This?

Lady Houtu…

She had directly preserved even the Seven Emotion Avatars that had troubled her for these long years.

Others might not know how important that grass ring was to Lady Houtu, but Li Changshou had previously conversed with Lady Houtu and held that grass ring for three days, so he knew its origins.

Lady Houtu’s physical body had already transformed into the Six Realms Wheel of Reincarnation. That grass ring was actually where Houtu had anchored her primordial spirit, equivalent to a second body, leaving herself the possibility of separating from the Six Realms Wheel.

Though the situation just now appeared simple, Lady Houtu had borrowed the power of all beings’ thoughts to completely merge her primordial spirit with the Six Realms Wheel, giving that grass ring to Little Ai and the others.

‘Lady Houtu is the gentlest ancestor of our Wu Tribe.’

Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh…

Perhaps this was simply the Great Virtue Houtu’s nature.

“But in that case, haven’t I done something unnecessary?” Li Changshou muttered softly, his eyes carrying a trace of helplessness.

Fairy Yunxiao covered her mouth and laughed lightly, releasing Li Changshou’s arm and retreating to one side without leaving a trace, her eyes full of mirth.

Earlier when Li Changshou was bidding farewell to Little Ai, it was actually because Fairy Yunxiao’s state of mind had experienced a slight ripple, which led to her earlier “active consolation.”

Li Changshou naturally wouldn’t point these things out. Being consoled was being consoled – although his cultivation was still far inferior to Fairy Yunxiao’s, a man should maintain some masculine dignity.

By the way, a strong-willed fairy was quite adorable too.

Ahem, speaking of the earlier proactive farewell…

When Little Ai was being called back, no matter how Li Changshou thought about it, he felt that Little Ai was about to disappear, so he spoke those words as comfort for Little Ai.

[Perhaps even a friendship that lasted only for a moment could warm Little Ai’s heart.]

But Lady Houtu chose to handle it this way…

Though the Seven Emotion Avatars were greatly weakened, they were preserved by Lady Houtu, like raising seven twin sisters from the same source.

The warmth that Li Changshou had offered had forcefully formed into karmic bonds!

This was quite exhausting.

However, this was ultimately a good thing. After all, Little Ai and the others could remain, and although it left Lady Houtu with potential hidden dangers, it also left some opportunities in other aspects.

For instance, if someone wanted to cause trouble in the Underworld, when Lady Houtu fought alone, at crucial moments she could summon the Seven Emotion Avatars.

Once Little Ai appeared, demons and monsters across the heavens would silently draw their swords and end themselves…

The mental image was quite vivid, giving Li Changshou a hint of anticipation.

Moreover, Lady Houtu handling the Seven Emotion Avatars this way actually lifted some burden from the hearts of the participants.

Li Changshou made a Daoist salute toward the sky as several streams of light flew toward him and Fairy Yunxiao.

The first to arrive was True Lord Taiyi.

He rushed over, grabbed Li Changshou, and glared at him while saying in a low voice: “What are we to do now?”

“Senior Brother? What’s wrong?” Li Changshou blinked, his eyes full of curiosity and innocence.

“What’s wrong?!”

True Lord Taiyi’s handsome face still bore unhealed bruises as he said in a low voice:

“Wasn’t it you who said to freely provoke the Avatar of Anger, and to keep doing it continuously? This poor Daoist kept talking even while being beaten!

Now that Avatar has been preserved, if she comes out to make trouble later, borrowing Great Virtue Houtu’s cultivation powers to strike at my Qianyuan Cave…

This poor Daoist is finished!”

Li Changshou drew in a cold breath, his face showing traces of fear and unease as he hurriedly said: “Senior Brother Taiyi, as you say this, you’ve truly reminded me. This matter was my oversight.”

“How do we remedy this?” True Lord Taiyi was extremely anxious. “How can we remedy this?”

“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Taiyi,” Li Changshou said seriously. “If such a thing happens, Senior Brother can simply come find me at the Tushita Palace in Heaven, or send me a jade message talisman. I will immediately rush over to explain to Senior Brother.

Whether it’s Great Virtue Houtu’s Avatar or not, she is still Great Virtue Houtu – how could she not understand reason?”

True Lord Taiyi considered carefully and sighed:

“It seems I can’t visit the Underworld anymore in the future.”

