Chapter 99: Can You Take a Shot for Me, Barrett? Cold Arrow, Horse-Faced Killer, Appears to Kill Div

Chapter 99: Can You Take a Shot for Me, Barrett? Cold Arrow, Horse-Faced Killer, Appears to Kill Divine Foundation

The sun shone brightly, dispelling the early spring chill. On the street, the willows swayed, and the cotton-like willow catkins floated in the air.

Li Che wore a black martial arts outfit, looking very energetic. His well-built body, honed through martial arts training, filled out his clothing, making him appear upright and robust, standing out among the crowd.

He stopped in his tracks and looked towards three people approaching from a distance.

The big-headed Lu Chi, with his Naozi braid, was someone Li Che was very familiar with. However, the two figures beside Lu Chi made him slightly puzzled.

Dressed in official uniforms, they wore waist badges with the distinctive symbol of the Temple Enforcement Command hanging at their waists. The badges were carved with the pattern of a small temple, making them easily recognizable.

Li Che's first thought was that he might have been reported by this little yellow-haired Lu Chi.

But soon, he dismissed this idea.

There was no need for Lu Chi to report him, as Li Che had always been gentle and accommodating towards him.

Quietly waiting, the three of them soon approached.

"Uncle Li," Lu Chi's brain jolted as he recognized Li Che, and he hurriedly called out.

Li Che smiled warmly.

He then turned to the other two and said, "These two..."

"Uncle Li, they are from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau!" Lu Chi immediately provided an answer, not keeping him in suspense.

Li Che was taken aback. The Heaven-Enraged Bureau?

In the Great Jing Dynasty, the Temple Enforcement Command, the Heaven-Enraged Bureau, and the Divine Sects were the three colossal entities, with the first two belonging to the imperial court and the latter to the sect power.

The Temple Enforcement Command dealt with the enigmatic temples, serving as the combat force. They were responsible for tasks like demolishing temples, suppressing the enigmatic, and eliminating evil spirits, among other dirty and tiring jobs.

Within the imperial court, the Heaven-Enraged Bureau was akin to a logistics force. They produced elixirs, divine carvings, divine armaments, and more, earning them a fortune.

The "Great Jing Celestial Wrath Blood Dragon Pill" that Li Che consumed when he broke through his Profound Meridian was also produced by the Heaven-Enraged Bureau.

"The teacher asked me to recommend you to the Heaven-Enraged Bureau after returning to the Capital City. This recommendation is extremely valuable."

Lu Chi nodded his big head and hurriedly explained.

The two men in official uniforms smiled at Li Che, "Senior Green Mountain recommended you to join the Heaven-Enraged Bureau, and we are here to contact you."

Li Che clasped his fists, and the two men returned the gesture.

"I was just about to go to the Fragrant Pavilion. Why don't we go there and chat while enjoying some food?"

Assured that they had no ill intentions, Li Che became even more gentle and accommodating, treating them with kindness and inviting them with a smile.

Lu Chi wasn't interested in food; given the choice between twisting cars and delicious food, he unhesitatingly chose Xixi.

Li Che and the three from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau arrived at the Fragrant Pavilion.

The most prosperous restaurant in the Outer City of the Capital City, it was beloved by the wealthy of the Outer City. The main attraction was the chef's culinary skills, as the dishes were not only delicious but also visually appealing.

Li Che, with his substantial wealth, was not stingy and ordered a table of fine wine and food.

Although the prices in the Capital City were high, it was nothing compared to the piles of gold and silver ingots in his Universe Space.

"Master Li, you're too kind," the three of them said as they sat in the private room. A cool female musician played the zither, and the zither music filled the air.

"I am Liu He from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau of the Golden Light Prefecture, and this is my colleague, Hai Chuan Ying. We are both Third Rank Guest Scholars of the Heaven-Enraged Bureau."

"Guest Scholars?" Li Che asked, puzzled.

Sensing Li Che's confusion, the talkative Liu He smiled and explained, "Guest Scholars need to pass an examination to join the Heaven-Enraged Bureau. They enjoy the benefits of being Heaven-Enraged Bureau officials but are not considered actual officials, as they don't hold official ranks."

Li Che understood; this was similar to the distinction between contract workers and temporary workers in the civil service.

"Senior Green Mountain is ranked eighth in the Divine Foundation rankings of Cloud State. Naturally, we value him highly, so we personally came to contact Master Li."

