Mutated Tao

Lu Xiucai’s face stiffened as the painful memories surged into his mind. He quickly suppressed them and said casually, “He’s dead. He was killed by the Dharma Sect.”

“What?! Juren is really dead?” Yang Xiaohai’s eyes widened in shock.

Lu Xiucai turned slowly and glared at Yang Xiaohai. “What do you mean by that? What do you mean ‘really dead’?”

Li Huowang also turned to look. He knew that when Yang Xiaohai left, Lu Juren was still enjoying his life in Shangjing. How did Yang Xiaohai know that Lu Juren had died?

“No, don’t misunderstand. When I was in Qing Qiu, I encountered the Earth Dragon while it was moving. I came across something strange, which I thought was a dream at the time. I saw Brother Juren there, but he looked somewhat odd.”

Yang Xiaohai quickly recounted his encounter with Lu Juren, “It wasn’t just him. There was also another strange Senior Li in that place called the Feng Capital.”

He saw Senior Li frown at him. “What did you say? Another me? Tell me what you experienced again.”

Yang Xiaohai repeated his strange experience in Qing Qiu, this time focusing on the peculiar version of Li Huowang.

“Hong Zhong? Li Huowang? Hong Zhong Li Huowang hasn’t disappeared?!” Li Huowang’s pupils instantly shrank.

In the past, Doulao had bestowed upon him a segment of the Sitting Oblivion Dao’s past, which had led to the creation of Hong Zhong Li Huowang.

Li Huowang always thought that with that past disappearing, the period of Hong Zhong Li Huowang should have also disappeared.

But now it seemed that wasn’t the case at all. Hong Zhong Li Huowang had left his side but hadn’t disappeared. He had only been hidden, just like the Great Qi!

But... why? Why was he trapped in the Feng Capital and not somewhere else? Li Huowang’s brows knitted tightly. And this other Siming mentioned by Hong Zhong...

He had never imagined that the Siming in control of death was truly dead and hidden beneath Qing Qiu.

“Xiaohai, you said there was seawater with a strange color flowing into that cave?” Li Huowang clarified.

“Yes! That seawater was very strange. Even from a distance, it felt like my body was being pulled in. If I hadn’t eventually run into the upside-down Antrabhara Temple, I wouldn’t have made it back.”

Yang Xiaohai couldn’t help but feel scared as he thought about his previous experience. It seemed that the experience was indeed real judging by Senior Li’s attitude, and he had barely managed to return.

“Was the seawater this color?” Li Huowang asked. He pulled out the spine sword and slashed forcefully towards the distance.

The rift leading to the Great Qi opened, and those dark, metallic, multicolored substances gushed out. They fell to the ground and writhed like living creatures. Anything they touched would mutate. Lifeless objects regained life, and living things grew increasingly distorted.

“Yes! That’s it! That’s what I saw, but there was much more of it! As much as the sea!” Yang Xiaohai said and backed away. He was afraid that those things might approach him again.

“God Yu’er... it’s really god Yu’er.” Li Huowang’s face was very grim. The Dharma Sect, which worshiped god Yu’er, was conquering cities in Hou Shu. Meanwhile, god Yu’er was attacking the Siming in charge of death. “

What does god Yu’er want? Does it want to seize even the Heavenly Dao of Death?

Li Huowang was lost in thought, and his attention was diverted by a soft touch on his right hand. He looked down and saw Bai Lingmiao holding his hand.

“Senior Li, what’s wrong?”

Li Huowang shook his head out of habit. “Nothing, let’s go.”

As he was about to leave, he felt Bai Lingmiao’s hands pull him back with a soft but firm grip.

He turned to look at Bai Lingmiao, whose eyes were covered with a white silk band. “Senior Li, I am now the Saintess of the White Lotus Sect. The White Lotus Sect is spreading widely in Great Liang. I can help you now.”

“If you encounter trouble, there’s no need to endure it alone like you did before. Tell me what’s going on and we can figure it out together.”

He looked at Bai Lingmiao’s delicate face, then reached out and gently stroked her face. He could feel her genuine concern for him.

After a moment of hesitation, he said, “This is a long story. You know the god Yu’er that is worshiped by the Dharma Sect?”

“Yes, I know. The Heavenly Mater mentioned that god Yu’er is a betrayer.”

“The actual events are like this,” Li Huowang started to explain the whole story, but suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He frowned and looked at the dark sea in the distance.

A line of torches formed a long dragon that approached them. “Hmm?”

“Xiaohai, what’s going on? Have those people been bewitched by the Dharma Sect?”

Yang Xiaohai’s face instantly turned pale. He said anxiously, “Senior Li, they are not from the Dharma Sect. They worship the Dragon King. Let’s go quickly! Hurry!”

His father and elder sister were already dead. He didn’t want to lose more family members, even if they hadn’t treated him well.

“Are you hiding something from me?” Li Huowang glanced at him but didn’t press further. He turned and led the others to leave.

He hadn’t forgotten his purpose for coming to Hou Shu, which was to find the Dragon Vein of Hou Shu. He couldn’t be bothered to delve into whatever Yang Xiaohai had in mind.

After only a few steps, he saw the light of fire on the dirt road in the distance. Clearly, these people had already surrounded them during their conversation and had not intended to let them leave.

“Heh, this is interesting. I wasn’t looking for trouble, but trouble found me. Li Sui!”

Li Huowang opened his mouth and Li Sui entered his body. The squirming tentacles protruded from his body and danced wildly.

“Master! Let me go this time! I want to seek revenge from the Dharma Sect!” Lu Xiucai said firmly. His eyes were filled with hatred as he stepped forward.

Li Huowang glanced at him. “Alright, you take care of yourself. As I’ve always said, I don’t want a burden.”

“I’m not a burden!” Lu Xiucai said. He took off his shirt to reveal his paper dudou, which was covered in curses.

He pulled out two serrated swords, then stomped his right foot and knocked the sword against his forehead while chanting incessantly.