Chapter 602: Mount Taiyue

As Li Yi spat out a golden breath, he severed the Daoist's head, and everyone present realized this Daoist was a genuine threat—someone who killed without provocation, and whose strength was terrifying, capable of defeating even high cultivators who could summon flying swords.

"Ah!"

Seeing the headless corpse spewing blood, the maidens inside Yaoxing Tower screamed and scattered like birds and beasts.

At the same time, squads of armored soldiers heard the commotion and swiftly climbed the tower, intending to protect Prince Xin and apprehend the assassin.

Yet the wandering knights, fox spirits, white apes, and literati present remained silent, not daring to move a muscle, fearing the golden flying sword might strike them down in an instant.

Prince Xin's face darkened—he had no cultivation himself, but he could plainly see this young Daoist was extraordinarily powerful; no one here could match him, not even if he summoned every armored soldier from his princely mansion.

Thinking this through.

He immediately shouted: "Enough of this shouting and clamor! All soldiers, maids, and servants—withdraw! This is none of your business. Don't disgrace me here."

Upon hearing the prince's order.

The soldiers who had just rushed up the stairs paused, then bowed and obeyed, retreating the way they came; the maids and servants lowered their heads in fear, silent, and descended the stairs.

Within moments, Yaoxing Tower fell silent.

"Daoist Taiyi, speak plainly—do not harm the prince's life."

At this moment, the wandering knight guarding Prince Xin drew a deep breath, gathered his courage, and attempted to negotiate with the dangerous Daoist—he believed this Daoist had not come to kill, otherwise he would not have spoken so much.

Li Yi glanced at him: "This has nothing to do with you. Stand aside."

"I accepted a trust—I must fulfill it. I cannot agree to that," the knight refused to move; he had been invited to this banquet, and now that his host was in peril, how could he flee in cowardice?

"Your courage is admirable," Li Yi said calmly, "but in a world where divine power arises from incense worship, knights are doomed to have no future."

At this, Prince Xin patted the knight's shoulder and said: "It's fine. This Daoist didn't come to assassinate me—if he had, his flying sword would have already taken my head. Let me speak with him and see what he wants. Don't risk your lives."

The knight's expression shifted slightly; he stepped aside but remained nearby, hand on his sword hilt, ready to fight to the death.

Though he didn't know if he'd have the courage to draw his blade at the critical moment, he would never retreat.

Prince Xin now regained his composure, speaking calmly: "Daoist Taiyi, if you will restrain your killing intent and spare the guests, I will agree to any demand within my power."

"That depends on whether others have the sense to recognize their place. Cultivators who cannot tell strength from weakness and strike blindly deserve to die," Li Yi said calmly. "I still ask: who wrote that verse?"

"Is that all you care about?" Prince Xin asked.

Li Yi replied: "Otherwise, why would I suddenly appear in the middle of the night? I have other matters to attend to tonight—I haven't time to play children's games with you."

Prince Xin's gaze flickered, then he gave a wry smile: "Though I don't know why you're so fixated on the origin of that verse, you're right—it wasn't written by me. I lack such literary talent to compose a line that would endure through the ages. But its source is indeed extraordinary. I don't refuse to tell you out of unwillingness—I dare not, because this matter runs too deep."

Saying this, he turned back to his seat, sat down slowly, and poured himself a cup of wine, draining it in one gulp.

"Not unwilling? But afraid?" Li Yi said calmly. "Even a prince has things he dares not speak of. This verse likely came from the imperial palace. Do you think I'm wrong?"

At these words, Prince Xin's face stiffened slightly, then he openly admitted: "Yes. It did come from the imperial palace."

"As I thought," Li Yi murmured inwardly.

Whether the author was his father or another cross-worlder seeking to gather incense worship, the fastest and best ways to do so were only two: either rebel, or infiltrate the imperial palace.

But after observing this world for a day, he was certain no rebellion had occurred in recent years—so the cross-worlder had almost certainly chosen the second path.

"Now that I know the location, it's simple. Come with me to the capital tomorrow. I must meet the one who wrote that verse."

Prince Xin smiled bitterly: "Without imperial decree, a prince may not leave his domain—otherwise, it's tantamount to rebellion. Daoist, if you insist on this, then just kill me outright. If I die by your hand, perhaps the court will enshrine me as a proper god and grant me incense worship. But if I rebel, I'll be utterly destroyed, with no grave to rest in."

"Tell me the man's name. I'll spare you," Li Yi said.

Prince Xin shook his head: "I cannot do that. Since you already know the verse came from the capital, why not go find it yourself? With your abilities, locating the source shouldn't be difficult."

"Why waste time searching alone when someone can guide me? Since you refuse this and refuse that, don't blame me for being unreasonable. Tonight, you come with me to the capital. When the matter is settled, I'll return you." Saying this, Li Yi's gaze shifted, and he stepped forward again.

