Mutated Tao

Chapter 572: Change

It was time to do his own things now that everything was over. There was no need to say goodbye to Gao Zhijian, as Li Huowang had never been such a sentimental individual.

“Dad, I’m hungry,” Li Sui said as they exited the temple.

“I know. Let’s go eat something before rescuing your mother.”

“Yay!” Li Sui nodded repeatedly in delight, and her black hair bobbed with every single nod. Despite her delicate demeanor, she was giving off a mischievous air.

“Why are you still in that corpse? Come out now. It’s inauspicious,” Li Huowang said. He reached out for Li Sui’s head to try and take it away.

“Ah~ I don’t want to! Noooo~” Several tentacles came out from Li Sui’s clothes and grabbed Princess Anping’s head. “Dad, I like this one. It’s fun. The people aren't afraid of me while I'm wearing this.”

Realizing that Li Sui wasn't going to listen to him, Li Huowang retracted his hand. He was fine with it, too. He was just concerned that perhaps Li Sui would stubbornly refuse to let go of the corpse once it started rotting. If that happened, then Li Sui would look even more terrifying by then.

But… Princess Anping has been dead for so long, yet there are still no signs of decomposition. Can the Black Taisui stop a corpse from rotting? Li Huowang stared at his daughter’s jade-like face.

“Hahaha~!” A loud laughter caught his attention.

Li Huowang turned and found the illusion of a Sitting Oblivion Dao member laughing next to him.

“What? Was our conversation that funny?”

The Sitting Oblivion Dao illusion laughed harder rather than replying.

“Crazy bastard.” Li Huowang ignored the illusion and walked toward the exit of the palace with Li Sui.

However, the illusion was still laughing, and he laughed so loud that his voice echoed throughout Shangjing.

Rumble!

The sky suddenly changed, and the ground trembled violently.

“Li Sui! Grab me!” Li Huowang stabbed the purple-tasseled sword into the ground to stabilize himself amidst the earthquake. Something felt familiar about it, and it was bad news.

The earthquake lasted for an hour, and Li Huowang was relieved to find that the outcome wasn't so bad. At the very least, the palace didn't collapse, nor did he find himself at the edge of a cliff.

“Hahahahaha!” An arrogant-sounding laughter rang out. Li Huowang realized that it was coming from the temple!

“Hahahahaha!”

Li Huowang, the officials, eunuchs, and the consorts were in disbelief as the temple collapsed with a loud bang. The next moment, a long chain of humans took to the sky.

It was the Liang Kingdom’s Dragon Vein, and the one at the head of the dragon was none other than Gao Zhijian!

Gao Zhijian was laughing so arrogantly that his laughter sounded the same as the laughter of the illusion next to Li Huowang.

“What’s happening?!” Li Huowang held his sword and ran toward the Dragon Vein.

“Hahaha! Do you really think that a Shai Zi is going to die so easily? Try and recall what’s in Gao Zhijian’s head! Hahaha!” the illusion exclaimed as he laughed.

Li Huowang combed through his memories, and his pupils constricted upon realizing what the illusion was talking about.

Two years ago, Gao Zhijian suffered a fatal wound after a metal dice pierced his head during his battle with Er Bing!

Putting two and two together, Li Huowang soon deduced what was going on.

Shai Zi was still alive! His death was just a show, and he was using that metal dice to control Gao Zhijian!

“Do you really think that the Storyteller is smarter than a Shai Zi? What a joke! The Storyteller has always been a chess piece on Shai Zi’s board, and it remained true even after his death! Shai Zi knew that the Storyteller would save the Great Qi no matter what! Hahahaha! Aaaah, this is so refreshing! I’ve waited so long for this sight. Shai Zi, you're amazing! Hahahaha! I’m so happy!” The illusion faded away amidst his arrogant-sounding laughter.

Meanwhile, Gao Zhijian wasn't even looking at Li Huowang. Rather, he was staring at the gray sky.

“Yinyang Doulao! You old fart! Hahaha! You definitely didn't see this coming, did you? Do you really think that you can turn me into your Twisted One? What a joke! I will choose my own fate. Now that I have the human race's luck, I really want to see what you can do with me. You just got lucky in the beginning, and do you really think that I can't do what you can do? Listen here; change is coming, as I can change the Heavens!”

Gao Zhijian rose slowly into the sky, dragging the past emperors in a golden chain. The roaring of dragons echoed from the past emperor's mouth, and Gao Zhijian's figure was undulating as if he were a real dragon.

“What’s wrong? Scared? I’ve tricked you, and I've scolded you, but you can't do anything to me! You can’t even manifest your true body. You must be frustrated, right? Hahahaha~ Stay frustrated! I hope you die from frustration! Don’t worry; I’ve made sure to save the best part for last. As a sign of respect, I will steal your Heavenly Dao away!”

“Gao Zhijian, wake up!” Li Huowang exclaimed. His figure had erupted into a mighty conflagration, and he ordered Peng Longteng to throw him into the sky.

However, the Dragon Vein extinguished his flames before he could even get close to it.

A golden chain swept toward Li Huowang. He wanted to avoid the oncoming attack by projecting his illusion downward, but he found himself powerless before the Dragon Vein!

The grotesque noise of cracking bones echoed as Li Huowang was swatted away by the golden chain.

Li Sui extended her tentacles, catching Li Huowang right as he struck the ground.

“Dad, are you okay?!”

Li Huowang spat out blood as he stood up. “Go away! It’s dangerous here!”

“Dad! No, I want to help you!” Li Sui exclaimed, disobeying him for the first time.

Li Huowang wanted to say something when the sky darkened. He looked up and saw the Dragon Vein blotting out the sky before him.

Gao Zhijian was just a few meters away from Li Huowang, and he was staring at Li Huowang with a twisted face.