Chapter 935: True

Chapter 935: Truth

That this batch of Heart-Elements secretly harbored a Ziwangdao practitioner was something no one had anticipated.

Upon learning the origin of these Heart-Elements from Bai Lingmiao, Li Huowang remarked, "The Ziwangdao hid ten Heart-Elements within the karmic obstacles of the Heart-Turbidity. It seems they were planning something grand, only to be thwarted by us."

Xuanpin nodded in agreement with Li Huowang’s deduction, but immediately added, "Father, it is the Dice who is helping us."

"Hmm? He is helping me?"

"All ten Heart-Elements were hidden within the karmic obstacles of the Heart-Turbidity. In such a concealed place, they could only be easily discovered by the White Lotus followers if he had sanctioned it; otherwise, the information would never have leaked."

Li Huowang did not rush to absorb the Heart-Elements. He frowned, pondering this strange turn of events. "He is actually leaking information to our people? Why does it feel like nothing good can come of this?"

"Father, you need not be so suspicious of him. Times have changed; even if he were to attempt something now, he is no match for us, and he is not so foolish as to be unaware of that."

Li Huowang, his expression grave, nodded. "If he truly had a conspiracy, I would feel more at ease. What I fear is that if the Dice is genuinely helping us this time, then we are in real trouble."

"Think about it: when even your arch-nemesis starts helping you out of fear that you might lose, just how massive must the impending disaster be?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Huowang drew his spine-sword and cast it into the black hole within Xuanpin’s robes. "While I cultivate, you must keep watch over the Da Qi side. Send whoever is necessary; do not let the people of the Tianchen Kingdom launch a sneak attack."

"If they make a move, notify me immediately."

"Understood." A dozen tentacles sprouted rapidly from Xuanpin’s robes, firmly gripping the spine-sword and dragging it inside.

Li Huowang looked at the Heart-Elements before him and took a deep breath. "Come, continue. I must reach the Seventh Wheel before Zuo Qiu-yong makes his move!"

As Li Huowang absorbed all eighteen Heart-Elements, his body began to mutate uncontrollably. Veins bulged across his entire head, which began to swell as if it might burst at any moment.

"Go!" Li Huowang, his face twisted in agony, waved his hand forcefully. "Get further away this time!"

As Bai Lingmiao and the others retreated from the pulsating cultivation chamber, Yuan Er and the others, reborn, bowed to Bai Lingmiao in gratitude.

"Miss Bai, thank you! Though we have been deceived many times, this time, we finally did not trust the wrong person!"

Bai Lingmiao shook her head. "You are welcome. The White Lotus followers accumulate merit and perform good deeds; this is what we ought to do. What are your plans now?"

Yuan Er and his companions looked at one another, at a loss.

After so many years, having just emerged from the Heart-Turbidity, they had no idea what to do.

"Why not go to Niuxin Village? There are people of our own there; you can have a place to stay for now. Once you decide whether to seek your kin or do something else, you can choose then."

"Thank you, Miss Bai! Miss Bai has the heart of a Bodhisattva!"

Just then, a powerful suction emanated from the cultivation chamber, and once again, everyone was uncontrollably pulled toward it.

But immediately following was a violent expansion, and everyone, along with the very earth, was blasted into the sky.

The cultivation chamber of the Directorate of Celestials was underground; the fact that they could now see the sky meant all the soil above had been blown away.

In mid-air, Bai Lingmiao twisted her body, landing steadily on a tilted patch of ground. "Save the others! Stay away from Brother Li!"

Fortunately, everyone present was a practitioner, and though they were flung into the air, none had perished.

The room to the left of the Directorate, where historical records were kept, was also affected, with scrolls of history fluttering everywhere.

Standing by the edge of the massive crater, Bai Lingmiao and the others watched the depths, where the situation had shifted once more.

Like branches sprouting, all manner of things intertwined and grew from the pit, replicating and overlapping in chaos.

There was flesh and blood, flowers and trees, and things Bai Lingmiao could not comprehend mixed within.

After half an hour, the upper portion of the growth in the pit finally ceased, though the lower part continued to shift.

Bai Lingmiao gazed at this chaotic, spectacular "giant tree." Thoughtfully, she reached out and plucked an apple that had grown upon a flat surface of black glass.

She held the apple for a long time before the ferocious beast-maw of the Second God lunged forward, biting off half in a single crunch.

"This was cultivated by Brother Li; do not eat it indiscriminately," Bai Lingmiao cautioned.

The Second God chewed and swallowed. "Can you not see? These are no longer the illusions cultivated by those Heart-Elements; this is truly real."

"Everything Li Huowang cultivates now is likely real. Even if he stops maintaining it, it will not revert. This is what it means to cultivate the truth."

Bai Lingmiao frowned as she looked at the chaotic transformation below, saying nothing. Others might have forgotten, but she had not forgotten the side effects of cultivating the truth.

"Li Huowang, we can talk this over properly."

"Talk, then. I am listening," Li Huowang said, arms crossed, head tilted as he looked at Qing Wanglai and Zhao Shuangdian.

"I know that since you brought it up, you do not want to fall out with us. Regardless of our situation or reality, we are all in the same boat."

Li Huowang turned his head, his gaze passing through the porthole to watch the seagulls flying over the sea.

He was not in a hurry; they were. In any case, in the next cycle, these two would know nothing, while only he would retain his memories.

By then, the initiative would be entirely in his hands.

Of course, since they were in the same boat, he would tell them about his ability to reset time, as they shared a common enemy.

But by mixing true information with false details that favored him, they would never be able to tell the difference.

"We can understand your thoughts, but you must also understand us."

"We are doing our best to meet your demands, such as the anti-hallucination medication you are currently taking."

"And we understand your concern for your girlfriend. We promise you, this will be the last time; we will never bring her aboard again."

"We can even leave you a secret code so you can remind us after the reset not to let Yang Na board the ship."

Li Huowang stared at them in silence. Just then, Yang Na opened the cabin door and walked in.

Seeing the atmosphere, she immediately knew the conversation had gone poorly. She nodded apologetically to the two, then gently tugged at Li Huowang’s sleeve, signaling him to leave.

After a few tugs, Li Huowang remained unmoved, until finally, Yang Na dragged him out of the room by force.

"Why are you helping them? Can’t you see? They are using us!"

Li Huowang’s expression turned cold. "I finally understand the relationship between the Si-ming. If I don't want to be used by them, I must use this advantage to use them instead!"

The sea breeze ruffled Yang Na’s hair. "I am not helping them; I am trying to help you. One more Si-ming is one more source of power."

"Huowang, I know you worry about me and don't want me to take risks, but think about it: if I don't go and you all die, do you think I could hold out alone in this vast White Jade Capital?"