Chapter 630: The God of Taihu

Taiyue City.

Li Yi spent three days and three nights traveling from Jingcheng, smashing mountains and destroying temples, arriving here; he ceased his advance and halted, allowing his three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards to eat, drink, and rest.

The local officials dared not slack off and treated him with utmost diligence.

Although the capital's political situation was turbulent, to the officials of Taiyue City, True Person Taiyi was the reigning state advisor, and his three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards were the Emperor's personal guard—such a towering figure could never be neglected; even though Li Yi had smashed mountains and destroyed temples upon arrival, killing several incense deities, such imperial affairs were beyond the local officials' control.

At this moment, within a princely mansion in Taiyue City.

Spiritual energy from heaven and earth converged, while brilliant beams of light shot skyward, drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, refining and transforming it, until finally coalescing into a dark-black radiance that streamed toward the main hall of the mansion.

The main hall was empty, guarded by several Golden-Eye Guards who barred all approach.

"No matter how many times I see it, such cultivation phenomena never fail to amaze," said Golden-Eye Guard Wang Ning, his pale golden eyes gazing upward.

To ordinary eyes, the sky appeared normal—endless stars, clear moonlight—but to cultivators, the heavens over hundreds of li around Taiyue City had changed color: crimson auroras rose, golden light streaked across the sky, and emerald treasures shimmered, three hues interweaving in breathtaking beauty, like auroras, mesmerizing to behold.

Yet these three colors were not merely beautiful—they represented the transformation of celestial energy.

Li Yi was practicing the Great Heaven-Collecting Qi Method, gathering spiritual energy from six hundred li, dividing it into the Five Elements, and drawing it into his acupoints.

He was also attempting to collect celestial water energy into his kidney acupoints, striving to break through to the fourth layer of the Five Qi Realm, ideally opening sixty acupoints to fully complete the path of Five Qi Converging to the Origin; if so, this cross-realm journey would be worth it—but at this pace, it would take at least half a year.

Because Li Yi had been stripped of his state advisor title by a Yin Celestial Lord, his incense-belief power had greatly diminished, slowing his acupoint-opening speed.

He had not written an imperial decree to reappoint himself as state advisor, for as long as the Yin Celestial Lord lived, such an act would be meaningless—he would just be deposed the moment after he appointed himself; only by defeating him decisively and eliminating all incense deities across the land could he rightfully enjoy the incense power of the state advisor title.

Fortunately, during those nine days, Li Yi had used incense-belief power to borrow false cultivation and greatly increased his strength; otherwise, he would have truly stumbled.

As Li Yi was cultivating,

Suddenly,

A bird flew from the direction of Jingcheng, directly entering Taiyue City, swiftly tracing the energy trail to this heavily guarded mansion, and heading straight for the hall where spiritual energy converged.

But before it landed, it transformed midair into a young girl, dressed in colorful robes, exceptionally agile.

"Golden-Eye Guard Bai Ling, seeking audience with True Person Taiyi," the girl, Bai Ling, was herself a Golden-Eye Guard—a spirit bird that had attained enlightenment.

"Bai Ling, has something important arrived from Jingcheng?" asked Wang Ning, also a Golden-Eye Guard, stepping forward.

Bai Ling said: "The Emperor's command: this matter may be revealed only to True Person Taiyi."

"I shall announce you," said Golden-Eye Guard Wang Ning, immediately entering the main hall.

Inside, a golden auspicious cloud floated half a zhang above the ground, upon which sat a strikingly handsome young man, his body radiating crimson, gold, dark, and azure hues, occasionally threaded with silver lightning—divinely extraordinary, inspiring awe.

Strangely, the room also carried a faint fragrance—like sandalwood incense, yet also like the summer lotus—delicate, noble, evoking an aura beyond the mundane.

"True Person, Golden-Eye Guard Bai Ling has arrived from Jingcheng with urgent news and waits outside," said Golden-Eye Guard Wang Ning, bowing respectfully.

Li Yi, still cultivating, calmly opened his eyes, his hands still forming the talismanic seal as he gathered spiritual energy: "Let her in."

"Yes, True Person," said Golden-Eye Guard Wang Ning, leading Bai Ling into the hall.

When Bai Ling saw Li Yi, her heart trembled; she had flown from the wilds into towns, then into the imperial palace, meeting countless extraordinary cultivators and incense deities—but this man was unparalleled, truly immortal-like, utterly distinct from others—a difference in level, not one incense could bridge.

"Golden-Eye Guard Bai Ling, pays homage to True Person Taiyi," she dared not stare, immediately kneeling in profound reverence.

Li Yi said: "What news from the Emperor?"

"The Emperor has sent a letter; please, True Person, read it," Bai Ling swiftly produced the letter and offered it.

Li Yi summoned the letter through the air into his hand; he opened it—the script was simplified characters, incomprehensible to anyone in this world, making it the perfect encryption.

His gaze swept over it briefly.

He immediately smiled.

Indeed, everything unfolded exactly as he had anticipated; the gods of incense and worship across the land could no longer sit idle—only three days had passed when the counterattack came.

"Guangjun Marquis, Heavenly Might Supreme General, Shoushan Deity, Lady Bai Shui—all renowned incense deities from across the land, several of them spirit creatures who attained enlightenment; though few in number, all are experts, and they've united—clearly confident of victory, determined to kill me outright."

"If I eliminate these incense deities, the Yin Celestial Lords will surely be forced to act."

