Mutated Tao

Tuoba Danqing had a complete mental breakdown, and everyone else was in bad shape as well. Liu Zongyuan fell to the ground on all fours, pounding his fists in frustration. Hong Da stood frozen in place, staring blankly into space.

Despair enveloped everyone, and the incessant jeering laughter of those who could never die became a cacophonous din. It seemed that nothing would make a difference at this point, and even death was already a luxury they could only wish for.

However, Li Huowang was different. After experiencing a variety of hardships, he developed a will that was seldom defeated by any difficulties.

Li Huowang looked around, and his gaze landed on Bai Lingmiao, whose expression was particularly fierce. Li Huowang's voice was trembling as he said, "Don't worry, I'm here. No one can harm you with me around!"

The Second Deity approached Li Huowang from behind and leaned gently on Li Huowang’s back. Surprisingly, Li Huowang didn’t show any negative reaction.

“Do you have a plan?” the Second Deity asked.

Bai Lingmiao looked up at Li Huowang before her. Their situation was so dire that she found it hard to believe that Li Huowang could possibly have a plan.

However, Li Huowang nodded and stared at the pitch-black dome above them. He smiled bitterly, saying, “The Immortal families can't enter this place, but there's an entity that can definitely come here.”

“Who?”

Li Huowang had been to Baiyu Capital before. Even a Muddled One that had blended life and death was paltry before an entity that others dared not even imagine. Li Huowang contemplated for a while before saying, “I’m going to use the Cang-Qiang Ascension and Ba-Hui’s Shou San to break this deadlock.”

Li Huowang's plan seemed to be the only plan with the highest chance of success.

Bai Lingmiao’s heart skipped a beat; she could still remember Li Huowang's words.

“Isn’t that…” Bai Lingmiao trailed off.

“Yes, that’s right,” said Li Huowang before turning to look at Tuoba Danqing, who was busy creating new holes in Ji Xiang. Li Huowang then led Bai Lingmiao toward the dense forest.

The others didn't even bother following Li Huowang; perhaps it was because they didn't care where he was going, or perhaps they no longer cared about everything.

“The Cang-Qiang Ascension requires the dual suffering of the mind and body. Extreme physical pain is easy, but it's going to be difficult to find extreme mental suffering—” Li Huowang stopped upon recalling something. His eyes showed a hint of hesitation that he immediately suppressed.

Bai Lingmiao saw that and trembled, but she sounded decisive as she said, “Tell me, what do you need me to do? I can endure everything.”

Li Huowang shook his head, and his lips quivered as he said, “I don’t need you to do anything. I just need you to keep an eye on me because… I have to enter the hallucination to find—”

Li Huowang's eyes glimmered in intense struggle, but it was soon replaced by the light of determination the moment his gaze landed on Bai Lingmiao.

Li Huowang wasn't an ordinary person. He was a Strayed One. If the Muddled Ones could use their abilities, then he could definitely use his own abilities as well.

It would be the same as his first Cang-Qiang Ascension. He just had to do something in the hallucination, and that side would definitely inflict the utmost mental agony on him.

Li Huowang examined the young woman before him carefully as the two of them stood in the depths of the dark, desolate, and dense forest.

“Don’t worry; I'm going to save you from this predicament, just like back in Zephyr Temple.”

“No! You have to think of another way!” exclaimed Bai Lingmiao, rejecting his plan.

However, Li Huowang had no intention of listening to her at all.

“Li Sui, come out. I want you to be obedient and stay with your mother. I’ll be back soon,” Li Huowang muttered, and black tentacles abruptly emerged from his chest before transforming into a squirming cluster of tentacles.

“Miaomiao, don’t be afraid; this is my son,” Li Huowang explained.

This was Bai Lingmiao's first time seeing Li Sui.

"What did you say?" Bai Lingmiao’s eyes widened as she stared at the terrifying monster before her. “T-this is your son? Who's the mother?”

Li Huowang chuckled, but he didn't explain anything. He didn't have the luxury to explain as the surroundings were changing.

“Wait for me. Stand back a bit farther away, so you won’t get hurt. We can't die here, but it's still going to hurt.

Li Huowang's surroundings were melting, but the ongoing changes had become much slower than before. Eventually, Li Huowang found himself in that dark and filthy cave under the bridge.

Li Huowang looked around and took in the familiar sight for a while. Then, he stood up and rushed to the nearby riverbank to wash his face. Li Huowang stared at himself on the water's surface.

Miaomiao is waiting for me. I need to use the hallucination to find the extreme mental suffering necessary to save her! Li Huowang thought, seemingly hypnotizing himself. Li Huowang repeated it thrice before standing up. Then, he started pondering how he could accomplish his goals. However, it didn't take Li Huowang that long to receive an answer to his question. He knew just what to achieve extreme mental suffering.

Just then, Li Huowang heard footsteps outside.

Huanhuan soon appeared in Li Huowang's line of sight; she was holding a basket of steamed buns.

Huanhuan grinned upon seeing Li Huowang. “Uncle, you’re awake again?”

Extreme pain and extreme mental suffering. It doesn’t matter. This is all fake. Everything here is just a hallucination. Li Huowang thought as he looked around. Then, he picked up a rope from the ground and started walking toward Huanhuan.

This must be fake. Otherwise, how could this kid appear so soon when I've just returned? Yes, this must be fake. There’s no need for me to hesitate. Li Huowang loomed over Huanhuan, and his right hand holding the rope trembled violently.

“Uncle?” Huanhuan muttered fearfully, taking a step back. The uncle before her seemed to have become a bit different from before.

Just then, Li Huowang deflated like a balloon and slowly exhaled all the air from his lungs.

No, this is wrong. Li Huowang turned around; his teeth chattered as he gnashed them amidst his inner turmoil. She's not going to be enough. It hasn't been that long since I've met her, so even if I kill her, the mental suffering I'll experience will not be enough. More… I need so much more than her!

Li Huowang knelt and wrote two names on the ground—Yang Na and Sun Xiaoqin. Li Huowang's eyes filled with fear as he stared at the two names on the ground, and he even started trembling in trepidation.

This is just a hallucination—a hallucination! I transmigrated a long time ago! This isn't real!

Li Huowang raised his trembling hands, but he retracted them quickly as if he had been electrocuted. All of a sudden, Li Huowang grabbed a rock on the ground and slammed it on his own head.

Blood flowed from the wound on his head, but it wasn’t enough. He smashed it on his head again and again until the blood, sweat, and tears created a grotesque mixture that made him appear extremely frightening to anyone's eyes.

This is fake—this is clearly fake! This is all a hallucination! Why the hell am I hesitating, then? Miaomiao is waiting for me—she's waiting for me to save her!

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