Mutated Tao

“Those people are just ordinary people with no bodyguards around them. We don't even need to do anything against them; we just have to provoke them a little, and they’ll seek death by themselves. Isn’t that right, Hong Zhong?”

Shai Zi’s words seemed directed at Li Huowang, but they were actually more like a reminder.

A white round jade pendant? Li Huowang immediately recalled the jade pendant that he had stolen from his late Senior Xuan Yang’s residence inside the Zephyr Temple!

He had used that jade pendant to trade for a horse not too long ago.

Xuan Yang... was actually of the royal bloodline of the Great Liang? Shock dawned on Li Huowang’s face as he recalled the youth who had attempted to escape from Zephyr Temple, only to be fed to the Black Taisui by Dan Yangzi.

He actually died because of the Sitting Oblivion Dao? The Sitting Oblivion Dao had already infiltrated Zephyr Temple while he was still there?!

Li Huowang knew that the sacred text Dan Yangzi had given to him was from the Sitting Oblivion Dao, but it seemed that was another member of the Sitting Oblivion Dao within the Zephyr Temple at the time!

Who is it? Who did they impersonate? Xiaoman, Gao Zhijian, Bai Lingmiao, Yang Xiaohai—the faces of those people flashed rapidly through Li Huowang’s mind.

Pop!

Li Huowang suddenly heard a noise reminiscent of a popping bubble, and his own face appeared in his own mind. He began to recall a few old memories, which had been sealed using the Sitting Oblivion Dao’s methods.

Was it me? Did I hint to Xuan Yang to escape? Was I the Sitting Oblivion Dao inside Zephyr Temple? Li Huowang’s body began to twitch uncontrollably, and he clutched his head in agony.

He suddenly recalled the preceding events, the period before he transmigrated to this world. He had pretended to encounter Dan Yangzi and pretended to be captured by him. It was all to deal with Xuan Yang, the hidden dragon of Great Liang.

Even Taishang Laojun, who had given Dan Yangzi those sacred texts, was actually himself in a disguise! He was a Hong Zhong, and he had deceived everyone!

No! This isn’t right! Doulao Taiyin has tampered with my memories! These aren’t my memories. I’m not a Hong Zhong, I’m Li Huowang! Don’t let the Sitting Oblivion Dao deceive you! Li Huowang roared to himself.

No matter how much he tried to suggest otherwise, his memories as a Hong Zhong became increasingly vivid in his head.

Those memories of Hong Zhong began to accumulate more and more, and they gradually encroached on Li Huowang’s own memories.

When his memories as a Hong Zhong began to outnumber his memories as Li Huowang, he started to find it difficult to differentiate whether he was a Hong Zhong or Li Huowang.

If this were any other time, Li Huowang’s unusual reaction wouldn't have escaped the Imperial Preceptor's notice.

However, Huangfu Tiangang’s attention was on Shai Zi alone; he didn't notice what was going on with Li Huowang.

“Don’t even think about deceiving me! Do you think you can disturb my mind with these lies alone? Do you think I don’t have other tricks up my sleeve?” A purple lightning bolt struck down, burning Shai Zi’s remaining arm and leg to a crisp.

He was on the brink of death, but Shai Zi became even more invigorated rather than the opposite.

“Hahaha! Lies? Tiangang, it seems you still don’t understand the Sitting Oblivion Dao. Using lies to deceive people is just a trick used by the pawns within the Sitting Oblivion Dao! I am Shai Zi, I only use the truth to deceive people!”

“It’s alright, even if you don’t believe it. Anyway, the Dragon Vein of Great Liang has been severed. The god Yu’er has arrived, and all you have to do next is sit back and enjoy the show! Hehehe~”

One of the veteran generals nearby couldn’t bear Shai Zi’s arrogant act anymore. He raised his sword and pressed it against Shai Zi’s half-charred neck.

“You scoundrel! What benefit do you get from severing the Dragon Vein of Great Liang? When the whole world falls into chaos, you’ll die too!”

