As Li Changshou spoke, all eyes gathered toward the clouds above.

His left index finger pointed downward, and a cloud ladder gradually unfurled. As an ordinary deity of the Celestial Court, he descended the steps with a relaxed and leisurely expression.

Among the gathering of immortals, Baize’s smile carried a hint of playfulness. Like most immortals present, he too wondered how Li Changshou would refute Xu Puti.

In terms of scheming and planning, Baize was undoubtedly among the finest of the immortals present. He fully understood the potency of Xu Puti’s earlier words.

Xu Puti had seized upon the contradiction of ‘the division between immortals and mortals,’ grasped the Celestial Court’s constant proclamation of ‘protecting the weak,’ and tied together the major immortal sects of the Three Thousand Worlds with the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire, placing them in opposition to the Celestial Court.

The difficulty lay in the fact that this was indeed the reality—making it the hardest point to counter.

Jiuwu whispered: “Master Bai, perhaps you should step forward to help?”

“With the Water God here, why should I embarrass myself?”

Baize shrugged, picking up the wine cup from the low table before him, sampling the fine wine offered by the immortal maiden, savoring its sweetness.

He left the latter half of his thoughts unspoken…

‘Even if I wanted to embarrass myself, this would be difficult to argue against.’

After all, as one of the Ten Great Demon Commanders of ancient times, he had to maintain some dignity.

At this moment, this challenging problem indeed lay before Li Changshou.

The upcoming rebuttal to Xu Puti wasn’t about determining a winner or loser, but about convincing these immortal sects.

Xu Puti’s words were all aimed at striking at the heart, indefensible before matters of great righteousness, yet they had indeed hit these immortal sects’ vital points.

Li Changshou now represented the Celestial Court and couldn’t speak carelessly.

If he were to directly use material benefits as enticement, how would the Celestial Court differ from the Western Faith?

This made Xu Puti’s next offensive even harder to counter.

Li Changshou couldn’t help but sigh…

If these few formidable disciples of the Western Faith’s sages could unite as one, they would truly be a great threat.

Fortunately, Ksitigarbha had already been maneuvered out by Xu Puti and the others—the Western Faith’s ‘corporate culture’ was all about intrigue and scheming…

Having two sages in one faith wasn’t entirely advantageous.

When Li Changshou decided to use Dipankara, he had considered every aspect and possibility. The Western Faith’s potential points of attack hadn’t escaped his exhaustive analysis.

Whether they sent Xu Puti or someone else, they only had a few ‘treasures’ they could deploy…

Here, he must sincerely thank Little Fairy Ling’e for the hair she pulled out during his deep contemplation!

Regarding Xu Puti’s approach, Li Changshou originally had a complete set of sophistical counters—

First, redirect attention, enumerate the Western Faith’s numerous misdeeds, stir the audience’s emotions, then dodge the main issues while discussing ideals, making promises, dropping hints, arousing the cultivators’ shared hatred of a common enemy, and naturally dissolving the opposition Xu Puti had stirred up.

This method would have been sufficient to handle the current situation.

But now, Li Changshou felt it was somewhat…

Not stable enough.

Xu Puti’s question today was quite incisive, directly pointing to ‘the irreconcilable contradictory relationship between immortal sects and the Celestial Court.’

If he were to use sophistry to get through today, many of the immortals present would surely harbor a thorn in their hearts;

The Immortal Alliance would develop internal fissures, making it difficult to employ effectively in the future.

Having descended three steps down the cloud ladder, Li Changshou had already formed his strategy. With a light laugh at the corner of his mouth, he proclaimed:

“Xu Puti’s words hardly merit debate—justice and fairness speak for themselves in people’s hearts. However, to prevent any misunderstandings about the Celestial Court and avoid being swayed by this schemer’s provocation, I shall lay everything out today.”

Xu Puti’s avatar spoke indifferently: “Has the Water God already decided how to bewitch people’s minds?”

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed slightly, but before he could act or speak, a flash of water-blue light streaked past from the side. Six Ocean-Stabilizing Zhenzhus appeared around Xu Puti, immediately fixing his avatar in place.

Zhao Gongming cursed: “You just gave a long-winded speech full of nonsense, and my brother Changxu didn’t interrupt you!”

