What was the meaning of this?

Were they picking on an honest person?

Last time when they owed him merit, it happened in a deserted corner where only Maiden E who was passing by some vases witnessed it. When the landlord said there were no spare grains at home, he had let it slide.

But this time… This was going too far!

In the Netherworld’s gloom, right in front of so many immortals and ghost officials, with so much merit descending at once, only a single lightning bolt struck the head of him, the Water God of the Celestial Court. How could this be explained?

What kind of scene was this?

The landlord makes a bitter face, telling the farmhand “There really are no spare grains at home,” while nearby a group of plump maidens run off gnawing on braised pork knuckles!?

Wasn’t this bullying Master Shou?

Two great merits! His Merit Golden Body could have grown thicker and longer!

When others received merit while Li Shouting was struck, he clutched his lightning-bruised forehead. Unable to contain his anger, he shouted:

“This—!”

*Rumble—*

The low-hanging gray clouds in the Netherworld churned, as if about to coalesce into a face.

Li Shouting’s thoughts raced as he weighed the pros and cons and analyzed the situation. His words subtly shifted as he continued shouting:

“Could this be Heaven’s Way Lord’s guidance for this minor deity!?”

At that moment, the scene was beyond mere silence.

Whether it was the Golden Spirit Sacred Mother or some immortal maiden who had performed exorcisms in Fengdu City, someone let out a light laugh. Many immortals and deities burst into laughter together. For a moment it was quite joyous, adding a pleasant…

Comma.

To what appeared to be the successfully resolved crisis in the Netherworld.

But Li Shouting truly couldn’t laugh.

The power of Heaven’s Way flowing in his heart condensed into four large characters:

[Next Time Together]

Li Shouting could only make another ceremonial bow, pondering in his heart whether he should take advantage of the situation to make a scene and force Heaven’s Way Lord to give him some written guarantee.

He had no confidence.

Beside him, Qin Tianzhu transmitted: “What’s this about? Why is the Lord withholding your merit?”

Unfortunately, at this moment golden light still flickered everywhere. The power of Heaven’s Way had not retreated and merit was still being distributed. Li Shouting could only wear a slight smile as he looked at Qin Tianzhu and transmitted back:

“General Qin, how could this be withholding merit?

This is Heaven’s Way Lord’s guidance, telling me that the Merit Golden Body isn’t easily achieved. Even wanting a bit of modest security requires passing Heaven’s Way’s repeated tests.”

Qin Tianzhu blinked, raised his hand in a coughing gesture, turned his head, and burst out laughing.

Li Shouting sighed somewhat helplessly and adjusted his hairstyle. Familiar immortals and deities had already gathered around to express their concerns.

Everyone had known before about Heaven’s Way owing Li Shouting merit, but today…

It was truly a case of seeing believing, and gaining knowledge unprecedented since ancient times.

Wood Lord felt it was unfair to Li Shouting and stated firmly:

“The successful resolution of this matter should credit Water God as first in merit. Why does Heaven’s Way not reward merit but give punishment instead?”

Duobao Daoist laughed: “This rather shows that Changgen is different from us, receiving the Lord’s favor.

Otherwise, how would Heaven’s Way Lord show such unique love only to Changgen? Ah haha!”

As he spoke, Duobao Daoist casually took the merit he had just received and stored it in some spiritual treasure, increasing its spiritual nature.

“Big Senior Brother speaks truly,” Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and laughed heartily. “Only Changgen, only Changgen indeed.”

Taishi Zhenren’s mouth twitched: “Let me tell you a joke – Heaven’s Way is completely fair and impartial.”

The surrounding laughter instantly froze. With several whooshes, dozens of figures flashed left and right, leaving Taishi Zhenren standing alone.

Taishi Zhenren in his flamboyant pink Daoist robe calmly looked at the sky and found a gray cloud hovering right above his head. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Li Shouting: …

I hope they’re alright.

