Li Huowang turned and saw Bai Lingmiao approaching them.
She bowed to Gao Zhijian.
She now looked significantly better, as though nothing had happened.
"Your Majesty, please acknowledge the White Lotus Sect as the nation's religion. The White Lotus Sect doesn't just accept humans but also evil entities. They can all follow your command!"
Gao Zhijian looked at her solemnly before speaking slowly, saying, "Approved."
"Thank you, your Majesty."
Bai Lingmiao walked past Li Huowang and pulled him out of the hall.
"Evil entities worship the Heavenly Mater too? Since when? Can they withstand the murderous aura and help summon Jiang Xiangshou?"
Li Huowang hoped it was true. If so, his chances of victory would increase.
Bai Lingmiao did not answer him. Instead, she said something strange: "Li Sui can be saved."
Li Huowang's heart started to beat irregularly. "What?"
"I said Li Sui can be saved. Our Simings cannot do it, but that's because we don't have the Heavenly Dao of Revival. Fu Shengtian's Simings might have it."
Bai Lingmiao's voice trembled with excitement as she revealed her plan. "As long as we rob their Heavenly Dao, we can bring Li Sui back! Not only that, we can bring back anyone we like!"
"Miaomiao, are you alright?" Instead of feeling joy, Li Huowang was worried.
"Me? I'm fine."
"But you..." Li Huowang didn't know how to explain it. Bai Lingmiao wanted the Heavenly Dao of Revival, but Li Huowang's method of killing them outright was the safer plan.
Bai Lingmiao shook her head, tugging his robes with her small hands. "I've cried enough. It's time to act. Don't forget—I'm her mother, and I only have one daughter. I will take their Heavenly Dao to save Suisui, and I will kill anyone who dares harm her!"
Bai Lingmiao and the Second Deity growled simultaneously when they spat those words. The twin beasts had been angered.
"Suisui..." Li Huowang took out the clay figurine from his robes to inspect it before tucking it back again.
"You're right. Crying won't revive Suisui! We will kill them! We will bring Suisui back!"
Li Huowang hugged Bai Lingmiao and patted her back several times before releasing her. Their hearts were linked as one now.
The Murderous Aura Command was in motion. Weapons from fallen soldiers were collected and distributed to the commoners.
As more and more commoners were exposed to the murderous aura, the number of fighting incidents increased in Shangjing. Even the sky above Shangjing gradually became thick with a murderous aura.
This was just the start. Soon, the entirety of Shangjing, the Liang Kingdom, Qing Qiu, Hou Shu, and the others would be covered with murderous aura.
This was a suicide method. To defeat Fu Shengtian, they had to rely on Jiang Xiangshou.
Li Huowang stood in the fourth vault, reading the most classified documents of the Surveillance Bureau. He now had the authority to read everything here.
He wanted to know why Jiang Xiangshou was so strong.
Li Huowang was reading a book called The Leader's Opera, which recorded information about Jiang Xiangshou.
According to the book. Jiang Xiangshou was different from the other Simings. It had no form, no thoughts, no sentience, and no desires. It existed wherever conflict arose, serving as a tool for others to wield.
Special Simings like it were rare, but not non-existent. The Immortal Heaven was one of them.
According to the records within the Surveillance Bureau, special Simings were either rarely ever worshiped or worshiped by almost everyone. However, most of them only worshipped the superficial part of the Siming.
Through the book, Li Huowang realized that Qing Wanglai's words weren't lies. It was real.
Qing Wanglai had once claimed to have sought out everyone he could, leaving only the unreachable or untraceable behind. He now realized what that meant—Qing Wanglai couldn't contact the special Simings at all.
"We can request for their help, but we have to fulfill their conditions..."
Li Huowang recalled when Jiang Xiangshou appeared. Even the bloodlust and anger in him spilled over and was out of his control.
"If I could use Jiang Xiangshou, that means I could also use the other special Simings by fulfilling their conditions too.
"Doesn't that mean our chances of winning would be greatly increased if we could bring them into our fold?"
Although the other side was merely a projection of the Simings, there were very few clues he could find. This meant that he had to find the clues on this side.
Li Huowang felt his heartbeat quicken. If they could secure their help, their chances of winning would be nearly guaranteed!
Just as Li Huowang asked the eunuchs who worshiped the God of Wealth to search for the necessary documents, he heard many footsteps behind him. Gao Zhijian entered with his entourage of consorts and eunuchs.
"Great timing. Help me contact the other Dragon Veins. They are very knowledgeable, and I wish to learn more about the other Simings!" Li Huowang said.
"Senior Li, we can delay that for a bit. I'm here because I found you a great helper."
Li Huowang turned around and continued looking for the documents. "No need. I'm already at the sixth stage. I'm just one step away from becoming a Siming. Your helper might not be able to help me much."
"That might not be the case."
Numerous voices, each superimposed onto another, came from the back.
Li Huowang looked back with puzzlement and saw a massive wall of faces before him. They were white and covered with white tassels.
"The Lion Dance Palace?"
Li Huowang recognized them. They lived beneath Qing Qiu and cultivated the Dao of Fusion.
"The world is in danger. We can help you." Just as the enormous, round faces of the Lion Dance Palace spoke, numerous organs covered in white tassels urged towards Li Huowang.
"Stop. I know of your methods. No need to try that."
The Lion Dance Palace stepped back, but somehow, several eunuchs and consorts had already disappeared.
"Senior Li, how about it? With their help, your cultivation can grow stronger."
"Is that so?" Li Huowang wasn't interested. "Thank you, but what I need are 'Lies.' Find Shai Zi, and let me swallow him. You'd be able to help me that way."
"Shai Zi..."
Gao Zhijian frowned before nodding. "I understand. I will send my people to locate Shai Zi."
Li Huowang didn't have much faith in Gao Zhijian's words. He knew that Shai Zi was not an easy opponent. If he were, they wouldn't have had such a hard time trying to kill him.
Shai Zi was still alive and was now helping Fu Shengtian's Simings. This was troublesome.
"We can set it aside for now. The world is in danger, and I need your help, Senior Li. Only you can do it."
Chapter 971 - Black
"What is it? I'm busy. If it's nothing important, find someone else." Li Huowang waved Gao Zhijian off without looking up and turned the page.
Since he couldn't find anything useful about the Simings, he decided to focus on the books again. The more he understood about the Simings, the better his chances of winning.
"Senior Li, this is something you must do. We cannot go to the Tianchen Kingdom."
Li Huowang slowly turned around and looked at Gao Zhijian. "Is this related to Zuoqiu Yong?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Gao Zhijian nodded. "Yes. The Tianchen Kingdom cannot sit this out. Since he is the lord of the Tianchen Kingdom, he must also use the Murderous Aura Command when the world is in danger. The Tianchen Kingdom must work with us."
Gao Zhijian spoke naturally, as if the people were his.
"Do you really think it would work? Do you really think the Tianchen Kingdom would activate the Murderous Aura Command? They are roughly the same size as the Qi Kingdom, although they do have more people. Do you think Zuoqiu Yong would believe you?"