Xu Puti smiled calmly, composedly closing his eyes, seemingly assured of victory.

Standing on the cloud ladder, Li Changshou spoke slowly:

“Just now, this Western Faith sage’s disciple claimed that the Celestial Court stands with mortals because our human race is the protagonist of heaven and earth, mortals are the main body of fortune, and the Southern Continent gathers eight-tenths of human fortune.

This seems reasonable but is absurd to the extreme!

Do you all know about the incident of the Western Faith destroying the Dragon Clan’s sea eye?

At that time, the Western Faith attempted to subjugate the Dragon Clan for their use, openly suppressing them while secretly instigating rebellions among the four seas’ marine tribes, ultimately provoking the Dragon Clan into turning to the Celestial Court.

For the sake of their great faith’s face, the Western Faith schemed and gathered large numbers of karmic demon beasts and primordial fierce beasts, finally breaking the East Sea’s sea eye and moving away the East Sea Dragon Palace treasury.

When the sea eye was broken, seawater flooded in. The East Sea was about to raise tsunamis and wash away their ancient sins, countless dragons rushed toward the sea eye, being torn apart by its torrential currents…

At that time, I took out a treasure called the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle, but using this treasure to suppress the sea eye was only a temporary measure.

A Celestial Court general named Hua Ritian stepped forward, leaping down to seal the East Sea’s sea eye with his own body.

From then on, the Dragon Clan completely gave their hearts to the cause, becoming the Celestial Court’s aid, and the Celestial Court began its great rise from there.”

Li Changshou heaved a long sigh, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as he paused on the cloud ladder and proclaimed:

“Do you all know who that Celestial Court general was? And why he could plug the sea eye?”

Most immortals remained silent.

A few immortals who were engrossed in the story cooperatively shook their heads.

“General Hua Ritian was an avatar of the Jade Emperor, formed from merit accumulated over endless years—His Majesty’s only golden body of merit.

Only thus could it offset part of the Dragon Clan’s karmic sins.

His Majesty’s leap was for mortals, but also for the Dragon Clan, for the Celestial Court, and all living beings in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, sparing them from the disaster of flooding seawater!

His Majesty’s words then, ‘Willing to care for all living beings,’ remain unforgettable to me.

Everyone, the Celestial Court’s tenet is to shelter all living beings under heaven.

What Xu Puti just said about us constantly having ‘all living beings under heaven’ on our lips isn’t wrong.

However, the Celestial Court stands with all living beings, stands with the human race, not simply with mortals!

You are also living beings, indispensable parts of heaven and earth!

Would I look down on you because of your profound cultivation, being Celestial or Golden Immortals?

Would the Celestial Court discriminate against you because you’re not mortals?”

Many immortals couldn’t help but laugh, while Xu Puti’s brows slightly furrowed at this moment.

Li Changshou chuckled twice, then continued speaking slowly and earnestly:

“You and I are all of the human race, all knowing how difficult it was for humans to rise.

When this Western Faith sage’s disciple speaks of the eternal division between immortals and mortals, I truly don’t understand—when the various powers present develop their forces, do you exploit mortals to advance your cultivation?

If there are such people, please step forward, and I shall send them on their way today.

In immortal cultivation, is the focus on comprehending heaven, earth, and nature, or on absorbing incense fire and merit?

Are your daily practices the same as the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire established by the Western Faith?”

As soon as Li Changshou’s words fell, several immortals immediately stood up.

They declared firmly:

“Water God! My Mo Tian Immortal Sect acts with honor and uprightness, our sect rules restrict disciples from killing the innocent! How could we be the same as the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire?”

“Indeed, mortals mostly dwell in flat terrain with turbid qi, while we cultivators mostly reside in great rivers and famous mountains, drawing upon heaven and earth’s pure qi. If immortals and mortals are separate, then they’re separate—what’s wrong with that?”

“Who hasn’t cultivated up from being a mortal? Most disciples in all our sects were selected from among mortals!”

At once, the immortals spoke up one after another, having figured out the flaws in Xu Puti’s earlier speech.

Li Changshou quietly waited for a while, and after the wave of voices subsided, he continued descending while his voice spread throughout heaven and earth:

“The order the Celestial Court wishes to establish is neither aimed at immortals nor solely about protecting mortals. It’s just that mortals often find themselves in the position of the weak, so it’s easy to think that the Celestial Court only shelters mortals.

