Why did Elder Zhao come?

Li Changshuo truly hadn’t expected this. He had considered the possibility that fighting alongside Kong Xuan might alert Clarification Teaching experts to come to mediate.

But Elder Zhao’s descent from the heavens was truly beyond imagination.

Sister-Brother Kong’s Five-Colored Divine Light and Elder Zhao’s Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhu—two top experts just below the Primordial World’s Sages, wielding two types of extraordinarily powerful divine abilities and treasures, simultaneously tripping up Burning Lamp Daoist!

To be honest, without the twenty-four Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhus to deduce the twenty-four heavens, Burning Lamp…

Was simply incomplete!

But Burning Lamp was now the vice patriarch of the Clarification Teaching. As Li Changshuo had said before, no matter how good the opportunity, they couldn’t harm Burning Lamp.

At least, it couldn’t be done by Dao sect disciples.

Li Changshuo had previously considered using others to do the deed. His two consecutive attacks that sent the Spirit Coffin Treasure Lamp flying were laying the groundwork for this, but ultimately he couldn’t bring himself to set up Kong Xuan…

As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Li Changshuo exchanged mental messages with Kong Xuan and Zhao Gongming, and all three figures rushed toward Burning Lamp.

However, Li Changshuo and Zhao Gongming moved as leisurely as if taking a stroll, while Kong Xuan rushed at full speed with the Five-Colored Divine Light, charging to Burning Lamp’s side until they were separated by just ten feet, continuously releasing the Five-Colored Divine Light.

As Li Changshuo “rushed” forward on his cloud, he didn’t forget to shout:

“Friend Kong Xuan’s extreme-speed divine ability is truly astounding—we can’t keep up!”

As Zhao Gongming “plummeted” downward, he also expressed deep emotion: “The divine abilities of the Phoenix race are truly extraordinary!

Friend Kong Xuan, please show mercy—the vice patriarch of the Clarification Teaching cannot be killed!”

“Hmph!”

Kong Xuan expressed his dissatisfaction with a heavy snort, continuing to wildly sweep Burning Lamp with the Five-Colored Divine Light.

Sealing cultivation, sealing perception, searching for treasures…

Before long, Kong Xuan’s back was piled with spiritual treasures and precious materials.

A deadly divine ability was being forcibly used as [Magical Pickpocketing].

Most of these spiritual treasures were ordinary post-celestial treasures, though there were several pre-celestial treasures with astonishing spirituality, such as that string of one hundred and eight prayer beads, a purple-gold alms bowl, and two pearls containing shocking dao rhythms, among others.

When Kong Xuan swept out these items, his expression remained full of disdain. Though he kept attacking, he didn’t touch any of the retrieved items, just letting the divine light toss them behind him.

Below, the crowd of immortals from both the Dao Wei Immortal Sect and the Path to Immortality Sect looked up at this scene unfolding, their jaws about to hit the ground.

What… was this situation?

An ancient powerful being, a Dao sect leader, vice patriarch of the Clarification Teaching, peer of the Three Pure Ones—Burning Lamp Daoist was now lying horizontally above their heads, pinned by the Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhu, being swept by the Five-Colored Divine Light, and except for the clothes on his body…

His storage treasures were nearly being swept clean!

Who couldn’t see what was happening now?

Today, the Orthodox Teaching’s Water God, Severing Teaching’s Gongming, and Phoenix Clan’s Kong Xuan have joined forces to give Burning Lamp a thorough scheming!

Yet oddly enough, the main attacker was the greatly talented Kong Xuan, while the other two were shouting things like “stop fighting” and “please spare him”…

This…

Were the upper-echelon celebrities of the primordial world all this shameless—ahem, this adorable?

Thinking carefully, since Burning Lamp Daoist had attacked Kong Xuan first, it wouldn’t be too hard to explain away later.

The only difficult part to handle was that this had somewhat slapped the Clarification Teaching’s face…

If Burning Lamp didn’t have the title of vice patriarch of the Clarification Teaching, he might have already been directly melted by that Five-Colored Divine Light!

Path to Immortality Sect Leader Ji Wuyou stood with his hands behind his back, letting out a light sigh, and transmitted his voice to Forgetting Emotions Immortal beside him:

“Fugui, ah, our gap with true experts isn’t just in cultivation.”

“Indeed,” Forgetting Emotions Immortal watched the continuously appearing Five-Colored Divine Light, “Who says divine abilities can’t match treasures? We’re truly far behind. Let’s keep cultivating.”

