Mutated Tao

In a clearing intentionally made in the forest of Tianchen Kingdom, Li Huowang stared intently at the man with the fox face standing on stilts in the distance.

Although the Tianchen Kingdom was powerful, it also had weaknesses. Li Huowang knew he still had a chance of victory. If he could take out this man, he could sever the connection between the Tianchen Kingdom and the Great Qi, thus averting the current crisis.

“It’s him!” The man’s eyelids twitched rapidly as various portals quickly opened and closed.

Li Huowang moved like lightning and dashed towards him. His movement set everything into motion. The faceless ones who had just returned and the guards around the fox-faced man all rushed to block his path.

The clearer their anxiety became, the more Li Huowang understood how important this Twisted One was to them.

Li Huowang’s expression turned cold. Without hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and began to chant loudly.

“Golden light shines, the sun and moon lose their brilliance, and the treasured staff rotates. Ghosts and gods tremble. Reveal your presence in the mortal realm. The holy court of Yanfu...”

If Li Huowang were to cast the Heavenly Treasure of Deception in the Great Qi, they would be able to escape to the Tianchen Kingdom. However, if he were to cast it in the Tianchen Kingdom, where could they possibly run to?

Another Li Huowang quickly formed from his spine as False Qi rapidly flowed out of him.

An abnormal phenomenon appeared in the sky, and Li Huowang could feel an otherworldly presence gazing at him. It was Doulao, who was about to arrive!

At that critical moment, a needle threaded with silk flew toward him at incredible speed. In just an instant, it sewed shut Li Huowang’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

An ordinary silver needle had easily interrupted Li Huowang’s ritual. The swirling clouds above quickly dissipated.

Li Huowang trembled with rage and strained his body, causing blood to splatter as he forcefully ripped his sewn mouth open. “Who is it?!”

He tore the stitches from his eyes, then finally saw who had done it.

The golden dragon he had faintly seen before was now being used like a beast of burden, pulling a carriage through the sky.

This was the first time Li Huowang had encountered someone who truly resembled an immortal in this bizarre world—someone who could genuinely ride the clouds and mist.

Li Huowang’s sharp vision allowed him to finally spot the person who controlled the noble vehicle. He saw them through the pink veils billowing out of the carriage windows.

The figure was dressed in green silk and seemed strange, with a round face and rosy lips. They were holding a silver needle in a delicate gesture, and it was hard to tell whether they were male or female. However, their exaggeratedly effeminate demeanor reminded Li Huowang of the eunuchs in the palace.

Once he looked at the dragon pulling the carriage, their identity became clear—Zuoqiu Yong, the patron of the Tianchen Kingdom.

The carriage circled in the sky a few times before slowly descending. An effeminate voice came from inside. “Oh my, so the rumors were true! You really are Li Huowang, and quite the handsome fellow too!”

Li Huowang glanced at the army of Unspeakable surrounding him and the fox-faced man on stilts in the distance, who had stopped moving. “You’ve heard of me?”

“Mm-hmm, I’ve heard quite a bit about you,” Zuoqiu Yong said. “But that was all long ago.”

The carriage door opened, and Zuoqiu Yong stepped out while lightly embracing a stunning woman.

Zuoqiu Yong gave Li Huowang a sly smile. “Li Huowang~ I’d like to have a little chat with you.”

Li Huowang sneered and glanced at the enemies surrounding him. “At this point, is there anything left to talk about?”

Though he appeared calm, Li Huowang could sense the disparity in strength between them.

His mind raced as he pondered how to escape back to the Great Liang, harness the Dragon Qi, and reach the Baiyu Capital again.

In this situation, he would have to rely on Ji Zai’s abilities for any hope to turn the tide!

“Oh dear, let’s not be so hasty. We’re all reasonable people here, aren’t we? Let’s talk this out instead of fighting,” Zuoqiu Yong said, pulling a pink handkerchief from his sleeve and dabbing imaginary sweat from his forehead.

“Tell you what, why don’t you bring the Saintess of the White Lotus here? We can all sit down and have a nice chat.”

Li Huowang nodded and agreed readily. “Fine, wait here a moment. I’ll go get the Saintess of the White Lotus.”

He pulled out his spine sword and slashed open a rift to return to Great Liang.

As he approached the rift to step through, the fox-faced man’s left eyelid twitched, and another portal instantaneously replaced the rift to the Great Liang.

When Li Huowang stepped out, he found himself standing just inches away from Zuoqiu Yong.

“Oh, you’re naughty~ Did you plan to get away?” Zuoqiu Yong lightly tapped Li Huowang’s chest with the pink handkerchief. “That won’t do~ If you go back, the Heavenly Mater won’t come.”

This time, Li Huowang intently studied the strange person before him. “Do you know who the White Lotus Saintess is to me?”

“I don’t, actually. What, do you have a deep connection to her?”

“Yes, a very deep one—she’s my wife. If you’re targeting her, you’re targeting me. There’s no negotiating this.”

Li Huowang paused and then looked directly at Zuoqiu Yong. “Another thing. I want to see if the renowned patron of the Tianchen Kingdom is as powerful as they say.”

Before Zuoqiu Yong could react, Li Huowang’s spine sword had already pierced through his chest.

Zuoqiu Yong could only watch as Li Huowang delivered a powerful kick to his side, forcefully retracting the sword.

Li Huowang took several steps back to catch his balance and looked up again. He was shocked to find there wasn’t a single wound on Zuoqiu Yong’s body—not even his[1] clothes were torn.

Zuoqiu Yong flicked the dust off his robe with a finger, his previously gentle smile gradually fading. “This is quite amusing.

“Li Huowang, don’t be ungrateful. Since you’ve come to the Tianchen Kingdom, neither you nor your sword will be leaving.”

Li Huowang surveyed the enemies around him and clenched his teeth, trying to figure out a way to break free from this predicament. “Come on, then!”

“Li Huowang, such big talk. Do you even know what Heavenly Dao the Heavenly Mater lost?” Zuoqiu Yong said, reaching out a hand toward Li Huowang’s head.

Just before he made contact, he turned slightly to see a large twisted hole appear in the sky to his left. A young girl with a white lotus mark on her forehead emerged from the rift. “Senior Li, we’re here to save you!”

Li Huowang’s eyes shrank when he saw her. What kind of game is this Shai Zi trying to play?

1. The author uses both male and female pronouns for Zuoqiu Yong, and it's not entirely clear if it's intentional. We've standardized them to male pronouns for readability, but we may revise them depending on how future chapters go. ☜

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