"Hmm..." Zuoqiu Yong carefully examined the document, reading everything Li Sui had said. When he reached the part where the Great Qi was completely destroyed by god Yu'er and the entire Great Qi was engulfed in that strange liquid, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Hmm... A catastrophe in the Great Qi 180 years from now... Could it be that even the Great Qi's Surveillance Bureaus couldn't prevent it? I need to start planning for the future..."
After thinking deeply for a moment, he reached for the pen from the ink monkey. He circled the section and continued reading.
He circled the information that he found useful. However, since these were all events 180 years in the future, there weren't many points worth circling.
Soon, he discovered a passage describing how a Twisted One had exchanged a fan with the Shangji Guankou, and his eyes lit up with interest.
Thou.gh he had heard tales of the Shangji Guankou, he had always dismissed them as mere legend. He hadn't imagined that finding it would involve fengshui practices.
This was a valuable item. If one could trade enough secrets, this thing would be far more useful than any divination method.
"If my guess is right, this Zhuge Yuan must be the Twisted One of the Three Pure Ones. Otherwise, no ordinary person could have found the Shangji Guankou so easily."
Zuoqiu Yong couldn't help but feel pleased. After so many years of bad luck, he had finally stumbled upon something valuable. "I can't let her leave. I need to find a way to keep her here. The fewer people who know about this information, the more valuable it is..."
The next morning, Zuoqiu Yong brought breakfast to Li Sui as soon as she got out of bed.
"Here, eat up. This lamb bone stew is quite tasty," Zuoqiu Yong said with a warm smile, placing a bowl of meat and bones in front of Li Sui.
"Thanks, Auntie," Li Sui said. Her skin split open from the middle, and a faceless dog head emerged from within, gnawing on the bones with a crunch.
Li Sui had discovered that Auntie seemed to know exactly what she liked to eat and was always willing to take her to festivals. She really liked her.
"In the past, no one took care of you. Hearing how pitiful your situation was broke my heart. From now on, Auntie will look after you, even if your father doesn't take care of you," Zuoqiu Yong said, affectionately patting Li Sui's dog head.
"Mm!" Li Sui nodded vigorously, her mouth stuffed with food. "Auntie, when are we going to the Great Liang?"
Zuoqiu Yong pretended to feel hurt. "What? Don't you like staying with Auntie?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Li Sui quickly shook her head. "No, I love staying with you, Auntie! I just want to see the Great Liang."
"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. Eat up, and then I'll take you to Great Liang's Chief. The Great Liang's Chief is called Xuan Pin, right? He has six arms and likes to wear red Daoist robes?"
"Mm!"
"I've already contacted him. Trust Auntie. Would I lie to you?"
Li Sui nodded eagerly and gulped down the lamb bones as quickly as possible. She was eager to meet Xuan Pin.
Li Sui had never expected that she would still have acquaintances 180 years ago.
Soon, Li Sui finished her lamb stew and impatiently tugged on Zuoqiu Yong, ready to leave.
Under Zuoqiu Yong's guidance, Li Sui left the Surveillance Bureau and boarded a carriage heading out of the city.
"Don't worry. Xuan Pin heard about your situation a long time ago and is patiently waiting outside the city."
"Really? That's great!" Li Sui exclaimed, peering out of the carriage window in anticipation.
Although her father had been skeptical about the mysterious Xuan Pin, Li Sui felt a sense of closeness knowing there was still someone familiar from so far in the past. This way, she wouldn't be alone across time.
The carriage approached a bamboo grove and stopped as Li Sui watched. The wind rustled the bamboo leaves, creating a serene and picturesque setting.
Li Sui caught sight of Xuan Pin's tall figure inside a small, green bamboo pavilion. Cloaked in a red Daoist robe, Xuan Pin exuded a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Li Sui excitedly jumped out of the carriage and rushed toward the red-robed figure.
As she ran, her pace gradually slowed, and the initial excitement on her face began to fade. Eventually, she came to a stop, her expression now tinged with a hint of fear, and her gaze fixed on Xuan Pin.
"What's wrong? Why are you just standing there?" Zuoqiu Yong frowned slightly and supported Li Sui from behind. "Weren't you eager to see Xuan Pin? Xuan Pin is right there. Why don't you go over?"
Li Sui tugged on Zuoqiu Yong's sleeve and hid behind him. "Auntie, did we find the wrong person? This doesn't seem like Xuan Pin..."
Zuoqiu Yong's expression tightened. "What do you mean? Doesn't Xuan Pin wear a red Daoist robe?"
Li Sui hesitated, then shook her head slightly. "Xuan Pin does wear red, just like my father, but... his robe usually has many moving characters. This one doesn't."
"What moving characters? Why didn't you mention this before?"
Li Sui flailed her tentacles in the air and tried to explain. "I don't know the characters. My father never taught me, so I didn't know how to tell you."
Zuoqiu Yong pondered for a moment before bursting into laughter. Playfully tapping Li Sui with a silk cloth, she casually remarked, "You silly child, why are you so fixated on this? Do you think people wear the same clothes for 180 years?
"After so many years, isn't it normal to change clothes? Whose wardrobe stays the same?"
Li Sui had a sudden realization, and a smile formed on her face. "Oh, of course! After 180 years, Xuan Pin must have changed his attire! My mom bought me lots of different outfits too!"
"Good! Now that you understand, tell him everything you need to."
Li Sui entered the bamboo pavilion and looked at Xuan Pin. She suddenly felt nervous again.
She took a moment to gather her thoughts before saying, "You have to help my father! One hundred eighty years from now, the Siming of the Dharma Sect and my father will face off in the Baiyu Capital. If my father loses, not only will the Great Qi be doomed, but so will the Great Liang!"
Once she uttered her first sentence, her words flowed effortlessly, and she promptly told Xuan Pin everything she knew.
After finishing, she waited patiently for Xuan Pin's response. Although her father often complained about him, Xuan Pin had always seemed like a good person to her.
As the Chief, this should be his responsibility. However, since one hundred eighty years separated them, Li Sui had no idea what kind of person Xuan Pin was at this time.
After a long pause, Li Sui finally saw Xuan Pin slowly nod his head, cloaked in the red Daoist robe. "I understand. I will handle it."
Chapter 921 - Contact
Li Sui didn't suspect anything about Xuan Pin's changed voice. After all, there was a gap of one hundred eighty years—it was only natural for his voice to be different.
Li Sui felt excited, having finally explained everything to Xuan Pin.
"Oh, really? Yay, that's great news! Could you possibly take me back to the Liang Kingdom? I would like to wait there for my father. By the way, my father needs a significant amount of Dragon Qi. We need to have a lot of it ready to help him."
Li Sui was shocked to see Xuan Pin shaking her head. "No, you cannot come."
"Huh? Why? I want to go back!"
Li Sui thought she could finally return now that she had found Xuan Pin. She never expected Xuan Pin to reject her like this.
"You know too much, and you are still immature. Taking you back to the Liang Kingdom will only disrupt the timeline there. It's best if you stay here."
"I won't tell anyone anything! I will seal my mouth shut!" Li Sui said.
Zuoqiu Yong approached the two of them. "Tsk, tsk. You're still a little girl. You can barely keep your mouth shut, and you nearly revealed your secret to everyone you met along the way.
"Well, I've sent some men to handle them, so there's no need to worry. For now, stay here with me. I'll teach you how to stop others from deceiving you."
"But..."
Xuan Pin insisted, "No excuses. Consider it as a favor for your father. I'll return to pick you up in one hundred and eighty years."
Having said his piece, Xuan Pin disappeared like smoke.
