“Sigh…”

When East Master Wood bowed before the Palace of Celestial Purity and that thunderclap exploded beside the Jade Emperor’s mortal incarnation in the Southern Jambudvipa Continent…

In a dark corner flickering with faint blue light, a young Daoist with disheveled hair sat cross-legged, letting out a soft sigh.

Warm, gentle Dao essence surged in this darkness, enveloping him, nourishing him, comforting him.

Behind him was a slowly rotating treasure pagoda, sprinkling streams of primordial essence to suppress this narrow cosmos.

Before him was a bronze ruler, now emanating waves of ripples, adding another layer of cosmic isolation.

Outside this isolation was a fully activated golden dipper;

Beyond the golden dipper, the Taiji Diagram rotated slowly, sealing the dipper’s opening…

Before the young Daoist, a treasure map formed of immortal power constantly shifted. He occasionally wrote down a character or two, or drew some ‘objects and spirits.’

Upon careful observation, this darkness concealed flickering characters and patterns.

Suddenly, several treasures trembled simultaneously, and he paused his actions, concealing everything.

“Water God,” Baize’s voice transmitted, “His Majesty the Jade Emperor has been awakened by Master Wood. Should we proceed according to plan?”

“Mm.”

He merely responded thus, his eyes showing little expression.

Baize’s voice carried slight hesitation: “If you choose to retreat now, with my help, Water God, you could escape this great tribulation…”

The golden dipper fell silent for a moment before the young Daoist calmly said:

“That would be unstable.”

Baize gave a light laugh. The golden dipper was sealed, and the various treasures once again manifested their powers.

The young Daoist sat there thinking, imagining, and searching, as the characters and patterns hidden in the darkness around him gradually multiplied.

If one could peek into his Dao’s heart, one would see this scene:

In the blue-green spirit platform echoing with solemn sutra chanting, his Primordial Spirit sat quietly. Before the Primordial Spirit, streams of black qi condensed into the figure of an elderly Daoist.

This elderly Daoist’s face was unclear, simply sitting quietly opposite him.

Watching him.

…

In the starry night, the Palace of Celestial Purity first blazed with golden light illuminating one layer of heaven, then flashed with lightning and thunder as the Great Dao trembled.

In the Heavenly Court, the immortals, deities, and Celestial Army first felt uneasy and somewhat surprised, but after sensing the Jade Emperor’s rising fury…

Their immortal hearts shook greatly!

With their pillar of support returned, the confusion, emptiness, and uncertainty that had plagued the Heavenly Court’s immortals vanished at this moment.

Because they knew that from now on, they need not worry, only follow orders.

In less than half a watch, mobilization orders from the Hall of Clarity reached the commanders of various Celestial Army divisions, gradually stirring up excitement from the lower three layers of the Nine Heavens to the Five Heavenly Gates!

Squad after squad of celestial soldiers, general after general converged on the Northern, Central, and Western Heavenly Gates.

When cloud paths became congested, they flew in interwoven patterns above and below;

When the standing room ran short, they extended outward from the Heavenly Gates.

The Jade Emperor had decreed that the Heavenly Court would wage all-out war against the Northern Continent’s demon tribes!

Yet at this time, the Jade Emperor hadn’t appeared in person. Those busy in the Hall of Clarity and elsewhere were Master Wood and other immortals and deities.

The Jade Emperor went alone to the Palace of Satisfaction.

Since establishing the Heavenly Court with the Elder Lord in permanent residence here, the Jade Emperor had never visited the Palace of Satisfaction.

This was because although the Elder Lord was nominally the Jade Emperor’s subject, he was a Sage’s avatar. The Jade Emperor didn’t know how he should be received when visiting the Palace of Satisfaction, or if it would make Elder Brother Taiqing uncomfortable.

However today, the Jade Emperor had to come here to ask about Li Changshou’s current condition.

Although His Majesty the Jade Emperor knew in his heart that with Elder Brother Taiqing present, Li Changshou’s life couldn’t possibly be in danger, as Master Wood had said…

Twelve years without news was truly unsettling.

The Jade Emperor arrived at the Palace of Satisfaction wearing golden armor. The palace gates were wide open, with clouds and mist swirling inside as clear wooden fish sounds drifted on the wind.

The two boy attendants, Little Gold, and Little Silver, unhurriedly stepped across the palace gate threshold, knelt before the Jade Emperor in the deep ceremony, and said in unison:

“Welcome, Your Majesty!”