“No, no, no, ahem!”

Ji Wuyou shook his head repeatedly, transmitting back: “That kind of divine ability mainly relies on talent—it can’t be cultivated.

I’m talking about the art of scheming, and the ability to discard face.

Look, Water God and Senior Gongming are about to ‘stop’ this Phoenix Clan expert, from continuing their act. I wonder what method they’ll use to conclude this.”

Forgetting Emotions Immortal thought for a moment and transmitted back: “Sect Leader, could Water God Senior directly kill this vice patriarch?”

“Impossible,” Ji Wuyou’s lips revealed a faint smile. “This isn’t the ancient or early ancient times. Burning Lamp can be ridiculed and harassed because his vice patriarch position was begged by the Sage, so he can’t lose the Sage’s face.

But killing the Clarification Teaching’s vice patriarch over a momentary argument would shock the entire Dao sect. Even Water God Senior and Senior Zhao Gongming would pay an enormous price.”

Forgetting Emotions Immortal slowly nodded, carefully considering these matters.

He admitted he hadn’t cultivated for long and didn’t know much about the primordial world’s twists and turns, naturally unable to compare with old combat units like the Sect Leader…

Looking up in the sky, Li Changshuo casually pulled back the Spirit Coffin Lamp, wrapped in immortal power.

He could feel the lamp’s spirit frantically resisting—this was a treasure bound to Burning Lamp’s fate, and he couldn’t truly take it.

But the other things…

Li Changshuo looked at that small pile of precious materials—even a single small piece was invaluable.

So his foot slipped, and he fell backward in the sky with an “Ah!”

By coincidence, he fell onto that small pile of treasures, and then quickly stood up.

The pile of treasures immediately decreased by thirty percent!

Li Changshuo praised: “Friend Kong Xuan’s divine ability is remarkable—it has caused such huge distortions in the surrounding space and time!”

Kong Xuan smiled without speaking.

Zhao Gongming also made a turn in the air, exercising his professional advantage, sliding through an elegant arc in the sky, precisely falling onto that small pile of treasures, and immediately standing up.

That batch of now-rare precious materials immediately decreased by another thirty percent!

Zhao Gongming frowned and said:

“Truly formidable. This poor Daoist’s Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhu suddenly lost control—it must be related to friend’s Five Elements divine ability.”

Kong Xuan couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

This Phoenix clan expert turned around frankly, joining Li Changshuo and Zhao Gongming in examining those searched-out spoils.

Kong Xuan’s eyes showed no fluctuation as he said calmly: “You two, I’m killing Burning Lamp today!”

“You can’t, friend, you can’t!”

Li Changshuo looked at that glazed treasure pagoda, casually using the Strong Space-Time Ruler to sweep it into his sleeve.

He wasn’t coveting any treasure.

Though the Glazed Treasure Pagoda was a decent pre-celestial spiritual treasure, capable of both attack and defense, it was Li Jing’s destined treasure. Li Jing, the future Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, would bear this very glazed pagoda that could suppress Nezha.

Li Jing was currently cultivating in the Path to Immortality Sect. Getting this pagoda during this opportunity, Li Changshuo could completely sever the future Heaven’s Military Marshal’s connection with the Buddhist sect!

This was another of Li Changshuo’s probes of the Heavenly Dao’s bottom line.

Moreover, this Glazed Treasure Pagoda was completely insignificant compared to Tower Lord, who had extraordinary origins and received Supreme Clarity Lord’s merit of achieving sagehood.

Beside him, seeing Li Changshuo take the Glazed Treasure Pagoda, Zhao Gongming found himself in a difficult position…

Simply put, among Burning Lamp’s treasures, except for the lamp that couldn’t be taken, none caught his eye.

His earlier grabbing of precious materials wasn’t out of greed—firstly, it was to share difficulties with his future brother-in-law, and secondly, these materials weren’t useless, as they could be taken back for his Severing Teaching junior brothers and sisters to forge treasures.

He, Zhao Gongming, had no interest in [Wealth]!

Burning Lamp’s collected treasures were all rare items from ancient and early ancient times. But taking these spiritual treasures might make people think that he, Zhao Gongming, was unsophisticated…

At this point, Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and shook his head, winked at Li Changshuo, and together they approached Kong Xuan, one on each side, cupping their hands in greeting, beginning to persuade Kong Xuan to show mercy.

The remaining precious materials were naturally left for Kong Xuan, though with Kong Xuan’s pride, he definitely wouldn’t take them…

This would end up benefiting Burning Lamp.