"You better not come back here! If I see you again, I will beat you up!" Li Sui pouted with tears in her eyes. Although Xuan Pin was right, she still didn't like how Xuan Pin didn't trust her.
The current Xuan Pin was too rigid. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Alright, let's go back now. We still have a wait of one hundred and eighty years ahead of us. What's the difference between staying here and staying in the Liang Kingdom?"
Zuoqiu Yong patted Li Sui's head.
"I will treat you as my daughter from now on. I don't have any children, so I hope you don't mind seeing me as part of your family."
Li Sui wiped off her tears. "No, I don't mind. You're a good person."
"Alright, you can go back using the carriage. I have something to do, so I won't see you off. You know how busy being the Chief of the Surveillance Bureau is."
Li Sui unwillingly sat on the carriage before she returned. Zuoqiu Yong, on the other hand, stood in the bamboo forest. He stared at the leaves while waiting for something.
Only after the carriage's sound had completely disappeared did Zuoqiu Yong speak up, saying, "Come out."
A large red Daoist robe fell down from the skies. It was Xuan Pin!
Xuan Pin took off the red robes to reveal three people standing on each other's shoulders. Two men and a woman. They looked like siblings, and they had masqueraded as Xuan Pin.
The three of them separated and quickly kneeled on the ground, "Chief!"
"What are you doing? Do you really need my assistance for such a trivial matter? Did a cat get your tongue, or should I get your tongue?
The three of them started sweating from Zuoqiu Yong's threats. Their mouths would've been gone for good if they had said the wrong thing.
"Chief, we..."
"Enough. Go back now. Remember, this is the last time. There's no next time."
Zuoqiu Yong then turned to leave the place. "Don't throw the robes away. We might need to use it if we want to control that little evil entity."
The trio sighed in relief. "Yes, Chief! We'll be ready at all times!"
"Soon, I will get all of the information I need from her. You can then refine her into an artifact."
"Thank you for the reward, Chief!"
A Strayed One was a walking treasure, and even more so when it was an evil entity too.
Li Sui soon got used to life in the Qi Kingdom under the care of Zuoqiu Yong.
Li Sui realized that Zuoqiu Yong was strangely interested in the things that would occur one hundred eighty years in the future, so she told Zuoqiu Yong everything.
She even tried her best to recall some of the past that she had forgotten.
At first, Li Sui was reluctant to stay in the Qi Kingdom. She felt she could've been closer to her father if she were to stay in the Liang Kingdom instead.
However, she soon got used to life here.
She felt that Zuoqiu Yong was correct. Her father would come here frequently in the future. She could wait for her father whether she was in the Liang Kingdom or the Qi Kingdom.
One day, Li Sui entered the room with a grin, hiding something behind her back after lunch. Zuoqiu Yong, who had been sewing, rolled her eyes and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Auntie, close your eyes."
Zuo Qiuyong showed the needle in her right hand. "What if I pick myself with the needle when I close my eyes?"
"Come on, Auntie, just close your eyes."
Zuoqiu Yong closed her eyes because she couldn't win against Li Sui's endearing request. When she opened her eyes, she saw a clay figurine fashioned into her appearance in front of her!
"Aunty, I love you! You take care of me just like my father did. You are my family now!" Li Sui's happiness was overflowing. She joyfully jumped into Zuoqiu Yong's arms and shoved the clay figurine into her hands.
"Wait, wait! The needle! Be careful of the needle! You little runt..." Zuoqiu Yong hurriedly moved her needle and embroidery to the side.
"Alright, that's enough. Please get off me—it's very hot. Are you hungry? I left some food for you in my study, so go and get it."
Upon hearing that there was food, she quickly released Zuoqiu Yong and sprinted to the study.
"Don't run! And don't play with my ink monkeys! Their knees shake a lot every time they see you."
"Alright!"
Zuoqiu Yong smiled as she continued embroidering while listening to Li Sui's disappearing footsteps.
When she used her mouth to bite off the final thread, the three siblings appeared and kneeled before her. "Chief, we are ready for your orders at any time."
Zuoqiu Yong's smile slowly faded, and she realized what she needed to do. "Oh, look at how forgetful I am. I've already asked her almost everything I needed, so it's time to remove her from the equation. It's best if the others remain unaware."
She took the clay figurine and inspected it. She hesitated momentarily.
"Chief?"
"Go." Zuoqiu Yong threw the clay figurine. "Make it painless for her."
Just after the siblings departed, Zuoqiu Yong wept. She dabbed away her tears and resumed her embroidery. "Sigh... Saying goodbye after sharing a life together is not easy."
Chapter 922 - Fuse
Li Sui sat in Zuoqiu Yong's study while munching on raw flesh. She was also toying around with the ink monkeys sleeping inside the brushes.
She looked at the three figurines that Zuoqiu Yong had made for her and touched them.
"Father, don't worry. I'm fine here. Aunty is a good person, and she takes good care of me. I will wait for you to come back. One hundred and eighty years is... how many months is that again?"
Li Sui set aside the raw flesh and attempted to count the months with her tentacles when, out of nowhere, the lanterns in the room were snuffed out. In an instant, the room was engulfed in darkness.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Li Sui had barely reacted when she felt her neck going cold. The next second, Princess An Ping's head flew high up in the air.
Several tentacles sprouted out from her neck, but someone in the dark knocked Li Sui away!
The bloody dog skull sprouted out beneath her skirt, sensing the impending danger from the dark. Li Sui panicked. "Aunty! Aunty help! Someone's trying to kill me!"
However, Zuoqiu Yong didn't respond, even though she was just in the room beside Li Sui.
"Oh no! Why isn't Aunty here? Is she in danger? I need to escape with her!"
"Ban Luo Jie Di! Mo Ah Wan Luo Ren Li!" a complex mantra resonated through the air. Li Sui's head throbbed with piercing pain, as if something were digging its way into her mind.
She tried to retaliate, but her enemies came prepared. Li Sui couldn't see anything in the darkness. She didn't even know who was attacking her.
"Aunty! Help! Help me..."
Li Sui used the last of her strength to escape the study.
Just as she had almost reached the door, the entire study room extended. The door, which had been just inches away from her, was now positioned on the horizon!
Simultaneously, a wave of intense pain emanated from her back, making Li Sui involuntarily freeze up. She reached out to her chest only to discover a massive hole.
I cannot die! Father still needs me!
Li Sui's tentacles surged out from her tattered body. However, in a matter of moments, she sensed a force pulling at her tentacles from all directions. The sound of tearing flesh filled the air as Li Sui was ripped apart, leaving the study silent once again.
Li Sui was powerless against the three siblings—they had learned everything about Li Sui's powers.
"Brother, is that thing dead?" asked the sister.
The lanterns in the study lit up, revealing the three siblings standing around.
The eldest brother grumbled to his younger brother, saying, "Why did you tear it to so many pieces? Don't you know how much pure lifespan we can get if we sell that thing?"
The sister tried to break them up. "Brother, let's stop fighting and clear up this mess. This is the Chief's study, after all."
"Should we ask the Chief to come and see?"
"No need. The Chief is too kind and doesn't want to see the mess here."
The eldest brother took out a burlap sack and shook it. Li Sui's flesh, which had been scattered all over the room, was vacuumed into the bag.
The three of them exited the study and bowed to the room where Zuoqiu Yong was. Then, they quickly left.
They exited the Chief's residence with wide grins on their faces. They had scored big this time.
"This is something the Chief has given to us. We can't let the others know, especially Zhang Tude. Let's scatter first. We can meet up at the old place outside of the city."