The Jade Emperor knew this was Elder Brother Taiqing showing some face to him as the Heavenly Emperor. He now showed a gentle smile and said:

“No need for such ceremony. Is the Elder Lord in the palace?”

“Your Majesty’s pardon, the Elder Lord went wandering in the clouds some years ago and hasn’t returned,” Little Gold reported with a lowered head. “But before leaving, the Elder Lord left word that if Your Majesty came regarding Brother Changgeng, to please set Your Majesty’s mind at ease.

Brother Changgeng was gravely injured then, and his Dao powers nearly shattered. He is now recovering on Three Immortal Island, carefully tended by Immortal Lady Yuanxiao and protected by various treasures. His life is no longer in danger.

If Your Majesty wishes to deploy troops against the demon tribes, please consider how precious the Heavenly Court’s current situation is.”

The Jade Emperor noticeably relaxed and smiled: “Changgeng is well, Changgeng is well.

Did the Elder Lord leave any other messages?

I cannot see the Heavenly Court’s immortals and deities bullied while acting as if nothing happened. Later I shall also lead the Heavenly Court’s armies to charge at the front… Very well.

Following the Elder Lord’s words, I shall now gather all immortals to discuss before deploying troops.”

With these words, the Jade Emperor saluted the Palace of Satisfaction and returned to the Palace of Celestial Purity.

After the Jade Emperor left, Little Gold and Little Silver exchanged glances and both sighed in relief.

They jumped back into the Palace of Satisfaction and closed the great doors as the Sage Taiqing’s profound Dao essence enveloped the palace.

Little Silver muttered uneasily: “Does this count as stirring up trouble?”

“What do you mean stirring up trouble? How is this stirring up trouble?”

Little Gold scolded: “The Elder Lord said before leaving that Brother Changgeng’s words would be as the Elder Lord’s words, and we should just listen.

Besides, we’re advising His Majesty the Jade Emperor to stay calm. If we directly went to war with the demon tribes, the Heavenly Court wouldn’t have enough experts to support it and would suffer heavy losses. We’ve just gotten some assets, and they’d all be lost!”

“Oh right, we’re doing good,” Little Silver blinked, seeming much more at ease.

Meanwhile, His Majesty the Jade Emperor returned to the Palace of Celestial Purity and immediately summoned all the Heavenly Court’s immortals and deities.

Civil and military officials lined up separately as a murderous atmosphere filled the Palace of Celestial Purity.

The Jade Emperor sat high on his throne in golden armor and said:

“Master Wood, report the demon tribe matter in detail.”

Below the high platform, East Master Wood bowed in ceremony and reported in detail all matters since the Jade Emperor’s descent to the mortal realm:

[The demon tribes issued a declaration denouncing Heaven and announcing they would not respect the Heavenly Court’s orders. Following the Water God’s decision, the Heavenly Court issued a counter-declaration to uphold Heaven’s authority, then used delaying tactics to break the demon tribes’ morale.

The Water God also presided over the great battle of the Northern Continent, where the Heavenly Court eliminated many demon tribe elites at minimal cost, greatly reducing their threat to the Heavenly Court and further dampening their morale.]

Master Wood said: “The Water God said to wait for Your Majesty’s return from mortal tribulation to lead the demon extermination campaign, but…”

“Master Wood need not hesitate, I shall speak,” the Jade Emperor’s expression was extremely stern. “That day when Master Wood was surrounded and attacked by demon realm experts, the Water God rescued him in time, suffering grave injuries for this, and has yet to awaken.”

At these words, half the immortals and deities below showed sudden understanding, while half showed some anger.

In the rear of the Celestial General formation, Ao Yi threw down his helmet and charged out of the crowd, striding forward more than ten paces before dropping to one knee with a lowered head and crying out:

“Your Majesty! Please allow this subordinate to lead troops charging at the front! To avenge my sect master brother!”

“Granted,” said the Jade Emperor. “Ao Yi need not worry, the Water God is out of danger. Return to your place.”

Ao Yi lowered his head in acknowledgment and returned to his position, standing quietly.

The performance had to be just right.

The Jade Emperor asked again: “Today, I wish to attack the demon tribes at the Northern Continent’s borders. Do my beloved officials have any strategies to offer?”

The immortals and deities below fell silent for a while.

