The doctor was pleasantly surprised and thrilled that Li Huowang was listening to him.
"Li Huowang, it was all because your subconsciousness managed to hear it. That's why it woke you up from your hallucination when Yang Na came here to visit. It was not a coincidence. There aren't that many coincidences in this world. You don't wake up to that hallucination when something happens there, but the opposite is true, and the hallucination changes according to what happens here.
"What the fuck are you talking about—" Li Huowang suddenly realized something. "Wait, you are right! That makes sense! So this world is real!"
"Hm?" The doctor scratched his wig in confusion. Even though the patient had accepted his explanation, he felt something amiss.
It's fine. As long as he accepts it. the doctor thought. He looked at Li Huowang and said, "See, if this world is real, doesn't it mean that side is fake?"
"No! That side is real too!" Li Huowang said without any hesitation. "My subconsciousness detected that I need to wake up here so that's why the primordial breath in my body leaked out to make me come back to this world! It's not a coincidence!"
The doctor was confused after hearing what Li Huowang was talking about. Primordial breath? Did he change the entire script just to fit his narrative?
"No, no, no, Li Huowang, you have to listen to me ..."
"No! Shut up! You listen to me! The primordial breath in my body might not just be part of the Heavenly Dao—it might also be a key to two worlds, just like Zhuge Yuan! That makes sense, as your constitutions are special! Yes, that's right! Maybe when the Heavenly Dao was split apart in that crazy world, it traveled through dimensions and got stuck to my body here. That's why I can travel between worlds. This world is real, and that world is real, too! Both worlds are real!"
The doctor was bewildered by what he was hearing about the so-called "primordial breath" and "Zhuge Yuan."
Li Huowang ran up and hugged the doctor. "Thank you, doctor! Everything makes sense now! Anyway, the surroundings are blurring again, so I will have to go back now. We can talk more next time!"
Li Huowang had just said goodbye when he saw the doctor's face being flayed until there was only a flayed dog standing upright.
The bright surroundings turned dark, and Li Huowang was back in the forest once again.
He tried calming himself down. He wanted to share the exciting news, but Li Sui wouldn't understand him at all.
Calm down. I just need to continue cultivating. The other side will eventually become real. I can't give up now. Zhuge Yuan is waiting for me to save him!
Li Hyowang took some deep breaths before looking at the skinned dog in front of him. "Li Sui, why are you here? Didn't I tell you to run with your mother? Where is she?"
"Dad, she's behind you."
Li Huowang turned around and immediately sighed in relief when he saw Bai Lingmiao standing there. He picked up Zhuge Yuan's spine sword and approached her. He sounded disgruntled as he asked, "Why did you come back?"
"Senior Li, you said that the Sitting Oblivion Dao is targeting us. I was afraid that you'd be swapped by them if we got separated for too long, so I came back here with Li Sui."
Li Sui chimed in, "Mother said that we can help you."
Bai Lingmiao lowered her head in regret when Li Huowang sighed and hugged her. Li Huowang stroked her white hair and said, "It's fine. As long as you are safe."
Li Huowang coughed lightly when he saw that Zhuge Yuan and everyone else were staring at him. Then, he decided to bring Bai Lingmiao and Li Sui to the carriage.
The chaotic night ended just like that. It was a dangerous night, but Li Huowang still managed to accomplish what he needed to do, so he was quite satisfied with tonight's events.
The next day at noon, Li Huowang reached a small hill next to a waterfall. He hadn't slept a wink and carried three swords on him at all times.
Li Huowang swept his gaze across the tiny yellow flowers dotting the beautiful landscape and nodded with satisfaction.
"Senior Zhuge, what do you think about this place's Fengshui? Not bad right? Let me bury your corpse here." Li Huowang took out his purple-tasseled sword to dig out a grave.
"Junior Li, no need to be in a rush," Zhuge Yuan said. He stared at his own spine, which had been fashioned into a sword on Li Huowang's back, and added, "Junior Li, since you have it now, you should use it instead of burying it."
"What? How can I do that?!" Li Huowang objected, but Zhuge Yuan stopped him with his fan.
"Junior Li, you've risked your life for me too many times now. I am grateful to you, but I'm really worried about how often you risk your life. If my body can be of help to you, I'm more than happy with you using it to ensure your survival."
Li Huowang looked down at the sword in his hands and stared at the shriveled head of Zhuge Yuan, which had become the sword's pommel. He had to admit that it was indeed a good weapon.
He would take it without hesitation if it wasn't for the fact that it was made from the spine of his good friend.
"Junior Li, if one wants to aim for greatness, one must not be shackled down by the mundane. You are surrounded by exceptionally strong enemies. What if that weapon ends up saving you at a critical juncture? You would die without it, and I would die, too. It doesn't matter even if you bury the sword here, as I will still be here with you instead of resting in peace."
Li Huowang made up his mind at Zhuge Yuan's remark. He placed the spine sword on his back and ran back into the carriage. Moments later, he brought out two bowls and poured water into them before biting his fingertip and dripping his blood into the bowls. Afterward, he poured one of the bowls of water infused with his blood onto the spine sword. Then, he raised the other bowl into the air toward Zhuge Yuan. "Come! Senior Zhuge, we are now sworn brothers! I, Li Huowang, swear that I will do my best to resurrect Zhuge Yuan!"
Zhuge Yuan stood solemnly and looked at Li Huowang drinking the water in the bowl before he himself made a gesture of drinking from an imaginary bowl.
While Li Huowang and Zhuge Yuan were drinking, the Sitting Oblivion Dao's illusion beside them chimed in sarcastically, "You and I have become brothers. We were not born on the same day, but we seek to die on the same day! Ahahahahah!~"
Chapter 501 - New Things
Li Huowang's expression was solemn as he gripped the spine sword in his hand. His gaze was focused on a green snake resting on a green bamboo in the distance.
He grabbed the sword tighter as he focused qi on his dantian. Then, Li Huowang slashed out toward the green bamboo.
An invisible sword qi rushed out of the blade, distorting everything it touched into various shapes and colors.
For example, the green bamboo leaves turned yellow and became riddled with insect holes, while the green snake transformed into a flower snake.
The rustling of bamboo leaves echoed incessantly as bamboo poles fell to the ground. As the sword qi gradually dissipated, the distorted scenes gradually returned to their original state.
Li Huowang began experimenting with his new weapon in the bamboo forest, transforming the entire region into a bizarre, distorted area.
After several days of training, Li Huowang gained significant mastery over the spine sword. He could now use "sword qi" to cut an object into three pieces.
In the face of an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, the "sword qi" could even become a rift in space that would transport them to Great Qi.
In essence, this "sword qi" was another layer of history, and it was not something that ordinary artifacts and supernatural powers could withstand.
Moreover, it was invisible, which made it difficult to evade. Most importantly, it could "penetrate" anything. Even someone standing in front of a barrier would find that barrier useless before it.
An hour later, Li Huowang was breathing in ragged pants, astonished by the spine sword in his hand.
He couldn't help but acknowledge that this artifact forged with a Twisted One's corpse was indeed powerful. It surpassed any other magical artifacts he had ever possessed.
Fortunately, he had engaged in close combat with that woman before. The battle would have been challenging if she had kept her distance and had used this spine sword against him from afar.
With this sword, my strength has increased by at least forty percent. Li Huowang thought as he picked up a piece of white cloth from the ground to wrap around the sword.
"Dad, why are you wrapping it with a cloth?" Li Sui asked curiously. She was squatted nearby and had been staring at Li Huowang from the sidelines.
"I got this thing from the Surveillance Bureau, and it also has a striking appearance that will definitely attract attention If I don't cover it up. If the Surveillance Bureau finds out that I have this thing on me, there are going to be consequences."
"What consequences?"
"You... sigh... They will hunt us down."
Li Huowang picked up some bamboo fragments from the ground and wrapped them around the sword, making it appear like a bulky and great sword from the outside.
