Li Huowang gazed at the distant black mountains, realizing the eye of the typhoon was approaching. If he could not resolve the situation before the mountains arrived, everyone with him would likely perish.
Isn't this the eye of the typhoon? This should be the Siming's weak point, right? If it isn't, why would Zhao Shuangdian send me here?
Li Huowang jumped into the water and frantically slapped the surface with all his strength.
However, no matter how many times he struck the water, the surface always returned to its original state.
No... something's wrong. This has to be the place. It's just that I'm too weak to hurt it!
A trace of despair arose in Li Huowang's heart.
His enemy's weakness was right before him, but he still couldn't kill his enemy. The gap between them was too big.
Could it be that... I'm about to lose?
His expression hardened with unwillingness as he glanced at Yang Na's pale face.
No, there must be a way. I can find a way! They can't be that strong! If they were that powerful, we would've lost the last time! These projections are fake! They're bluffing!
As Li Huowang frantically searched for potential counterattacks, he suddenly focused on the black scar that spread along the veins of his arm.
An idea flashed in Li Huowang's mind. He climbed back onto the wreckage of the cruise ship. Lightning trembled in the clouds above him, roaring like a beast. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
He took some time to calm himself down. With one arm holding Death, he used his other hand to raise the military knife toward the sky. "Come on! If you're strong enough, kill me! I am Ji Zai! Do you want the Heavenly Dao of Bewilderment? Then come and take it!"
Crack!
A powerful bolt of purple lightning descended from the sky, heading straight toward Li Huowang. It was noticeably stronger than the previous one.
Just as Li Huowang was on the brink of annihilation, he roared and gripped his knife. He fiercely stabbed at himself, with lightning coursing through him.
"Die!"
In the blink of an eye, everything around him turned white. He felt his remaining eye burst, much like the salted egg yolk within a mooncake.
"Egg yolk?"
Li Huowang stared blankly at the salted egg yolk mooncake on the table. He was now seated inside the White Tower Prison.
He realized what this meant. Time had rewound, and he had won.
"Hahaha!"
Li Huowang's sudden laughter startled the other patients and caregivers around him, making them shrink away in fear.
"Hey, Li Huowang, calm down. It's the Mid-Autumn Festival today," a nervous orderly said.
Li Huowang was notoriously difficult to deal with, and unfortunately, the orderly had been assigned to him today.
"Hahaha..."
Tears of joy rolled down Li Huowang's face. He was elated.
He lowered his head and rummaged through the mooncake box, searching until he found the purple yam mooncake—the one with the hidden note. He stuffed it into his mouth and began chewing in big bites.
"Crazy..." the other patients muttered.
They gradually lost interest in him and returned to watching the TV programs.
Three... two... one.
Li Huowang silently counted down, and the band of inmates with serious crimes commenced their performance in the prison yard as if on cue. The majority of the people in the room gravitated toward the exercise area.
Once Li Huowang saw that most people had left, he stood up and headed to the men's restroom, following the same steps as before.
This time, after putting on his disguise, he deliberately waited a few more minutes to avoid running into Yi Donglai again.
Thump!
The car door slammed shut.
Li Huowang ripped off his mask and coldly spoke to Ba Shengqing at the wheel, saying, "Drive to Qing Wanglai's villa!"
With the Simings dead, the siblings who had died in the water returned to life. Everything was back.
Sitting beside Li Huowang, Ba Nanxu gave him a teasing look. "Do you really know who pulled you out? Do you think getting someone out of a psychiatric hospital is that easy? You should show some gratitude, Huowang."
"Dial Zhao Shuangdian's number. I'll talk to her," Li Huowang said.
Ba Nanxu frowned slightly and licked her lip piercing with her forked tongue. Something felt off about Li Huowang. He seemed different from the crazy person he used to be.
"Hello, it's me. Li Huowang just left the psychiatric hospital, and now he wants to go to Qing Wanglai's place."
Li Huowang snatched the phone from her hand before she could finish. "Hey, Zhao Shuangdian, this is topology. You were thinking in the wrong direction earlier."
Li Huowang could feel Zhao Shuangdian's shock even through the phone.
After a long silence, Li Huowang added, "Have your people take me to Qing Wanglai's place. You should also come quickly. I'll explain when we get there."
He returned the phone to Ba Nanxu. She then spoke a few words in acknowledgment to Zhao Shuangdian before hanging up and looking at Li Huowang with a strange expression.
"What are you looking at?! Drive!"
Ba Nanxu kicked her brother's seat, and the car started moving.
As they drove, Ba Nanxu kept glancing at Li Huowang. He was staring out the window, deep in thought.
This expression was something she had never seen on him before. She had expected him to be more agitated. After all, he had spent months confined in a psychiatric hospital.
And what was that "topology" he mentioned? If she wasn't mistaken, wasn't that a mathematical term?
Given what she knew about him, how could he possibly understand something like that?
When the car entered the area of the villa in the suburbs, Li Huowang didn't even wait for it to stop. He threw the car door open and rushed inside.
He ignored Chen Hongyu, who was watching TV in the living room, and headed straight to the third floor.
With a single kick, he broke down the door of a room and rushed in. He tightly hugged Yang Na, who was curled up at the foot of the bed.
He stroked her soft hair repeatedly, his hand trembling. His heart finally felt calm.
"Huowang, you're finally back. I'm so glad. I've waited so long for you. Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have called the police..."
Li Huowang shook his head. He let go of Yang Na and carefully examined her face for a moment. Then, he hugged her tightly again, laughing through his tears.
"No, you're perfect, Nana. You're amazing. Your death saved us all."
Chapter 941 - Explain
"Shouldn't you ensure the room is empty before getting intimate?" Wu Qi said, holding onto a bowl of food. She had been trying to feed Yang Na the food when Li Huowang barged in.
Li Huowang had been so focused on Yang Na that he failed to notice Wu Qi's presence.
"Wu Qi, thank you for taking care of her for the past few days."
Noticing the changes in Li Huowang's appearance, Yang Na asked, "Huowang, what happened to your eye? Why are you missing one eye? What happened?"
Li Huowang took a deep breath and carried her out of the room. "Nana, don't worry. I will explain everything that has happened to you later."
They bumped into Qing Wanglai as they were exiting the room.
"Oh? You're out of prison! Congratulations. I was just thinking about how to rescue you."
Li Huowang glanced at Qing Wang's smile before spitting on him. Without giving him another thought, Li Huowang headed downstairs.
Qing Wanglai could only be counted on outside of critical situations. He always seemed to go missing during important times, and Li Huowang had overestimated him in the past.
Li Huowang sat on the sofa, holding onto Yang Na. He began to recount the events in a quiet whisper.
Yang Na was clearly in disbelief—the story was too ridiculous.
Still, Li Huowang didn't need her to understand. He simply wanted to hear her voice and confirm that she was truly alive again.
Li Huowang was just about to finish his story when he heard the sound of screeching tires outside. Zhao Shuangdian had arrived.
Zhao Shuangdian greeted Qing Wanglai before sitting in front of Li Huowang. This time, she appeared very serious. "Why did you think I was wrong? And regarding the topology—is it point-set or algebraic topology?"