The youngest brother appeared irritated. It seemed he had a grudge against Zhang Tude. "Hmph! I don't believe he would take our stuff so openly like that! He's so arrogant, thinking that he's the one in control of the Surveillance Bureau!"
"No need to be angry with him. We are still the Chief's closest aides right now. Soon, we'll be the ones ordering him around! Let's disperse for now."
The other two nodded. They each chose a different exit and left.
Since the eldest brother was the one carrying the sack, he might have been targeted first. To avoid this, he opted for the most inconspicuous route available and reached their rendezvous point by nightfall.
It was a dilapidated temple, but only the three of them knew there was a hidden chamber beneath it. A rat-like evil entity had dug it out in the past.
The two younger siblings had been anxiously waiting and immediately greeted their elder brother when they saw him climbing down with the sack.
"Brother, why are you so late? We would've thought you ran away if we weren't siblings."
As soon as they made contact with their older brother, he opened his mouth. From his mouth, numerous flattened tentacles swiftly emerged, entering his sister's body through her openings.
"Why did you kill me!" the eldest brother shouted as the sack on his back wriggled. Li Sui was still alive.
Taking advantage of the surprise, Li Sui attacked the final sibling. The youngest brother tried to escape, but it was futile. He was consumed by the flattened tentacles too.
When everything had been settled, the eldest brother placed down the sack, revealing a massive hole in his back where the sack had been.
After resolving everything, the eldest brother gently placed the sack on the ground, revealing a large hole in his back.
Li Sui had poked a hole in the sack and extended her tentacles through it to take control of the eldest brother's body. The latter didn't even realize that Li Sui had completely spread her tentacles into his body.
The eldest brother was now dead, and Li Sui had taken over his body as a new host.
Li Sui controlled the broken body to dump out the sack's contents. Bloody pieces of her previous corpse fell out.
She sucked the shadow of her dismembered corpse, filling and engorging her flattened tentacles once more.
Li Sui controlled her new body to search for her previous body. Amidst the fragments of her former body, she discovered wrinkled, curled human skin—her father's skin doll. It was a life-saving treasure Li Huowang had given her. He had once told her that after Bai Lingmiao, he was the one who worried about her the most.
Her father's concern for her had saved her life.
Li Sui cried as she controlled her new body. She continued to look around and finally found the three clay figurines. She grabbed them and clinged onto them tightly. "Father, why is Auntie trying to kill me? I liked her so much. She said that I was part of her family. Was she lying?"
The future version of Li Huowang did not have the answer—Li Sui did.
As she assimilated the memories of the eldest brother with hers, she slowly let go of her naivety and found the apparent contradiction in her memories.
It was Xuan Pin. Could the Chief of the Surveillance Bureau from the Liang Kingdom really travel to the Qi Kingdom so easily? Furthermore, could the Chiefs of the different kingdoms really be on good enough terms to call each other just like that?
Li Sui then noticed some of the minor inconsistencies, such as the absence of runes on Xuan Pin's robes and the differences in his voice. After carefully analyzing these clues, Li Sui concluded that Zuoqiu Yong had lied to her.
Chapter 923 - Help
"That person is not Xuan Pin! It was a fake planted by Zuoqiu Yong! She deceived me instead of helping me! She was just using me for information!
"Why? Why would she do this... Why?"
Li Sui struggled to get up with her new body.
As she laid her eyes upon the corpses on the ground, a wave of panic surged through her. "Why? Why did I kill my own siblings? What have I done?!"
Li Sui froze, stunned by her own words. She held her head and shook it rapidly. "No... I'm not him. I'm Li Sui! I'm Li Sui!"
She tried to break free from the person's body but found herself trapped. Gazing at the corpses scattered around her, a wave of grief washed over her.
She had instinctively merged with the eldest brother to save her own life, just like she had done with Bun before. The eldest brother did not die—he became a part of her.
Wiping away her tears, Li Sui scanned the cave for an exit. She was no longer the naive girl she once was. She needed to escape—one wrong move could cost her everything.
The three siblings were working for Zuoqiu Yong. If she found out the three siblings were missing, Zuoqiu Yong would immediately suspect Li Sui was still alive.
She needed to escape before Zuoqiu Yong realized what had happened.
As the Chief of the Qi Kingdom's Surveillance Bureau, Zuoqiu Yong controlled the entire Bureau. It would be difficult for Li Sui to live.
"I can't stay in the Qi Kingdom, and the An Xi Kingdom to the west isn't an option either. My only hope is to take a boat and set out to sea."
Li Sui didn't hesitate and ran for the exit.
However, just as she appeared in the dilapidated temple, she froze. When had she become so clear-headed? Something had fundamentally changed within her.
Li Sui realized what had happened. She had absorbed the eldest brother, making him a part of herself, just as she had assimilated Bun before. Back then, she had grown more affectionate for her father and developed a peculiar love for bones.
Li Sui trembled as she took out Li Huowang's clay figurine and stared at it.
"Father, the Black Taisui's assimilation is too strong. The people I assimilated became part of me. I can even gain half of their intelligence, but I cannot continue doing this. I fear that I will stop being your daughter if I assimilate more people.
"Father, don't worry. I'm smarter now. I can definitely help you in the future—in one hundred eighty years."
Li Sui then ran out from the temple and escaped into the darkness.
Li Sui slowly opened her eyes as she shook herself from her daydream. She looked at the three people in front of her. Although they were of different ages, they all looked at her with the same fearful gaze.
The Strayed Ones, who had been imprisoned and raised by certain sects, wore a variety of clothes and had different disabilities. The sects had shaved some of their body parts when they needed them.
"You're all here because you're Strayed Ones. But today, we'll use our methods to set you free."
Li Sui's words did little to cheer them up. She understood their skepticism. "I know that Strayed Ones who've lived as long as yourselves can't trust others easily. However, I don't need your trust. Just follow me. It's not like you have a choice."
Li Sui brought the three of them into the Surveillance Bureau. After walking in the confusing underground path for a while, Li Sui brought the three of them to Li Huowang's cultivating room.
Li Huowang had been cultivating, which distorted the room beyond recognition. Various bizarre things were unfolding in the room.
Bricks would occasionally sink and dissolve into springs of water, which would then float and metamorphose into a weeping woman. Moments later, the woman turned into a statue.
Li Sui walked over and patted Li Huowang to shake him out of his cultivation.
Li Huowang opened his eyes and looked at his daughter. "What's wrong?"
"The Strayed Ones are here."
Li Sui moved to the side, and Li Huowang finally saw the three people in front of him.
"There's just three of them? I don't think I can reach the seventh stage with them."
Li Huowang frowned, feeling anxious. Zuoqiu Yong could arrive at any moment, and he was worried.
"It's not that easy to find Strayed Ones. Two of them were in our vaults, but we had to raid an evil sect to find the third one. Most of my men are also constantly searching for more."
"Didn't you give me a lot of primordial breath last time during my fight with Shai Zi? Where did you get it?"
"Father, I spent over one hundred years preparing those. I didn't have so much time to prepare them this time. Also, those weren't meant to be used against Shai Zi—they were supposed to help Ji Zai return to his status as a Strayed One."
Li Huowang knew that Li Sui was right. Shai Zi wasn't the key, but instead Ji Zai. Without Ji Zai, everyone would've been killed by the Dharma Sect.
Li Huowang sighed and approached the three Strayed Ones. "What about the other places? Are the other Surveillance Bureaus looking for the Strayed Ones too?"
"I've ordered them to do so. They will send any Strayed Ones that are found to Shangjing, but there have been no replies."