Absurd!

Preventing the strong from recklessly violating the weak—this is what the Celestial Court seeks to do.

Compared to mortals, everyone present is strong; but compared to great powers, you and I are all considered weak.

The Celestial Court stands only for justice, its actions not exceeding the limits of the Way and Virtue.

Because the Celestial Court’s foundation in the Three Thousand Worlds is weak, and we must remove the great harm of the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire as soon as possible, I can make a promise to everyone here, and this will be the only exception.

For the immortal sects present here today, I won’t investigate past matters too deeply. As long as you are righteous at heart from now on, don’t bully the weak, don’t kill indiscriminately, and don’t devastate living beings, you are all recognized members of the Immortal Alliance by the Celestial Court!

Making the strong not oppress the weak seems like a dream;

But making the strong have doubts and misgivings when oppressing the weak is something the Celestial Court must achieve within ten thousand years!

If you can do these things, stay here, and together we’ll discuss how to oppose the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire, how to rescue mortals, and how to distribute the cultivation treasures and spirit stones of the Divine Nations.

If you cannot do this, turn and leave now, and I, Li Changxu, won’t make things difficult for you today!”

None of the immortals present moved, and at this time, nine-tenths of the immortals looked at Li Changshou with yearning and expectation in their eyes.

Li Changshou quietly waited for a while. By now he had walked to the latter half of the cloud ladder, no more than ten zhang from the Flying Heaven Platform, at eye level with Dipankara and Xu Puti.

He made a gesture, and the Ocean-Stabilizing Zhenzhus around Xu Puti were retrieved by Zhao Gongming.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Does anyone still have doubts? You may raise them today.”

A sturdy man shouted: “I am willing to follow the Celestial Court! To serve the Immortal Alliance! To oppose the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire!”

The venue immediately erupted with successive shouts:

“This poor Daoist is willing to follow the Celestial Court! To serve the Immortal Alliance!”

“Almost being bewitched by the Western Faith, how shameful! How shameful indeed!”

“Compared to the immortal sects of the Five Continents, we are indeed the weak ones. The Celestial Court cares for all common beings, and we cultivators are also part of all beings!”

“The Water God is wise!”

Amidst the wave of voices, Li Changshou glanced at Dipankara, his gaze meeting Xu Puti’s.

The latter shook his head with a slight smile as if he had anticipated this all along.

“If defeating the Celestial Court’s Water God was this easy, it would be far too simple.”

Xu Puti showed no disappointment, instead saying: “The Water God truly has excellent rhetoric, so lightly brushing aside all of this poor Daoist’s challenges.

I have learned much today.”

“It’s not about rhetoric—this is simply how the principles work.”

Li Changshou spoke indifferently: “The Western Faith often acts unrighteously; it’s naturally difficult to make people trust you. Today you thought you had seized upon the Immortal Alliance’s pain point, yet you don’t even understand the Celestial Court’s ideals.

The Dragon Clan, Demon Clan, Spirit Mountain, Reincarnation Tower, Immortal Alliance…

Your defeat is well-deserved.”

Xu Puti narrowed his eyes slightly, his form gradually becoming indistinct.

“Until we meet again.”

“Fellow Daoist, don’t rush to leave—I still have two generous gifts to present.”

Li Changshou suddenly spoke to detain him, and even this dissipating avatar of Xu Puti couldn’t help but pause, waiting composedly, maintaining a sage disciple’s bearing to the end.

“Generous gifts? This poor Daoist is quite looking forward to them.”

Thus, Li Changshou proclaimed loudly:

“Xu Puti, disciple of the Western Faith’s sage, today opposed the Celestial Court, attempted to bewitch the immortal sects of the Three Thousand Worlds, defended the Divine Nations of Incense and Fire, and harmed countless living beings—his crimes deserve death.

From this day forward, Xu Puti is declared an enemy pursued by the Celestial Court, wanted throughout the Three Realms!

This sage’s disciple is vile and grievous crimes. Whoever can destroy his divine soul and bring his head to the Celestial Court will receive great rewards from the Celestial Court.

May the Heavenly Dao see clearly and bring down his tribulation fate, to uphold the Celestial Court’s authority!”

