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

Chapter 877: Chapter 274: A bet that could break the journey, with Gou accompanying Xi Xi through the Temple Guardian Challenge [Seeking Monthly Tickets]_4

However, upon meeting the Great Witch God…

You, this little girl, will inevitably become one of Wushen Mountain’s people!

“Fine!”

“Emperor Xi Xi has accepted your wager!”

Xi Xi declared.

At the same time.

In the instant their wager was established.

Buzz buzz buzz——

The White Jade Staircase suddenly trembled violently, the mist dissipating as the Grandmaster’s Divine Sculpture opened its radiant eyes, releasing brilliant white light.

Instantly, a surge of Dao Essence coiled and violently swirled around Xi Xi and Jin Taixui.

It seemed as if an invisible link had formed in the depths of the universe.

“The wager… is sealed!”

“Dao Essence bears witness—if breached, the path shall be severed!”

Jin Taixui’s expression suddenly became solemn, his voice heavy.

Yun E’s face subtly shifted, unable to resist sighing softly.

Xi Xi, however, firmly nodded: “Uh-huh!”

Jin Taixui chuckled, casting a deep look at the silly little girl, his mood inexplicably brightening.

He had entered the Mysterious Temple at the age of three, braving its dangers and surviving countless life-and-death trials. When it came to Temple Guardian expertise, how could he possibly lose to a five-year-old girl?

Buzz buzz buzz——

The white Dao Yun Qi Column drifted forward.

Xuan Yue and Gongshu Wentian failed to secure the top three spots in the second trial, the Heart Test, and thus had their Dao Essence stripped away.

Xi Xi placed third in the Heart Test, earning two feet of Dao Essence, added to the nine feet gained in the first trial. This brought Xi Xi’s Dao Essence to a total of eleven feet.

Jin Taixui, on the other side, gained five feet of Dao Essence.

Yun E, who claimed first place in the Heart Test, received twelve feet of Dao Essence.

The Dao Essence rewards for the top three in the Heart Test surpassed the overall rewards given in the Talent Test!

This indirectly highlighted that Lv Taibai’s direct disciple selection exam prioritized qualities beyond talent.

Buzz buzz buzz——

Their vision blurred as the three contestants were teleported outside Qiankun Small Cave Heaven the next moment.

“Daddy!”

As soon as Xi Xi emerged, her lively eyes darted around, quickly spotting Li Che seated in the Elder’s chair.

Recalling the scenes from the illusion realm, Xi Xi immediately lit up and dashed toward Li Che, leaping up and clinging to him like an octopus.

She nestled her head against Li Che’s chest, rubbing repeatedly.

“Xi Xi missed Daddy so much!”

Xi Xi said cheerfully.

Li Che gently stroked Xi Xi’s hair: “Don’t worry, Daddy has always been here and will protect Xi Xi.”

Xi Xi lifted her head, gazing at Li Che with wide-eyed curiosity. Could the Daddy in the illusion realm have been genuine?

Not a product of Emperor Xi Xi’s belief?

Her eyes sparkled brighter and brighter: “Uh-huh!”

She nodded vigorously.

Xi Xi hurried to complete the unfinished actions she couldn’t accomplish in the illusion realm.

“Daddy, let’s make a pinky promise!”

Father and daughter, oblivious to others’ presence atop the White Jade Arch, linked their pinky fingers.

“Pinky promise, lasting a hundred years, unchanging!”

Xi Xi gleefully swung her head from side to side.

From the sidelines, Yun E watched quietly with envy gleaming in her eyes, as though it might materialize.

Xi Xi tattled on Jin Taixui, recounting the wager she had made with him.

Upon hearing this, Li Che’s gaze immediately sharpened…

Truthfully, Li Che had long known about the wager. He had also suspected Jin Taixui’s ulterior motives, aiming to lure Xi Xi to Wushen Mountain through the wager?

Da Li’s Wushen Mountain…

Was far more powerful than an ordinary Divine Sect, even exceeding the Da Li Royal Court, which was established under Wushen Mountain’s surveillance. The Great Witch God’s status was so revered that they could designate the Emperor of the Da Li Royal Court.

“Daddy understands.”

“Since you’ve made the wager, Xi Xi must give it her utmost effort to win.” Li Che fondly ruffled Xi Xi’s hair, his tone becoming as gentle and playful as hers, unable to resist adding sound effects.

Yet, Li Che’s gaze shifted to Jin Taixui, where an undeniable chill emerged.

Jin Taixui, escorted away by powerful figures of Wushen Mountain, seemed to sense an icy shiver. Having endured the horrors of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave beneath Wushen Mountain’s Mysterious Temple, he was acutely attuned to the threat of death.

Looking back, he only saw a gentle young man holding the little girl.

“Young Witch, did you really establish a Dao Essence witnessed wager with that little girl?”

An elderly cultivator furrowed his brows as he questioned.

Jin Taixui grinned and nodded: “That girl’s talent is indeed excellent; at the very least, it’s Purple Qi Reaching Heaven… The Great Witch God will undoubtedly favor her, perhaps even making her Wushen Mountain’s Goddess.”

“Young Witch, are you unafraid Qian Yuan Divine Sect will refuse?”

“If they refuse… that would mean the little girl repudiates the wager and breaches the Dao Essence witnessed contract. To break it is to sever her path, rendering her no future threat.”

Jin Taixui chuckled faintly.

“She’s wilder than me…”

“Five years old, but I was much more composed at her age.”

Another cultivator, observing the self-assured Young Witch, couldn’t help but comment: “Young Witch… Have you considered the possibility of failure?”

“If you fail, will you truly become her charioteer or servant?”

The smile on Jin Taixui’s face slowly faded as he turned to the elderly cultivator: “If you can’t speak properly, say less.”

“I, Jin Taixui, started training in the Strange Que’s Ten Thousand Ghost Cave at three years old; how could I possibly lose?”

The elderly Divine Fetus Practitioner’s withered face involuntarily twitched: “Young Witch…”

“This is Yuan Dao City, the territory of Qian Yuan Divine Sect…”

“If Lv Taibai decides to intervene…”

Jin Taixui’s smile froze entirely.

“Impossible, the Great God wouldn’t stoop to such disgraceful tactics!”

Swish swish swish.

Spring Rain poured relentlessly.

Jin Taixui felt the raindrops coldly splatter against his face.

He lifted his gaze toward the “Qiankun” Dao Essence plaque below.

Silver-haired like cascading waterfalls; dressed in white more pristine than snow—Lv Taibai.