Gao Zhijian shook his head.
"I don't think my words will sway her, but you could convince her. Senior Li, the number of people in the Tianchen Kingdom is comparable to the past Qi Kingdom. We'll have a better chance of winning if we also use the Murderous Aura Command on them.
"We want to win. Do you not? If we lose, the people in Tianchen Kingdom will all die too."
Li Huowang closed his book and walked out of the vault silently. Arguing with Gao Zhijian now was pointless. Against the threat of Fu Shengtian's Simings, everyone either lived or died.
"I will talk to Zuoqiu Yong. They should still have some soldiers there."
Gao Zhijian bowed to Li Huowang. "Senior Li, thank you. I'm counting on you."
Li Huowang rolled his eyes before punching Gao Zhijian. "Stop trying to use me! You're starting to get on my nerves!"
Gao Zhijian raised his arm and stopped his guards and the eunuchs.
"Senior Li, it's as you've said. A good emperor has never been someone popular."
"You really want to be a good emperor, don't you? Fine, I'll take you to the Tianchen Kingdom! Go and talk to Zuoqiu Yong yourself! I won't do anything if she kills or maims you!"
Grabbing Gao Zhijian by the shoulder, Li Huowang teleported them from Shangjing in the Liang Kingdom to a forest in the Tianchen Kingdom.
Before them stretched a horizon dominated by a black mountain range.
"Senior Li," Gao Zhijian said, calm despite being thrown into a foreign land, "she won't harm me. Zuoqiu Yong knows that even as a Siming, she isn't safe from Fu Shengtian's forces. She'll ultimately agree.."
"Shh! Be quiet! Something's wrong!"
Li Huowang looked around and scanned his surroundings carefully.
The Tianchen Kingdom looked normal, but something felt weird to him. Something had changed.
"What's wrong? Did Fu Shengtian's Simings take over this place? Is there an ambush?"
Gao Zhijian immediately thought about the worst-case scenario.
"No..." Li Huowang suddenly focused on the mountains. He had a feeling that they weren't mountains but a human. As far as he knew, the area around here should've been covered by trees and only trees. There wasn't supposed to be a mountain range here.
"Let's go!"
Li Huowang grabbed Gao Zhijian and shortened the distance between them and the mountain.
Li Huowang's frown deepened as he drew nearer.
The black mountain was moving.
They reached the base of the mountain, and Li Huowang almost vomited from the ridiculous stench.
In front of him was an entire mountain of buzzing flies.
Black flies covered the massive body of Zuoqiu Yong. That was why she looked black from afar.
"What's going on?!" Li Huowang shouted, startling the flies.
The swarm lifted into the air, revealing a sickening sight: a mountain of maggots burrowed into her decaying flesh.
Li Huowang didn't want to believe it, but the truth was in front of him. Zuoqiu Yong, the Siming that controlled the Heavenly Dao of Growth, was now enveloped in the Heavenly Dao of Rot.
She died, just like an unfunny joke. Her massive mountain-like corpse was rotting.
"Impossible!" Li Huowang took several steps back, his eye fixed on Zuoqiu Yong's corpse. "We won! How could Zuoqiu Yong die?"
Li Huowang would never learn how she died. He had defeated Fu Shengtian's Simings and even killed some of them.
"What's going on?"
Li Huowang looked at Gao Zhijian, but he knew as much as Li Huowang. Gao Zhijian had no idea what had happened.
Li Huowang glanced at Gao Zhijian, but Gao Zhijian was equally clueless. He had no idea what had happened.
Xuan Pin, the one person who might have had an idea of what happened, was already dead. Li Huowang was next in line, and he was privy to the secrets of the Surveillance Bureau. If even he didn't know what happened, no one did.
Li Huowang plunged into Zuoqiu Yong's corpse to search for clues. He started with her brain and then moved through her body, scrutinizing every detail.
It was a long time before Li Huowang exited the corpse. Gao Zhijian rushed to meet him. "Senior Li, what happened here?"
"The Heavenly Dao of Growth..." Li Huowang said, shaking his head. "It's gone. I looked for it, but it's gone!"
Did Fu Shengtian ambush Zuoqiu Yong and take away the Heavenly Dao of Growth?
Li Huowang shook his head. No, that can't be right. If he forcefully took it, it wouldn't have been so discreet. This is a Heavenly Dao we are talking about.
Taking away the Heavenly Dao of Growth would have caused a natural disaster. The Heavenly Dao of Growth would have disappeared entirely from the five worlds.
However, both the Qi Kingdom and the Tianchen Kingdom are still experiencing growth. That means the Heavenly Dao is still in the Baiyu Capital.
Chapter 972 - Change
Gao Zhijian looked on anxiously, observing the confusion etched on Li Huowang's face. Zuoqiu Yong had been one of their most valuable allies.
Zuoqiu Yong was a powerful Siming, yet he was now dead without any warning. This was a perilous situation.
"Senior Li, send me back quickly!"
"Wait! Just give me a moment! I know who to ask! I need answers."
He sat down, gripping his head as if he was trying to crush it. He began to chant, "I am at the seventh stage. I am at the seventh stage. I am at the seventh stage!"
Reaching the seventh stage this time proved to be much more difficult than before.
He didn't know how long had passed, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Qing Wanglai and the others staring at him.
"Three Ancient Ones! You control the Heavenly Dao of Secrets. Tell me how Zuoqiu Yong died. Where did the Heavenly Dao of Growth go?"
Qing Wanglai did not answer him. Instead, Qing Wanglai whispered to Zhao Shuangdian.
Li Huowang realized something was wrong when he saw Qing Wanglai's reaction and the look on the others' faces.
He looked down and froze in shock.
"Why are you tying me up? Let me go! What the hell are you doing?"
It felt like he had returned to the time when he was ill. Bound so tightly that he couldn't even move a finger, Li Huowang's panic shifted from Zuoqiu Yong's death to his own predicament.
"Just sit still!" Ba Nanxu said, slapping the back of Li Huowang's head. "We had to tie you up! You kept spouting crazy stuff and even ran out to steal a child's book to read it. We finally got you out, and now you want to go back to the prison again?"
"What?"
Li Huowang was in disbelief, and a terrifying thought popped into his mind. "Did my illness relapse? Am I not able to tell the real side from the fake one?"
Strapped to the bed, he had no choice but to accept the possibility. It was as if he had returned to the past, with everything he did on the other side being mirrored on the other. All because of that one button.
"Is it because I separated myself too clearly this time?"
Li Huowang remembered how he had once accepted Yi Donglai's treatment. He remembered the two different sets of memories in his brain. The more he pondered, the worse his headache became.
"No! I can't merge them! I need to separate them!"
He hadn't expected Fu Shengtian's methods to be so weird. To think that the button was like a poison that could slow him down like this.
Li Huowang was Ji Zai, the Siming controlling the Heavenly Dao of Bewilderment. He had to maintain it at all times, but Fu Shengtian's way of undoing it was surprising.
With war on the horizon, Li Huowang knew he had to regain control. If he couldn't, confronting Fu Shengtian would be nothing short of suicide.
