some hidden cards or backup prepared by Emperor Ji Shaohao!

Li Che, of course, did not care what the other cultivators thought, focusing entirely on refining the divine energy.

The divinity of two hundred Upper Trinity divine crystals...

He absorbed them all into the two Mystic Gate Immortal Weapon orifices, nearly bursting them.

Of course, this was also because the Seven Apertures Jade Heart wasn’t present. Li Che had placed it in Ink City Fengdu. Otherwise, with the assistance of the Seven Apertures Jade Heart, the refinement speed would have been much faster.

Despite this, Li Che still utilized the power of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit to aid in the refinement.

Surprisingly, this assistance in refinement also managed to enhance the maturity of the Pure Heart Dao Fruit!

It truly was an unexpected bonus.

Afterward, the Blue Ox wood carving remained largely inactive, with only its eyes quietly observing the continuous appearance of the Divine Carvers.

When the last Divine Carver in the Fire of the Earth Veins failed to withstand the power and was incinerated into nothingness, a beam of firelight sent them out of the Fire of the Earth Veins array.

The first round of the trial thus came to a complete end.

Sssss—

The void distorted, the air warped by the intense heat.

A total of 153 Divine Carvers passed through the Fire of the Earth Veins!

The divinity from the 100 shattered divine crystals, supplied to over a hundred Divine Carvers, indeed seemed somewhat strained.

However, many of the Divine Carvers praised the generosity of Eternal Laojun.

Li Che remained silent. If others knew that Eternal Laojun had initially prepared 300 divine crystals for everyone, and he alone had absorbed 200 of them...

There would likely be an uproar, and he might be beaten to death!

Rumble—

After the first round ended, the Divine Carvers were given about half a day to rest before the second round began.

The Fire of the Earth Veins slowly retreated, and the square, previously obscured by the blazing golden fire, reappeared before everyone’s eyes.

The numerous cultivators waiting on the bronze city walls immediately brightened their gazes, casting their eyes and senses.

Those who had been eliminated and the cultivators who had accompanied them, such as Ji Shaohao, also looked on.

Their gazes swept over, finally converging on the leaderboard.

Ji Shaohao clenched his fists, having not really expected much from Li Che, thinking it would be quite an achievement if he managed to place in the top twenty.

Li Che’s survival alone already made Ji Shaohao feel quite pleased.

Although he had encouraged Li Che, getting into the top three was simply too difficult.

However, when the blazing golden Fire of the Earth Veins retreated, revealing the results, it gave Ji Shaohao a genuine shock and surprise!

“First place?!”

“What?!”

Ji Shaohao was a bit dazed; this was completely beyond his imagination.

Were Shaojia and Fushao Xi, the two young emperors, that weak?

Cang Che’s cultivation was so weak, yet he managed to surpass these two?

While Ji Shaohao felt joy, a hint of doubt creased his brow.

Those who could become young emperors were all astute. Seeing the calm and composed Cang Che, he had his suspicions.

However, at this moment, Cang Che had become the only Divine Carver in the Dark Heavenly Court camp to place in the top ten.

The other Divine Carvers, at best, placed in the eighties, earning a score of only five points.

All Divine Carvers outside the top ten scored only five points.

Thus, Ji Shaohao could only place his hopes on Li Che, as the other Divine Carvers were truly useless.

Regardless of the secrets Cang Che might be hiding.

As long as he could secure a place in the subsequent array of Divine Carvers and obtain the Heaven-reaching Divine Pill, Ji Shaohao didn’t care!

He could even forgive!

Ji Shaohao folded his hands behind his back, his white robes fluttering, his eyes gleaming.

As for any ulterior motives Cang Che might have...

Ji Shaohao didn’t think a mere Fusion Realm Divine Being could cause any significant trouble in the Grand Sky Palace City, overseen by one Heaven Immortal, three Earth Immortals, and five Rebirth Heaven Kings.

Could a Fusion Realm Divine Being really cause a commotion in such a fortified city?

Ji Shaohao didn’t believe it.

The surrounding commotion continued.