“Rest assured, Junior Brother Taiyi, hahaha!”

Several light laughs were heard as Guangchengzi and True Lord Yuding arrived together on clouds.

This Senior Brother of the Elevation School said with a smile:

“Great Virtue Houtu is now well, the Seven Emotions are balanced. Later, with Junior Brother Changsheng’s help, the Underworld will resolve the matter of residual emotions in reincarnating spirits. Great Virtue Houtu will not lose control again.”

Hearing this, Li Changshou smiled and said: “What Senior Brother Guangchengzi says is absolutely right. To help the Underworld resolve this matter is not something I alone can accomplish – it still requires the efforts of all levels of the Dao School.”

Guangchengzi was about to respond when another voice came from the side.

“Changsheng.”

Grand Master walked over slowly from the side, frowning as he said: “Your move with the emotional chaos was a bit…”

“Senior Brother is truly formidable!”

Li Changshou gave a thumbs up and praised: “Originally we only planned to restrain the Avatar of Evil. Who would have thought Senior Brother had such an ingenious plan to weaken her hatred – this was something we hadn’t considered.”

Grand Master immediately smiled, his eyes narrowing as he stood behind Li Changshou, reaching out to poke Li Changshou’s waist once as the two brothers laughed together.

A traditional art of the Human School.

When Master Dao Bao, Zhao Gongming, and Golden Spirit Holy Mother – the three great disciples of the Severing School – arrived, the nine immortals of the Dao School were complete.

Lady Houtu slowly floated down from high in the sky, stopping a hundred zhang away and giving a graceful courtesy to the nine immortals, who each returned the gesture.

Houtu’s delicate lips parted slightly, circles of golden light surrounding her as her hair floated behind her, the simple white dress on her body appearing particularly sacred.

“Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your assistance.”

Grand Master smiled and said: “Senior is too kind.”

“I reside in this realm and can no longer leave, nor do I have any proper gifts to offer you all.”

Lady Houtu’s right hand swayed gently, her fingertips radiating a faint light as a passage of brilliantly golden scripture condensed into a scroll, which Lady Houtu raised her hand to send over.

“This cultivation method combines the secret techniques of the Wu Tribe with the Dao of the world’s cycles. It was originally the Nine-Nine Returning to One Mystic Art, but unfortunately, the Heavenly Dao did not permit the ninth level of the mystic art to form, disrupting my comprehension.”

Nine-Nine Returning to One minus one level…

The Eight-Nine Mystic Art!?

Li Changshou’s eyes lit up, but at this moment he didn’t show anything.

This mystic art was given to the Dao School, and he had also come to help with work this time – naturally, he would be able to get a copy to take back later!

Grand Master Xuandu received the scroll and smiled:

“Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this mystic art.

Senior Houtu truly need not be so courteous. You guard this place, protecting the Six Realms of Reincarnation, and have done so for endless years.

When Senior was troubled, we came to assist, doing no more than lifting a finger – we dare not claim credit.

Senior has just experienced tribulation and has not recovered your vital energy. We dare not disturb you further. Please rest and recuperate at ease.

If there are any errands, please have the Underworld Yinsi… inform my junior brother. My junior brother Changsheng serves in Heaven and is deeply favored by both our teacher and the Jade Emperor.”

After the Grand Master finished speaking, the nine immortals of the Dao School made another Daoist salute.

Houtu didn’t say much more, only smiling and nodding as she opened a curtain-like doorway for the nine immortals, the other side of which was outside the Six Realms Wheel.

The nine immortals did not linger, having already accomplished their task perfectly as they turned to leave.

But just as Li Changshou was about to step forward, Lady Houtu spoke: “Fellow Daoist Changsheng, might you stay for a moment?”

Li Changshou looked at his Grand Master, then at Fairy Yunxiao; the former smiled and patted Li Changshou’s shoulder, while the latter gave a slight bow and left together with Golden Spirit Holy Mother.

Shortly after, the eight high-level Dao practitioners left this realm.

Li Changshou looked at this peaceful and serene small world, somehow feeling slightly guilty.

Houtu stood on a gentle slope a hundred zhang away, giving Li Changshou a slight bow as she sighed: “Fellow Daoist truly accomplished it.”