Li Huowang faced the three Strayed Ones. "I'm one of you. I've lived through exactly what you're experiencing now. Letting me strip away your primordial breath and inner sight would be best for all of us."
Li Huowang then looked at their broken limbs. "I won't say much. When you become regular people once more, head to a place called Cowheart Village. You can live out the rest of your lives there peacefully."
Li Huowang then gestured at Li Sui. "Let's start immediately. We don't have much time."
Li Sui nodded. Several Unspeakables entered the room. Their heads were skewered together by Li Sui's tentacles, making them look like a massive flesh spider as they walked in.
The three Strayed Ones were filled with panic. However, before they could react, Li Sui took control of the Unspeakables, retrieving the primordial breath from the Strayed Ones and stripping the inner sight from their eyes.
After the two things had been extracted from their bodies, the three Strayed Ones became skinnier, as if something had stolen their vitality.
The Unspeakables shoved the primordial breath and inner sight into Li Huowang, and everything around him started to change uncontrollably.
His thoughts were manifesting around him without his control.
Li Huowang felt everything around him crumbling and turning into a manor.
He carefully sat down and began controlling the inner sight he had just obtained, using it to push the primordial breath toward his seventh chakra point.
Chapter 924 - Cultivation
The seven chakra points are the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra, Third Eye Chakra, and finally, the Crown Chakra.
This was the method to cultivate the "Truth" Doulao had given him. Strayed Ones could cultivate "Truth" because of the primordial breath inside their body. Whenever Li Huowang used his inner sight to push the primordial breath into one of the seven chakra points, his control over the cultivation of "Truth" increased.
When Li Huowang controlled the Root Chakra, he could temporarily turn a stone into an apple.
When he controlled the Sacral Chakra, he could turn the ground into water and even twist arrows to miss their mark.
When he controlled the Solar Plexus Chakra, he could conjure fire out of nowhere and turn someone into mud with just a glare.
When the inner sight and primordial breath from three different Strayed Ones entered his body, he started pushing his primordial breath toward the next chakra point.
With more inner sight, he could move more of his primordial breath.
His cultivation started to grow faster. However, Li Huowang felt that the power was slowly slipping out of his control, as it wasn't his to begin with. He dared not let his guard down.
Li Huowang lost track of time, oblivious to everything happening outside. His focus was entirely on cultivation.
Li Huowang locked in as he focused on using his inner sight to move the primordial breath. Thanks to the three Strayed Ones, his cultivation speed had increased significantly.
His primordial breath, once as heavy as a skyscraper, slowly moved up to the next chakra point. The moment it did, Li Huowang felt his mind explode, and his consciousness spread out thinly. He then lost consciousness altogether.
When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself suspended in midair, with Li Sui glaring at him as if he were an enemy.
The old furniture in the room had disappeared entirely, and the entire room was painted completely white. Everything around him had completely changed.
Li Huowang looked around, and as he willed, the rafters, chairs, and floorboards returned. He restored the room to its former glory.
Li Huowang was stronger than before, and his range had improved dramatically. He was confident that he could now influence things tens of meters away.
"Father, it looks like my method was correct. You only spent..."
"Wait!"
Li Huowang interrupted Li Sui, his forehead glistening with sweat. "Hold on, don't say anything just yet. Give me some food and water first."
He soon ate and drank his fill before laying on the floor to sleep.
It took some time before Li Huowang woke up again. This time, he felt much better. He explained, "In the future, don't tell me how long I've been out after cultivating. If it's too long, I might actually starve to death."
Li Huowang had to eat, sleep, and drink before the others told him how long he had been cultivating. Only then could he prevent his death.
"Alright, you can talk now. What were you trying to say?" Li Huowang said, plucking out one of his hairs and using it as a toothpick.
"I wanted to say that you only took two days to finish your cultivation. At least my plan worked."
Li Huowang shook his head. "No, it's not enough. Shai ZI and I tricked Zuoqiu Yong last time, but it will not work next time. Zuoqiu Yong could utilize the entire Tianchen Kingdom next time. Having a Siming that controls the Heavenly Dao of Growth and an entire world as our enemy is not a joke.
"Since this plan works, we need to quickly find more Strayed Ones and raise my cultivation to the seventh stage before Zuoqiu Yong attacks! I'm only at the fourth stage right now."
Still, a quiet worry lingered in Li Huowang's mind—he wasn't sure he could defeat Zuoqiu Yong, even if he reached the seventh stage of his cultivation.
Thankfully, he wasn't alone this time. Both the Qi Kingdom and the Liang Kingdom were on his side.
Li Huowang patted Li Sui's shoulder before he resumed his cultivation. "I need more Strayed Ones. Find a way to search the entire world."
Cultivating "Truth" required more than primordial breath and inner sight, but it was the best option right now.
"Father, are there Strayed Ones in the Qi Kingdom? Maybe they can help."
"Ha. Almost everyone is dead there. I doubt that there are any Strayed Ones there. Tell Gao Zhijian not to plan everything in detail. Don't hope for the Qi Kingdom alone to fight off the Tianchen Kingdom. It's impossible.
"I know that the Dragon Veins are precious and that it takes a long time to accumulate Dragon Qi, but we need to use it now. If we fail here, we won't ever get to use it in the future. The Dragon Veins will become Zuoqiu Yong's mount if we are conquered."
Li Huowang believed that he needed to go to the Baiyu Capital to win this time. He refused to believe that the Simings he had saved last time would ignore his plea. What are they doing to begin with?
"Alright, Father. I will find more Strayed Ones now. I'll take care of everything while you cultivate."
Seeing Li Sui exit the room, Li Huowang sat down to start cultivating again, but before he could, he realized that he had forgotten something very important.
"Wait, what am I forgetting?"
Li Huowang pondered a moment before he reached for his head.
With a light swipe of his fingernails, his scalp opened like a flower. Li Huowang did it again, and his skull split open. He reached into his brain to search around before he found Hong Zhong's mahjong tile inside his brain.
Shai Zi had initially placed the mahjong tile into his brain to let him know about the incoming Natural Disaster in the Tianchen Kingdom, which he used to trick Zuoqiu Yong. However, Shai Zi had intentionally left it there. Shai Zi couldn't have forgotten something like this.
"He's a bastard that refuses to give up on either side. I need to be careful when I deal with him next time."
Li Huowang proceeded to crush the mahjong tile into dust.
Li Huowang continued his cultivation once more.
Unbeknownst to him, Li Sui stood outside the cultivation room to observe him. Compared to the insides, the outside of the room had been completely twisted. Old rotting wood had fused with brand-new boards.
Li Huowang's cultivation caused this. Even Li Sui didn't know how Li Huowang did it. Rather than being unstable to the brink of collapsing, the room stood firm and breathed like a beast.
"Tell the others to evacuate this region. Don't leave anyone behind."
This was only the fourth stage. Who knew what would happen when Li Huowang reached the seventh stage?
Xuan Pin didn't want the entire Surveillance Bureau of the Liang Kingdom to be destroyed by her father before the fight even began.
One of the pillars beside Xuan Pin answered, "Yes, Chief."
Chapter 925 - Important
Just as Xuan Pin nodded, she looked up. She floated and passed through the ground before reaching the surface.
Li Sui greeted Bai Lingmiao and asked, "Mother, why are you here?"
"I've ordered the entire White Lotus Sect to find Strayed Ones. They are scattered everywhere, and we will soon have the information we need."
"Thank you, Mother."
Now, everyone in the Liang Kingdom was searching for Strayed Ones. Xuan Pin doubted that the Strayed Ones could hide for long.