Master Wood used his immortal consciousness to look at the jade talisman in his sleeve, the ‘Sea God Military Strategy’ that Ao Yi had presented when they met moments ago.

Master Wood was waiting, waiting for the situation described in the jade talisman to appear.

The great hall remained quiet for two more breaths before the Jade Emperor asked again: “Is there truly no one with a clever plan?”

“Your Majesty!”

An elderly Daoist called out loudly, as if making some difficult decision, and bowed with hands clasped, saying: “Your subject has a strategy!”

“Speak.”

The elderly Daoist shouted: “Those demon tribes have long plagued all directions, and all living beings under heaven have suffered them for too long!

Now the demon tribes disrespect the Heavenly Court and plot to harm important court officials – crimes too great to forgive!

However, the Heavenly Court has just begun, and though we don’t lack troops and generals, we lack many experts. The demon tribes have had a plague since ancient times and hide many experts. In this campaign against the demon tribes, without expert reinforcement… victory would be difficult!

Ah!”

The Jade Emperor nodded slowly and said with displeasure: “Is Official Fu Yuan’s strategy merely to repeat what everyone already knows?”

“Your Majesty!”

Immortal Fu Yuan continued shouting: “Your subject’s strategy is to summon experts from the Dao sects in the name of the Heavenly Court!

Your subject is willing to personally go request aid from the Enlightenment Teaching!”

The Jade Emperor’s brows furrowed, and then he sat on his throne in brief contemplation.

Below the high platform, Master Wood sighed inwardly.

Everything was true as the Water God had predicted, even down to who would step forward to offer strategy and what they would say, differing little from the jade talisman’s predictions.

Since this was so…

“Your Majesty,” Master Wood immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, “This old minister is willing to represent Your Majesty in requesting assistance from experts outside!”

“Good!”

The Jade Emperor had now made his determination, his eyes gleaming with divine light and spirit.

“Transmit my command: the army shall deploy immediately to surround the Northern Continent’s borders. Wait for these two beloved officials to bring expert reinforcements, then annihilate the Northern Continent’s demons in one battle to uphold Heaven’s authority!”

All the immortals and deities in the hall received the command in unison: “We obey Your Majesty’s decree.”

The Jade Emperor opened his right hand as the treasure pearl atop the Palace of Celestial Purity blazed with golden light. Streams of golden light gathered in the Jade Emperor’s palm, condensing into an incomparably sharp treasure sword.

The Divine Authority Sword of the Heavenly Dao!

The Jade Emperor pointed forward with his sword and commanded in a low voice:

“March!”

Thus, the various divisions of the Heavenly Court’s armies, group by group, cluster by cluster, filled the sky dome as they surged toward the Northern Continent.

Master Wood led a troop of soldiers, hurriedly rushing toward Golden Tortoise Island, constantly reading the contents of the jade talisman with his immortal consciousness.

He had read it dozens of times, yet still found it shocking.

Though Master Wood’s cultivation wasn’t high, after so many years in the Heavenly Court, he was no fool. How could he not see how today’s events would impact the primordial world?

The jade talisman said:

‘…The immortals and deities rushing to the Jade Void Palace to request aid will certainly be arrogant in bearing and deliberately giving orders to the Sage’s disciples, thus provoking the Sage’s disciples’ dissatisfaction and refusal of the Heavenly Court’s mobilization order.

If those rushing to Golden Tortoise Island to request aid harbor similar ill intentions, the Dao sects will be in danger.

I cannot appear at this time and can only request Master Wood to rush to Golden Tortoise Island.

Before entering the island, Master Wood will certainly be stopped by those claiming to be Severing Sect immortals…’

“Friend, where are you headed?”

Suddenly hearing a call, Master Wood’s immortal consciousness probed thousands of miles away to see several streams of light flying from the southwest direction, stopping him.

What happened next made Master Wood increasingly alarmed.

Everything developed exactly as shown in the jade talisman the Water God had given him.

Those who stopped Master Wood claimed to be second-generation immortals of the Severing Sect, coming specially to meet him after learning he was going to request aid from the Severing Sect.

But they hadn’t come to provide support. Instead, they said:

‘The world faces great tribulation. Following Senior Brother Duobao’s orders, the Severing Sect cannot rashly venture out at this time.’

Master Wood’s brows furrowed tightly. After speaking more with the several Severing Sect immortals, he turned back toward the Heavenly Court.

