Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 119
>Chapter Title: Agony
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Because of his preconceived notions, Li Huowang had always assumed that the followers of the Ao Jing Cult were part of a religion that worshipped Ba Hui.
But only now did he realize that wasn't the case at all. He had guessed wrong—terribly wrong.
After pondering for a few breaths, Li Huowang, who truly couldn't comprehend what Hand Three had said, spoke up again.
“You think you can steal Ba Hui's power? Do you really not sense just how overwhelmingly strong it is? You're less than ants before it!”
Even though Li Huowang could no longer recall its appearance, he still understood exactly how powerful Ba Hui was. This was absolutely beyond what a few mortals could achieve.
Hand Three looked at Li Huowang before him with resolute eyes.
“Why not? The Buffalo God did it, so we certainly can.”
Li Huowang's mind flashed to the statue in the Cross Temple, its body engulfed in flames.
“That statue... it used to be mortal too?”
Ignoring Li Huowang's thoughts, Hand Three continued speaking to himself.
“Those bald donkeys are always droning on about how Buddhas are former humans and humans are future Buddhas. Regardless of anything else, I agree with that much. It's Ba Hui now, but that doesn't mean it will be Ba Hui forever!”
After digesting this unexpected information, Li Huowang took a deep breath and spoke.
“Fine, whatever's going on between your cult and Ba Hui has nothing to do with me. Let's get back to the main point. Do you really have a way to deal with Danyangzi?”
Hand Three nodded.
“How about it? What do you say? As long as you perform the Cang Qiang Ascension Rite again, we'll take care of that half-immortal master of yours.”
Hearing this, Li Huowang recalled the moment he had summoned Ba Hui using the *Great Thousand Recordings*. His face twisted slightly in response. It had been an utterly excruciating experience.
The dual torment of body and soul wasn't something easily endured. Every time he thought back on it, Li Huowang felt an urge to end his own life.
Calming himself, Li Huowang spoke slowly.
“I want to, but it's easier said than done. I can't do it right now.”
Summoning Ba Hui was incredibly difficult, especially requiring that rare resonance of extreme physical and mental agony. Such an emotion wasn't something you could just find on demand.
“Heh.” Hand Three chuckled, speaking with great enthusiasm.
“No worries. For the sake of Abbess Jingxin, we'll help you with this.”
Gazing at that charred, grinning face, Li Huowang felt a chill run through him. There were layers upon layers of implications behind those casually spoken words.
Looking at the man he had only met once before, Li Huowang hesitated for a long time before speaking.
“Senior Hand Three, let's set this aside for now. Can I first ask how exactly you plan to deal with Danyangzi?”
“I have your cult's *Great Thousand Recordings* too. From what I know, let alone expelling a half-immortal, there's nothing in it that helps anyone else at all.”
Truth be told, Li Huowang didn't trust the Ao Jing Cult—especially after Abbess Jingxin had specifically warned him about them.
“Heh, young man, you're being a bit too naive. Something like the *Great Thousand Recordings* naturally has to be used with other things. To get as close as possible to the Bitter Sea, you have to try as many things as possible. Like what you're doing now—we've tried it too, of course.”
“As the saying goes, a chronic illness makes one a doctor. When it comes to curing people, no one in the four seas and eight wilds can match us.”
The word “illness” triggered a conditioned reflex in Li Huowang.
“Illness? I'm not ill. This isn't an illness. Part of Danyangzi is in my stomach right now, and part of him has truly become an immortal.”
Hand Three watched Li Huowang's frantic explanations with mocking eyes.
“That's exactly what the illness is. These Taoists have gone mad obsessing over immortality. They've all turned into lunatics.”
Coming from someone trying to steal Ba Hui's power, those words carried zero credibility.
Though doubts lingered in his heart, Li Huowang said nothing.
He had no desire to argue. He had come to these people to be rid of Danyangzi, not to debate scriptures with them.
As long as the method worked, they could call Danyangzi a dog for all he cared.
“Have there been many cases like mine in the past? Have you cured others?” Li Huowang asked warily once more.
“Naturally. All branches of the Five Bushels of Rice Cult emphasize severing the three poisons: upper poison Peng Ju, middle poison Peng Zhi, lower poison Peng Jiao.”
“Those seeking immortality must first eliminate the three poisons, becoming tranquil and desireless, with a serene mind and clear nature, accumulating merits and virtues—that's how one becomes immortal.”
He recited it with a swaying head, then turned his gaze back to Li Huowang.
“Of course, this old man doesn't believe a word of that nonsense. Over the years, I've seen plenty of half-immortals and soul-dissolved immortals—those evil things—but never a single Great Principle True Immortal.”
That charred, blood-red, flesh-peeling finger rose and pointed toward Li Huowang's head.
“You bull-nose Taoists have gone insane chasing immortality, twisting yourselves into neither human nor ghost, caring only for superficial show. You haven't the slightest clue what the essence of power really is.”
Li Huowang showed no reaction to these words and spoke directly to Hand Three again.
He patted the torture device hanging from his waist.
“Senior, I can handle the extreme physical pain myself. How exactly are you going to help with the mental agony?”
Seeing him say this, a flicker of delight passed through Hand Three's eyes. The young man had essentially agreed.
With a slight lift of his chin, one of the gray-robed cult followers headed into a tunnel within the cavern.
Before long, he returned leading a girl who looked somewhat haggard.
Like the other Ao Jing cultists, the girl wore a loose robe and tall hat. The only difference was that her hat didn't cover her eyes.
“A woman? What does this have to do with extreme mental agony?”
Yet clearly, the young girl was even more shocked than Li Huowang, staring fixedly at him.
With a shove from a large hand, the girl with braids was pushed right in front of Li Huowang.
She quickly bowed her head, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Looking past the girl's frail shoulders at Hand Three, Li Huowang asked:
“Senior, what is the meaning of this?”
“Take this girl. The two of you get as lovey-dovey as honey mixed with oil as quickly as possible, then get her pregnant with your child.”
“When she's six months along and your son is nearly formed, you rip open her belly, dig out your son, and then——”
“No!! Stop right there!” Li Huowang interrupted, his voice trembling slightly.
Just hearing it described made Li Huowang's temples throb with pain.
After all this calm conversation, he had nearly forgotten what kind of people these were.
He now understood how they planned to push his body and soul to ultimate agony. The Ao Jing Cult was no better than Danyangzi at all!
But in response to Li Huowang's objection, Hand Three clearly misunderstood.
“Right? You think it's a bit too mild too? No problem. You've already been seen by Ba Hui once, and this old man has some miraculous elixirs here to help you take it to the next level!”
(End of chapter)