The Wrathful Vajra, Certainly Not Innocent
The other party had joined the Spirit Infant Cult, and their target was his daughter, Xixi. This was tantamount to a ticking time bomb, one that could detonate at any moment. Such a threat was intolerable. Why wait for the enemy to act when he could seize the initiative instead?
The thought of the wrathful Spirit Infant statue left outside his courtyard last night fueled his resolve. It was a blatant provocation, a silent declaration of war. The sinister figure seemed to glare at him, proclaiming in no uncertain terms: "If you dare to stop me, I'll kill you!"
Was Sun Changbiao innocent?
Not in the slightest, Li Che decided. The moment Sun had set his sights on Xixi, joined the Spirit Infant Cult, and sought to abduct another's child to fulfill his selfish desire for offspring, his hands had already been stained with blood.
Adjusting his Bamboo hat, Li Che exhaled a hot breath that dissipated into the frigid air. Then, his figure plunged into the wind and snow.
The Xu Family Woodcarving Workshop's grounds were enormous, sprawling like a small city. Its interior was a maze of crisscrossing pathways, dotted with courtyards and divided by towering walls that formed narrow, shadowed alleys. Li Che slipped into one such alley, pausing momentarily to remove his outer garments. He then donned a black cloak that swirled in the biting wind.
From within the folds of the cloak, he retrieved a wooden mask. It was a piece he had carved himself, initially meant as a playful gift for Xixi. But tonight, it would serve a far graver purpose. The mask, shaped like an ox's face, had a slightly cartoonish, whimsical design—a faint reminder of the innocence he sought to protect.
Sliding the mask over his face, Li Che felt a sudden shift. The world outside seemed to dissolve into silence, leaving him calm and detached. His breathing became steady, his focus sharpened.
"Sun Changbiao," he murmured, the name rolling off his tongue like an incantation.
In the next moment, his mind activated the Dao Fruit—[Dragon-Elephant Vajra].
Crack... crack... crack...
A series of crisp sounds, like bones colliding, echoed in the alley. It was a noise reminiscent of roasting beans, a harbinger of transformation. Beneath the black cloak, Li Che's muscles began to writhe and contort. His entire frame twisted as an electric tingling spread through his body. His physique expanded rapidly, growing taller and bulkier. His back muscles, as hard as forged iron, bulged and rippled like coiled dragons.
Flesh and blood infused with the power of a dragon and an elephant, forged into an indestructible Vajra body. This was the defining trait of the Dao Fruit—[Dragon-Elephant Vajra].
Li Che's suppressed cultivation and vitality, stored deep within the Dao Fruit, surged outward, flooding his being. His transformation was both a liberation and an amplification of his might.
Originally standing at 1.75 meters tall, Li Che now rose to an imposing 1.9 meters. His muscles swelled to a terrifying degree, solid as rock, radiating an aura of unparalleled power. His presence alone was suffocating, a palpable force that weighed heavily on the atmosphere.
"Power..." Li Che muttered, his voice low and resonant beneath the playful ox mask. He lifted his hands, now as large as palm-leaf fans, marveling at the explosive strength coursing through them. When he clenched his fists, faint gusts of wind spiraled outward, a testament to his sheer might.
"It feels as though I've been infused with the strength of both dragon and elephant..." He paused, savoring the sensation before naming his new state. "This transformation shall be called the 'Vajra Form.'"
His gaze, glinting with a dangerous light, fixed on the path ahead. At this moment, he felt like a colossal jungle elephant, capable of trampling even tigers and lions underfoot. The transformation brought by the Dao Fruit was a simple augmentation of his physical power, but its results were nothing short of devastating.
Beneath the ox mask, Li Che's slightly distorted face curved into a faint smile. Then, his massive figure stepped forward, breaking through the veil of wind and snow.
Sun Changbiao's courtyard was situated on the western side of the Xu family's woodshop complex, where the craftsmen resided. As the second son of the steward Sun, he resided in a prime location within the family's division. His residence was a luxurious compound, consisting of three spacious sections and an open yard that gleamed even in the dim moonlight.
Sun Changbiao returned home under the cover of an umbrella, his face clouded with irritation.
He exhaled sharply, muttering under his breath, "Chen Dabao has started watching me... That was fast. He found me so soon."
Standing in his courtyard, Sun Changbiao's expression flickered between annoyance and unease. He had sensed Old Chen's gaze on him, the unmistakable scrutiny of someone piecing together the truth. Despite his best efforts to conceal his affiliation, his ties to the Spirit Infant Cult were difficult to erase completely. After all, he had personally visited their altar to offer incense.
"So be it," he finally muttered, his tone cold and resigned. "If he's watching, then let him watch. As long as I don't make a move, Chen Dabao won't dare to act against me. Without evidence, he won't risk an open confrontation."
Sun Changbiao's gaze hardened as he continued. "All I need to do is bide my time. Once I relay the information and deliver the Spirit Infant sacrifice to the altar, my wish for a son will undoubtedly come true."