"What's wrong? What happened on the other side?"
Zhao Shuangdian asked. Her serious expression clearly indicated that she didn't think Li Huowang's illness was regular.
"It's Fu Shengtian's attack! That old beggar's button... Even though it's dead, its attack is still affecting me. I never thought it would affect me for so long."
Li Huowang told Zhao Shuangdian about his current situation and Zuoqiu Yong's death.
After grasping his situation, Zhao Shuangdian began calculating something on her laptop.
The others helped untie Li Huowang, realizing he was coherent again.
Li Huowang's heart remained heavy. He could feel himself slipping further into his past self
"Zhijian, find something to tie me up, just like how we did last time."
He could see Gao Zhijian, but his figure was blurry, and it continued to dissipate.
Gao Zhijian found some vines and bound Li Huowang tightly. Only then did Li Huowang breathe a sigh of relief and turn to Zhao Shuangdian. "How about it? Did you calculate anything?"
Zhao Shuangdian stopped tapping her keyboard, showing no sign of agreement or disagreement. "I've calculated something about the Zuoqiu Yong you've mentioned. I will handle it."
However, Li Huowang had already set aside the issue of Zuoqiu Yong's death. He was more worried about his predicament.
Zuoqiu Yong was dead, but he was still alive. He didn't know what kind of Siming Zhao Shuangdian was, but since she said she would take care of it, then he would just leave it to her.
"Alright, you will deal with Zuoqiu Yong. But what about me? Could you solve it?"
Zhao Shuangdian answered him with a question instead. "What did you do to solve it last time?"
"Last time? I accepted Yi Donglai's treatment."
"Then you would have to do it again. Since he could treat you last time, he can treat you this time too. Go and find him."
Li Huowang frowned. "I know he can treat me, but would he help me this time?"
He showed her his broken arm.
Despite the bandage on his arm, the loss of his hand was still very clear.
Li Huowang could already envision Yi Donglai's reaction to his injuries—he'd probably be dismissed as a madman again. He would likely believe that Li Huowang was beyond any hope of recovery.
"It's not a big deal to ask someone for help. We can help you form a plan," Wu Qi said.
Before she could continue, Ba Nanxu said, "Does he have a family member? Can we kidnap someone and threaten him?"
"What are you talking about? Are we kidnappers? Do you want to attract the attention of the Laws?"
Li Huowang huffed. Yi Donglai was helping him out of kindness. How could they treat Yi Donglai like an enemy?
Li Huowang pondered before explaining his plan. "I can try to lure him here to meet everyone. Maybe he would understand us and know what's happening. I trust him, and I know he will find us."
Yi Donglai had always thought that Li Huowang's other world was a hallucination. If he could show Yi Donglai proof, Li Huowang might be able to convince Yi Donglai.
Chapter 973 - Yi Donglai
Li Huowang was reluctant to implicate Yi Donglai, remembering his past help.
Still, there was no choice now. If he failed, everything would be destroyed.
He was certain Yi Donglai would assist them once he understood their predicament.
Having made up his mind, Li Huowang stood up and turned to Zhao Shuangdian. "Let me know the moment you find out anything about Zuoqiu Yong."
Li Huowang then departed for the underground garage.
Yang Na followed until Qing Wanglai called out, "Where are you going?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Where else? I'm going to the White Tower Prison to find Yi Donglai. I will bring him here so you guys can explain everything to him," Li Huowang replied.
"How will you go there?"
"With the motorbike."
"You want to ride a bike with just a single arm?" Qing Wanglai pointed at Li Huowang's broken arm. "Never mind that. Let me help you."
Qing Wanglai took out his phone and started dialing.
As Qing Wanglai started talking, Li Huowang reassured Yang Na, trying to get her to relax.
"Hello? Boss? Hi, how are you? Who am I? Ah, have you forgotten me? I'm Cui Feng. Yes, that same Cui Feng..."
Li Huowang frowned. Qing Wanglai was leveraging his connections again, though whether it would work remained uncertain.
After speaking to the person on the other side of the phone, Qing Wanglai hung up and reassured Li Huowang, saying, "Done. I just obtained Yi Donglai's address."
"Why do we need to go to his house? I want him to meet everyone here so you can explain to him!"
"Then we can follow you, but he cannot come here."
"Why?"
Qing Wanglai reclined further on the sofa. "Since Yi Donglai can treat you... what projection do you think he is? Don't trust others too much. He might not be aligned with us."
"Yi Donglai? Projection?"
Li Huowang shook his head. "He's not involved with us. Maybe he's not a projection."
"No. Everything on earth is a projection of something. It's just that most people don't realize it. Do you know what I'm afraid of? I'm afraid that he's the projection of the Laws."
Li Huowang realized what was going on. Qing Wanglai's worldview contradicted itself, but now wasn't the time to argue. He could set it aside as long as he received treatment from Yi Donglai.
"Fine, you're right. Still, even if he's the projection of the Laws, we have to find him. He's the only one who can treat me, and Fu Shengtian's attack could come at any moment. We need to move now."
They set off immediately. Wu Qi's RV, Qing Wanglai's luxury car, and Zhao Shuangdian's car all departed simultaneously towards Yi Donglai's house.
During the drive, Li Huowang contemplated what to say and which evidence to present to convince Yi Donglai.
While he was thinking, the three cars stopped in front of a residential area. It was called Dragon Lake Residential Area.
"Block 16, second tower, 18th floor, unit 1803. He's off duty today, so he should be at home."
Qing Wanglai stated Yi Donglai's address with a scary accuracy.
Putting on caps and face masks, they avoided security cameras as they entered the building.
The elevator was cramped since everyone entered at the same time. Li Huowang stood in the corner, protecting Yang Na with his broken arm.
Breaking the silence, Zhao Shuangdian remarked, "Their tactics were tricky this time, but it proves your claims were true. They're targeting you now. However, you don't need to worry. We know how special you are, and we'll protect you. You're not alone."
Despite her words, Li Huowang wasn't reassured. He looked at her carefully before averting his gaze. Zhao Shuangdian's actions on the boat had revealed her true nature. No matter how kind her words sounded, he couldn't forget what he'd seen.
Compared to Zhao Shuangdian, Qing Wanglai was much more straightforward.
"Relax. You're a vital tool for fighting other projections. We won't let you break so easily. We'll fix you up as best as we can."
Li Huowang looked at Qing Wanglai and sneered. "Aren't you free from the burden of being compassionate?"
Li Huowang still couldn't figure out why Zhuge Yuan, a compassionate person, was Qing Wanglai's Twisted One. Qing Wanglai was the exact opposite.
Ding. The elevator opened, interrupting his train of thought. He walked out with the others before finding Yi Donglai's apartment.
He rang the doorbell.
Yi Donglai opened the door as expected.
Li Huowang found it strange to see Yi Donglai in casual clothes, as it was only the second time he had encountered him outside the White Tower Prison. In the prison, Yi Donglai had always donned a white doctor's coat.
The apartment was minimalist, dominated by gray and blue tones. The shoe rack by the door suggested he lived alone.