With that, he took out several black talismans and slapped them on the sword. Of course, the talismans were useless and had no powers.
"Dad, what are these talismans for?"
"They're fake talismans I drew to deceive people. I can't even understand what I drew, so others naturally won't understand it either. Most people will keep their distance from things they don't understand."
"So, it's all about deception?"
With everything prepared, Li Huowang returned the sword to his back and walked toward the carriage with Li Sui.
"Dad, don't you find it burdensome carrying so many swords? How about I help you carry them?"
Li Huowang threw the Luoism's bronze coin sword to Li Sui and said, "Help me carry this one, then."
Li Sui wrapped seven or eight tentacles around it; the tentacles burrowed in and out of the coin holes. Clearly, Li Sui was delighted to have a new weapon. "Thank you, Dad."
"Why thank me? I didn't give that to you; I just want you to carry it. Give it back to me when I need it."
"Oh.."
Li Huowang smiled wryly at Li Sui's dejected reply. He reached into his hat and patted Li Sui's skinless forehead.
"It's okay; you can use it whenever I'm not using it."
"Yay!" Li Sui exclaimed in delight.
Li Huowang shook his head helplessly in response. Despite her intimidating appearance, Li Sui was still a child. Of course, Li Huowang could be blamed partly for Li Sui's personality and mannerisms. When Li Sui was still in his belly, he had taught her to appear naive to prevent inviting trouble upon herself. Now, it seemed to be a bad call.
"Stop playing around. Let's go back."
Li Huowang led Li Sui back to the carriage. The carriage wheels began to turn again, carrying them out of the forest.
Li Huowang still had no intentions of returning to Cowheart Village. He'd occasionally sneak to the relay station to inquire about the succession war.
Once someone had won, the news would be announced through the relay stations across the country. He planned to return only after everything had settled down.
Unfortunately, the succession war seemed to have come to a screeching halt, which disappointed Li Huowang.
As long as the emperor didn't ascend the throne and those royal family members didn't die cleanly, he would not have a peaceful life.
This situation made Li Huowang a bit annoyed. Under such fearful circumstances, it wasn't easy for him to find somewhere quiet to cultivate.
"Stop pushing the horse. Let it rest. It doesn't matter whether it runs faster or slower." Li Huowang said to Li Sui, who was driving the carriage.
Then, he turned to Bai Lingmiao, who was holding a book, and asked, "Can you still see what's written in the book?"
Although Bai Lingmiao's eyes still looked a bit pinkish, they were mostly white. At first impression, she actually appeared to be blind.
"Senior Li, I can see," Bai Lingmiao said. She stretched her slender fingers to touch the characters on the page. "Although I can't see with my eyes anymore, I can read by feeling the differences in the parts stained by ink."
"What are you reading?" Li Huowang asked again.
"Some spirit possession techniques. I can no longer perform as a Shaman, so I've become useless. I want to learn something to protect myself, as I don't want to be a burden." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"Everything from the White Lotus Sect is no good. Don't worry; everything is under my control. I can protect you."
Strands of white hair swayed gently on Bai Lingmiao's face as she shook her head. "Senior Li, I can't always rely on you. There will definitely be times that you're away. You're right; everything from the White Lotus Sect is bad, but it's better than nothing."
Li Huowang was stunned. Moments later, he realized that Bai Lingmiao's personality had changed slightly, and she seemed to have become more courageous than before.
"Hold on, don't even attempt to learn that. I suddenly remembered that I have something particularly suitable for you," Li Huowang said, pulling back the curtain and rummaging through Li Sui's abdomen.
Soon, Li Huowang found the book of talismans he had originally given to Li Sui.
"Dad, that's mine," Li Sui said with a hint of grievance.
"I know it's yours. What's wrong with letting your mother borrow it to learn?"
Li Huowang placed the book in Bai Lingmiao's hands and said, "Take your time learning what's inside of this book. These talismans are useful both in offense and defense. They also can be used for divination.
"Also, you're different from us. You can use these things without any worries. Your eyes are technically blind, so the side-effects of these talismans are ineffective against you."
Chapter 502 - Vision
"Really? That's great!"
Bai Lingmiao carefully took it over and curiously touched the ink stains on it with her fingertips.
Just as Li Huowang was about to help her understand some of the difficult parts, Bai Lingmiao's eyes widened suddenly, and she said, "Senior Li, there are noises coming from the east. It seems like something is approaching."
Li Huowang glanced at her, and then he pulled back the curtains before walking out.
Li Huowang walked deeper into the forest and soon saw where the noises were coming from; they were from two carriages moving in a hurry.
They seemed to be trying to drive the carriages into the forest to shake off something.
They were obviously overdoing it. Soon, the carriages were forced to stop by the bushes and tree branches.
Their pursuers caught up to them in no time, and they were a group of thin men in ragged clothing.
They were not quite bandits, and Li Huowang thought they looked more like refugees fleeing for their lives. Wait a minute... could these people all be part of the Sitting Oblivion Dao, and they've come here to put on a show for me?
Li Huowang quietly pondered over the question. Even if they weren't from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, they could be pawns deployed by the Shai Zi. Li Huowang had to be cautious; they were humans, after all.
However, when Li Huowang saw the haggard bandits pulling crying women and even little girls out of the carriages, he finally decided to take action.
But of course, Li Huowang did not want to fall into a trap, so he decided not to make a move personally.
"Li Sui!" Li Huowang exclaimed.
Li Sui was standing nearby. She took off her hat and revealed her skinless dog face. Li Sui then gripped the bronze coin sword with her tentacles and slashed one of her tentacles in one quick move. Then, she used the oozing black slime to draw chaotic strokes on the turmeric paper.
"Profound understanding intermingles; the five energies surge; golden light speeds through and covers the altar; act swiftly according to the command!"
Li Sui raised the bronze coin sword and thrust it toward the drawn talisman. Her tentacled figure then emerged from the oversized raincoat. She resembled a spider with countless legs as she rushed toward the distant people.
Both the bandits and the victims were terrified at Li Sui's appearance, and they scattered in all directions.
Li Sui chased after them excitedly, as this was her first ever "fight," while Li Huowang stared quietly from behind. He stared closely at the victims and bandits; he observed the subtle changes in their expressions and soon came to a conclusion.
They shouldn't be members of the Sitting Oblivion Dao. If they were just ordinary mahjong tiles, I would easily detect them.
Li Sui returned half an hour later and said, "Dad, they said they're not bad people, and they asked me not to kill them.
"Apparently, a so-called 'Dharma Sect' had forced them out of their homes, rendering them homeless. They don't believe in any gods, so they came out to rob money to buy food."
Li Huowang handed over the raincoat and hat in his hands. Forced by a so-called 'Dharma Sect'? How come they're causing such a commotion?
Li Huowang glanced at Li Sui and advised, "You can't fully believe what they say. Perhaps they were forced into crime, but judging from their actions earlier, they don't seem to be just after money."
Li Huowang took this opportunity to explain what human nature was like, so Li Sui wouldn't be deceived in the future.
Li Huowang and Li Sui returned to the carriage, where they saw Bai Lingmiao sitting quietly with a book in hand.
"Aren't you going to ask what happened over there?" Li Huowang sat down beside her.
"No need, I heard everything from here," Bai Lingmiao's reply made Li Huowang nod in understanding. Her senses had become even keener than his senses, which was something he hadn't anticipated at all.
"Let's move on. It was just a small matter, and the Sitting Oblivion Dao wasn't involved. If Shai Zi was to make a move, it'd be on a greater scale than this."
The carriage moved forward slowly until night shrouded the world.
They set up a bonfire and ate some soft dry rations. Li Huowang took advantage of this free time to practice cultivation.
By the time he was done, it was almost daybreak.
Li Huowang leaned against Bai Lingmiao's legs and closed his eyes. He could barely cultivate during the quiet night, and he'd usually rest on the carriage during the day.
