Mutated Tao

“Are you the Chief of Qing Qiu?”

“I know who you are, Li Huowang. What are you doing in Qing Qiu?”

“Xuan Pin told you?” Li Huowang frowned. It seemed that the intelligence networks of the various Surveillance Bureaus were exchanging information.

The woman replied, “No matter who told me, you must answer my question now. What are you doing in Qing Qiu?”

“What am I doing in Qing Qiu? Of course, I’m here to help deal with the Dharma Sect! Isn’t that obvious?”

The woman sneered, “I heard you’re from the Emperor of Great Liang, who promptly refused the Great Khan’s request for troops and instead sent you here as if offering charity?”

Li Huowang’s frown deepened as he looked at the woman. Her attitude seemed quite off. Is there a complicated history between Qing Qiu and Great Liang that I don’t know about?

“You know me, so you should also know my abilities. Isn’t that enough?”

“Hehe, well, I would like to test whether you, Li Huowang, are as formidable as people say,” she said and stood up. “I am Bian Zhen, trained in unorthodox methods. Please instruct me.”

“Unorthodox methods?” Li Huowang sized up the woman before him and gripped the spine sword slowly with his right hand.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Li Huowang saw the woman’s body gradually melt and transform into the tall appearance of Xuan Pin.

“Xuan Pin, what do you mean by this? Do you really have the time to prank me at a time like this?”

Xuan Pin lightly inserted his slender finger into Li Huowang’s forehead and then withdrew it. Li Huowang’s forehead remained unscathed.

“I’m not actually here. I just received news of your arrival and hurried over. Bian Zhen, there’s no need to test him. I know Li Huowang’s capabilities.”

Bian Zhen stepped out from the Chief’s body, looked Li Huowang up and down, then turned on her heel to leave.

Since no one else was around, Li Huowang quickly said, “Alright, since we know each other, let’s skip the formalities. What’s the overall situation? How far has the Dharma Sect’s influence spread?”

Li Huowang needed to quickly understand everything happening here to determine the best way to increase his side’s chances of victory.

Xuan Pin did not answer Li Huowang’s question and posed his own instead. “Did you bring the Saintess of the White Lotus Sect with you? Why?”

“Does that need to be asked? The Dharma Sect has spread so rapidly because the gullible masses believe their god Yu’er can save everyone. We need to counter that by promoting the belief in the Heavenly Mater. At least for now, the Heavenly Mater is on our side.”

Xuan Pin nodded. “Correct, but you need to think several steps ahead. You must enlist multiple factions to undermine the Dharma Sect’s foundation, and avoid replacing one problem with another.”

“In fact, we have already spoken with other sects. Many disciples have descended from their mountains and have begun to move within Hou Shu.”

“I don’t care about that. I need the current situation in Hou Shu.”

“The situation is dire. Although Hou Shu’s troops are steadfast, they are on the brink of collapse. The Dragon Vein of Hou Shu was severed yesterday right before noon,” Xuan Pin said, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Li Huowang knew the dire consequences of a severed Dragon Vein. It wouldn’t be long before Hou Shu became a living hell.

“Weren’t Hou Shu and the Dharma Sect locked in a fierce battle? How did the Dragon Vein get severed so quickly? What happened?”

“I don’t know. We communicated with Hou Shu’s Chief just the day before yesterday. The Dragon Vein was intact and protected by layers of traps. The Dharma Sect hadn’t even approached Hou Shu’s royal city at that time.”

“How did such a drastic change occur in just one day? I can’t figure it out. There must be some significant underlying cause.”

Li Huowang frowned and paced the room, pondering how he could help now.

He recalled Gao Zhijian’s experience and said, “Even a severed Dragon Vein can be reconnected. Can we find a way to reconnect Hou Shu’s Dragon Vein?”

“Theoretically, yes, but where will we find a suitable hidden descendant? Moreover, the Dragon Vein is now in the hands of the Dharma Sect. How do we retrieve it?”

The Chief paused briefly and corrected himself. “Just now, news came from Zheng Boqiao in Hou Shu that the Dharma Sect is already using Hou Shu’s Dragon Vein.”

Li Huowang frowned deeply and bit his lip as he considered the situation. He knew the power of the Dragon Vein. This situation would only worsen Hou Shu’s predicament.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Huowang looked up at Xuan Pin. “I’ll go to Hou Shu now and handle the Dragon Vein issue. Can you find a suitable descendant? For now, let’s focus on reconnecting Hou Shu’s Dragon Vein!”

Xuan Pin replied, “It’s difficult to find. Each royal bloodline is accounted for and one emperor can’t serve two lands, unless you can find another royal family from the Great Qi.”

“Does that mean we give up just because it’s difficult? Should we switch roles? You handle the Dragon Vein?”

Li Huowang pulled out a map from his pocket and spread it on the table. “Look closely. If we lose Hou Shu and add it to Si Qi and Nanping, the Dharma Sect’s domain will be larger than the Great Liang’s!”

Xuan Pin looked at the map on the table, thought for a moment, and then nodded lightly. “Alright, you retrieve Hou Shu’s Dragon Vein. I’ll find a descendant, even if it’s not a royal. This will prevent the Dharma Sect from using the Dragon Vein.”

“Good. First, tell me the Dragon Vein’s location, and I’ll set off immediately!”

Shangguan Yuting emerged from Xuan Pin’s large red robe and bowed to Li Huowang shyly.

“She will inform you of the Dragon Vein’s approximate location. I will also command those remaining in Hou Shu to give you as much assistance as possible.”

“Alright.” Li Huowang turned to leave the dimly lit inner city.

Xuan Pin’s words made him pause. “Be careful. The Dharma Sect will surely guard the Dragon Vein heavily, and many people will be around it. Moreover...”

“Moreover, what? Spit it out. Why do you always speak in incomplete sentences?” Li Huowang replied impatiently.

“Moreover, I always felt there was something suspicious about the loss of control over the Hou Shu’s Dragon Vein. Although negligence previously occurred due to the distraction of Shai Zi from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, the Surveillance Bureaus of other countries are not to be trifled with. The strength of the followers of the Dharma Sect seems to have increased too rapidly.”

“What do you mean by that?” Li Huowang’s frown deepened.

“I suspect we’re not just dealing with god Yu’er. Perhaps one or even two more hidden figures are aiding the Dharma Sect.”