“Did you verify the identity of the one who appeared that day? Do you know for certain it was Xu Puti?”

Inside the Lingxiao Hall, all the immortals and deities fell silent.

When a Sage personally visited the Heavenly Court, only the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, or the rarely-seen incarnation of the Sage, Lord Taishang Laojun, could engage in conversation.

Even Li Changshou, who held multiple prestigious positions—disciple of Taiqing, authority in the Heavenly Court, Chang’e’s Chief Instructor, rumored companion of Heng’e, and prospective partner of Yunxiao Immortal—could only speak a word or two after being specifically called upon by the Jade Emperor.

Sage Zhunti’s counter-question drew all eyes back to Li Changshou.

Behold!

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed slightly as his breathing slowed, appearing deep in thought and troubled…

Though in reality, he was exchanging playful banter with his junior sister, nothing inappropriate.

The assembled immortals felt that while Sage Zhunti’s question seemed straightforward and perhaps lacking in sophistication, it was indeed difficult to answer.

The Western Sect’s Sage needed only to maintain that the one who appeared that day was not Xu Puti. Requesting the Heavenly Court to withdraw their pursuit would then be reasonable and well-founded.

But Li Changshou… remained composed.

“Patriarch Zhunti, may I offer a brief explanation?”

“Proceed,” Zhunti responded expressionlessly.

Li Changshou made a Daoist salute and methodically adjusted his whisking brush, using these small gestures to seemingly buy time for thought…

His brows knitted slightly, his lips pursed then quickly relaxed, his posture slouching ever so slightly.

In truth, these were calculated moves to ensure the Sage wouldn’t interrupt his upcoming words.

Soon, Li Changshou’s eyes brightened. Like an impetuous old immortal, he explained somewhat anxiously:

“That day when this minor deity condemned Xu Puti, the Heavenly Dao itself responded by sending down tribulation!

The tribulation fell upon that avatar, then dispersed with it, pursuing the true form that had released the avatar!

How could there be any mistake?”

Sage Zhunti replied calmly: “You invoked Xu Puti’s name and exercised Heavenly Court authority. The power of the Heavenly Dao was moved by you, thus the judgment was yours.

Water God, was it not hasty to lay blame on our sect’s disciple without proper investigation? Perhaps there was… some bias?”

Li Changshou appeared speechless, his brow forcing out faint cold sweat.

The assembled immortals and deities inwardly sighed…

Even the great Water God struggled to withstand Sage’s challenge.

Furthermore, the immortals and deities felt a surge of shared indignation. A Heavenly General who had accompanied Li Changshou to the Immortal Alliance meeting that day was about to stand up.

But East Wood Lord moved half a step faster, rising and bowing deeply, crying out with the most timid of voices!

“Your Majesty!

This old subject previously examined the records crystallized in Tongming Hall. They clearly showed it was the Western Sect’s Sa… Sage…”

A glance fell upon Wood Lord, causing him to tremble all over and bow his head even lower.

—Sage Zhunti’s half-lowered eyelids lifted slightly, casting that one look at Wood Lord.

Wood Lord’s throat quivered. With mere Golden Immortal cultivation, how could he withstand a Sage’s majesty?

But here in the Heavenly Court, in Lingxiao Hall!

As the Jade Emperor’s most senior and second most trusted minister, as a former role model for the Heavenly Court’s immortals and deities, how could he cower? How could he fall silent?

“Those records clearly showed it was the Western Sect’s disciple, Xu Puti!”

The gaze withdrew, and East Wood Lord’s legs went weak, his body drenched in cold sweat, nearly collapsing. From the side, a large hand reached out, steadying Wood Lord’s arm and slowly ‘returning’ him to his seat.

With a light chuckle, Li Changshou stepped forward two paces, shielding Wood Lord.

His slouched form straightened, divine light surging in his eyes, each strand of silver-white hair floating upward!

Though his appearance was merely that of a kind-faced, thin elderly man, it captivated the immortals and deities in Lingxiao Hall. Several young generals, represented by Ao Yi and Bian Zhuang, were so stirred that their hearts nearly burst with excitement!

Unfortunately, Lingxiao Hall contained only male immortals…

“This minor deity can completely confirm that the one who disrupted the Immortal Alliance meeting that day was indeed the Western Sect’s disciple, Xu Puti!”

