Chapter 517: Eldest Princess

Chapter 517: The Elder Princess

“Clang clang!” Li Huowang waved his bone sword, sending three fingernails aimed at his face flying away.

If before he had merely been guessing, now this was enough to confirm his suspicions—this man in front of him was indeed a follower of the Aojing Sect!

“You’re all supposed to renounce the world and pursue ultimate suffering, aren’t you? Why get involved in such troublesome matters?”

Hearing Li Huowang’s question, the man let out a low chuckle. He knelt on both knees, clutching a cruciform clay doll of the god tightly against his chest.

"Senior Brother, why ask me when you should be asking yourself? Why are *you* getting entangled in this mess? Human emotions are easy to incur; human debts are hard to repay."

“Boom!” A wave of heat sent Li Huowang's cloak fluttering backward as a blazing fire-man reflected in his eyes.

His expression darkened. This fellow wasn't just a member of the Aojing Sect—he might very well be one of their experts!

Regardless of how severe the side effects of the Aojing Sect were, their strength ranked among the top among sects.

“Get out of my way!” Li Huowang swung his arm forcefully, a rift from the history of Great Qi speeding toward the flames ahead.

The man seemed to know that thing was dangerous. The roaring flames lifted him into the air. With a puff, he blew out a burst of fire from his mouth, hurling it at Li Huowang.

When Li Huowang sliced through the surging flames with the historical rift, he finally saw the man’s face clearly.

It was hard for Li Huowang to describe what was burned inside the flames—whether it could still be called human. At least in his mind, normal people didn’t have two heads.

And this wasn’t even the Nascent Soul of the Luo Sect. Even though the two heads within the flames were charred black, they twisted like squash that had been stepped on.

Not only did it have two heads, but also four arms and three legs—as if forcibly stitched together from two people.

“He can’t be tangled with any longer! Even if I kill him, if the Elder Princess is harmed, then all this will be for nothing!” Li Huowang turned his gaze toward the distant Elder Princess being carried by a eunuch, fleeing for her life.

As various thoughts flashed through his mind, seeing the surrounding temples ignite, Li Huowang suddenly had an idea.

He bent his body sharply and rushed into the burning temple on his left. The fiery Aojing cultist followed closely behind.

“In the black mist, auspicious qi floats above the sky, Gangbo Bane Sang! Gu Daru transforms! Maitreya rides the heavens!”

With flames engulfing his body, clutching a dark red clay statue that had been scorched, he pressed it hard against his abdomen, forcing it into his navel.

In the next moment, molten gold from the colossal golden Buddha statue flowed down like living water, wrapping around the surging flames and blocking Li Huowang’s path.

Everything inside the temple was ablaze, even the air turning red. His cloak ignited instantly.

Just as he was controlling the burning gold, preparing to enshrine himself in gold, something unexpected happened.

There was no one under the hat—it was a dog covered in black tentacles!

“Damn!” Zuyi suddenly realized he’d fallen for a ruse, and with the roaring flames, he charged toward the temple exit.

As Zuyi fled, he took all the flames with him, leaving Li Sui alone standing in the smoke-blackened ruin of the temple.

"Why does this not match what Father said?"

Li Sui pulled out a palm-sized piece of skin from his belly, glanced at it, then stuffed it back in. Then, crawling on all fours like a hunting dog, he sprinted outside.

At this moment, Li Huo, hidden, stepped along the roof beams, close to the Elder Princess on the eunuch’s back.

“Faster! Faster!” Li Huowang gritted his teeth, his killing intent deepening with each passing second.

Just as he felt his back begin to burn, Li Huowang drew his sword with one hand and slashed fiercely at the nearby Elder Princess.

Li Huowang watched helplessly as the Elder Princess approached the rift representing Great Qi. But suddenly, her slender frame twisted beyond human limits, kicked off the eunuch’s shoulders lightly, and used the rebound to escape his attack range.

Ribbons of silk, deep at the bottom and shallow at the top, drifted from her sleeves, dancing in the wind.

In that instant, from Li Huowang’s perspective, the Elder Princess, with her exquisite features, looked like a celestial maiden descending from heaven.

Li Huowang didn’t know which school this technique belonged to, but he could tell—it was probably the Elder Princess’s trump card.

Her previous helplessness had been an act. Facing assassination, she had the power to resist!

“Boom!” The flames behind him scorched his scabs, making them crackle. He shifted slightly, and the searing flames licked at his cheeks.

The Elder Princess and Zuyi stood on either side of Li Huowang, while guards emerged from the surrounding temples, forming a ring. The hunter had become the hunted.

“Who sent you?”

Standing atop the pavilion, the Elder Princess raised her chin haughtily. The semi-transparent silk ribbons around her swayed like snake tongues.

Li Huowang remained silent. Now, he was ready to fight to the death. Those who participated in the succession struggle of Great Li weren’t ordinary men. He had long expected this outcome.

“Though you killed my mother, I won’t hold it against you. As long as you serve me, whatever others give you, I’ll give you more.”

Her voice was ethereal yet cold, making Li Huowang feel restless.

“No need. I may lack many things, but I have one thing—unwavering loyalty! No matter what you offer, I will never betray my master.”

After saying this, to everyone’s surprise, Li Huowang charged straight toward the east, where there were fewest people.

“Zuyi, don’t scatter his soul and spirit. I want to know who attacked me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wrapped in roaring flames, Zuyi chased after Li Huowang closely.

Just as Li Huowang reached the eaves of a building, a shadow darted out and pounced on him.

“Father, that skin didn’t work,” Li Sui’s misshapen tentacles crawled out from Li Huowang’s body.

“Better that way. Just what I needed.”

Surrounded by guards wielding weapons and radiating killing intent, Li Huowang grabbed his torn, blood-soaked chest and roared, tearing his flesh apart. His internal organs spilled into the air.