With the Primordial Bell in hand, whether to use it to stabilize the Severing Sect’s destiny depended entirely on Heavenly Lord Tongtian’s will.
About to return to the primordial world and make a detour to capture the Heavenly Demon Lord, Heavenly Lord Tongtian had to make a decision…
However, at this crucial moment, Zhao Gongming asked with concern:
“Master, although the Primordial Bell is one of the three supreme treasures transformed from the World-Creating Divine Axe, but… can it stabilize things? Last time the Red Lotus couldn’t even stabilize half before it burst…”
Hearing this, the Primordial Bell trembled for a long while, its resistance becoming more obvious.
At this moment, Li Changshou, Zhao Gongming, Golden Spirit, and Turtle Spirit watched Heavenly Lord Tongtian as he stood before the Primordial Bell;
While Heavenly Lord Tongtian was having a final exchange with the Primordial Bell.
“My Severing Sect has multitudes of people and power, experts like clouds, countless disciples, known as Ten Thousand Immortals at Court.”
“The Karmic Fire Red Lotus burst!”
“My Severing Sect’s teaching is to secure a lifeline for all beings in heaven and earth.”
“The Karmic Fire Red Lotus burst!”
“My Severing Sect…”
“The Karmic Fire Red Lotus burst!”
Black lines covered Heavenly Lord Tongtian’s forehead as he glared at Zhao Gongming who had let slip the matter of the Red Lotus. Steeling his heart, he scolded the Primordial Bell: “Changgeng dares not use you, you won’t let this poor Dao use you, if you’re left for the Western Teaching to take advantage of, wouldn’t that ruin everything? Let’s just destroy you here!”
Clang!
The Qingping Sword was drawn, Heavenly Lord Tongtian emanating murderous intent.
“Master Uncle! There’s no need, no need!”
Li Changshou hurriedly intervened from the side, persuading Heavenly Lord Tongtian to back down;
The already restrained Primordial Bell emitted several light trembling noises, its spiritual sense making whimpering sounds.
Li Changshou said: “Master Uncle, let me talk with it.”
“Hmph!”
Heavenly Lord Tongtian withdrew the Qingping Sword, turning his back on the Primordial Bell with hands clasped behind him.
Li Changshou stepped forward twice, looking at the palm-sized small bell before him, several possible approaches floating up in his mind as he pondered briefly.
The Primordial Bell was also preparing for battle, its body leaning slightly backward.
“Senior…”
“They burst the Karmic Fire Red Lotus!”
Li Changshou smiled and said: “Junior knows about this matter, and that Red Lotus was personally brought to Biyou Palace by junior back then. Though the Twelve-Petaled Red Lotus was indeed destroyed, Master Uncle Tongtian acted in time and still protected most of the lotus petals.”
“Wasn’t it still damaged?”
“Senior,” Li Changshou cleverly changed the subject, “conversing like this is somewhat inconvenient. I know Primordial Treasures all have their pride and are unwilling to transform their spirit nature into form – I wonder if Senior is also like this? If you could transform into human form to converse, it would be much more convenient.”
Dong~
The Primordial Bell rang softly, immortal light flowing across its surface. Though restrained by Heavenly Lord Tongtian, it now returned to over ten feet tall;
Then streams of immortal light gathered at the bell’s top, transforming into the appearance of a radiant and graceful female immortal.
Her skin was fair and translucent, her countenance capable of toppling nations while naturally carrying a noble and elegant bearing, her wide dress seemingly of an ancient style yet still magnificent and dignified.
Li Changshou frowned: “Senior, could you not use the appearance of the Sun Goddess?”
“Why?” ‘Bell Sister’ asked puzzled, “Is there anyone who doesn’t admire Xi He?”
Li Changshou: …
That statement contained too much information.
Was everyone in the Ancient Beast Court Xi He’s a fan?
Light flowed across the Primordial Bell again as it transformed into another immortal maiden’s appearance, sitting atop the bell and swinging her feet gently. Though less elegant this time, she was more delicate and beautiful.