"We are family. No need to thank each other. Has your father eaten? I've brought some food for him," Bai Lingmiao said, holding out a food box.
"He's busy cultivating. Let's eat without him."
Li Sui took the food box and held Bai Lingmiao's back. She guided Bai Lingmiao to the rooftop of the Surveillance Bureau. When Li Sui opened the box, she noticed it was filled with Li Huowang's favorite dishes.
One of Li Sui's arms sprouted out from her robes. She took a pair of chopsticks and picked up a winter melon before eating it.
"Mother, is there something you need to discuss with Father?"
Bai Lingmiao smiled as she tucked some of her hair behind her ears. "I've heard about the situation in Tianchen Kingdom. Your father must be worried, right? I understand him, and I know he will try to handle it all by himself.
"I came to tell him that the Heavenly Mater is sending a signal to stop him from being so rash. If the Tianchen Kingdom were coming already, the Heavenly Mater would not sit idly."
"Oh? Has the Heavenly Mater given out her sacred decree?" Li Sui replied.
Bai Lingmiao shook her head.
"No, but it's better than before. I'm certain that the Heavenly Mater will soon help us."
"That's good news. I'll let Father know."
Li Sui ate her meal, enjoying the stir-fried meat with chestnuts. "This is delicious."
"Is that so? Suisui, if you like it so much, I will bring you a portion next time."
Bai Lingmiao tried to pat Li Sui's head, but she soon gave up after seeing how tall Li Sui was.
"Mother, do you want to stay with Father forever?"
Bai Lingmiao's smile slowly disappeared. "Why are you asking that?"
"I just want to make it clear. You can't keep dragging this."
"We can talk more next time. The Tianchen Kingdom is knocking on our doorstep. We don't have time for this now."
Bai Lingmiao stood up to leave.
"You always run away when we bring this up."
Shangguan Yuting's illusion floated from beneath the tiles, stopping Bai Lingmiao from leaving.
Shangguan Yuting displayed a paper filled with words before Bai Lingmiao.
"What... What is this?" Bai Lingmiao took several steps back when she saw the familiar names.
"These are the names of the Bai family and their sins. We've recorded their every transgression and the names of the people they've killed. A disciple of Moongate recorded this, so their information is accurate."
Xuan Pin put down her bowl and approached Bai Lingmiao. Shangguan Yuting smiled, and her illusion floated into the large red robes.
"Mother, you're kind. You even became the head of the White Lotus Sect to protect it from being oppressed. Don't you think that those who have committed such heinous sins should be executed?
"According to your teachings, do you think your family could enter the Heavenly Mater's Void Home?"
Bai Lingmiao took another step back out of shock. Her voice trembled. "Suisui, what are you trying to do?"
"Nothing. I've tried advising both sides, but both of you refused to give up on one another. As your child, I just want to help you get over your trauma and see if we can repair your relationship."
Bai Lingmiao found herself pursing her lips as she read about the lives that her family had taken, the words written in red ink. She struggled to reconcile her warm memories with her family and the contradicting cold words on the paper.
"Mother, as the Saintess of the White Lotus Sect, I know that you would not give your family special treatment, especially after they've committed such atrocities."
Bai Lingmiao's eye cover was wet with tears. She shook her head rapidly.
Li Sui approached and hugged her. Her red robes wrapped around Bai Lingmiao like a warm blanket. "Mother, let it all go. Father did the right thing, and so did you.
"It's not either of you that's wrong—it's this world.
"If you want to do something for your family, let's work together to change the world and prevent such a tragedy from happening again."
Feeling the warmth enveloping her, Bai Lingmiao broke down. Her tears overflowed tears as Li Sui held her tightly.
Li Sui extended her six arms and hugged Bai Lingmiao, holding her close. She gently stroked her back, offering what comfort she could.
Though Bai Lingmiao had grown stronger, Li Sui saw through her facade. She was barely eighteen—far too young to bear such crushing weight.
Since her father wasn't exactly reliable, Li Sui had to do it herself.
After a while, Bai Lingmiao pulled away from Li Sui's embrace. "Suisui, thank you. However, we should focus on the Tianchen Kingdom first, rather than my relationship with your father."
"Why not? We're not like Father, stuck thinking of one thing at a time. We can do both things at once."
Bai Lingmiao shook her head and pulled off her white silk eye cover, wiping away her tears. "Suisui, you don't get it. The issue between me and your father—it's not important. It's just a relationship. Whether we stay together or split up, it means nothing. What truly counts are the lives of everyone in this world.
"Suisui, I'm not the only one thinking of this. Your father is thinking about this too. It's just that he hides everything in his heart and does everything on his own. He tells no one about it, but I understand him well."
Xuan Pin froze. Her voices slowly superimposed on each other until returning to Li Sui's own voice. "But this is important to me. I just want the both of you to live better."
Bai Lingmiao covered her eyes again and smiled before extending her arm into the darkness of Xuan Pin's red robes. "Suisui, don't worry. We will be fine. We are both working hard for our goals. This is good enough.
"Go home now. I know you're working hard too. I'll try to establish contact with the Heavenly Mater as soon as possible. That way, she can help when the Tianchen Kingdom attacks."
Bai Lingmiao turned and slowly descended from the roof.
Just as she was about to reach the lower floors, the Second Deity sprouted out from her back. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
The Second Deity fixed her beast-like eyes on Xuan Pin. "Suisui, be careful when you and Li Huowang face Zuoqiu Yong. The Bai family's live sacrifice ritual means the previous Heavenly Mater held onto more than just the Heavenly Dao of Growth. I'm certain Zuoqiu Yong didn't take just one Heavenly Dao. She must've kept some hidden cards up her sleeves."
Chapter 926 - Target
"...Glory over 18,000 lands, all earth turning golden. All life in six realms under a single light... free from the dust of the mortal world. Today, hearing this scripture chanted in person, realize that every verse is a treasure..."
In the deepest part of the hall belonging to the White Lotus Sect, the 36 White Donkeys chanted continuously. Amidst them, Bai Lingmiao sat upon the enormous lotus throne, her legs crossed in a meditative position.
She was utterly transformed from her earlier demeanor with Li Sui. Now, her face was filled with compassion and divinity, and even the Second Deity's fearsome face was the same.
She had two torsos, with four gracefully extended arms. Her twenty slender fingers were positioned in lotus seals, resembling the branching of a tree.
The white lotus marks on Bai Lingmiao's forehead flickered amidst the chanting, and her consciousness drifted beyond.
Bai Lingmiao sensed the emotions of the Heavenly Mater. She opened her heart completely and strove to merge her compassion with the Heavenly Mater's boundless mercy.
Bai Lingmiao began floating in the air, exuding compassion that radiated outwards and enveloped the White Donkeys nearby. They now wore expressions of pure benevolence.
In the chaos, Bai Lingmiao felt a deep connection with the Heavenly Mater. Their emotions blended into one, becoming indistinguishable from each other.
Unlike before, the overwhelming sense of death that had almost materialized vanished, leaving only compassion.
Bai Lingmiao knew that this feeling hadn't disappeared entirely. It had simply been concealed.
Bai Lingmiao carefully gathered her memories of today's events and offered them reverently to the Heavenly Mater.
She hoped to reestablish contact and attempted to implore the Heavenly Mater to intervene with divine powers. That way, the White Lotus Sect could help fend off the Tianchen Kingdom.
Tianchen Kingdom harbored a deep-seated enmity against the Heavenly Mater and mobilized a massive force specifically to fight her.
