Chapter 906: Intelligence

Chapter 906: Intelligence

Li Huowang scratched at his hair, watching the Xuanpin before him with a growing headache; he had spoken at length, yet it felt as if he had been whispering to the wind, and were she not his own daughter, his temper would have long since ignited.

"Suisui, focus. This is no time for distraction; the head of the Great Ear has already been pried open by the sect leader of the Fangxian Dao!" He stepped forward, gripping his daughter’s shoulders and shaking them firmly.

He had traveled to the Tianchen Kingdom through untold hardships for the express purpose of what lay within that severed head.

"Is that so? That is good, then. Let us go." Xuanpin’s tone was remarkably flat, as if they were merely setting out for a meal.

Seeing that she had finally returned to her senses, Li Huowang pulled her along and hurried toward the Imperial Observatory.

The Daliang Imperial Observatory lay deep underground; in the past, every visit had filled Li Huowang with dread, fearing his nature as a Xinsu would be exposed, but now, everything was different.

As Li Huowang and Li Sui moved quickly, everyone they passed bowed their heads and stepped aside.

The prison of the Observatory was located at the lowest level, and by the time they arrived, the others who needed to be there had already gathered, filling the space to capacity.

The highest authorities of Daliang were concentrated in this dark, damp dungeon, their focus fixed upon the table where a head sat planted in a vase—the head of the Great Ear.

It was a masterpiece of the Zhengde Temple; the Great Ear no longer required limbs, for a head alone sufficed.

A white-haired, stubble-chinned old Daoist stood before the head, one hand forming a seal as he chanted incantations toward its brow.

Nodding toward Gao Zhijian, Li Sui spoke to the Daoist in the purple robe: "Everyone is here. Repeat what you have found."

The Daoist nodded, turned to offer a Daoist salute to Gao Zhijian, and said, "Your Majesty, the Tianchen Kingdom is vast and complex. Where would you have me begin?"

Gao Zhijian, seated upon the dragon throne, pondered for a moment before asking, "How many soldiers and generals does the Tianchen Kingdom possess?"

"Neither soldiers nor generals."

"Hm?" Gao Zhijian’s eyes widened slightly.

"The Tianchen Kingdom lacks even a central court, so naturally, there are no soldiers or generals," Li Huowang interjected.

"Their military consists entirely of bandits, mountain brigands, and raiders. Do not let their status fool you; their strength is formidable. The group that attempted to seize my sword previously was comprised of these very bandits."

"No court? Does that mean the Tianchen Kingdom lacks even an emperor?" the blind Imperial Preceptor of Daliang asked, striking at the heart of the matter.

The Fangxian Daoist shook his head and continued, "There is no royal family, but the Tianchen Kingdom has a 'Venerated Patron.' From this man’s mind, I learned that this Patron’s word is absolute; none dare defy him. It was he who proposed seeking vengeance against the Wusheng Laomu."

"A Venerated Patron? What is his name?" Gao Zhijian clenched his fists, finally grasping the nature of his adversary.

"His surname is Zuoqiu, his given name Yong—Zuoqiu Yong. The Great Ear only saw him from afar; he held no status that would allow him to speak to the Patron."

"Hmm..." Gao Zhijian fell into deep thought at the name. "And what of his strength?"

"Ah." The Daoist glanced at the Great Ear’s head before answering, "Your Majesty, it is unknown. To him, the Patron is unfathomable; he has never seen him strike."

"He must be formidable. According to the records in the Great Ear’s mind, he commands the 'Unspeakable Army.' It is quite possible this man is one of the celestial aristocrats who betrayed the Wusheng Laomu."

Li Huowang’s words left Gao Zhijian looking perplexed. "Brother Li, what is the Unspeakable Army? And what is a celestial aristocrat?"

After providing a concise explanation, Li Huowang spoke again. "Everything that has occurred was orchestrated by those sent by Zuoqiu Yong. He and his people are the primary force behind this. You could say that the plan to resolve the Wusheng Laomu was his own invention."

"Though he is not an emperor, his word in the Tianchen Kingdom likely carries more weight than any monarch’s."

Gao Zhijian’s expression darkened. His opponents were individuals capable of touching the Heavenly Dao; a conflict would surely bring a bloodbath. This trouble was no less severe than the rise of the Dharma Sect.

It was not just Gao Zhijian who felt this; everyone present shared the sentiment, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

"Your Majesty, do not panic. We have not reached that point yet. They cannot seize Li Huowang’s sword, and for now, they cannot cross over," Xuanpin said, attempting to comfort Gao Zhijian.

Gao Zhijian’s expression eased, but Li Huowang’s grew even grimmer.

He reached behind his back and drew his spine-sword. "The Xinsu in Daqi are not limited to Zhuge Yuan alone. While they struggle to take it from me, they are sending others to find alternative methods elsewhere."

"Based on the Great Ear’s memories, even if they fail to take my sword, it will not be long before they find another Xinsu."

Li Huowang’s words weighed upon everyone like a stone. If they had previously held the mindset of watching a fire from across the river, Daliang was now firmly placed upon the pyre.

Hearing this, Li Sui finally understood why her father had been so urgent, and what he meant by the sky falling.

Gao Zhijian furrowed his brows, clinging to a sliver of hope as he looked at Li Huowang. "Brother Li, you managed to hold back the Tianchen Kingdom in Daqi single-handedly. As long as you are here, surely it will not be so easy for them to cross."

"Rely on me? Rely on me alone?"

Gao Zhijian nodded. "Brother Li, whether it was the Dice or that god Yu’er, none were your match. They may not be able to defeat you this time."

To Gao Zhijian, whether they were traveling the road or he was sitting on the throne, as long as Li Huowang was present, no difficulty seemed insurmountable; he felt a sense of peace.

Li Huowang looked at him with a strange expression. "What are you thinking? Have you forgotten what I just said? The Wusheng Laomu herself was dismembered by those very people in the Tianchen Kingdom!"

Though he had gained a minor victory by borrowing the avatar of Doumu, Li Huowang harbored no illusions; he understood exactly what he was facing.

Li Huowang pointed to his own chest. "Do you think the Wusheng Laomu of the past was stronger, or am I? Do not forget—they possess the Heavenly Dao of the Wusheng Laomu herself!"

Silence fell upon the room; the atmosphere grew even more oppressive as everyone searched for a way to break the deadlock.

After a long pause, the Imperial Preceptor of Daliang, Huangfu Tiangang, spoke. "There is no need to fight them to the death. They only wish to deal with the White Lotus Sect; they do not seek to destroy the world like the Dharma Sect."

"Since they want the White Lotus Sect, why don't we simply hand the White Lotus Sect over to them?"

With a sudden rustle, Xuanpin appeared behind Li Huowang, her wide red Daoist robes unfurling to hold him in a tight, protective embrace.