As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

Chapter 707 - 236: With a Strike of the Demon Apeʼs Staff, Illusions Shatter and the Divine Talisman Manifests as Clouds to Supress the Explosive You Liqing [Seeking Monthly Tickets]_4

Surrounding them, Woodcarving Masters were promoting and praising his performance in the Mysterious Temple.

”Many of you have not entered the Mysterious Temple; therefore, you might not know that Master Suʼs performance can truly be described as unparalleled...”

”As soon as this temple god statue was finished, a sudden tide of mysterious fog arose from the Mysterious Temple, as if a plethora of Temple Guardian Cursed Corpses and evil strange creatures were attracted by Master Suʼs Divine Sculpture!”

”With the onset of the mysterious fog, the concentration of Divinity within the Strange Que has thickened by at least thirty percent! We were almost suffocating!”

Each of the Woodcarving Masters was emotionally moved.

Certainly, they included a fair bit of artistic hyperbole, but such flattery was delightful to Su Huaimingʼs heart.

Pleasing words, he enjoyed hearing.

”This time at the Divine Carving Ridge Elder assessment, Master Su has got it secured, he is bound to surpass the past!”

”No, no, you exaggerate... The clash of Godʼs Intent has not yet produced a result, it is too early to draw such a conclusion.”

Su Huaiming stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

He was holding the Divine Sculpture of the Two-Minded Great Saint, with waves of Divinity undulating boldly.

Elsewhere.

Lu Yao was dragging Tang Ren along; Tang Ren, unable to bear Su Huaimingʼs smugness, was grinding his teeth in frustration.

”My Uncle Che hasnʼt come out yet! He is Xi Xiʼs father, he is sure to win!”

Lu Yao was speechless: ”This gentleman is a Six Divisions upper Woodcarving Master and a First-Class Guest Official of the Qintian Observatory! His status is extremely revered, and he has devoted more than sixty years to researching Divine Carving Techniques, what makes you think your Uncle Che is sure to win?”

”Because he is Xi Xiʼs daddy!”

Tang Ren said.

Lu Yao rolled his eyes, not wanting to argue with a worshipful mind.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

Gongshu Jingjun floated in with Li Che.

The entire Guest Hall suddenly grew quiet; everyone knew the results were imminent.

Last to carve the Divine Sculpture was the Woodcarving Master; next up was the clash of the Divine Sculptureʼs Godʼs Intent...

The clash of Godʼs Intent was simple and brutal.

Whose Divine Sculpture contained the mightier Godʼs Intent signified a higher grade for that Divine Sculpture, and thus the victor.

And as for the clash of Divine Sculptures...

For every Divine Sculpture Master, it was an extremely interesting affair.

Just like cricket fighting...

Who doesnʼt want to see a victor emerge, and who doesnʼt wish to see which mighty cricket can fight till the end?

Outside the Guest Hall.

An old man with completely white hair was tremblingly walking over.

His body was layered in crane-like wrinkles, resembling a walking dead tree.

”Elder Sun.”

Gongshu Jingjun greeted him with a smile.

”Ridge Master, my Divine Sculpture is here...”

Elder Sun smiled; he was too old, on the brink of decline, and even though he once was a mighty Divine Cultivator and Martial Artist, when life reaches its end, it succumbs to decay.

Li Che looked at this Elder Sun, his eyes somewhat vacant.

Is this...

The consequence of not achieving longevity?

To grow so old in the end, with a body laden with the smell of decay, and a sense of despair about to fall into death.

Li Cheʼs gaze grew focused, his eyelids dropped, and a slight ripple stirred in his heart.

Longevity...

The desire in Li Cheʼs heart for longevity suddenly intensified.

He must pursue it with his daughter, with his wife...

Only with longevity in this world, can one escape loneliness.

The Divine Sculpture given by Elder Sun was also a Divine Sculpture of the Two-Minded Great Saint.

Clearly, it was inspired after entering the Mysterious Temple and observing the Temple God.

The charm was restrained, the craftsmanship was exceedingly exquisite, every strand of the monkeyʼs hair was vividly depicted, like the true temple god statue emerging into being.

After all, he was a senior who had spent many years carving Divine Sculptures.

His skills were genuinely formidable.

Even Li Che had to admit it.

Gongshu Jingjun took the Divine Sculpture from Elder Sun and then turned to look at the other Woodcarving Masters in the Guest Hall.

These Woodcarving Masters were all seated on Taishi Chairs, their eyes blazing.

