Chapter 501: New Things

Li Huowang, with a solemn expression, gripped the Zhuge Spine Sword firmly in his hand. He stared into the distance at a green pit viper coiled around a vibrant green bamboo stalk. As he settled his qi into his dantian, his hands, gripping the hilt, suddenly exerted force, slashing the spine sword towards the snake.

The next moment, an invisible sword energy seemed to emanate from the blade. This crescent-shaped energy warped anything it touched into a different form. For instance, the emerald green bamboo leaves turned withered and insect-eaten, and the green pit viper, flicking its tongue, transformed into a patterned snake. The crackling sound of bamboo leaves and stalks rubbing together persisted. The bamboo stalks, snapped in two, slid down. As the sword energy gradually dissipated, everything that had been distorted vanished along with it.

Li Huowang began to continuously test his new weapon against the bamboo forest, which gradually became unrecognizable. After several days of practice, Li Huowang had mastered controlling the spine sword. Now, he could use the "sword energy" not only to slice something into three sections but also, if faced with an insurmountable obstacle, expand the "sword energy" to send them entirely into Daqi. This "sword energy," in essence, was more like another layer of history. It was clear that such a thing could not be blocked by ordinary artifacts or supernatural abilities. Furthermore, it was invisible and colorless, making it hard to dodge. More importantly, it was penetrative; even if someone stood in its way, it would be useless.

An hour later, Li Huowang stood panting, looking at the spine sword in his hand with surprise. He had to admit, it was indeed a powerful artifact forged from the Heart Spirit; this sword was truly formidable, surpassing any other artifact he possessed. Fortunately, he had engaged in close combat with that woman earlier. If she had kept her distance and used this spine sword against him, it would have been a real problem. "With this sword, my strength has increased by at least forty percent," Li Huowang thought to himself, as he picked up a strip of white cloth from the ground and began wrapping the sword blade.

"Father, why are you wrapping it?" Li Sui, squatting nearby, asked curiously.

"Because I snatched this from the Directorate of Celestial Observation. If I didn't wrap it and openly carried it on my back, what do you think would happen if the Directorate saw it?"

"What would happen?"

"You... *sigh*... you'd be hunted down."

Li Huowang picked up some bamboo fragments from the ground and tied them to the sword blade, making the entire spine sword appear bulky, more like a blunt heavy sword from the outside. After wrapping it, Li Huowang took out several prepared black talismans and pasted them on it. These talismans actually held no meaning at all.

"Father, what are these talismans for?"

"Just random scribbles, meant to deceive people. Even I don't understand what I drew, so naturally, others won't understand them either. Most people tend to keep their distance from things they don't understand."

"So, this is how you deceive people?"

With everything ready, Li Huowang slung the sword back over his shoulder and walked towards the carriage with Li Sui.

"Father, are all these swords heavy? Do you want me to carry them for you?"

Hearing Li Sui say this, Li Huowang threw the Luojiao copper coin sword towards him. "Carry this one for me." Li Sui's seven or eight tentacles quickly coiled around it, continuously weaving in and out of the coin holes. Clearly, he was delighted to have a new weapon. "Thank you, Father."

"What are you thanking me for? I didn't say it's yours; I just told you to carry it. Give it back when I need to use it."

"Oh..."

Hearing Li Sui's dejected voice, Li Huowang couldn't help but chuckle. He reached into Li Sui's straw hat and gently patted his skinless, fleshy forehead. "Alright, alright, you can use it when I'm not."

"Okay!"

Hearing the joy in Li Sui's voice, Li Huowang shook his head slightly with a helpless smile. Despite his terrifying appearance, this guy was still like an ungrown child. When Li Sui was inside him, Li Huowang had deliberately taught him to be so innocent out of fear he might harm him. Now, it seemed this might have been a mistake. "Let's go, stop grinning like that. We're going back."

When Li Huowang returned to the carriage with Li Sui, the wheels began to turn again, rolling out of the forest. Li Huowang still had no intention of returning directly to Niuxin Village. To keep abreast of the imperial succession struggle, he would secretly go to the post station every few days to gather information. If the emperor truly ascended the throne, the news would certainly be communicated to all government offices via post stations across the land. He planned to return only after everything had settled. To Li Huowang's disappointment, there was still no news from the capital. As long as the emperor wasn't enthroned and the imperial family members weren't all dead, he wouldn't have a moment's peace. This bothered Li Huowang somewhat; under such constant apprehension, it was difficult to even find a quiet place to cultivate.

"Stop urging the horse," Li Huowang said to Li Sui, who was driving the carriage. "Let it rest a bit; it's the same whether it runs a long distance or a short one." After speaking to Li Sui, Li Huowang turned to Bai Lingmiao, who was holding a book, and asked, "Can you still see what's written in the book?" Although Bai Lingmiao's eyes still had some pink specks, most of them were covered in white. If one were to judge by her eyes alone, she was indeed blind.

"Brother Li, I can see," Bai Lingmiao said softly, running her pale, slender fingers over the characters. "Although my eyes can't see, I can feel the difference in the ink-stained areas. It's very clear."

"What book are you reading?" Li Huowang asked again.

"Some divine combat techniques. I can't perform divine dances anymore and have become unarmed, so I want to learn something to protect myself."

"The White Lotus Sect's stuff is useless. Don't worry, I'm here for everything. I can protect you."

Strands of white hair on either side of Bai Lingmiao's face swayed gently as she shook her head. "Brother Li, I can't always rely on you. You'll leave someday. Even if the White Lotus Sect's teachings aren't good, they're better than nothing." This made Li Huowang pause slightly. He felt that Bai Lingmiao's personality seemed to have changed, becoming stronger.

"Wait a moment, don't learn that for now. I suddenly realized there's something perfect for you right now." Li Huowang pulled back the carriage curtain and reached into Li Sui's abdomen to rummage around. Soon, the talisman books he had originally given Li Sui were pulled out again.

"Father, that's mine," Li Sui said, a hint of grievance in his voice.

"I know it's yours. What's wrong with your mother learning from it?" Li Huowang placed the book in Bai Lingmiao's hands. "Learn this. These talismans can be used for harming enemies, self-preservation, divination, and fortune-telling. Moreover, you're different from us. You can use this freely. Your eyes are already blind, so its side effects won't affect you."