Liars! They are all liars!

Li Tan looked dejected; even though he was cruel and indifferent, viewing human lives as cheap as grass, he always believed that his mother was the person who loved him the most in the world.

The rapid shift in his mental state was like a fish trapped in mud, using its last bit of strength to leap into a puddle, only to later learn that the puddle was a villager's trap.

Heavy disappointment and unease weighed heavily on Li Tan's heart, with every breath accompanied by the agony of a slow execution.

He felt his heart ache deeply, a pain that penetrated to his very bones, an unspeakable sensation that enveloped him in endless darkness.

"I am not a chess piece! Not my mother's tool!"

He used the last shred of strength in his throat to shout it out!

He had always believed in maternal love, that it accompanied him, and he gave respect and trust to his deceased mother; this was a child's bottom line!

Upon hearing Li Tan's words, Li Nianhua burst into laughter, though his laughter was desolate, more like a wail than a laugh.

"You are merely a Puppet for Mu JinxI's ascent, Materials used to raise her cultivation!"

"Even your father, Li Zhi, only saw you as a ticket to the Mu family."

"How truly pathetic. You are exactly like my foolish son! Just as self-righteous!"

A golden silk rope swiftly wrapped around Li Tan's body, layer upon layer, unbreakable!

Li Tan discovered with horror that his Spiritual Qi was sealed! He was now completely a Mortal!

Having lost his spiritual power, he also lost his last bargaining chip; his life and death were now in the hands of others.

He silently lowered his head, like a stray dog, his eyes seeming to lack some luster, his entire face ashen.

Along this journey, Li Tan had witnessed too much evil; perhaps in others' eyes, he was not a good person either, but looking back, he was merely a twelve-year-old boy.

How could he be compared to those old monsters, with their schemes and intrigues....

"So this is what fear feels like. It's truly despair-inducing."

Li Tan murmured to himself; the man before him was too powerful, so powerful that he couldn't resist, couldn't even control his own life.

He was unwilling! He was furious! He felt sorry for himself! And even more pathetic for his weakness!

He had never changed, merely played the role of a child king, and naively believed he could control his own destiny.

Looking at Li Tan, who lay beneath him as if dead, Li Nianhua held the silk rope and playfully shook his body, his eyes full of mockery.

"You cannot die yet. As a descendant of my Li Nianhua, you cannot die as a muddled ghost!"

"I'll take you to see your dear father! I'm sure the expression on his face will be even more colorful!!"

"Hehehehehe....!!"

..............

Li Tan only felt that he had long lost track of time....

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark cave. He looked hopefully at his side.

Li Nianhua stood steadily in a black robe. For a moment, Li Tan bitterly mocked his own foolishness in his heart, for naively believing that someone would come to save him.

"Rustle!"

"Ah hahahaha! It's going to succeed! It's going to succeed!!"

Distorted, frenzied sound waves filled the entire cave, revealing the eerie nature of the place, with bats occasionally flying out, making one's heart grow cold.

If anyone were to come here, they would surely believe that a bloodthirsty Devil Head was hidden within the cave, maliciously performing Alchemy with children and women!

Li Nianhua frowned, dragging the motionless Li Tan, walking step by step forward.

The uneven rocks, some sharp, some deformed and rough, first tore Li Tan's clothes, intending to harm his flesh.

Fortunately, his Physical Body had already reached the Man Niu Realm; initially, the rocks could not harm him, but as time passed....

His flesh was torn, blood slowly dripped down with bits of flesh, some flesh and blood were even worn flat, exposing white bones.

"Crack!"

Two piled rocks forcefully broke Li Tan's bones. Li Nianhua, ahead, continued to drag him as if he hadn't heard anything.

Sharp bone fragments pierced his flesh, then were ground smooth by the rocks on the path. This pain felt as if he was back to the moment of refining the Dragon Roar Pill.

Li Tan's face was pale, sweat, dirt, and blood trailed behind him on the ground, forming a long, blood-red carpet!

Suddenly, Li Nianhua's body stopped, then he casually threw Li Tan onto the ground. The sharp rocks struck his head, fortunately without piercing the bone.

Only a layer of skin and flesh was scraped off. Li Tan was in agony; his fate before being slaughtered was truly pitiful.

But Li Nianhua, beside him, was not satisfied with this result. He gave him a fierce kick, and the powerful force instantly sent him flying into a pile of rocks....

The sharp rocks deeply pierced his flesh, instantly creating several bloody holes on his body....

Then, Li Nianhua roared with imposing authority:

"Rebellious son, why aren't you getting out here!"

Moments after his words fell, a figure walked out in a great hurry, looking at Li Nianhua with an incredulous expression.

"You! How did you find this place! No! Someone leaked it! Impossible!!"

Even though the man in front of him had tattered clothes and a blackened face, Li Tan could confirm!

"This person is indeed Li Zhi!"

"Even now, you still can't forget that harlot. What benefits did she promise you, after all!"

Li Nianhua looked like he was disappointed in him, every word gritted out.

Li Zhi seemed to accept this outcome, sighing bitterly, and shifted his gaze to Li Tan, his lips trembling slightly.

"My talent is meager; in the Li family, I was more like a dog, living without dignity, ignorant and lost regarding the path ahead."

Li Zhi's eyes became resolute without warning, and a sharp Aura rose from his entire being.

"But Xi'er gave me hope to live! She gave dignity to this useless person! And even allowed me to experience a warmth I once dared not dream of!"

"Even if she had ulterior motives! She loved me!"

"Shut up!"

Li Nianhua roared, interrupting Li Zhi's words, his eyes boiling with murderous intent, as if he would erupt and strike at any moment!

"She was just using you to gain my trust! To achieve her Breakthrough in cultivation!"

"After she leaked it, didn't you know her Realm!"

"Foundation Establishment! A Realm countless people yearn for!"

Li Nianhua was spitting, his face red, his whole body trembling slightly with anger.

But Li Zhi, opposite him, gave a bitter laugh, looking up at the sky as if recalling something, or perhaps bidding his final farewell to this world.

"Father, at the end of her life, Xi'er did not return to the Mu family for help, nor did she place her hope in Li Feiyan."

Li Zhi's eyes couldn't help but redden, and a few tears streamed down his weathered face, making him look particularly disheveled.

"I will never forget that on that thunderous night, a monster broke into Li Tan's room."

"There wasn't a single good piece of flesh on her body; her vocal cords must have been broken, and her once beautiful hair had become a skull full of scars, with no flesh visible."

"Her body had a large hole torn open, empty, with nothing inside...."

As he spoke, Li Zhi looked at Li Tan tenderly, then silently lowered his head.

"In that last bit of time, she confessed to me her transaction with Li Feiyan, but she had been deceived and received no so-called protection."

"She passed on to me the art of refining Corpse Fiend, begging me to refine her body into a Corpse Fiend after her death, and then take Li Tan away from this man-eating Li family."

"She used the last of her life's strength to forcibly pull out her own Spiritual Root and personally fed it to Li Tan."

As she said....

"She was false, she was a bad person, but her love for me was real...."