"Li... Li Huowang?"
Yi Donglai could not believe his eyes. He never imagined that Li Huowang, a missing hospital patient, would appear at his doorstep.
"Doctor Yi, I need your help. I've relapsed and need your treatment again," Li Huowang said earnestly.
Yi Donglai laughed. "So now you realize you're ill? That you need treatment? I never thought I'd hear those words from you!"
He grabbed Li Huowang and took out his phone. "Hey, it's me! Call Mr. Yang to bring an ambulance..."
Qing Wanglai snatched Yi Donglai's phone before he could finish his sentence. The others entered Yi Donglai's house and started inspecting everything. They turned off every single electrical appliance that could potentially send out messages.
They checked every nook and cranny to ensure they didn't miss anything.
Zhao Shuangdian even took out her laptop and started calculating something.
Forced onto the sofa, Yi Donglai watched them anxiously.
Li Huowang poured a cup of water and gave it to Yi Donglai. He then pointed at Qing Wanglai. "Doctor Yi, that person is Qing Wanglai. He's the postdoc student that I told you about."
Chapter 974 - Convince
Inside Yi Donglai's house, Li Huowang recounted everything that had happened to him, insisting it wasn't just in his head.
"See, they aren't hallucinations. They are real. You can touch them!"
With a cup in hand, Yi Donglai surveyed the room. "Where did you meet them?"
"Doctor Yi, I've told you before. They're the Simings from Baiyu Capital! Have you forgotten? I told you they existed! There really is another world."
Yi Donglai looked around. "Who's the leader here?"
"I am," Zhao Shuangdian replied.
Yi Donglai narrowed his eyes. "Do you think it's amusing to manipulate a mentally ill man? Do you believe that if someone with his condition kills, they won't face any consequences? Is that why you're using him to kill people?
"Let me make this clear. According to the law, each one of you would be held responsible. Any crime committed by Li Huowang would fall on you!"
"Wait! They're not deceiving me!" Li Huowang protested, but Yi Donglai remained unconvinced.
"Li Huowang, my thesis is public. Anyone could use it to impersonate your hallucinations and deceive you. They're using you!
"You think he's Qing Wanglai? He's not! He's just some fraud calling himself that! Qing Wanglai is just a name—anyone could claim to be him!"
"No! That's not true! He's the real Qing Wanglai!" Li Huowang pressed his hands to his temples. He didn't know how to explain it.
"Why are you having trouble with it? Why do you need to convince him? Just threaten him so he can start treating you."
Ba Nanxu unsheathed a dagger, driving it into the table before Yi Donglai. Her tattooed finger jabbed toward Li Huowang. "Treat him, or we'll skin you alive."
Yi Donglai adjusted his glasses, shaking his head in disbelief.
Ba Nanxu wasn't bluffing. She picked up the dagger and slammed its hilt into Yi Donglai's little finger.
"What are you doing?!" Li Huowang stood up, shoving her away.
He examined Yi Donglai's hand. His nail was nearly detached, and his bruised finger was bleeding heavily.
Undeterred, Ba Nanxu stepped forward again. "Treat him, or I'll break every finger and toe you've got."
Yi Donglai hissed and spoke in disbelief, saying, "Treat him? You want to use him while asking me to treat him? Isn't that contradictory?"
"No," Zhao Shuangdian replied calmly. "We don't need you to cure him entirely. Just treat him enough to get results, like you did before. We'll pay whatever it takes."
Yi Donglai's phone dinged. He picked it up and saw a bunch of zeros on the message. He was utterly stunned.
He looked at the ragtag group before him, their mismatched appearances undermining any sense of organization.
"Doctor Yi, please, I'm begging you," Li Huowang said. "This is serious. Everything I've told you is true!"
Li Huowang tried to explain, but Yi Donglai couldn't believe it. "Li Huowang, you're my patient. I know your history better than anyone. You don't have to explain it to me."
"No, it's not the same. I wasn't a Siming last time! Fu Shengtian didn't attack us last time either! Everything has changed now!"
"Oh? Fine, I can trust you, but on one condition. Repeat everything you've just said to your parents. If you can do that, I'll trust you."
"Why are you dragging them in? They are not involved in this!"
Li Huowang recalled something and pulled Yang Na beside him. "Ask her! She knows that I'm telling the truth!"
Yi Donglai sighed when he saw Yang Na nodding. "You two are too young. There are a lot of bad people outside. Don't get tricked by them."
Zhao Shuangdian spoke up after seeing that Yi Donglai still didn't trust them. "Doctor Yi, let's be rational. If you think we are using Li Huowang's identity as a mental patient to do our deeds, why do we want you to treat him? Isn't it better for us the crazier he is?
"Also, what kind of crime organization would give you so much money without any conditions?"
Yi Donglan couldn't answer. Regardless, he still had reservations and couldn't believe them.
Zhao Shuangdian took two steps back and touched her earlobes.
Ba Nanxu broke the silence, her forked tongue flicking at a photo frame. "Doctor Yi, this little girl must mean a lot to you, right?"
Everyone turned and saw Ba Nanxu licking a photo frame. In the photo, they could see Yi Donglai smiling with a young girl holding a balloon. The girl was about eight years old.
"What are you doing?!" Yi Donglai's voice cracked with panic.
Ba Shengqing took Yi Donglai's phone and handed it to his sister.
"She's important to you, isn't she?" Ba Nanxu smirked. "I doubt it'd take long to find information on her through your phone."
"Fine! You win!" Yi Donglai's composure shattered, his face pale. He didn't know who they were, but he didn't dare to take any chances. "What do you want me to do?"
Ba Nanxu threw the photo frame to the ground, causing it to shatter into countless pieces. "Treat that damned crazy bastard."
"Fine! I'll do it. I'll do it."
Ba Nanxu scoffed and looked at everyone else. "Are you guys so free that you could slowly talk it out? You should just be as straightforward as me."
Li Huowang felt guilty because they were threatening Yi Donglai, but the situation was dire. There was no time to waste. He needed to get treatment now.
"Sorry, Doctor Yi. Once everything is over, I will come and apologize to you formally."
Li Huowang approached Yi Donglai to receive his treatment.
Chapter 975 - Treatment
Li Huowang took a deep breath and looked at Yi Donglai with anticipation. He needed the treatment immediately.
Li Huowang couldn't see the blurry Gao Zhijian anymore. His situation was critical.
Yi Donglai glanced around at everyone and then sat before Li Huowang. "Little Li, tell me everything you've experienced, and don't leave out any details. To cure you, I need to know everything."
Li Huowang nodded. "Once I received your treatment, I became Ji Zai, but it wasn't as easy as that. The me from the other world was real too.
"I was split in two. Over there, I am my past self, while here, I am my future self."
Yi Donglai raised a hand to stop Li Huowang. "Wait, I need you to elaborate. I'm not sure I understand what you're talking about."
"To put it plainly, I'm the Siming in charge of Bewilderment. I'm supposed to always remain bewildered, but Fu Shengtian's Siming stopped me from doing so. I'm the only one who can reset time without forgetting what happened before. That's why they are targeting me."
