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

Xi Xi’s eyes lit up brightly upon hearing the words.

“Xi Xi, do you have confidence?!”

“Although our family is poor, though we lack the elixirs, divine talismans, secret techniques, and so forth to enhance your talent… but your father has a heart full of burning faith in you!”

“We will use true talent to defeat the opponents and show them… what real genius is!”

“Let the Grandmaster open his eyes and see what pure and unparalleled aptitude truly means!”

“My Emperor Xi Xi will crush them with pure talent!”

Li Che placed his hand firmly on Xi Xi’s small shoulder, his tone resolute, his gaze like iron!

The Immaculate Heart Divinity surged madly into Xi Xi’s body, accompanied by several Flying Thunder Chess Pieces.

Xi Xi’s little face immediately turned bright red.

Her small body started trembling violently.

Ah—!

Emperor Xi Xi is about to ignite!

Father’s words make so much sense. Emperor Xi Xi… needs no cheats! No divine pills, talismans, or secret techniques to awaken talents!

What’s so terrifying about poverty?!

Emperor Xi Xi’s talent is strong—she definitely can advance to the second round of assessment!

“Father, Xi Xi will try her best!”

Xi Xi clenched her small fist tightly and spoke with great seriousness.

Beneath the arch.

The elders of Divine Carving Ridge looked at each other upon hearing the words and sighed softly.

“Elder Li… is truly upright.”

“It’s a pity Elder Li just became an elder of Divine Carving Ridge; he hasn’t earned many resources. Otherwise, he might have been able to gather a divine pill to enhance talent. Additionally… Elder Li likely hasn’t tried carving a talent-enhancement divine sculpture, has he?”

“Xi Xi, such a good child… persevering despite poverty! Her future holds limitless potential!”

Several elders conversed softly.

Master Gongshu Jingjun of Divine Carving Ridge furrowed his brows lightly and stood up, drawing a black jade vase from the Qiankun Jade with a flick of his hand.

“Che, this is a divine pill that can temporarily amplify divinity, increasing the Purple Aura Divinity Column’s height by about ten feet… Give it to the child. I’m afraid if the grade is too high, Xi Xi’s small body may not be able to handle it.”

Gongshu Jingjun said solemnly.

Li Che’s eyes gleamed with surprise upon hearing these words.

He quickly expressed his gratitude.

However, Xi Xi, incited by Li Che’s encouragement, seemed like a fiery little flame, gripping her small fists tightly.

“No! Father, Xi Xi doesn’t need it!”

“Emperor Xi Xi wants to rely on her own abilities!”

Xi Xi said in a childlike yet determined voice.

Gongshu Jingjun froze for a moment, while Li Che smiled slightly, hugging Xi Xi and addressing Gongshu Jingjun: “Thank you, Ridge Master, for your generosity; but as Xi Xi said, she is confident and wants to depend on herself.”

“Such ambition!”

“Xi Xi, if you fail to become the Sect Master’s true successor, then come to Divine Carving Ridge. I will personally teach you in the future.”

Gongshu Jingjun laughed heartily as he stroked his beard.

Because standing with Xi Xi under the arch, amidst the crowd, Li Che essentially rejected Gongshu Jingjun’s assistance in front of everyone’s eyes.

Many Divine Children immediately furrowed their brows.

Even Gongshu Wentian, the Divine Child of the Gongshu Family, had accepted the temporary talent-enhancing divine sculpture and pill provided by his family’s protector. Seeing Xi Xi decline the pill, he promptly pushed the elixir away as well.

“If Li Nuanxi doesn’t need it, why would Gongshu Wentian require it?”

Gongshu Wentian chuckled faintly, brimming with confidence.

“She believes she can suppress others with her innate talent. I, Gongshu Wentian… naturally can do so as well.”

Gongshu Wentian was too proud.

His family’s protector wore a helpless expression: “Young master, please don’t play around. If you can become the Taibai Sect Master’s direct disciple, it will greatly aid your future bid for the position of Family Head.”

“I, Wentian, do not need it!” On Gongshu Wentian’s handsome face, a trace of disdain appeared.

“Then, young master, take the divine pill and sculpture with you. If you truly don’t need them, then don’t use them—but if you do need them at some point… you can salvage the situation.”

Hearing this, Gongshu Wentian stopped rejecting outright. With a sweep of the Qiankun Jade, he collected these excellent items.

Many Divine Children as proud as Gongshu Wentian were present, all shouting about relying on their innate talent to make the Grandmaster take notice.

Yet, after being scolded by their elders, they all calmed down.

Near the parked carriages.

Old Chen sat on the shaft, puffing on his tobacco pipe and let out a long sigh.

“Xi Xi, truly understanding beyond her years.”

“Children from poor homes grow up early…”

Inside the carriage, Nurse Momo also sighed with deep sympathy, her heart aching for little Xi Xi.

As someone who had watched Xi Xi grow up, Nurse Momo knew all too well the hardships of Xi Xi’s family. Reaching their current height had already taken every ounce of strength.

Seated alongside Nurse Momo in the carriage, Li Qingshan rolled his eyes.

You’ve all been fooled by Li Che…

As someone most familiar with Li Che’s methods and strength, Cat Face Li Qingshan did not believe that Li Che hadn’t prepared any aces for Xi Xi.

Bull Demon… was the Underworld’s top trickster!

Look at that—the tournament’s top seed, Gongshu Wentian, was already half-baited.

Beneath the Dao Yun Arch of Jade Qiankun.

Lv Taibai sat on a Taishi Chair, his mouth twitching slightly.

Among everyone present, only his Divine Sense was the sharpest, discerning perfectly that while Li Che righteously inspired Xi Xi to rely on her own talent, his hands hadn’t stopped tinkering.

“What did Li Che instill into Xi Xi’s body? Divinity?”

Lv Taibai’s gaze flashed with odd brilliance.

“Dong—!!!”

A bell rang.

The sound wave burst outward, as spring rain exploded in the air.

Lv Taibai, seated in his chair, spoke in a resonant voice as if sword qi erupted forth from his lips, the sharpness momentarily sufficing to quiet the crowd and suppress any commotion.