The Unruly Immortals

Li Huowang reached out to scratch his hair, feeling a headache as he looked at the uncomprehending Xuan Pin before him. He had been explaining for a long time, and it had all been in vain. If it weren't for his daughter, the fire in his heart would have flared long ago.

"Suisui, pay attention. This is not the time to be distracted. The head of the Broken Ear has already been pried open by Xuan Pin's sect leader!" He walked over and grabbed his daughter's shoulders, shaking her forcefully.

He had gone through great hardship to come to Tian Chen Kingdom precisely for the sake of the things inside the head of the Broken Ear.

"Really? That's great, then let's go." Xuan Pin's tone was very calm, as if it were as ordinary as going for a meal.

Seeing that Xuan Pin finally came to her senses, Li Huowang hurriedly pulled her towards the Astrological Bureau outside.

The Astrological Bureau of Da Liang was underground, and before, every time Li Huowang came, he felt terrified, fearing that others would find out his true identity. But now everything was different.

Li Huowang led Li Sui quickly along the way, everyone they passed hurriedly bowed their heads to make way.

The Heavenly Prison of the Astrological Bureau was at the very bottom. By the time Li Huowang and Li Sui arrived, everyone else who should have been there had already gathered, surrounding it completely.

The highest authorities of Da Liang were now congregating in this dark, damp prison, their target being on the table, in a vase, the Broken Ear's head.

This was the handiwork of Zhengde Temple, as the Broken Ear no longer needed limbs, just a head was sufficient.

An old Taoist with white hair and a scraggly beard stood facing the Broken Ear, muttering incantations with his hand sealing towards its forehead.

Nodding towards Gao Zhijian, Li Sui spoke to the Taoist clad in a purple robe: "Everyone's here, repeat it once more."

The Taoist nodded and immediately turned to Gao Zhijian, giving a Taoist salute, "Your Majesty, Tian Chen Kingdom is abundant with many things, where would you like this old minister to start?"

Sitting on the Dragon Throne, Gao Zhijian pondered for a moment and then asked, "How many soldiers and generals does Tian Chen Kingdom have?"

"No soldiers, no generals."

"Hmm?" Gao Zhijian's eyes involuntarily widened slightly.

"Tian Chen Kingdom doesn't even have an imperial court, so naturally there are no soldiers or generals." Li Huowang interjected from the side.

"Their military families are all bandits and robbers, but don't mistake them for mere bandits; they are quite formidable. Last time, the people who tried to steal my sword were these bandits."

"Without an imperial court, wouldn't that mean Tian Chen Kingdom doesn't even have an emperor?" Beside him stood the blind Da Liang National Master, asking the critical question.

Xuan Pin shook his head and continued, "There is no royal family, but Tian Chen Kingdom has a patron. From the knowledge retrieved from this head, this patron has the final say in Tian Chen Kingdom, and nobody dares to defy him. The vendetta against Wu Sheng Laomu was also suggested by him."

"A patron? What is this person's name?" Gao Zhijian clenched his fist as he finally understood who their opponent was this time.

"The surname is Zuo Qiu and the name is Yong, Zuo Qiuyong. The Broken Ear has only seen him from afar once. His status didn't qualify him to converse with Tian Chen's patron."

"Hmm…" Hearing this name, Gao Zhijian fell into contemplation. "How strong is this person?"

"Um." The Taoist glanced at the head of the Broken Ear and replied again, "Your Majesty, the answer from the Broken Ear's recollection shows no knowledge of the patron's strength; this person appears unfathomable and has never shown his hand."

"His strength should be notable. According to the memories in the Broken Ear's mind, he might be in charge of the military, and it's possible that he is of heavenly noble lineage who betrayed Wu Sheng Laomu."

Gao Zhijian's face showed a hint of confusion at Li Huowang's words, "Brother Li, what is this heavenly noble lineage?"

Briefly explaining to Gao Zhijian, Li Huowang spoke again, "All the previous happenings were orchestrated by people dispatched by Zuo Qiuyong, he and they are the main forces in this move. One could say that the plan to get rid of Wu Sheng Laomu was suggested by him."

"Though he's not the emperor, in Tian Chen, his words carry more weight than an emperor's might."

At that moment, Gao Zhijian's face did not look good. This time, his opponent turned out to be a group who could touch the Heavenly Dao. If a fight were to really start, it would once again be a bloody affair, no less troublesome than the Dharma Sect back then.

Not only Gao Zhijian but everyone present thought the same, and the atmosphere immediately became heavy.

"Your Majesty, do not panic; it has not come to that yet. They currently cannot snatch Li Huowang's sword, and they won't be coming over for now." Xuan Pin comforted Gao Zhijian.

Gao Zhijian felt slightly better upon hearing this, but Li Huowang's face grew even darker.

He reached behind him and drew the Spinal Bone Sword from his back. "There is more than one Zhuge Yuan over in Da Qi's Heart Pan, they are also sending people from other places trying to find a solution."

"From the Broken Ear's memories, even if they can't get my sword, they'll soon find another Heart Pan."

Li Huowang's words immediately weighed down on everyone like a stone. If earlier they were content to observe from the sidelines, now Da Liang was already atop the flames.

Upon hearing his words, Li Sui finally understood why her father had been so urgent earlier, and what he meant by the sky was falling.

Gao Zhijian frowned tightly, holding onto a sliver of hope as he looked at Li Huowang and asked, "Brother Li, you previously stopped Tian Chen Kingdom single-handedly in Da Qi. As long as you are here, they surely won't easily get through."

"Rely on me? Just me alone?"

Gao Zhijian nodded, "Brother Li, previously neither Touzi nor that God Yu'er were a match for you. This time, they may also not be a match for you."

For Li Huowang, from traveling the roads to later ascending as the Emperor, as long as he was present, Gao Zhijian felt at ease no matter the difficulties.

Li Huowang looked at him with a peculiar expression. "What are you thinking? Have you forgotten what I just said? Back then, Wu Sheng Laomu was dismembered by those people from Tian Chen Kingdom!"

Although he had previously barely edged out a victory aided by the Nirmanakaya of Doumu, Li Huowang did not underestimate the enemy one bit. He was painfully aware of what he faced this time.

Li Huowang pointed to his own chest. "Do you think Wu Sheng Laomu was greater back then, or am I greater now? Don't forget they also have the Heavenly Dao from the past Wu Sheng Laomu!"

The moment those words fell, no one else spoke, and the atmosphere grew even heavier as everyone pondered how to break this stalemate.

After a long while, the Da Liang National Master Huangfu Tiangang spoke. "There's no need to fight to the death with them; they only want to deal with the White Lotus Sect and are not seeking to destroy the world like the Dharma Sect."

"Since they want the White Lotus Sect, we might as well just give it to them."

With a "swish," Xuan Pin moved behind Li Huowang, spreading his large red Taoist robe and holding Li Huowang tightly.