The Unruly Immortals

How can one prove oneself sane within a mental hospital?

Should one act like a normal person in front of the doctors? But what if something suddenly comes up in the other world during the evaluation phase?

Or should one conjure something up right before others' eyes, proving that another world truly exists? But doing so might mean never having a chance at freedom again.

This was an unsolvable problem for Li Huowang. He was taking both worlds seriously, a sure sign of severe illness to any observer.

After much thought, Li Huowang felt that no matter what he said or did in this place, nothing would help his situation.

Since there was no way out on this side, the only option was to start from the root in the other world.

To escape this constant confinement, the only solution was to await the great accomplishment of his Cultivation Technique and then use it to regain his freedom.

This was the simplest and most convenient method, far better than matching wits with the hospital's doctors.

With this in mind, Li Huowang dedicated himself to his Cultivation Technique with an even greater disregard for sleep and food.

This Cultivation Technique was crucial not only for saving Zhuge Yuan but also for securing his own freedom in the real world—a case of killing two birds with one stone.

After the previous incidents, Li Huowang naturally would not practice such a dangerous technique in Niuxin Village. Deep within the towering Niuxin Mountain behind the village, he found the perfect place—a profound cave.

After all, no matter how twisted or turned the rocks and trees here became, Li Huowang felt no pity.

Within this dark and secluded environment, unknown to anyone, Li Huowang was doing things he didn't want his fellow apprentices to know about.

With a ripping sound, the noise of flesh tearing echoed through the cave, followed by Li Huowang's screams, as Li Sui carefully poured a bowl of mercury over him with three tentacles.

"Heavens and Earth of Mystery, the root of all Qi, cultivate through countless calamities, to prove my Divine Skills, both within and beyond the Three Realms, revering only the Tao, body glowing with golden light, casting its reflection upon my form..."

Chanting the incantation, Li Huowang watched as the straw-stuffed human skin in front of him emitted white smoke and gradually shrunk until it was the size of a palm.

This was his second attempt, and it was clearly much better than the first.

Ignoring the expression on Zhuge Yuan's face, as his eyes nearly popped out, Li Huowang held his own skin and felt much more at ease. With this thing, even if he were beheaded, he could still survive.

Moreover, the most important aspect was that such Magic Artifacts could be duplicated. Given enough time, he could continuously obtain these Xinsu Magic Artifacts, ensuring he wouldn't need to live in constant fear as he had in the past.

Li Huowang used a small dagger to cut a wound in his abdomen and, with two fingers, pushed the little skin effigy inside.

After Li Huowang healed all his injuries using the Fire Coat True Scripture, Li Sui, who had been at his side, couldn't help but ask, "Father, what is this? Can you teach me? I want to learn, too."

Li Huowang looked at him and shook his head, "You don't need this thing; you're not Xinsu. Your skin is useless."

Saying that, Li Huowang put on the red Taoist Robe on the ground and armed himself with his weapons, walking towards the cave's entrance.

"Father, I just want to help you," Li Sui persisted without giving up, but Li Huowang was not moved.

He didn't believe that a Black Taishui could be of any help to him. "In the future, just stay in the village and don't wander around, you hear me? The outside is full of bad people. If they catch you, you'll be refined into an Elixir and consumed."

"You're lying. I've been outside, and it's more fun than in the village. They all fear me in the village, even the Mantou fear me. I still think cultivating with you is more fun. Father, can't I return to your belly anymore?"

"No."

"Why?"

"If you stay any longer, this body will become yours."

However, seeing the eyes filled with longing of Li Sui, Li Huowang thought about it and eventually pulled out a book from his chest.

"If you're bored, you can practice this to pass the time; ask me if you don't understand any words," said Li Huowang as he took out the complete collection of talismans that Old Man Chen had given him.

Although the sight of a cluster of sticky black tentacles solemnly muttering incantations while drawing talismans was indeed a bit too bizarre.

But if Li Sui truly managed to master it, he might really become a helper for Li Huowang.

"You must remember, these talismans have many restrictions....."

Li Huowang, his body full of vigor, patiently taught while leading Li Sui down the rugged mountain path toward Niuxin Village, which was sending up plumes of cooking smoke.

"Dad, why are they afraid of me? Do you think if I throw away the clothes covering me and they see my true form, they will no longer be afraid?"

"No, definitely not."

"Why not? What if I'm kind to them and give them silver and food?"

"Where did you learn all that? Never show them your true form in front of them; you're different from them, you're not human."

Hearing the various questions from Li Sui, Li Huowang suddenly felt regret about his previous decision.

Raising him was hardly any easier than dealing with a bear child scorned by both humans and dogs, even though it had never asked so many questions in the past.

"I don't have the time; I need to find someone to teach him. Li Sui still has absolutely no concept of many basic things."

As they walked on, the two reached the edge of the rice paddies, where Li Huowang's adopted sons and daughters were laboring in the fields, and of course, some fellow disciples were there too.

"Brother Li, have you come down from the mountain?" Young Yang, a teenager, excitedly approached, leading an ox through the muddy field.

"Aren't you in charge of everyone's meals? Why do you have to work in the fields too? Who made you do this exhausting task?"

"Nobody asked me to, I came on my own! Look, Brother Li, from here to there, the whole two mu of land are mine! My very own!"

"Sister Bai said that all the grain grown in this field belongs to me! A whole two mu of land, think of how much grain that could yield! Once the harvest comes in, I will never go hungry again!" exclaimed Young Yang excitedly.

Talking fervently, Young Yang suddenly felt something strange at the calf of his leg. He reached down, pulled off a bloodsucking leech as thick as half an arm, and, without a care, tossed it on the ground.

The leech, sensing the scent of blood on Li Huowang, instinctively crawled toward his feet.

Li Huowang's brow immediately furrowed; he generally wasn't scared of any animals or insects, but he had a bit of a hard time dealing with these creatures.

Just the thought of hundreds of bloodsucking leeches, using their slimy cold bodies to coil around him from head to toe, using their sharp mouthparts to bite through the skin and burrow deep into his flesh.....

Seeing Li Huowang standing there silently, Young Yang asked in surprise, "Brother Li, what's the matter? Haven't you seen this 'bull crotch' before? Then you must not have been to the fields much before, huh?"