“Hehehe, so be it. Do you really think that the leader of the Sitting Oblivion Dao is going to be afraid of that?” Shai Zi curled up. He stretched his neck, tearing apart what remained of his head, which promptly rolled on the ground. “Farewell, everyone! I’m leaving first! Oh, Hong Zhong, you don’t need to burn paper money for me on Qingming Festival[1]; it’s not our Sitting Oblivion Dao’s custom.”

With that, the head in a pool of blood lost all signs of life.

“Want to die? It’s not that easy! I’ll make your soul scatter into nothingness!”

Huangfu Tiangang pointed his Constellation Sword at the sky, and the sword quivered violently in mid-air. Purple lighting bolts struck down one after another, mercilessly scorching Shai Zi’s corpse.

After a dozen lightning bolts, Shai Zi’s corpse had been reduced to basically meat scraps.

The Imperial Preceptor’s face twitched slightly, and he snorted in disdain while staring at the charred ground. Then, he turned around and started walking toward the palace.

“Sob! Boss Shai Zi~~~ You've met such a tragic end! How am I supposed to live without you! Sob!” The Sitting Oblivion Dao illusion lay on the scorched ground and cried inconsolably without tears.

“Monk! Monk! Aren’t you supposed to be a good person? Didn't you see my boss die? Hurry up and help him ascend to the other side!”

Zhuge Yuan's expression was solemn as he walked past the wailing illusion to reach Li Huowang. “Brother Li! Brother Li! Hold on! Things aren’t over yet!”

“I...” Li Huowang was scratching his head in confusion, “Who am I? Am I Hong Zhong, or am I Li Huowang?”

"Regardless of who you are, do you really want the Great Liang to suffer the same fate as the Great Qi? Think about your Cowheart Village! Think about your fellow disciples, your daughter Li Sui, and your Bai Lingmiao! Do you really want them to end up like the denizens of the Great Qi?”

Zhuge Yuan’s words were like a bucket of cold water that was poured over Li Huowang’s head, and they made him snap back to reality.

“Shai Zi’s plan isn’t flawless! Catch up with the Great Liang's Imperial Preceptor; there’s still a way to connect Great Liang’s roots!”

When Li Huowang felt his inner turmoil growing once more, he slapped himself and chased after the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Liang.

He was nearby; he was at the main hall where Ji Lin had summoned Li Huowang long ago.

Upon entering the hall, Li Huowang saw a group of eunuchs staggering away from Huangfu Tiangang.

Meanwhile, Huangfu Tiangang himself was walking toward Ji Lin with a dark expression.

“Preceptor... how dare you! I am the emperor! How dare you defy me!” Ji Lin’s fierce face showed panic. After all, it was the Imperial Preceptor who challenged him.

However, Huangfu Tiangang remained silent in the face of the questioning. He walked directly to the side of the throne and roughly pulled him down to the ground.

“Guards, protect the emperor!” Ji Lin shouted desperately as he struggled to prop himself up on the golden bricks with his remaining two fingers.

Just as he was about to stand up, the Imperial Preceptor lifted him up. Then, the Imperial Preceptor bit his fingertip and drew symbols on Ji Lin's body.

“Imperial Preceptor! Huangfu Tiangang! How dare you! I am the emperor! I'm the one and only remaining member of the Ji family! How dare you disrespect me! Aren’t you afraid there’ll be no one left to bear the Great Liang's luck?”

The Imperial Preceptor was soon finished drawing, and he slapped Ji Lin in the face.

The next moment, the red talismans on Ji Lin came alive. They slid rapidly across Ji Lin as if they were flying dragons.

Soon, the talismans seemed to have noticed something, and they picked up the pace.

A clear and distinct voice echoed from beneath Ji Lin’s dragon robe. “Oh dear, so you’ve found out? How clever~ How did you know that I'm the one who implanted this little girl’s manhood?”

Something rolled out from beneath the dragon robe, and it rolled in Li Huowang’s direction. “Hong Zhong! Hong Zhong! Hey! What are you doing standing there in a daze? Come here and help me!”

Before it could roll far away, Huangfu Tiangang’s large foot came down and crushed it to pieces.

1. also known as tomb-sweeping day where people burn incense amidst other customs ☜

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