Prince Xin's dragon-qi sensed the threat; though suppressed by the tiger-qi, it still roared forth, attempting to block Li Yi and protect its master.

"A mere dragon-qi dares to defy heaven? Get out of my way." Li Yi barked.

A tiger's roar pierced the heavens; silver light rained down, forming a dappled tiger that struck with one claw— instantly shattering half the dragon-qi into a cloud of incense energy.

Yet the incense energy coalesced again; the dragon's body reformed and coiled around the dappled tiger, battling it anew.

But the dragon could not match the silver tiger, shattered twice over, pinned to the ground, wailing in agony.

Yet the dragon, unkillable by battle, reformed no matter how many times it was torn apart—unlike other incense gods. "So this is it," Li Yi realized. "As long as the princely title endures, the incense never fades."

So long as Prince Xin remained a prince, unstripped of his title by the court, his incense energy would not disperse—even if shattered, it would instantly reform.

It seemed the path of incense deification wasn't entirely without merit.

"But a single immortal dragon-qi won't protect you," Li Yi said, extending his palm—the silver gangqi reversed violently, its power terrifying.

"Stop!"

The wandering knight roared, steadied his mind, and finally drew his sword—striking to sever Li Yi's arm and halt his assault on Prince Xin.

But the sword shattered instantly upon contact with the silver gangqi, the force blasting the knight backward.

Clearly, he was too weak—even a single strand of silver gangqi was beyond his endurance.

The white ape and fox spirit dared not move; as spirit beings who had cultivated, they were acutely sensitive to energy. They weren't unwilling to aid Prince Xin—but the pressure of the dragon-tiger qi had rendered their bodies weak; merely holding their stance was a feat. If they acted, their spells would likely fail.

Li Yi seized Prince Xin in midair, then summoned auspicious clouds beneath his feet, ready to carry him away.

But then he paused, and released the prince he had just seized.

One line. One verse. One content. One look!

Prince Xin was bewildered—why had the Daoist seized him, then let go?

"It seems my trip to the capital must wait. I have other matters to attend to," Li Yi said, his gaze turning outward.

Unnoticed, dark clouds had obscured the moon; thunder rolled like war drums, drawing nearer. Then, high above the clouds, a towering armored figure emerged.

"Wicked Daoist Taiyi, you have committed crimes of cosmic magnitude. I, by divine mandate, have come to arrest you. Surrender at once."

The voice boomed, echoing through the chamber, shaking the soul.

"It's the Mountain God of Taiyue."

Hearing the voice, the alluring fox spirit's face paled instantly—she recognized it.

In Xinzhou, the Mountain God of Taiyue was the most feared; countless spirit beings had bled beneath his hand. Even now, hidden within the prince's mansion, her heart trembled at his presence.

"An incense god? Perfect. I'll test my mettle on you."

Li Yi's expression remained calm. He did not flee or dodge—instead, he stepped onto auspicious clouds and flew out of Yaoxing Tower, ascending higher and higher until he hovered beside the full moon.

"Prince, flee at once!"

The literati hurried over, grasping Prince Xin's hand, urging him to escape while he could.

Prince Xin swept his sleeve away, breaking free, and smiled calmly: "If even the court's appointed god cannot capture this Daoist, where could I possibly flee? Better to stay here and watch how they fight—let me witness their battle."

"This… this…" The literati paused, then gave a wry laugh.

It made sense.

This Daoist could ride clouds, summon swords from breath, and snatch objects from afar—his power was immense. If he repelled the court's appointed god tonight, there was no need to flee.

The fox spirit and white ape also gazed upward, eager to see the Daoist's true strength.

The incense god in the sky was no mere mountain spirit or roadside deity—he stood towering, drawing in vast spiritual energy, his incense-formed divine image radiating awe-inspiring majesty.

"Somewhat like the divine forms of the Four Seas and Eight Provinces," Li Yi observed briefly. "But his power is greater. Indeed, this world is warped—gods with immense incense worship dwarf those with little."

"You wicked Daoist, daring to infiltrate a prince's mansion and threaten a noble—how audacious!" The Mountain God of Taiyue's eyes glowed like lanterns, fixing Li Yi with divine light.

Li Yi glanced at him: "Just you, an incense god? Where are the city god and the underworld's decrees? Haven't they been sent across the land?"

"One is enough. Wicked Daoist, you are too arrogant. Give me your life."

Enraged by this contempt, the Mountain God of Taiyue swung his twin golden hammers down with full force.

With one strike, thunder rolled across heaven and earth; gales howled.

Countless incense beliefs converged, forming two mountain-like weights crushing down.

No demon or spirit could withstand the Mountain God's wrathful hammer blow.

"Good. Some skill. But to take my life? You're still lacking." Li Yi let out a long roar—a heartfire qi surged skyward, instantly staining the heavens red; the clouds above blazed as if on fire, turning night into day.

(End of Chapter)