It wasn't that he couldn't cultivate on the carriage, but his primordial breath might end up distorting the carriage, transforming Li Sui and Miaomiao into something unrecognizable.
As the carriage swayed gently, Li Huowang gradually fell into dreamland.
Dazed, Li Huowang felt like he was back in primary school taking an exam. His mind was completely blank, and he could not remember anything.
"Huowang... Huowang!" Yang Na was beside him and was winking at him. She pushed her completed paper toward him.
Li Huowang cupped his fist and showed his appreciation before getting ready to copy her answers.
As the tip of the pen touched the blank paper, ripples appeared on the paper, and his own reflection appeared in the ripples.
It started as a blurry black-and-white image, and then it gradually became a clear and colored image.
The sound of pouring rain echoed as heavy raindrops struck the reflection, shattering it into pieces.
Li Huowang was completely soaked, and he leaned over the puddle to shield it from the rain.
As the ripples on the water's surface disappeared, Li Huowang looked at his own reflection and smiled with satisfaction.
"Li Huowang." A voice echoed from the reflection.
Li Huowang nodded and responded, "Yes, I'm here."
"Li Huowang."
"Yes, I'm here."
"Li Huowang."
"I'm here!"
"Li Huowang."
"I'm here!!" Li Huowang roared, and the entire world suddenly became restless; anxious shadowy figures rushed toward him.
They moved quickly, but they couldn't quite catch up to him. He seemed to be stuck in this eternal loop of fear and impatience.
"Stop calling out to me! I'm here!" Li Huowang felt like he was going crazy. He clasped his hands together and smashed the reflection.
The sound of breaking glass echoed, and Li Huowang found himself falling endlessly toward somewhere along with the innumerable glass fragments.
The feeling of weightlessness made Li Huowang curl up instinctively like a baby. He waited quietly for the impact.
Just then, a massive hand reached down from above and grabbed Li Huowang.
When Li Huowang opened his eyes, he found himself in an inverted world. He found himself lying on a cliff while holding someone's hand. It was Zhuge Yuan's hand.
"Brother Li! Help me!" Zhuge Yuan roared, seemingly in extreme agony.
"Don't let go! Don't ever let go! I'll pull you up right now!" Li Huowang exclaimed. He held on tightly with both hands and exerted all his strength.
However, he soon despaired as Zhuge Yuan became heavier and heavier.
Finally, Li Huowang could no longer hold on; Zhuge Yuan fell toward the endless abyss down below.
"Brother Li! Help me! I-It's so painful!"
"Ah!" Li Huowang exclaimed and sat right up. Then, he started gasping for air.
After a while, he heard noises outside the carriage. The rain was here.
Chapter 503 - Dream
"Senior Li? Senior Li?"
Bai Lingmiao called out softly. Before her, Li Huowang was absent-mindedly staring at the soup that had cooled for quite a while.
"Senior Li, what's wrong?" Bai Lingmiao gently touched his hand, which caused Li Huowang to abruptly snap out of his daze.
"Nothing much. I'm just thinking about the dream from yesterday," Li Huowang handed the bowl and chopsticks over to her.
"That bad dream? It's okay; my mother said that dreams are inverse of the truth," Bai Lingmiao took the bowl and chopsticks, then headed towards the riverbank.
Inverse? Li Huowang stared at Zhuge Yuan in the distance silently.
When Bai Lingmiao returned with the cleaned utensils, Li Huowang shook his head, "Forget it; it's just a dream after all. Maybe it's just my mind wandering at night."
Just as he was about to leave, Li Huowang suddenly noticed someone missing, "Miaomiao, where's Li Sui?"
"She's playing in the water not too far away."
Li Huowang shook his head helplessly and remarked, "She really is just like a child."
Then, he walked toward the river to find Li Sui.
Li Huowang saw Li Sui's oversized raincoat, but he didn't see her playing in the water. Instead, Li Sui was sprawled out by the river like a dog, staring at a few wriggling carps before her.
"You've captured those fish, so why are you staring at them instead of eating them?" Li Huowang asked.
"I've eaten my share. This is Second Mom's share. I'm waiting for her," Li Sui said.
Li Sui's words made Li Huowang retract his hand, which was about to pat her head.
Li Huowang looked at Li Sui with a complex expression. Had she yet to realize that the Second Deity was no more?
Just then, there was movement in the bushes to the left, which made Li Sui perk up. A wild gray rabbit dashed out, prompting Li Sui to lower her head dejectedly, resting it on her crossed forelimbs.
"Li Sui, stop waiting for her. Second Mom is gone and won't come back."
For the first time ever, Li Sui didn't believe Li Huowang's words. "Second Mom will definitely come back. She told me that she would come back ."
"Li Sui!"
Li Huowang's reprimand made Li Sui feel wronged. "Why won't you let me wait for Second Mom? She clearly said she would come back."
Li Huowang sighed deeply, and then he reached out to pick her up from the ground. He then proceeded to stroke her wriggling tentacles. "It's all over, and we need to move on."
Just as he said that, Li Huowang heard familiar chewing noises behind him.
"Second Mom!" Li Sui broke free from Li Huowang's embrace and rushed forward in delight. "I knew you would come back!"
When Li Huowang turned around, he was shocked to see the Second Deity with a red veil. She was picking up the wriggling carps and were stuffing them into her red veil.
This... this is impossible! Li Huowang rushed over in disbelief and lifted the Second Deity's red veil.
"Ah!" Li Huowang was shocked by what he saw, and he suddenly found himself sitting and panting in the carriage while covered in a layer of cold sweat.
Bai Lingmiao took out a white handkerchief and gently wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead, "Senior Li, you've been having bad dreams over these past few days."
Li Huowang didn't answer. He cast a strange gaze at her before looking around.
He then decisively pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed it into his left forearm.
The piercing pain made Li Huowang sigh in relief. That was a dream just now, and it wasn't real.
"Ah! Senior Li, what are you doing!" Bai Lingmiao knelt down before Li Huowang, and she frantically looked for a needle and thread to suture the wound.
"It's nothing, I'm fine. I just need to... sober up!" Li Huowang exclaimed, twisting the hand holding the dagger.
"Senior Li, why don't you stop cultivating in such a ravenous way? There's no rush now anyway." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"No! I only have two years, and I must seize every moment! It has nothing to do with my cultivation! I think there's something wrong with the dream itself!"
Li Huowang's expression turned serious. Could it be Shai Zi? I've been avoiding other people so they can see no gaps in reality. Does that mean they've decided to try and deceive me through my dreams?
It was just speculation, but Li Huowang had to be cautious. Against a Shai Zi, it was never wrong to be vigilant.
"Miaomiao, Li Sui, have you guys had any dreams these days?" Li Huowang asked the two of them.
"Senior Li, I haven't."
"Dad, what's a dream?"
Li Huowang was slightly relieved. At least, he was the only one suffering.
Li Huowang pulled open the curtains. Then, he turned to the misty forest and roared, "Shai Zi! Stop fooling around! I can't help you with this! Go find someone else!"
His voice echoed pervaded the woods. Apart from startling a few birds, there seemed to be no other response. Li Huowang closed the curtains and turned to Bai Lingmiao, who was still suturing his wound and said, "Let's stop traveling and find a place to settle down instead. We'll stay there for a year or so, and then we'll come back. We have to keep taking it slow!"
The carriage no longer wandered aimlessly on the road, as they headed towards the distant mountains.
Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Li Huowang looked around for a sturdy rock wall and picked up his spine sword.
Li Huowang slashed out, carving open a cavity in the cliff. The rocks were sent directly to the Great Qi. After a while, a clean and tidy cave appeared before Li Huowang.
With the carriage serving as the cave's door, the cave dimmed and became silent.
A bonfire was soon made, and it cast an orange light on the rock walls, making the cave feel much warmer.
