Mutated Tao

Li Huowang finally understood what it meant to face trouble that even Zhuge Yuan would find difficult to handle.

What exactly were Muddled Ones? How could they affect both heaven and earth? Li Huowang thought. He could still remember Ji Xiang telling him that Muddled Ones and Strayed Ones were a troublesome bunch. In other words, Strayed Ones had an ability comparable to that of Muddled Ones.

What is my ability? Do I have the ability to change positions, or is it my ability to project my body's illusion? No, no, no… Li Huowang shook his head vigorously. His ability was insignificant compared to the Muddled Ones' ability to spirit away a chunk of the sky.

His ability was not even worthy of being compared to the Muddled Ones' ability.

However, Li Huowang believed that he had a latent ability as a Strayed One. Perhaps his latent ability was comparable to the Muddled Ones'.

Upon recalling the condition of the male and female Muddled Ones, however, Li Huowang felt complicated emotions. Was it really a good thing to have such a powerful ability?

Li Huowang had no idea, but one thing was for sure—he had never stumbled upon something good in this cruel world. Li Huowang also didn’t really think that he would stumble upon something good without paying the price.

Perhaps he would live a life more miserable than living as a Muddled One the moment he awakened his latent ability.

“Huowang, someone falling over there! One of them looks like that old eunuch!”

The torn sky was also becoming more and more unstable as time went on.

Li Huowang and Bai Lingmiao found Ji Xiang in the middle of emaciated corpses. Ji Jixang held the corpse of the male Muddled One in his arms, unwilling to let go despite the injury to his head.

Li Huowang and Bai Lingmiao eventually found the others. Through the scars on his hands, Li Huowang found that one person was missing—Tuoba Danqing. It seemed that Tuoba Danqing had been thoroughly spirited away by either the male or the female Muddled One. In other words, he would never be able to return.

Li Huowang asked for an explanation, and he heard the same story from the others. Tuoba Danqing was too slow while they were escaping, and he was ultimately left behind.

Although Li Huowang was a bit skeptical, he chose to believe them, as they were together and Tuoba Danqing was the only one missing.

Soon, Li Huowang, Liu Zongyuan, Hong Da, and Bai Lingmiao found themselves at the relay station located in Yinling City. They bid farewell to Ji Xiang, who had decided to return to the capital.

“I’m leaving now. You guys should go back first. I'll send you guys a letter once I'm back in the capital. Don't worry; the rewards are definitely going to be satisfactory. I'll confront the management first before anyone else if they dare to short-change us! We almost died, so we're not going to let them short-change us!”

After saying those righteous words, Ji Xiang turned to Li Huowang holding Bai Lingmiao's hand. Ji Xiang thought briefly before reaching into his sleeve and pulling out the bronze coin veil. Then, Ji Xiang held it out to Li Huowang.

“Er Jiu, I believe this belongs to you. I saw it by chance when we were fleeing, so I picked it up for you,” said Ji Xiang, sounding much more amiable than before.

Li Huowang had intentionally distanced himself from Ji Xiang and the others to perform the Cang-Qiang Ascension, so there was no way they would know what Li Huowang had done.

Despite that, Ji Xiang’s attitude toward Li Huowang changed greatly for some reason, but it wasn't a sense of camaraderie that brought the two men closer. It was more like Ji Xiang regarded Li Huowang with respect and a hint of fear.

Ji Xiang took advantage of the opportunity and lowered his voice, saying, “Rest assured, I’ll fulfill my promise to you. In ten days to half a month, I will send you what you want using a carrier pigeon.”

“Farewell, Lord Ji Xiang,” Li Huowang said, accepting the bronze coin veil and wearing it. He already had Zhuge Yuan's black spindle, which was much more useful than the bronze coin veil, but an extra layer of insurance wouldn't hurt.

“You saved our lives, and we owe you this favor. My position will become yours.”

Li Huowang let go of Bai Lingmiao's hand and nudged her gently to the side before approaching Ji Xiang. Then, he leaned closer into Ji Xiang's ear, whispering, “Lord Ji Xiang, if you really want to repay me, then please introduce me to those military families. I’m in urgent need of such connections.”

Returning Bai Lingmiao to her original state was even more important than getting rid of the Strayed One. Li Huowang's survival didn’t matter, as he had treated her badly enough.

“Okay, okay, I understand,” Ji Xiang beamed. He pulled out a red silk scarf from his sleeves and wiped away the dust on Li Huowang’s robes. Then, he got onto the carriage.

The sound of horse hooves echoed and slowly faded away as Ji Xiang disappeared into the distance in the carriage, which was also carrying a Muddled One’s corpse.

The remaining three exchanged glances.

Liu Zongyuan scratched his head and said, “I hear there's a new brothel on the eastern side of the city, so how about—"

The other two turned around and left before he could finish.

The severely injured Li Huowang sat in a carriage that was slowly making its way to an inn. Li Huowang took a slow breath as he sprawled out on the soft cotton bed. They had endured all kinds of hardships for a Muddled One, and it was great that they had completed their objective.

At this point, Li Huowang could only wait for Ji Xiang’s carrier pigeon.

At last, Li Huowang had taken a big step forward in his plan. Moreover, Ji Xiang owed him a huge favor. After all, if it hadn't been for Li Huowang, Ji Xiang would have been doomed. Li Huowang knew that Ji Xiang's favor would be of huge help as long as he used it in the right way.

“Sniff, sniff!” Bun placed its head gently on Li Huowang’s elbow. It seemed to have sensed that Li Huowang was seriously injured, and its ears seemed to droop in anguish.

Just then, two dark fingers grabbed Bun by its scruff and hurled it out the carriage.

“Huowang, why don't you throw away those bamboo slips? You get injured every time you use them. Aren't they painful to use? I can't believe you've been using them despite that," Bai Lingmiao said. She picked up a pillow from the side and placed it behind her head.

Li Huowang smiled lightly while staring at Bai Lingmiao's face, “Yes, I’m in pain. I'm in so much pain that I feel like dying. However, Miaomiao, don't you think that the Profound Records is the easiest to use? Just imagine cultivating one of those messy things.”

Bai Lingmiao cast a contemptuous gaze at Li Huowang. “Why don’t you give it a try? You won’t know until you try. At this rate, I'm afraid you'll die if something goes wrong."

“Die…” Li Huowang muttered. He exhaled slowly, and his eyes showed no fear as he said, “There’s nothing scary about death.”

Bai Lingmiao seemed to have noticed Li Huowang's intentions to die, so she pounced on Li Huowang like a cheetah; her dark fingers grabbed Li Huowang's neck, and she stared into his eyes as if she were a wild beast.

“You still want to die? This always happens every time you use the Cang-Qiang Ascension! Do you still consider yourself a man? Why do you want to take the easy way out? Have you already forgotten how you killed my entire family?!

"You still have to pay me back for the rest of your life, so you are not allowed to die!”

Li Huowang nodded gently, and Bai Lingmiao leaned over, biting Li Huowang's shoulder. Moments later, she stood up, leaving a bloody row of teeth markings.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was oppressive.

Bun had stuck its head out of the window, but it immediately retreated.

“Miaomiao, I met a Shaman, and his name is Shen Tugang," said Li Huowang. Then, he told Bai Lingmiao about Shen Tugang’s unique way of interacting with the Immortal families.

As their conversation went on, the atmosphere in the carriage warmed up slowly.

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