“Don’t stop me! I’ll kill this bastard!” Within the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, just as ten figures had barely steadied themselves, a faint shadow lunged forward, striking toward Master Tayi’s imprisoned immortal body with lightning speed.

Fortunately, Master Yuding and Li Changshou acted in time. The former lightly tapped with his finger while the latter summoned a strand of the Taiji Diagram’s Dao essence, instantly freezing the flying shadow in place.

“Stop being mischievous.”

A gentle sigh drifted from afar, and in the haziness, a delicate hand seemed to wave, grasping a floating grass ring.

The immortals heard several more voices:

‘Ah, we have it so hard. When someone finally comes in, they get locked up just for saying hello.’

‘Hmm~ That annoying Sealed Cauldron is here again. Last time we got entangled, we still hadn’t determined who was superior.’

‘I’ll kill this foul-mouthed bastard! He hasn’t grown at all!’

The immortals couldn’t help but smile.

Li Changshou secretly observed Senior Kongshen’s reaction, noting that this powerful figure was curiously examining the situation within the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, showing no abnormalities.

Master Yellow Dragon, who had missed the previous battle, now stood like an outsider, somewhat uncomfortable with the atmosphere of this place.

In the distance, a white figure appeared as Lady Houtu approached, stopping at the summit of a hundred zhang hill, giving a slight nod to the assembled immortals.

Treasure Master Dao called out: “We pay our respects to Lady Houtu!”

The Dao experts bowed in unison, while Senior Kongshen merely cupped his hands and nodded in acknowledgment.

“Please, no need for formalities,” Lady Houtu spoke softly, her voice gentle. “Have you all come today regarding the Dao disturbance in the depths of the Blood Sea?”

Li Changshou asked: “Does My Lady know the specifics of this matter?”

Lady Houtu’s eyes revealed a trace of helplessness as she said: “A Sage took action, moving the Dao of Reincarnation while I was unprepared… I’m afraid this matter can no longer be prevented.”

Senior Zhao spoke in a deep voice: “Does My Lady know the Western Teaching’s specific calculations?”

Lady Houtu replied: “It seems they wish to establish another reincarnation cycle, to strengthen their fate.”

Li Changshou lowered his eyes in thought, then asked: “My Lady, when did the Seven Emotions first lose control?”

Lady Houtu’s face showed a contemplative expression as she answered: “Having stayed here for so long, I’ve lost sense of time’s passage, but it must have been quite a while ago.”

Treasure Master frowned and asked: “Could Brother Changshou suspect that the Western Teaching has already acted against the Netherworld?”

“Indeed,” Li Changshou took out several recording spheres from his sleeve, slowly pushing them forward. The spheres simultaneously projected streams of light.

Three thousand worlds, endless divine nations.

Mortals praying, merit filling the heavens.

Though those present were no ordinary beings, and Li Changshou had previously explained the situation, seeing these scenes still shocked them.

“Heh,” Senior Kongshen gave a light laugh, “Great Teaching indeed.”

Lady Houtu furrowed her brows, watching the scenes of mortals prostrating themselves, and asked: “With such faithful followers, can they still tend to their fields, gather resources, and hunt?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou nodded slowly, “But the faithful believe that their harvests and gatherings are bestowed by immortals and gods. Those who spread this teaching in the mortal realm pose as divine messengers – though mortal themselves, they receive offerings. Among the various types of so-called merit, mortals are treated as mere cattle and grass.”

Lady Houtu asked further: “Since ancient times, humanity has understood that ‘Heaven’s will is but human words.’ Why do they now believe in such things?”

“The immortal and mortal realms are now separated. Cultivators consider themselves refined and view the mortal world as polluted and turbid. We cannot compare it to ancient times,” Li Changshou sighed softly, continuing:

“Human Sovereigns rarely appear now, and even when one’s sovereign fate forms well, it only affects the Southern Continent, unable to influence the scattered Three Thousand Worlds. The Western Teaching has exploited this gap in the Dao School’s influence.”

The assembled Dao School masters showed thoughtful expressions.

Li Changshou made his point and said no more. Some matters couldn’t be changed through mere power – they required careful planning and long-term strategy.