Gazes converged on Ji Shaohao, clearly suggesting that Li Che’s first-place win had something to do with this young emperor of the Dark Heavenly Court.

Perhaps he had already known the content of the first round and had specially trained Li Che.

Buzz—

Golden wings suddenly unfolded, and countless air currents shot out like sharp sword qi.

The Golden Crane King floated above the Blue Ox wood carving, slowly lowering his wings.

A powerful Heavenly King’s aura spread and swept through the area.

“Silence!”

His cold voice rippled out, silencing every cultivator.

No one dared to murmur, fearing the wrath of the Rebirth Heaven King.

“The results of the first round are out. The second round is about to begin.”

The Golden Crane King said indifferently.

The loss of the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff had left him feeling somewhat despondent.

His sour expression suggested he would strike anyone who dared to provoke him, and the confident demeanor he had during the banquet had completely vanished.

The many Divine Carvers who had been sitting in meditation to refine the divinity opened their eyes one by one.

Li Che also finished refining, exhaled, and looked at the Golden Crane King.

“The rules for the second round are not complicated. I can tell you in advance that these rules were not set by Eternal Laojun.”

“Instead, Eternal Laojun specially visited the Mysterious Demon Den and invited the Nüwa Empress to set these rules.”

The Golden Crane King said coldly.

Nüwa Empress?!

As Divine Carvers, there was one existence they could not ignore: the Nüwa Empress of the Mysterious Demon Den.

Reputed to be the most powerful Divine Carver in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and even more, an existence above the rank of Divine Carver!

She was known as the Ancestral Divine Carver!

A true master at the pinnacle of divine carving, much like how Eternal Laojun was the Ancestral Alchemist.

“The rules for the second round… are actually quite simple.”

“Everyone, this Blue Ox wood carving was carved by the Nüwa Empress. You have all seen it.”

“And the rule set by the Nüwa Empress is very simple.”

"Everyone, observe the Blue Ox Heavenly King's wooden carving, and then carve... the Nüwa Empress!"

The Golden Crane King's expression also grew more solemn, his tone carrying a hint of reverence for the Nüwa Empress.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire square erupted into a commotion. Over a hundred divine carvers all wore looks of shock and uncertainty.

"Carve the Nüwa Empress?"

"That's not... how can one carve the Nüwa Empress by just looking at a cow?!"

"Is the Nüwa Empress hidden in the Blue Ox wooden carving?"

...

The rule seemed somewhat cryptic, leaving the divine carvers puzzled and bewildered.

Li Che's face also showed a hint of confusion.

"Observe the Blue Ox to carve the Nüwa Empress?"

This Nüwa Empress is quite mischievous!

However, Li Che's heart couldn't help but race, and he felt a surge of excitement.

The Blue Ox wooden carving is indeed carved by the Nüwa Empress. If so, observing the Blue Ox might bring him unexpected gains.

At the very least, it could help mature his Immortal Craftsmanship Dao Fruit!

The Nüwa Empress, the Ancestral Divine Carver, should not disappoint the Immortal Craftsmanship Dao Fruit.

"Now, everyone can start preparing. The divine wood will be the same for everyone. There is no time limit for carving. Once completed, the Blue Ox wooden carving will give a score. The eighty-one divine carvers will be ranked based on the scores from both rounds."

The Golden Crane King said.

As he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve. Sword energy, like scattered petals, whistled out, slicing through the void. The void split open, and blocks of blue divine wood fell from the cracks.

Under the guidance of the sword energy, the blocks of wood landed in front of each divine carver.

A block of blue divine wood also floated in front of Li Che.

"This is... the Second Sage Lower Divine Wood!"

Li Che took a deep breath.

The Star Plucking Eye at his brow glowed, identifying the rank of the divine wood.

Handling such divine wood was no easy task.

Without sufficient cultivation, one couldn't even cut the divine wood, let alone carve it!

Thus, the hidden test was actually an evaluation of cultivation!

He spread his fingers and pressed them onto the precious Second Sage Lower Divine Wood.

Thud.