After eating fragrant buns for dinner, it was time for Li Huowang to cultivate again. He wasn't afraid of Shai Zi while he was cultivating. Even he himself dared not approach a Strayed One that was cultivating the "Truth."
Li Huowang stood guard at the entrance of the cave, and he sat down cross-legged with closed eyes. As he took a deep breath, he used the so-called "inner sight" from his eyes to drag the primordial breath in his body toward the second chakra point in his abdomen.
Li Huowang gradually entered a state of forgetfulness. He forgot about the rain, forgot about Shai Zi, and forgot about everything. In his mind, there were only two things: one was the quiet and bound primordial breath, while the other was his empty Sacral Chakra.
Li Huowang cultivated quietly, seemingly unaware of the ticking time. Just then, his primordial breath seemed to have been attracted by something, and it began to move much faster within him.
When his primordial breath collided with the Sacral Chakra, it shrouded it and started orbiting it at a constant rate.
The faint yellow light of the primordial breath gradually seeped into the chakra point, and six lotus petals with the same color appeared intermittently around the Sacral Chakra point.
Chapter 504 - Zhuge
Success!
Li Huowang excitedly opened his eyes. He was suspended in mid-air, and then he suddenly plummeted toward the unrecognizable ground down below.
As the ground drew nearer, Li Huowang closed his eyes abruptly. I'm falling into a body of water. Good thing I know how to swim!
Splash!
Li Huowang crashed into the water, and the impact propelled water into his mouth.
Li Huowang swam amidst the cold water, and when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that he had already returned to the shore. He turned around and looked at the hard rocks behind him, which caused ripples in the water. He couldn't help but clench his fists in excitement. My ability to cultivate the "Truth" is getting stronger. At this rate, the world over there will become—No! That world is real! That world is real! I'm cultivating the 'Truth' now to resurrect Zhuge Yuan!
With that thought in mind, Li Huowang turned toward Zhuge Yuan in the distance and shouted, "Brother Zhuge, come over here!"
When he saw Zhuge Yuan standing before him again, Li Huowang gritted his teeth and reached out a trembling hand to pat his shoulder. Zhuge Yuan is still alive! Everything that happened in Shangjing was fake! It was all an illusion!
This time, Li Huowang didn't pass through him like usual. Instead, he could make contact with Zhuge Yuan.
The touch felt so realistic as well.
However, it only lasted for a few breaths. After a while, Li Huowang's face distorted in pain, and he had to let go of Zhuge Yuan's shoulder.
"Dan Yangzi could easily become a half-Immortal using the primordial breath in my body. Why is it so troublesome when I'm the one using it?" Li Huowang pinched his temple lightly to assuage the splitting headache.
"Brother Li, that is natural. The primordial breath you've unintentionally borrowed before was like a fire. Anyone can start a fire, but the bigger the fire, the harder it is to control. The fire you have at the moment is tiny, but it is a fire that truly belongs to you. You have complete control over lighting or extinguishing it or using it for various purposes."
Li Huowang felt much calmer. He didn't need to rush, as the primordial breath in his body was still there.
Although Zhuge Yuan's body only lasted a short time, he truly had a physical body. When he completely mastered the power within him, he would be able to resurrect Zhuge Yuan, just like how Dan Yangzi became an immortal back then.
"I... I can't continue. Brother Zhuge, I need to rest for a while, or else this primordial breath might become unstable again," Li Huowang swayed unsteadily towards the cave entrance. He fell asleep without even saying a word to Bai Lingmiao.
When Li Huowang opened his eyes again, there were crisp chirping sounds outside, which suggested that the rain had stopped. The sunlight streaming into the cave through the cracks proved it was good weather.
"Brother Li, you seem to have slept well without any nightmares this time. Is everything okay now?" Bai Lingmiao scooped up half a bowl of porridge with wild vegetables from the iron pot hanging over the campfire. She brought it over with joy on her face.
"It's just one day and doesn't prove anything. Let's see how it goes later," Li Huowang picked up the porridge and began to eat ravenously, as he was very hungry at the moment.
After finishing a bowl, Bai Lingmiao scooped up more porridge while Li Huowang continued, "Let's see how it goes later. If Shai Zi has any more tricks, I'll have to come up with a plan to stay awake completely."
"Would not sleeping at all be okay?" Bai Lingmiao served another bowl of porridge.
"Hehe. In this crazy world, even the dead can come back to life. What difference does it make if I don't sleep? Besides, if Shai Zi has any more tricks up his sleeves, I'll just have to deal with them then."
"He better not push me too far. If he does, I'll report him directly to the Surveillance Bureau!"
Li Huowang stared at Bai Lingmiao, where several white hairs were growing on the left side of her delicate face.
Li Huowang's expression froze, and he immediately stabbed a dagger into his thigh, but there was no pain.
Li Huowang glared coldly at Bai Lingmiao. "Boss Shai Zi, three times is enough. Aren't you going a bit too far?"
Bai Lingmiao's face split open from the white hair, revealing a constantly morphing dice head. "Hong Zhong, it's a troublesome matter. Since we are fellow disciples, I'll help you out. But don't forget that you owe me a favor, and you have to repay it."
"All right..." Li Huowang was filled with despair and desolation as he nodded in agreement. He himself didn't understand why he felt so hopeless and desperate.
"Why did you ask for my help?"
"Because... you're Shai Zi... Even if you tell me the truth, I won't believe it in the future.."
Li Huowang reached out and pressed his handprint on the contract in Shai Zi's hand. Just then, he recalled something. This had already happened, and some of his memories had been altered!
To make matters worse, Li Huowang's body itself was resisting his efforts to recall those memories!
"No... no... no!! Don't follow Shai Zi's path! He's deceiving me! It's all fake!
The scenery before Li Huowang peeled away. A thin, bony hand reached out and grabbed Li Huowang. He was desperately trying to pull himself. up from the edge of the cliff.
"Brother Li! Help me! Help me undo it! I'm really... about to suffocate!" It was still Zhuge Yuan speaking, with his eyes filled with longing and pleading. "I don't want to disturb you in your dreams, but you're the only one now who can help me! Help me undo it! Undo the seal!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
It's fake! It's all fake!! Li Huowang swung his arms frantically until he finally broke free from Zhuge Yuan's control and fell into the abyss.
Beneath the abyss was a turbulent sea where yin and yang met...
That was where the Doulao—the authority behind truth and falsehood—resided. It looked at Li Huowang with the Sacred Mountain Ghost's Eye that it had seized from the Surveillance Bureau.
"Drink!" Li Huowang sat up abruptly as if he had been doused with cold water. He immediately pulled out his dagger and stabbed it into his left hand again.
The piercing pain made Li Huowang feel a little safer. Only pain could dispel this uncertainty that seemed both real and illusory.
When Li Huowang regained his senses and looked around, he realized he was lying in the cave again, which was in a very messy state. Bai Lingmiao and Li Sui were looking at him in astonishment. The spine sword had been unbound from the cloth wrapping and lay before him.
"Senior Li, is that person trying to manipulate your dreams again? Was it that person controlling your body and doing those strange things?" Bai Lingmiao's eyes were filled with deep concern.
"Strange things? What strange things? What did I just do?" Li Huowang hurriedly asked.
"Brother Li, you were struggling on the ground just now, and pulled out that bone sword and untied the cloth. It was as if you wanted to remove the purple talisman from the small head," Zhuge Yuan beside him spoke up.
Li Huowang looked at the spine sword on the ground, then at Zhuge Yuan's shrunken head on the sword hilt and the purple talisman on his forehead.
Talisman? Zhuge Yuan asked me to remove it just now... the talisman? Li Huowang looked up at Zhuge Yuan beside them, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
Could it be... Li Huowang reached out a trembling hand to remove the talisman, and Zhuge Yuan's shrunken head swayed and struggled. At the same time, blood, bones, and flesh began to grow rapidly on the spine sword.
