"Summon~ The~ Gods~"
Li Zhi's clear voice rang out from within the forest, and the peculiar Second Deity began to tremble, following the rhythm of his singing and drumming.
"The sun sets on the Western mountain, and the skies grow dark~ Every house closes its doors while the magpies and crows return to their trees~ The sparrows fly to the rafters, and the roads—AAH!"
Li Zhi's chanting was abruptly interrupted, causing the Second Deity to freeze. She raised her head in shock, only to see Li Huowang smiling.
"You may have been testing me, but that doesn't mean I wasn't doing the same to you. I've already been deceived by monks before and have learned my lesson. There's no way I wouldn't prepare some defenses," said Li Huowang.
Just as he finished speaking, footsteps echoed. Puppy, Simpleton, and the others approached, carrying weapons and holding a bloodied Li Zhi hostage. Xiaoman was currently holding his drum.
Li Huowang took the drum from Xiaoman and threw it onto the ground before stabbing it with his sword, right in front of Li Zhi's face.
Pu Chi!
The taut drum was destroyed with ease.
"Looks like this is something extremely important to you. Regardless of which Immortal family you follow, you can't summon them without this drum, right?" asked Li Huowang.
After observing Li Zhi over the past few days, Li Huowang had realized that no matter how powerful the Immortal families were, a Shaman was still just a mortal. Once subdued, everything would be fine.
Despite the blades pointed at him, Li Zhi—beaten and bloodied—displayed no fear or hatred. He simply laughed bitterly. "Unfortunately, that's not something for you to decide."
Jiang!
A sharp sword blade was pressed against Li Zhi's neck.
"You still want to lie? Tell the Second Deity to stop resisting!"
Li Huowang was glaring at the Second Deity, his face twisted in frustration. Li Zhi might have been captured, but that human-beast hybrid remained a threat.
"Hehe. Why do you think she would listen to me?" asked Li Zhi with an eerie chuckle.
He had barely finished speaking when the Second Deity let out a bestial roar from her disfigured mouth and bolted into the forest on all fours.
The Second Deity had escaped, leaving Li Zhi all alone.
"Li Huowang, I'm not lying to you. We Shamans are not like you. Sometimes, things are beyond our control."
Li Zhi's face was pale as he tried to explain.
"You think I'll let you go just because you say that?"
Li Huowang's sword inched closer.
"Hehe, that's impossible."
Facing certain death, Li Zhi looked surprisingly calm.
Seeing his hostage remain composed, Li Huowang paused for a moment before asking,
"What exactly is a Strayed Immortal? Why do you keep calling me that?"
This was what mattered most to him. There had to be a reason people were after him; he had been called that more than once now.
Li Zhi sighed. "Looks like you really don't know. I was fooled by your bloody robes."
"What is a Strayed Immortal?!" Li Huowang demanded, his sword drawing a thin line of blood from Li Zhi's neck.
Seeing how agitated Li Huowang was, Li Zhi chuckled. "Let me give you a tip. You're smart, but you can't win against the Immortals."
Immediately after speaking, Li Zhi's eyebrows grew longer, porcupine quills sprouted from his eyelids, and his nose extended forward. His entire face began to morph, resembling the Second Deity.
Li Huowang swung his sword at Li Zhi's neck, but instead of blood, he saw hard snake scales beneath the skin.
"Kill him!!" shouted Li Huowang.
At his command, Simpleton swung his massive wooden club with such force it tore through the air and smashed into Li Zhi's head.
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere as the half-transformed Li Zhi collapsed, his skull crushed.
Dong Dong Dong!
At that moment, rapid drumbeats rang out from the dark forest, capturing everyone's attention.
Li Huowang was stunned as he looked at the broken drum on the ground.
A drum? How is he still playing it? I just destroyed it!
"Summon~ The~ Gods~"
Amidst the drumbeats, Li Zhi began chanting again, and a figure stumbled out from the forest—it was the Second Deity—no, it was Li Zhi.
As the original Li Zhi transformed into the Second Deity, the one who had previously left the area had become Li Zhi—they had swapped places seamlessly.
Dong Dong Dong!
The drumbeats continued as everyone looked down in horror.
Li Zhi's clothes were torn, and one of his hands had ripped open his abdomen. He stretched out a portion of his flesh while his other hand beat it with a whip.
Li Zhi had crafted a new drum from his own skin and flesh!
Dong Dong Dong!
"The sun sets on the Western mountain, and the skies grow dark~ Every house closes its doors while the magpies and crows return to their trees~ The sparrows fly to the rafters, and the roads to the houses are shut~ Ten houses with nine locked~ Only one remains unlocked~ Offer incense, beat the drums, summon the Immortals~" chanted Li Zhi, as he beat the "drum."
Immediately after, despite her crushed skull, the fallen Second Deity stood up again.
The sound of weapons piercing flesh followed as Li Huowang and the others stabbed their blades into her.
Li Huowang was sure he had pierced her heart—but the Second Deity didn't flinch.
"First comes red and then comes yellow~ I invite the wind and clouds, bringing the Sad King~ Red is the general while yellow is the vanguard~ The wind and clouds stand by while the Sad King rules the sect, ai~"
As Li Zhi continued to chant, immense power surged through the Second Deity. She twisted her body, flinging everyone away and loosening their grip on their weapons.
Shit! I need to stop Li Zhi from playing the drum! He's the linchpin!
The bronze bell appeared in Li Huowang's right hand.
Ding Ding Ding~! Dong Dong Dong~!
Two sounds reverberated through the forest, clashing with each other.
At the same time, the edges of everything around them warped, forming a Wandering God.
Dizzy, Li Huowang shook his head and directed the Wandering God, causing it to split into four and charge at Li Zhi.
Meanwhile, Li Zhi, bloody and torn, continued chanting with fervor. His veins bulged, and he chanted even faster.
"The feast is ready~ It will be delicious~ Everything is delicious~ Just tell me what you want~ I'll prepare it all~ You want beef and mutton~ Chicken, ducks, or geese~ Even the flesh of the Strayed Ones~ I'll get it all for you, ai!~"
At that moment, Li Huowang felt a sharp pain in his neck—the Second Deity had somehow teleported behind him and was sinking her razor-sharp teeth into his shoulder.