That day, Li Shouting observed someone else being struck by Heaven’s punishment up close for the first time – the kind of punishment that increased pain and injury without being fatal.

He had found a second friend who could survive the Purple Lightning of Supreme Heaven.

Now for the main matter.

Earth Treasury’s primordial spirit condensed into the Samsara Precious Zhenzhu, the Second Samsara merged into the Six Paths Reincarnation system as a “backup” option. Ninety-five percent of the accumulated souls here received reincarnation arrangements.

Taking expedient measures this time, these souls temporarily retained their karmic obstacles and merits. After being sent back to various divine kingdoms of incense and fire through the Reincarnation Pagoda, everything would be settled together before the next reincarnation.

There was still one most crucial issue that needed Heaven’s Way to mediate—

Human conception.

In the next two or three years, the Three Thousand Worlds would welcome a baby boom. It was expected there would be many cases of iron trees blooming and old trees encountering spring – likely numerous twins and triplets. It would take twenty to thirty years to return to normal.

There was no help for it – this incident caused by Western Teaching was simply too massive.

The gathered immortals and deities of the Celestial Court lingered another day in the Netherworld, building relationships with the judges and officials of the underworld, before gradually returning to the Celestial Court to continue maintaining the order of Heaven and Earth.

The changing of seasons, wind and snow, rain and dew – these were now the Celestial Court’s “main business.”

After returning to the Celestial Court there would be the Jade Emperor’s rewards. The heavenly soldiers, generals, immortals, and maidens of the Celestial Court had truly played important roles this time.

And expanded their earth-moving side business.

Li Shouting secretly apologized to Qin Tianzhu and took leave instead of returning to the Celestial Court celebrations. He invited the nine experts who had come to assist to a feast.

Li Shouting invited Duobao and the others to the main hall of the Sea God Temple in Anshui City, where he cooked and prepared a sumptuous banquet.

Thus it was:

*The Jade Emperor bestowed Jasper Pool wine,*

*Immortal maidens brought jade flat peaches.*

*Rare delicacies were not to be prized,*

*Light laughter and gentle strums wafted fragrant.*

The host naturally invited Duobao Daoist to the main seat, followed by True Lord Yellow Dragon, then Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden, Li Shouting, Kong Xuan, and several other great hands of the Dao sect.

During their pleasant conversation, the immortals discussed Earth Treasury taking the great vow to transform into the Reincarnation Pagoda, sighing with emotion.

Zhao Gongming praised: “This Earth Treasury is quite a character, truly like a lotus rising from the mud yet remaining unstained. Remarkable, remarkable.”

But Kong Xuan said: “He merely did it to save the Western Teaching.”

“On this point, friend, you speak wrongly,” Li Shouting smiled and said. “This Earth Treasury, though I’ve not met him often, I understand quite deeply.

He once plotted regarding the dragon clan’s sea eye, and once played the monster clan like pieces on a board, causing many lives to be lost.

But these were all within his bottom line. In the struggles between great teachings and fate, having such deaths and injuries, he could accept it and felt it quite normal – this was his nature.

Today’s matter, however, far exceeded Earth Treasury’s bottom line.

His motivation for sacrificing himself to complete the Reincarnation Pagoda certainly came from Western Teaching, but what made him make this decision and carry it out without hesitation was still that measure of compassion in his heart.

He actually could have ignored this matter. His performance that day was already the best among the Western Sage’s disciples. I don’t believe the two Sages of the Western Teaching had any other backup plans.

When Earth Treasury debated with me then, he hadn’t lost. It was because I used deception, making one of his senior brothers admit it himself.”

“Was it deception?” Golden Spirit Sacred Mother blinked.

Li Shouting smiled and said: “Just as Earth Treasury said, I didn’t have time to do all those things. To avoid being discovered by the other side, I only used recording spheres to capture some particularly tragic scenes to use for today’s confrontation.”