Li Huowang frowned, completely lost. He didn't even know what topology was.
Sensing his confusion, Yang Na whispered, "Huowang, topology is the study of space or geometric shapes that retain certain properties even after changing."
"No," Li Huowang shook his head before standing up. "That's her world. There's no reason for me to learn. She should calculate it herself."
He turned and faced all of the Simings. "Is everyone here? Good. I have some good news to announce—we've just won a significant battle!"
Shocked expressions swept across the room.
Ba Nanxu, munching on something, whispered to Zhao Shuangdian, "I think we should send him back."
"I know this might not make sense right now," Li Huowang said, "but I'm certain you'll understand once I explain what happened."
He proceeded to recount the events. While many did not believe him, QIng Wanglai and Zhao Shuangdian became serious after Li Huowang said certain keywords. They came to believe in the truthfulness of his account after confirming some details.
"Li Huowang, you mentioned we went to the ocean to find another Siming on a different elephant. Can you describe that Siming's projection again?"
"That Siming's projection? Isn't it simple? It's... that Siming's projection is..."
Li Huowang was left in a state of shock. He vividly remembered his fierce struggle against it, yet its appearance had completely vanished from his memories, replaced by fuzzy white spaces.
"Li Huowang, you can't just make stuff up."
"No! Something's wrong! Quiet down and give me time to think!"
Li Huowang scratched his head furiously, pacing around the hall. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
He analyzed the differences between the different encounters. Ultimately, he looked at Yang Na.
"I understand now!" he exclaimed. "The Siming has completely disappeared from my memories, which means Yang Na must have killed it for good!
"I think I found the rule for it. To kill them, we must destroy every trace of their existence, not just their flesh. We must completely erase every record and memory of them, even within their allies. Only by bringing Death can we truly kill them!"
Li Huowang quickly recalled what the factory looked like and frowned. "The Siming with the factory projection is not dead—it's just injured!"
"Why do you say so?"
"It's because it's still in my memories! As long as they exist in any form or in any shape, they are not truly dead!"
He returned to Yang Na, gently stroking her hair as he looked at her. His previous experiences had hardened his resolve—he would never again risk her life.
Unfortunately, Yang Na would need to accompany him from now on. He needed to take Death to the enemy Simings to truly kill them.
"Pfft!"
Li Huowang turned around to find Ba Nanxu laughing.
He slammed the table, his voice rising. "I'm telling the truth! Don't try to twist this around. I don't mind if you don't trust me, but don't poison others with your doubts!"
The atmosphere grew thick with unspoken tension. Then, a woman with an elegant black umbrella suddenly walked into the house.
"Sorry, I'm late. Is there any reason you were looking for me so urgently?"
She looked elegant—probably in her twenties, with long black hair and a pretty face. Li Huowang was certain he had never encountered her in any of his previous loops, and yet...
Something about her made him feel like he had met her before.
Wait, umbrella? The umbrella. That was it.
Back when he had first been discharged and was staying at home, this same woman had been monitoring him.
The Simings from the other elephant were no longer just defending—they were launching a counterattack.
Chapter 942 - Cultivating the "Truth"
Li Huowang sat cross-legged on the cushion, slowly cultivating. He used his inner sight to guide his primordial breath toward the final chakra point slowly.
He had much more primordial breath now, having absorbed a substantial amount of primordial from other Strayed Ones. If the initial amount of primordial breath within him could be compared to a cloud, the present amount would be akin to the size of a mountain.
The primordial breath within him felt incredibly heavy. Slowly pushing that much primordial breath through his chakra points required a lot of effort.
He tried pushing it for a long time, but the primordial breath didn't seem to move at all.
A lot of time passed before Li Huowang opened his eyes. He couldn't help but feel frustrated since he was still stuck at the sixth chakra point.
While he had made a lot of progress thanks to the primordial breath of other Strayed Ones, he was now stuck at the final part.
He glanced around, unsure of how much time he had spent cultivating. Still, he didn't want to know. It'd be bad to immediately learn that he had cultivated for a very long time. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Li Huowang waved his arms, and several waiters showed up with many dishes. They carried braised fish, chicken stewed with potato, seaweed soup with ribs, and a large rice bucket.
Li Huowang devoured the food with astonishing speed. He hadn't conjured it himself—Li Sui had arranged it. Knowing Li Huowang's tendency to go hungry, she had prepared it in advance to ensure he wouldn't starve.
Li Huowang didn't dare think about how long he had been cultivating. He was already at the sixth stage, so he knew how deadly his thoughts could be.
These days, he put a lot of effort into avoiding random thoughts. One wrong move, and he could turn them into reality.
Now, the things he conjured would endure perpetually instead of disappearing once he ceased thinking about them.
"Senior Li, have this instead. I put some lard in it."
Li Huowang grabbed the bowl of rice and started eating it. "Thank you."
He looked to the left listlessly, and the sound of a performance came out of nowhere. "Wind blowing~ Stars shining bleakly~ The people are shouting~ The mountain is rumbling~ The sounds of murder cover the lands~ We travel far until it is dark~"
The Lu family troupe, which was supposed to be long gone, had unexpectedly reappeared, performing exclusively for Li Huowang.
Lu Zhuangyuan showed up on stage, and cheering could be heard everywhere.
There were the voices of Abbess Jing Xin, Ji Lin, Gao Zhijian, Lu Zhuangyuan, Zhuge Yuan, and the various people who had been his illusions in the past.
Li Huowang didn't realize that his surroundings were now filled with people, like a crowded shop.
The voices irritated him. As his irritation grew, his surroundings started to shake and tremble.
Bam! Li Huowang smashed the bowl onto the table angrily. "Enough! Scram!"
Everything around him turned white.
Li Huowang grabbed his head and panted. He had power now, but he could not fully control it.
Just then, a slender white arm extended and gave him a green bamboo slip.
"Senior Li, your heart is in turmoil. Here, read this silently. This is the 'Heart Calming Mantra' from the White Lotus Sect. It should help."
Li Huowang took it and started chanting, "Snow freezes everything, and all is still. The heart is calm and gazes in serenity. The heart and spirit are one, while the energy follows. Remain undisturbed even during unending changes. Free from delusions, anger, lust, desires, desires, possession, and abandonment. Free from actions and self..."
As he chanted, Li Huowang's breathing started to calm down. He wasn't sure if it was a natural effect of the mantra or not.
"Senior Li, your 'Truth' cultivation requires unparalleled mental fortitude and spirit. I've asked the Surveillance Bureau to look for anything that could help you."
Li Huowang shook his head while massaging his temples. "No, what I really need at this moment is to become stronger and reach the seventh stage. I have this nagging feeling that I am still too weak to confront Zuoqiu Yong."
The threat of Zuoqiu Yong invading their world was more pressing than his mental state.
"Miaomiao, are there still any Strayed Ones? I need more primordial breath."
Even though Li Huowang wasn't sure about how much more he needed, he had confidence that with ten more Strayed Ones or so, he could reach the seventh stage.