He then brought the topic back to today’s main issue, speaking firmly: “Though the Western Teaching hasn’t directly challenged the Dao School, if they succeed today, using various divine nations as foundation during the Great Tribulation, they’ll have endless reinforcements and emerging experts, creating nearly infinite future troubles.

Fellow Senior Brothers and Sisters, as a disciple of the Dao School, I don’t wish to see its decline. Master previously invited me to cultivate at the Supreme Clarity Observatory for three years. Stopping the Western Teaching’s great rise now is also Master’s intention.

Lady Houtu, this junior boldly asks one more thing. If the Western Teaching threatens countless souls accumulated in their divine nations, would My Lady agree to establish a second reincarnation cycle?”

Lady Houtu stood on the verdant hillside, silent.

Senior Kongshen snorted nearby: “If one seeks benevolence momentarily but causes countless future beings to be controlled by such incense-fire divine nations, it’s losing the greater for the lesser. Why hesitate?”

Master Yuding countered: “Every soul is a being’s imprint. Lady Houtu’s great virtue naturally makes her reluctant.”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother’s eyes revealed a hint of coldness as she said: “If none wish to be the villain, this poor Daoist will handle those wandering souls.”

“With the Great Tribulation approaching, Junior Sister shouldn’t create killing karma, lest it brings karmic retribution and gives the tribulation an opportunity,” Treasure Master Dao said thus, continuing to frown in thought.

Master Yellow Dragon asked quietly: “Could it be… that only this poor Daoist doesn’t know what exactly we’re doing?”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh, explaining through voice transmission:

[The Western Teaching is secretly building a new reincarnation system. When the Reincarnation Palace is complete, they’ll surely bring out the mortal souls they’ve accumulated in their incense-fire divine nations over the past tens of thousands of years.

The most troublesome issue now is how to handle these countless souls if we intervene and destroy Western Teaching’s new Reincarnation Palace.

These souls have been preserved by the Western Teaching’s incense-fire merit and secret techniques, enduring through long years. They’re likely very fragile now, and without timely reincarnation, they’ll dissipate in a short time…]

Someone as gentle as Lady Houtu naturally wouldn’t want to see such a tragedy.

And this was exactly what Western Teaching intended to exploit.

In Li Changshou’s view, the crucial point in this game lies in Lady Houtu’s attitude. As long as they could get Lady Houtu to stand firmly behind them, refusing to recognize the Western Teaching’s Reincarnation Palace, what followed would merely be magical combat.

Master Tayi, who had just been freed from his restraints, muttered nearby:

“This is the Western Teaching’s evil-doing, why are we overthinking it?”

The grass ring worn by Lady Houtu trembled slightly, and Master Tayi instinctively stepped back half a step, moving behind Master Yuding.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “My Lady if I could properly arrange for these souls, would My Lady have no more concerns?”

“How would you arrange it?”

“The best strategy would be to occupy the Blood Sea, giving the Western Teaching’s Netherworld no foothold, but this would be tantamount to direct full-scale war with the Western Teaching, making it difficult to achieve.

The middle strategy would be to act in time before they release these countless souls, rescue these souls, and then quickly arrange for them to enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The lowest strategy would be to do our best within our means.”

Yunxiao, who had been like an outsider throughout, couldn’t help but smile at these four words “Do our best.”

Even he had times when he couldn’t achieve perfection.

Senior Zhao said: “The Sea-Calming Divine Zhenzhus could be worth trying.”

Treasure Master Dao rummaged through his sleeves and quickly pulled out a pile of items – bags, precious vases, basins, treasure pearls, and so on – all capable of nurturing and preserving souls…

“Everyone take some. When the time comes, save what we can do our best.”

Lady Houtu spoke gently: “Worldly matters rarely achieve perfection. If we can achieve the best or middle strategy, that would be ideal, but we shouldn’t force ourselves to be too harsh.

The incense-fire divine nations restrain all beings – this is a great harm.

Please consider this matter not just from the Dao School’s perspective, but also from that of all beings.

What do you need me to do?”