He paused in his speech – saying more would risk exposing that he had undercover agents in the Western Teaching.

The Primordial Fierce Beasts didn’t appear in this battle, showing that the Western Teaching also knew they couldn’t let more handles be grabbed.

Beautiful light shone in Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden’s eyes as she asked curiously: “Could it be that you were already certain then that using such deception would hook the Western Sage’s disciples other than Earth Treasury?”

Li Shouting smiled and said: “Correct.”

Jade Tripod Zhenren sighed: “In such circumstances, before the Sages, you could consider all this.”

“Not considered then, but calculated long before.”

Li Shouting put down his chopsticks, raised his wine cup, and took a sip of the fragrant fruit wine. He let out a light breath and said slowly:

“This Earth Treasury is skilled in calculation and understands the big picture. He acts within his bottom line and has the divine beast Discriminating Hearing to assist. If Lord White Marsh hadn’t voluntarily come to submit, suppressing that Discriminating Hearing, I would have truly worried my hair white.

The Western Teaching is different from our Dao sect. Do you remember when we three teachings joined forces to pressure Spirit Mountain?”

The gathered immortals all nodded, listening intently.

Li Shouting smiled and said:

“When pressuring Spirit Mountain, I saw that group of Western Teaching Sage disciples clustering separately, arranged by seniority, subtly divided into several different ‘small teams.’

Because his calculations against the dragon clan succeeded, sweeping away the Western Teaching’s previous dark clouds, Earth Treasury’s star was rising in the Western Teaching at the time. He was also Connecting Teaching’s beloved disciple, even granted the Blue Lotus Precious Color Flag for protection.

I realized then that trying to kill such a core Sage disciple of the Western Teaching would alarm the Sages.

He couldn’t be killed.

So I began secretly maneuvering, exposing Earth Treasury’s name to the Three Realms, raising him.

When he plotted for the monster clan to wage war on our Human Teaching’s immortal sects, I took the opportunity to spread the word that he and I had long been secretly cooperating and in spiritual communion, very tacitly entrapping so many great karmic obstacle monsters this time.

A person like Earth Treasury was like a pearl mixed among fish eyes, naturally drawing others’ jealousy.

Sure enough, after that incident, he lost his voice in the West, and a Sage disciple called Empty Bodhi filled his position.”

True Lord Yellow Dragon rubbed his brow and said: “Does being a power deity in the Celestial Court require considering so much?”

“Junior Brother, don’t interrupt,” Duobao Daoist complained, “I was just getting into it!

Changgen, what else did you calculate?”

Li Shouting continued:

“Other methods were similar, following this line of thinking – dividing Earth Treasury from the other disciples of the Western Teaching’s Great Sages.

Last time when Earth Treasury accompanied us to resist the Outer Demons, it also highlighted how much the Western Teaching’s Great Sages valued him.

I deliberately let him stay there for some time while I rushed back first to set the stage, having the Celestial Court specifically praise Earth Treasury, giving him all the reputation we could.

What would the other Sage disciples think?

Even disciples originally unrelated to Earth Treasury would stand in opposition to him.

After several such instances, with Earth Treasury’s inherently proud nature, he lost all friendly connections within Western Teaching.

Therefore, when he stood before the Reincarnation Pagoda debating confidently with me, other core disciples of the Western Teaching would surely be unable to contain themselves.

Looking at the Western Teaching’s calculations throughout, and what I saw in the divine kingdoms of incense and fire, there were indeed some core disciples of the Western Teaching who didn’t understand subtlety and sought quick success.

This was the breakthrough point.

But I miscalculated – that old Daoist who stood up was foolish beyond measure, actually destroying the Reincarnation Pagoda.

When Earth Treasury came to sacrifice himself, I should have stopped him, but because I couldn’t bear to see living beings suffer, I didn’t intervene.

