During this period of time,
Li Zhexian's days were exceptionally carefree.
By day, he would either drink and laugh with friends or roam the green mountains and scenic waters surrounding Heaven Dou. From time to time, he would also share tea and discuss swordsmanship with elders such as Chen Xin and Feng Bailong, their conversations filled with laughter and ease.
It was worth mentioning that the Heavenly Spine Martial Tournament was approaching.
Dugu Bo and Yu Yuanzhen were the most invested in the matter, consulting with many senior figures day after day in preparation, the atmosphere lively and fervent.
On this particular day,
the lakeside of Lotus Lake outside Heaven Dou City was perfect for a picnic.
The girls laughed brightly along the shore, personally washing fruits and vegetables. Though they could easily have used Spirit Power, doing it by hand added to the fun.
Nearby, Li Zhexian and the others were fishing.
Feng Buyu had gone a long time without a single catch. Growing anxious, he secretly circulated Spirit Power, drawing a wave of teasing and laughter from the group:
"Brother Buyu might as well cast a net!"
"Brother Buyu's fishing rod is the most expensive—but that doesn't stop him from catching nothing!"
"It's been an hour! The rod hasn't moved an inch—Brother Buyu comes out to play and still won't forget cultivation meditation!"
Feng Buyu was so angry he nearly drew his sword.
"Once the picnic's over, nobody leaves—we'll fight another round!"
Sitting on the grass, Li Zhexian watched the peaceful scene, a smile appearing on his refined face.
This kind of life—
this was the true flavor of the mortal world.
As his thoughts drifted, his brows suddenly knit together, and he lifted his gaze toward the northern horizon.
The next moment, his expression relaxed, replaced by mild surprise.
Whoosh—
Qian Renxue flashed to his side, golden eyes heavy with seriousness.
"Zhexian…"
She too had sensed a powerful presence.
Even with her peerless combat strength, it felt like a mountain pressing down upon her.
Within the spiritual sea—
The drowsy Skydream Ice Worm jolted awake, terror plastered across its chubby face.
"Di Tian!"
"Why is he here?!"
"I didn't leak his existence, I swear!"
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress frowned slightly.
"Zhexian, do you have a grudge against Di Tian?"
Upon hearing the name "Zhexian,"
Skydream's panic instantly vanished, and it even straightened up.
Only then did it remember—
It had a powerful backer now!
With Brother Zhexian's current strength, even Di Tian would stand no chance!
It was just that the shadow Di Tian left from back when Skydream was imprisoned was too deep—
So deep that it forgot Zhexian was right beside it!
"No."
Li Zhexian's voice echoed calmly within the Sea of Consciousness.
"Besides Di Tian's aura, I sense several familiar presences accompanying him. They should be friends, not enemies."
The Ice and Snow Empresses nodded slightly upon hearing this.
Li Zhexian gazed toward the sky, sensing the approaching presence, then smiled at Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others.
"Prepare more food. We have guests arriving."
"Guests?"
Though surprised, everyone complied.
About a few dozen breaths later—
A breeze suddenly swept across the lakeside.
A mass of thick clouds plunged rapidly from the heavens.
When it struck the ground, the earth trembled slightly, and ripples spread across the lake.
As the dust slowly settled—
Seeing the Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python, both like small mountains, Yu Tianheng, Feng Buyu, and the others sucked in sharp breaths.
Fortunately, Lotus Lake lay in a remote area.
This spared Heaven Dou City from mass panic at the appearance of such colossal beasts.
"Sister Xiao Wu! Brother Zhexian!"
The moment Da Ming and Er Ming landed, they shouted excitedly.
"Brother Zhexian, it's great that you're alright! The aura we sensed in the Star Dou Forest that day really was you!"
Xiao Wu pulled Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong forward with excitement.
Li Zhexian greeted them with a warm smile.
"Senior Da Ming, Senior Er Ming—I was just planning to visit the Star Dou Forest to see you in a few days."
No sooner had he finished speaking—
A divine, radiant butterfly and a small beast wreathed in golden-red flames came running toward him.
He instinctively extended his hand.
The Divine Butterfly gently landed on his fingertip.
"Li Zhexian~!"
A crisp, shy young girl's voice rang out.
Li Zhexian looked in surprise at the divine butterfly on his finger, scattering red and blue radiance.