Li Changshou bowed and said: “My Lady need only refuse to recognize the second reincarnation cycle. Leave the rest to us.”

“Very well,” Lady Houtu nodded slightly, removing the grass ring from her head and pushing it forward.

The grass ring slowly rotated, floating toward Li Changshou, shrinking to the size of a bracelet before settling around his wrist.

Lady Houtu said: “Use it well.”

“Rest assured, My Lady,” Li Changshou made a Daoist bow, maintaining perfect composure.

Turning around, he made another Daoist bow to the assembled masters.

Including Senior Kongshen, all nine masters returned the gesture.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said: “Don’t start rambling! We all acknowledge your skill at planning, just give us your arrangements directly.”

“Then if I may be so bold,” Li Changshou drew out a glazed treasure pagoda from his sleeve.

Senior Zhao smiled and said: “This pagoda looks familiar.”

Senior Kongshen also smiled slightly, remembering that night… of their group lamp-extinguishing expedition.

“Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, and Friend Kongshen, please bear with me and enter the treasure pagoda to wait. Allow me to investigate thoroughly, gather sufficient intelligence, formulate detailed plans, and then seize the perfect opportunity to strike when they least expect it!”

The immortals agreed in succession, all considering it prudent.

Treasure Master and the others entered the glazed pagoda one by one, with Yunxiao and Senior Kongshen at the end.

Fairy Yunxiao asked worriedly: “Perhaps I should remain outside with you.”

“No need,” Li Changshou said seriously. “Don’t worry. For success, I only have about fifty percent confidence. But for survival, I barely have ninety-eight percent assurance.”

“Mm,” Yunxiao nodded slightly, concern lingering in her eyes as she cautioned him not to be reckless.

Li Changshou naturally agreed with a smile.

Senior Kongshen said nothing more, entering a separate level of the glazed pagoda, not mixing with the others.

Thereafter, under Lady Houtu’s curious gaze, Li Changshou sat cross-legged on the ground and began his preparations.

[No matter how high one’s cultivation, one shouldn’t blindly trust in their divine abilities.]

There’s always someone stronger, and no matter how masterful one’s illusions and transformation techniques are, they can’t fool the ‘divine eyes’ of those with higher cultivation.

Li Changshou used the Taiji Diagram’s Dao essence to conceal himself, briefly revealing his true appearance, then took out eyebrow pencils and powder, and began to paint meticulously.

Why had he studied painting in those years?

First, to ‘set the makeup’ for his paper dolls, and second, to disguise his true form.

Today was perfect for employing these great techniques!

In just moments, he had physically transformed his face to be seven or eight parts similar to Master Luya’s true appearance.

Then, Li Changshou took out two jade bottles from his sleeve, pouring out Golden Crow blood that he had extracted from his robes during the Northern Continent battle, transforming these blood traces into aura, and wrapping it around his entire body.

Next, he mixed in strands of True Solar Flame among these auras.

—True Solar Flame wasn’t just the Golden Crow’s innate divine ability; it could also be collected from the Sun Star’s core, originally stored in the Doushuai Palace for alchemy use.

Then…

He strapped the purple-white gourd containing the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife to his back, changed into brown Daoist robes, and used transformation techniques to become a hunched old Daoist.

Thus, the four layers of disguise at the foundation were complete.

Li Changshou turned around, withdrawing the Taiji Diagram’s Dao essence, and bowed to the somewhat stunned Lady Houtu, smiling as he said:

“My Lady, could you send me silently to the outskirts of Fengdu City? Preferably directly through the city’s grand formation.”

“Mm,” Lady Houtu agreed, but couldn’t help asking, “This is…”

“Some necessary disguise techniques,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “This Master Luya died by my hand, but the Golden Crow clan excels in flame divine abilities and are divine birds. If I’m discovered, I’ll use the Phoenix clan’s nirvana technique to deceive them.”

“I see.”

For some reason, Lady Houtu’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Inside the glazed pagoda, the Dao School masters and Senior Kongshen who witnessed this scene had varying expressions.

Senior Kongshen, alone on his level, twitched his lips, held back repeatedly, but still laughed.

