What defines a realm? This is what defines a realm!

A statement could be heavy or light, but it spoke the truth. On the surface, it merely stated a fact that everyone knew.

But at this moment, in this place, in this situation, with that tone of sudden realization, stating the fact that ‘even Sages have their strengths and weaknesses’…

When it came to speaking with subtle sarcasm, True Lord Taiyi never disappointed!

Li Changshou couldn’t help but admire this.

In the art of sarcastic rhetoric, True Lord Taiyi was unmatched in the Primordial Chaos!

Each master had their specialty. As a mere regular official of the Celestial Court, he could only reason with facts and employ a bit of sophistry, making a modest contribution to today’s affairs.

Although True Lord Taiyi had been overly aggressive in starting the confrontation earlier, now that their side had received powerful reinforcements and gained the initiative, just one perfectly timed sarcastic remark had fundamentally changed the entire situation!

Sage Zhunti was caught in a predicament, forced to step forward and respond to Sovereign Teacher Tongtian’s challenge.

This was the charm of a grand linguistic artist of the Primordial Chaos!

This was the true strength of the second-generation disciple of the Enlightenment Sect!

Well, it would be better to keep Spirit Zhenzhu Child in the Celestial Court from now on. Otherwise, he would need to warn Spirit Zhenzhu Child to reduce the times he went out alone with his master True Lord Taiyi.

This child’s reincarnation would most likely be attributed to his master’s honey-coated but expired words…

Li Changshou finally believed that a being’s words could indeed make others cough blood from anger.

Looking at this moment, while the facial expression of the Western Teachings’ Sage’s Dharma body showed no immediate joy or anger, the disciples of the Western Teachings all had reddened faces, yet they could not refute this matter.

Sovereign Teacher Tongtian squinted with a light smile and said calmly, “If you’re unwilling, let your Senior Brother come.”

“Alas…”

Amidst the long sigh, the Sage’s Dharma body at the Samsara Tower gradually dissipated. The vast clouds swiftly retreated, and the three-hundred-and-sixty-story treasure tower emanated a faint radiance, its connection with the Heavenly Dao completely severed.

An elderly Daoist sat cross-legged on auspicious clouds, slowly flying out from the tower’s peak. His face was gaunt, his gaze dim, showing neither ripple nor wave.

The elderly Daoist replied, “If so, then beyond the heavens.”

Tongtian raised an eyebrow, throwing forward the Green Pine Sword in his hand. It landed before Fairy Yunxiao, and then he rose to his full height, meeting the gaze of the elderly Daoist-looking Sage Zhunti.

The Great Dao tensed, and heaven and earth fell silent!

The space here seemed frozen, and all the Sages’ disciples present felt their own Dao trembling.

It was as if two towering ancient trees had suddenly appeared in what was originally a lush forest, blocking out both sky and sun…

“Hmph!”

Sage Zhunti left half a cold snort, while Sovereign Teacher Tongtian left behind traces of light laughter.

Just as Li Changshou wondered if the Sages’ confrontation had ended so quickly, the two Sages’ forms flickered and mysteriously vanished!

No trace of energy remained, not even half a ripple was left behind. Their forms were as if they had never appeared here!

The next instant!

The Great Dao trembled, heaven and earth shook, the Blood Sea was almost entirely overturned, and countless wandering souls in the Netherworld were shattered into pure spirit!

The Sages’ disciples present all turned pale, and those with weaker cultivation directly lowered their heads and spat blood…

In the minds of everyone present, fragments of the Sages’ battle appeared to varying degrees.

What Li Changshou saw in his mind:

That handsome and elegant young Daoist had his left hand behind his back, his right hand forming a sword finger. With a smiling face and spirited expression, his fingertip shot out eighty thousand miles of sword energy, severing void space and stirring wind and clouds, causing the chaos energy at the edge of the void to continuously collapse.

And Sage Zhunti, who had always been secretly criticized as the sixth Sage, now revealed a sixteen-foot-tall golden body. The arms behind his back were countless at a glance, with phantom images appearing around him. Divine pestles, Seven Treasure Wonderful Trees, and other powerful treasures joined the battle from all sides. For a time…

Sage Zhunti was merely being pressured by the sword energy rather than being immediately broken, managing to receive all the offensive moves from Sovereign Teacher Tongtian!