BOOM—

This small world suddenly darkened, ferocious thunder dragons appearing in the sky. A strand of black qi coiled around Xu Puti’s avatar before dissolving into nothingness.

It had gone to find his true body.

This scene truly awakened many immortals to caution, while those who had already developed feelings of closeness to the Celestial Court showed expressions of joy.

Dipankara frowned in thought, Golden Spirit Holy Mother slightly pursed her lips, and Zhao Gongming and Lu Yue exchanged glances, their eyes full of surprise.

Forcefully bringing down a great tribulation fate?

Xu Puti’s face had darkened to the color of a pot’s bottom as he glared at Li Changshou.

“You!”

“Many thanks for your trouble in coming here and strengthening the Celestial Court’s prestige,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “The Celestial Court’s ability to establish itself in the Three Thousand Worlds owes much to your contribution, Fellow Daoist.

Oh yes, Fellow Daoist, when you return, please tell that fellow disciple of yours in the Western Faith who incited the Golden-Winged Great Peng to make trouble at the Celestial Court, that I will settle this karmic debt with him later.”

Xu Puti frowned and said: “Could the Golden-Winged Great Peng be imprisoned by the Water God?”

Li Changshou smiled with satisfaction—the Celestial Court had done a good job keeping this secret.

Or perhaps Xu Puti simply hadn’t received the relevant news.

SCREECH—

Suddenly, a high cry came from the edge of this small world, and a golden light flickered over, transforming into a handsome general wearing golden battle armor, his hawk-like nose particularly striking.

Before the cry had faded, he had already arrived before Li Changshou in a gust of wind, clasping his hands and kneeling on one knee, his battle armor stained with blood and his long hair soaked with gore.

“Master! One thousand three hundred and sixty-two cultivators from the Western Faith were hiding in the void tens of thousands of li away, preparing to bombard this place with a great formation!

This disciple discovered these villains moments ago, and having no time to request Master’s instructions, to protect the peace of the Immortal Alliance meeting, has already eliminated all these cultivators. Please punish this disciple!”

Li Changshou spoke seriously: “Marshal Golden Peng, please rise. You have rendered great service in protecting the Immortal Alliance meeting—what punishment is there to speak of?”

Xu Puti: …

Surrounding immortals: …

Killing a thousand immortals in mere moments?

But Li Changshou grabbed Golden-Winged Great Peng’s wrist, pointing at Xu Puti and saying: “Remember this old Daoist’s aura and appearance—this could be a great achievement.”

Golden-Winged Great Peng’s eyes brightened, eager anticipation in his gaze.

Xu Puti’s lips trembled, but he gave a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and his form instantly dissipated into a wisp of black smoke, leaving only the words:

“Water God, your methods truly reach to heaven!

As a dignified true god of the Celestial Court, you use evil methods to control living beings’ minds!

The Phoenix Clan will surely settle accounts with you!”

He still didn’t forget to splash a bucket of dirty water.

But Li Changshou’s heart eased slightly.

It was fortunate that Xu Puti hadn’t kept pressing on the earlier question. If Xu Puti had asked ‘Will the Celestial Court pacify and accept the Immortal Alliance in the future,’ that would have truly been difficult to answer.

Hearing Xu Puti’s parting words, Golden-Winged Great Peng couldn’t hold back.

He chased forward two steps, straining to sense the location of Xu Puti’s true body, cursing loudly:

“Don’t dare besmirch Master’s reputation!

This poor Daoist was awakened by Master’s guidance and now understands my previous arrogance and self-satisfaction. Now I wholeheartedly serve the Celestial Court and Master!

You old Daoist, this poor Daoist will surely grind your bones to dust!”

With these words, Golden-Winged Great Peng revealed his true form of a golden-feathered great peng and shot toward the outer heavens.

At this time, three meditation cushions remained on Golden-Winged Great Peng’s back…

“This?”

Among the crowd of immortals, Baize’s eyes widened and brows furrowed. He wanted to speak but stopped, wanted to spit but swallowed, feeling a strong “mid-life crisis.”

How long had it been since he left Black Pool Peak, and already there were backup mounts?

No, at such extreme speed…

Had he, as an auspicious beast mount, become the backup?

