Chapter 496: Sword

In the sparse woods, the sounds of fighting were constant. On one side were followers of the Law Cult, identifiable by the black cloth draped over their shoulders. On the other side were six members of the Directorate of Celestial Investigations.

From their identities, Li Huowang deduced that this was the Directorate of Celestial Investigations purging the Law Cult, who worshipped the Child God. The Directorate clearly had the upper hand. Even utter fearlessness couldn't bridge the gap in absolute strength. Li Huowang recognized the Directorate because Hong Da, the peddler who had initially brought him into their ranks, was present.

Watching the distant rivers of blood, Li Huowang breathed a small sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't connected to the Sit-Forget Sect, he was fine with it for now.

"Let's go," he muttered. "The Directorate should be able to handle this rabble; I don't need to intervene." Li Huowang's attitude towards the Directorate had improved significantly since he learned they were actively trying to prevent the onset of calamities.

However, just as Li Huowang took half a step, he noticed a Daoist performing a ritual. The weapon in the Daoist's hand seemed unusual—it was a brush. Upon closer inspection, Li Huowang was astonished to recognize it as Zhuge Yuan's Judge's Brush.

"Brother Zhuge, look, isn't that your old weapon?" Bai Lingmiao suddenly heard Li Huowang murmur to himself.

"Indeed. After your death, the Directorate kept all your belongings. By the way, Brother Zhuge, what's the origin of your Judge's Brush?"

"Really? It's that powerful? You're right, I should have taken it back then. But you had just died; I wasn't in the state of mind to think about such things." Although Bai Lingmiao knew Li Huowang was likely conversing with his unseen hallucinations, she couldn't help but find it utterly bizarre.

Just as she was about to ask Li Huowang what he was talking about, she suddenly saw his expression turn particularly ferocious as he glared intently at someone in the distance. Bai Lingmiao's "sight" followed his gaze. She quickly saw a woman with purple lips, holding a strangely shaped bone sword inverted in her left hand.

As her gaze moved up the segmented bone sword, Bai Lingmiao gasped in terror when she saw the hilt: it was a human head. The entire bone sword was made from a human spine! The head appeared specially refined, shrunken to the size of a fist, resembling a shriveled tangerine. All seven orifices were sealed with black mud, and a purple talisman was pasted on its forehead. Despite the severe shrinkage, Bai Lingmiao could still discern that the person must have been handsome in life.

"Click-clack..." Hearing the sound, Bai Lingmiao turned and saw it was Senior Brother Li grinding his teeth in rage. "They... they actually refined Zhuge Yuan's body into a magic artifact!" The desecration of his friend's corpse fueled an uncontrollable rage in Li Huowang's eyes.

"What's there to be angry about?" the Sit-Forget Sect hallucination taunted, perched mischievously on Peng Longteng's shoulder. "This is quite normal. You, a Heart-Elemental, are so precious. If a whole Heart-Plaque was simply left on the ground, do you think the Directorate of Celestial Investigations would let it go?"

In contrast to Li Huowang's fury, Zhuge Yuan's face expressed a profound magnanimity. "This humble one is not bound by material things; my mind is free. That is merely a foul skin-bag, Brother Li. Let us go."

"No!" Li Huowang declared without hesitation. If he hadn't encountered it, he could have ignored it. But since he had, there was no reason to do nothing. Zhuge Yuan had lost his life for him; could he simply allow his corpse to be casually used by others?

Although he had decided to retrieve the sword, Li Huowang didn't act rashly. Instead, he remained in place, silently observing the woman's methods and strength. Observing Hong Da's demeanor towards the woman, Li Huowang judged that she must be the new 'Recorder.' As for her sect, Li Huowang couldn't discern it from her simple purple long dress. Furthermore, Li Huowang was particularly wary of Zhuge Yuan's spinal longsword in her hand, knowing it was a magic artifact refined from a Heart-Plaque.

"Brother Zhuge," he asked, "do you know what kind of magic artifact can be refined from a Heart-Plaque's spinal cord? Are there any ways to counter it?"

"Naturally, I wouldn't know," Zhuge Yuan replied. "I am a Heart-Plaque; why would I pay attention to how to refine myself? Brother Li, let's go. There's no need to create complications on my behalf."

Despite Zhuge Yuan's persuasion, Li Huowang's mind was made up; his eyes remained fixed on the woman with purple lips. Just then, the woman suddenly raised the bone marrow sword in her hand and lightly swung it towards the distant Law Cult followers. The bodies of an entire row of cultists, from the shoulders down to the waist, instantly vanished. Their screams were cut short as their bodies, now in two halves, tumbled to the ground, blood spraying from the raw cuts.

"Daoist," the monk said with concern, "perhaps we should just leave it. She's so powerful; you might not be able to defeat her." Li Huowang, however, did not share this sentiment; his resolve only hardened.

"Senior Brother Li, it's so strange," Bai Lingmiao exclaimed. "After she slashed with that bone sword, I could actually see a seam appear where she cut, and inside that seam, there were farmlands and mountains."

"Fields and mountains in the seam?"

"Brother Li," Zhuge Yuan said, "I know now. On the other side of that seam is Da Qi."

Zhuge Yuan's words made Li Huowang's heart clench. He immediately understood: the woman was using the sword to open a rift to Da Qi. When the rift closed, it acted like a pair of scissors, slicing the Law Cult followers into three segments: two remaining in Da Liang, and one transported to Da Qi. Rather than a sword, it was more like a key to a sideways history of Da Qi.

Seeing the Law Cult followers steadily losing ground, on the verge of collapsing, and now understanding the bone marrow sword's ability, Li Huowang decided he could wait no longer! As long as the Law Cult members were present, they could distract the other Directorate members. If the cultists were completely wiped out, Li Huowang would have to face the entire group of Directorate members alone.

"You two, go back and wait for me! Meet in the valley from the day before yesterday!" Li Huowang whispered to Miaomiao and Li Sui. He then removed his red Daoist robe, tossing it to them, and shifted his colored illusory forms underground. Invisible, he slowly approached the woman.

When he was close enough, Li Huowang removed the copper coin mask from his face. His features writhed, transforming into an unfamiliar countenance. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a black cloth appeared in his palm and draped over his arm. Li Huowang was now completely disguised as a Law Cult follower. Watching them continuously slaughter the Law Cult's men, women, and children, Li Huowang waited silently for the opportune moment.

When Li Huowang saw a black jade dagger extend from the woman's shadow towards her back, he violently pushed off the ground with both feet, pouncing towards her like a fierce tiger.

Just as Li Huowang was about to reach the woman, a cold gleam suddenly burst forth from all directions. A tattered robe, adorned with various new and old blades, spun and enveloped Li Huowang.