The deformed and incomplete organs hung on the spine like fruits, and peach talismans were interspersed among them. "Ah... finally... Brother Li, thank you so much."
When Li Huowang heard that, Zhuge Yuan's illusion next to him flickered, seemingly on the verge of disappearing.
Chapter 505 - Shai Zi
This... This is impossible!! Li Huowang looked at Zhuge Yuan before him and retreated in utter shock.
The spine sword from before had now completely transformed. Chaotic flesh and deformed organs intertwined from the spine, growing out like plants.
It hadn't fully grown into a person. It had become a hazy amalgamation of flesh and blood with interspersed organs. It had stopped growing and had become something that seemed more like a monster than a human.
Although this appearance was terrifying, Li Huowang was absolutely certain that this thing was alive! Zhuge Yuan was still alive!
"How come you're still alive? You were clearly dead! I strangled you with my own hands! Your soul was already trapped in my illusions!"
The half-formed Zhuge Yuan that had grown from the spine sword decisively dug out his skeleton left hand from the flesh and used his bony fingers to flick the bloody hair sticking to his temple.
"Brother Li, what are you saying? I am a Twisted One. Even if I have died, the three souls, ten emotions, and eight sufferings should belong to my old self. How could you take them away?"
Li Huowang staggered at that remark, and his face turned extremely pale. He found it difficult to stand steadily. "So... so they were nothing at all?"
As these words came out of Li Huowang's mouth, memories of past events began to flash in his mind.
Li Huowang looked through his memories in a daze. When he broke free from the Immortal family, the Second Deity didn't sacrifice themself. Instead, he came up with a compromise to get the best of both worlds.
And that was to kill the Second Deity with his own hands, turning her into his illusion like Zhuge Yuan!
He had decided to turn them into reality once he had reached the pinnacle of cultivation.
The Second Deity had agreed, and she was even smiling in glee as he killed her!
"Boss Shai Zi, I've just realized that my illusions are fake... Truly and completely fake... The Second Deity cannot be alive; she was just a figment of my imagination..." Li Huowang muttered in a daze as he sat behind the messy food bar.
"So why have you come here to ask for my help? Hong Zhong, you've already killed her. I can't do anything. I'm not a deity," the chubby Shai Zi said helplessly as he fried dough sticks.
"I'm not asking you to resurrect her; I just want you to help hide the memories I've created. Mix truth with lies, which is what you're good at. Please... I really... I really can't face the illusion of the Second Deity, whom I killed with my own hands."
"She's obviously fake! But how come she's so real? I can't take it... I really can't take it anymore!"
"Ah, okay then. Since we're fellow disciples, I'll help you this time. But you owe me a big favor this time. You must remember to repay it."
The chubby Shai Zi's words faded away, and Li Huowang snapped back to reality. He clenched his fists, and his expression turned fierce as he roared, "No! This is impossible! It's all fake!"
"Senior Li, what's wrong with you? Pull yourself together," Bai Lingmiao reached out to support Li Huowang with tears in her eyes.
Li Huowang felt as if he had caught a lifeline when he saw Bai Lingmiao. He grabbed her slender arm and shook it forcefully. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"Miaomiao! You were there, too, right?!" Li Huowang exclaimed, "Tell me! How did the Second Deity leave back then?! Didn't I strangle her?"
"Senior Li, what are you talking about? Didn't the Second Deity disappear with the Immortal family? What's going on?"
Li Huowang smiled at that remark. Yes, it's all fake! Even if there was something strange with his memories, how could there be something strange with Bai Lingmiao's memories, too?
Just then, Bai Lingmiao's figure rapidly became transparent.
Li Huowang was stunned, but he recovered quickly and roared, "Miaomiao!"
Li Huowang tried to embrace her, but she disappeared like an illusion. He went straight through her.
"Senior Li, what's happening to me..." Bai Lingmiao looked down at her transparent body in bewilderment before vanishing completely.
"Miaomiao!"
"Hong Zhong, don't blame me for that. You didn't return the favor, so I can no longer help you," the chubby Shai Zi said, chuckling as he walked over to Li Huowang. He patted Li Huowang's shoulder with his greasy hand and said nothing.
"Where's Miaomiao? Where did you take Bai Lingmiao?!" Li Huowang stared at Shai Zi with bloodshot eyes as if he wanted to devour the latter alive.
"Hey, you didn't return the favor. As for your woman, I don't know how you created a real one from thin air after you lost her," Shai Zi said, waving his hands in dismissal.
"And did you not hear what I said? If you don't cultivate 'Lies' when you cultivate 'Truth,' you will become a demon. Imagine seeing a living person in front of you; how would you deduce whether they're real or fake? Think about it. Of course, it's a small matter to me. Hehehe~ Help me put that little emperor on the throne, and I'll help you find that woman."
"This is all your fault! This is all your fault!" Li Huowang hysterically reached behind his back and viciously slammed the Profound Records wrapped in flesh on the ground.
Then, he grabbed two barbed iron hooks and stabbed his own abdomen! The barbed iron hooks dragged out Li Huowang's intestines, and he thrust them toward the Profound Records on the ground. The next moment, both heaven and earth seemed to undergo earth-shaking changes, as the world itself changed colors. Everyone's five senses converged on Li Huowang's location.
"Oh dear, what are you doing? What are you trying to do? Trying to rebel against your own boss with the Cang-Qiang Ascension?" Shai Zi retreated without any fear.
Li Huowang felt a gaze sharper and clearer than ever before falling upon him, and he came to a gradual halt upon sensing that gaze.
Once the Profound Records on the floor transformed into a piece of human skin, the gaze from Ba-Hui up above vanished as well.
Li Huowang knelt on the ground, gasping for air. The extreme pain throughout gradually dissipated.
The Cang-Qiang Ascension had no effect on the Shai Zi before him, as the Shai Zi's true self wasn't here. The chubby man was just a pawn of that Shai Zi.
Now that Miaomiao was in his hands, he absolutely couldn't act impulsively if he wanted to save her!
The opponent had good cards to play, while he had no cards in hand. Any reckless moves would only worsen the situation, especially when playing against Shai Zi.
Li Huowang gritted his teeth as he endured the pain. He tremblingly pushed the hooked large and small intestines back into his abdomen.
"Shai Zi! Didn't you tell me to return to Shangjing? Fine! I'll assist Ji Lin in ascending the throne! And you shall return Bai Lingmiao to me with not a single hair harmed!"
"Help Ji Lin ascend for me, and then I'll help you find your white-haired girl. But... Hong Zhong, let me make this clear—I didn't tie her up. We're practitioners of the Sitting Oblivion Dao. If we were to do something as foolish as kidnapping, it would bring shame to our ancestors!"
Li Huowang sneered inwardly. He would never believe a Shai Zi's words. Li Huowang was also convinced that everything had been a part of the Shai Zi's trap!
Even meeting the Surveillance Bureau member wielding the spine sword had to be a part of the trap as well. It was all to deceive Li Huowang into believing that he owed Shai Zi a favor!
No! Everything could have started way earlier as well! Perhaps Li Huowang was also at fault when he stumbled upon Ji Lin being deceived during the Double Third Festival!
This was a Shai Zi's methods—the methods of the Sitting Oblivion Dao!
Chapter 506 - Truth or Lies?
"Come now. Yikes! Be careful. Slowly stuff it back, or your intestines will entwine." Shai Zi carefully helped Li Huowang up and sat him on the carriage. He then started rummaging around in the carriage. "Hong Zhong, where is the Golden Wound medication? I can't seem to find it."
Li Huowang stared at Hong Zhong's back and was puzzled by what was happening.
"Ah! Found it!" Shai Zi took out a bag of Golden Wound medication and sprinkled some on Li Huowang's wound. He clapped his hands in satisfaction once he was done treating Li Huowang. "You're heavily injured. Why don't you rest? I will go boil some bird nests and make you a serving of donkey hide gelatin congee ."