The Heavenly Mater would surely act out of self-preservation, but Bai Lingmiao remained uncertain without any explicit confirmation.
Despite her pleas, Bai Lingmiao received no concrete answer from above, only some vague emotional feedback.
There was neither explicit acceptance nor rejection—it seemed as though the Heavenly Mater was distracted.
Bai Lingmiao tried to push further, but her connection with the Heavenly Mater began to fade. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back inside the hall.
Looking around at the gazes of the White Donkeys, she took a deep breath. With her four hands raised, she proceeded to attempt another ritual.
The Tianchen Kingdom and the Heavenly Mater shared a deep grudge. Bai Lingmiao needed to ensure that the Heavenly Mater would lend her assistance when the kingdom launched an attack.
Somehow, the Heavenly Mater of the past seemed different from the one now.
A voice suddenly interrupted Bai Lingmiao's ceremony. "Saintess."
Bai Lingmiao sensed who it was and realized it was Lian Zhibei. She had helped her ascend to the position of Saintess.
With the growing influence of the White Lotus Sect, Lian Zhibei's status had also risen, and she was now Bai Lingmiao's right-hand woman within the sect.
Though Lian Zhibei appeared to be a woman in her 30s or 40s, she showed no disrespect toward the young Bai Lingmiao. She bowed deeply. "Saintess, there's news regarding the Strayed Ones. There are four of them, and I've already sent people to bring them back."
Bai Lingmiao nodded lightly, "Good. Don't use force right away. Speak to them gently first. Tell them there's a way to help them find clarity and rid themselves of their bewilderment.
"If they still refuse to listen, we'll think of other methods to bring them back."
This would actually benefit both sides, but the living Strayed Ones were unlikely to fully believe it. Even Senior Li would probably have doubted them.
"Yes," Lian Zhibei replied with a bow.
"Still, to mobilize the entire White Lotus Sect and only find four Strayed Ones... I wonder how many Suisui has found. It still doesn't seem like enough."
Four Strayed Ones might not be sufficient for the seven chakra points of "Truth" cultivation to succeed.
Upon hearing this, Lian Zhibei hesitated momentarily. "Saintess, some of the disciples have heard rumors from the elders. It is said that some of the Strayed Ones have conspired together to go into hiding."
"Hiding? Does that mean there are more?"
"There may be more, but their hiding place is very difficult to locate. I've heard they've concealed themselves within the karmic obstacles of a Muddled One."
"Muddled One?" Bai Lingmiao's heart skipped a beat. The Muddled One was not easy to deal with—they belonged to the same family as the Strayed One.
They had a unique ability: forgetfulness. They could make people vanish entirely from the recollections of every person in the world, banishing them to a lost realm.
That place was not good. It was utterly dark, with no Heavenly Dao of Death. No matter what happened there, one would never die. More importantly, once someone was forgotten by the Muddled One, it was nearly impossible to escape.
They had to be remembered by someone. Otherwise, even killing the forgotten individual wouldn't release them.
Communication with the Muddled One was nearly impossible—they would forget everything even as they spoke.
However, Bai Lingmiao was vastly more powerful than before. The Muddled One was troublesome but no longer so dangerous.
Bai Lingmiao just hadn't expected that some of the Strayed Ones had voluntarily chosen to be forgotten by a Muddled One to survive.
The Second Deity cut in from behind. "Is the information reliable?"
Lian Zhibei carefully explained, "Yes, I confirmed it with the masters of the Fangxian Sect. It's true, and several others have heard the same."
Bai Lingmiao pondered the matter carefully. "There's one issue. Even if we know the Strayed Ones are hidden, we still don't know which Muddled One has forgotten them."
Lian Zhibei hurriedly explained, "Saintess, that's not a problem. All the realms of forgetfulness of the Muddled One are interconnected. No matter which one we use, it'll lead to the same place."
"Interconnected?" Bai Lingmiao was surprised. If that were true, then being forgotten by any Muddled One would result in banishment to the same realm.
Bai Lingmiao thought seriously for a while. "Do we have a Muddled One?"
"We don't, but the Surveillance Bureau has one. They captured a living Muddled One two years ago. With the relationship between Saintess and the Surveillance Bureau, we should be able to borrow it."
Bai Lingmiao rose from the lotus throne without hesitation. "Go to the Surveillance Bureau and borrow the Muddled One. We'll retrieve those hidden Strayed Ones."
The Tianchen Kingdom could attack at any moment. The sooner they acted, the better their chances.
"Yes, Saintess," Lian Zhibei said, then bowed deeply with both hands raised above her head.
Bai Lingmiao glanced at the 36 White Donkeys, her demeanor completely different from when she was with Li Huowang. "Prepare your weapons and artifacts. We're going to claim the Strayed Ones."
"Yes, Saintess!"
Chapter 927 - Muddled One
Lian Zhibei left and returned just as quickly. When she returned, eight strong young White Lotus followers carried a tall black coffin into the hall behind her, grunting as they worked.
The Muddled One was clearly inside the coffin, sealed to prevent mishaps.
This entity was dangerous and couldn't be released in the hall. Under Bai Lingmiao's instructions, the coffin was relocated to an underground chamber initially intended for the Heavenly Mater's statue.
"Remember, once the Muddled One comes out, it could erase your memories of me. That's why I suggested you write it down on paper or even etch it into your skin," the Second Deity impatiently said.
The people on the periphery nodded and gripped their brushes tightly, hurriedly recording everything on paper.
They would vanish if the Muddled One forgot them, but they could force it to remember them and release them when the time came.
The timing was crucial. If it was too early, they might not find what they needed, and if it was too late, something worse could happen.
"Miaomiao, maybe... let the White Donkeys go instead. You don't need to go in there. I've heard it's terrifying. What if something happens to you?" Chun Xiaoman said with concern. She was in charge of coordination outside.
Bai Lingmiao glanced at the coffin and shook her head gently. "Sister Xiaoman, I'm not that weak anymore. Besides, how will the others bring out all the Strayed Ones if I don't go in? I have plenty of experience with them, so don't worry."
The coffin's nails were pried off, releasing black mist. As the lid fell open, a man with a large birthmark covering half his face emerged, crawling out in tattered clothes.
He looked around in confusion, his eyes filled with deep bewilderment. It was as if he'd forgotten who or where he was.
"Everyone, leave. Shut the door. Don't let him see you. In three days, show him our portraits to remind him, and then force him to release us," Bai Lingmiao said, leading a group of White Donkeys toward the man.
"Where... where am I? Why am I here?" the Muddled One asked Bai Lingmiao.
Bai Lingmiao walked before him and carefully observed him. She ensured her reflection appeared fully in his eyes, then placed a red veil over his head.
When the Muddled One removed the red veil, the surroundings were empty, and his face showed no surprise. He had completely forgotten about Bai Lingmiao and the White Donkeys.
"Where... where am I? Why am I here?" He circled in confusion and repeated, "Where.. Where am I? Why am I here?"
By this time, Bai Lingmiao and her group had already left the dark room. However, the outside of the hall and the entirety of Shangjing had transformed.
The sky hung in pitch blackness, and everything was caught between being visible and invisible. Large sections of buildings had crumbled, creating a desolate and bleak atmosphere, as if the Great Liang had already fallen. This was the world of those forgotten by the Muddled One.
"Let's go. Stay alert. The people trapped here have been tormented a lot. They are caught between life and death, and they are neither humans nor ghosts anymore. They can be very hostile toward the living."
Bai Lingmiao guided the White Donkeys through the ruined imperial city, intending to capture someone for directions.
Given their unique abilities, if there were any Strayed Ones here, they would likely be well-known among those trapped here.