Jokes aside, the might of a Sage was truly extraordinary.

The battle between two Sages was incredibly rare in heaven and earth. Perhaps since the six ancient Sages had successively ascended to their positions, this was the first such great battle to erupt within the perception range of all beings.

The two Sages quickly burst out of void space, far from the Primordial Chaos world, and their impact on the world rapidly diminished…

Feeling such Dao fluctuations, Li Changshou truly felt like he was on a small broken boat, drifting with the waves on a storm-tossed sea.

Fortunately, Fairy Yunxiao came over timely and used her own Dao rhythm to share most of the pressure for Li Changshou. Meanwhile, Zhao Gongming, Duobao Daoren, True Lord Yuding, and Golden Spirit Sacred Mother all took action, adding multiple layers of protection for their group of nine immortals.

True Lord Taiyi, whose realm was not much higher than Li Changshou’s, quietly walked to True Lord Yuding’s side. Looking at Li Changshou who was being protected by Fairy Yunxiao, he sighed:

“Not as good ah, still not as good.”

“Mm,” True Lord Yuding revealed a slightly gentle smile, holding the bronze mirror as he stepped to Li Changshou’s side to discuss matters with the other experts.

True Lord Taiyi: …

Duobao Daoren smiled and said, “Master not using magical treasures is indeed somewhat disadvantageous.”

Golden Spirit Sacred Mother calmly said, “Don’t worry, Master isn’t being overconfident.”

“A battle between Sages,” True Lord Huanglong’s eyes were full of emotion as he sighed with his hands behind his back, “Such a spectacle probably only appeared occasionally in ancient times. I never thought we could still see it now.”

Li Changshou hadn’t forgotten the current ‘major event’ and took a bronze mirror to continue his live commentary.

“…Everyone has seen that a battle between Sages has now erupted. The future direction of the situation can only be known after the Sages return from battle.

Since this location is beneath the Blood Sea, maintaining such magical devices consumes a large amount of immortal power. I will temporarily shut this off and share it with everyone again when necessary.

Regarding the debate about the Incense Fire Divine Kingdom, it was much shorter than I expected. They weren’t prepared to make any defense at all, and their intention to rely on force to bully others couldn’t be more obvious.

How could the Western Teachings be so arrogant? Alas…

I am Celestial Court Recorder Li Changgen, bringing you together to witness the history of Primordial Chaos, being a dutiful and happy immortal deity.”

After speaking, Li Changshou sealed the restrictions on the bronze mirror.

His sigh echoed throughout the Celestial Court, and everyone from top to bottom, from the Heaven Gate to the Jade Pool, from the Water God Manor to the Heaven-Human Realm, began heated discussions.

A battle between Sages!

The debate about the Incense Fire Divine Kingdom!

The Second Samsara!

Taiyi’s mouth!

The Water God had been busy with so many major events in places they couldn’t see, working hard for the stability of heaven and earth!

Bian Zhuang felt this most deeply. Previously, he had some malicious speculations about the Water God choosing their Tianya Pavilion as the bridgehead for the [Anti-Western Immortal Dao Alliance].

Perhaps the Water God valued their Tianya Pavilion’s environment, with the Poison Expert Lü Yue often residing there, first for official business, and second for…

Hehe.

But now, Bian Zhuang suddenly discovered that the gap between him and the Water God wasn’t about realm, cultivation, or vision.

Their levels of existence were vastly different!

However, Ao Yi, who had been influenced by the Classic of Stability, had already begun to ponder how many layers of deep meaning were hidden in his teacher-brother’s live broadcast this time.

Ao Yi could only think of five layers, but he felt that what he saw was far from enough…

In the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor paced back and forth before his jade desk, while Wood Duke and several other true gods below only lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

The Jade Emperor’s avatar Qin Tianzu had already gone to the Water God Manor, wanting to ask if there was anything he as the Heavenly Emperor could help with, but Li Changshou didn’t take the initiative to meet…

The Jade Emperor also feared distracting Li Changshou and thereby affecting the major events on that side. After hesitating for a while, he ultimately didn’t let his avatar disturb him, waiting for his beloved official Changgeng to actively seek help.

