Chapter 564: Schemes Within Schemes

Chapter 564: Schemes Within Schemes

Ji Lin began to feel uneasy; he noticed something strange happening to his body.

“What’s going on...” Ji Lin trailed off as he froze. His voice was no longer that of a young man but had transformed into a delicate young woman’s voice.

Multiple changes occurred one after another. Her skin softened, and his Adam's apple sank. More and more changes occurred until he finally became a bonafide woman.

Huangfu Tiangang walked towards the exit with a grim expression but was stopped by Li Huowang, who was holding his head in pain. “Imperial Preceptor, don’t panic, there’s still a solution! The root of Great Liang’s Dragon Vein has yet to be severed!”

“You don’t even know what’s happening. This matter concerns not just the Dragon Vein! Hmph! You don’t know anything at all!”

Huangfu Tiangang suppressed his anger and walked briskly towards the hall’s exit.

Li Huowang wanted to speak, but he hesitated. His thoughts were a bit sluggish as he looked at Zhuge Yuan. “What method is it, Brother Zhuge?”

Zhuge Yuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening his eyes once again, “The Great Qi! We can use the royal bloodline of the Great Qi to connect with the Dragon Vein of Great Liang, which will ensure that the Dragon Vein will remain linked.”

“Brother Zhuge, what nonsense are you talking about? The bloodline of the Great Qi no longer exists! Have you already forgotten how I beheaded the final emperor of the Great Qi?”

“He can't die The Empress Dowager of the Great Qi had done everything possible to ensure her son’s ascension to the throne. She even defied fate to refine him the Hundred Souls Layered Body! You actually sent him to the Great Liang. We just have to find him, and Shai Zi’s scheme will become meaningless!”

“Really?! That’s great!” Li Huowang clutched his head and was about to chase after the Imperial Preceptor when he came to a halt and muttered, “Brother Zhuge... Did you already know about Shai Zi’s scheme?”

After a while, Li Huowang smiled bitterly and asked, “Why? Why did you not tell me? Why did it have to be like this? Do you really think that I wouldn't have helped you if you had told me about it? Wrong! I would have risked my life to help you! You're the only one whom I truly trust in this crazy world, Zhuge Yuan! I truly consider you as my good friend!”

Zhuge Yuan was silent.

Li Huowang could guess the answer. He approached Zhuge Yuan step by step, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. “Is it because you suspected that I was a Hong Zhong? Or was it because you thought that I was a lunatic? Did you not say anything to me because you couldn't trust me?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Yuan's succinct reply made Li Huowang feel like his chest was struck by a sledgehammer. His emotional pain then transformed into extreme anger. “I’m a lunatic! I’m a Hong Zhong! But what about you? You might not even be Zhuge Yuan! You’re nothing but a mere illusion!”

Zhuge Yuan’s figure flickered at Li Huowang's remark. However, Zhuge Yuan’s gaze became even more resolute, “Does it matter whether I'm the real Zhuge Yuan or not? So what if I'm an illusion? Even if one is poor, they'll still be able to achieve something by persevering and never giving up on their ambitions!”

Li Huowang gnashed his teeth and swung his hand toward Zhuge Yuan’s face. “Stop the nonsense! I've never really understood your nonsense! I've just been pretending all this while!”

“Brother Li!” Zhuge Yuan took a step forward and looked seriously at Li Huowang’s face, “Brother Li, does it really matter who we are? So what if I am an illusion? So what if you are Hong Zhong? What matters is our true intentions!”

“True intentions... Haha... True intentions...” Li Huowang shook his head with a bitter smile. He staggered backward until he collided with a massive dragon pillar. After a moment of silence, he looked at Zhuge Yuan again. His voice was tinged with indifference as he asked, “Brother Zhuge, what if I really am a Hong Zong? I mean, there must be a reason behind your suspicions, right? if I'm a Hong Zong, do you really think that this Hong Zhong of the Sitting Oblivion Dao would help you foil Shai Zi’s plan?”

The spine sword on Li Huowang’s back started moving on its own. The spine sword tore off the purple talisman on its head and used its bone-white fingers to carve some words into the stone tiles. After a brief pause, the spine sword slapped the words carved in the stone tiles, and the words took to the sky, leaving behind an afterimage as they made a beeline for the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Liang.