"Why do I need to help Ji Lin succeed to the throne? Is he a Sitting Oblivion Dao member?" Li Huowang asked, trying to piece together the puzzle pieces to determine Shai Zi's goal.
"You're thinking too much. How could the imperial family be part of the Sitting Oblivion Dao? They are the people chosen by the gods themselves. Don't worry about the 'why' first. You just need to help him ascend to the throne, and your job is done. Of course, you can find me if you want in on the next steps as well after that. Don't worry; there are people helping us in the palace." Shai Zi chuckled and patted Li Huowang's shoulder. "Do you not need me to take care of you? Then I will leave first. Once you've recovered, you need to make haste and go back to Shangjing. There are many people scrambling to get official positions, and everything is in chaos."
Shai Zi covered Li Huowang's body with a thin blanket before leaving.
Li Huowang stared in the direction where Shai Zi had disappeared before smashing the wooden floor of the carriage with his right fist.
Li Huowang understood them the most. He was afraid that even if he helped Ji Lin succeed to the throne, Shai Zi still wouldn't give Miaomiao back to him. It would be an insult for a trickster to trust someone blindly!
Shai Zi would definitely use Bai Lingmiao as a hostage and squeeze out every single drop of value Li Huowang had to offer!
However, he was already on the web, so he had no choice but to follow the path that Shai Zi had laid out for him. Of course, Li Huowang swore to find a way to break out of Shai Zi's intricate plan once he learned of the latter's goal.
He definitely wouldn't be able to do so alone, so he needed to find a way to recruit someone to help him.
He might be able to find a way through Ji Lin or maybe through the Surveillance Bureau.
It was a faint hope, but he had no choice because the enemy had the upper hand here, and worst, his enemy was Shai Zi!
The pressure on his heart was so huge that he could barely breathe.
But he did not give up. Instead, his hatred fueled his heart. He needed to save Bai Lingmiao!
"Hong Zhong, do you think Shai Zi is telling the truth? You might've really owed him a favor last time. Bai Lingmiao really did suddenly disappear, and I don't think he used the technique of the Sitting Oblivion Dao."
The fake Hong Zhong illusion suddenly chimed in.
"You are not qualified to trick me with Shai Zi!"
Li Huowang struggled to stand up before he started keeping the stuff within the cave.
"Sure, I might not have the qualifications to trick you, but you've seen yourself that the sword was alive and still on the ground. I don't think it's possible that you would have two Zhuge Yuans."
Li Huowang looked at the spine sword covered in flesh on the ground. Zhuge Yuan's head on the pommel of the sword also looked at Li Huowang at the same time.
"Junior Li, long time no see. Don't worry, even though my body is destroyed to this point, I can still help you with the trouble with Shai Zi."
"No, you won't. You've been deceived by Shai Zi, too. You think you are Zhuge Yuan, but you're not Zhuge Yuan. Zhuge Yuan is right next to me. The Sitting Oblivion Dao can trick themselves into thinking like they're someone else. I've seen enough. I've met someone who managed to trick themselves into thinking that they were Li Huowang, but they were not."
Li Huowang hugged his bloody abdomen before picking up the purple talisman on the ground.
Zhuge Yuan's face changed when he saw Li Huowang approaching him with the purple talisman.
"Junior Li, what's wrong with you?! Since when did you have a Zhuge Yuan beside you? That Zhuge Yuan is just an illusion! I'm different from the Sitting Oblivion Dao on Xing Island!"
"Don't try to trick me like Shai Zi did! The illusions are real because they know things that I don't know! I'm a Strayed One, so the souls of those I had killed will get attached to me! The Second Deity did not become my illusion, so I didn't murder her! I also don't owe Shai Zi any favors. He had kidnapped her! Everything is fake and is part of his trap! More importantly, your behavior is different from the Zhuge Yuan I'm familiar with!" Li Huowang roared, and the illusions flickered.
Zhuge Yuan's eyes widened in shock as Li Huowang placed the purple talisman on his forehead. Zhuge Yuan's head quickly shrank to the size of a fist.
Even though his head had shrunk, the meat and organs on the sword didn't. They hung on the spine sword like grapes.
The fake Hong Zhong illusion wanted to say something but Zhuge Yuan's illusion stopped him. "Don't worry. If the talisman can be placed onto the sword, it can be removed as well. Let me think about something first."
"Hoh. What are you thinking?"
Zhuge Yuan opened his fan. "Let me think whether I'm fake, or the sword is fake, or whether both of us are fake while the real Zhuge Yuan has returned back to the Three Ancient Ones."
Li Huowang sighed when he saw the spine sword not moving anymore. He picked up the cloth on the floor and slowly wrapped the sword.
The cloth was dyed red due to the blood. Since it grew organs and flesh on it, the cloth could not cover the sword completely. There were bones, flesh, and even some hair squeezed out from the gaps of the cloth. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
But Li Huowang didn't care. He only needed to cover the sword enough that people wouldn't recognize what it was.
Now that the spine sword had grown into this form, he was certain that even the purple-lipped woman wouldn't be able to recognize it.
"Dad, let me help you." Li Sui walked over and carried the misshapen sword into the carriage before helping the injured Li Huowang into the carriage.
"Dad, where are we going?"
"Shangjing!"
Li Huowang commanded the carriage to move forward. The wheels rolled and they left the ravaged mountain.
They had just left when a massive foot stepped on the marking of the wheels. It was Shai Zi!
"Hehehe~ It's so fun to trick Strayed Ones."
Chapter 507 - Journey
"Dense fragrances call upon the universe; send the incense to the Heavenly Gates. Golden crows soar across the clouds, and the jade rabbits glimmer like the kaleidoscope~"
Lu Zhuangyuan was smoking his pipe while standing in the carriage when he heard a familiar chanting. He turned around and saw his youngest son, Lu Xiucai, practicing a technique near the campfire. Lu Xiucai was holding an incense stick with his butt up while chanting toward a drawing.
"Hmph! If only you were as filial to me as you are with your training," Lu Zhuangyuan said.
However, Lu Xiucai ignored Lu Zhuangyuan as he continued chanting.
"May the constellations shine and the rainbow clouds gather. The purple palace reveals the sacred castle, and the goddesses invite the immortals. Welcome us after the long journey with flying clouds and horses. Accept our humble greetings~"
Lu Xiucai chanted three times in delight before stabbing the incense sticks into the ground.
He prayed three times to the drawing before putting it away. Puppy had been lying on the ground beside him out of boredom.
"Xiucai, what are you chanting all day? We were woken up by you so early in the morning. I've never seen you chant so much even though you've been cultivating the techniques of the White Lotus Sect."
Lu Xiucai scoffed at him. "I've finished cultivating the First Words. I'm starting on the Second Drawing, so it's not strange that the requirements are different. Even though you can be proud of the items that your master has given you, that's all you'd amount to in your life. You cannot improve by relying on external tools. Unlike you, I'm becoming stronger every day, and I will surpass you soon!"
Puppy waved his hands to dismiss Lu Xiucai before heading back to sleep.
"Yiyi~ Ah~ Ah~"
The sound of Lu Zhuangyuan's disciples practicing their vocals first thing in the morning irritated Puppy a lot. He buried his head into the pillow to try and sleep.
However, there was no way he could sleep in such conditions. He stood up in frustration and walked toward the stream to wash up.
The world was slowly warming up, but the water in the stream was still cold, so it felt good to stand in it.
When Puppy went back to the campfire, Luo Juanhua had finished making breakfast. Today's meal was wild vegetable soup with noodles and dried radishes.
Puppy ate the dried radishes and drank the soup before shaking his head. "It's not as good as Xiaohai's meal."
Luo Juanhua was not someone who'd coddle Puppy; she already knew Puppy's position in the village, so she knew that he was not that important.