Li Changshou turned sideways and cupped his hands toward the air above, declaring loudly:

“Due to certain reasons that wouldn’t be appropriate to state directly before Patriarch Zhunti, though everyone surely understands!

When the Immortal Alliance meeting reached its critical stage, this minor deity anticipated that a certain great sect—whose name cannot be directly mentioned—would soon come to disrupt the Alliance.

Please don’t be hasty, Patriarch Zhunti. This minor deity harbors no ill intentions in speculating about the Western Sect.

At that time, the Enlightenment Sect’s Vice Patriarch and current Alliance Leader, Senior Randeng, was about to announce the official establishment of the Immortal Alliance when a spirit stood up and spoke mockingly.

For some unknown reason, Senior Randeng allowed them to speak.

This minor deity pondered… Eh? Something seemed off about Vice Patriarch Randeng as if he deliberately threw out a topic to help a certain unnamed great sect cause trouble.

Time seemed to slow!

In this minor deity’s spiritual platform, strands of Dao rhythm appeared, flowing gently and gracefully, both obscure yet pure, as if all the great principles of the world could be analyzed by these rhythms.

Can everyone guess what happened?”

Immediately, a True God asked: “What happened?”

Li Changshou promptly responded: “It was a reminder from my teacher, currently the strongest Sage in Heaven and Earth!

This minor deity’s heart was in turmoil, my spiritual platform confused, with no time to comprehend those Dao rhythms, but five characters had already formed in my mind!

‘This One Is Xu Puti!'”

From behind, East Wood Lord couldn’t help but count on his fingers and asked puzzledly: “Wasn’t that seven characters?”

“That’s not important,” Li Changshou replied calmly, “The Sage Lord just said the guilt acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao was fabricated. Since this minor deity is also a Sage’s disciple, can’t I say seven is five?

What kind of reasoning is that?”

The Jade Emperor nearly burst out laughing; below, several Heavenly Generals were already pinching their neighbors’ thighs hard.

Sage Zhunti merely snorted coldly, closing his eyes without comment.

Li Changshou continued: “Therefore, as soon as this minor deity saw that avatar, I knew it was Xu Puti.

This came directly from my teacher, the Taiqing Sage of the Dao sect. If Patriarch Zhunti thinks I’m lying, you can go to Taiqing Temple to question him.

Alas, this minor deity truly didn’t expect it.

Xu Puti was extremely arrogant at the time, thinking he had caught the Alliance’s weakness. When I asked who he was, he brazenly revealed his true form and announced his identity.

Tens of thousands of immortals heard it then—he called himself Xu Puti, the Western Sect’s most favored Sage disciple, senior brother to Dizang, the master of the Reincarnation Tower in the Netherworld.”

“Enough.”

Zhunti spoke again: “Xu Puti acted without authorization and deceived the Sage. The Western Sect will soon explain to the Heavenly Court.”

Li Changshou knew when to stop and didn’t press further, making a Daoist salute to the Jade Emperor.

“Your Majesty, that’s how things stand. This minor deity will return to his seat now.”

The Jade Emperor waved his hand, smiling: “Does Patriarch Zhunti have other important matters to discuss today?

Though I would like to sit and discuss the Dao with Patriarch Zhunti, as you can see, the Heavenly Court is newly established and busy with affairs…”

This was a dismissal.

However, Sage Zhunti said: “This poor monk came to the Heavenly Court today with another important matter.”

In a corner of a Yaochi Palace, Li Changshou and the Jade Emperor exchanged glances, both instantly on high alert.

By reason, Li Changshou had already brought up the Taiqing Sage, and Sage Zhunti had yielded; there was no way to continue pressing the issue.

Li Changshou needed only to repeatedly raise the Taiqing banner, and Sage Zhunti would be grinding his face against an iron rod.

With enough persistence, even an iron rod could be ground into a needle.

But Zhunti wanted to speak again, claiming another important matter…

Something was wrong—they couldn’t be careless.

In Lingxiao Hall, the Jade Emperor smiled: “What other matter does Patriarch Zhunti have?”

Zhunti’s eyes remained closed as he spoke slowly: “Does Your Majesty know of a fierce being from remote antiquity who controlled the Blood Sea, known as Ancestor Minghe?”

“Indeed I do,” the Jade Emperor considered briefly before saying seriously, “Ancestor Minghe created the Blood Sea Asura Race, proclaimed himself Patriarch, and in ancient times obstructed the Six Paths of Reincarnation, thus drawing Heaven’s punishment.”

