Chapter 753: Idol

Chapter 753: The Divine Statue

The journey was long and arduous, yet Li Huowang gained more understanding of these people along the way. Though they spoke in grandiose terms, he could not help but wonder how much of it was mere boasting.

At least the black-red rice dumplings had proven effective. They had now penetrated deep into the heart of the Great Li domain without encountering a single obstacle—a stark contrast to his own treatment at the outset.

"Relax," Xuan Pin said, walking beside him as they gazed at the scattered red dots on the revolving mirror. "The people I've arranged for you are all skilled. As long as nothing goes awry, we'll surely foil the sect's plans."

"I hope so," Li Huowang murmured. At this point, there was little point in further discussion. What mattered now was finishing this task before anything else.

"How are things going on your end? When will you strike?" Li Huowang asked. Though seated at a tea stall, he was already very close to where the sect performed its ritual of worship. Otherwise, the black-red rice dumplings would have been discovered by now.

"Look here," Xuan Pin pointed toward a cluster of red dots not far from Li Huowang within the mirror’s view.

"Once the frontlines engage, and the battle pushes this way, you can begin your move."

Li Huowang traced his fingers over those red dots and immediately saw rows upon rows of warriors polishing their weapons and armor. Their expressions were serene—like the calm before a storm.

"Do the warriors have a commander?" Li Huowang asked, a question that had long lingered in his mind but never found an opportunity to ask.

"Of course they do."

"Who?"

"The generals, ministers, leaders..."

"And inside Baiyujing, wouldn’t he be on our side?"

Xuan Pin shook his head. "You're asking too many questions. Prepare yourself. Listen—the war drums have begun to beat. Give it everything you’ve got. The whole world rests upon your shoulders."

The sound of drums rolled slowly from afar, but when Li Huowang looked up, he realized the thunder rumbling overhead was merely the distant echo of clouds heavy with rain.

He poured the leftover tea and leaves into his mouth, stood up, and walked past Xuan Pin toward a narrow path on the left.

This road wound through mountainous terrain, becoming increasingly remote. Yet in such secluded places, many hidden figures lurked.

As Li Huowang continued forward, the helpers Xuan Pin had arranged began to emerge from behind trees, gradually forming a group.

The sentries—both visible and concealed—were swiftly dealt with.

Each person's expression grew heavier, and the thunder above pounded like drumbeats against their hearts.

When Li Huowang swept his hand across a flag in the mirror, a wave of malevolent energy pressed down on him so heavily he nearly lost breath.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!" On the battlefield's left flank, a massive Ba Gua formation materialized. Warriors at its center were enveloped in swirling aura, their eyes bloodshot, faces twisted between madness and frenzy.

They seemed devoid of reason, yet every step and movement followed the rhythm of the formation. Action became formation, stance became camp.

In that moment, hundreds of thousands of warriors formed one unified being—an entity with a human body as bone, and aura as blood.

By comparison, the followers of the sect were chaotic masses, vast in number but lacking cohesion.

Just then, a golden triangular chess piece shaped like a dragon general was slammed down forcefully by You Zixiong.

"Heaven and Earth advance! Transform into tiger wings! The Hidden Tiger strikes! Harness its might! Han Xin used it! Change without limit! The Battle of Gaixia—no one can predict what lies ahead!"

"Hah!!"

With the collective roar of the warriors, the condensed aura surged forward, pushing back Li Huowang’s vision entirely.

Regaining his senses, Li Huowang saw the enormous red dot in the mirror and turned away. His time had come.

He raised his head to gaze upon a towering wooden wall, standing alone amidst the mountains like a city born from nowhere.

Though draped in red cloth, the wood still bore fresh green leaves—clearly recently cut.

Another thunderclap shattered the sky, followed by a torrential downpour.

As people began fleeing from the city toward the battlefield, Li Huowang took a deep breath. Several tentacles slowly emerged from within him.

"Let’s go!" With a sudden burst of force, he kicked off the ground with both feet and hands, leaping straight into the massive wooden wall.

The wall crumbled like soft mud beneath him, allowing him to slip out effortlessly.

As soon as he emerged, the world opened wide before him—a colossal four-legged divine statue stood tall in the rain.

Its face was hidden under a large hat, while red silk banners cascaded from beneath it like bridges spanning the entire city.

Ignoring the glances aimed at him, Li Huowang grasped one corner of a red bridge and swung himself toward the altar below, shrouded in white incense smoke.

No matter what ritual the sect intended to perform, he would destroy it completely.

Various sect shamans rushed toward him, trying to block his approach.

But those earlier allies proved invaluable—they held back the onslaught of the sect's followers.

Finally free from interference, Li Huowang reached the platform before the statue. A strange figure stood directly in his path.

The man wore a large hat, but the curtain covering his face was torn flesh, bloated and crimson.

Li Huowang initially thought his face was rotting, only to realize later that it was covered by stitched internal organs.

His entire body, like the statue, protruded red ribbons from beneath his flesh curtains and sleeves.

When he saw the man's feet, his pupils contracted—these weren't human feet; they were chicken legs!

Despite the threatening gaze of Li Huowang, the man paid him no attention. He respectfully carried a censer made of sandalwood on both hands.

As his limbs danced like a ritual, the white smoke from the censer swirled along with him.

After each performance, he either knelt or lay prostrate, raising the censer high toward the towering statue.

The white smoke drifted upward, entering the hat adorned with red silk.

In the midst of the pouring rain, this bizarre act appeared even more unsettling.

Watching the man continue his focused incense offering, Li Huowang clenched his teeth tighter.

This creature wasn’t part of the sect—he was certain of it. Whatever this thing was, connected to the statue and this odd ceremony, it had nothing to do with the sect.

Yet regardless of what it truly was, it was his enemy.

Suddenly lifting his head, Li Huowang heard the neighing of a horse. Peng Longteng, wielding a giant halberd, rode toward the figure atop his great steed like a small mountain crashing down.

(End of Chapter)