Chapter 795: Clue

Chapter 795: Clues

"Stop chanting!" Li Huowang forcibly interrupted the other's recitation.

"What good does chanting do? Can you bring death back by chanting? You lamas from the Zhongyin Temple—find a way to solve this problem!"

"Isn't your Great Black Sky god supposed to control death? Don't you believe in him? Then find a way to help your Great Black Sky!"

On the withered lama’s face, covered with age spots and wrinkles, a trace of pain flickered as he shook his head. He then sat cross-legged, facing the furnace surrounded by rolling black smoke. Amidst the humming of the turning wheel, he began chanting the obscure and incomprehensible sutras once more.

"Damn it!" Li Huowang cursed inwardly before leaving the burning site and heading toward the central great tent.

Inside the tent, messengers and carrier pigeons were constantly arriving with information that converged on the table for the strategists and generals to review.

But Li Huowang didn’t seek them out; instead, he found an old eunuch.

This eunuch was extremely aged—not only in years but also in experience. He had served under Emperor Ji Man of the former Liang Dynasty, then under Ji Lin who transformed into a woman, and later under Gao Zhijian, always remaining at their side as an advisor.

"Your Majesty’s words? Still not attacking Nanping? Just going to keep waiting like this until when?" Li Huowang asked.

Since the previous ambush succeeded, they had remained idle here without action.

The old eunuch respectfully held his brush and bowed to Li Huowang. "Your Highness, according to the heavens, natural disasters have descended. All matters are unfavorable—it is not the time for war."

"But what if these natural disasters were caused by the Daoist sect? If we don’t act now, are we waiting for them to seize control of the Death Heavenly Dao before striking?"

"Please don’t worry, Your Highness. The matter of the natural disaster is naturally handled by Minister of Celestial Observations. It should disappear soon enough. Besides, if even death itself has vanished, what’s there to fight about?"

The eunuch’s words did nothing to improve Li Huowang’s mood at all. In the past, whenever natural disasters occurred, it was indeed the Celestial Observations Bureau that dealt with them.

However, clearly, this current disaster was completely different from those in the past. Not only had the people from Xuan Pin’s group all died, but even if they were still alive, they might not be able to handle the present situation.

In the past, natural disasters lasted no more than a few hours or at most two days. But this current disaster had already lasted nearly ten days—an indication of its severity.

After another glance at the old eunuch, Li Huowang said nothing and left. This time, he didn’t go anywhere else—he went straight to the dungeon.

Although the sudden natural disaster had caused many unexpected changes, the previous encirclement campaign had ultimately been won by Li Huowang.

Because there was no death involved, they had captured quite a few prisoners whom they could interrogate for information about the Daoist sect.

When Li Huowang arrived at the heavily guarded dungeon, he saw a follower of Aojing cult shaking a wooden handle like drawing water from a well.

Yet unlike a real well, the rope wound around the pulley attached to the wooden handle wasn’t a hemp rope—it was a thick intestine slowly extracted from the navel of a dockworker woman.

If anyone benefited from this natural disaster, it would undoubtedly be the self-torturing fanatics of the Aojing cult.

Now, free from fear of death, they could freely inflict pain upon themselves or others, and in such circumstances, everyone’s strength had greatly increased.

"Senior Brother Li," Zu Yi released the wooden handle and approached Li Huowang.

"How goes it? Any confessions?" Li Huowang asked.

Zu Yi shook his head. "None yet, but almost there. The dockworker woman can’t hold out much longer."

Looking at the tortured woman, whose appearance had become unrecognizable, still staring fiercely at him with her eyes, Li Huowang walked over.

"Speak up. Tell me everything you know. What exactly did you do to cause this natural disaster? As long as you tell me, I’ll give you a quick death."

"Otherwise, this torture will continue endlessly."

The dockworker woman, terrified, clenched her toothless mouth shut and spat blood onto Li Huowang.

"Heh... You’ve lost! You’re doomed! This is just the beginning! Just the beginning!!"

Seeing that Li Huowang stood motionless, the Aojing followers carefully lifted the woman and threw her into the nearby boiling oil pot.

But it wasn’t over yet. Bags of coarse salt were poured into the oil pot along with her, frying her together.

After several rounds, she finally broke down, collapsing against the edge of the pot and screaming frantically:

"The Temple Assistant said! It’s all the Dragon King’s doing! It’s the power of the Dragon King! The Four Seas’ Dragon Kings took away death!!"

At this point, a look of confusion flashed through her pain-filled eyes. Once the confusion faded, she shouted with fervor:

"The Dragon King is the true dragon! Those dragons from the dragon veins are fakes! They have no right to compare with the Four Seas’ Dragon King! The dragon veins are only fit to be placed on tables as offerings for the Dragon King Grandpa!!"

"The Four Seas’ Dragon King? What kind of heavenly mandate does this god command? Wait!"

Li Huowang reached out and immediately pulled the woman out of the oil pot. "What did you say just now? Dragon veins? Do you still possess dragon veins?"

Seeing her slight hesitation, Li Huowang immediately hoisted her back into the oil pot.

Looking down into the bubbling oil pot, the dockworker woman quickly spoke.

"There are! The sleeping dragon veins! And the dragon veins from the sea kingdom of Rakshasa have also been seized! Now they're all placed on the Dragon King’s altar, offered for the Dragon King to absorb dragon energy!"

Hearing this, the idea that had been dismissed by Gao Zhijian earlier reappeared in Li Huowang’s mind.

"If Gao Zhijian refuses to help me, then perhaps I can seize the dragon veins from the Daoist sect and use the Divine Sword Formation!"

Li Huowang let go and threw her back into the oil pot. Frowning, he paced anxiously, contemplating the possibility of this plan.

Stealing offerings from the Dragon King’s altar was obviously difficult. He didn’t even know what this so-called Four Seas' Dragon King was.

But given the current dire situation, there wasn’t time to think further.

Moreover, the recent account from Jizai confirmed that the celestial being resembling hair that they had encountered earlier was likely one of their own.

Whether the Death God had changed hands or the Death Heavenly Dao had disappeared, both proved that the current state of Baiyu Jing was extremely critical. He must find a way to go up and assist!

If the upper levels lost, no amount of victories below would matter. At the very least, he must ensure that the Death Heavenly Dao wouldn’t fall into their hands!

Thinking this, Li Huowang rolled up his sleeves, pulled the dockworker woman out again, and began questioning her personally.

He needed to confirm every detail about the location of the Four Seas’ Dragon King’s altar and the specifics of the dragon veins to avoid lies.

When Zu Yi confirmed the same information from another prisoner, Li Huowang finally made up his mind. These two dragon veins must be seized.

And doing so would also weaken the supposed power of their Dragon King—perfectly achieving two goals at once. There was no reason to refuse.

"Should I go alone?" Li Huowang thought carefully. It seemed too risky. More help was better.

As he pondered who to ask for assistance, his gaze fell upon the Aojing cult members standing nearby, whose strength had significantly increased.