Bai Lingmiao shook her head. "There aren't any left. It's unlikely we'll find any others for now. The Surveillance Bureau has sent people overseas to search for hidden Strayed Ones. However, even if they do find one, it will take some time for them to return."
Li Huowang sighed, aware that everyone had done their best. Strayed Ones weren't vegetables that grew by the road and could be plucked anywhere.
"Alright, you can leave first. I need to start cultivating again."
There wasn't much hope, but Li Huowang still wanted to pursue the small chance of reaching the seventh stage through cultivation.
Li Huowang sat back down as Bai Lingmiao left the place. At that moment, a familiar voice came from beside him.
"Father?"
"Hm?" Li Huowang looked around him.
He witnessed Bai Lingmiao's back being torn apart like a tapestry as Li Sui walked right through her body.
Li Huowang then realized that the Bai Lingmiao he had been talking with was indeed real. However, he had created her with his imagination—she was not the original Bai Lingmiao.
Li Huowang took out the "Heart Calming Mantra" from his robes and slammed it onto the table. The bamboo slip popped like bubbles and disappeared without a trace. The "fake" Bai Lingmiao disappeared too.
Although he had figured something like this would happen, he never thought it would be so frustrating.
Li Sui refrained from asking about his weird actions and instead delivered crucial news. "Father, they are here. The Tianchen Kingdom is moving."
Li Huowang felt his back going cold. "Are you sure? Zuoqiu Yong is moving?"
Li Sui nodded. "Yes. The Qi Kingdom is getting ready for war. The Natural Disaster in the Tianchen Kingdom is ending, so I think they finally have the time to deal with us."
Chapter 943 - Zuoqiu Yong
Unfortunately, not everything went as he had planned. Li Huowang scratched his head, trying to devise a plan. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
"Father, are you not at the seventh stage yet?"
"No, I'm just one stage away, but I don't have time to cultivate now."
Li Huowang lowered his hands and said, "Call the Dragon Veins to prepare the Dragon Qi. This is not a request—it's an order. Also, all of the techniques of the Surveillance Bureau should be used. I know you're withholding classified ceremonies used only for emergencies. This is an emergency."
Li Huowang had to use everything to fight against Zuoqiu Yong.
"I understand."
Li Huowang stood up and steeled himself. "I'll have to fight, even though I've only reached the sixth stage. Let's go confront Zuoqiu Yong!"
Just as he lifted his leg, the world around him shifted. He teleported to the Qi Kingdom almost instantaneously.
He could now travel between the Liang Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom at will as long as he thought he could.
"Bodhisattva! Bodhisattva Zhuge is back!"
"Bodhisattva Zhuge! You are finally back!"
"Bodhisattva Zhuge has not abandoned the Qi Kingdom!"
As the people from the Qi Kingdom kneeled in worship, a lot of False Qi entered his head.
Li Huowang looked around until he found Chan Du, the person responsible for managing the place when Li Huowang himself wasn't there.
Chan Du looked the same as ever. He bowed to Li Huowang. "Amitabha"
"Tell me about the recent situation."
Li Huowang waved his arms, and the scenery around him changed like tapestries.
They were now back in the garden of the Righteous Monastery, surrounded by yellow walls, green roofs, and tall green trees.
The three of them sat down on a stone stool to talk.
Chan Du sighed deeply. "Benefactor Li, the Qi Kingdom is very unstable now. There are too many spies from the Tianchen Kingdom. I've tried to figure out how to deal with them, but it's futile. I fear that the Qi Kingdom will fall if the Tianchen Kingdom attacks now. The spies infesting our cities would rebel, forcing us to split our forces..."
"I never intended for the Qi Kingdom to fight to its last breath," Li Huowang said. "You mentioned that the Tianchen Kingdom is on the move. What are they planning?"
Li Sui answered instead, "They found a Twisted One that will allow them to travel between the Liang Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom."
"What? They've found it?"
"Yes, and they can now travel directly from the Tianchen Kingdom to the Liang Kingdom."
Though everything seemed calm, Li Huowang understood why Li Sui had woken him up.
The situation was dire. No one knew what the Tianchen Kingdom would send into the Liang Kingdom.
"No, we can't simply be on the defense. We need to disrupt their plans."
After a moment's contemplation, he declared, "Tell your men to get ready. We're taking the initiative."
Li Huowang was confident he would lose to Zuoqiu Yong even though he was already at the sixth stage. Thankfully, he wasn't fighting alone.
"Alright." Li Sui nodded. "Don't worry about it. I've told every sect about the Tianchen Kingdom. They understand that they need to work together in this situation. They have agreed to fight for the sake of the Liang Kingdom."
As he listened to their conversation, Chan Du felt a growing unease. "Benefactor Li, you might be right in acting first, but how do we get to the Tianchen Kingdom?"
Li Huowang clenched his fist decisively. "If I say we can go, then we can go! Gather your strongest men and get ready. Zuoqiu Yong will be our biggest enemy."
They quickly formulated a plan, agreeing that taking down Zuoqiu Yong was their best path to win the war.
Zuoqiu Yong was still unaware of Li Huowang's significant improvement in cultivation. He had become capable of bringing people to the Tianchen Kingdom.
Even though Zuoqiu Yong was the Siming that governed Growth, Li Huowang was confident that he could put up a good fight since he could borrow the power of a Siming too.
Zuoqiu Yong would face not just one but two distinct timelines at the same time.
Li Huowang returned to the Liang Kingdom to make the final preparations.
All the sects had assembled in the Liang Kingdom, presenting Li Huowang with a combination of sects he was both familiar and unfamiliar with.
Li Huowang approached one of the nuns. "Shai Zi, where is Zuoqiu Yong right now?"
"I don't know."
"Stop lying. If you want to help, you better help all the way. You have spies in the Tianchen Kingdom, after all!"
Shai Zi chuckled. "Zuoqiu Yong had the same idea as you. He's already closing in on the headquarters of the White Lotus Sect. He plans to kill the Twisted One of the Heavenly Mater first."
"What did you say?!" Li Huowang didn't have time to be angry with Shai Zi. He swiftly closed the distance between him and the White Lotus Sect headquarters, reaching it in just one step.
He reached the White Lotus Sect headquarters just as its roof exploded skyward. Bai Lingmiao's dual bodies burst through the roof while the white lotus markings on her forehead blazed with an intense light, desperately trying to hold back the abnormal tumors growing on her.
Li Huowang swept in, positioning himself protectively before Bai Lingmiao. He stared directly into Zuoqiu Yong's eyes.
However, Zuoqiu Yong completely ignored Li Huowang and instead looked at Li Sui. "Oh~ And here I was wondering who you were. Aren't you Li Sui? So you are the Chief of the Liang Kingdom's Surveillance Bureau?"
"Aunty, long time no see," Li Sui said, her voice calm.
"Li Sui, do you like red a lot? It's very tacky."
"My father likes red, so I'm just following his example," Li Sui replied, moving to stand beside LI Huowang.
Zuoqiu Yong fished out a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat off her forehead. "So you want to fight me this time? I spared you last time when you were trying to stop me from taking some of the Qi Kingdom's Dragon Veins. I will kill you for real this time."
Li Huowang felt a surge of anger due to their conversation. "You damned eunuch, are you ignoring me?"