Yi Donglai frowned as he listened to Li Huowang's explanation. He tried his best to piece the information together.
At first, he struggled to make sense of it, but slowly, the threads of Li Huowang's experiences began to weave into a coherent picture.
Instead of diving straight into treatment, Yi Donglai stood and rummaged through his home, gathering an assortment of objects: an apple, a bowl, a fork, and a succulent from his balcony.
"What kind of treatment is this? Don't think you can fool us. If you try anything, we'll make sure you regret it," Ba Nanxu said, waving her dagger across Yi Donglai's face.
"You're free to doubt me, but these items are essential for the treatment. Feel free to find another doctor if you like. However, I'm certain I'm the only one who can treat Li Huowang."
Yi Donglai was abnormally adamant when it came to his specialty.
"You have guts. I think I like you a little." Ba Nanxu stepped back and stood beside Zhao Shuangdian, who was busy typing on her laptop. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Li Huowang was also curious about the purpose of the items Yi Donglai had gathered.
Yi Donglai, on the other hand, stared at Li Huowang while he placed the items down.
Yi Donglai held onto Li Huowang's hand, which was missing a couple of fingernails. He looked at Li Huowang with disappointment when he saw his missing arm and eye. "Li Huowang, did you find them to play the bad cop while you play the good cop? Would you threaten me with the same method if they weren't here?
"I'm already regretting taking your case. Locking you away forever might've been the smarter option."
Li Huowang was clearly displeased with Yi Donglai's words. However, as he remembered the countless soldiers who had lost their lives and Xuan Pin's sacrifice, he clenched his teeth. "Yes, you're right! I cannot lose. If I lose, everything's over!"
"Very well." Yi Donglai nodded. He seemed unsurprised by Li Huowang's reaction. "Li Huowang, look at me. Look into my eyes."
Li Huowang complied.
"Ji Zai," Yi Donglai spoke slowly, "do you know who I am? Do you know why I helped you and turned you into a Siming?"
Li Huowang shook his head, uncertainty clouding his expression.
Suddenly, Yi Donglai stood, holding the apple and succulent up. "That's because I am Da Nuo! I am the five worlds themselves!"
"Pfft!" A loud snicker broke the tension.
Both of them turned to see Ba Nanxu. "Sorry, please continue."
Ba Nanxu laughed when she saw their faces. She turned around, but her shoulders were still shaking from her snickering.
Yi Donglai resumed his treatment plan. "Ji Zai, look closely. I am the world itself—I am the Grand Siming!"
Li Huowang hesitated, his expression doubtful. "Are you sure? Are you really Da Nuo? But Da Nuo has been crazy since the beginning!"
"Hahahaha!" Ba Nanxu's shrill laughter interrupted them again. She rested her head on her brother's shoulder and laughed so hard that she almost fainted.
Yi Donglai put down the items in his hands, visibly upset. "I can't continue my treatment like this. I need a quiet environment to do this."
Zhao Shuangdian kicked Ba Nanxu as a reminder. "Continue. This is just an accident."
Yi Donglai looked around and sighed. "It's too spacious here. Let's move to my study."
Yi Donglai picked up the apple and succulent, while Li Huowang picked up the fork and bowl. Then, they both walked towards the study.
Yi Donglai suddenly placed the apple and succulent in Li Huowang's arms. "Go ahead to the study. I need to use the restroom."
Just as Yi Donglai had entered, Ba Shengqing followed him inside to monitor him.
Li Huowang curiously held onto the four items. Is Yi Donglai really Da Nuo? If so, what do the four items I'm holding represent? What did he give me? Wait, what if he's not Da Nuo and is just trying to treat me? And if he's not Da Nuo, whose projection is he? How is he going to treat me?
Yi Donglai's study was approximately twenty square feet in size. The left wall was adorned with a collection of medical books, while a khaki-colored couch could be spotted on the right. The room had a minimalist aesthetic, with no other furniture or decorations.
Li Huowang was still troubled by the question he had. He's treating me now. If I want it to work like last time, does that mean I have to trust his words?
Despite waiting a considerable time, no one else entered the study. He looked up to find that they were still outside. "What's going on?"
Li Huowang placed all four items on the sofa and reached for the entrance.
Just as he got up, he saw them entering the study.
A faint voice could be heard the moment Yi Donglai and Li Huowang brushed shoulders.
"Li... quick... wake..."
Chapter 976 - Switch
"Li... wake... up..."
Li Huowang's trembled all over. He stumbled backward, his eyes wide with disbelief as though confronted by a monstrous beast. His gaze darted to Yi Donglai, panic written across his face. "What did you just say?!"
"What?" Yi Donglai frowned, confused by Li Huowang's outburst.
"It wasn't you? Didn't you just speak?"
"No," Yi Donglai replied firmly.
"If it wasn't you, then there's only one explanation. That voice... it was Gao Zhijian's! This is bad. He's in danger!" Li Huowang exclaimed, his voice rising sharply.
"Dr. Yi! Think of something! Hurry, find a way to send me back! Gao Zhijian is the Dragon Vein, and he's my junior! He can't be in danger!" Desperation gripped Li Huowang as he lunged forward, grabbing Yi Donglai by the collar.
"I haven't even started treating you yet! How can I make you experience delusions again?!" Yi Donglai staggered back with a trace of fear in his eyes.
Li Huowang stood anxiously, his mind racing for a solution.
Suddenly, he stopped and shouted, "I don't care who you are! If you dare touch the Dragon Vein of Great Liang. Try it if you have the guts!"
"Hahaha~" A piercing laugh echoed, causing Li Huowang's ears to throb painfully.
However, Li Huowang ignored the pain entirely. He looked up at Zhao Shuangdian. "Check your computer! See if it's someone from Fu Shengtian attacking!"
Zhao Shuangdian slowly shook her head. "Senior Li, I'm fine. No one is threatening me."
Li Huowang froze and stared blankly at Zhao Shuangdian.
"No threats? There's no one from the Tianchen Kingdom threatening Gao Zhijian right now. Then whose voice was that just now?"
Li Huowang looked back hesitantly at Yi Donglai. Was it his voice? Why would he want to wake me up? Could it be that I'm not actually awake right now?
Or... could it be that the world I'm perceiving now is fake?
"Wake..." The harsh voice returned, causing Li Huowang to wince in pain as he clutched his ears. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Ba Nanxu laughed again, sounding extremely unpleasant. Li Huowang had never seen her laugh so much before.
"No... Something's wrong! Why is she laughing? Ba-Hui, you who controls pain, why are you laughing?! What are you laughing at?!" Li Huowang lunged forward, pinning her down.
"What are you doing? You're going mad."
"Let her go!"
"So troublesome."
The others rushed to restrain him, struggling to pull him away. But as he stared into Ba Nanxu's face, a realization struck him like lightning. "I understand now! I finally know why you're laughing! Somewhere, something extremely painful is bringing you joy! Ba-Hui, I understand you! Because I used to do the same thing!"
The kind of agony that could make Ba-Hui laugh like this was no ordinary pain—it was something unimaginable.
