Chapter 494: Sword

Chapter 494: The Sword

In the sparse forest, the sounds of battle never ceased. On one side were the followers of the Faith of Yu’er, their shoulders draped in black cloth; on the other, six individuals belonged to the Heavenly Observing Bureau.

From their identities, Li Huowang deduced that this was likely the Heavenly Observing Bureau clearing out the Faith of Yu’er. And clearly, the bureau held the upper hand.

Even if one wasn’t afraid of death, it could not make up for an absolute disparity in strength.

As for how Li Huowang knew the others were from the Heavenly Observing Bureau, it was because Hong Da, the Knife-Bearer who had brought him into the organization, was among them.

Watching the blood flowing like rivers in the distance, Li Huowang exhaled slightly in relief. At this moment, as long as it wasn’t related to the Way of Forgetfulness, he could manage.

"Let’s go. These are just rabble. The Heavenly Observing Bureau should be able to handle them without needing my involvement."

Ever since he learned that the Heavenly Observing Bureau was striving to prevent the arrival of celestial calamities, his attitude toward them had improved greatly.

But just as Li Huowang took half a step forward, he suddenly noticed a Daoist performing ritual magic, and something about his weapon seemed off—it was a brush.

Upon closer inspection, Li Huowang was surprised to discover it was actually Zhuge Yuan's Judge’s Brush.

"Brother Zhuge, look—could that be your old weapon?" Bai Lingmiao suddenly heard Li Huowang muttering to himself.

"Indeed so. After you died, everything you possessed was retained by the Heavenly Observing Bureau. By the way, Brother Zhuge, where did that Judge’s Brush come from?"

"Is it really that powerful? That’s right, if I’d taken it back then, I might have been able to use it. But at that time, you had just passed away—I didn’t even think about such things."

Though Bai Lingmiao knew Li Huowang must be speaking to unseen illusions, she couldn’t help but find it utterly strange.

Just as she was about to ask what exactly Li Huowang was talking about, she suddenly saw her senior brother’s face twist into an especially ferocious expression, glaring fiercely at someone far away.

Bai Lingmiao’s vision followed his gaze, and soon she saw a woman whose lips had turned purple. Her left hand gripped a peculiar bone sword.

As the blade rose section by section, when she saw the hilt, Bai Lingmiao gasped in terror. It was a human skull—the bone sword was made entirely from a spine!

And the skull looked as though it had undergone special refinement, shriveled like a dried-out orange, only the size of a fist. Its seven orifices were sealed with black mud, and a purple talisman was pasted on its forehead.

Although the skull had been reduced so drastically, Bai Lingmiao could still tell that the person had once been handsome.

“Giggle giggle giggle.” Hearing the sound, Bai Lingmiao turned to see her senior brother grinding his teeth furiously.

“They... they’ve turned Zhuge Yuan’s body into a magical artifact!” The anger in Li Huowang’s eyes could not be contained at the desecration of his friend’s corpse.

“What’s there to be angry about? Isn’t that normal enough? You’re so precious with your heart core, throwing an entire Heart Dragonfruit down on the ground—do you think the Heavenly Observing Bureau would let you off?” The illusion of the Way of Forgetfulness sat smugly atop Peng Longteng’s shoulder, mocking him.

Compared to Li Huowang’s fury, Zhuge Yuan’s face showed remarkable composure. “I do not cling to material things; I live freely within my heart. That is merely a stinking shell, Brother Li. Let us go.”

“No!” Li Huowang said decisively. If he could ignore it, he might pretend not to see it—but now that he had seen it, there was no way he could stand idly by.

Zhuge Yuan had sacrificed his life for him. How could he allow his body to be used by others?

Though he had already decided to retrieve the sword, Li Huowang did not act rashly. Instead, he remained motionless, silently observing the woman’s techniques and strength.

Judging by Hong Da’s manner of speaking to the woman, Li Huowang concluded that she must be the new Record Keeper.

As for which sect or school she belonged to, judging from her simple purple robe, he could not yet determine.

Especially concerning the bone sword made from Zhuge Yuan’s spinal cord, Li Huowang felt wary. After all, it was a magical artifact forged from a Heart Dragonfruit.

"Brother Zhuge, do you know that the spinal cord of a Heart Dragonfruit can be refined into a magical artifact? Are there any countermeasures?"

"Of course not. I am a Heart Dragonfruit myself—how would I pay attention to refining myself? Brother Li, let’s go. Don’t get entangled over me."

Even with Zhuge Yuan urging him to leave, Li Huowang’s resolve was firm. His eyes fixed intently on the woman with purple lips.

At that moment, the woman raised her bone sword and lightly sliced through the air toward the Faith of Yu’er followers. Instantly, the bodies of the entire row of followers from the waist up vanished.

Their screams turned into two halves, blood spraying from the gap like a fountain before splattering onto the ground.

"Daoist, maybe we should call it off. She’s too strong—you may not be able to defeat her," the monk said anxiously to Li Huowang.

Yet Li Huowang thought otherwise, his gaze becoming even more resolute.

"Senior Brother Li, it’s strange. After she slashed with that bone sword, I could see a crack appear in the spot she touched. Inside that crack, there were fields and mountains."

"A crack with fields and mountains?"

"Brother Li, I understand now—the other side is Great Qi."

Hearing Zhuge Yuan’s words, Li Huowang’s heart tightened. He instantly understood what was happening. This woman had opened a rift to Great Qi using her sword.

Once the rift closed, it cut the Faith of Yu’er followers into three parts like scissors—Great Liang split into two, Great Qi into one. Rather than a sword, it was more like a key to another history of Great Qi.

Seeing the Faith of Yu’er followers retreat in defeat, about to be overwhelmed, Li Huowang, now understanding the power of the bone sword, decided he could no longer wait.

With these Faith of Yu’er members present, they could draw attention away from the rest of the Heavenly Observing Bureau. If the Faith was completely annihilated, he would have to face the bureau alone.

"You two return and wait for me! Meet at the valley from yesterday!" Li Huowang whispered to Miao Miao and Li Sui before tossing his red Daoist robe to them. He shifted his colorful shadow underground, becoming invisible as he slowly approached the woman.

When he was close enough, Li Huowang removed his copper coin mask. His face twitched, transforming into a stranger’s face.

Then, his hand flipped, and a black cloth appeared in his palm, which he draped over his arm. Now fully disguised as a follower of the Faith, Li Huowang waited silently, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

When he saw a black jade dagger extend from the woman’s shadow toward her back, Li Huowang kicked off the ground with both feet, leaping at her like a tiger.

Just as he was about to pounce upon her, cold light flashed from all directions. Ragged robes adorned with various blades spun around him, descending upon Li Huowang.

(End of Chapter)