"Yes."
Without another word, Zuoqiu Yong launched herself toward Bai Lingmiao. The Twisted One of the Heavenly Mater was her sole objective.
Bai Lingmiao did nothing. She simply chanted and made seals with her hands.
"Wall!" Li Huowang let out a fierce roar as multiple earth walls erupted from the ground, effectively blocking Zuoqiu Yong's path.
She halted inches from the wall, plucking something from her body and throwing it on the ground with disgust.
"Ho~ Who plastered the Heavenly Dao of Death onto me? So disgusting."
Chapter 944 - Wait
Zuoqiu Yong turned and looked at Bai Lingmiao playfully. "Now I see that the Heavenly Mater has the Heavenly Dao of Death, but unfortunately, it's useless to me. I am not a mortal after all."
She snapped her fingers toward Bai Lingmiao. Trees and bushes burst out from the ground to envelop Bai Lingmiao.
Li Huowang snarled and swung his arm. The plants magically disappeared as if they had never been there.
Li Huowang's action finally caught Zuoqiu Yong's attention.
"Tsk tsk tsk, now who have we here? To think that you would grow so much in just a few days."
Zuoqiu Yong spoke with arrogance, still dismissing Li Huowang as a threat.
Li Huowang couldn't tell if Zuoqiu Yong was serious or pretending, but it didn't matter.
Surveying their surroundings, Li Huowang realized they couldn't fight in the middle of Shangjing. Millions of people were there, and the collateral damage could be catastrophic.
"Change!" Li Huowang pushed his arms forward, and everything around him changed rapidly. Now, everyone was back in the Tianchen Kingdom.
The prosperous Shangjing had turned into the forests of the Tianchen Kingdom.
"Oh, ho~ Not bad, kid. It looks like you've learned quite a lot," Zuoqiu Yong said.
Li Huowang did not waste his breath and glared at Zuoqiu Yong's burgeoning form.
Under his gaze, Zuoqiu Yong quickly disintegrated. With his cultivation, he only needed a short amount of time to reduce someone into nothingness.
However, Zuoqiu Yong's body continuously regenerated, mending itself faster than Li Huowang could break it down.
Zuoqiu Yong had the Heavenly Dao of Growth. Any wounds that could be healed by growing back her flesh weren't a threat to her.
She smiled as her body regenerated. "Unfortunately, you're still too weak. You were smart last time and managed to trick me, but tricks cannot last forever. Today, I'll show you the true gulf between our powers."
Zuoqiu Yong raised her arms into the air and appeared to struggle as she held onto an invisible weight.
"Wait!"
A voice interrupted their fight. They looked to the left and saw a familiar sight running out from the forest. It was Shai Zi.
He didn't wear any disguises. He had his distinctive dice-shaped head.
Standing between the two, Shai Zi gestured for Li Huowang to step back.
Then, Shai Zi turned to Zuoqiu Yong. "Stop, they tricked you. We're on the same side here."
His words confused both sides.
Li Huowang saw Zuoqiu Yong's confusion and realized that Shai Zi was up to something.
Who is he talking about? What does Shai Zi know? Wait, since he's from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, he might be lying again!
While Li Huowang was thinking, Zuoqiu Yong replied to Shai Zi, "Who told you that?"
Shai Zi looked at Li Sui and chuckled. "It was the Chief of the Liang Kingdom's Surveillance Bureau. She said you were moving too quickly—the Heavenly Mater had just been reinstated, and yet you were already on the move. It was too strange, so she sent me to check.
"And lo and behold, my spies discovered something interesting. You somehow caught wind of the news when the Heavenly Mater had yet to be reinstated. You were making preparations long before the Heavenly Mater had been reinstated.
"Who would be kind enough to warn you that your enemy is about to be resurrected? Have you considered what their goal might be?"
Zuoqiu Yong stood still with a blank face. No one knew if she was listening to Shai Zi or not.
"Hehehe..." Shai Zi approached Li Huowang and placed his arms on Li Huowang's shoulder. "Can't figure it out? Think carefully. The Dharma Sect had invaded both the Liang Kingdom and the Tianchen Kingdom."
Li Huowang's pupils shrank from the realization. "Do you mean the people from Fu Shengtian?!"
Seeing that Li Huowang was smoothly working with him, Shai Zi clapped vigorously. "That's right. It's them!"
He turned and looked at Zuoqiu Yong. "No matter how dire our current situation, it pales in comparison to the threat from Fu Shengtian. Surely you can see that we're still on the same side here?
"Fu Shengtian tried to attack us last time but failed. They are still trying to invade us. After learning about your old history with the Heavenly Mater, they sent some people to secretly sow discord among us.
"Zuoqiu Yong, don't let them deceive you. They are playing dirty this time. They are disguising their men as ours and trying to make us fight each other."
Zuoqiu Yong's expression remained unreadable, while Li Huowang's mind was overwhelmed with the influx of information.
Could it be true? Did Fu Shengtian plant the seeds of discord between us months ago? Was the previous fight between the Simings just the start, not the end?
Li Huowang tried to calm himself down, knowing better than to trust Shai Zi's words at face value. Wait, this could all be another of Shai Zi's schemes. Maybe it's just a ploy to prevent Zuoqiu Yong from making the right decisions.
Shai Zi was presenting everything as if it were the absolute truth, but when had Shai Zi's words ever been that straightforward? They had always appeared to be truthful.
Li Huowang understood the Sitting Oblivion Dao. No matter how truthful their words might seem on the surface, one could never let down their guard.
Regardless, Li Huowang realized the wisest course was to play along, at least for now.
"Shai ZI, are you telling the truth?" Li Huowang asked.
Shai Zi nodded vehemently. Even his expression looked serious. "It's true! You should know that I never lie. Fu Shengtian's fight with us isn't over yet. The Simings at the Baiyu Capital are still fighting hard. The fight began a long time ago!"
Chapter 945 - Fight
"Zuoqiu Yong! While I don't know much about your past grudges with the Heavenly Mater, we currently face a much bigger threat. Are you still planning to fight with us? Do you not realize what the priority should be?
"The Heavenly Mater is fighting against the Simings from Fu Shengtian. If we were to disturb the Heavenly Mater today, we would interrupt their fight. If our Simings lose, are you confident in fighting against Fu Shengtian alone?
"And remember, the Heavenly Mater is risking her life alongside the other Simings. If you kill her now, you'll be sabotaging their efforts as well. What do you think the Simings will do to you once their fight is over?"
Shai Zi laid out the stakes, attempting to persuade Zuoqiu Yong by mentioning the benefits and risks.
If Li Huowang had been in Zuoqiu Yong's position, he might have trusted Shai Zi and verified the news before attacking the White Lotus Sect.
Still, Li Huowang knew that his own thoughts didn't matter—Zuoqiu Yong's decision was the key.
Zuoqiu Yong stood silently, fiddling with her pink handkerchief as if weighing her options.
While she contemplated, Li Huowang approached Li Sui. "Suisui, is Shai Zi really following your orders? Is he telling the truth?"
Li Huowang wasn't entirely convinced by Shai Zi. However, he trusted Li Sui.