Ba Nanxu didn't seem angry at being pinned down. She merely smirked, her laughter taunting him. "Hahaha, trying to entertain me? You're just a high school student, so that's a tall order."
"Cut the crap! What are you doing? Answer me! What happened, and where? Where is this pain coming from?!"
Li Huowang was about to look around. However, the entire study and everyone in it turned into piles of sand, scattering across the floor.
Gao Zhijian stood nearby, staring at the frantic Li Huowang with wide eyes. "Senior Li... are you okay?"
He was back. Somehow, the scene had switched again.
"Shh... wait a second... Let me think! Li Huowang's expression showed torment. He raised both hands and repeatedly hit his own head, trying to use the pain to clear his mind.
As his head began to bleed, his figure flickered and disappeared, only to reappear before Gao Zhijian once again.
"Where are the fifteen Dragon Veins now? They haven't been sent away yet, right?!"
"Not yet. Senior Li, only you can deliver them. They're still coiled at the imperial temple. Why are you asking about the Dragon Veins?"
"I'm going to the Baiyu Capital! I need to figure out what's going on here!" Li Huowang shouted hysterically. He grabbed Gao Zhijian by the shoulders and, with one swift step, returned to the imperial city of the Great Liang.
They were now before the imperial temple. Li Huowang slammed his hands against the ground and roared.
A deafening crash followed, and an enormous bronze tree erupted from the earth, shattering the temple as it rose. The writhing Dragon Veins were hung around it.
Six arms grew from Li Huowang.
He chanted and began to activate the Dragon-Slaying Immortal-Killing Array.
The invisible Dragon Qi swirled around him, gradually being absorbed into his body. The Dragon Qi had once transformed everything it touched into dragons. Now, it had no effect on Li Huowang, who was very proficient in his "Truth" cultivation.
With a powerful stomp, Li Huowang shot toward the heavens while surrounded by Dragon Qi. He pierced through the clouds and the stars beyond, breaking into the outer world.
Strange, indescribable, and grotesque creatures emerged from the vastness of space as he journeyed among the stars.
When Li Huowang arrived, these chaotic beings all turned to look at him.
However, they seemed to sense something and quickly vanished. A colorless jade tablet was suspended in the void, drawing in the chaotic beings.
The tablet seemed to be tethered to something deep in the extreme darkness. The tablet rose and fell as those formless beings writhed and flowed.
Through its doorway, Li Huowang saw something moving inside the Baiyu Capital. Many things were moving. The Simings of Baiyu Capital were all there!
Wrapped in Dragon Qi, Li Huowang gritted his teeth and charged inside.
However, to his shock, as he passed through the hole in the jade tablet, he came out the other side. What?! How can this be?!
Suspended in mid-air, Li Huowang looked at the massive, mountain-like Ox Tail Gate before him. He could not believe that there was now a day when he couldn't enter.
He had been able to enter when he had followed Dan Yangzi, but he was now barred from entering.
"Let me in! I'm Ji Zai!" Li Huowang roared, then charged toward the Ox Tail Gate again.
This time, just as he was about to enter again, everything around him became transparent. A strange sense of stasis enveloped his entire self.
Li Huowang once more found himself ejected from the other side of the Ox Tail Gate.
Chapter 977 - Qing
Li Huowang turned around after going back and forth several times. The massive Ox Tail Gate floated in the air, unchanged.
Li Huowang didn't try again. He finally understood. It wasn't that he couldn't enter, but rather that someone was deliberately preventing him from going in. Something was happening inside the Baiyu Capital.
Who is it? Is it the Siming from Fu Shengtian who came over to ambush me? Li Huowang shook his head, quickly dismissing the idea. If a Siming from Fu Shengtian were inside the Baiyu Capital, the Simings there wouldn't have time to sit idly by and watch him.
Could it be one of the Simings inside the Baiyu Capital? But who could it be, and what exactly are they trying to do?
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly came up with an idea. He looked at the massive jade gate and shouted, "Zhao Shuangdian! Qing Wanglai! Can you hear me? I'm talking to you now!
"Don't reply! I don't know what you're saying right now! What I need is for you to watch each other closely. Pay attention to any unusual behavior! I need to figure out who's stopping me from entering the Baiyu Capital!"
To avoid misunderstandings, he quickly added, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not suspecting you. I'm just using the process of elimination. If you're not the problem, then one of the other Simings in the Baiyu Capital has to be blocking me!
"Help me this time if you want me to help you in the future!"
Li Huowang took a deep breath and waited silently for a few seconds. Then, he dashed toward the Baiyu Capital again.
This time, just as he was about to make it inside, that strange sensation of stasis reappeared.
Feeling himself slipping through again, he shouted, "Keep an eye on everyone else! Find out who's messing with me!"
The feeling of being held back vanished, and he finally broke into the Baiyu Capital.
The area around him instantly transformed into a kaleidoscope of marvelous and shifting scenes.
There were more than a dozen enormous figures, each as massive as a mountain. They were melting, twisting and writhing in agony as their haunting wails filled the air.
Even as their flesh and forms continually liquefied, they somehow managed to heal themselves, enduring unimaginable pain.
"Zuoqiu Yong?! Wasn't he dead?" Li Huowang quickly realized that it was Zuoqiu Yong's ten emotions and eight sufferings.
Zuoqiu Yong's physical shell lay rotting on the ground. The real Zuoqiu Yong had long been dragged into the Baiyu Capital.
Zuoqiu Yong's form had already been massive, but now there were eighteen of him. They tangled together, twisting and melting into a monstrous mass that resembled a molten, flesh-covered planet.
Zuoqiu Yong wailed as his ten emotions and eight sufferings slowly melted away. Li Huowang finally understood. Ba-Hui was reveling in Zuoqiu Yong's suffering. Only the torment of a Siming could make her laugh uncontrollably.
Zuoqiu Yong's figure continued melting as wisps of white substance filtered out of him and gradually dissipated into the air.
That substance was unique. However, Li Huowang recognized it immediately since he was a Siming himself—it was the Heavenly Dao of Growth.
Although the space around him seemed empty, it was clear that something had ambushed Zuoqiu Yong.
Now, It was trying to seize the Heavenly Dao of Growth.
No! I must help Zuoqiu Yong! Li Huowang rushed toward him without further thought.
As he ran, he shouted to the others, "Can't you see the enemy? What are you doing?! Fight back!"
As Li Huowang neared Zuoqiu Yong, he felt something brush against him in the empty space around him. Reaching out instinctively, he grasped at the sensation—a fleeting, hair-like feeling slipping through his fingers.
At that moment, a shadowy figure shot out from the side with an afterimage. It crashed into Li Huowang, sending him flying out of the Baiyu Capital and back into the star-filled sky.
Before he could react, the world around Li Huowang shifted again. He was back in Yi Donglai's study, with everyone staring at him.
Ba-Hui's piercing laughter continued, but Li Huowang fixed his gaze on Qing Wanglai.
He raised his right hand, the sensation of touching something still lingering. "You may have stopped me, but I touched you. Three Pure Ones! It was you! You did it!"