”To enter the Mysterious Temple, to observe the Temple God, to carve the Divine Sculpture is completed... Next is the clash of the Divine Sculptureʼs Divine Intent...”

”All Masters who have carved a Divine Sculpture, you may now present your Divine Sculptures.”

Gongshu Jingjun spoke indifferently.

Su Huaiming, Zhou Tianshui, and Yun Haiyang, the three of them, stepped forward, each cradling a Divine Sculpture.

”Ridge Master, we... letʼs have a try.”

Su Huaimingʼs lips curved up, speaking confidently.

Gongshu Jingjun nodded.

”All Masters, place your Divine Sculptures on the meditational mats on the floor of the Guest Hall, beneath which are inscribed Divine Rune Arrays that will trigger the Divine Intent of the sculptures.”

The few complied.

Su Huaiming and the others were clearly not novices, adeptly finding the mats and carefully positioning their Divine Sculptures upon them with precision.

Li Che also found a mat.

This mat...

is in itself a Divine Weapon.

Li Che placed the Heavenly Earth Spirit True Ape Divine Sculpture on top of the mat.

Gongshu Jingjun helped Elder Sun position his properly.

After positioning, every Divine Sculpture Master retreated and took their seats upon their respective Taishi Chairs.

Gongshu Jingjun occupied the principal seat, his expression serene.

After scanning the entire hall, he said indifferently, ”Gentlemen...”

”The clash of Divine Sculpture Divine Intents begins now.”

As his words concluded, Gongshu Jingjun flicked a finger, and a stream of divine light burst forth, burrowing into the floor of the Guest Hall.

Instantly, it seemed as if some mechanism lay underneath the floor of the hall, as dense and majestic divinity spouted from the crevices of the floor tiles.

Gradually, the entire hall was enveloped in a dense divine fog.

Within the five Divine Sculptures, divine light began to shine forth, beams tearing through the dense divine fog!

Each Woodcarving Master looked on with curious eyes.

Then they saw that each Divine Sculpture seemed to come to life as eyes opened and fur fluttered.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!!!

Golden Light dazzled brilliantly as Kasayas flew, with four Two-Minded Great Saints leaping into action, and with a clench of their five fingers, it appeared as though golden rods were grasped in their hands.

They faced off against one another.

So lifelike, as if the Two-Minded Great Saints had been resurrected!

Divinity churned fervently, reflecting the ardent emotions of each Divine Sculpture Master!

However...

Contrary to everyoneʼs expectations.

Even Gongshu Jingjun, seated among them, was momentarily stunned.

For within the divine fog...

A deafening roar exploded like the enraged Duke of Thunder, with heavenʼs thunder crashing down upon the human world!

The ferocious howl rolled over, and the wave of sound it produced instantly struck the dense divine fog, creating ripple-like expansive waves.

”Roar, roar, roar, roar—!!!”

The Four Two-Minded Great Saints roared in fury, Kasayas fluttering wildly, with the golden rods in their hands boldly pointing out!

It was then that the Divine Intents of the four sculptures joined forces!

Four beams of Golden Light within the divine fog, like four galloping, roaring Golden Divine Dragons, piercing from east to west!

But behold, the fog dispersed!

A savage and ferocious Demon Ape emerged with hair bristling, a thick tail furiously whipping around, cracking the air!

Dragging a long golden rod, it walked out from amidst the divine fog.

Facing the assault of the four Two-Minded Great Saints, the Demon Ape suddenly lifted its head, and a pair of eyes, shining with extreme Golden Light, seemed to shatter all illusions!

”Taunt—!!!”

A shout!

Like rolling thunder!

And behold, the Demon Ape had already made its move, the trailing golden rod shaking off the ground with immense speed!

To everyoneʼs perception...

This Demon Ape simply carried out a staff-raising motion.

As if uprooting a mountain piercing the clouds, with a domineering intent to shatter the endless darkness, it smashed down furiously!

In an instant—

The surroundings rolled as if veiled by countless acres of divine smoke, dispersed in a moment!

The world became clear and bright, the heavens pure and transparent!

The Demon Apeʼs single blow sent the four Two-Minded Great Saints hurtling back even faster than before!

The Demon Apeʼs Golden Eyes were exceptionally clear, like two flames burning in an unfathomable darkness.

A deep voice slowly resonated, as if an ancient deity was chanting, a rich divinity entwining around the golden rod in the hand of the Demon Ape.

The golden rod turned red-hot like a branding iron, like a mighty dragon coiling around the staff!

”All is illusion—!”

”My strike...”

”To the heavens!”

”Shatters all illusion!”