Xuan Pin said nothing, but words materialized on the surface of Li Huowang's Shimmer Mirror.
It's the truth. Father, he's standing on our side. We must trust him. If we can't trust him, we can't trust anyone else.
Li Huowang hesitated but nodded, even as a separate thought lingered in his mind. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
A hazy image suddenly flickered before his eyes. He saw himself holding something in his arms, chasing after a yellow blur.
What is that? Li Huowang pressed his head and murmured, "I can't have random thoughts... not now!"
The more he fought to calm down, the more his thoughts spiraled. A lot of things began to pop around him.
"HA!" A heavy metal ball appeared in his hand, and he smashed it against his head repeatedly. Blood ran down his face, and his skull was visibly dented. Li Huowang only stopped when Bai Lingmiao intervened, trying to stop him.
He grabbed her arms and shook his head. His head throbbed from the pain on the side of his skull.
"It's fine. I'm feeling better now," Li Huowang murmured.
To regain clarity, Li Huowang resorted to the most primitive method: Ba-Hui's pain.
He refused Bai Lingmiao's help and stood up alone. He looked at Zuoqiu Yong, observing her every movement. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes, not now.
Finally, under Li Huowang's watchful gaze, Zuoqiu Yong made her move. She pouted and sighed before looking at Shai Zi.
"Hmph~ Little Shai Zi, your argument is compelling—I even hesitated. However, why should I trust someone from the Sitting Oblivion Dao? Besides..."
Zuoqiu Yong paused, a white cloud forming beneath her feet as she began to levitate.
"...do you really think you have the standing to talk with me about this? None of you can stand as my equals. I've fought tooth and nail—from the Qi Kingdom to the Tianchen Kingdom—so that no one could speak to me without kneeling!"
Bam! A massive pressure descended upon Li Huowang, causing his legs to sink into the ground.
Zuoqiu Yong smirked at the sight. "Only the Simings are worthy of opposing me. Who are you to try to stand in my way?"
Zuoqiu Yong took out a spine sword from her sleeve and swung it lightly. The scene around them warped, and they were suddenly back in Shangjing.
Shangjing was now in chaos. The army of Unspeakable and the bandits from the Tianchen Kingdom were searching for something within the city, killing anyone from the White Lotus Sect without mercy.
The city became plagued by the sounds of killing and murder, prompting the soldiers and Surveillance Bureau of the Liang Kingdom to take action.
Shangjing had turned into a battlefield.
Zuoqiu Yong floated in midair as she looked down at the fleeing civilians with glee. "You've forgotten something. I've invested a lot of resources, and not just to kill the Saintess of the White Lotus Sect. I plan to utterly destroy the entire White Lotus Sect!"
A rift opened up in the sky. People from the Tianchen Kingdom rained down from above.
Li Huowang saw the man with the fox face and stilts through the hole. He seemed taller now that he had absorbed the Twisted One who could travel between the Qi Kingdom and the Liang Kingdom.
"It's a diversion! That bastard is targeting the entire White Lotus Sect!" Li Huowang roared, taking out his spine sword. He stomped hard before launching himself toward Zuoqiu Yong.
Li Huowang persistently murmured to himself, expressing absolute confidence in his ability to kill Zuoqiu Yong.
The blade sliced her in two, but both halves of her body smiled as they regenerated, creating two versions of her.
"Little runt, kneel!" Zuoqiu Yong shouted, pointing at Li Huowang's body. He began aging rapidly, his face quickly melting.
Just as Li Huowang tore off his oversized eyelid, he caught sight of Li Sui's massive frame shielding him. She was taking the brunt of Zuoqiu Yong's attack!
Li Sui's red robes gradually fell off, revealing her massive frame covered in black tentacles.
Her body was covered in it as her tentacles splayed outwards. The decapitated heads she had been propping up with her tentacles started bubbling out.
The heads were all preserved after being covered by Li Sui's tentacles. There were the heads of Shangguan Yuting, a dog, a bear, a youth, and many others.
As her tentacles danced wildly, a tower of heads rose from her body, standing between Li Huowang and Zuoqiu Yong.
Chapter 946 - Change
This was the first time Li Sui showed her actual appearance to Li Huowang. In the past, she had relied on illusion techniques to conceal her real face.
Her suspense eased as she met Li Huowang's gaze. What had to happen eventually was finally unfolding.
Immediately after, Li Huowang saw Bun's dog head open its mouth and speak to him.
"Father, I'll hold them off here. You gather help from the other sects and the other Chiefs of the Surveillance Bureaus. You're the only one who can pull this off."
Li Huowang saw the Shimmer Mirror by his side expand rapidly, transforming from a mirror into a door. Various scenes appeared inside the door. There were temples, Daoist monasteries, caves, and yamens with stone lions at the entrance.
"Can you handle this?" Li Huowang shouted to the figures before him.
"I can barely hold them off for a while. The faster you return, the safer I'll be," Li Sui said, her voice coming from all her heads.
"Alright, I'll get reinforcements. Miaomiao! Shai Zi! Help out!" Li Huowang shouted.
He knew that getting more allies would improve their chances. At the very least, they needed more people to block the army of Unspeakable from assisting Zuoqiu Yong.
Once Li Huowang had dived into the Shimmer Mirror, all of Li Sui's eyes turned back to Zuoqiu Yong.
"Well, well, Li Sui. You've possessed so many people, huh?" Zuoqiu Yong said with a smile. It was as though they were just having a simple chat, just like the conversations they had over one hundred years ago.
"It's all thanks to the assassins you sent after me. I had to learn quite a lot from them to stay alive. Thank you, Auntie."
"Oh, now I see how you became the Chief of the Great Liang's Surveillance Bureau. You probably possessed the former Chief too, didn't you?"
The hair and tentacles sprouting from Li Sui's heads began to writhe, growing rapidly and intertwining.
If the monstrous growth couldn't be stopped, Li Sui would soon turn into a tangled mass of flesh.
"I had no choice. Besides, he thought he could control me. Perhaps he succeeded. And it wasn't just one Chief—I had to devour two to escape from you."
Without waiting for a response, Li Sui began chanting with all her mouths, weaving complex gestures with her countless tentacles.
"ꁣꂝꂻꄌꄧꅂꅵꆈꆣꇅꇨꈄꈠꈷꉔꉦꉷꊅꊙꊻꋹꌕꍋꍧꍿꎰꏋꏪꐆꐡꐺꂞꂼꄨꅃꆉꆤꇆꇩꈅꈡ..."
The voices overlapped endlessly. She raised her tentacles towards the sky.
"ꈄꈠꈷꉔꉦꉷꊅ Steal the Heavens ꄨꅃꆉꆤꇆꇩ!"
The next moment, the once bright and sunny sky became pitch black, as if Li Sui had literally stolen the heavens.
The entirety of the Great Liang was engulfed in total darkness, and the battle between both sides stopped.
"Hmph~ Just a little trick." Zuoqiu Yong sneered. "Li Sui, is this all you've learned after possessing so many people?"
The black sky split open, and a beam of sunlight shot through like a lamp, illuminating both Zuoqiu Yong and Li Sui.
