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

Chapter 884: Chapter 276 Li Yanluo Marks a Name on the Book of Life and Death, The Netherworld Ox Demon Slaughters the Dragon Today [Seeking Monthly Ticket]

After the rain clears, the clouds recede and the sky turns a vivid blue, faint mist lingers, and the mountains glow with verdant moisture.

The radiant sun shines high, pouring forth its brilliance over the world from a heavenly dome that looks as if it has been freshly washed.

The rain that persisted for many days has scattered, and the scent of fallen, decaying leaves in the air has significantly faded.

Nine-toothed Evil-suppressing Demon-suppressing Tianpeng Mysterious Temple.

Three miles outside the Mysterious Temple, the atmosphere bustled with activity. The Divine Guard Army formed barriers, blocking the martial guests rushing from Qianyuan Daoist City from entering.

Many small noble families and second- or third-tier factions, those with no backing who could not obtain entry tickets, could only gaze inward from three miles away.

Fortunately, for cultivators and martial artists, three miles was not a great distance, allowing them glimpses of shadows within the Mysterious Temple, the wooden stage erected before the temple, and the experts of significant forces present.

The young Divine Children who had advanced to the final three stages of the personal disciple assessments conducted by the Qianyuan Divine Sect Master were all present.

Li Nuanxi, ranked third on the Outer Sect Chulong List of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Yun E, a direct descendant of the Yun Family’s bloodline.

And Jin Taixui, the Young Witch from Wushen Mountain belonging to the Da Li Royal Court, endowed with the Great Witch God’s bloodline.

All eyes were drawn to these three youths.

Jin Taixui and Yun E, already in their adolescence, displayed budding physique and maturity, while Xi Xi… the five-year-old girl still appeared as a small bean sprout, with an untouched baby fat adding innocence to her form, her tiny belly yet unflattened.

Nearby, Divine Children who had participated in the first two stages of assessment were gathered together.

Among them, Gongshu Wentian, nicknamed Tofu Dao Heart, eyed the scene with despondent resentment.

He still brooded over the heart-testing visions unveiled in the second stage, unable to comprehend why Xi Xi had abruptly transformed into such an overpowering and terrifying figure in that moment.

Luckily…

Xi Xi’s form in that state was too formidable. Though Gongshu Wentian’s Dao Heart fractured because of it, within three mere days, he felt his broken heart nearly mended.

This recovery was far quicker than the anticipated month-long regimen to restore it.

Other Divine Children, such as Xuan Yue from the Xuanfu Divine Sect and Gu He from the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect, also found places to sit on the open ground before the Mysterious Temple, eager to learn who would ultimately take the mantle of Taibai God’s direct disciple.

The stakes of this personal disciple assessment were extraordinarily high, naturally drawing countless attention.

Jin Taixui’s unique status as a Young Witch from Wushen Mountain positioned him to shake the entire Dajing Dynasty should he attain the role of Taibai God’s direct disciple and become the Young Sect Master of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Xi Xi, clutching a puppy in her arms, obediently stood beneath the wooden stage.

Yun E’s makeup, refined and coolly detached, endowed her with an icy elegance, evoking an image of someone dwelling in secluded isolation from heaven and earth.

Jin Taixui, garbed in the robe of the Young Witch God, bore facial markings, exuding raw and untamed wildness. His flowing purple hair fluttered fiercely in the wind, his pupils radiating self-assured confidence under the sunlight.

Zhang Ya, being Xi Xi’s mother, was naturally qualified to enter the inner field, seated within the Divine Sect’s section.

Jiao Shaoqiu personally escorted Zhang Ya to her seat, while Nurse Momo had also come. This was a pivotal moment for Xi Xi; having watched over her growing up, Nurse Momo naturally wanted to bear witness.

Nonetheless, Nurse Momo scanned her surroundings, only to find Li Qingshan’s absence.

“That old rascal Li Qingshan… wonder where he’s run off to this time…”

…

…

Dong——!

The sound of an ancient bell echoed far and wide from unknown origins, mighty and sweeping.

The previously raucous gathering at the open ground before the Mysterious Temple instantly fell silent, as everyone held their breath and focused their gaze on Fang Hanshu, cloaked in a Confucian robe.

Radiating scholarly air, Fang Hanshu closed the book he held in his hands slowly.

A faint glimmer in his gaze swept across the assembled crowd, compelling silence wherever it landed.

“The Sect Master has entered the Mysterious Temple and suppressed its forces, completing the preparations for the Third Stage Temple Guardian Challenge. Therefore, he has not returned yet. As such, I, Fang Hanshu, will preside over this third-stage assessment for the Sect Master’s direct disciples.”

Fang Hanshu declared solemnly.

Fear and reverence abounded for this inner sect Great Elder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Fang Hanshu’s cultivation depth was unfathomable—when Yellow Sword Wine erupted in desperation, massacring the Su Family, Fang Hanshu stepped in and effortlessly subdued the Su Family’s patriarch, Su Leibao.

Su Leibao, a Second Opening Martial Saint with profound martial cultivation, remained powerless against Fang Hanshu’s overwhelming suppression, showcasing the latter’s fearsome abilities.

This event was a defining moment for Fang Hanshu’s renown.

Though Fang Hanshu, the so-called scholarly elder, had a reputation, few had ever witnessed him wield power before that day when he acted on behalf of Yellow Sword Wine, astonishing all of Dao City.

“Great Elder, may I ask if the rules for this third-stage assessment can now be disclosed?”

Yun Sanxiao, the Yun Family Patriarch, posed the question softly.

In an instant, countless gazes turned toward Fang Hanshu, though his expression remained composed.

“The rules are actually quite simple.”

Fang Hanshu made no attempt to prolong suspense, for the time to commence the third-stage trial had arrived, and withholding details now would serve no purpose.

“Within this Tianpeng Four Imperial Mysterious Temple, the Sect Master has established three paths. Each of the three applicants for direct discipleship must choose one path and proceed.”

Fang Hanshu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his Confucian robe fluttering.

Behind him, ominous fog churned and swirled within the confines of the Nine-toothed Exorcism Demon Temple, its mysterious vapor dense and tumultuous, drastically reducing visibility.

The fog seemed to enshroud an enigmatic realm, isolating itself from the world; passing through it was akin to entering an entirely new dimension.