Let’s return to beneath the Blood Sea.

The nine experts centered around Li Changshou had now sat down cross-legged, quietly waiting for the result of the Sages’ battle.

That group of Western Teachings’ Sage disciples and hidden experts were all protecting the front of the Samsara Tower…

Although Sovereign Teacher Tongtian had severed the connection between the Samsara Tower and the Heavenly Dao, Zhunti’s earlier action had also protected the Samsara Tower itself.

— The Sage’s Dharma body’s reaching out hadn’t grabbed empty air.

Duobao Daoren smiled and said, “Changgeng, why didn’t you directly argue for three hours before?

Sister, please don’t misunderstand, your elder brother has no other meaning, just hoping you can be harmonious and beautiful together.”

“Thank you, Elder Brother,” Li Changshou responded straightforwardly, then glanced at Fairy Yunxiao beside him.

Their gazes only lightly touched before quickly moving away. Although Yunxiao appeared completely calm, her sitting posture had become somewhat less relaxed.

Li Changshou sighed and said, “They had no power to resist, things were just as they were, and it was difficult to argue for hours.”

True Lord Huanglong asked puzzledly, “Changgeng, when did you collect so much evidence?”

“During those ten years serving in the Moon Palace,” Li Changshou said, “The Jade Emperor was punishing me then for assisting during his mortal tribulation, making me the chief instructor of three hundred Chang’e.

Having nothing else to do, I had my avatar travel through the Three Thousand Worlds.”

Yunxiao nodded deeply in agreement and said softly, “You like to scheme and are good at calculating. It must have been difficult for you to stay in one place for so long.”

Zhao Gongming beside them snorted laughter, turning his head as if stroking his beard.

True Lord Taiyi muttered, “Fairy, were you serious about what you just said?”

Yunxiao seemed somewhat puzzled.

Li Changshou calmly replied, “When the heart ripples, the eyes ripple; when the heart has no evil thoughts, the eyes have no evil thoughts.”

“This poor Daoist is but a common person,” True Lord Taiyi smiled and said, “I truly admire Junior Brother’s self-control.”

Li Changshou smiled and said, “It is Junior Brother who admires Elder Brother more. One sentence worth half a day of my talking.”

“Ah, don’t mention it!”

True Lord Taiyi raised his hand to rub his brow, sighing, “I don’t know if it’s being affected by tribulation fate, but recently this mouth has been faster than my thoughts by several points.”

Kong Xuan couldn’t help but ask, “Is it a divine ability?”

“It’s not a divine ability,” True Lord Taiyi smiled and said, “Often there are things I can’t bear to see, yet can’t speak directly about, so I ponder how to satirize.

Over time, I developed this skill of speaking.”

Duobao Daoren smiled and said, “Junior Brother Taiyi, may your elder brother test you?”

True Lord Taiyi couldn’t help but sit up straight.

One might lose to others, but mustn’t lose face. When questioned about his ‘specialty domain’, he naturally couldn’t show timidity.

He represented the image of the second-generation disciples of the Enlightenment Sect!

Although the disciples of the Enlightenment Sect perhaps didn’t want to be represented by him.

Duobao Daoren smiled and said, “Let’s treat this as a playful test of Junior Brother Taiyi’s true skills.

How about this: if Junior Brother can make this poor Daoist feel particularly stifled with just one sentence, this poor Daoist will gift Junior Brother a particularly suitable magical treasure. What do you say?”

True Lord Taiyi frowned and said, “Hearing Elder Brother speak like this, I suddenly feel that the level of cultivation realm truly has no connection with one’s spiritual intelligence.

Who gives out magical treasures for being insulted?”

Duobao Daoren’s face darkened, but then he laughed and cursed, taking out a wooden shuttle from his sleeve and pushing it toward Taiyi with immortal power.

True Lord Taiyi hurriedly refused, “Elder Brother, I didn’t agree to this matter.”