The voices of these three experts drifted through various parts of the starry sky.

“Friend,” said Zhao Gongming, “you now have the complete upper hand. Burning Lamp is after all the Clarification Teaching’s vice patriarch—give this poor Daoist some face and spare him this time.”

Kong Xuan said coldly: “If I don’t kill him today, what if he ambushes me another day? Wouldn’t that be disastrous?”

“Friend mustn’t think this way!”

Li Changshuo hurriedly corrected from the side:

“Today, Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp attacked you first, and you couldn’t bear the humiliation, so you angrily counterattacked.

Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp is a renowned elder and top expert of the primordial world. Since he could be so shameless and was defeated by you today, would he go ambush you tomorrow?

If he did so, that would be deliberately damaging the Clarification Teaching’s prestige and harming the Dao sect’s reputation.”

Kong Xuan slowly nodded, revealing a faint smile, and said:

“In that case, seeing both friends’ faces today, I won’t pursue this matter further.”

Suddenly there was a “wa” sound—it was an elder of the Clarification Teaching below, unable to contain his anger, lowering his head to spit out a mouthful of blood.

Kong Xuan’s gaze swept over, and the crowd of Clarification Teaching inheritors below faced him as if facing a great enemy.

An old man with a reddened face was about to step forward and angrily rebuke, but several large hands suddenly patted him from the side, directly pressing this elder down!

Li Changshuo smiled and said: “Friend, those below are all our Dao sect inheritors. Let me explain a few words to them.”

Kong Xuan replied: “Friend, please proceed.”

At this point, Li Changshuo cupped his hands toward the crowd of Dao Wei Immortal Sect immortals below and said in a clear voice:

“You have all witnessed tonight’s events.

Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp attacked Friend Kong Xuan first but was countered by Friend Kong Xuan, and fortunately was saved by Severing Teaching’s Gongming.

I am Heaven’s Water God, and today I am willing to be a mediator between Friend Kong Xuan and Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp. Let the karma between Friend Kong Xuan and Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp end here!”

After speaking, Li Changshuo turned around, withdrew his smile, held the Primordial Yellow Pagoda above his head, and made a deep bow toward Kunlun Mountain, saying in a clear voice:

“This disciple requests the Sage Lord’s judgment!

Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp previously had differences of opinion with this disciple regarding dragon clan matters, forming enmity. Today Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp intended to scheme against this disciple, so this disciple invited two good friends for assistance.

This disciple strictly respects the Sage Lord’s teachings, always remembering what a Dao sect disciple should do, and had absolutely no intention of offending the Clarification Teaching’s dignity!

If the Sage Lord has any punishment, this disciple will comply with everything. This matter now has nothing to do with my two good friends.”

At this, Li Changshuo bowed three more times.

Beside him, Zhao Gongming also came forward, smilingly bowing once toward Kunlun Mountain.

Kong Xuan thought for a moment, walked to Li Changshuo’s other side, made a Daoist salute toward Kunlun Mountain, and calmly reported his name:

“Phoenix Clan Kong Xuan, with no intention of offending sage authority.”

Just as the three finished their Daoist salutes, a beam of purple light suddenly flew from the northwest!

The power of the Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhu was instantly dissolved by the light. This light contained an extremely mystical dao rhythm that enveloped Burning Lamp, who had been sealed by the Five-Colored Divine Light…

Burning Lamp immediately regained his freedom, lowered his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, and quickly grabbed his Spirit Coffin Treasure Lamp, his eyes showing unstable fear.

But at this moment he was still sealed of his cultivation realm by the Five-Colored Divine Light, completely without fighting strength.

Was this Primordial Beginning Sage taking action?

Breaking both the Ocean-Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhu and Five-Colored Divine Light so easily!

This formed a stark contrast with a certain group-leaving Daoists who had to scheme against Kong Xuan to win!

Just then, they saw a white crane flying from the west, upon which stood an old man with peculiar features.

Why peculiar?

This old man’s forehead seemed to have been swollen by being hit with a stone, protruding forward entirely.

Besides this, the old man also had kind eyebrows and eyes, holding a peach wood staff in his hand. He had no dao rhythm leaking from himself, yet around him flowed a kind of peaceful aura that made people’s minds feel quite peaceful and comfortable.

South Pole Immortal!

The Clarification Teaching’s hidden great expert!

How could one who cultivated together with Sage Primordial Beginning Lord in the Three Pure Ones’ small courtyard be weak?