"Li Huowang, what's wrong with you? You can't be like this right now," Qing Wanglai said with concern.
"Don't play dumb! I saw it clearly—it was you! You killed Zuoqiu Yong, and you're trying to steal his Heavenly Dao of Growth! I couldn't see you, but I felt you!
"Qing Wanglai! What are you trying to do?! You already control the Heavenly Dao of Secrets, so why are you after Zuoqiu Yong's Heavenly Dao of Growth?!
"Aren't you supposed to be smart?! Fu Shengtian is watching us, yet you're stirring up internal strife at a time like this!"
Qing Wanglai pushed up his glasses and looked at Yi Donglai with dissatisfaction. "Dr. Yi, what did you do to him? Did you feel threatened by us? Are you trying to sow discord with some psychological trick?"
Pulling out a handgun from his pocket, he continued, "I'm telling you, it won't work. And if Li Huowang doesn't get better today, I'm afraid things won't end well."
Li Huowang's face twisted with anger. He stepped forward, shielding Yi Donglai. "Stop trying to change the subject! Qing Wanglai, you owe me an explanation!"
Li Huowang had already suspected Qing Wanglai was up to something. Qing Wanglai had hardly done anything during their fights with Fu Shengtian.
Li Huowang previously believed that Qing Wanglai was incompetent. Now, he was more worried that he had secretly joined forces with Fu Shengtian long ago.
"Li Huowang's completely lost it. Let's tie him up. Zhao Lei, Sister Chen, give me a hand."
As Qing Wanglai moved forward with the others, Yang Na stepped in front of Li Huowang, knife in hand.
Zhao Shuangdian, holding a laptop, joined her as the second line of defense. "Qing Wanglai, I'm also curious about Li Huowang's questions."
Qing Wanglai smiled helplessly. "Seriously, Zhao Shuangdian? Don't tell me you actually believe him."
Zhao Shuangdian looked at Li Huowang and nodded. "Yes, I believe him. At the very least, the information he provided adds up. On the other hand, I can't see through you."
Chapter 978 - Questioning
Zhao Shuangdian and Qing Wanglai faced each other, their respective followers standing firm behind them. The atmosphere in the study grew tense.
As an outsider, Yi Donglai hesitated as he watched the situation unfold. He seemed to be contemplating the implications of what was happening before him.
Qing Wanglai suddenly chuckled and turned to Zhao Shuangdian. "I have my secrets, and I am within my rights not to share them. I suggest we set this matter aside for now. After all, no matter who dies, it will only weaken us in future battles. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
"Zhao Shuangdian, don't forget about our previous collaboration. Let's not jeopardize the bigger picture over a minor, unsubstantiated issue, shall we?"
Zhao Shuangdian remained silent, as if weighing something in her mind.
Since she didn't speak, Li Huowang stepped forward. "You didn't just kill Zuoqiu Yong, did you? Wasn't the death of Qian Fu, the Siming of Death, also related to you?"
Li Huowang approached Qing Wanglai and locked gazes with him. "You're also after the Heavenly Dao of Death, aren't you? Qian Fu was on your side, but you didn't hesitate to take action just for the Heavenly Dao.
"Qing Wanglai, you're truly cold-blooded.
"Unfortunately for you, Qian Fu wasn't as foolish as you thought. When Zhao Shuangdian came to help, he passed the Heavenly Dao of Death to the Heavenly Mater!" Li Huowang said, gripping Yang Na's hand tightly.
"Three Pure Ones, how greedy can you be? Why do you want everything? What are you planning to do with all these Heavenly Daos? Whose side are you really on?"
Qing Wanglai slightly lowered his head, his glasses reflecting the dim light and obscuring his eyes. "I'm naturally on our side, no doubt about that. However, I have plans that I can't share with you."
"Why? I just want to know why! Do you always talk in riddles because you control the Heavenly Dao of Secrets? The enemy is at the gates, and you're still hiding things!"
"Because I don't trust you," Qing Wanglai replied. "Why should I? You're a madman."
The words struck Li Huowang, leaving him frozen.
"Haha... you don't trust me..." Li Huowang shook his head, slowly backing away. "You don't trust me... I should have known..."
"That's right, I don't trust you. Satisfied now?" Qing Wanglai asked with a smile.
"I have my own plans. Besides, the only reason we're even working together is because of the circumstances, isn't it? It makes sense that I wouldn't share my plans with you.
"Besides, now that you've joined Zhao Shuangdian's side, do I still need to get your approval for everything?"
Noticing that Li Huowang's expression was growing increasingly twisted, Chen Hongyu stepped in to mediate. "Alright, alright, let's stop this. We haven't even fought yet, and you two are already at each other's throats. How is that going to work?
"We're here to treat Li Huowang, aren't we? Why are we getting more and more off track? Let's focus on the main issue."
With that, everyone turned to look at Yi Donglai. He was sitting while holding a notebook, seemingly jotting down notes on everyone.
"What are you writing? Stop it. Let's get this treatment over with so we can leave."
As the conversation shifted to Li Huowang's condition, a voice suddenly called out, "Wait!"
It was from Li Huowang. The same Li Huowang who had just been shaking his head now wore a look of intense hatred and disgust as he stared at Qing Wanglai.
"It wasn't just Zuoqiu Yong or Qian Fu! What you've done goes far beyond that! You've been preparing for this for a long time! I finally understand!"
Qing Wanglai smiled faintly. "Whatever I'm planning is none of your business, Li Huowang."
"Not my business? Really? Then why did you change my name? Why did you steal the 'Wang' from my name?"
"You didn't just target Zuoqiu Yong and Qian Fu. You've been plotting against me for a long time!" Li Huowang's expression became increasingly ferocious. "And you did it by using your Twisted One Zhuge Yuan! Tell me! What did you take from me?!"
Li Huowang was sure that having a Siming's name altered wasn't as simple as losing part of it. The Three Pure Ones had greater ambitions, and the removal of the "Wang" from his name surely represented something important.
"Hey, calm down. We're all on the same side. Let's sit down and talk," Wu Qi intervened to calm the situation.
"Sister Wu, are you really helping him? Are you overwhelmed with managing five worlds as a Siming? The Three Pure Ones even placed Zhuge Yuan's statue in the Righteous Monastery! And you're still helping him! Don't you realize that he's also secretly tampered with your Heavenly Dao?"
The thought of the statue of Zhuge Yuan with the cinnabar mark on its forehead made Li Huowang seethe with rage.
Zhuge Yuan was his brother, but the Three Pure Ones had manipulated him like a puppet. The Three Pure Ones exploited Zhuge Yuan's reputation for saving the Great Qi even after his death, all to seize the Heavenly Dao of the Five Dhyani Buddhas.
He had insulted Zhuge Yuan and toyed with Li Huowang like a fool!
"I don't know what you're talking about, Li Huowang. Your condition is worsening. You should get treated soon."
Li Huowang shook his head. "No, your schemes are far more important than my illness! If we don't deal with you, the entire Baiyu Capital could be destroyed!"
