Chapter 970: Help

Chapter 970: A Favor

Li Huowang turned his head and saw Bai Lingmiao walking toward him.

She approached Gao Zhijian and bowed low before him.

Compared to the shattered woman she had been, she now appeared remarkably composed, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Your Majesty, I beseech you to declare the White Lotus Sect the state religion. Our followers are not merely human; the number of malevolent spirits who revere the White Lotus is vast, and all are ready to dedicate their strength to your grand cause!"

The majestic Gao Zhijian gazed at her and spoke slowly: "It is granted."

"I thank Your Majesty." Bai Lingmiao walked to Li Huowang’s side and pulled him out of the great hall.

"Are there truly malevolent spirits who believe in the White Lotus? When did this happen? Do they also cultivate the baleful arts and summon the General-Minister Head?" Li Huowang asked, his mind racing; if this were true, it would add another layer to their chances of victory.

Bai Lingmiao did not answer his question, instead stating with ironclad resolve: "Li Sui can be saved!"

"What?" A tremor ran through Li Huowang’s heart at these words.

"I said Li Sui can be saved! Our Si Ming could not do it because we lack the Heavenly Dao of resurrection, but the Si Ming of the Blessed Heaven might not be so limited."

Bai Lingmiao’s expression grew fervent. "As long as we find a way to seize their Heavenly Dao, we can bring Li Sui back! Not only her, but we can bring back anyone we desire!"

"Miaomiao, are you alright?" Li Huowang asked, his voice laced with worry.

"Me? I am perfectly fine."

"But just a moment ago..." Li Huowang, his expression complex, struggled to find the words; the resurrection offered by the enemy might not be what Miaomiao truly wanted, and his own methods felt more reliable.

Bai Lingmiao shook her head gently, her hands twisting the corner of her robe with increasing force, a faint smile touching her lips. "I have cried enough. Now it is time to dry my tears and get to work. Do not forget, I am her mother, and she is my only daughter."

"Beyond seizing their Heavenly Dao to save Sui-sui, I want them dead. I will slaughter everyone who harmed her, and I will have my vengeance!"

By the end, Bai Lingmiao and the two gods spoke through gritted teeth, like a pair of enraged, predatory beasts.

"Sui-sui..." Li Huowang pulled the clay figurine from his robes, gazed at it for a moment, and tucked it back against his chest.

"You are right. Crying will not bring Sui-sui back! I want them dead! We will bring Sui-sui home!" Li Huowang pulled Bai Lingmiao into his arms, patted her back heavily, and then let go. In that moment, their hearts were finally aligned.

The Decree of Baleful Infection began, and the weapons left behind by the fallen soldiers of the Military School were gathered, passed from hand to hand so the populace could touch them.

As more people became tainted by the baleful energy, not only did the frequency of brawls and life-or-death struggles increase within the capital, but a haze of malice began to permeate the very sky above.

This was merely the beginning. According to the plan of the Dragon Veins, soon the people of the capital, the Great Liang, Qingqiu, and Hou-Shu would all be tainted by this baleful energy.

It was a desperate, scorched-earth tactic; to counter the machinations of the Blessed Heaven’s Si Ming, they had no choice but to rely on the General-Minister Head.

Li Huowang stood within the Four Vaults, reviewing the most classified intelligence from the Celestial Observatory; as the Overseer of the Great Liang, he now had the authority to examine anything within these archives.

He was currently studying a volume titled "The Play of the Battle Array," which recorded details regarding the nature of the General-Minister Head.

He sought to understand why the entity’s power was so formidable.

According to the text, the General-Minister Head was unlike any other Si Ming; it was formless and thoughtless, devoid of divinity or intent, forever standing on the side of conflict, which was why it could be harnessed by others.

Such unique Si Ming were rare, though not non-existent—entities like the Eternal Heaven and Dan Xi fell into similar categories.

The records indicated that those who worshipped such entities were polarized: either they were few in number, or they were vast, yet most were merely superficial believers.

Through this book, Li Huowang finally understood that what Qing Wanglai had told him before was not a lie, but the truth.

He had once said that among those who followed him, he had recruited all who could be reasoned with, leaving behind only those who were impossible to sway or communicate with.

Li Huowang had not realized that this was what he meant; the entities he spoke of were these very peculiar Si Ming.

"They can be communicated with, even persuaded to assist, provided their conditions are met." As the image of the General-Minister Head flashed through his mind, an uncontrollable surge of murderous intent and rage welled up within him.

"If the General-Minister Head can be utilized, does that not mean that if I find the right method, those unreachable Si Ming could also become my allies?"

"If these Si Ming were to strike together, would that not mean we have gained several great sources of power?"

Although the entities on the other side were merely projections, there were no clues to be found there; perhaps by starting from this side, he could truly find a path forward.

At this thought, Li Huowang’s heart burned with fervor; if this were true, their odds of victory would increase exponentially!

Just as Li Huowang was having the eunuchs who worshipped the God of Wealth help him search, a dense patter of footsteps echoed behind him. He shifted his face to the back of his head and saw that it was Gao Zhijian’s retinue of eunuchs and court ladies.

"You have come at the right time. Help me contact the other Dragon Veins; they are knowledgeable and experienced, and I need to know everything about the other Si Ming!"

"Brother Li, we can discuss such matters later. I have brought you a helper."

Li Huowang turned his head back, burying himself in his research. "Forget it. I have reached the pinnacle of the Six-Wheel Cultivation; I am but a step away from becoming a Si Ming myself. Your helper will likely be of no use to me."

"That is not necessarily true," a chorus of overlapping voices spoke in unison.

Li Huowang turned, bewildered, and saw a massive wall of faces appearing before him—strange, white, oversized visages filled with white tassels.

"The Lion Dance Palace?" Li Huowang recognized these beings, creatures that lived beneath the soil of Qingqiu, cultivating the Dao of Union.

"The world faces a great calamity; we can assist you." The round, mask-like faces of the Lion Dance Palace spoke, and they surged toward Li Huowang, draped in white tassels and scattered organs.

"Stop! Halt!" Li Huowang checked them. "I know your methods; there is no need to demonstrate."

As the Lion Dance Palace retreated, Li Huowang noticed that several eunuchs and court ladies had vanished.

"Brother Li, what do you think? With them, your cultivation and supernatural powers can reach a new level."

"Is that so?" Li Huowang sounded indifferent. "My thanks, but what I lack now is not the increase of 'Truth'; I lack 'Falsehood.' If you have a way to find the Dice and let me consume them, that would be of far greater help."

"The Dice..." Gao Zhijian furrowed his brows in thought. After a moment, he nodded. "Very well. I understand. I shall instruct my people to see to it immediately."

Li Huowang felt little hope in Gao Zhijian’s promise; if the Dice were so easily dealt with, they would not have caused such chaos for so long, nor would they be so impossible to kill.

Especially now that they were in league with the Si Ming of the Blessed Heaven, the situation was even more dire.

"Set other matters aside for now. As the world’s great calamity draws near, I wish to ask Brother Li for a favor—a task that only you can fulfill."