From Skydream, he already knew that the butterfly bound to his fate had gone to the Star Dou Forest.
Though much time had passed since their farewell at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well,
the closeness forged by destiny had not diminished in the slightest.
His smile grew even warmer.
He extended another finger and gently touched the butterfly's feelers.
"Hello."
The Divine Butterfly first shrank back shyly, then lightly tapped him in return with its antennae—like a greeting exchanged by old friends reunited.
After the exchange,
Li Zhexian finally turned his gaze toward the man clad in dark black robes.
The man's appearance was imposing and heroic. He stood over nine feet tall, his black hair falling freely over his shoulders. When his dark-golden eyes opened and closed, they radiated an overwhelming authority that looked down upon the world.
(Di Tian · Human Form)
And the moment Li Zhexian looked at the man—
those dark-golden eyes looked back at him as well.
In an instant,
a vast, crushing momentum carrying the majesty of a dragon surged forward, like mountains collapsing and the heavens overturning, pressing down upon him.
The smile at Li Zhexian's lips never faded. He allowed the overwhelming pressure to bear down upon him, yet his figure remained unmoving—his robes didn't even flutter in the slightest.
Three breaths later—
Di Tian's deep voice carried a trace of anger at being taken lightly:
"Young one, you underestimate me."
His assault had achieved nothing, and the other party had not even counterattacked—something that made the sovereign of all beasts feel an unprecedented sense of disregard.
Li Zhexian let out a soft sigh in his heart.
He had never intended to clash with Di Tian.
After all,
his fourth Spirit Ability—Calamity Rebirth—had been a gift bestowed by Di Tian.
Unfortunately, the Beast God's pride had mistaken his restraint for indifference.
The next moment,
complex sword marks suddenly flowed within Li Zhexian's pitch-black eyes.
A sword intent that transcended the limits of the mortal world flashed like a startled swan, severing the condensed dragon pressure in an instant.
Moreover, somewhere in the unseen depths,
a dragon's roar—ancient and savage—seemed to resonate in harmony with the ringing of a sword.
Di Tian's dark-golden pupils contracted sharply. With a muffled grunt, both his feet slammed three feet into the ground, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the lakeside earth.
"This must be Senior Di Tian,"
Li Zhexian said with a smile, clasping his hands in greeting.
"Junior Li Zhexian pays his respects."
This exchange of momentum had lasted only a fleeting moment.
Yet with the black-robed man forced back by a muffled grunt, the outcome was already clear.
Yu Tianheng, Feng Buyu, and the others remained calm.
After witnessing Li Zhexian's sword firsthand, they felt that even if a god descended upon the world, its might would be no more than this.
Da Ming and Er Ming, however, were utterly shaken.
They did not know the black-robed man's true identity,
but that awe-inspiring presence alone had made them feel as if they were facing a deity.
And yet Li Zhexian had defeated him in an instant—his strength was truly unfathomable.
"Roar…"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger trembled on all fours.
It had once believed Li Zhexian dead and fled back to the Star Dou Forest.
Now, seeing his heaven-defying power, it was filled with dread.
"Young one…"
Di Tian's voice carried unconcealed shock and uncertainty.
As one of the only two pure-blooded dragon descendants in existence,
aside from the Silver Dragon King,
his bloodline stood unrivaled in the world.
Yet that faint dragon roar just now had made his very soul tremble.
That feeling…
was akin to standing before the Silver Dragon King herself.
After a long silence,
Di Tian spoke once more:
"My lord invites you. She hopes you will come with me to the Star Dou Forest."
"So it truly is because of the Dragon God's blood…"
Li Zhexian understood at once.
Having cultivated to his current realm, he had long comprehended the cycle of cause and effect.
Since he had inherited the Dragon God's opportunity,
he naturally had to bear the karma that came with it.
"We're having a picnic,"
he said, turning to Di Tian with a smile of invitation.
"Senior Di Tian, why not stay and have a drink with us?"
"After we've enjoyed ourselves, I'll accompany you."
As he spoke,
his gaze passed over the crowd,
coming to rest on the bat wing shrinking behind Da Ming and Er Ming.
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger…"
His voice was gentle—
yet that bat wing shuddered violently.
"Tell me. Is it true, or is it not?"