Though it had transformed into an illusory form, it still transmitted divine thoughts through spiritual sense, requiring Li Changshou and the others to understand its meaning themselves.
The Primordial Bell’s divine thoughts said:
“Anyway, this is how it is. Either let Tongtian erase my spirit nature and use me to stabilize the Severing Sect’s destiny – though with a severely damaged spirit nature, my power will certainly be greatly reduced, whether it can stabilize things depends on their fate. If I’m contaminated by their Severing Sect’s karmic obstacles, I won’t have a face to be a treasure anymore. Or use me as a defensive treasure – I won’t provoke Heaven’s Way or look back to ancient times, nor will I do anything servile or fawning. Two choices, let him choose himself.”
Li Changshou pondered briefly before smiling: “Why can’t there be a compromise?”
“How can this be compromised? What compromise?”
The Primordial Bell cursed: “Such a huge Severing Sect, even a diagram couldn’t stabilize it! Heavenly Lord Tongtian’s preaching scene in ancient times scared even me – all over that sea island, inside and out, birds and beasts, human immortals and demons, they accepted everyone who came! Still, talk about securing a lifeline – lost himself in all those calls of ‘teacher.'”
To the side, Heavenly Lord Tongtian gave a long sigh.
Li Changshou suggested: “Is there perhaps some way to only borrow you to stabilize the destiny of the Severing Sect’s core disciples?”
The Primordial Bell decisively said: “Impossible.”
Zhao Gongming said: “Changgeng, stabilizing destiny means cutting off the force of karmic obstacles’ backlash, not letting karma affect the sect’s destiny. It’s not about placing treasures above our heads, but about bearing Heaven’s Way’s settling of accounts with the great sect. How can there be talk of only protecting core disciples and not others?”
Golden Spirit Holy Mother also said: “Even if there was such a method, could we use it? It would lack righteousness.”
“Not necessarily.”
Li Changshou gave Golden Spirit Holy Mother an apologetic smile before saying seriously:
“Now with the great catastrophe ahead, we can barely take care of ourselves. The Severing Sect’s power largely comes from these core disciples, yet they’re dragged down by those disciples with ulterior motives. When just stabilizing destiny, we should focus on protecting the core disciples – there’s no slight against other disciples in this.”
“Let alone whether this can be done,” Zhao Gongming sighed, “even if it could be done, how could we do such a thing? If the disciples learned of it, wouldn’t it chill the hearts of ten thousand immortals?”
“Elder Brother, you saw what happened when the Red Lotus burst,” Li Changshou’s eyes blazed with divine light, “Even under an Enlightened Being’s authority, so many karmic obstacles still increased! There must be a considerable portion of disciples who deliberately came to the Severing Sect to avoid disaster, thereby transferring disaster to the Severing Sect! Isn’t it them that the great catastrophe needs to settle accounts with?”
“But…”
“Junior Brother Changgeng,” Turtle Spirit Holy Mother asked softly, “do you already have some method to make the Primordial Bell only stabilize the destiny of some core disciples?”
Li Changshou said: “Establish another sect, give Severing Sect core disciples dual identities, and use the Primordial Bell to stabilize the new sect’s destiny.”
“How can this work?” Zhao Gongming’s thick eyebrows furrowed tightly, “If establishing a new sect, who joins and who doesn’t? How will those who don’t join be convinced? The Severing Sect’s teaching is to secure a lifeline for all beings in heaven and earth. If when the great catastrophe comes and everyone needs this lifeline, yet most disciples are abandoned… Is this still our Severing Sect?”
“This is the only way to stabilize your destiny, Elder Brother.”
“If this is the method, Elder Brother would rather face this great catastrophe together with all fellow disciples of the Severing Sect.”
Li Changshou said firmly: “This matter still needs Master Uncle Tongtian to decide, Elder Brother shouldn’t be so arbitrary.”
Zhao Gongming looked toward his master, and the great hall immediately fell silent.