This immortal smiled with squinted eyes, arriving before them almost instantly, exchanging Daoist salutes with Li Changshuo, Zhao Gongming, and Kong Xuan.

South Pole Immortal said gently:

“This poor Daoist received the teacher’s orders to escort Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp back to Jade Void Palace. Water God Changshao, handle matters here as you see fit.”

Li Changshuo bowed again toward Kunlun Mountain, “This disciple is grateful for the Sage Lord’s understanding.”

South Pole Immortal smiled again and said: “Junior Brother Changshao, the teacher has often praised you in recent years. The Orthodox Teaching has few disciples to begin with. You can help relieve Great Senior Uncle’s worries, uphold Heaven’s Court, and protect Heaven’s Dao order—these are all excellent things. You are a pillar of talent for the Dao sect.

If Changshao has nothing to do usually, come sit more often at Jade Void Palace.”

Li Changshuo immediately showed some joy, made another Daoist salute to South Pole Immortal, and called out: “Many thanks for Senior Brother Immortal’s guidance. I will visit Kunlun Mountain when I have time.”

Well, he’d just never have time.

“Good,” South Pole Immortal nodded with a smile, then looked at the disheveled Burning Lamp beside him.

Even though this immortal had a gentle nature and was well-experienced, his ruddy face couldn’t help but tremble a few times now.

He was an ancient powerful being after all, how could he…

“Vice Patriarch, today’s matter was just a misunderstanding. Let’s return to Kunlun Mountain to rest.”

Burning Lamp now knew his situation, forcibly maintaining composure, silently collecting those treasures laid beside him. He didn’t ask where his pagoda had gone or why the precious materials had shrunk by half, directly turning to fly toward Kunlun Mountain.

“Vice Patriarch Burning Lamp!”

Li Changshuo suddenly called out loudly, taking that Weak Space-Time Ruler from Kong Xuan’s hand, and using immortal power to send it over.

“You dropped your ruler!”

Burning Lamp instinctively clenched his fist but now only turned his head to say with a smile: “Thank you.”

After speaking, Burning Lamp took back the Space-Time Ruler, turned around, and returned to Jade Void Palace together with the South Pole Immortal beside him.

Before Burning Lamp and South Pole Immortal had flown far, Li Changshuo’s muttering continuously echoed in this space…

“Ah, in terms of this level of cultivation, I’m still far from senior experts.”

Burning Lamp raised his hand to support his chest—truly, he almost spat blood.

After the white crane carrying South Pole Immortal disappeared on the horizon together with Burning Lamp, Li Changshuo looked toward the Clarification Teaching immortal sect below, formed a cloud, and descended together with Zhao Gongming and Kong Xuan…

The Dao Wei Immortal Sect crowd now completely didn’t dare move randomly, sadly discovering that the Water God could now give them orders at will.

Jade Void Palace’s Dao Wei Zi took the initiative to come forward, revealing a smile that was sincere and a bit afraid.

…

Li Changshuo didn’t make things difficult for this Dao Wei Immortal Sect, nor forcibly intervene in the Hong Lin Kingdom’s war.

The Hong Lin Kingdom’s destiny had shattered, its national fortune foundation was gone.

All Li Changshuo could do was make the Dao Wei Immortal Sect from this moment start restraining those two tribes, ordering them not to cause too much killing, spare those who surrendered, and let the Hong Lin Kingdom’s royal bloodline live.

Besides this, the Dao Wei Immortal Sect took the initiative to offer one of their controlled Central Divine Continent kingdom’s tribute grounds to the Path to Immortality Sect.

Li Changshuo was now acting under his Heaven’s Water God identity, only telling them to discuss this matter with the Path to Immortality Sect. As long as the two sides didn’t break into conflict, he wouldn’t intervene further.

After handling this matter, in front of hundreds of immortals from both sects, Li Changshuo made a requesting gesture to Kong Xuan, descending toward the ground together with Kong Xuan.

At this time, there needed to be a distinction between ‘Water God’ and ‘true body.’

The true body that had been protecting You Qin Xuan Ya made a Daoist salute to his paper puppet and Kong Xuan, accordingly retreating to the side.

You Qin Xuan Ya had now received Li Changshuo’s transmitted instructions and stood up, leaning on her great sword, making a Daoist salute to ‘Water God.’

“Path to Immortality Sect disciple, Hong Lin Kingdom Princess You Qin Xuan Ya pays respects to Water God!

Today the Hong Lin Kingdom has met with this calamity. Xuan Ya truly doesn’t know how to handle the aftermath. Please help me, Water God!”

