Chapter 367: Jumping to the God Ritual

On the main street of Yinling City, a spacious carriage slowly made its way towards the inn where Li Huowang was temporarily staying.

Inside the carriage, Li Huowang, covered in injuries, spoke softly to Bai Lingmiao.

"I think if those immortals truly intend to follow you for life, instead of being driven around like indentured servants, it might be better to use Shen Tuguang's method. However, his method also has hidden dangers, so whether to use it depends on your specific situation."

Although Bai Lingmiao didn't seem to be threatened by the immortals at the moment, Li Huowang couldn't help but worry about her, recalling what Li Zhi had said just before he died.

After hearing Li Huowang's words, Bai Lingmiao stared at him in surprise. "Did that man's song truly show such contempt for immortals? Quick, tell me, what method did he speak of?"

Li Huowang pondered what Shen Tuguang had told him, then relayed it to Bai Lingmiao: "It's like 'driving wolves to devour tigers.' Immortals are a bunch of bullies who pick on the weak. If you can find something else to possess you, something that can intimidate them, then you can negotiate with them."

"What did Shen Tuguang use to intimidate the immortals?" Remembering the current suppression she felt from the immortals, Bai Lingmiao's expression grew much more serious.

"Raise a Great Omen." An unfamiliar term popped out of Li Huowang's mouth.

"He didn't say how it's raised. Such a cultivation method, closely tied to one's life, he likely wouldn't tell me directly."

Bai Lingmiao silently repeated those three words, her expression grave as if she was deep in thought.

"Shen Tuguang said it's like a scale where both sides need to be balanced with roughly equal weight. Neither side can be too heavy or too light. If used well, both can be utilized together. But if used poorly, it could be dangerous."

As he spoke, Li Huowang reached out and gently patted the back of Bai Lingmiao's hand. "Don't panic. I'll come help you once I'm done with my affairs."

There's a priority to everything. Li Huowang always felt that helping Bai Lingmiao revert to her original personality was the most important task.

Looking at Li Huowang's right hand, which was almost devoid of skin, Bai Lingmiao showed a hint of distress on her face and pulled her hand away. "No need. That method isn't useful to me right now. I'm doing perfectly fine, and the immortals haven't done anything to me."

"Really?" Li Huowang asked, his eyes fixed on the black collar marks on Bai Lingmiao's fair neck.

"Why would I lie to you? Compared to me, you should worry about yourself." Bai Lingmiao instantly shifted the topic to Li Huowang.

Although the immortals were starting to show their true colors, she had no intention of telling Li Huowang about her troubles. He was already miserable enough; there was no need to burden him further.

As for the method he mentioned, she would need to thoroughly consider it after she returned.

"You shouldn't say that. It's better to guard against future problems. I'll keep an eye out for you. If you have any trouble with the immortals, tell me immediately."

Unbeknownst to them, the carriage came to a stop; they had arrived at the inn. Ershen bent down, slipped her hands under Li Huowang, and lifted him horizontally, carrying him out of the carriage.

Under the strange gazes of others in the lobby, the two slowly went upstairs, entered their guest room, and closed the door.

"Come back to Niuxin Village with me? Everyone there is waiting for you," Bai Lingmiao asked, looking down at Li Huowang on the bed.

Li Huowang thought for a moment, then slightly shook his head. "No, I'll wait here. If I go back to Niuxin Village, I might miss news from Jixiang."

Besides, there was no need for him to get entangled with others. Perhaps it would be a better outcome for them to live out their lives peacefully.

Around him, these people would only get dragged in. Enough people had already died.

Bai Lingmiao looked down at Li Huowang on the bed, her lips curving slightly upward. Then, she slowly shed her clothes and leaned down to kiss him.

"I'm still injured," Li Huowang groaned to the girl pressing down on him.

"Heh, isn't that even better? You can't die anyway. And you still haven't told me, who exactly is Yang Na?!"

In the time that followed, the delicate stitches on Li Huowang's wounds burst one by one.

Much later, Bai Lingmiao lay spread-eagled on the blood-soaked bed, her left foot resting on Li Huowang's chest, panting heavily and chuckling softly.

Just as Li Huowang was about to say something, Bai Lingmiao's long, fair left leg gently lifted and then pressed down heavily, making the weakened Li Huowang almost faint.

"Did you think I didn't know about Ershen? And now there's a Yang Na too. You certainly have a lot of women, Li Huowang," Bai Lingmiao said through gritted teeth, as if her previous actions were a form of revenge.

Faced with the same situation, Bai Lingmiao, when imbued with malevolent energy, reacted completely differently from Bai Lingmiao without it.

Li Huowang's hand rested on Bai Lingmiao's leg, gently caressing it. He offered no explanation and slowly closed his eyes.

Just as he was in a daze, on the verge of falling asleep, Bai Lingmiao's voice suddenly rang out. "Ershen is a part of me. If I die someday, you can consider Ershen to be me. But that damn Yang Na is absolutely not allowed!"

"If she dares to show her face in front of you, don't blame me for showing no mercy as your wife!"

Li Huowang opened his eyes with a hint of helplessness and looked beside him.

"Yang Na is just an illusion. Do you really need to be jealous of an illusion?"

However, at that moment, Li Huowang realized that Bai Lingmiao beside him had transformed into Ershen at some point.

This time, Ershen wasn't wearing her red veil, fully revealing her peculiar appearance.

The slender mouth on her half-face slightly opened, and a plaintive voice emerged from within. "Senior Brother Li..."

Staring at Ershen before him, Li Huowang momentarily lost himself. He looked at Ershen as if the Bai Lingmiao of the past had returned.

"Senior Brother Li..." Tears flowed from Ershen's five eyes. Like a bullied puppy, she buried her face in Li Huowang's chest and began to sob.

"Miao Miao? Is it really you?"

A chill shot up to the back of his head, and a terrifying conjecture sprang into Li Huowang's mind.

Could it be that Bai Lingmiao wasn't merely imbued with malevolent energy, but her body had been replaced by Ershen? Was she forced to become Ershen?

Li Huowang clutched Ershen in his arms, his expression distorted as he glared at the empty guest room. "Ershen! Come out! What exactly is going on?!"

Just then, Li Huowang felt the furry body in his arms turn smooth.

"Is there a difference between the Great God and Ershen?" Bai Lingmiao, pale-faced and with pink pupils, reappeared in Li Huowang's arms, looking at him teasingly.

"To you, what's the difference who you're with? You're not picky anyway."

"Explain yourself clearly! Who are you?" A serious Li Huowang looked exceptionally terrifying, especially with all his injuries.