"Aiyo, Lord Puppy. This is our Lu Family's food. If you don't like it, you can go back home."
"Aiyo, do you really think that I want to travel? It's been so long since Senior Li left, and he hasn't come back yet. If it weren't for the fact that the village needed someone to go out and find him, do you really think that I'd come out and travel? There's no meat to eat; how can we have the energy to travel? Wait a minute, I thought you guys were earning a lot of money while performing those pink shows. Why are you not spending money?" Puppy complained while eating.
Lu Zhuangyuan revealed a salted egg out of nowhere, seemingly in a magic trick. He placed the oily yolk into his own three-year-old granddaughter's bowl before placing the egg white into Puppy's bowl.
"Lord Cai, please don't leave. Things are very chaotic right now, and the Lu Family still needs you to guard us along with that dog. We're not daring enough to travel to Shangjing without you."
Lu Xiucai stood up furiously and roared, "Who are you calling a dog!?"
They were about to fight, and Puppy had no choice but to stop them.
Puppy was just trying to have fun. If Gao Zhijian and Xiaoman learned that he had run back home halfway, they'd certainly beat him to death.
Their breakfast was brief and noisy. Soon, the Lu Family's three carriages continued their journey to Shangjing.
"Shangjing, the capital city of the Liang Kingdom. I've heard that it's the largest city in the world. It must be even more prosperous than Yinling City." Luo Juanhua was looking forward to the city because she had only heard of it when she was young. She had been fantasizing about how grand Shangjing had to look even in her younger days.
The entire Lu Family was thrilled as well. They were hyped up by the peddlers' words about Shangjing.
Lu Juren was walking silently as he carried his daughter in his arms when Lu Zhuangyuan approached him.
"Juren, we've earned quite a lot since we came to the Liang Kingdom. Once we reach Shangjing, we can ask them how much a plot of land costs. If it's slightly above our budget, we can always borrow more from the Daoist, and then we can build our own theater in the largest city in the world!" Lu Zhuangyuan said with shining eyes. It was not an exaggeration to say that he had dedicated his whole life to building one.
What had been a dream was now within his reach, and it could come true once he was in the Liang Kingdom.
"Once we have the theater, we can relocate our ancestral graves there, too. Once we do that... Hehehe... it feels so great just thinking about it."
Lu Zhuangyuan was still stuck in his fantasies when Puppy came over and said, "So that's why you agreed so readily back to travel to Shangjing. I guess you weren't trying to look for Senior Li."
"Of course, we are there to find him. I just think that the young Daoist is so strong to the point where we don't have to worry about him. I doubt we can do anything to help him if he really encountered a problem."
Lu Zhuangyuan thought of Li Huowang as an Immortal who could fly to the heavens at any moment.
"Heh. Hard to say. What if his illness relapses while traveling?"
They walked and talked, but their chatters soon stopped. The sun was high in the sky, and everyone felt so hot that they didn't have the energy to talk anymore.
Fortunately, they found a pond near the entrance of a village. They ran over in excitement to wash their faces and drink some water from the pond.
"Dad, we finally found a village. Why don't we ask to borrow their kitchen? The sun is too hot for us to start a fire outside." Luo Juanhua was wiping her daughter's sweat while complaining to Lu Zhuangyuan.
Lu Zhuangyuan nodded. "Alright, but don't give them any money first. We should ask if they want us to perform. If they want us to perform, we could earn ourselves some money and maybe a meal."
Feeling refreshed, they entered the village with their carriages. The village was big, and many people peeked out of their door and pointed at the Lu Family.
Lu Zhuangyuan did not mind them and looked around. He wanted to find the richest person in the village to perform. Regular villagers had no money to hire performers. He looked around the village before he saw something that piqued his interest. One of the houses was drying tobacco leaves in the courtyard.
Lu Zhuangyuan shouted at an old man smoking in the house. "Sir, how much for your tobacco?! I want to buy some because I just finished some of mine—what?! Why is it so expensive? You don't have to cut and dry them for me. I want raw ones."
Lu Zhuangyuan haggled aggressively before buying a big bundle of raw tobacco leaves with five coins.
"Hehe." Lu Zhuangyuan put away the tobacco in delight. I just have to add in some chili leaves, and this bundle can last me half a year!
"Father! There are some noises over there. The noises sound like gongs to me!"
Chapter 508 - Daoist
Lu Juren's voice immediately grabbed the attention of Lu Zhuangyuan. "Gongs? Is it a wedding or a funeral? Let's go!"
They were very sensitive to the sound of gongs as performers.
They followed the sound as they walked through the main street of the village.
Lu Zhuangyuan could barely stop himself from grinning when they heard the sound of gongs coming from a massive estate, but his smile vanished when he saw what was happening.
The villagers were standing around a Daoist wearing yellow robes. He was wearing a black Daoist crown and was conducting a ceremony.
The Daoist was playing the gong while circling around a man being tied to a bed.
The man tied to the bed trembled and turned pale upon hearing the gong. It appeared that something was trying to get out of the man.
"Dad, let's go. The Daoist is busy trying to exorcize the man. I think it doesn't concern us," said Lu Juren.
He was about to leave when his father stopped him. "Let's just wait and see. If that man dies, we could perform at his funeral."
Lu Xiucai pushed through the people and saw that the Daoist was equipped with a bronze coin sword at the back, just like Li Huowang. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"What a coincidence. The bronze coin sword looks the same as my master's bronze coin sword..." Lu Xiucai muttered to himself, which caught the attention of Puppy.
"Ha!" The man tied to the bed suddenly sat up straight like a corpse before breaking his restraints and hopping into the air.
The villagers shouted out of fear and ran away.
"You wretched beast! How dare you try to harm the innocents in front of my watch?!"
The Daoist slammed the gong into the man's abdomen, causing the latter to curl up in pain.
"The ever-changing constellations! Tie up the evil beings and protect our bodies! Clear our minds and calm our hearts! Preserve our spirit and our souls!"
The Daoist grabbed a fistful of rice before waving his closed fist on the candle fire and throwing the rice at the man.
"AAAAAAAAAH!" The man screamed as black smoke rose from his body where the rice hit him.
A black smoke flew out of the man's mouth and disappeared under the sunlight. The man slumped to the ground afterward.
A rich man wearing brocade robes ran over and cried when he found out that the man was still alive after the exorcism. The young man still had the strength to call him father. The rich man immediately kneeled and thanked the Daoist.
"What a legend. He's a real immortal! He saved that man."
"Thank the heavens. If it wasn't because of the Daoist, the Zhang's family only son would've died."
Lu Xiucai scoffed when he heard the people talking around him. "This is nothing. If my master were here..."
However, everyone ignored Lu Xiucai. They were all attracted to the feast that the Zhang family patriarch had just announced.
"Everyone! We have dinner tonight! Also, we get to perform, too!" Lu Zhuangyuan immediately approached the patriarch.
After talking for a bit, he managed to convince the patriarch to hire him to perform tonight.
The Lu family immediately started their work by setting up the stage and doing their makeup. Time was of the essence.
On that same night, Lu Zhuangyuan performed vigorously with his son and disciples. The Zhang family patriarch and all of the guests were very pleased with their performance.
The feast lasted late till the night, and the guests eventually left.
Lu Xiucai looked at the Daoist at the main table with hesitation.
"Look properly. Does the sword on his back belong to Senior Li?"
"It's too far away for me to see. I need to hold it in my hands to confirm it."
Puppy rolled his eyes. "Can you be more reliable?"
"Should I ask him instead? If Master's sword is in his hands, he might know where he is right now."
"That's stupid. What if he stole it from Senior Li? What if he has a grudge with Senior Li?"
While the two of them were arguing, they suddenly saw the Daoist whispering something to the patriarch. The patriarch followed the Daoist with a serious look on his face.
"They're leaving! Quick, follow him!" Lu Xiucai slowly tailed after them without hesitation.