By now, Master Wood had read the jade talisman so many times that he seemed to hear the Water God’s characteristically calm and composed voice in his heart:

[The only way to break the deadlock…]

Approaching the Eastern Heavenly Gate, East Master Wood gritted his teeth and stamped his foot. The white cloud beneath his feet turned as he borrowed the Heavenly Court’s cloud paths to head toward the Western Cattle Gift Continent, directly toward Spirit Mountain.

Immortal light blazed atop Spirit Mountain as several Sage disciples prepared to receive Master Wood;

But what caught them off guard was that Master Wood only approached Spirit Mountain’s vicinity before immediately turning back, shaking his head with a sigh and showing a helpless expression.

Spirit Mountain crowd: ???

Half a day later.

Above the Northern Continent, the Jade Emperor sat high in the Heavenly Emperor’s dragon carriage, his expression extremely gloomy.

Two hours ago, Immortal Fu Yuan had come to beg forgiveness, kneeling before the dragon carriage and crying out loudly, saying he was useless and couldn’t invite the Sage’s disciples, and had even been ridiculed…

This undoubtedly poured cold water on the high morale of the Celestial Army and Generals and added several hints of anger to the Jade Emperor’s eyes.

Dark clouds filled the sky for ten thousand miles around as various divisions of the Celestial Army and Generals awaited orders from him, their Heavenly Emperor;

The Enlightenment Teaching’s humiliation of the Heavenly Court’s envoy and refusal to send experts to help had undoubtedly slapped him in the face.

Just then, East Master Wood led a division of celestial soldiers from the west, his crying voice arriving before his person as he knelt before the carriage to report what had happened.

When the Jade Emperor heard that East Master Wood had gone to Golden Tortoise Island only to be told by the Severing Sect that they couldn’t send support to the Heavenly Court due to the descent of great tribulation;

And then East Master Wood had rushed to Spirit Mountain in the Western Cattle Gift Continent but couldn’t even climb the mountain gate…

The Jade Emperor took a deep breath, sitting in his carriage about to burst out in angry cursing.

At this moment, no experts came to aid from the Sage’s Dao lineages.

Truly…

TRULY!

The Human Dao Great Law Master guarded the Xuandu City beyond Heaven, while the Enlightenment Teaching, Severing Sect, and Western Teaching each refused to send people!

His Heavenly Court had mobilized to this point and was already like riding a tiger – difficult to dismount. If they withdrew troops, the Heavenly Court would lose tremendous face, and who knew how the demon tribes below would ridicule them;

If they didn’t withdraw… if they didn’t withdraw…

They would have to use the lives of Celestial Soldiers and Generals to fill the bodies of those ancient great demons!

The Jade Emperor rose in his carriage, his long hair flying as thunder rolled behind him.

He clenched his fists, then released them, repeating this several times, his sword-like brows and star-like eyes containing cold light as the Heavenly Emperor’s Divine Authority Sword beside him constantly trembled.

“Withdraw.”

This word seemed to take all the Jade Emperor’s strength, making even East Master Wood’s heart clench.

The Heavenly Court’s armies withdrew silently like the tide, as earthshaking cheers rose from the demon tribes below.

Another half day later, in the Palace of Celestial Purity.

The Jade Emperor swung his sword, splitting the jade desk before him in half, then turned, removing his golden armor and golden helmet, summoning the Heavenly Emperor’s Imperial Seal as he rushed straight to the deepest part of the Nine Heavenly Gates!

This position of ruler of the Three Realms – he might as well not do it!

Three days later, the primordial world’s weather changed as black clouds covered the Five Continents for a day and night.

A piece of news spread throughout the primordial world:

[The Jade Emperor, dissatisfied with the Three Teachings’ disciples’ disrespect for the Heavenly Court and Heaven’s Mandate, went to the Purple Void Palace to cry out to the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor descended great tribulation, ordering the Three Teachings’ Sages – Original Heavenly Honored One, Supreme Lord of the Way, Take Crossing, and True Achieve, along with Taiqing Laozi and Holy Mother Nuwa – to go together to the Purple Void Palace in a hundred years to discuss the canonization of gods.]

The Great Canonization Tribulation thus began.

But the heavenly mechanisms were completely chaotic, the way of divination was sealed, and none in the primordial world except the Sages knew what the great tribulation was for or how to canonize gods.

…

“Sigh.”

In the Primordial Golden Dipper, the young Daoist sitting beneath layers of treasure concealment, that is, Li Changshou, sighed for the second time.