“I am fortunate not to have failed the mission,” Li Changshou responded, suddenly sensing the rich merit power of the Heavenly Dao outside the water curtain!

The eight high-level Dao practitioners had all received a large reward of merit.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Moreover, it was all done by Senior Brother and the others of the three schools – I only did some message passing.”

Lady Houtu calculated with her fingers and said slowly: “Fellow Daoists need not be so modest. The Underworld and Wu Tribe have received countless benefits from you.

That matter of the Human-Destroying Sword – it was thanks to Fellow Daoist’s timely discovery that the Wu Tribe avoided a tribal extinction catastrophe.

I am one of the Twelve Ancestors of the Wu Tribe. Fellow Daoist should receive a bow from me.”

On the hillside covered in white flowers with aureoles floating everywhere, Lady Houtu crossed her hands in front of her body and gave Li Changshou a graceful courtesy.

“This cannot be!”

Li Changshou hurriedly jumped to one side and gave Lady Houtu another Daoist salute, sighing:

“My Lady must not overwhelm me with such courtesy! Everything I have done has been motivated by seeking benefits for myself. Even eliminating demons had multiple considerations, and protecting the Wu Tribe was also to help the Underworld join Heaven’s ranks sooner. I dare not accept such a great gesture from My Lady!”

Houtu smiled and said: “Then for your help this time, is there anything you wish to take from me?”

“No, no,” Li Changshou shook his head repeatedly. “Being able to help My Lady is already something I can boast about to my fellow disciples in the future. I truly hadn’t thought much about it before…

Though, ahem.

I’ve always been quite interested in the Wu Tribe’s secret talismans. My Lady, please look.”

Li Changshou’s finger lightly traced in the air, casually writing down the Wu Tribe’s talismans used for concealing heavenly secrets.

Houtu said gently: “In that case, I will later compile the Wu Tribe’s talisman methods into a book and have them send it to you.”

“Thank you, My Lady, for bestowing these methods!”

Li Changshou was already completely satisfied, but seeing that Lady Houtu seemed to still want to talk, he felt too awkward to directly take his leave.

Houtu asked again: “You truly don’t want any other benefits?”

“Truly, I don’t need any.”

Houtu immediately said with regret: “I was thinking of giving you some of Pangu’s True Blood, which can be used to cultivate the Mystic Body Treasure Method or refine supreme treasure pills. Since you firmly decline, then let it be.”

Li Changshou: …

Between face and treasures, which is more important? Treasures, of course!

Especially Pangu’s True Blood – paired with the Eight-Nine Mystic Art that My Lady just bestowed, it would be like giving his physical body a cheat code!

If he could cultivate the Eight-Nine Mystic Art and then strengthen it with Pangu’s True Blood, wouldn’t that be another life-saving trump card?

But at this moment, Li Changshou pondered slightly in his heart…

Sometimes too many opportunities aren’t a good thing. Though treasures are easy to obtain, karma is hard to remove, and he walked the path of the Primordial Spirit – physical body strength wasn’t that important to him.

You better play it safe.

If he truly went to cultivate and could complete the Eight-Nine Mystic Art in the future, it wouldn’t be too late to come back and ask My Lady for Pangu’s True Blood then.

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Li Changshou smiled and said:

“My Lady, if you have no other instructions, I shall take my leave now.”

Lady Houtu blinked and said softly: “I was just joking with you earlier – these were all meant to be gifts of thanks for you.”

“Let me do some more things for the Wu Tribe first,” Li Changshou said. “I’m the type who won’t get up early without profit – this way I’ll have more motivation.”

“Fellow Daoist jests…

Please wait a moment, there is someone else who wishes to see you.”

Houtu cupped her hands forward, and a grass ring slowly condensed within immortal light, which Houtu slowly placed atop her head.

Seven-colored light flashed within the grass ring, and then the other lights faded away, leaving only silver-white brilliance.

Lady Houtu’s smile gradually receded from her lips. Though her face and form hadn’t changed, it felt as if she had become a different person.

On the hillside beneath her feet, the green grass began swaying chaotically, the white flowers slowly withered, and a gust of wind blew past, actually carrying an endless sense of desolation.