"We have gathered Master Li's information over the past three years. In just three years, he went from being a woodcarving apprentice at Xu Family Woodcarving Shop in Thunder City to becoming a woodcarving master, capable of carving divine wood carvings. His talent is truly exceptional."

"Senior Green Mountain's recommendation is reasonable."

Liu He clinked glasses with Li Che and drank the fine wine. However, after taking a sip, he frowned slightly.

"The wine in the Outer City is indeed inferior. Although the Fragrant Pavilion is the best restaurant in the Outer City, the wine here is just average."

"Master Li, when you have the opportunity to enter the Inner City, I'll treat you to the divine wine of the Cloud Fragrant Boat."

"When a beauty pours the wine, and the divine wine warms you, your entire body's divine essence will revive. That feeling..." Liu He couldn't help but praise.

A man named Hai Chuan Ying, standing beside them, spoke indifferently, "Master Li hasn't even joined the Heaven-Enraged Bureau as a Guest Scholar, and you're already thinking about taking him to the brothel for a song?"

"Hahaha, with Senior Green Mountain's recommendation, he'll surely pass the Guest Scholar examination. It's just a matter of time."

"After all, the recommendation is so valuable; Senior Green Mountain won't waste it."

Liu He smiled.

Li Che invited them to eat and drink while gradually inquiring about the situation.

"Senior Green Mountain's recommendation only gives you the qualification to take the examination. Whether you can truly become a Guest Scholar of the Heaven-Enraged Bureau depends on Master Li's abilities."

Liu He explained, "Although we Guest Scholars are not actual officials of the Heaven-Enraged Bureau, the benefits we enjoy are not bad. Most importantly, we can use the influence of the Heaven-Enraged Bureau for protection, which is crucial for someone like Master Li who comes from the Outer City."

"The matter in Thunder City has already reached the Capital City. Mayor Cao Guang sacrificed the entire city to promote the Enigmatic Temple, but the plan failed due to Senior Green Mountain's presence, resulting in the deaths of Cao Guang and his son, Cao Qingyuan..."

Liu He took a sip of wine and narrowed his eyes.

"Cao Guang's death doesn't matter, but... Cao Qingyuan's death is not good news for Master Li."

"Cao Qingyuan's mother is Qin Yuqing from the Qin Family..."

Although Li Che already knew this, he still showed a look of astonishment, "What does Cao Qingyuan's death have to do with us?"

Liu He glanced at Hai Chuan Ying and said, "Brother Hai, why don't you explain it?"

Hai Chuan Ying chuckled, "You're still afraid."

"This Qin Yuqing is the third daughter of the Qin Family's head and a core disciple of the Golden Crack Sect. On the surface, she appears gentle and welcoming, but in reality, she has an extremely vicious heart. She enjoys secretly killing and torturing people and is known as the Jade-faced Poisonous Fiend..."

"Perhaps it's due to the influence of the Divine Foundation she cultivates, the Penal Hell Wrath Ghost King..."

"But her viciousness is well-known. She is also the Qin Family's secret weapon for handling matters. With her son's death in Thunder City, she will surely take her anger out on those who come from there."

Hai Chuan Ying introduced with a smile.

"This might also be the reason why Senior Green Mountain recommended Master Li..."

Upon hearing this, Li Che fell silent.

"I and my daughter came for the Divine Sect's branch examination. Would she dare to harm us?"

Li Che frowned.

Hai Chuan Ying laughed and looked at Li Che strangely, "You haven't even taken the examination or joined the Divine Sect yet."

"I can't even write a single stroke of the character 'eight'..."

"As for rules, these people have mastered them well."

"Although the Divine Sect is powerful, the five great clans and five great sects in the capital city have been deeply rooted here for hundreds of years. They are like local tyrants."

Li Che understood.

The two of them chatted more about the specifics and situation of the Heaven-Enraged Bureau's Guest Scholar assessment.

After a satisfying meal and drink, Li Che bid farewell to Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying.

...

...

He ordered a table of food and wine from the Fragrant Pavilion and had it delivered to his residence on Flower Listening Lane.

Li Che then went to another courtyard in Golden Light City.

The courtyard was filled with stacked wood, emitting a rich woody fragrance.

Sitting on a wooden chair, Li Che's fingertips glowed, tearing through the air. He clenched his fist and retrieved a large item.

It was the 'Namu Divine Art Barrett' that Li Che had researched and crafted.