At this moment, Li Changshou suddenly realized he had already interfered too much in this matter.
He wasn’t of the Severing Sect, only having close relations with it. His perspective was that of an outsider, and the ‘benefits’ he saw focused on friends he was familiar with and the future dao companion he knew well.
Indeed, establishing a new sect anew, using the Primordial Bell to protect the Severing Sect’s core disciples and some disciples with pure backgrounds, thereby increasing the possibility of surviving the great catastrophe, was itself workable and within Heaven’s Way’s allowance – essentially finding a loophole in the great catastrophe.
But just because he didn’t mind this didn’t mean the Severing Sect wouldn’t mind.
That atmosphere within the Severing Sect…
“Changgeng, this poor Dao knows you have good intentions.”
Heavenly Lord Tongtian turned around, smiling warmly at Li Changshou, his handsome face showing some emotion.
He said: “I’ll take the Primordial Bell first. After returning, I’ll gather the disciples to discuss this matter, and let them choose whether to use this method themselves. The Severing Sect’s current predicament is due to my inadequate consideration as their master. By the way, does the Primordial Bell agree to this?”
‘Bell Sister’ looked at Li Changshou, light flowing in her eyes, then looked at Zhao Gongming and other Severing Sect disciples before nodding:
“If using this method, I won’t be damaged, so helping you is fine.”
Zhao Gongming lowered his head and sighed softly, looking at his broad palm.
Beside him, Golden Spirit Holy Mother walked over and gently took his arm. They exchanged a glance, wordless.
Li Changshou made a Daoist salute to Heavenly Lord Tongtian and said: “Disciple spoke too much today, I hope Master Uncle and Senior Brothers and Sisters won’t mind.”
With a light sigh, he turned and walked back to his corner, sitting down to cultivate his spirit.
He could probably guess what would happen next.
It was also a case of concern leading to confusion – he shouldn’t have said these things. His current plans only needed to progress steadily, and protecting Yun Xiao and his two junior sisters wouldn’t be difficult.
As for other matters, he shouldn’t interfere too much.
The great hall quickly fell into silence. Li Changshou reminded Golden Peng, and the Four Plum Generals began sensing the Heavenly Demon Lord’s whereabouts.
This Primordial Divine Demon had been wandering at the edge of the primordial world, seemingly waiting for Kun Peng’s response.
Unfortunately, Kun Peng’s primordial spirit had been completely locked down by Li Changshou. To prevent the Kun Peng vessel from losing control, Li Changshou didn’t plan to give Kun Peng’s primordial spirit any chance to break free from control.
Kun Peng had essentially already had his soul scattered – what remained was only the Ark Kun Peng vessel created by Elder Lang’s ingenious thoughts.
Not too far from Heaven’s Way’s boundary, the Kun Peng vessel began changing direction.
In the hall, the Primordial Bell had also reached a temporary reconciliation with Heavenly Lord Tongtian, letting him release the restrictions on it.
After all, it was a Primordial Treasure that had helped create the world, subdued Ancient Beasts and Demons, and killed two Ancestral Demon tribe members. Having said it wouldn’t run, it naturally wouldn’t – even treasures have their pride.
Just then, the Primordial Bell flew over to Li Changshou’s vicinity, again displaying that spirit-condensed female form, hovering around Li Changshou with clear intent to strike up a conversation.
Li Changshou smiled gently and continued observing the Taiji Diagram and savoring Elder Lang’s masterwork.
Several days passed like this.
“Hey, what are you reading?” ‘Bell Sister’ asked softly. “Why won’t you talk to this treasure? Could it be you think I was subdued too easily, that I have no real ability?”
Li Changshou smiled and said: “Senior jests. No one here would doubt your capabilities.”
“Then why won’t you try to get close to me?” ‘Bell Sister’ blinked. “It’s strange – I avoided the primordial world because I didn’t want to be fought over. How is it that with you all, I’m treated like a hot potato?”