"Li Sui, we still care for you. How about this? Stop now, and I'll adopt you as my daughter," Zuoqiu Yong said, his voice softening unexpectedly.
"Auntie, you taught me many things. Your first lesson was to never trust anyone's words too easily."
The ground beneath Zuoqiu Yong cracked open, and black tentacles wrapped with various heads shot out, quickly surging toward the two Zuoqiu Yongs.
They wrapped around both of them but didn't tear them apart. Instead, they burrowed into their flesh.
Since simple attacks were ineffective, Li Sui planned to absorb Zuoqiu Yong like she had absorbed the others, making Zuoqiu Yong's flesh part of herself using her power as a Black Taisui.
The next moment, Zuoqiu Yong's gaze focused slightly. Li Sui's tentacles withered and turned into dried skin. This trick was not worth even mentioning to Zuoqiu Yong.
"Li Sui, I'm giving you face here. If you don't accept my respect, then you'll have to endure my punishment," Zuoqiu Yong said, her voice raspy.
Long needles threaded with silk shot toward Li Sui, accelerating the fusion of her flesh and blood.
At that moment, the chanting of the White Lotus Sutra echoed across the battlefield.
"Here lies the dry field, with flowing canals. These small streams are covered with green grass. There are lotus pools full of joy. The sound of mandarin ducks in the air is covered with mandala flowers. White and blue lotus..."
Bai Lingmiao sat cross-legged, a Twelve Merit Jade Lotus gently rotating above her head. Soft white light spread outward, enveloping the battlefield as the devotees chanted.
Zuoqiu Yong remained unmoved at the sight of the white light. However, the surrounding army of Unspeakable retreated in fear as though facing their nemesis.
Bai Lingmiao sat there emotionlessly, just like a divine white jade sculpture. The mercy and kindness that radiated from her affected everyone in the area.
Anyone who heard the White Lotus Sutra felt a surge of compassion and dropped their weapons, refusing to see more bloodshed.
"Heavenly Mater?" Zuoqiu Yong hesitated before smiling. "No, you're not her. If you were, you should be thanking me. After all, I wiped out all the Tian Huang nobles who held a grudge against her. Now, the Tianchen Kingdom belongs to me."
Zuoqiu Yong raised a hand, and Bai Lingmiao was instantly pulled toward Zuoqiu Yong. The solemn chanting of the White Lotus Sutra was abruptly cut off.
Just as she was about to collide with Zuoqiu Yong, the heavens suddenly shifted. A beam of light shot down from above towards Zuoqiu Yong.
Zuoqiu Yong looked up and saw two vast seas of yin and yang occupying the skies, one black and one white. Doulao had arrived.
"Hmm?" Zuoqiu Yong glanced to the left and noticed that Li Huowang had returned. He was sitting cross-legged and chanting the Heavenly Treasure of Deception.
"It doesn't take long to bring a few reinforcements," Li Huowang said. He stood up and looked at Zuoqiu Yong in the distance.
Behind him, experts from different sects hurried towards the chaotic battlefield, lending their aid to stabilize the crumbling Shangjing city.
The reinforcements included members from various sects as well as Chiefs from other countries. They understood the interdependent nature[1] of their various countries.
1. The idiom literally means that without the lips, the teeth feel cold. It illustrates the interdependence between the lips and the teeth. ☜
Chapter 947 - Death
As Li Huowang arrived with reinforcements, the precarious situation began to stabilize. This was atop the manifestation of Doulao, summoned by Li Huowang's vastFalse Qi and the Heavenly Treasure of Deception technique.
With Doulao's appearance, the ground began to ripple like water, and everything in the world became increasingly abnormal.
Under Li Huowang's efforts, the enemy forces quickly diminished.
"Doulao! I am Ji Zai!" Li Huowang shouted furiously toward the black-and-white ocean above.
"I know what happened up there from Shai Zi! Since you're allied with the Heavenly Mater, and this person here wants to kill her, you should know what to do as an ally!"
It was unclear whether Doulao understood Li Huowang's words or simply reacted to Zuoqiu Yong's hostility. The Taiji diagram that filled the sky began to spin, as countless Heavenly Daos of Lies rained down on Zuoqiu Yong.
Zuoqiu Yong chuckled, even though suspicion continued to grow in his heart. He was unbothered, despite internally questioning whether his army of Unspeakable would betray him.
"Looks like you still don't understand what you're facing. I knew you'd try this tactic. Attack!"
At Zuoqiu Yong's command, the soldiers of Tianchen Kingdom in Shangjing city dragged up the White Lotus Sect followers and tied them up like livestock. They did not even show mercy to pregnant women.
Throats were slit and their bodies were buried at various points within the capital.
There were tens of thousands of victims, and they looked like random piles of graveyards. However, they were actually prepared to assist Zuoqiu Yong.
Bai Lingmiao sensed the death and despair of her devout followers. Her eyes, hidden behind her white veil, shrank in horror. Rage and murderous intent surged within her, but soon turned into despair and grief.
She shouted out in pain to release her emotions. Her family had suffered similarly, and she hated them as much as she hated her inability to forget them.
"It's an exorcism! Be careful!" The Second Deity loudly warned everyone.
"I'm not sure what he's doing, but this large-scale exorcism array is definitely related to the fengshui and luck of the land!"
"We'll handle it! I'm going to... we're going to stop them! We're going to kill them!" Bai Lingmiao wept as she charged toward Zuoqiu Yong's army of Unspeakable, who were performing the array.
As she moved, the White Lotus Sect followers in the city also mobilized. The trees outside rustled ominously. Evil spirits marked with white lotus symbols joined the battle under the dark, chaotic sky.
The White Lotus followers, seemingly spiritually linked with their Saintess, clashed with the forces performing the exorcism, and fierce combat ensued.
However, despite the resistance, the corpses that surrounded Zuoqiu Yong formed a vast exorcism array which covered the entire capital.
The fengshui immediately shifted in favor of Zuoqiu Yong. The doubts and lies were erased from his mind.
If the heavens were said to belong to Doulao, the earth now belonged to Zuoqiu Yong. Even the powerful Doulao could do nothing against him.
Zuoqiu Yong slowly looked up at the black-and-white Taiji diagram above, "What are you? A Siming defeated by mortals dares to challenge me!"
In the next moment, two versions of Zuoqiu Yong, one black and one white, stepped on clouds and floated toward Doulao.
Li Huowang didn't give up and followed closely behind. The three forces clashed fiercely between heaven and earth.
Whenever Li Huowang attempted to restrain Zuoqiu Yong with his "Truth" cultivation, inexplicable obstacles thwarted his efforts.
The White Lotus followers were dismantling the exorcism array, but Zuoqiu Yong's purpose had already been achieved.
A strange displacement in time and space occurred, and water began to pour from the black-and-white oceans above.
With the chaos, lies across the kingdom of Great Liang turned unstable. Some people grew suspicious of everything, while others believed everyone without question. Some even became compulsive liars. It was a Natural Disaster.
Zuoqiu Yong defeated Doulao's manifestation, then hovered in midair and laughed maniacally, "Hahahaha! Who still dares call me a eunuch who wets his pants? Who dares call me a barren, childless trash?!"