“Correct, this Ancestor Minghe,” Zhunti opened his eyes a crack, “Before facing Heaven’s punishment, Ancestor Minghe had already sensed his impending downfall.

This spirit achieved the Dao in remote antiquity and was extremely cunning. He wielded two swords capable of slaying living beings without accruing karma: one called Yuantu, one called Abi, and also possessed a supreme treasure named the Twelve-Petaled Karmic Red Lotus.

When Ancestor Minghe faced Heaven’s punishment, he didn’t use the lotus to resist. Instead, he used one sword to sever the lotus, merging the karmic force of the Twelve-Petaled Karmic Red Lotus into the Blood Sea, then cast out three lotus seeds for his future rebirth.

Of these three seeds, this poor monk obtained one, while the whereabouts of the other two remain unknown…”

The Jade Emperor interrupted: “Could it be that Patriarch Zhunti was at the Blood Sea at that time?”

“That lotus seed had an affinity with me.”

“I see,” the Jade Emperor smiled, “I would never think that Patriarch Zhunti, being a Sage, would go to the Blood Sea to scavenge.

Please continue, Patriarch Zhunti.”

Zhunti showed no reaction and continued: “A few days ago, this poor monk had a sudden feeling and took out that lotus seed to examine it.”

As he spoke, Zhunti’s left hand emerged from beneath his wide robes, slowly opening.

A shriveled dark red lotus seed, like a small stone, lay in his palm. Within it remained a trace of the supreme treasure’s primordial essence, though all vitality had vanished.

In Li Changshou’s mind, the Taiji Diagram’s spiritual perception formed a message: “Indeed this is a seed from that Red Lotus, though its spiritual power has now dispersed.”

Zhunti said: “The dispersal of spiritual power from this poor monk’s seed heralds the imminent maturation of one of the three seeds.

That seed has been absorbing the karmic force scattered throughout the Blood Sea and can reform into the Twelve-Petaled Red Lotus.

Once the Red Lotus emerges, karmic flames will sweep across the Three Realms, bringing catastrophe to all living beings. Ancestor Minghe could use this to resurrect, becoming a great threat to the netherworld.

I hope Your Majesty will dispatch troops soon to the Blood Sea to destroy it before the Red Lotus manifests.”

The Jade Emperor’s brows furrowed slightly as he stared at the seed, lost in thought.

Li Changshou muttered quietly beside him: “So when the Netherworld reported that Western Sect experts were searching the Blood Sea for something, it wasn’t to claim the Red Lotus for themselves, but to uphold justice in the Three Realms.”

“Correct,” Zhunti calmly responded, continuing without changing expression, “Though the Western Sect is dedicated to Western prosperity, we also care for all living beings.

On this point, the Western Sect and Heavenly Court can seek common ground while maintaining our differences.”

This was a direct hint to the Jade Emperor.

If this hint had come from the Western Sect during the original Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, the weak Heavenly Court would surely have accepted it to relieve the enormous pressure from the Dao Sect.

But now, the Western Sect was already caught in calamity…

The Jade Emperor said directly: “If you care for all living beings, why doesn’t Patriarch Zhunti restore all those divine kingdoms of incense offerings to their original state?”

“This was merely the doing of one or two disciples. This poor monk is also investigating who acted thus.”

“Hmph!”

The Jade Emperor snorted in dissatisfaction, then after some thought, said:

“I will treat the Red Lotus matter with utmost caution.

If this is true, the Heavenly Court will do everything to prevent such evil from occurring.

I request that Patriarch Zhunti also provide strong assistance later, working together for the welfare of all beings.”

“Naturally.”

Sage Zhunti smiled gently, his figure gradually fading. “Having conveyed this matter to the Heavenly Court, this poor monk can return to Spirit Mountain to cultivate in peace.

One final reminder for the Water God.

Of those three lotus seeds from that year, one wandered about until it fell into the hands of the Severing Sect’s Sage.

Now as the great catastrophe approaches, the Severing Sect claims to have tens of thousands of immortals at court, but in truth harbors corruption. Without a supreme treasure to stabilize their sect’s fate, their situation is precarious.

Yet the Red Lotus can absorb endless karma, and like the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus, comes from the same origin, thus able to stabilize sect fate…

Fate… fate… fate…”

The Sage’s final words echoed throughout Lingxiao Hall.