Duobao Daoren’s face instantly darkened further, “Consider it for your two earlier remarks about the Sage!”

As True Lord Taiyi was about to decline again, Li Changshou calmly intercepted the shuttle midway and stuffed it into True Lord Taiyi’s hand.

If this continued, they might start fighting.

Li Changshou smiled and said, “Elder Brother Taiyi, you really should carefully refine this shuttle.”

True Lord Taiyi’s mouth twitched slightly, and he cursed in a low voice, “You fellow, inviting me here definitely wasn’t with good intentions.”

“Alas,” Li Changshou sighed, “The matter is significant, I simply invited all the experts I trust.

Elder Brother, please don’t misunderstand, although I had other considerations when inviting you, it wasn’t primarily because I wanted to invite Elder Brother Yuding.”

True Lord Taiyi’s eyes widened, and he made a gesture of wanting to strike across Kong Xuan.

Li Changshou laughed lightly, pretending to dodge to the side, taking the opportunity to move a tiny bit closer to Fairy Yunxiao.

The conversational atmosphere was quickly lifted by Li Changshou;

Even Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, who had been adjusting her breath in preparation for battle, opened her eyes and joined the conversation.

Compared to their side, the Western Teachings’ disciples were gloomy, with many gathering together to discuss countermeasures.

The figures of Ksitigarbha and Discriminating Hearing appeared somewhat lonely, staying beneath the Samsara Tower, with no one greeting them or inviting them over to discuss anything.

Seeing this situation, the Dao sect’s side also began discussing this master and servant pair.

Duobao Daoren asked, “Changgeng, why haven’t you found an opportunity to kill that Western Teaching’s Ksitigarbha when you’ve repeatedly targeted him?”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment before transmitting to the other eight:

“He acts cautiously and hasn’t allowed me to strike.

Moreover, Ksitigarbha and I are merely opposed instance, I have no deep hatred with him. Compared to him, I’d rather eliminate his mount.”

True Lord Taiyi said, “Didn’t you almost ride that Discriminating Hearing right in front of Ksitigarbha?”

“That was just Discriminating Hearing sensing my killing intent,” Li Changshou shook his head, “To be safe, even if we don’t kill it later, we must find an opportunity to force Discriminating Hearing to make a Great Dao oath, or disable its divine abilities.”

Zhao Gongming smiled and said, “I heard from Old Bai that this Discriminating Hearing is quite pragmatic, no need to worry.”

“Currently our Dao sect is in power,” Li Changshou said seriously, “But we must stay vigilant, there may come a day when we lose this advantage.”

The various Sage disciples of the Dao sect were all moved by these words to varying degrees, each showing signs of contemplation.

Kong Xuan smiled and said, “With you here, Changgeng, that’s difficult.”

Li Changshou’s smile at this moment was deliberately strained.

He lowered his head and sighed softly, closed his eyes in concentration, and unprecedentedly, didn’t respond.

Even Kong Xuan couldn’t help but wonder if he had said something wrong.

Thus, Duobao and the others pondered even more deeply.

The aftershocks of the Sages’ battle continued unabated. Sovereign Teacher Tongtian, using no magical treasures, seemed to have completely suppressed Sage Zhunti, but for the moment couldn’t directly determine victory.

Yunxiao turned her head to look at Li Changshou’s slightly helpless profile, raised her hand to lightly tap the back of his hand, and then withdrew it.

This indicated that she had understood the key point.

This was also the second major reason why Li Changshou had invited these Enlightenment and Severing sect experts here today.

With the Great Tribulation descending and the Western Teachings already showing signs of defeat, due to Li Changshou’s constant mediation, the relationship between the Celestial Court and the Dao sect had grown increasingly close, and the Heavenly Emperor held no significant grudge against the Dao sect disciples.

But there was a very realistic problem…

Even if their Dao sect eliminated the Western Teachings, turning all the Western Teachings’ Sage disciples into tribulation ashes, could they dissolve the Great Tribulation?

Li Changshou had calculated, based on the tragic state of the Severing Sect in the original Investiture of the Gods story he knew, and concluded:

They couldn’t.