While the Dao School masters sharing a level couldn’t help but express their views on Li Changshou’s style of conduct…

Treasure Master Dao smiled and said: “Being Li Changshou’s enemy is truly troublesome.”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said: “This is perhaps too… I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Brother Changshou acts thoroughly and cautiously, he’s our role model!” Senior Zhao naturally praised extensively.

Master Tayi tucked his hands in his sleeves, shrugging: “This poor Daoist thinks you might have misunderstood—he’s probably just simply afraid of death.”

Yunxiao’s gaze swept over, her brows slightly furrowed…

Master Tayi somehow felt his legs weaken, and he sat down cross-legged, involuntarily adding:

“However, on matters of principle, Brother Changshou never compromises!”

Master Yuding nodded with a smile, while Treasure Master and Senior Zhao from the Severing Teaching exchanged glances, their eyes crinkling with amusement.

Then they heard Li Changshou’s disguised elderly voice from outside the pagoda:

“My Lady, please wait, I’ll first use transformation techniques.”

All the masters peered outside, watching as Li Changshou transformed into an Asura clan girl with silver hair and red eyes, a most common sight in the Blood Sea.

The girl immediately added another layer of transformation, becoming a thumb-sized lizard, then turning transparent, completely concealing her aura.

The assembled immortals and Lady Houtu couldn’t help but raise their hands to their foreheads.

The small lizard turned its head, crawled a few steps, quickly entered the seven-colored light ring ahead, and vanished with a whoosh…

At this moment, in Li Changshou’s heart, Tower Lord was both amused and mock-scolding:

“Little disciple, what are you doing? Old Master put Master Diagram at your disposal just so you could go all out in a fight! But look at you, calling for help, disguising yourself—this damages our Supreme Clarity’s reputation. Just go straight to the Blood Sea’s depths. With me and Master Diagram together, what’s there to fear even if that Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree shows up?”

The true Heaven-Earth Ruler agreed: “Exactly, exactly!”

A voice indistinguishable between yin and yang asked in Li Changshou’s heart:

“Why did you invite so many Dao School disciples?”

Li Changshou laughed inwardly and asked in return:

“If a Western Sage is guarding that second Reincarnation Palace, with everyone’s protection and Master’s shelter, I might be able to retreat safely, but wouldn’t that leave us with no more chances?”

Tower Lord disagreed: “A Sage secretly manipulating the Dao is one thing, but personally acting as a guard?”

“That’s something no one can be certain of,” the Taiji Diagram unexpectedly agreed with this.

Tower Lord chuckled: “If Master Diagram says so, it must be right. Old Master’s favorite thing about Little Disciple is his cautiousness, isn’t it? However, these Sage disciples alone aren’t a match for a Sage.”

Li Changshou smiled, his lizard form quickly crawling through the void, sinking into the depths of the Blood Sea.

Some things couldn’t be explained to others; he understood them himself.

All his current arrangements, the various masters he had invited, were merely to ensure that if suddenly ambushed by a Sage, they could delay for just an instant, allowing their own Sage master to arrive.

With the Taiji Diagram, Mystic Yellow Pagoda, Heaven-Earth Ruler;

Combined with Senior Kongshen’s Five-Colored Divine Light, Senior Zhao’s Sea-Calming Divine Zhenzhus, Fairy Yunxiao’s Primordial Golden Dipper, Golden Spirit Holy Mother’s Dragon-Tiger As-Wished, Treasure Master Dao’s ‘King’s Treasury,’ Master Yuding’s cauldron, Master Tayi’s mouth…

His survival chances when encountering a Sage were calculated to ninety-eight percent no matter how he figured it.

Glancing at the grass ring on his wrist, feeling the Seven Emotions power flowing quietly within, he realized Lady Houtu had also given him a measure of survival ability.

Li Changshou had added one more layer of security.

His deliberate invitation to Master Yellow Dragon wasn’t because Yellow Dragon was an honest dragon, but purely because…

This master was a hidden lucky star!

In the original Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, Yellow Dragon had been captured so many times, hung at the Shang army’s gate, pulled by his pigtail so many times, yet hadn’t died?

The superstition of longevity.