Made from seventh-rank spirit wood Dragon Tooth Yellow Cypress, it took several carving knives to shape.

The Dragon Tooth Yellow Cypress was incredibly slender, resembling dragon teeth. It was more aesthetically pleasing than any craftwork.

The Dragon Tooth Bodhi, which was the bullet, was crafted by Li Che using seventh-rank spirit wood, Bodhi Blood Tears, and the craftsmanship of the Spirit Wood Raven. It was a laborious process, and he poured his heart and soul into making just one bullet.

Even with just one bullet, it consumed a great deal of Li Che's energy.

If it weren't for the emergence of his divine consciousness after breaking through to the Divine Foundation, he wouldn't have had much confidence in such delicate work.

Li Che understood that although he had the assistance of Thousand Analyze Hand, the importance of divine consciousness was not to be underestimated.

Patiently polishing the smooth gun barrel of the Dragon Tooth Yellow Cypress, Li Che remained silent, his eyes dark and gloomy.

After a long while, he sighed.

"In this life, I walk on thin ice..."

"But this world is too dangerous."

"I want to watch my daughter grow up peacefully, but there are always people who won't let me... They want to shatter the ice beneath my feet and plunge me into an icy pit..."

Li Che looked up, feeling the spring breeze on his face, but it was bone-chilling.

It was the same in Thunder City and the capital city...

Without a powerful background, it was too difficult to survive in this world.

Like today, if it weren't for Li Qing Shan's face, those two Third Rank Guest Scholars from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau probably wouldn't have given him a second glance.

"In the end... I'm still not strong enough..."

Li Che stood up, clenching his fist around the Dragon Tooth Yellow Cypress gun barrel. With his other hand, he picked up the other components and slowly assembled them together.

The sound of metal rubbing against metal echoed like the most beautiful melody in the world.

Click, clack, clack...

Once fully assembled, Li Che held it up with both hands.

He didn't make a scope because he didn't need one...

If he did make a scope, it would be like looking down on the 'High Virtue Chess Sage'.

"The Qin family... Qin Yuqing?"

Li Che's Niwan acupoint vibrated, and his divine consciousness surged out. The gun body made from Dragon Tooth Yellow Cypress was instantly activated, glowing with patterns, and divine essence slowly flowed into it.

A terrifying and dangerous aura emanated from the mechanism.

The wind howled, and the air currents surged! Wood shavings flew wildly in the small courtyard.

"Qin Yuqing... the core true transmission of the Golden Crack Sect?"

"I wonder... can she withstand a 'Dragon Tooth Bodhi' bullet?"

"But I... only have one bullet."

Li Che exhaled and continued to focus on polishing the Dragon Tooth Bodhi, ensuring perfection and preventing any accidents during his first sniping attempt.

He aimed for a perfect shot to the soul.

"You, Qin Yuqing, are cruel and venomous, a Jade-faced Poisonous Fiend. But I, Li Che, will only face you with my passion... and snuff you out with my sniper skills."

In the small courtyard.

Li Che inhaled and exhaled, his vital energy roaring.

Being targeted by a venomous woman like this, he couldn't find peace.

Especially Xi Xi, who was so cute and small. If she fell into the hands of that venomous woman and suffered inhuman torture, Li Che, as her father, didn't dare to imagine it. Just the thought twisted his insides, causing him immense pain.

"I have to... snuff her out."

...

...

"I need to accelerate my cultivation... I'm still too weak. I'll strive to cultivate the Divine Meridian soon. Senior Green Mountain mentioned that there's a secret formula for a pill within the Divine Sect, but I can't obtain it until I join. I'll have to check if the Heaven-Enraged Bureau has any good pills."

"Also, I should prepare for the Guest Scholar assessment at the Heaven-Enraged Bureau."

"Senior Green Mountain must have anticipated the unrest in the capital city, so he gave me this recommendation."

"I can't let down his expectations. This tiger skin from the Heaven-Enraged Bureau is indeed impressive."

In the small courtyard, Li Che formulated his cultivation plan for the coming days.

The moon climbed up the dome of the sky.

Only then did Li Che finish his cultivation in the small courtyard.

His surging vital energy was like a blooming Hell Lotus, slowly coiling and retracting into his body.

Li Che opened his eyes, and a flash of lightning seemed to flicker in the dark courtyard.