What frustrates me most is that all of this was in the Western Teaching Great Sages’ view – both Earth Treasury’s and my natures were calculated into their plans…

At that time, what controlled that deranged old Daoist might not have been Heaven’s Way. The Samsara Zhenzhu shattered too strangely.

If our rescue of the souls went against Heaven’s Way’s will, why would Heaven’s Way bestow so much merit?”

As he spoke, Li Shouting gave a self-deprecating smile and drained his wine cup in one gulp.

“Of these Western people, some are truly clever but only care about themselves, while others are truly foolish, merely being used by others.

Earth Treasury’s current situation is both heaven’s mandate and a result of his character.

But that he could care for all living beings and sacrifice himself so decisively – I truly admire him for that.”

Taishi Zhenren muttered: “Tell me, how many layers of calculation are in this cup of wine?”

Li Shouting smiled and said: “One layer – thinking about how to get you drunk and leave you at Spirit Mountain’s gate.”

Taishi Zhenren immediately shuddered and glared fiercely at Li Shouting.

“This poor Daoist stood up for you and got struck by Heaven’s Way Lord!”

“That has nothing to do with me,” Li Shouting immediately raised his hand in an oath gesture, making Taishi Zhenren gnash his teeth.

If Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden hadn’t been right there, he would have pounced over to wrestle.

Taishi Zhenren: Must think of a way to get even!

Beside them, Kong Xuan spoke again:

“This time, the West ultimately lost, losing such a disciple and left with only wine sacks and rice bags.”

“Friend, you shouldn’t think that way,” Li Shouting said seriously. “The Western Teaching has many experts, and Earth Treasury’s several senior and junior brothers are quite formidable.

This time Earth Treasury entering the Netherworld must also have been part of their calculations.

You must know, that Earth Treasury’s mount, the divine beast Discriminating Hearing, is more clever than its master. It can hear the heart voices of all beings in the Three Realms and must have long mastered various calculation techniques.

Why does Discriminating Hearing mostly act foolish? It’s actually forced by pressure – it also wanted Earth Treasury to leave the Western Teaching.

Earth Treasury entering the Netherworld, though damaging his physical form, exchanged it for his primordial spirit’s eternal existence with Heaven’s Way. At least Earth Treasury won’t be tormented by his senior and junior brothers into the same fate as that deranged old Daoist.

The one who saw this most clearly was Discriminating Hearing…

I need to find a way to take a trip to the Reincarnation Pagoda.”

Duobao Daoist frowned and said: “This poor Daoist only thought the Western Teaching’s two Sages were united in purpose internally and not to be underestimated. I didn’t expect their internal struggles to be so intense.”

Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden said: “The Dao sect puts too much pressure on the Western Teaching, making it difficult for them to find peace internally.”

“The two Sages…”

Li Shouting stopped himself and smiled, changing the topic: “This time the Western Teaching had a small victory, we had a small win. The Sages’ calculations are truly incredibly formidable, beyond what we can aspire to.

Though I forcefully placed the Reincarnation Pagoda under Lady Houtu’s management, Heaven’s Way will still give the Western Teaching this portion of fate’s momentum.

Heaven’s Way’s fate momentum guides living beings to develop in a direction that stabilizes Heaven and Earth.

The Western Teaching gained another pillar of fate momentum, Heaven’s Way gained a backup Second Samsara becoming more stable. When discussing the God-Making Tribulation in Purple Tenuity Palace someday, they’ll have a bit more say.

This is what we need to think about now.”

“Does Changgen have any clever plans?”

“We still need to hold onto the point that divine kingdoms of incense and fire are a great disaster,” Li Shouting shook his head. “But after this battle, the Western Teaching will surely spread their image of kindness and compassion everywhere, temporarily suppressing the drawbacks of the divine kingdoms.

This is disadvantageous to us, but it’s also a good thing for the human race in those divine kingdoms.

In ten years, I will unite with forces from all parts of the Three Thousand Worlds to form an anti-Western cultivation alliance…”

Zhao Gongming said: “When and where? Big brother will help you make a showing!”