They left the outer courtyard and entered the inner courtyard. The place was quiet, so Lu Xiucai overheard their conversation.
"Heavenly Master, the evil spirit is still not defeated?"
"Yes, that's right. Your son's possession and the evil spirit are connected. The evil spirit has to be destroyed, or your house will never know peace."
"What should we do?"
"Don't worry, I am here. The evil spirit might have possessed an object. We need to find it first."
The Daoist waved, and an old bronze compass appeared in his hand. He made a seal with his other hand while staring at the compass.
Lu Xiucai was hiding behind a fake boulder in the courtyard when a hand patted his shoulder. He was so startled that he almost exclaimed.
He turned around and saw it was Puppy. He glared at Puppy in anger.
However, Puppy ignored him and pointed at the Daoist. "Zhang Yuanwai, be careful! The evil being is possessing that object!"
"Heavenly Master, how can it be? That's the treasure of our Zhang family!"
The so-called treasure was a clay Bodhisattva that was sitting upside down. The Bodhisattva's face had melted off.
"Be careful!" A dark smoke fell from the ceiling and covered the patriarch.
The patriarch fell to the ground and was rendered unconscious.
Puppy and Lu Xiucai saw the black smoke entering a massive black robe that was hanging in a room.
After a while, the black robe stood up despite having no hands and feet. It walked out of the room and approached the Daoist.
The Daoist waved his arms, and the clay Bodhisattva flew into his robes. Then, he started scolding the black robe.
"The Daoist is rearing the evil spirit!" Lu Xiucai whispered furiously to Puppy.
Puppy pointed with his mouth toward where they came from, and they slowly left the courtyard.
"What did you say?! There are people in the courtyard?! How come you only told me that now?" the Daoist roared.
Lu Xiucai and Puppy heard the Daoist's roars. They barely managed to take two steps forward before the black robe stood before them.
Puppy took out his scepter and waved it at the black robe. The black robe crumpled to the ground, and then they started running away.
"Hahaha! To think it's the tongue of a Strayed One! This is a joyous day for me!"
Chapter 509 - Impossible
Puppy was so shocked that his soul almost flew out when the Daoist chased after them.
He had never thought the treasure Li Huowang gifted him would elicit such a reaction.
The Daoist was holding the bronze coin sword as he chased after them. He was about to block off their escape when Puppy waved the scepter furiously.
However, the Daoist was already prepared against the attack.
A small paper doll made out of talisman papers flew out of the Daoist sleeves and took the brunt of the attack.
When Puppy waved the scepter, the paper doll fell to the ground.
The Daoist only needed that small window of opportunity to attack. Before Puppy could wave it for the second time, the Daoist whipped his bronze coin sword toward them.
"Ju Lun Tuo Dian Ti Wu She!" the Daoist chanted, and the red threads of the bronze coin sword extended, transforming the sword into a whip that slammed into Puppy's hand.
The Daoist pulled the whip back, and Puppy's hands were torn open. One of Puppy's fingers and the scepter flew into the air.
"AAAAAAAH!" Puppy clutched his hand, which was almost severed from his wrist. His mind went blank; he had no idea what to do now.
"Hmph! So it's only two little whelps." The Daoist smiled evilly and squinted. He shook his wrist, and the whip flew toward Puppy's head!
I dead! Puppy thought as he stared at the bronze coin whip moving toward him.
At the critical juncture, a hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the bronze coin whip.
The sharp coins cut into the hand, but it only tore open the skin.
"Oh?" The Daoist was surprised and looked at the youth holding onto his whip.
The bronze coin sword was capable of cutting down evil beings. He was wary of the person who managed to stop his bronze coin sword with a bare hand.
With a whoosh, the bronze coins in Lu Xiucai's hands were pulled back. The Daoist changed the whip back into a sword. "Brat, which sect do you come from?"
It was better to make sure of the enemy's background before acting. He was afraid that he would anger an extremely strong sect if he ended up beating up the two youths in front of him. The Strayed One's tongue wouldn't be worth it then.
"My Master is Li Huowang! You are dead if you touch us!" Lu Xiucai shouted, acting tough.
He thought he was invincible to bladed objects after he had learned of the White Lotus Sect's technique, but to think that attack managed to slice open his hand. In the end, Lu Xiucai had no choice but to hope that he could scare the Daoist away using his Master's name.
Li Huowang? Never heard of him. Also, he never announced which sect he is from. I guess he and his Master are some random cultivators. the Daoist thought.
Puppy was certain that the Daoist was not afraid of Li Huowang, as the latter had yet to run away.
Puppy panted and held his bloody hand before taking a few steps forward. He threatened the Daoist, "We are from the White Lotus Sect! Don't you dare touch us! We have a lot of people at the White Lotus Sect!"
The Daoist revealed a wry smile. "Oh~ You are from the White Lotus Sect. This makes it easier."
The Daoist then whipped the bronze coin sword toward Puppy and Lu Xiucai.
Everyone in this world knew that the White Lotus Sect no longer had any patrons and were a bunch of weaklings. They could only run around and hide like mice. They couldn't do anything grand as well or the Surveillance Bureau would find them.
Lu Xiucai grabbed the whip with both hands and shouted at Puppy, "Can you stop talking?!"
Puppy turned around and ran away without even looking back. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"You motherfucker! Puppy, you coward with no balls!" Xiucai howled in anger as Puppy disappeared into the darkness.
"Hahaha! I thought the White Lotus Sect preaches camaraderie. I thought all of you were sworn brothers upon entering the sect. Was that really your sworn brother?" the Daoist taunted and continued his assault.
Even though Lu Xiucai learned a good technique, all it did was just increase the thickness of his skin. He could only suffer a one-sided beating against the Daoist. Soon, he was covered in cut wounds and was forced to curl up on the ground.
The Daoist smiled when he saw the youth on the ground. Then, he waved his hand, and an inkwell appeared.
"It's time to end this." He dipped his fingers into the inkwell and covered the bronze coin sword in the ink. The black ink seeped down the sword like tar.
Lu Xiucai was afraid and knew there was no hope of escaping. He cried and begged for mercy.
When the Daoist was ready to cut down Lu Xiucai, something flashed in the darkness. A small needle wrapped in white thread flew toward the Daoist's face.
The needle almost hit the Daoist's face when something burst out from his neck. A Nascent Soul with a beard appeared and bit the needles with its rotten teeth.
"Hm?! You dare try to attack me from the dark?" the Daoist roared, furious. He was visibly upset with Puppy's attack.
The Daoist pointed at where the needle was shot out from and the black robe flew upward. It streaked through the air, chasing after Puppy.
The Daoist then glared at the trembling Lu Xiucai. He raised the bronze coin sword, which was drenched in black ink, and brought it down toward Lu Xiucai's neck. He decided to kill one before chasing the second.
"AAAAAAAH! The mud comes from chaos, and everything bursts into existence with the growth of the white lotus! Heavenly Mater, help me!!!" Lu Xiucai shouted and begged for protection with a sense of humility that he never had before toward the Heavenly Mater.
Just as the bronze coin sword tore through Lu Xiucai's clothes, a brilliant white light burst out. The bronze coin sword's red thread was torn apart, and the sword exploded. The inked bronze coins flew everywhere.
The Daoist was shocked, and he took a few steps backward. "Impossible! The Heavenly Mater is supposed to be dead!"
Lu Xiucai realized that he was still alive. His clothes were in tatters. When he stood up, a piece of cloth fell out from inside his clothes.
The cloth spread open on the ground, and the cloth depicted a simple white lotus. The Daoist retreated upon seeing the lotus.
"No! This can't be! The Heavenly Mater should be dead! The White Lotus Sect are just a bunch of abandoned ragtags!"
No matter how he tried to convince himself, however, he was retreating instinctively. By the time he was done shouting, his back was already pressed against the wall.