He tightened his grip on the umbrella handle, his thoughts a tumult of schemes and desires. Yet, as the wind howled and snow swirled around his courtyard, an ominous pressure began to creep in—a harbinger of the storm that was about to descend upon him.
Sun Changbiao desperately wanted a son. No, it should be said that both he and his wife were desperate for a son.
Suddenly, Sun Changbiao's thoughts were interrupted.
"Father… Father, it's time to eat."
A timid voice called out.
Sun Changbiao looked over and saw his eldest daughter leading her three younger sisters. They timidly carried dishes, their small figures trembling slightly as they emerged from the kitchen. The girls had clearly just finished cooking and prepared the meal.
"I know," Sun Changbiao replied indifferently.
He then folded his umbrella, shook off the snowflakes clinging to its surface, brushed off his long robe, and stepped into the warmth of the inner house.
The four daughters placed steaming hot dishes on the dining table. The eldest daughter, ever obedient, gently took the hands of her three younger sisters and, pursing her lips, led them away from the warm inner house. They habitually and quietly retreated to the kitchen to eat their meal in silence.
At the dining table, Sun Changbiao and his wife, Madam Liu, began their feast.
"Husband, how is that matter progressing?" Madam Liu asked, her voice low yet filled with anticipation.
Sun Changbiao's expression darkened. "The deputy incense master is pressing us… Li Master's child is extraordinary, a one in a thousand rare Spirit Infant sacrifice . If we can deliver her to the altar, the sect leader will surely reward us with a son!"
Madam Liu's hand unconsciously moved to her slightly swollen belly, her eyes gleaming with hope. "That would be wonderful…"
Sun Changbiao frowned and waved dismissively. "Don't rush me; I know what I'm doing." He scowled internally. What do women know, anyway?
The matter was far from simple. Chen Dabao was no pushover. The man's strength was formidable, and many senior members of the Xu Family in the inner city sought his favor. Old Chen's affection for Li Che's daughter was no secret. Provoking him recklessly might invite disaster. If Chen Dabao retaliated, Sun Changbiao wouldn't just lose face—he might lose his life.
"Let's eat."
Picking up a piece of stir-fried pork with his chopsticks, Sun Changbiao's brows furrowed deeply. "That wretched girl added too much salt! Is she trying to kill me with salt?!"
Outside the house, the tall girl leading her younger sisters stiffened. Hearing the scolding from within, her face turned pale. She quickly tugged her sisters along, hastening toward the kitchen.
The cold wind outside bit harshly at their skin, but at least the kitchen offered some residual warmth from the recently extinguished firewood.
After the girls disappeared into the kitchen, a towering figure emerged silently in the corridor. Broad and imposing like a mountain, the stranger wore a Bamboo hat and a mask. Despite the swirling wind and snow, not a single snowflake clung to him, as though the elements dared not touch his form.
The eyes behind the playful ox mask were cold and piercing, locked on the faint silhouettes of the girls huddling in the kitchen.
Knock, knock, knock…
Sun Changbiao sipped from a cup of warm sweet wine, savoring another piece of stir-fried pork. His contentment was abruptly shattered by a knocking sound at the door. His expression instantly darkened into a scowl.
"That wretched girl! Didn't I tell her not to make noise while we're eating? Doesn't she understand?!"
Madam Liu, seeing her husband's irritation, slammed her chopsticks onto the table and joined in the scolding.
Sun Changbiao raised a hand to stop her. "You're pregnant. Don't get angry; protect our son."
Having said this, he rose from his seat, grabbing the rattan switch hanging on the wall. As he picked at his teeth, he flicked the switch lightly, an ominous smirk playing on his lips.
However, just as he approached the door…
BANG!
A thunderous crash erupted. Accompanied by flying splinters of wood, the door was kicked open with an explosive force!
Icy winds and swirling snow surged into the room, extinguishing the warmth.
A massive leg, thick and powerful like a divine whip, lashed out, striking Sun Changbiao squarely in the stomach.
The impact detonated like a cannonball. His eyes bulged, his body curling involuntarily like a shrimp before being flung backward. He crashed into the dining table, shattering the dishes and spilling food everywhere.
Pfft—
Sun Changbiao spat out a mouthful of blood. Pain radiated from his abdomen, making him feel as though his insides had been torn apart. His entire body trembled as he struggled to lift his head.
"Who… who… who are you?" he gasped hoarsely.
His first thought was that Chen Dabao had come for him. But as his blurred vision settled on the figure standing in the doorway, his heart sank.
The intruder was a stranger, towering and exuding an oppressive aura that seemed to fill the room. The figure's mask, carved into the shape of an ox, mocked Sun Changbiao with its silent stare.
It wasn't Chen Dabao! That frail old man could never possess such terrifying presence or physical might!
Then… who could it be?! Whom had he offended?!