“Sage disciples shouldn’t directly participate. Though the Three Thousand Worlds have many cultivators, top experts are rare,” Li Shouting said. “With Senior Brother Lu Yue there, he can handle various scenarios.

I request Big Senior Brother Duobao to write a letter to Senior Brother Lu Yue in your capacity as eldest senior brother…”

Duobao Daoists immediately understood and repeatedly praised the idea.

Beside them, Taishi Zhenren seized the opportunity and smiled: “Wasn’t it spreading everywhere before that you and Lu Yue were living long-term in a flower house…

Ah, my mistake, my mistake, I shouldn’t mention this in front of Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden. I’ll punish myself with three cups, three cups.”

Stare—

Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden’s gaze ‘attacked,’ and Li Shouting immediately covered his face with his hand. Through the gaps between his fingers, he saw Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden’s slightly puffed cheeks and laughed lightly in his heart.

She did care…

Don’t worry, this was prepared for.

Li Shouting took out a Great Dao oath template from his sleeve, opened it, cleared his throat, and began to recite.

There was no more reliable way to prove he hadn’t experienced any temporary emotional tribulation than through a Great Dao oath.

He was pure!

In his previous life, he had heard some foreign mythological stories that had classifications like ‘virgin goddess’;

He, Li Shouting, Water God of the Celestial Court, was a genuine ‘Pure Yang God’!

This didn’t seem like something to be proud of.

Speaking of which, Heaven’s Way Lord wouldn’t deliberately mess with him, right…

Probably… not.

Meanwhile, in the Assembled Clouds Palace.

The white-robed Jade Emperor sat on the high platform and said to those below: “Wood Lord.”

“Your old servant is here.”

“Beloved Official Changgen’s divine position truly should be raised.

Later during the meeting, submit a memorial. Do you understand the specifics?”

“Understand, your old servant understands!”

Wood Lord answered firmly twice, his eyes eager as he asked: “Your Majesty if promoting Water God, we should first determine his divine position.

Your Majesty, which second-rank position do you think is more suitable?

How about, your old servant gives up his position for Water God?”

“Wood Lord has meritorious service, don’t doubt yourself,” the Jade Emperor smiled and said. “Currently the Celestial Court has twelve vacant second-rank divine positions. I don’t wish for him to guard the four directions of Heaven and Earth, but rather to strategize for me in the Celestial Court.

Wood Lord, which divine position do you think most suitable?”

East Wood Lord acknowledged and lowered his head in thought, quickly saying:

“Among third-rank divine positions is the Star Lord position called Great White, Your Majesty’s great minister, managing the Celestial Court’s matters of killing and punishment, symbolizing the guide of Heaven and Earth’s transformations.

Why not exceptionally promote this position to the second rank, to be concurrently held by Water God.”

“Good,” the Jade Emperor nodded with a smile. “According to Wood Lord’s suggestion, go prepare the memorial.”

“Yes, your old servant obeys.”

At this moment, in that great temple of Anshui City.

“…If I speak half a false word, may Heaven’s Way send a warning.”

As Li Shouting finished reciting the oath, he calmly smiled and looked toward the Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden’s lingering gaze.

He wasn’t the type of man to act recklessly…

Crack!

*Rumble—*

A lightning dragon writhed and flashed its teeth outside the main hall, purple lightning illuminating Li Shouting’s stiffened smile, making Yun Xiao Immortal Maiden’s eyelashes flutter, Golden Spirit Sacred Mother drew her sword in anger, Kong Xuan lowered his head with a faint smile, and Jade Tripod Zhenren secretly frown.

Taishi Zhenren and Zhao Gongming couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Understanding dawned in Li Shouting’s heart – it seemed he had received the Jade Emperor’s promotion, changing his divine position’s rank, triggering Heaven’s Way’s response…

This… at this time…

Promote your sister’s divine position!”