The Unruly Immortals

Li Huowang sat cross-legged on the meditation bench, slowly operating his cultivation technique, using the divine light within him to propel the innate qi towards the final wheel.

Due to continually absorbing the innate qi from Xinsu's body, the volume of innate qi within him at this moment seemed incomparably large compared to before. His divine sense probed inward; if before it was just a cloud, now it was like a towering peak without a visible summit.

The innate qi now seemed to have weight, and Li Huowang found it exceedingly exhausting to push such a substantial mass of innate qi.

No matter how long he pushed, it remained at the cusp between movement and stillness.

As a long time passed without progress, Li Huowang suddenly opened his eyes, his expression instantly becoming somewhat irritated; his cultivation still remained at six wheels, unable to reach seven wheels.

With the previous support from those Xinsu, the earlier wheels were completed very successfully, yet now it was the final wheel where he was stuck.

Looking around, Li Huowang didn't know how long he had been cultivating, although he didn't want to know either. If short, it's fine, but if long, it can spoil things.

With a casual gesture, several waiters immediately brought food, smiling as they approached: braised fish, potato stewed chicken, seaweed rib soup, and a big bucket of rice.

Li Huowang devoured these dishes greedily; these dishes were undoubtedly real, certainly prepared by Li Sui nearby to prevent him from starving.

In such a situation, Li Huowang dared not think too much; he was already at six wheels, not a novice in cultivation, and naturally understood what this state represented.

Most of his energy was now focused on preventing himself from overthinking, as everything he thought or imagined would become reality.

Moreover, it would no longer be a temporary existence, but indeed completely real.

"Senior Brother Li, eat this, it's filling; I added some lard."

"Thank you." Li Huowang put down the white rice he was holding and picked up the noodles beside him to eat voraciously.

As Li Huowang unintentionally glanced forward, the sound of operatic music suddenly rang out: "The wind whistles, fog lingers, starlight dims~~~ people shout~~~, hujia cries, mountains echo~~~ the sound of killing shakes the heavens, traveling until the sky darkens~~~"

The long unseen Lv's Troupe was energetically performing on the stage ahead for Li Huowang.

As Top Scholar Lv, dressed as an old male character, made a grand appearance on stage, cheers and jeers erupted around him.

Among the voices were Master Jingxin's, Ji Lin's, Gao Zhijian's, Top Scholar Lv's, Zhuge Yuan's, and those of all the illusions that had appeared by his side before.

At some point, Li Huowang found himself surrounded by people, reminiscent of the bustling teahouse.

These voices made Li Huowang increasingly agitated, and as his mood shifted, everything around him began to resonate at a high frequency.

"Bang!" Li Huowang slammed the noodle bowl on the table, roaring, "Enough! All of you, leave!"

As soon as he spoke, the next moment, everything around Li Huowang became a blank white.

Li Huowang hugged his head, breathing erratically. He had power, but couldn't control it completely.

At this moment, a fair jade hand extended from the side, offering a roll of bamboo slip in emerald green to him.

"Senior Brother Li, if your mind is disturbed, you can silently recite this; it's the 'Calming Incantation' from the White Lotus Sect, which can settle the mind."

Li Huowang immediately took it and started reciting rapidly, "Eternal cold, everything remains calm, mind and qi are tranquil, seek my solitary spirit, unite mind and spirit, qi follows in harmony, connects beyond, unshaken by myriad changes, without passion, without anger, without desire, without seeking, without giving, without abandoning, without action, without self....."

As he continued reciting, it was uncertain whether the 'Calming Incantation' was genuinely effective; Li Huowang's breathing finally calmed down.

"Senior Brother Li, your cultivation technique likely requires a higher state of mind; I've arranged for someone from the Astrological Bureau's inner treasury, anything beneficial to you will be sent over."

With closed eyes, Li Huowang used his elbow to support his forehead and shook his head slowly, "No, right now the most important thing is not stabilizing my state of mind, but reaching seven wheels as soon as possible; otherwise, it's too unlikely to defeat Zuo Qiuyong."

Every matter has its priorities, and his state of mind clearly ranks after Zuo Qiuyong.

"By the way, Miaomiao, is there still Xinsu being sent? I need more Xinsu now." Li Huowang asked, raising his head.

Though uncertain, if he could have dozens more XinSu, he'd definitely reach seven wheels.

Upon hearing this, Bai Lingmiao shook her head, explaining softly, "There's none left; the Xinsu throughout the world is probably gone too."

"The Astrological Bureau sent people to search overseas, but even if they find it, it might not be returnable anytime soon."

Li Huowang sighed heavily and stayed silent, knowing everyone had done their utmost; Xinsu wasn't like cabbages on the roadside—plenty didn't mean assured abundance.

"All right, you leave here for now; I will start cultivating again." Although further perseverance might still hold little hope, even if a sliver of hope existed to reach seven wheels, Li Huowang wouldn't give up.

As Li Huowang sat cross-legged again, watching Bai Lingmiao leave, a familiar voice echoed by his ear, "Dad?"

"Hmm?" Li Huowang surveyed the broad space around him.

Next moment, the departing Bai Lingmiao and the surrounding environment tore apart like a mural, and Li Sui, dressed in a red Taoist robe, emerged from the rift.

Seeing all this, Li Huowang immediately realized that this Bai Lingmiao was indeed real, but real in the sense of what his cultivation had manifested, rather than an original truth!

Li Huowang pulled out the previous 'Calming Incantation' from his bosom; as he angrily snapped it onto the table, the bamboo slip disappeared like foam without a trace, and with it, the distant silhouette of Bai Lingmiao vanished.

He had anticipated such a day before starting cultivation, yet when such blurred distinctions between truth and falsehood happened to him, it was still hard to accept.

Observing Li Huowang's strange actions, Li Sui didn't question anything but instead delivered explosive news: "Dad, they've come; Tianchen State has started taking action."

These weighty words instantly made Li Huowang's back turn cold; he could no longer care about previous agitation, and asked repeatedly to confirm, "You really didn't see wrong? Zuo Qiuyong has really started taking action?"

Li Sui nodded firmly. "Yes, there's movement in Da Qi; it seems the natural calamity in Tianchen ended, so he can deal with us."