“Sigh~~”

‘Lady Houtu’ sighed faintly:

“You were trying to comfort me just now, weren’t you? You must have been trying to comfort me. After all, I’m ultimately just a segment of out-of-control emotions, still a burden given to My Lady by all beings, and the biggest one at that…

That you could say such things just now, I’m also very gratified, even though the sadness is still so great…”

“Friend,” Li Changshou said with a smile, “when you can freely control this power of the Seven Emotions and Sorrow, and have a way to go out and move about, I can take you to travel around heaven and earth, introduce you to more friends. How about that?”

“Re-really?”

She stepped half a step forward, her eyes lighting up with a brightness never seen before, but in just an instant she deflated, saying dejectedly:

“Or perhaps you’re just comforting me again.”

“I am Heaven’s Water God, a Third-Rank True God,” Li Changshou said seriously. “Unless necessary, I usually don’t deceive people.”

“Then, is it a promise?”

“Keep this as a memento.”

Li Changshou took out a treasured pearl from his chest, injected a laugh into it, and bent down to place it on the ground.

Saying “Take care of yourself, friend,” Li Changshou took out his horsetail whisk and lightly shook it, as if sweeping away the dust of this place, then turned toward the water curtain and walked out of the Six Realms Wheel without any hindrance.

Just as he jumped out, a golden light descended from the heavens, directly swallowing his form.

Heaven’s bestowal – great merit!

Before Li Changshou could count this merit, Grand Master, Zhao Gongming, Master Dao Bao, and True Lord Taiyi had already gathered around him.

Zhao Gongming sniffed meaningfully, his gaze was full of playfulness.

Grand Master smiled and said: “Junior Brother, what else did My Lady teach you when she kept you back alone?”

“Because of the previous matters of the Human-Destroying Sword and the Northern Continent’s Wu Tribe, as well as the various affairs between Heaven and the Underworld,” Li Changshou said seriously, “Lady Houtu was simply thanking me for these things.”

The disappointment in everyone’s eyes was immediate.

Master Dao Bao waved his hand: “Let’s disperse, give our greetings to the Underworld’s King Yama, and find a place to drink.”

Zhao Gongming sighed with feeling: “This journey’s gains were not small.”

“Mm,” True Lord Taiyi played with a scroll in his hand and smiled, “learning that the Sea-Calming Divine Zhenzhus can spray water was truly eye-opening.”

Snap!

Zhao Gongming smiled with narrowed eyes, lightly snapping his fingers as twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Zhenzhus appeared around True Lord Taiyi, the latter’s form instantly frozen in place.

“Is it like this, Junior Brother Taiyi?”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Twenty-four treasure pearls simultaneously shot out streams of water, like twenty-four fists striking over, making True Lord Taiyi’s whole body tremble.

Guangchengzi shook his head seeing this, while True Lord Yuding also revealed a faint smile.

Seeing this scene, Li Changshou couldn’t help falling into thought and seeing Fairy Yunxiao ‘standing aloof from the world’ to one side, he stepped forward and actively walked over.

Later he would still need to have an in-depth exchange with True Lord Taiyi;

He couldn’t let his maxed-out skill in double entendre truly become the fuse for a war between the Three Schools of the Dao Path.

Not far away, the Grand Master was discussing with Guangchengzi and Master Dao Bao how to handle the mystic art bestowed by Lady Houtu. It could be seen that the Three Schools’ interest in this mystic art…

Was not great.

The methods cultivated by the disciples of the Sages were all authored by the Sages, and Lady Houtu’s cultivation level was still somewhat inferior to the Sages…

But they couldn’t not give Lady Houtu face.

Thus, the Grand Master proposed treating this divine ability as a protective mystic art of the Dao School, not easily transmitted to disciples.

Guangchengzi and Master Dao Bao naturally had no objections.

…

Within the Six Realms Wheel, the silver light on the grass ring atop Lady Houtu’s head was gradually fading, leaving only a long sigh:

“Sigh, what was I expecting, I definitely won’t be able to leave.

Now I can only rely on mixing together with the other six avatars to pass the days, and might even get bullied. My Lady definitely doesn’t like me either, and the other six will probably soon find my depression annoying…

What sisterly bonds from the same root and source – everything is as false as flowers in a mirror and the moon’s reflection in water.

The sadness is so great…”