“Though treasures are good, one must have the fortune to enjoy them,” Li Changshou closed his book, suddenly thinking of something but quickly dismissing the thought.
The time wasn’t right, and it wasn’t appropriate to get too close to the Primordial Bell now.
Li Changshou said: “Senior’s power could protect me completely, but what I seek is no longer just my safety. It’s not that I’m unwilling, but circumstances don’t allow it. However, if Senior enjoys staying here, I won’t let you feel lonely. Why don’t we become friends, kindred spirits to each other? Just that when we’re in the primordial world, we should try to avoid any interaction – Heaven’s Way will be watching us constantly.”
“Friends?”
‘Bell Sister’ tilted her head and smiled: “You’re truly a peculiar being. Other beings all shout about controlling their fate rather than letting Heaven decide, struggling against Heaven’s Way for their fortune. How is it that you show such… respect for Heaven’s Way?”
“Perhaps it’s just my nature,” Li Changshou shrugged. “In the primordial world, even ordinary beings’ thoughts can be influenced by Heaven’s Way, with even the most basic right to choose between life and death taken away. How can one struggle against Heaven’s Way? I rather think my fate is controlled neither by Heaven nor myself.”
“Then what controls it?”
“The heart’s desires.”
Li Changshou stopped there, saying no more. He lowered his head to continue reading, leaving ‘Bell Sister’ tilting her head in various ways.
…
Another half year passed before they found traces of the Heavenly Demon Lord.
Heavenly Lord Tongtian didn’t hold back, charging forward with the Qingping Sword and giving the Heavenly Demon Lord a thorough thrashing in three moves, binding its ‘spirit core’.
Afterward, Heavenly Lord Tongtian took the Primordial Bell and his disciples back to the primordial world first, while Li Changshou and Golden Peng stayed behind to clean up the remaining outer realm demons.
Before leaving, the Primordial Bell specifically asked Li Changshou where he lived in the primordial world, but Li Changshou just smiled without answering.
Thinking about it, how should he respond if the Primordial Bell came looking for him in Heaven?
It wasn’t a big issue.
His earlier statement that taking the Primordial Bell would make him suspected and targeted by Heaven’s Way was somewhat exaggerated.
If the Primordial Bell could truly oppose Heaven’s Way, why did Donghuang Taiyi fall? Why was the Beast Court defeated by the Human Race?
In the end, it was just a treasure. No matter how strong or mysterious, it had no power of resistance before the Dao Ancestor.
Gaming Heaven’s Way was about greater circumstances, about rules.
If one still clung to the idea that collecting more treasures would let one stand tall before Heaven’s Way, one wouldn’t go far in the primordial world.
Not far from the primordial world, Li Changshou wasn’t in a hurry now.
His secrecy measures this time had been thorough, and he had arranged for Long Ji to use transformation arts to appear as him once in the Taibai Palace. The primordial world hadn’t fallen into chaos due to his temporary absence.
The Western Teaching couldn’t afford to be unstable – they didn’t want to lose any more power before the death tribulation.
Additionally, Li Changshou’s continuous observation of Dizang’s Samsara Tower through the Taiji Diagram didn’t reveal traces of Maitreya.
This senior brother of Spirit Mountain seemed to have disappeared.
In recent decades, the losses of beings in the primordial world mainly occurred in the Three Thousand Worlds.
According to his development plan, the now considerably sized Lingian Temple began pressuring the Incense Fire Divine Kingdoms from the side, breaking the power balance between them and the Immortal Alliance.
The Immortal Alliance also received significant support from Heaven, secretly contacting Lingian Temple to form an ‘alliance’ and launch lightning strikes against the Incense Fire Divine Kingdoms.
The expedition army Heaven sent to the Three Thousand Worlds also changed its previous leisurely style, winning victory after victory.
The Western Teaching’s power in the Three Thousand Worlds rapidly shrank.
The so-called Three Thousand Buddha Kingdoms, under Li Changshou’s manipulation, had died in the womb, so to speak.