After reaching the Profound Meridian, the speed of his Vital Energy Martial Dao cultivation hadn't decreased much. Mainly, after his Lion Elephant Vajra reached LV3, his horizontal cultivation talent had greatly improved.

"Additionally, the Yang Family's 'Heart-Shaking Vajra' and the Xu Family's 'Suspensive Thought Stream Sword' divine essences have accelerated in refinement due to the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit reaching LV2. Now, they've completed the refinement of their divine chess pieces and have reached the level of 'Spirit Like River'. Zhou Ruoguan's 'Delightful Confusion God' has also barely reached the 'Spirit Like River' level, as Zhou Ruoguan's strength is not high."

"Currently, I have four divine essences at the 'Spirit Like River' level, and one divine essence has condensed a Divine Foundation."

"There's still much room for improvement in the path of divine essence. Once I've sufficiently nurtured them, I'll start condensing the other two Divine Foundations..."

Li Che's eyes opened and closed, and divine light intertwined.

Within his Niwan acupoint, he separated the 'Pure Heart' divine essence into five regions, nurturing five types of divine essences.

Joy, anger, thought, sorrow, and shock—these five divine essences were stored in the Niwan.

He still lacked the divine essences of worry and fear.

He should have obtained them in Thunder City, but the An Family had fled, and Zhang Xiangyang had also escaped in the chaos.

However, it wasn't a big problem. The chances of obtaining these two divine essence techniques in the capital city were much higher.

With more attention, he would surely find them.

"My cultivation talent in the path of divine essence secret techniques is indeed inferior to my horizontal cultivation talent."

"It was only after obtaining the 'Wrathful Vajra King Killing Eye' from the Strange Shrine that I barely entered the door. As for the divine martial art 'Wrathful Vajra King Three Blade Saber', I've already achieved minor success. This is because I haven't practiced it much."

"As for the Python Dragon Cannon and Cloud Soaring Eagle Leap, I've already reached major success...

"Divine martial arts are indeed more suitable for me."

After summarizing his cultivation, Li Che stretched lazily, his entire body feeling like a firecracker going off.

He tidied up a bit and, before leaving, snapped his fingers. A white 'Pure Heart' divine chess piece floated into the courtyard.

This was the coordinate anchor of the Thunder Chess Sage, and he habitually left one for emergency escapes.

After completing all this, Li Che finally restrained his vital energy and leisurely walked home.

He planned to guide his wife, Xi Xi, in her new muscle-opening posture.

...

...

The next day, dawn broke.

The sky was overcast, with thick, dark clouds piled high above the firmament.

Thunder rumbled, occasionally flashing with lightning.

A spring rain brought warmth, and with a few more showers, the earth would awaken.

But the early spring rain was still bone-chilling.

Zhang Ya, who had been guided by Li Che all night on the new version of the muscle-opening posture, lay lazily on the bed like a soft white snake, too exhausted to get up.

With the surname Zhang, she was ultimately arrogant...

Daring to let Li Che use a little force, his fleshly body's terrifying refinement was beyond words.

Li Che woke up feeling refreshed and guided Xi Xi's daily martial arts training.

He then planned to go to the Celestial Observation Bureau to inquire about the details of tomorrow's assessment.

Yesterday, Liu He and Hai Chuan Ying had merely informed him of his eligibility for the assessment, and naturally, they wouldn't elaborate further.

The sky was overcast, and the light rain fell like cow hair.

Li Che wore a clean and tidy black tight-fitting outfit, holding an oil-paper umbrella as the spring rain splashed on its surface, and raindrops clung to it.

The willow branches swayed in the wind, and spring was in full bloom.

Li Che left Flower Listening Lane and stepped onto the wide and spacious bluestone street of the capital city.

Suddenly, he paused, and in his chest, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit slightly trembled, sensing someone spying on him.

Li Che's expression remained calm, and he continued walking with the umbrella in the rain.

But his mind stirred slightly.

The Heaven and Earth Chessboard suddenly unfolded...

Half of the Golden Light Prefecture City abruptly shrunk in his perception, appearing in his mind as his divine essence was gradually consumed.

The chessboard crisscrossed, and the streets and alleys were vividly outlined.

The spying presence was also clearly visible on the chessboard, leaving no place to hide.

After reaching the LV2 level, the Chess Sage's Dao Fruit became increasingly sensitive, even allowing him to perceive various colors based on the hostility or friendliness of others' auras.

