Mutated Tao

Outside of the palace, the eunuchs and the consorts surrounded both Shai Zi and Li Huowang.

“What’s there not to believe? Hong Zhong, what are you talking about? I don’t understand you.”

Shai Zi looked at Li Huowang puzzledly.

“You know what I’m talking about. Stop trying to beat around the bush and tell me the details. What else do you know about the Tianchen Kingdom? Say… a golden dragon?”

Li Huowang still remembered what he had seen.

“A golden dragon?” Shai Zi appeared shocked. “Is there something like that in the Tianchen Kingdom? Could it be the Dragon Vein? I have never heard of it before.”

“A Dragon Vein…?”

If it was true, then every Dragon Vein in history was made using humans. The people of the Tianchen Kingdom weren’t just weird—even their Dragon Veins were weird, completely different from the others.

The Qi Kingdom, the Liang Kingdom, and the Tianchen Kingdom… I wonder how strange the other two worlds are. Thankfully, I don’t have to get in contact with them.

Li Huowang shook his head. “No. Your information is useless. I could also check it out on my own. If you want to help us, bring us something tangible and useful, such as the method to enter the TIanchen Kingdom.”

Li Huowang still didn’t believe Shai Zi, despite the latter talking a lot. Rather than relying on mere words, Li Huowang preferred the cold, hard truth that he could see with his own eyes.

If Shai Zi could provide information about how to enter the Tianchen Kingdom, Li Huowang wouldn’t mind working with him. Learning how to enter it would allow Li Huowang to be more proactive rather than passive and defensive.

He might be able to kill some of the people from the Tianchen Kingdom if he could catch them off guard.

If they could not avoid any fighting this time, then Li Huowang would rather move the battlefield into the Tianchen Kingdom.

Shai Zi was confused. “Why do you think I have the method to enter the Tianchen Kingdom?”

Li Huowang's words left Shai Zi with no room to back down. "How else could you have obtained your information? Did you make it up, then?"

Shai Zi raised his head and laughed. “Hong Zhong, you are becoming smarter. Fine, I will tell you. Come to my place in three days.”

“Why three days? Can’t you tell me now? What do you intend to do?”

“Hong Zhong, stop thinking that I’m the villain. I can’t freely enter the Tianchen Kingdom—they’re the ones in control of that. The people from the Tianchen Kingdom can touch both the Heavenly Daos and the Twisted Ones.”

Li Huowang did not ask anything. He waited for Shai Zi to continue explaining.

“What I mean is that they can also take out the things inside a Twisted One’s body and stuff it into a single person. That person becomes the bridge that connects the Tianchen Kingdom to the Qi Kingdom. I can’t control them, but I know when they will reactivate the bridge.”

Although Li Huowang could barely imagine what the “things” inside several Twisted Ones looked like, he now understood why Zhuge Yuan couldn’t control the bridge between worlds on his own, all while the people from the Tianchen Kingdom could come and go as they pleased.

The hands of the Unspeakable army could knead everything under the heavens.

“They will come in three days. You can use this chance to check the Tianchen Kingdom secretly. Now, is this much enough to let me join you?”

“You should’ve said this from the start if you were sincere.”

Li Huowang ignored Shai Zi and passed the frozen consort and eunuchs before he left.

He had just walked out from the crowd when he saw the Imperial Preceptor looking at him coldly while leaning on a pillar.

Li Huowang ignored the Imperial Preceptor and walked past him. He slowly walked out of the palace.

After leaving the palace, Li Huowang didn't immediately go back to the Qi Kingdom. Instead, he walked towards the Surveillance Bureau.

Whether Shai Zi was telling the truth or not, his presence inside the palace posed a threat. It was not a matter to be taken lightly, so he needed to let Suisui know to develop countermeasures.

One needed to be highly vigilant when Shai Zi was there.

“I know, and His Majesty knows too.”

Li Huowang almost stumbled when he heard Li Sui’s answer. “What? You guys know?”

Xuan Pin explained, “Yes. His Majesty is collaborating with Shai Zi. To be fair, Shai Zi is technically part of the Surveillance Bureau right now. The Imperial Preceptor was the one who established this connection.”

“Why didn’t you tell me something about this major?”

“Father, you’re always at the Qi Kingdom, and I couldn't find you. Also, this is between the Sitting Oblivion Dao and the palace. It doesn’t concern you.”

“Gao Zhijian is crazy! He still wants to cooperate with the Sitting Oblivion Dao despite almost losing the Dragon Vein to them?”

“Father, didn’t you cooperate with Shai Zi too?”

“I’m just testing him!”

“Father, don’t worry. The Sitting Oblivion Dao wouldn’t be able to do anything today. Doulao hated them a lot. If they angered us, they wouldn’t be able to do anything here later on.’

“Have we not suffered enough in their hands?”

"That's why I'm hoping to ease the tension a bit. Regardless of the circumstances, we can still make use of them, just like you did, Father."

“Nevermind. I don’t want to care anymore. Once everything is over, just hook him up and kill him.”

“Alright, but even if you kill Shai Zi, a brand new Sitting Oblivion Dao will appear with a new Shai Zi.”

“That’s fine. At least I won’t have a grudge with the new Shai Zi. In any case, ignore him for now. I need something else from you today.”

Li Huowang pondered before asking, “How much do you know about the Dragon Veins? Tell me everything, no matter how unbelievable it is.”

“Hm? Father, why are you asking this?”

Li Sui was surprised that her father would ask about this.

“Because I need to learn more about the five worlds. I have come to realize that I barely know anything about this world.

“Also, I’ve learned that no matter how ridiculous a story may sound, whether it be the story of the betrayal faced by the Heavenly Mater or how the Five Dhyani Buddhas guarded the world, each story holds a kernel of truth.

“Well, maybe not all of them are useful, but there must be some truth to the stories.”