"Growth, death, bewilderment, flesh... Do you think I haven't noticed? You've been systematically stealing all our Heavenly Daos! You're willing to kill us all if necessary! You've wanted everything from the start!"
Zhao Shuangdian began calculating rapidly, and the sound of tapping filled the room.
Everyone turned their eyes to Qing Wanglai, waiting for his explanation.
"I truly don't know what you're talking about. Everyone, do you really believe him over me?" Qing Wanglai adjusted his glasses. "Do you really think I would sacrifice all of you for the sake of some Heavenly Dao?"
Ba Nanxu approached Li Huowang with her brother, laughing softly. "He may be mad, but he couldn't make up something this elaborate. He's not smart enough."
Wu Qi hesitated and looked at Qing Wanglai. "Qing Wanglai, could you explain your plan? Is it really related to the Heavenly Daos, like Li Huowang said? If there's a misunderstanding, clear it up."
Under everyone's gaze, Qing Wanglai took out two dice and began swiftly spinning them between his long, pale fingers.
Chapter 979 - Shai Zi
Shai Zi?
Li Huowang stared at the constantly spinning dice in Qing Wanglai's hand, recalling what Shai Zi had said before. I'll help whoever's winning.
Shai Zi had indeed spoken the truth. The one he had believed would win wasn't Li Huowang—it was Qing Wanglai!
There were two Shai Zis, which meant that the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Liang was also one of Qing Wanglai's people!
No, it's worse than that! Qing Wanglai stole Doulao's Heavenly Dao long ago!
Li Huowang abruptly looked at Zhao Lei, who appeared to be fading into the background more and more.
Qing Wanglai gently pushed his glasses up on his nose, his gaze sweeping over the room. A slight smile appeared on his face.
"It seems I can't leave without an explanation, can I?"
He turned to Li Huowang. "You're right. It was me. In fact, I've done much more, but it seems you haven't figured that out yet.
"From the very beginning, you were just one of many pawns under my control. Everything was in my grasp.
"But you've always been restless, repeatedly slipping out of my control. It's been quite the headache.
"My original plan was to create a competent assistant, nothing more. Yet here you are, managing to get this far. Sometimes, I can't understand what goes on in your head. You consistently bypass the optimal choice, leaving me at a loss on how to guide you.
"Of course, your stubborn progress isn't entirely your doing. Certain people have interfered at every turn." His gaze moved to the siblings, Ba Shengqing and Ba Nanxu.
Qing Wanglai's gaze shifted again and finally settled on Zhao Shuangdian. "I painstakingly set up my pawn, only for it to become someone else's gift. Zhao Shuangdian, I underestimated you."
Li Huowang stared in disbelief at the Three Pure Ones.
Ba-Hui belonged to Zhao Shuangdian, and Doulao was under Qing Wanglai! Under Ba-Hui was the Ao Jing Sect, and under Doulao was the Sitting Oblivion Dao.
From the very start, he had been entangled with these two sects after leaving the Zephyr Temple.
Pain and Lies had always surrounded and constantly tormented him. This made him feel as though he had died and come back to life several times. And now, he realized that all this was just a power struggle between two Simings.
Li Huowang had always thought that a battle between Simings must be earth-shattering.
However, Qing Wanglai's words made Li Huowang realize that battles between Simings were imperceptible to mortals. The results of their struggles were nothing more than ordinary events in a mortal's life.
Zhao Shuangdian replied, "I don't understand what you're saying. Could you elaborate?"
Qing Wanglai suddenly gripped the two dice between his fingers and pointed directly at Zhao Shuangdian. "Of course you don't understand. You're just a projection. I'm speaking to the true entity beneath the projection!"
Li Huowang stepped forward, his breath quickening. "So you know about the Da Nuo world? You can even control the things happening there? You've known all along what was happening there!"
The schemes of the Three Pure Ones and his attempts to seize other Simings' Heavenly Daos made one thing clear—he could do it all along and had kept it hidden from everyone.
"No, I don't see it the way you do. After all, we are in different positions, and we've received different levels of education."
Qing Wanglai remained calm, with a faint, kind smile. "Still, you are correct. I can indeed do that. So can all of you, actually. The difference is that you do it subconsciously, whereas I do it consciously."
"Three Pure Ones!" Memories from the Da Nuo world surged in Li Huowang's mind: the three clay statues in the Zephyr Temple, the reason the Abbess's son went mad, the eerie familiarity of Hong Zhong's memories, Shangji Guankou, the Sitting Oblivion Dao's ambush against the Great Liang's Surveillance Bureau, and the death of Zhuge Yuan.
All of it was real. But now he realized that in a higher dimension, everything had a cause.
Suddenly, an image of a button popped up in Li Huowang's mind, and the fury in his eyes turned into a fierce killing intent.
"Three Pure Ones! What do you want? You manipulate everything for your own goals! You helped the Siming of Fu Shengtian against me! If not for you, Li Sui wouldn't have died!"
Back then, only the Abbess had known about the button. After her death, the secret should have disappeared entirely. It shouldn't have been possible for the Siming of Fu Shengtian to use it.
The button reappearing again could only mean one thing—the Siming of the Baiyu Capital who managed the Heavenly Dao of Secrets had betrayed them! Qing Wanglai had given the secret of the button to Fu Shengtian's Siming!
Qing Wanglai didn't deny it. "Li Huowang, do you really think you're well-informed? Do you truly believe your theories about Simings and Heavenly Daos capture the full picture?
"You're wrong, Li Huowang. Do you really think Fu Shengtian is our enemy? You're wrong again."
Qing Wanglai's expression hardened, his tone turning icy. "You're blinded, caught up in the minor issues in front of you, unable to see the source of the real conflict. Only I know this hidden secret.
"Have you ever considered the possibility that the terrifying Fu Shengtian you perceive may not actually be a massive elephant, but merely a projection of a wrinkle on the elephant's skin?
"Have you ever considered that their so-called 'invasion' might not even be a deliberate act, but rather the unintentional manifestation of a higher being passing by?
"Do you know what true despair is? True despair is realizing that the enemy you've fought so hard against is merely a passing breeze caused by someone idly waving their hand!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Qing Wanglai finally dropped his usual friendly smile, revealing a cold and menacing expression. This was, perhaps, his true self.
"You have no idea what reality is! Reality is far more terrifying than any of you could ever imagine!"
Fear flickered in his eyes, growing deeper with each passing moment.
"Our projections have developed some contradiction, and not just once. Just their unconscious proximity is already interfering. When the contradictions become big enough, the entire world will collapse! Everything will turn into a lie!"
Zhao Shuangdian interjected, "Qing Wanglai, what's the difference? Whether our enemy exists in one form or another, wouldn't working together be better than fighting alone?"
"Rely on you?" Qing Wanglai laughed. "Rely on you? A bunch of infighting lunatics? I never relied on you. Communicating with you is inefficient. I only trust myself."
With a flick of his hand, he tossed the dice. The door burst open, and a young man in reflective sunglasses stepped in, snatching the dice midair.
"Hehe~ Here I am~" The newcomer grinned, fixing his gaze on Li Huowang.