After bidding farewell to Heavenly Lord Tongtian, Li Changshou hid in the Primordial Sea for another three years.
Taking Elder Lang’s notes, Li Changshou thoroughly studied the Primordial Divine Demon’s spirit core, coming to understand the existence form of ‘multi-true spirit’ beings.
These outer realm demons were part of his backup plan for the “Disappearance of X” project.
Thus, Li Changshou didn’t destroy it directly, but instead controlled it with secret methods and gave it to Golden Peng to take back to Heaven for containment.
During these three years, the Four Plum Generals continuously ‘prayed’ on Golden Peng’s back, attracting endless outer realm demons and gradually whitening these black beings.
Li Changshou easily gained an army of ‘good demons’.
He spent several years settling these good demons in several ‘strongholds’ outside Heaven’s Way’s influence, fully utilizing Kun Peng’s ‘legacy’.
After making several small arrangements in the Primordial Sea and moving the Kun Peng vessel slightly away from chaos, Li Changshou finally hid back in Golden Peng’s sleeve, concealing himself with the Taiji Diagram.
Though this expedition wasn’t completely fruitful, it gave Li Changshou a chance to stabilize things further.
As for how the Severing Sect’s discussion went, whether they would use the Primordial Bell or not, he couldn’t interfere much.
Mei Wenhua, Mei Pobing, Mei Dixian, and Mei Xingqing were left outside heaven by Li Changshou – they wholeheartedly wanted to save their kind and had no place in Heaven’s Court anyway.
Golden Peng returning with the Heavenly Demon Lord’s spirit core was itself a great achievement;
Li Changshou had naturally prepared the script early, letting Golden Peng tell a story of wit and courage against a Primordial Divine Demon after returning to Heaven.
The journey back was quiet, with few idle words in the chaos.
When Golden Peng’s shadow returned to Xuandu City, Li Changshou looked at the sleeping Grand Magician, secretly greeted Kong Xuan, picked up Ao Yi who was guarding the ‘signal relay station’ here, and returned to the primordial world.
Calculating the time, if measured from King Zhou’s destruction and Zhou replacing Shang in the original Investiture of the Gods script, there were still over two hundred years.
But if measured from King Zhou’s birth, less than one hundred and fifty years remained.
Li Changshou naturally wasn’t idle on the return journey, repeatedly reviewing his various plans, still feeling somewhat uneasy.
Because no matter how he calculated, the Investiture catastrophe couldn’t avoid a battle between Enlightened Beings;
That was a situation beyond his control.
Moreover, no matter how foolish King Zhou was, how could he do such things to Holy Mother Nu Wa’s jade statue in the current ‘cultural atmosphere’ of respecting heaven, earth, and ancestors in the Southern Continent’s mortal world?
If it wasn’t tribulation fate taking over, someone must be causing trouble in secret.
Also, the arrow Nezha shot from the Heaven-Shaking Bow was highly suspicious;
And why the Spirit Zhenzhu was reincarnated, he couldn’t say for certain at this time.
‘Most likely, I’ve chosen hell difficulty for the Investiture catastrophe, having to match against Enlightened Beings right from the start.’
Li Changshou secretly rubbed his brows.
At this point, he could only face difficulties head-on.
The Investiture death tribulation – he had long since moved beyond passively accepting and simply saving people, wanting to use this great catastrophe to grasp more ‘capital’ for emerging unscathed.
[Under what circumstances would Heaven’s Way be unable to move against oneself?]
Li Changshou had been pondering this question ever since his master’s incident.
In the distance, the primordial world’s Five Continents came into view.
Whether by spiritual inspiration or sudden insight, Li Changshou used his method of observing qi to gaze far at this mysterious and magical world.
His expression changed as the tiny figure in Golden Peng’s sleeve suddenly stood up, this scene appearing in his mind:
A blood-red giant sword hung above the Five Continents, black qi coiled around its hilt, visions of beings’ screams appearing on its blade, already suspended in the high sky above the Five Continents…
The death tribulation taking form – the grievances of humanity!