—Giving Heaven’s Court a reason to intervene in mortal affairs.

Water God said gently: “I saw earlier how you were fearless of death and charged forward without hesitation to save your relatives. Heaven’s Court precisely lacks talents like you. Would you be willing to serve in Heaven’s Court later?”

You Qin Xuan Ya was startled.

Question, Li Changshuo hadn’t transmitted instructions about earlier, but the answer had been given in advance.

[Whatever Water God asks later, you answer that you need to return to the mountain to request your master’s permission.]

“Xuan Ya needs to return to the mountain to request the master’s permission!”

“Good.”

‘Water God’ nodded with a smile, perfectly completing several layers of schemes on You Qin Xuan Ya, then gestured for You Qin Xuan Ya to withdraw and walked toward You Qin Xuan Ya’s sister-in-law.

This was tonight’s key figure.

Li Changshuo asked gently: “I am Heaven’s Court’s proper deity. May I sense the child in your womb?”

“Yes,” this young woman responded with a lowered head, hurriedly standing up.

Li Changshuo closed his eyes, his right hand distantly pointing at this woman’s abdomen, faint gold appearing in his palm lines.

It was him.

Li Changshuo stood in place lost in thought, various insights arising in his heart, as if there existed some guidance in the mysterious pointing out a path.

A moment later, Li Changshuo opened his eyes, raised his head to look at the sky, and said in a clear voice:

“I am Heaven’s Water God, carrying out the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s orders, temporarily managing Heaven’s Court’s affairs with East Wood Lord!

Heaven’s Dao please listen, I have a request!”

Boom—

A golden cloud flew from the horizon, slowly circling above the Hong Lin Kingdom. The dense Heaven’s Dao power contained within made the Qi practitioners somewhat uncomfortable.

Li Changshuo lowered his head to look at this young woman and Xuan Ya’s mother beside her, saying gently:

“Today with Xuan Ya’s request, I give you an opportunity.

I can bestow upon the child in your womb a heavenly mandate. He and his descendants will lead your Hong Lin Kingdom tribe to establish a new nation that will be more prosperous than the previous Hong Lin Kingdom.

But there are three immortal contracts you must follow.

Contract One: Any monarch of the new nation must die of natural causes at the end of their life. If they violate Heaven’s mandate, their soul will scatter and they cannot reincarnate!

Contract Two: The new nation must respect the Jade Emperor, make sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and respect ancestors and propriety.

Contract Three: The nation cannot nurture immortal officials—the Jade Emperor will personally protect you.

Are you willing?”

That young woman hurriedly looked toward her mother beside her. The latter quickly nodded, and this young lady immediately knelt before Li Changshuo.

“Jian Di respects the immortal’s decree.”

“Good,” Li Changshuo’s right hand lightly swept toward this woman, and that golden cloud in the sky leaked streams of golden light, instantly gathering at this woman’s abdomen.

A golden circular brand appeared on the woman’s forehead as she murmured: “Must go east…”

“Friend Kong Xuan, please come.”

Li Changshuo made a requesting gesture toward Kong Xuan beside him, then said to these dozen or so women:

“This is the Phoenix Clan’s divine bird immortal. Later he will lead you away from here and protect your new nation for a hundred years. You must show gratitude for his kindness with the new nation’s totem.”

That young woman lowered her head and said: “Yes.”

Kong Xuan revealed a faint smile, his eyes full of peace, sighing lightly: “Didn’t expect it would be so quick.”

“I’ll trouble friend afterward,” Li Changshuo said with a smile.

“My Phoenix Clan owes friend an enormous favor.”

Just then, Zhao Gongming descended from the sky, laughing and cursing: “How did you suddenly become so serious? Makes me quite uncomfortable.

Today was truly delightful!

If the important matters are handled, shall we find a place nearby to drink heartily?”

Li Changshuo and Kong Xuan both agreed it was good.

Kong Xuan used the Five-Colored Divine Light to protect these dozen or so Hong Lin Kingdom women, letting them make preparations here for now, saying he would come to join them later and left together with Li Changshuo and Zhao Gongming riding clouds…

In the corner, Li Changshuo and You Qin Xuan Ya exchanged glances, the latter’s expression slightly strange.

“Senior Brother…”

“Hmm?”

You Qin Xuan Ya asked puzzledly: “My abilities are shallow—what could I do in Heaven’s Court?”

“Who knows,” Li Changshuo shook his head with a smile. “Heaven’s Water God’s thoughts, I cannot guess.”