Their journey was short-lived. Bai Lingmiao's keen senses had quickly noticed frenzied murmurs echoing from within the three palaces.
"Ha ha ha! Strange, weird! The grandson marries the grandmother..."
"This way. The voice is coming from over here," Bai Lingmiao said, leading the White Donkeys toward the sound.
"Pigs and sheep sit on the stove—six relatives boil in the pot... Women eat their mother's flesh—sons beat their father's skin... heh heh heh..."
The strange voice didn't seem to expect anyone to come. Bai Lingmiao approached and saw the source of the voice.
It was from a monk sitting upside-down on a lotus seat. His shoulders twitched as he spouted incomprehensible words. "Everyone comes to celebrate, but I see only suffering... suffering... heh heh heh..."
With a wave of her hand, two White Donkeys wearing robes with talismans rushed forward. They took some chains out and wrapped them around the monk, pulling him to the ground before Bai Lingmiao.
The monk looked emaciated, barely skin and bones. He seemed long gone mentally, and he had used his claw-like hands to pull out his intestines and spin them like prayer beads.
"Master, have you seen any Strayed Ones around here? If you can help me, I'll free you from this agony after it's over," Bai Lingmiao said.
The monk ignored her enticing reward and continued his gibberish, saying, "Pigs and sheep sit on the stove—six relatives boil in the pot. Women eat their mother's flesh—sons beat their father's skin."
After several more attempts, the Second Deity said, "It's no use. This guy's completely mad. Who knows how long ago he's been here."
She continued, "If we want any real answers, we'll have to find someone who ended up here more recently."
Bai Lingmiao didn't reply. She quickly retreated into the safety of the White Donkeys. "Be careful! There are a lot of people coming from behind the ruined temple!"
The tattered curtain of the temple was ripped open as a swarm of bloated, naked figures with bloodshot eyes surged toward them.
Men and women were amongst them, all driven mad by their endless torment in this forgotten world.
They became even more frenzied when they saw Bai Lingmiao's face, throwing themselves at her with reckless abandon.
"Formation! Protect the Saintess!" The White Donkeys, possessed by various spirits, easily held the crazed attackers at bay.
However, even decapitating them didn't stop them. There was no death here.
It was unlike the world outside, where the Heavenly Dao of Death had vanished. The people here were still consumed by madness and a desire for slaughter.
A voice suddenly called from outside. "This way! Hurry! If you stay here, they'll only keep coming!"
Bai Lingmiao was surprised to recognize the person who spoke. It was Tuoba Danqing, the former superior of Senior Li in the Surveillance Bureau.
He had been left behind back when Li Huowang and other members of the Surveillance Bureau fought against the Muddled One.
From his expression, Bai Lingmiao deduced that he hadn't been here long enough to lose his sanity and could still communicate.
"Retreat southeast! Follow that man!"
Chapter 928 - Information
"Dong dong dong~ Beneath the high mountains of the Hong and Huang sects, four large pythons and snakes leave the serpent mountain, and a gust of wind departs from the high tomb."
As rhythmic drumbeats and chants filled the air, a sharp claw swiftly tore a person in half.
Twisted beast faces hidden beneath red veils surrounded Bai Lingmiao, encircling her to prevent sneak attacks from the insane creatures around them.
There were too many of these beings. Despite the defense of the White Donkeys, a few still managed to slip through and reach Bai Lingmiao.
Bai Lingmiao led the White Donkeys on the wide road, following Tuoba Danqing from behind as they dodged the crazed mob that had lost all reason.
More and more lunatics gathered behind them, surging toward Bai Lingmiao like a tidal wave. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Although their individual strength was weak, their overwhelming numbers made them dangerous. More importantly, they were immortal in this place.
The two people that the Second Deity had just torn in half were now dragging their spilled intestines and crawling toward her on all fours like spiders.
"Take the small path! Hurry, this way!" Tuoba Danqing said. He urgently led the way forward, his hair disheveled and whipping through the air.
After a tense but brief chase, Tuoba Danqing took a sharp turn and crawled into a drainage hole.
Bai Lingmiao used her senses to quickly scan the area, ensuring there was no ambush lurking within. Satisfied with her findings, she wasted no time and hurriedly followed him inside, urging the others to keep up.
The tunnel was dark and narrow. After a short while, Bai Lingmiao felt the space before her widen unexpectedly. It was connected to a cellar.
As the thirty-six White Donkeys crawled out from the tunnel, Bai Lingmiao lashed her ritual whip at the entrance, causing the entire passage to collapse and crush the creatures that had just begun to emerge.
Dust filled the air as Bai Lingmiao and her group stepped back, covering their noses. Finally, silence returned.
Before Bai Lingmiao could catch her breath, Tuoba Danqing rushed toward her excitedly. "I... I wasn't mistaken, was I? You're Er Jiu's wife, right? We met a few years ago, didn't we?"
She greeted him with a bow. "Senior Tuoba, long time no see. I am Bai Lingmiao."
Tuoba Danqing's voice trembled. "Did you come here to save me? You must have come to take me out of here, right?"
"That's right, Er Jiu sent me to rescue you." Bai Lingmiao had no reason to refuse—saving him was just a secondary task. In fact, by helping him, she might even obtain the information she needed about the Strayed Ones.
Tuoba Danqing seemed to deflate. He collapsed to the ground, his hands pressed against his face. His shoulders shook with raw, uncontrolled sobs.
Bai Lingmiao recognized he was emotionally overwhelmed. Though he hadn't gone mad yet, he was dangerously close to breaking down after being trapped in this place for so long.
She handed him a handkerchief and gently said, "Senior Tuoba, I know you've suffered a lot, but my purpose here goes beyond just getting you out."
Tuoba Danqing looked up at her while holding the handkerchief to stem his tears and snot.
"Senior Tuoba, you've been here for quite some time now. Do you know of any Strayed Ones in this place? Have you heard rumors about them?"
Tuoba Danqing hesitated before urgently standing up. "Let's get out first. We can talk about Strayed Ones later. Forget the Strayed Ones for now—there are plenty of them outside! I'll help you catch some once we're out!"
"No, there are none outside anymore. I'll explain everything to you from the beginning."
Bai Lingmiao spent half an hour explaining the situation outside to Tuoba Danqing. Upon learning everything, Tuoba Danqing sat in stunned silence. His mind struggled to process the sheer volume of events that had unfolded in just a few short years.
"In short, to defend against the Tianchen Kingdom's attack, we must find the Strayed Ones. Do you understand, Senior Tuoba?" Bai Lingmiao asked, her tone growing more serious.
Tuoba Danqing had calmed down now. He nodded. "I understand, I understand. It's not that I don't want to help. But after all these years in this damned place, I honestly don't know where to find Strayed Ones here."
Tuoba Danqing quickly changed his tone when he saw Bai Lingmiao's expression change. "Wait, don't worry! Although I don't know, there's someone here who's well-informed!"
"Who?"
Tuoba Danqing immediately started to rummage through the cellar and prepared to leave. "Come with me. I'll take you to them."
Bai Lingmiao followed him cautiously as they headed toward the city's outskirts. She did not want to be entangled by those creatures again.
Soon, Bai Lingmiao saw what Tuoba Danqing meant. There were withered human heads hanging down from a willow tree.
These decapitated heads should have been dead, but in this place, they remained alive.
While Bai Lingmiao wasn't surprised that they were still alive, she was shocked that the heads hadn't gone mad.
Tuoba Danqing whispered, "Miss Bai, you can ask them. These heads are the most well-informed beings in this place. If there are any Strayed Ones here, they'll know."