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched involuntarily…

Had Zhunti not been beaten enough by Uncle Master Tongming last time?

However, these few sentences were undeniably brilliant in their divisiveness.

The Red Lotus, Severing Sect, Ancestor Minghe, three lotus seeds…

When the Heavenly Dao frantically hinted to him before, his decision to stay steady and not get involved was wise!

Whether Uncle Master Tongming was plotting, hiding away to create a Red Lotus to save face and stabilize sect fate;

Or whether this was the Western Sect’s scheme within a scheme, having obtained more than one lotus seed and using it to drive a wedge between the Heavenly Court and Severing Sect by slandering the latter…

It wasn’t appropriate for Li Changshou to get involved in any of this.

One thing had to be clear—he needed to protect only the few powerful experts in the Severing Sect who had connections to him, not the entire sect.

—That exceeded Li Changshou’s capabilities; he knew he couldn’t accomplish what even Sages found difficult.

If he got involved in this Red Lotus incident, he would sink into a quagmire of impossible choices, having to maintain four principles, five requirements, six points of attention, seven operational guidelines…

Only one couplet could express his determination in this situation.

The first line: You don’t go, I don’t go, someone will surely go.

The second line: Say won’t go, just won’t go, can go but won’t go.

The horizontal scroll…

[GO].

Li Changshou stumbled, nearly falling onto the table in Lingxiao Hall, almost tumbling from his rocking chair on Little Qiong Peak.

Looking at that… massive, profound word formed in his mind, containing boundless Dao rhythms, all his emotion transformed into a gentle smile.

Ah, for justice.

…

“Changgeng, do you think this Red Lotus matter is true or false?”

From that palace corner, Qin Tianzhu transmitted: “For Sage Zhunti to come to speak of this voluntarily, could it be that the Western Sect couldn’t find traces of the Red Lotus and wants to use us?”

Looking dejected, Li Changshou sighed softly: “Who knows? The primordial chaos is full of schemes. From remote antiquity until now, countless schemes have occurred.

Under the sun’s illumination, there are no new matters.”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar pondered carefully, then declared: “Your metaphor is quite apt, beloved official. Then this Red Lotus matter shall be entirely entrusted to you!”

Li Changshou: …

“Your Majesty, in this matter this minor deity is like the filling in a meat pie. Perhaps we should officially assign another True God from our Heavenly Court, while this minor deity assists from the shadows.”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar smiled: “Beloved official, do you fear difficulty explaining to the Severing Sect?”

“It’s not about difficult explanations,” Li Changshou mused, transmitting: “What I worry most about now is that after this matter grows, the Severing Sect won’t come forward to explain voluntarily.

The Severing Sect, from top to bottom, has pride in its bones and especially looks down on the Western Sect. If the West spreads rumors, the Severing Sect might not bother to explain… then the Enlightenment Sect might seize the opportunity to strike.

Under the great catastrophe, each seeks self-preservation.

Though the Dao Sect claims to be one family, over the past tens of thousands of years, through the efforts of those with ulterior motives, a rift has formed between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects. We must guard against this.

Your Majesty, before destroying most of the Western Sect’s accumulated power and strength, the Enlightenment and Severing Sects should not go to war.”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar said gravely: “Indeed this is so… Remarkably, beloved official, you don’t blindly side with the Severing Sect.”

Li Changshou smiled bitterly: “Your Majesty, setting aside my position in the Heavenly Court, I am first a disciple of the Human Sect, then a disciple of the Dao Sect.”

“Then we’ll follow your suggestion, and let this avatar of mine take the lead!”

“Your Majesty, do you have other avatars?”

Qin Tianzhu asked puzzledly: “Of course I do. Has this avatar perhaps been exposed?”

“It’s likely been exposed for quite some time…”

“Ahem,” Qin Tianzhu coughed, saying calmly, “Then let’s officially assign this matter to… General Wei Shenmo!”

Li Changshou’s heart immediately relaxed.

Fortunately, the Jade Emperor’s fourth avatar wasn’t called Wei Zhentian, otherwise Li Changshou would truly suspect something was wrong with His Majesty…

How to handle this matter?

Stay steady.

Secretly invite the Grand Mage back, gather the Human Sect’s mount team, and maintain sufficient strength to mediate and deter the three sects facing catastrophe!