As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 1614: 426: Replacing Father as the Pillar of the Family, Incinerating the Five Regions' Corrupt King Yan, Ascending as Ghost Emperor [Monthly Ticket]...
Previously on As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life...
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Soul by soul, they started to take solid form bit by bit, descending gently toward the earth while dark vapors swirled endlessly around them.
All the youngsters' spirits emerging from the Human Head Toad Pill had been perfectly ensnared by the soul capturing method.
With the Immaculate Heart Taoist Fruit advancing to level 6 rank, the soul capturing's reach grew far less limited, allowing even regular kids without any cultivation to be drawn in without fail.
The young souls snagged by the soul capturing technique dashed about Mo City in delight.
It felt like they were rediscovering the thrill of commanding their own forms, filled with joy, thrill, wonder, and emotion.
Li Che softly lifted off the Underworld Yama’s mask, a soft look blooming in his gaze.
Gathering these kids' souls posed no challenge at all for Li Che, since they were so frail—absolute weaklings who couldn't even bind a fowl.
Gu Changqing rose to his feet, gazing respectfully at the playful youngsters, a hint of remorse flickering in his eyes.
As leader of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect, he often felt helpless against countless events, powerless to stop them despite his desires.
Truth be told, the tragedies these children endured were closely linked to his own actions.
“This sight... I've witnessed it in the past.”
“Plenty of kids perished in Fei Lei City too. It's just unfortunate... back then, I lacked the power to call them back.”
Li Che’s black robe, adorned with an embroidered golden lotus, billowed fiercely, his gaze profound as memories flooded in.
Back then, Fei Lei City fell under the plague of the Spirit Infant Sect, a branch of the Corpse God Cult, leading to utter devastation.
Without the Dao Fruit awakened by his daughter's birth, he couldn't have safeguarded her, let alone kept her safe until Li Qingshan, the welcoming figure, arrived—that would have been a distant dream.
A quiet sigh escaped him as a gust swept through, bearing Mo City's chill drizzle.
The children frolicked gleefully amid the downpour, and soon enough, the wails of lost spirits and their longing for kin faded away.
They dove into splashing puddles with glee, racing alongside friends down the narrow lanes.
All at once, a notion struck Li Che, and he turned to Gu Changqing.
“The Heavenly Pill Divine Sect's deeds here... they echo the Spirit Infant Sect's ways a bit. Is your Heavenly Pill Divine Sect tied to the Corpse God Cult?”
Li Che asked.
“Corpse God Cult...”
Gu Changqing's features turned grave in an instant.
He denied it with a shake of his head, “Lord, during my time managing the sect, I've ensured no ties exist between our alchemists and the Corpse God Cult...”
“The Yin Xuan Ancestor surely wouldn't, though the Yang Xuan Ancestor... that's unclear.”
After some reflection, Gu Changqing declared with assurance.
He openly admitted the Yang Xuan Ancestor could well have links to the Corpse God Cult, given that the Human Head Toad Pill—this wicked brew from the Heavenly Pill line—had never been crafted by the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect until then.
The Yangxuan Grandmaster had pioneered its creation.
“The formula for this Human Head Toad Pill does carry echoes of the Corpse God Cult's methods...”
“Corpse God Cult—it's been ages since I last monitored them closely...”
Li Che narrowed his eyes.
Upon leaving Fei Lei City, Li Che carried two heavy weights in his thoughts: one was Ji Moli, the other a crushing force pushing him to power up, the looming threat of the Corpse God Cult!
For Li Che now, clashing directly with the Corpse God Cult held no terror, yet wiping them out entirely remained a tough feat.
This stemmed from Li Che's uncertainty about the Corpse God Cult's true depths of strength.
In a flash of intent, Li Che conjured homes across Mo City for every lively child scampering about, granting them homes in the city.
“Lord, these kids are sharp and full of spirit—could I pick a few to train as my disciples?”
Noting Li Che's look, Gu Changqing ventured to suggest, eager to ease his lord's concerns!
Li Che eyed Gu Changqing briefly, then chuckled and consented.
Next, Temple Gods were called forth one by one, allowing them, just like Gu Changqing, to select certain child souls as disciples to nurture, even if soul capturing's growth came through consumption—instilling loyalty in these followers proved highly beneficial.
The Underworld Fengdu felt far too desolate.
More held souls would bring some vibrancy to it.
Once everything was arranged, as the capturers guided their new charges away, a ripple stirred deep in Li Che's spirit.
His fingers curled tight, and in a blink, his form dissolved from Mo City.
…
…
Thick snowflakes, feather-light, danced and tumbled ceaselessly from the heavens.
Xi Xi perched cross-legged amid the drifts, her form radiating fierce heat, akin to a glowing forge iron.
Snow that brushed her melted straight to liquid on contact.
Jin Taixui, Yun E, and Zhou Peng positioned themselves alertly at three points, steadfastly shielding Xi Xi.
They hadn't anticipated Xi Xi's return sparking an instant dive into cultivation, her qi-blood roiling and divine power pulsing wildly—it looked like a breakthrough loomed.
This stunned and stirred envy in the trio...
Jin Taixui especially sensed how he'd barely trailed Xi Xi once, yet now the divide between them had stretched into a vast chasm.
Words failed Jin Taixui; all he could do was push himself harder to advance, narrowing that growing rift with Xi Xi.
His gaze keen as a blade, Jin Taixui vigilantly watched over Xi Xi, fulfilling his role as her guardian.