Baize’s brows furrowed tightly, a thousand thoughts suddenly churning in his heart.

He needed to think of some way to maintain his position as the Human Sect’s mount!

On the Flying Heaven Platform, Li Changshou gave a light laugh, made a Daoist salute to Dipankara, and once again ascended the steps, returning to the clouds above.

Ice-Clear Moon walked out at the appropriate moment, bowing in salute to all directions, and also invited Alliance Leader Dipankara to return to the leader’s throne.

This great meeting had no more waves.

Thanks to the Heavenly Dao Lord’s friendly assistance today, the final effect of the Immortal Alliance meeting was even better than Li Changshou had previously anticipated.

Using a few words to bring down tribulation fate on a Western Faith sage’s disciple…

Who could withstand that?!

Li Changshou also recalled what Uncle Master Original Heavenly Honored One had said about him becoming the guiding force of the great tribulation.

This…

Could he have taken over his Master’s reincarnated self’s job?

If the Investiture of the Gods Register wasn’t controlled by the Original Heavenly Honored One but fell into the Celestial Court’s hands, how would the Original Heavenly Honored One take Jiang Ziya as a disciple?

No, things seemed even more subtle.

It was precisely because Jiang Ziya had countless connections with him, this Celestial Court Water God, that the Original Heavenly Honored One might still possibly choose to accept Jiang Ziya into the Jade Void Palace…

Back and forth, some things in the great tribulation hadn’t changed, only the motivations and causes for their occurrence were different.

Different causes converging to the same effect, this marvelous force of convergence…

Layer upon layer of insights arose in Li Changshou’s heart. He glanced at where Baize and Jiuwu were, then closed his eyes on the cloud, openly entering enlightenment.

He didn’t need to worry about later matters; let Old Lady Bian and the others decide the Immortal Alliance’s future development path themselves.

[False Hands-Off Boss]: Dipankara only spoke one sentence, giving the Western Faith sage’s disciple a “stone to draw out jade,” then witnessed the Western Faith sage’s disciple being drawn into tribulation, no longer daring to speak, subsequently being successfully marginalized by a group of vice leaders.

[True Hands-Off Boss]: Li Changshou had planned for ten years, building up the Immortal Alliance system, successfully positioning the Immortal Alliance, and wouldn’t need to manage much in the future, only needing one paper avatar to regularly monitor the Immortal Alliance’s operation.

…

Thus, half a month later.

Streams of light flew away from this place, officially bringing down the curtain on the Immortal Alliance meeting.

Dipankara left quite quickly.

Originally, Zhao Gongming and Lu Yue had thought about secretly causing some trouble for Dipankara, but Dipankara gave them no opportunity.

Instead, Compassionate Navigation Daoist of the Enlightened Immortal Sect’s Twelve Golden Immortals didn’t leave with Dipankara.

After the meeting ended and various forces had mostly departed, Compassionate Navigation Daoist hesitated briefly before flying toward Li Changshou and the others who were gathered together chatting and laughing.

“Junior Brother Changxu?”

She spoke from ten zhang away: “Might we talk outside? I have some doubts I’d like Junior Brother to resolve.”

Li Changshou was about to answer when Zhao Gongming instinctively stepped forward, blocking Li Changshou’s front.

Elder Zhao smiled calmly and steadily, saying: “Junior Sister Compassionate Navigation, could you not speak with Senior Brother?”

Compassionate Navigation Daoist’s fine brows furrowed slightly, her smile somewhat forced, but she still said directly: “Senior Brother might find it difficult to resolve my doubts.”

Zhao Gongming: …

Golden Spirit Holy Mother spoke indifferently: “Then ask me.”

“This…”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I’ll be back shortly, it won’t take long.”

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and shook his head, Golden Spirit Holy Mother gave a slightly warning snort, while Lu Yue initially hadn’t reacted to what this was about, but then remembered the sect’s true big shot…

“Changxu!”

Lu Yue called out to stop Li Changshou, quickly walking forward two steps and placing a bottle of pills in Li Changshou’s sleeve.

Li Changshou was somewhat puzzled: “What’s this?”

Lu Yue transmitted his voice with instructions: “Unmoved While Sitting Together Pills, this poor Daoist’s original creation. Take care.”

Li Changshou’s eyes brightened.

This old Lu had something there.