Mutated Tao

Chapter 711: Devotees

Li Huowang was panting, his chest exposed to the air.

He looked at his body splitting apart and healing itself uncontrollably. His sweat flowed into his wounds, making the pain even worse.

Li Huowang had felt more intense pain than this, but it had only lasted a moment. This time, it was long-lasting pain that only got worse as time passed.

Bai Lingmiao tried to help by calling for the Immortal families, but it was useless. Li Huowang knew it wouldn’t work since the pain came from Ba-Hui, and the Immortal families were too weak to go against Ba-Hui.

The more times he used the Cang-Qiang Ascension, the more sensitive his senses became, and the stronger his regeneration grew.

Ba-Hui clearly couldn’t wait for Li Huowang to mutilate himself anymore, deciding to inflict pain directly on Li Huowang instead.

He was close to becoming Ba-Hui’s Twisted One since he used the Cang-Qiang Ascension several times. Based on the current situation, if he really became Ba-Hui’s Twisted One, the pain in his body would never stop, ever.

Ba-Hui, you want to try and make me your Twisted One? You want to compete with Ji Zai? Li Huowang asked about the pain in his body.

The pain didn’t have a life of its own, so nobody answered. Li Huowang continued his questions, but his consciousness was fading from being tormented by the pain. Thankfully, the pain stopped after ten minutes as his wounds began to heal rapidly.

Bai Lingmiao inspected him and felt sorry for him. She took a basin of warm water and dipped a towel in it, then wrung out the excess water and carefully wiped Li Huowang’s body.

Li Huowang’s wounds soon scabbed over. The scabs fell off as she wiped his body, and Li Sui extended her tentacles to pick up the scabs carefully. Bai Lingmiao soon heard crunching noises behind her.

After washing Li Huowang’s feet, Bai Lingmiao carefully covered him with a blanket and walked out.

“Suisui, your father is very tired. You can sleep with him tonight. Take care of him and make sure no one disturbs him.”

“Alright.” Li Sui opened her mouth, and her tentacles slithered out. She then quickly slid under Li Huowang’s blanket.

Li Sui didn’t forget to fold up her human skin, placing it on the top of the bed. Bai Lingmiao made sure everything was fine before she left the room.

Li Huowang is in trouble now. If he doesn’t get rid of Ba-Hui’s influence, the pain will accompany him for life.

Bai Lingmiao heard the Second Deity’s voice in her mind but remained silent as she walked.

She soon entered a fairly narrow alley. The doors inside the alley were all carved with a lotus motif, while various banners depicting the white lotus hung on the eaves. This was the territory of the White Lotus Sect.

The White Lotus Sect was fair to everyone. There were no rich or poor people here, only earnest ones.

Bai Lingmiao looked through the cracks of a door and saw a group of devotees kneeling on the ground as they prayed.

Everyone stood and greeted Bai Lingmiao as she passed them. She soon reached a hall lit with candles. In the middle of the hall was a glowing conjoined lotus that illuminated the space as brightly as daylight.

Bai Lingmiao kneeled on a cushion and prayed silently. Oh merciful and kind Heavenly Mater, your devotee prays for Senior Li to escape his torture soon.

The white glow from the conjoined lotus shifted slightly, as if something had happened. But in reality, nothing happened.

She prayed silently for a long time before she opened her eyes and said softly, “Your devotee will abandon everything to serve you for eternity. I pray that you will accept me. I will recite the scriptures a million times as a sign of devotion, but you must remember what you promised me. If you go back on your word, I will make you pay for it.”

After saying this, she prayed once more to the conjoined lotus.

The white glow suddenly expanded, and a ray of light shot towards her forehead. A merciful feeling enveloped her and purged all of her other emotions.

Bai Lingmiao saw an abstract version of Li Huowang in the white light.

There was a pool of red to his left, while another Li Huowang was on his right. The second Li Huowang appeared to be connected to the first Li Huowang’s palm. However, the second Li Huowang was bizarre—he didn’t have a back. Both his front and back were identical.

The bizarre Li Huowang and the pool of blood were both pulling on Li Huowang. They pulled so hard that Li Huowang’s body was split in half.

Bai Lingmiao woke up from her dream. She understood what the Heavenly Mater was trying to tell her.

It was a prophecy of sorts. Li Huowang couldn’t use the Cang-Qiang Ascension anymore—if he did, he would be torn in half!

“I thank the Heavenly Mater for the guidance.” Bai Lingmiao thanked earnestly as she prayed and kowtowed before heading back to where Li Huowang was.

She had just exited the hall when she saw the haggard-looking Lu Xiucai.

He lowered his head. “Mistress.”

She saw the two missing fingers on his left hand and warned him not to use the Profound Records anymore.

After Lu Xiucai saw her leave, he entered one of the houses in the alley. He lit up three incense sticks earnestly before bowing and kneeling in front of the white lotus motif on the wall.

“This devotee, Lu Xiucai, has made his decision. I will not marry or sire children in this life. I will not eat any meat nor will I touch any money. I wish to devote my body to face the threats faced by the Heavenly Mater.”

He had just said that when a woman appeared from the corner of the room. It was Lian Zhibei.

She removed Lu Xiucai’s shirt and revealed his scarred back, then started tattooing his back in front of the white lotus motif.

The needles stabbing into his back made his face pale, but he stayed still and bit his lips, enduring the pain.