The Dao sect would still need major sect disciples to become tribulation ashes, disperse their cultivation, and become puppets of the Investiture List;

As True Lord Yuding had eloquently stated in the back hall of the Sea God Temple in Anshui City that day, both the Enlightenment and Severing sects had established their teachings on human fate, yet hadn’t done much to educate humanity, especially the Severing Sect.

Moreover, the Severing Sect had no treasures to suppress their sect’s fate. The Green Pine Sword used by Sovereign Teacher Tongtian to achieve the Dao, and the Four Demon-Slaying Swords and Demon-Slaying Formation Diagram bestowed by Ancestral Master Hongjun, were all killing treasures, unable to be used to suppress sect fate.

The divide between the Severing Sect and the Enlightenment Sect was unavoidable; the two sects would eventually battle.

No matter how much Li Changshou mediated, he couldn’t conjure up so many experts to fill the tribulation fate.

These words weren’t suitable to be spoken directly, so Li Changshou remained silent at this moment, letting them carefully comprehend.

Everyone present was clever, and most could understand the key points.

Except…

“Junior Brother Changgeng,” True Lord Huanglong said with complete seriousness, “Don’t feel too much pressure, your senior brothers and sisters all support you strongly.”

Li Changshou could only force a smile and make himself perk up.

Well, another one is on the ‘edge of leaving the group chat’.

Duobao changed the subject with a smile:

“Changgeng, are we just waiting like this? Why don’t we take advantage while Master and Uncle Master Zhunti are sparring in the Chaos Sea, we could…”

As he spoke, Duobao Daoren made a fist-clenching gesture.

Fortunately, there weren’t many female disciples from the Western Teachings present here, otherwise, it really could have been easily misunderstood.

Li Changshou looked at that treasure tower and transmitted:

“Let’s wait a moment. If something unusual happens later, immediately strike with full force and seize that Samsara Tower.”

“Oh?”

The faint golden light around Golden Spirit Sacred Mother became much brighter at this moment. “There’s going to be another battle today?”

Li Changshou continued transmitting:

“They didn’t expect that I would understand the details of their Incense Fire Divine Kingdom so clearly, and we’ve temporarily gained the upper hand quite easily.

But this should also be within their Western Teachings’ calculations.

The one who devised this plan must be a Sage, how could they be underestimated?

There’s still one more hurdle later, which is them releasing a large number of mortal souls, filling the Netherworld and Blood Sea, causing the Six Paths Samsara Plate to become blocked, forcing us to step back and establish a second samsara.

Therefore, seizing this Samsara Tower is key!

When they release those souls, we’ll immediately go to seize this tower!

If we can get our hands on it, it won’t matter if a second samsara is established today. We can directly incorporate this tower into the Netherworld, and these problems can be readily solved, and we can even gain Heavenly Dao merit!”

The immortals all brightened upon hearing this.

Zhao Gongming praised: “Brilliant!”

However, Yunxiao asked softly: “Why didn’t you tell this to Lady Houtu?”

“I did,” Li Changshou spread his hands and said gently: “We’ll do our best.

This matter requires adapting to circumstances, at that time I could only speak thus.”

Yunxiao’s lips revealed a smile, while beside her, Duobao thought of the treasures he had distributed earlier and was about to complain to Li Changshou a bit resentfully…

Suddenly!

Hum—

A tiny ripple of Dao rhythm suddenly spread through the Blood Sea, and the immortals carefully sensed it, somewhat uncertain.

Speak of the devil?

Li Changshou closed his eyes, and two scenes simultaneously appeared in his mind, both seen by his paper avatars.

Above the Blood Sea, cracks in space crisscrossed, with faintly glowing spheres of light pouring out from within like a celestial flood!

Above Fengdu City, numerous “comets” trailing black smoke were frantically smashing toward the core area of Fengdu City, with layer upon layer of grand formations falling like paper!

The target of these comets was…

The Island of Samsara, the Six Paths Samsara Plate!

“Seize the tower!”

Li Changshou’s eyes suddenly opened, flashing with green light, his form already transformed into a trace of lingering charm.

Pulling the carpet from under their feet was the true way to break this situation!