One of the heads hanging from the tree took over the conversation. "Strayed Ones? You mean those daydreaming lunatics? Heh heh... of course I know."
Bai Lingmiao immediately stepped forward and asked urgently, "Where are they now?"
The heads on the tree burst into laughter, filled with mockery and glee. Bai Lingmiao couldn't tell if it was the heads laughing or the enormous tree itself.
The White Donkeys quickly formed a protective formation around Bai Lingmiao. They scanned the surroundings in case the laughter attracted other threats.
Finally, the laughter subsided. "Why should I help you? What's in it for me?
"How about this? Give me the heads of half of the thirty-six people behind you, and I'll tell you. It's been so long since I had any new company."
Bai Lingmiao's refusal was firm. "No!"
The heads slowly turned away. "No? Fine, then search on your own. I won't be helping."
The White Donkeys gathered around and said, "Saintess, we are willing to offer ourselves!"
"Silence! This is not your decision to make!" the Second Deity said.
Bai Lingmiao frowned in deep thought for a moment. "My subordinates are human—I will not use them as bargaining chips. However, I can offer something else in exchange for your information."
"Hmph... In this wretched place, other than new heads for amusement, I need nothing else," the heads retorted without looking back.
"No, you do need something. I can offer you death."
All the heads turned to face her at once. "What?! You think you can kill me? I'd love that, but this place has no death."
"True, there's no death here, but that doesn't mean the Twisted One of the Siming of Death can't grant you death."
Bai Lingmiao finished speaking and then gently reached up, plucking a human head from the tree as though she was picking a fruit.
Chapter 929 - Contact
"Transcend the three realms. Break the cycle of reincarnation..."
Bai Lingmiao gently brushed her slender fingers over the top of the head, causing it to close its eyes forever. A slight smile curled on its lips, signaling its liberation from this infernal prison.
Bai Lingmiao gently cradled the dead head, then turned to the willow tree again and asked, "Can I exchange this for information?"
"Yes! Absolutely!" the voices from the tree chimed together, anxious that Bai Lingmiao might change her mind if they didn't respond quickly enough.
Everything that existed here was willing to trade anything for the eternal peace of death. In this realm of karmic obstacles, death was deemed the most precious thing.
"The Strayed Ones are in the east!"
"There's a river to the east!"
"Not far, just thirty miles!"
"After crossing the river, follow the mountain path into the large mountain!"
"Once you're in the mountain, you'll likely find them!"
"There's around a dozen of them! They're not easy to deal with!"
The heads vied to share information about the Strayed Ones.
The heads competed to share information about the Strayed Ones, and Bai Lingmiao's heart brimmed with joy upon learning that there were twelve of them. She realized coming here had been the right decision.
"We've told you! Now, kill us! Quickly! We want to die!"
"Don't go back on your word! If you don't let us die, we will haunt you forever!"
The heads began falling from the tree like hailstones, rolling around Bai Lingmiao's feet like a pack of puppies begging for food.
As Bai Lingmiao's hand brushed over their heads, they quieted down, and their faces showed serene smiles.
Tuoba Danqing stood and watched from nearby. There was a deep longing in his eyes. Over the years, he had always yearned for death. Day and night, he had endured starvation and the torment of hunger, yet he couldn't die.
Death would free him from all suffering—it was an enormous temptation for him.
However, just as he was about to approach Bai Lingmiao, he shook his head violently and turned away. "No! I can't! I must live! I must find Feng Erniu and get my revenge!"
Suddenly, he began to laugh hysterically. "Hahaha! Feng Erniu! You never thought I'd make it out, did you? Just wait! I'm going to kill you! I will definitely kill you!"
As the heads gradually died, the once lush willow tree quickly withered, eventually turning black and splitting apart.
Bai Lingmiao now understood that the heads hadn't gone mad—the tree itself was alive. The heads were merely tools for it to speak.
After finishing the deal with the heads, Bai Lingmiao and her companions set off to the east.
They made swift progress with a clear goal and reached the river the heads had mentioned in less than one day.
The calm waters were marked by a lonely floating bridge, with a sign beside it that read Bridge of Oblivion[1].
"Bridge of Oblivion?" Bai Lingmiao pursed her lips, leading the others across the floating bridge with increased vigilance.
Much to her surprise, nothing happened as they safely crossed to the other side. Ahead of them loomed the massive mountain, home to the group of more than ten Strayed Ones.
The dark mountain loomed like a sleeping giant, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression. A gravel path extended from Bai Lingmiao's feet and led deep into the mountain.
"Be careful, it's over ten Strayed Ones... If they go mad, it'll be quite a show."
Bai Lingmiao nodded in agreement as they made their way into the mountains. She thought Li Huowang and how other sects had kept him under control.
As soon as they entered, Bai Lingmiao had the White Donkeys call out into the forest to assure the Strayed Ones that they had no ill intentions.
"Everyone! Come out, I can help you escape this endless torment, whether it's the torment of the Strayed One or the Muddled One!"
She wanted to make it clear she had no hostility and sincerely wanted to make contact with them.
She didn't plan to treat the Strayed Ones like others had, perhaps because Li Huowang was a Strayed One. She believed they were still capable of reason. A win-win situation didn't require tricks. Any sensible person would know how to choose.
After walking about two miles on the gravel path, they were stopped by a disheveled woman.
She hoarsely rasped at Bai Lingmiao, saying, "Go back..."
Her attitude made Bai Lingmiao clench her fists tightly inside her sleeves.
"We're here to help you. Don't be afraid—I'm here to help you." Bai Lingmiao took a step forward.
"Get lost!" the woman roared, and the ground suddenly swelled. A massive boulder rolled toward Bai Lingmiao and her group, causing the earth to shudder as it moved.
The White Donkeys quickly stepped forward. All thirty-six of them squatted simultaneously, sending the boulder flying away with a mighty heave.
They stopped in their tracks as they were about to surround the female Strayed One. It was not because of fear but because another ten people had appeared beside her.
These people varied in height and gender. They were dressed in ragged clothes like beggars.
The White Donkeys remained on high alert. These were Strayed Ones, capable of creating something from nothing. It was rare to see ten of them gathered together—every single one was priceless.
"Miss Bai, maybe we should retreat. These Strayed Ones might have already gone mad. Let's go back and plan this carefully," Tuoba Danqing said.
"We're not mad."
Bai Lingmiao looked up. There was a dark-skinned man with bone rings in his hair who was clearly from Qing Qiu. He was the leader of the Strayed Ones.
"If you're not mad, then why are you acting crazy?! Can't you understand? Come with us! We know how to get out! Or do you plan to stay here forever?" the Second Deity shouted.
The Strayed One from Qing Qiu retorted, "Go out? For what? To be hunted like rats by humans?"
"We can remove the primordial breath inside you—you can live like normal people," Bai Lingmiao said.
"Hmph! Normal people? So we went through all this suffering just to become ordinary people?"
Bai Lingmiao grew anxious. "If you don't leave, are you planning to stay here forever? There's no death here. What do you intend to do here?"
"What do we intend to do? We want to become the Ten Kings of Hell!"
Bai Lingmiao and her companions were stunned into silence, unsure of how to respond.
The Strayed One from Qing Qiu pointed to the ground. "Do you think this is just some random place? This is the Underworld! It only looks like this because nobody cares!"
He continued, "As long as we become the new Kings of Hell, we will join the ranks of immortals!"
1. In Chinese mythology, Meng Po is the goddess of oblivion. She serves soup on this bridge to make people erase their past lives before they are reborn. ☜