The block of divine wood was slammed onto the ground.

Around him, similar thuds echoed as other divine carvers dropped their blocks of wood. However, their brows were furrowed, their minds in turmoil.

For the task set by the Nüwa Empress, they were all at a loss.

Of course, one could choose to carve randomly, but could they really carve the image of the Nüwa Empress?

Most of the divine carvers present... had likely never seen the Nüwa Empress.

Even the divine carvers from the Mysterious Demon Den didn't have the opportunity to see her. Only Fushao Xi, as the young emperor of the Mysterious Demon Den, had seen her frequently.

But...

Even if he had seen her often and knew her appearance, he couldn't just carve her randomly.

Who knew what the Nüwa Empress looked like in the Blue Ox wooden carving!

Difficult!

The second round was much more challenging than the first.

Although the rules were simple, they thoroughly tested one's insight and skill.

Observe the Blue Ox!

Shaojia clasped his hands together and chanted a mantra loudly. Then, he sat cross-legged, his eyes glowing with golden patterns as he stared intently at the lifelike, vibrant Blue Ox statue.

Fushao Xi also squinted, his body radiating demonic energy as he fixed his gaze on the Blue Ox.

The entire square fell silent. The cultivators on the bronze city walls, who could observe this second round, held their breath, afraid to speak loudly.

Ji Shaohao clenched his fingers, his white robes fluttering. He appeared calm, but his heart was turbulent.

...

...

At this moment.

Deep within the Heavenly Palace City.

Three figures sat cross-legged, their backs glowing with a seven-colored halo. Their eyes were deep, as if containing a world within.

In the center of the three immortals, Eternal Laojun slowly materialized.

He was an old man with white hair and a white beard, his eyes slitted like crescent moons, his face rosy, and the seven-colored halo behind him continuously rotating.

"The Nüwa Empress's test... is indeed quite challenging."

"These divine carvers will find it difficult to succeed."

One of the immortals smiled and said, "To carve a complete image of the Nüwa Empress, no one should be able to do it."

"Shaojia might not succeed either..."

"Difficult."

"The Nüwa Empress's image is not the main focus. The key is to decipher the Blue Ox wooden carving. The Nüwa Empress must have used the power of the Cosmic Will..."

"Breaking down the ancient symbols into divine engravings, integrating them into the Blue Ox wooden carving... extracting them is like unraveling a cocoon, very difficult."

Another immortal said.

Eternal Laojun opened his eyes, his gaze like a crescent moon.

"The Nüwa Empress knows that the old Taoist's goal is to refine the Heaven-reaching Demon Monkey. That demon monkey... does not belong to this world. To refine it, I must rely on the power of the ancient symbols."

"The alchemy array setup must also rely on the power of the ancient symbols..."

"Therefore, the Nüwa Empress's test in this round is to screen for sensitivity to the ancient symbols of the Cosmic Will."

"The more sensitive one is to the ancient symbols, the higher their ranking will be, and they will be better suited to activate the divine alchemy array and refine the demon monkey."

"The Nüwa Empress is as considerate as ever, truly touching."

Mentioning the Nüwa Empress, Eternal Laojun smiled warmly.

The other three immortals also echoed his sentiments.

...

...

Li Che sat cross-legged, his fingers pressing onto the Second Sage Lower Divine Wood. His black hair fluttered in the breeze.

His gaze was fixed on the Blue Ox wooden carving.

"Your Majesty, may I approach and touch the wooden carving?"

Just as Li Che was pondering, Shaojia's eyes, glowing with golden patterns, flickered. He asked.

The sharp gaze of the Golden Crane King swept over, seeming somewhat peculiar.

"You may."

"If you can reach it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shaojia stood up, first clasping his hands together and bowing to the Blue Ox wooden carving.

Then, he took steps in his spotless monk's sandals, slowly approaching the Blue Ox wooden carving.

Seeing this, Li Che exhaled slowly.

In his chest, the Immortal Craftsmanship Dao Fruit was wildly bouncing.

Li Che's eyes shone brightly.

This ox... can actually be touched?!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end