As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 1717 - 448: The Underworld’s Master Experts—Niu 1 and Niu 2—Jumping Back and Forth Through the Rules to Feed the Dao Fruit [Seeking Monthly Ticket]...
Previously on As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life...
Echoing behind them came the successive booms of cultivators tearing through the skies.
Grasping Xi Xi's hand, Li Che glanced over his shoulder and spotted numerous silhouettes hurtling over from Five-finger Town.
With just one look, he recognized several well-known faces among the crowd.
Take, for example, Xuan Jiu Zhuan, the Sect Master of Xuanfu Divine Sect and brother-in-law to Lv Taibai!
Yet, Xuan Jiu Zhuan arrived solo, without the Grandmaster of Xuanfu Divine Sect in tow, which struck many as rather odd.
On top of that, there appeared the Sect Master of Purple Mansion Divine Sect, Zhang Wuji, along with the Purple Moon Sect Master from the Purple Bamboo Forest, and more...
As Li Che's gaze passed over the group, a faint stir rose in his chest.
One had to admit, Qi Tian City's activation drew in mighty experts from every corner of the realm, with droves pouring in even from Da Jing's territories.
The five Ancient Families of Da Jing, the three Ancient Noble Families of Divine Capital like the Ji Family, Yue Family, and Gongshu Family, plus the Huang Family as an Ancient Family on Xiling Road, and the Fang Family on Jiangnan Dao.
Each had sent out multiple powerhouses, some being ancient Divine Tribulation Cultivators desperate for one final shot at extending their lifespan.
Of course, the major Divine Sects inside Da Jing dispatched their heavy hitters too.
Furthermore, unfamiliar faces caught Li Che's eye, identifiable by their robes as coming not from the Central Plains but from places like the Western Regions Buddha Land, Da Li Royal Court, and Wushen Mountain.
These folks had lingered in Five-finger Town at first, only charging forward once they heard the Black Bull Demon God Venerable's words.
Various factions quickly aligned by their affiliations, clearly showing how the Old Black Bull's statement had ripped apart the fragile Human Race coalition.
Li Che gave them a quick scan before pulling his eyes away.
These newcomers represented the current pinnacle of worldly strength.
That said, from Li Che's perspective, the true elites included the Great Supervising Minister, the Great Witch God of Wushen Mountain, the Pavilion Master of Hunting God Pavilion, and the founder behind Da Jing Dynasty's Imperial Court, standing as the mightiest few.
None of those supreme beings showed up today.
Likely, the will of Heaven and Earth imposed limits keeping them away.
Gathered beyond Qi Tian City, the assembled powerhouses from diverse sides traded looks before silently forming up by their groups.
Xuan Jiu Zhuan soared over to join Lv Taibai and the rest.
Truth be told, he alone opted to side with the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
Staring with a complicated expression at the extravagantly attired Lv Taibai, now advanced to Divine Tribulation, Xuan Jiu Zhuan said: "I ought to congratulate you, kid—you've finally reached Divine Tribulation."
Xuan Jiu Zhuan spoke with genuine warmth.
Though he'd long dismissed Lv Taibai, he couldn't deny that his sister Xuan Qisha's choice proved sharper than his own.
Lv Taibai grinned widely: "This just shows that having Qisha stick with me was the right call, huh..."
Xuan Jiu Zhuan let out a soft chuckle.
While he often griped about it, he skipped the usual argument this time and let it slide.
Turning his attention to Qi Tian City, he eyed the massive Demon Energy Pillar and the overwhelming Demon God aura, which sent a shiver through his frame.
"Lv Taibai, Xuanfu Divine Sect got Qisha's call for aid... The Grandmaster's facing issues, as you know. Right now, I hold no influence in Xuanfu Divine Sect, so I stepped away from it on Qingyun Road for some tranquility..."
"When the news hit me, I planned to support Qian Yuan at first, but I arrived too late, so after learning of your triumph, I shifted my path."
Xuan Jiu Zhuan offered a brief account.
He always placed great value on matters involving his sister.
Lv Taibai's eyes tightened; was the turmoil in Xuanfu Divine Sect truly that dire?
Even a prodigy in Divine Talismans like Xuan Jiu Zhuan had been ousted, refusing to go back.
Lv Taibai let out a quiet sigh, holding his tongue.
Tension thickened in the air as, beyond Qi Tian City's three entrances, three Demon Gods perched with demon energy surging skyward in towering columns.
Beneath the walls, assembled forces from every faction held their ground by allegiance.
Nobody dared to make the first move against the Demon Gods watching the gates.
It appeared no one wanted to gamble as the pioneer.
After all, the peril loomed too great.
Uncertainty lingered for all: even if they somehow vanquished the Demon Gods and entered Qi Tian City...
Would the Demon Race swarm them, or would the Demon God Venerable descend to crush them personally?
Cultivators at the Divine Tribulation Realm were basically undying legends; the longer their existence, the more they guarded their lives.
So, once the Black Bull Demon God Venerable laid out the rules, the horde of brash powerhouses who'd earlier shouted about storming Qi Tian City went eerily quiet.
With Xi Xi's hand in his, Li Che lingered in the shadow of Lv Qiankun and the others.
A subtle glint crossed his eyes as a daring thought bubbled up in his mind—this notion... could very well make it happen.
Within his torso, the Ten Thousand Demon Emperor Dao Fruit quivered without cease.
An intense urge welled up from deep inside Li Che.
"I can't hold back anymore..."
Li Che whispered under his breath.
Xi Xi tilted her head up curiously, peering at Li Che: "Daddy, can't hold back what?"
Li Che smiled tenderly, ruffling Xi Xi's locks and disheveling the young girl's neat hair.
"Nothing."
Li Che wrapped up messing with Xi Xi's hair.
In his spot now stood the Painting Immortal Avatar.
Xi Xi remained totally unaware, having no inkling of the swap.
She just lifted her face eagerly, fixating on Qi Tian City's portals, grumbling in frustration: "What's everyone so scared of? Fight! Attack!"
"How can there be a battle without clashing?"
"Let's get fired up!"
Xi Xi kept murmuring on.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
A sudden gale from Heaven and Earth whipped up.
Amid the heavy atmosphere outside Qi Tian City, the gathered throng of powerhouses, pondering and awaiting the initial daring challenger, abruptly snapped their eyes wide open.