Chapter 994: White Jade Capital

The Nuo opera continued, with the bamboo scaffolding constantly swaying and bobbing, distorted by the heat waves rising from several bonfires below.

Seeing this, Li Huowang sighed, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness. Faced with the immense pressure from the Blissful Sky, the people here were clearly desperate, trying everything they could, regardless of its efficacy.

While the Great Nuo was indeed widely believed in Later Shu, relying on a deranged Deity of Fate to intervene and show benevolent tolerance was destined to be unrealistic.

“Do they think it's effective just because they believe it is? Do they truly believe everyone is pure-hearted? This is incredibly superstitious. Let's go,” Li Huowang said, walking past the Daliang Imperial Observatory and heading towards the Daliang Imperial Temple with Gao Zhijian.

Clad in his golden dragon robe, he followed. After a moment's hesitation, he advised, “Senior Brother Li, are you truly set on this? The White Jade Capital is incredibly dangerous; even with the protection of Dragon Qi, safety isn't guaranteed.”

“Then tell me, what other options do we have now?” Li Huowang retorted.

“Are we just supposed to wait idly down here for them to attack?” Li Huowang, his expression grim, looked up at the sky, trying to peer beyond the heavens with his gaze.

“Even in a normal war, shouldn't we send scouts to assess the situation?”

“Don't worry too much. At least the Deities of Fate in the White Jade Capital are on our side; they still owe me a favor from before.”

Although some of his memories were gone, he hadn't forgotten the troubles with the Blissful Sky.

Just devising strategies down here wouldn't suffice. He had to go to the White Jade Capital himself to see what was happening there.

With the enemy's intentions unclear, he first needed to ensure the White Jade Capital hadn't split open again and determine their current progress.

He couldn't just keep working blindly when the enemy was on the verge of attacking, without even understanding their current situation.

Moreover, there was no concept of time within the White Jade Capital. If he could find something related to the future there, it would be even better.

Gao Zhijian understood, nodding knowingly. “Alright, then I wish you a safe journey, Senior Brother Li. Everything down here will be handled by me and Junior Sister Bai.”

“Zhijian, I know you cherish the Dragon Veins, but don't be reluctant to use them in such matters. The Blissful Sky also has Dragon Veins. As long as we win, we can have as many as we want!”

Li Huowang paused, thought for a moment, then continued, “Furthermore, I suspect the Dragon Veins are part of the Heavenly Dao of Order. Since there's a Heavenly Dao of Order, I'd bet there's also a Deity of Fate who governs it.”

“In case the Blissful Sky's Dragon Veins prove unusable, I promise I'll find the Deity of Order, dismantle the Heavenly Dao from their body, and forge new Dragon Veins for Great Qi, Daliang, and Tianchen, restoring peace and clarity to the world.”

“Alright, Senior Brother Li. I trust you. And also…” Gao Zhijian stopped, his expression hesitant, seemingly contemplating whether to tell Li Huowang something.

“Also what? Don't be so wishy-washy at a time like this,” Li Huowang said, displeased by his hesitation.

Gao Zhijian chuckled softly and shook his head. “It's nothing, never mind. Just some trivial matters. The current life-or-death situation is far more important.”

Li Huowang, his brows furrowed, gave him a strange look and quickened his pace towards the Imperial Temple. “Spit it out!”

“Senior Brother Li, I just wanted to ask you, do you think I am a good emperor now?”

Li Huowang looked at him and pondered seriously. “Yes, you are.”

Gao Zhijian was undoubtedly a good emperor, a diligent and dedicated one. It was just that Li Huowang himself had been too naive in the past, thinking that merely having a good emperor would guarantee a good life for all people under heaven.

“That's good, ha ha ha! I suppose I haven't failed the trust you placed in me that day, Senior Brother Li,” Gao Zhijian said, bursting into joyful laughter.

Soon, his smile faded, replaced by worry. “Ah, Senior Brother Li, we're all relying on you now. You absolutely must not die.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Hurry up!” A displeased Li Huowang grabbed his dragon robe and yanked it. The surroundings swiftly shifted, bringing them directly in front of the Daliang Imperial Temple.

The colossal bronze tree still stood there, with the fourteen Dragon Veins hanging from it, howling weakly, still not having been taken down since last time.

As Li Huowang rubbed his wrists, two additional arms emerged from his armpits. With one hand forming an incantation gesture and another a seal, Li Huowang began to perform the Dragon-Slaying Immortal-Slaying Array that Xuannu had taught him years ago.

As Dragon Qi was once again drawn from the Dragon Veins, it quickly became evident that the semi-human, semi-dragon veins appeared considerably weakened.

Feeling his body enveloped in Dragon Qi, and with veins bulging on his forehead, Li Huowang shifted his gaze to his side. Peng Longteng's body appeared to his left.

With the slender halberd resting on his shoulder, using his neck as a fulcrum, Peng Longteng swung it powerfully. Struck by the halberd, Li Huowang shot into the sky at an incredibly high speed.

He pierced through the clouds, then the stars, and as he passed through the twisted, deformed creatures, he once again arrived before the enormous Ox Gate.

Li Huowang took a deep breath, gazing at the chaos within the colossal jade gate, and plunged directly into it.

It was difficult to tell whether it was dark or bright inside the White Jade Capital, but the only thing Li Huowang could immediately sense was the profound silence and emptiness.

This place, where up and down were indistinguishable, where there was no concept of time, was simply too quiet.

Sensing this, Li Huowang's heart sank. “What's going on? Where are the other Deities of Fate?”

To confirm his suspicion, Li Huowang extended a finger and lightly grazed his arm. His sharp nail effortlessly sliced through the skin, and the blood seeping from the wound gradually drifted away in spherical droplets of various sizes.

Though injured, he felt no pain. While he might not know about other things, at least Bahui, who controlled pain, and Gushen were not here.

As Li Huowang wiped his hand over the wound, it instantly sealed shut as if zipped back together.

He began to move his hands, propelling himself through the White Jade Capital, trying to figure out what was happening.

Li Huowang's body began to shimmer continuously; he was using his cultivation abilities to move forward.

However, he stopped after less than half an incense stick's worth of time. Without any reference points, he couldn't even tell if he was moving forward or backward.

“What's going on? What exactly is happening?” This bizarre environment caused an unease to stir in Li Huowang's heart.

“Jizai! Jizai!!” Li Huowang shouted frantically in all directions.

To his own surprise, his shouts were met with a response. Something was approaching.

Though Li Huowang couldn't see it, he inexplicably felt its presence.

“Who?” The moment Li Huowang spoke, he felt wisps of hair brush past the top of his head.

Li Huowang slowly raised his head, looking at the empty space above him. A chill instantly shot from his tailbone, up his spine, and into his brain. “Three Pure Ones!”