"If I want someone dead, they must die. Even Simings will bow before me! I will be the king of this world, the ruler of all!"
"You castrated loser!"
"What?!" Zuoqiu Yong's eyebrows shot up as he glanced down. He immediately spotted Li Huowang's grinning face.
"You're dead, you little pest," Zuoqiu Yong dived toward Li Huowang.
Li Huowang immediately tried to flee, but the entire Shangjing seemed to conspire against him, and threw obstacles in his path. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Wherever he went, something would block him, trip him, or hit his head.
After a few moments, Zuoqiu Yong had caught up with him. He slashed Li Huowang's neck with his hand, which had a dragon-phoenix ring on it.
Li Huowang's head flew into the air, then flipped several times before it transformed into a twelve-sided die and landed back in place.
Shai Zi sniggered at Zuoqiu Yong, "Haha! You've been tricked."
The next moment, a spine sword pierced through Zuoqiu Yong's chest. A look of disdain crossed his face, "This trivial wound from an ordinary mortal won't harm me."
"Is that so? You might want to check who's holding the sword."
Zuoqiu Yong froze and turned to look behind, only to see Li Huowang's face.
The spine sword was pulled out, and Zuoqiu Yong tried to heal the wound with his Growth supernatural ability. For the first time, his abilities failed.
The pain intensified as blood poured out and drained his vitality.
"Impossible! I removed death from my body. He can't kill me!" Before he could finish, Li Huowang's face peeled away to reveal Bai Lingmiao's determined expression. Her forehead was marked with a glowing white lotus.
"You don't have death, but I can give it back to you. After all, the Heavenly Mater governs the Heavenly Dao of Death."
Bai Lingmiao gritted her teeth and swung her sword, decapitating Zuoqiu Yong in one clean strike.
His lifeless body collapsed, as vitality left him, and he was unable to move ever again.
Everyone around looked up simultaneously, and focused on the remaining Zuoqiu Yong.
Chapter 948 - Dragon Vein
Zuoqiu Yong floated mid-air and gazed down at Li Sui, Li Huowang, Bai Lingmiao, and Shai Zi.
Despite having executed their plan to kill his other half, there was still no trace of seriousness on Zuoqiu Yong's face.
"Oh~ I admit I underestimated you earlier. I didn't expect you to cooperate like that. But if you think that little trick is enough to defeat me—this Siming's physical body—you're sorely mistaken," Zuouqiu Yong said.
Li Huowang looked intently at Zuoqiu Yong. "You may be a Siming, but do you think I'm not?"
Without hesitation, Li Sui moved behind Li Huowang, lifting the skin on his back to squeeze herself inside him. Her writhing mass of tendrils and human heads slithered through.
The black tendrils covered in heads emerged from different parts of Li Huowang's body and writhed in the air.
"Go!" He tugged on Bai Lingmiao's sleeve, and they shot forward at Zuoqiu Yong. They planned to use the same tactic that had worked on the previous Zuoqiu Yong.
However, Zuoqiu Yong was prepared. He raised his hands toward the sky, and a dragon's roar echoed through the air.
Sixteen golden dragons surged from all directions, coiling around both Zuoqiu Yongs. They transformed into intricate golden tattoos that spread across his skin.
Li Huowang's face darkened. The sixteen golden, shimmering tattoos would block any Heavenly Daos, including Bai Lingmiao's Heavenly Dao of Death!
This wouldn't work. If Bai Lingmiao couldn't inject death into Zuoqiu Yong, he would never die.
"We need to strip the Dragon Veins from him first!" Li Huowang said.
The tendrils from his body shot out to entangle Zuoqiu Yong. Li Sui's tendrils flattened like murals, adhering to Zuoqiu Yong and coiling tightly around the Dragon Veins.
However, with a mere wave of his hand, Li Sui's tendrils crumbled into dust and disintegrated bit by bit.
Zuoqiu Yong quickly morphed into a half-dragon, causing everything within a radius of one hundred feet to freeze in place.
Zuoqiu Yong smiled slightly. "It seems you don't understand the origin of these Dragon Veins. These come from the Heavenly Dao of the Siming of Order, Panchi. Do you think you can challenge me when I control sixteen Heavenly Daos of Order?
"Should I call you brave fools, or pigs too dumb to know better?"
Li Huowang struggled desperately in the air, but he couldn't move an inch. It was as though he had turned to wood, incapable of motion.
His eyes widened right as he was about to be beheaded. A fiery Peng Longteng appeared beside Zuoqiu Yong, riding a massive horse. She rose her blazing halberd up high, ready to strike down.
That wasn't all. Zhuge Yuan, dressed in white and brush in hand, leaped out from behind her, charging toward Zuoqiu Yong.
Li Huowang's mind reeled as more allies materialized—everyone he had ever fought with appeared one by one, rushing toward Zuoqiu Yong.
Yet, under the influence of the Heavenly Dao of Order, they could freeze at any moment, transitioning from a state of life to one of death.
However, every time this happened, the immobilized person gradually turned transparent and vanished. Then, they reappeared again, fresh and whole. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Though their strength varied, none of them could match Zuoqiu Yong. They were simply buying Li Huowang time to break free.
Abbess Jingxin's massive, greasy body came crashing down onto Li Huowang and the others.
She rolled them away like a meatball, propelling them far beyond Zuoqiu Yong's hundred-feet domain.
Regaining control of his body, Li Huowang looked up to see a downpour of flesh and blood. Every ally he had conjured, including Dan Yangzi and Zhuge Yuan, had been torn apart, their remains scattered to the ground.
These people were real. They were blood and flesh.
Zuoqiu Yong's power was beyond anything Li Huowang had ever encountered.
"Father, don't panic. He may have the Dragon Veins, but so do we."
"Senior Li!" A familiar voice called from behind. Li Huowang turned around and saw five Dragon Veins slithering toward him. They were led by none other than Gao Zhijian.
Draped in dragon robes, Gao Zhijian lay on top of the stacked Dragon Veins as they moved toward Li Huowang.
"Senior Li, we've come to help!" Gao Zhijian said.
Gao Zhijian had already sensed the gravity of the situation from the palace. He had mobilized the other Dragon Veins to assist without hesitation, arriving just in time.
Li Huowang could sense the dense Dragon Qi around them. He gave Gao Zhijian a firm nod and pressed his hands to the ground.
The earth quaked, and a massive bronze tree shot up from the soil, lifting the five Dragon Veins. Li Huowang and Li Sui's countless tendrils began to form gestures and cast the Dragon-Slaying Immortal-Killing Array.
Two dragon horns sprouted from Bai Lingmiao's forehead, while scales appeared and shed from Li Huowang's skin. Even the heads on Li Sui's tendrils grew dragon whiskers.
Zuoqiu Yong smirked, stepping closer. "Well, well. I never imagined the Dragon Veins of the Great Liang would be so close to you."
Li Huowang exhaled deeply, and two puffs of white steam escaped from his mouth. He raised his right foot and took a step toward Zuoqiu Yong, followed by another step.