Li Yi's eyes flickered as he pondered.

He knew the waters of this world ran deep; on the surface, they were mere mountain spirits and land gods, weak in power—but dig deeper, and you'd find true masters hidden in shadows, unseen until combat revealed the vast gulf between them and ordinary spirits. "I understand. Return and tell the Emperor: I am confident I can handle this." A silver lightning bolt struck down, reducing the letter to ash; only then did Li Yi speak.

"Yes, True Person. Your servant takes leave."

Golden-Eye Guard Bai Ling rose and withdrew; once outside the hall, she transformed into a spirit bird, flapped her wings, and swiftly flew toward Jingcheng.

"Rest well these two days. At noon the day after tomorrow, follow me across Mount Taiyue to Taihu." Li Yi then spoke.

"Yes." A Golden-Eye Guard bowed and departed immediately.

Two days passed swiftly; during this time, Li Yi faced no attacks from experts, remaining calm within Taiyue City—but he knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

On the third day, the Embroidered Uniform Guards were fully fed, rested, and reassembled.

At noon, Li Yi once again used his Cloud-Soaring Technique to carry them over Mount Taiyue, arriving at another city: Huguang City.

As always, the three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards were dispersed into the city; they harmed no one, disturbed no civilians, and did only one thing: destroy idols and demolish temples.

Everything proceeded normally.

But as they prepared to destroy the temple of Lady Bai Shui, local villagers fiercely resisted—yet resistance was useless; the temple of Lady Bai Shui was still demolished by the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Not a single mistake in any word, line, or content—everything is perfect!

"No wonder this city is called Huguang City—standing on the city wall and gazing south, the waters of Taihu shimmer, reflecting light onto the walls—truly a magnificent view," Li Yi stood atop the tower, his expression calm, admiring the scenery of this other world.

Such tranquil, harmonious scenery can no longer be seen on Earth.

Since the cross-realm gate opened, extraordinary beings have overrun Earth, disasters erupt everywhere—how could one stand quietly in one place, appreciating natural beauty?

"Taihu's beauty is famed throughout the world; True Person Taiyi is also a cultivator—why then do you commit such acts of desecration?" Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out; from the waters of Taihu, a small boat surfaced, and a young woman rowed it slowly toward Huguang City.

Though distant, her voice lingered in their ears, never fading.

Clearly, this woman was no ordinary person—she was a cultivator with profound cultivation.

Li Yi's gaze shifted toward her, smiling: "You must be the legendary Lady Bai Shui?"

"I am Qiu Bai Shui, honored to meet True Person Taiyi," the woman acknowledged her identity, bowing respectfully.

Li Yi said: "Qiu Bai Shui—fine name. But why do you think my actions are acts of desecration?"

"From Jingcheng, you slew the Four Guardian Generals, smashed mountains and destroyed temples, causing countless incense deities to perish one after another—your killing is excessive. Is this not desecration?" Qiu Bai Shui said. "The world has just stabilized; everyone seeks peace. Why must you, driven by personal desire, stir up bloodshed?"

"Have I killed anyone?" Li Yi asked.

"Not directly," Qiu Bai Shui replied.

Li Yi smiled: "If I have not killed anyone, why accuse me of stirring bloodshed? I dare not touch a single commoner; I merely compete for incense. Can you claim incense, but I cannot? What logic is that?"

"True Person, as state advisor, you receive incense from all under heaven—how could you possibly lack it?" Qiu Bai Shui countered.

Li Yi said: "Sparrows cannot comprehend the ambitions of swans. You settle in remote corners, content with scraps of incense, living immortally, free and easy—but I must use incense-belief power to cultivate the Dao, attain divine power, avert cosmic collapse, and survive the apocalypse. Naturally, I require far more incense."

"But the world's incense is finite. You take some, I take some—what's left for me is mere dregs. I cannot accept that, so I must smash mountains and destroy temples, forcing you to spit out the incense power you hoard."

"I don't understand your words," Qiu Bai Shui frowned. "I only know your actions are extreme, harming the harmony of heaven and earth."

"You need not understand. You need only know: the Dao's struggle is life or death. You fear I'll cut off your incense power—I fear just as much that you'll monopolize it, blocking my path to advancement," Li Yi sighed.

"If the Daoist insists on this path, then today I shall bury you deep within the boundless Taihu." Qiu Bai Shui spoke seriously.

She had sensed her temple of Lady Bai Shui being dismantled—her incense power rapidly dwindling.

Fortunately, over a thousand years of accumulated incense-belief power was still substantial; the loss was not yet painful—but if this Daoist continued unchecked, she would become nothing but history.

"If you truly have such ability, my flesh and blood may feed the fish and shrimp of the lake—yet I urge you to succeed, for if you fail to kill me, I shall kill you today." Li Yi's expression remained calm, his face like still water, unruffled.

He wanted to see just how powerful these famed incense deities truly were—how they compared to the Four Guardian Generals he had slain.

Qiu Bai Shui had now rowed her boat to shore; she looked up at True Person Taiyi atop the wall, her gaze growing colder.

This Daoist was utterly mad, beyond redemption—only death could stop his mountain-smashing, temple-destroying rampage. She had hoped to reason with him, to avoid conflict—after all, cultivators were rare and hard-won—but now she must abandon such compassion.

"Then today, I shall ask True Person Taiyi for instruction," Qiu Bai Shui bowed once more, her killing intent sharp.

(End of Chapter)