Jet-black represented intense hostility.

Grayish-black indicated hostility, but not much.

Pure white meant no hostility.

And in his perception...

That spying presence... was grayish-black, indicating hostility, but not much.

But even a little hostility was already alarming.

Li Che had entered the capital city, always getting along with others and keeping a low profile.

Why would someone have hostility towards him without reason?

Li Che's eyes shone with a faint light, and as he zoomed in, he clearly saw the person emitting hostility.

Hidden in an alley, this person concealed their presence, revealing nothing. Behind a gray mask, their eyes stared fixedly in Li Che's direction.

"Who is it? Someone from Qin Yuqing's side?"

"Can't determine yet... But it's not a big problem."

Li Che thought to himself.

The next moment, the Sleeping Dragon Elephant of the Lion Elephant Vajra was fully activated! The spring rain pattered down.

In the alley.

The figure wearing the gray mask suddenly started, shook his head, but found that his target had disappeared...

Indeed, right under his nose!

"Where is he?"

"How did he suddenly disappear? The divine essence I locked onto him is also gone?"

What's going on? The masked figure's eyebrows furrowed.

"What should I report to the young miss?"

The figure flickered and instantly appeared on the street, but no matter how he released his spiritual sense, he couldn't perceive where Li Che had gone.

"Damn... What the hell?"

"This person is indeed suspicious!"

He was certain it wasn't his own problem, so it must be Li Che, the woodcarving master from Thunder City, who looked gentle and kind...

"I'll go back and report to the young miss..."

The figure blurred and sped off into the distance.

After he left.

He didn't know that...

Behind him, Li Che, dressed in black, took out a horse-faced mask and covered his face. His eyes shone eerily, like a messenger from the underworld piercing through the mortal realm.

Ox Demon?

No, the Ox Demon was temporarily closed.

Now, he was the Horse-Faced Demon! With the Chess Sage's presence, no one could match him in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.

Under the extreme concealment of his aura, Li Che silently followed the gray-faced figure.

When he saw the gray figure appearing before a mansion, Li Che didn't approach any closer.

His gaze shifted and landed on the mansion.

"Qin Manor."

"Hehehe..."

"I, Li Che, entered the capital city, kept a low profile, and acted gentle and kind, yet someone is still watching me... Truly a venomous woman."

"Unfortunately, I haven't seen this venomous woman's appearance..."

"If I kill this person, will the venomous woman show up?"

"After seeing her once, I'll add her to my Horse-Faced Demon's harvest list..."

Li Che thought, but his hands had already acted.

He pointed with his sword, tearing through the air.

A longbow woven with electricity fell into his hand, and a spiral wooden arrow made from spirit flower willow wood was placed on the Eight Extremes lower-grade divine armament, the Black Thunder Wrathful Dragon Bow.

His fingers clenched, and behind his head, a divine foundation suddenly rose! The Tri-Eye Wrathful Lord's Divine Foundation! The Horse-Faced Demon's mask cracked open, revealing a red eye that seemed to roll within.

Tri-Eye Wrathful Lord's Killing Eye!

A divine light shot out from the vertical eye, as if charging the entire arrow with energy!

The large muscle on his back trembled, and his spine roared like an angry dragon.

The Ox Demon was unmatched in close combat, and the Horse-Faced Demon was a long-range harvester.

The bow was pulled into a full moon!

Behind the mask, the jawline was slightly raised.

Spy on me? I'll let you spy!

His fingers loosened.

Boom—! The earth-shattering power erupted, and the wind and thunder stirred, as countless air currents blasted through, tearing apart the curtain of spring rain!

It was as if an angry dragon had its large muscle pulled, roaring in fury! The gray-masked figure about to enter Qin Manor broke out in cold sweat, and behind him, a divine foundation suddenly appeared.

"Who?!"

This person was a Divine Foundation Initial Realm cultivator! But the arrow shot out with a terrifying rank pressure and a sense of oppression that made him see a three-eyed deity with a vertical eye emitting deadly light, causing his divine essence to stagnate briefly...

Just as he turned his head, he was pierced through the brow by a terrifying yet suddenly appearing arrow.

The powerful arrow pierced through his skull.

Dragging his body along.

He was nailed to the door of Qin Manor.

Qin Manor.

After a brief stagnation.

A terrifying aura suddenly erupted!

PS: 10,000 words updated, seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and support! Old Li continues to blast updates!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end