As a Father, I Just Want to Watch You Achieve Immortality Chapter 1872: Emperor Xi Xi Returns Triumphant to Qian Yuan, Ancestral Ceremony Approaches—Martial Saint Proven at 8 (part 2)
Previously on As a Father, I Just Want to Watch You Achieve Immortality...
And all of this is intrinsically linked to the revered name of the Equal Heaven Temple. Should a collapse transpire, their prestigious reputation would be shattered, making any attempt at reconstruction as daunting as scaling the highest heavens.
"We still require more time... therefore, we absolutely cannot permit the Gathering Immortals Flag to fall into the grasp of Supreme Xuanzhen."
Li Che declared, his voice resonating with gravity.
"Consequently, seizing that flag... is a matter of utmost necessity."
"Do you require my intervention?" Fang Hanshu posed the question. His current cultivation and combat prowess were nothing short of extraordinary, standing as a half-step Supreme, merely an opportunity away from attaining true Supreme status.
Despite having successfully absorbed two Supreme Lord of Gods, one from the Second Calamity and another from the Third Tribulation, which certainly expedited his progression towards becoming a Supreme, a period of time was still indispensable.
Swish, swish— .
A deluge of rain descended from the darkened sky, plummeting like solid pillars, drumming incessantly against the dark tiles and creating a mesmerizing, almost dreamlike spectacle.
Within the confines of the dwelling, an profound silence permeated the air.
Suddenly, Li Che’s gaze fixed upon Fang Hanshu, as if a forgotten memory had resurfaced."Old Fang, what precisely constitutes the composition of the Godhunting Pavilion?"
"Are they in league with the Prison Lotus Camp?"
Li Che recalled Fang Hanshu’s other significant identity – an assassin hailing from the Godhunting Pavilion, an organization of unparalleled mystery within the Deceit Camp, its strength and enigmatic nature rivaling even the All Gods Camp.
Fang Hanshu fell into a moment of contemplation before articulating his response: "The Godhunting Pavilion... in reality, maintains strained relations with every major faction among the All Gods Camps. Their singular objective is the hunting of deities, be they resurrected Temple Gods or ancient, primordial Gods; all are considered potential targets."
"Hunting deities? Could it be that the Daughter of Prison Lotus harbors any particular interest in such endeavors?" Li Che inquired, a hint of curiosity in his raised eyebrow.
Indeed, this particular force exuded an aura far more inscrutable than even the Corpse God Cult, an entity secretly manipulated by the deity Golden Cicada from the Western Regions Buddha Land. Yet, the true mastermind behind the Godhunting Pavilion remained an enigma to Li Che.
Even Fang Hanshu possessed only fragmented knowledge. His induction into the Godhunting Pavilion had occurred after his entry into the Deceit Camp, primarily due to the abundance of cultivation resources that could be acquired through its operations.
Taking a deliberate breath, Fang Hanshu confessed with complete honesty: "The Prison Lotus Camp... naturally, their predatory gaze also falls upon them. The targets of the Godhunting Pavilion are the deities entrenched within the Deceit Camp, which unequivocally includes the Daughter of Prison Lotus."
Upon hearing this, Li Che's understanding crystallized: "Given that our objectives diverge, this simplifies matters considerably..."
"Old Fang, you still possess that renowned assassin’s mask from the Godhunting Pavilion, do you not?"
Fang Hanshu immediately grasped Li Che’s clandestine strategy: to skillfully divert suspicion and place the blame squarely upon the Godhunting Pavilion...
The feasibility of such a maneuver was not entirely beyond question.
"A Che, undertaking such a course of action... we risk incurring the ire of a formidable entity like the Godhunting Pavilion, whose influence is hardly inferior to that of the All Gods Camp." Fang Hanshu’s distinguished beard swayed gently in the wind, heavy with moisture from the rain.
However, Li Che responded with a light, knowing chuckle: "Recall the incident when our family journeyed from Golden Light Prefecture to Qianyuan Taoist City... we were specifically targeted by assassins affiliated with the Godhunting Pavilion."
"Therefore, whether we provoke their antagonism now or not, the distinction holds little consequence for me."
Fang Hanshu stroked his beard thoughtfully, a moment of reflection passing, before a broad smile illuminated his features: "Indeed... the Godhunting Pavilion is no stranger to accepting fabricated blame, so this arrangement presents no significant issue."
"At present, we remain unaware of the route that the Dark Heavenly Court has established within the Deceit Camp providing direct access to Qi Tian City, but this is not a monumental concern... Lao Lian will proceed according to the original plan."
"Understood."
Mr. Lian acknowledged the directive, offered a few words of affirmation, and then dissolved into the ambient air, transforming into a plume of dark mist.
Amidst the serene architecture of the pavilions, only Li Che and Fang Hanshu remained.
"Direct action is now unavoidable... our current strength is still insufficient, and we must continue to bolster it. Consequently, we are compelled to acquire more time." Li Che exhaled softly.
Fang Hanshu responded with a nod, his countenance adopting an air of profound solemnity.
"Regarding the Third Prince’s Mysterious Temple, owing to the premature re-emergence of Equaling Heaven, this particular operation... within the broader scope of the All Gods Camp, there exists a distinct possibility of a true deity manifesting, or even if not a true deity, perhaps a quasi-god making an incursion into the Realm of Divine..."
Quasi-gods and true deities...
Li Che’s gaze subtly descended; at this very moment, even contending with a Supreme proved a formidable challenge, let alone facing a deity...
The scarcity of ultimate trump cards was painfully apparent.
Most critically, his comprehension of the divine realm was profoundly limited.
What precisely constituted the pinnacle realm of divinity?
Every cultivation realm possessed its own distinct tiers, and the realm of deities was no exception.
The fervent desire to cultivate a secure haven, allowing him to observe his daughter's growth in peace... the path stretching out before him was undeniably long and fraught with hardship.
...
...
Fang Hanshu dispatched a reply to Lv Taibai, explicitly confirming that Li Che intended to escort Xi Xi back to Qian Yuan, where she was to assume the mantle of Sect Master, thereby providing a crucial reassurance.
Li Che found no valid reason to demur from Lv Taibai’s earnest request. His family had, in times past, benefited from the protection of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, and it was therefore incumbent upon them not to forsake this allegiance simply because Xi Xi had attained greater strength...
Xi Xi had always been prepared by Lv Taibai to become the Young Sect Master, and the disciples of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect also acknowledged her status as such.
Nevertheless, Li Che did not immediately depart to retrieve Xi Xi and bring her back to the Qian Yuan Divine Sect.
He intended to allow a bit more time to pass, as Xi Xi's cultivation had reached a crucial stage.
After bidding farewell to Fang Hanshu, Li Che walked out into the downpour. The rain that fell beside him was deflected by an unseen barrier.
He reached a courtyard located in the Outer City.
This courtyard was quite expansive, covering a significant area. While Fang Hanshu was outwardly managing the Qitian Outer City, Li Che was, in truth, the sovereign ruler of Qi Tian City.
Acquiring a large courtyard for his family was a perfectly reasonable action.
Inside the courtyard, Qi and blood churned, and a colossal Qi Blood Furnace blazed fiercely. The torrential rain vanished upon touching the searing heat of the furnace, with steam billowing like mist and rising ceaselessly!
Within the furnace resided Xi Xi. At the tender age of eight, the young girl's stature had increased considerably.