The previous feeling of paralysis had vanished, and even the Heavenly Dao of Growth and exorcism array no longer affected him.
"Now that we both have the Heavenly Dao of Order, I guess it's down to a head-on clash?" Li Huowang gritted his teeth. He raised his fist high, the tendrils mirroring his motion.
"And it seems like I have more people on my side," Li Huowang said. Countless figures materialized around him—his new allies.
He had successfully attained all six chakra points, and in doing so, he had truly accomplished his objective of turning his thoughts into reality.
"Hehe~" Zuoqiu Yong chuckled, casually picking up a broken bone and scraping the flesh from his hand as if he were peeling noodles. "Really? I don't quite see it that way."
Chapter 949 - End
Zuoqiu Yong continued to slice away at his flesh with the broken bone. The pieces that fell to the ground quickly wriggled and grew. In just a few seconds, a few Zuoqiu Yongs appeared on the ground, writhing and regenerating.
Thanks to the power of the Heavenly Dao of Growth, every piece of flesh and bone he cut off grew into another Zuoqiu Yong.
"Turning flesh into soldiers?"
Li Huowang's face turned grim. While the Heavenly Dao of Growth no longer worked on him, it still worked on Zuoqiu Yong.
Over ten Zuoqiu Yongs had risen from the ground in just a short time. With a stomp of his foot, Li Huowang charged at Zuoqiu Yong to stop his cutting further.
The half-formed Zuoqiu Yongs rushed forward to block him, but Feng Erniu charged up to shield Li Huowang from them with his abacus.
A fierce battle erupted between both sides, each with their unique abilities. Li Huowang paid no attention to the others. His focus remained solely on the Zuoqiu Yong with the Dragon Veins.
The other Zuoqiu Yongs were insignificant. What mattered was the one with the sixteen Dragon Veins!
Li Huowang swiftly projected his image. This time, instead of shifting a short distance, he appeared directly in front of Zuoqiu Yong.
Li Huowang clamped on Zuoqiu Yong's hand, with the broken bone clenched within it. As he did, he quickly coiled around the Dragon Veins on Zuoqiu Yong with his tentacles. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
At that moment, two fully-formed Zuoqiu Yongs jumped out from the side and rushed at Li Huowang.
"Die, Li Huowang!" They lunged at Li Huowang, but their hands twisted and stabbed towards Zuoqiu Yong instead.
"Huh?" Zuoqiu Yong couldn't believe what was happening. The next instant, their faces quickly melted, and their heads turned into Shai Zi.
The two Shai Zis attacked from both sides, reaching for Zuoqiu Yong's Dragon Vein tattoos. One of them shoved a fake Dragon Vein inside while the other forcibly pulled a real one out of Zuoqiu Yong.
The sound of dragon roars filled the air, and the surrounding space trembled.
Shai Zi realized that brute force wouldn't work and quickly switched tactics. They pulled out several more dice and forcefully pressed them into the heads of the Dragon Veins.
The Dragon Veins on Zuoqiu Yong seemed to take on a will of their own, as if they wanted to escape from him.
Zuoqiu Yong wasted no time and started chanting a spell to regain control. However, Li Huowang had already closed in on him, cutting off any chance to complete it.
Li Huowang's mouth stretched open wide, emitting a retching sound. He spewed out a mixture of blood and Li Sui onto Zuoqiu Yong's mouth.
The bloated body of Li Huowang shrank rapidly. Zuoqiu Yong, on the other hand, swelled up.
Pop! Two black, slimy tentacles burst from Zuoqiu Yong's eye sockets and thrashed wildly.
Li Huowang's expression hardened. Those fighting the other Zuoqiu Yongs vanished and reappeared by his side to restrain the main Zuoqiu Yong.
In the past, his "Truth" cultivation would have dispersed once upon encountering the Dragon Veins, but things were different now. These allies were undeniably real in Li Huowang's heart.
Li Huowang and the others seized the opportunity while Zuoqiu Yong was restrained by Li Sui. They quickly ripped out all sixteen Dragon Veins.
Finally, Bai Lingmiao injected Death back into Zuoqiu Yong.
The chaos in Shangjing City stopped.
The Twisted One closed the passage from the Tianchen Kingdom to the Great Liang. The weakened Tianchen forces retreated under the onslaught of the Great Liang's soldiers, who had returned to aid in the defense.
The Dragon Veins lay pinned to the ground as Li Huowang gazed at them, exhaling deeply. With these Dragon Veins, the sky of the Great Qi could finally survive.
After all the turmoil, there would be some peace.
"I didn't help for free. I want one of those Dragon Veins. I made a deal with your daughter," Shai Zi said, walking over to Li Huowang.
Li Huowang wiped the blood from his face. He looked at Shai Zi, his gaze filled with a multitude of emotions. "Why did you help? I just can't figure it out."
Zuoqiu Yong was dead, and Shai Zi had not played any tricks, at least in this matter.
Shai Zi laughed and said candidly, "I help whoever wins."
His honesty left Li Huowang speechless.
"You can have a Dragon Vein and consider it your payment. But next time, don't wait until the last moment to share any news."
"Of course, Lord Ji Zai!" Shai Zi grinned and went off to pick a Dragon Vein.
Meanwhile, Li Huowang stared at the remaining fifteen Dragon Veins, troubled by their amount. While there were plenty of Dragon Veins, they wouldn't be enough. The Great Qi had none of its own, after all.
Moreover, they couldn't take all the Dragon Veins from the Tianchen Kingdom, as there were still people living there. If they took everything, the people of the Tianchen Kingdom would face the same disaster the Great Qi had just experienced.
Li Huowang was deep in thought when a shadow suddenly appeared overhead. He looked up and saw a tower of heads wrapped in countless tentacles.
It was Li Sui, his daughter.
Li Huowang smiled at her. "Suisui, we won."
"Yes, we won," Li Sui repeated.
At that moment, Bai Lingmiao quietly leaned against Li Huowang. Just then, one of Li Sui's tentacles reached into Bai Lingmiao's ear.
Bai Lingmiao paused briefly, nodding slightly before walking toward the White Lotus Hall.
"Why did you send her away? Is there something you want to say to me?"
Li Huowang looked at the heads on Li Sui before looking back at the Dragon Veins. "Look at these Dragon Veins. You're also a Chief, so help me figure out how to distribute them across the three timelines.
"How many Dragon Veins are left in the Great Liang? Do we have enough divisions? Do we need to restore it to eleven Dragon Veins?
"And what do you think is the minimum number of Dragon Veins needed to maintain the first timeline?"
Thump! The tower of heads slammed down in front of Li Huowang, interrupting his train of thought.
"Father, seeing me like this, don't you want to ask anything?"
Li Huowang's heart trembled. He looked at the heads and opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn't know where to begin.
Li Huowang and Li Sui—father and daughter—stared at each other in silence.
Finally, Xuan Pin broke the silence. "I'm sure you've already guessed, even if I don't say it out loud."
"Let's talk later. The city is in chaos right now, and there's no time for idle chat," Li Huowang said, turning to leave.
However, a single sentence from behind stopped him in his tracks.
"Father, I'm afraid I haven't been your Li Sui for a long time now."