In his Dao heart’s spirit platform, the black shadow that had been like an elderly Daoist ‘before him’ had now silently dispersed.

The sutra chanting became increasingly clear as his gaze grew brighter.

After countless calculations planning the canonization, he hadn’t expected to become the trigger for the Great Canonization Tribulation himself, to become the trigger for the Jade Emperor’s fury.

This was the Heavenly Dao – omnipresent, nearly omnipotent, manipulating living beings under its control.

Senior Waves from ancient times, and himself now, had both become pieces in the Heavenly Dao’s game.

But Li Changshou didn’t feel at this moment that he had lost to the Heavenly Dao in this game.

In the golden dipper, Li Changshou took out two treasures from his bosom and placed them before him.

The Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife;

The Demon Emperor’s Imperial Seal.

— Later, he would present the Demon Emperor’s Imperial Seal to the Heavenly Court, dealing a fatal blow to the demon tribes. The great gourd had another use, as this treasure was also quite difficult to subdue.

Lu Ya was dead.

Though the Seven Arrow Curse Book’s whereabouts were unknown and the possibility of Brother Zhao being killed in the great tribulation hadn’t been erased, it at least proved the Heavenly Dao’s script wasn’t unchangeable.

The Heavenly Dao had used his hand to determine the person for canonization – Jiang Ziya.

And used this to force him into the tribulation, becoming the trigger for the Jade Emperor’s blame of the Three Teachings, initiating the canonization.

At the same time, Li Changshou had also struck a blow against Western Teaching, directly pulling them into the great tribulation while extracting the Human Dao Teaching.

This wasn’t accomplished in one step, but from his interference in the dragon tribe’s entry to Heaven and game with the West, step by step creating enmity between the Heavenly Court and the West, constantly accumulating ‘great fortune’ to achieve such change.

Master Wood going to Spirit Mountain seemed like a casual move from Li Changshou, but for the Western Sages, it was an unsolvable problem.

If they moved against Master Wood, the West would directly go to war with the Heavenly Court, with unpredictable consequences.

So Spirit Mountain actively welcomed Master Wood and was even prepared to send experts to help the Heavenly Court destroy the demon tribes, but Master Wood didn’t enter Spirit Mountain at all, turning back immediately, leaving everyone on Spirit Mountain only able to stare helplessly.

This was neither an obvious scheme nor a hidden plot, but a price;

The price of Western Teaching’s Sage True Achieve’s intervention when Li Changshou killed Lu Ya before.

By then, the West had entered the tribulation, and the Heavenly Dao was also willing to let the West enter the tribulation.

What the Heavenly Dao always wanted was stability in the world.

Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything had changed. The Heavenly Dao was gathering variables, and he had entered the tribulation for killing Lu Ya.

In the Primordial Golden Dipper, Li Changshou sighed for the third time.

This time, he raised the carving knife formed of immortal power in his hand, gazing at the treasure map before him.

This was his Dao – the balance of all things.

Divine light surged in his eyes, golden light blazed from his forehead, his sleeves and long hair dancing wildly!

Inside the golden dipper, the originally dark narrow cosmos suddenly lit up with water-blue characters.

The Taiji Diagram, Primordial Golden Dipper, Mysterious Yellow Pagoda, and Cosmos Ruler simultaneously erupted with power. Three Immortal Islands crackled with thunder, but no divine lightning struck the Primordial Golden Dipper.

Li Changshou murmured:

“I can be a piece in the Heavenly Dao’s game because I am inherently part of the Heavenly Dao, a mote of dust in heaven and earth.

But the Heavenly Dao is the will of heaven and earth. Under the Heavenly Dao, living beings have no privacy and are controlled. Though all things may be treated as straw dogs, living beings are ultimately different from dead things.

Pangu opened heaven and earth, creating a place for all spirits to dwell.

The Dao Ancestor completed the Heavenly Dao, establishing order here for all spirits.

This is precisely where living beings and the Heavenly Dao diverge.

Today, I write the Heavenly Dao into my Dao – there must be a balance between the will of heaven and earth and living beings.”

His words paused as the carving knife fell.

Immortal light surged throughout Li Changshou’s body as if expending all his strength to write the characters for ‘Heavenly Dao’ in that treasure map.

In an instant, Dao essence erupted around Li Changshou, then exploded and dispersed into formlessness!

“Master… thank you.”