Silence.

In the main tent of the Celestial Army camp, Commander Wei sat upright in the primary seat, his gaze drifting left and right. He carefully regulated his celestial power, trying not to disturb the present tranquility.

Outside the main tent, several Celestial Generals pretending to pass by secretly observed the situation.

The Enlightenment Sect and Severing Sect parties sat opposite each other, with Treasure Master Duo Bao naturally taking the senior position. The seat across from Treasure Master Duo Bao remained empty, presumably waiting for Elder Guangcheng who was hurrying over.

Of course, transforming clouds into steeds wasn’t a popular divine technique in the primordial world.

Elder Li sat on a meditation cushion in the center of the tent, bearing pressure that someone his age shouldn’t have to endure.

If only those simple-minded folks from Bear Village hadn’t caused trouble by establishing the Sea God Sect…

If only he hadn’t firmly attached himself to the Great Master’s side back then…

He should have been a slightly powerful Golden Immortal now, living carefree days on Minor Jade Peak, only needing to consider how to disguise himself, tease Lady Chang’e, tend to flowers, plant trees, refine Male Vigor Pills, and brew Dragon Poison Wine.

Unlike now, sitting between the two largest immortal factions of the Three Realms, thinking about how to balance both sects and prevent them from fighting.

Those two crushing atmospheres were gradually wearing down his steady constitution…

He also recalled how earlier, when he chose to sit between the two sects, Third Sister Qiong Xiao had naturally pulled him to sit together, truly frightening him into a cold sweat.

A brother-in-law and sister-in-law sitting together was bound to invite criticism!

Regarding the rumors about Chang’e, Elder Li was confident they would naturally dissipate over time.

But rumors about a sister-in-law were impossible to clear up and could easily cause Cloud Xiao to lose her composure and truly misunderstand…

Elder Li finally managed to coax Qiong Xiao to sit next to Divine Mother Turtle Spirit.

—In truth, Qiong Xiao wasn’t close to him; her deliberate familiarity this time was mostly to show defiance toward the Enlightenment Sect.

“Ahem.”

Breaking the silence, White Marsh stepped forward, made a respectful gesture to both Treasure Master Duo Bao and Elder Chijing, and said with a smile:

“May I ask what brings everyone here today? We can’t just stand around like this. Everything can be discussed, but someone needs to speak first.”

Treasure Master Duo Bao clasped his hands and smiled, “Actually, it’s nothing major. I hadn’t seen Changsheng in a while and came to visit, while also looking for treasures. Are the Enlightenment Sect brothers also interested in the Blood Sea Red Lotus?”

Elder Chijing forced a smile and said thoughtfully, “When Pangu created heaven and earth, the Primordial Azure Lotus suffered a catastrophe, and several lotus seeds fell to various places in the world, transforming into several Twelve-Petal Lotuses. This Red Lotus absorbs endless karmic burden—if it emerges, it will surely cause devastation among living beings… it must be destroyed.”

Qiong Xiao maintained a stern expression and said crisply:

“Brother, those words aren’t quite right! How can treasures be divided into good and evil? The Western Sect’s Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus is a Merit Golden Lotus, opposing the Karmic Red Lotus. They use the Merit Golden Lotus to stabilize their sect’s fate, yet they steal and commit evil deeds daily. Are you suggesting their evil deeds become good ones because they’re sheltered by the Merit Golden Lotus?”

Elder Chijing continued pondering but couldn’t form a response.

True Man Yellow Dragon said, “These are different matters.”

“Though the matters differ, the principle remains the same,” Qiong Xiao shifted her tone, “Isn’t that right, Brother-in-law?”

Elder Li looked up with a smile and nodded slowly, sighing:

“Well… Whatever we discuss here, I fear any conclusion would be hard to convince everyone. Instead, in my capacity as the Human Sect’s Executive Disciple, I’d like to invite the senior brothers and sisters of both the Enlightenment and Severing Sects to gather at the edge of the Blood Sea to discuss matters concerning that Twelve-Petal Karmic Red Lotus. I will do my utmost to mediate this matter and provide everyone with a relatively fair solution. How does that sound?”

True Man Jade Tripod sighed slowly, his gaze full of admiration for Elder Li.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng wiped his eyes and looked up with a sigh, hands behind his back: “In the end, Master still shoulders everything.”

Elder Li: …

It wasn’t that noble.

This was simply the necessary price he had to pay for being able to normally request assistance from both sects’ powerful experts.

Treasure Master Duo Bao smiled, “No need for further notice. I’ve already spread the word, asking idle junior brothers and sisters to gather here quickly.”

Elder Chijing also said, “Elder Brother Guangcheng and the others are already on their way, so we don’t need to call more people here.”

Elder Li’s mouth twitched slightly.

So you started gathering forces as soon as you met?!

If this isn’t handled well today, they might start fighting.

Better secure his position first—make a disclaimer establishing himself as a ‘mediator.’ As for whether the mediation succeeds, that would depend on his abilities.

True Man Taiji smiled, “The Severing Sect claims ten thousand immortals attend their court, naturally having strength in numbers. Brother Duo Bao, please don’t summon eight hundred or a thousand disciples of the Sage.”

Treasure Master Duo Bao smiled without speaking. Though he wanted to say ‘Our Severing Sect promises not to prioritize deploying Sister Cloud Xiao,’ considering the Big Senior Brother’s dignity…

It was more appropriate to keep those words to himself.

Qiong Xiao’s eyes turned, and she stood up, calling softly: “Brother-in-law, let me make you some tea!”

Elder Li blinked at Qiong Xiao, who smiled and blinked back, making Elder Li extremely anxious.

She wasn’t one to behave properly…

White Marsh stepped forward timely and smiled, “Lady Qiong Xiao, please rest here. How could we let you serve? This poor Daoist will prepare some tea and refreshments. Everyone, please wait a moment.”

At the critical moment, Sir White came through.

Qiong Xiao pouted and sat back in her chair listlessly, returning to her bored state.

Silence…

The kind of silence where, even without other ambient noise, Elder Li could mentally supply the sound of summer afternoon cicadas.

After a while, White Marsh brought a large tray of exquisite refreshments, presented them to the two immortal ladies, and then gracefully retreated to the corner.

Commander Wei asked softly, “Water God, should we take down the main tent and widen the space?”

“Indeed, when more people arrive later, this place will be too narrow.”

Elder Li stood up and smiled, “The Reincarnation Tower would be a good venue. Why don’t we return there?”

Treasure Master Duo Bao said “Good,” and the several Enlightenment Sect immortals had no objections.

Thus, without obtaining Earth Treasury’s permission, the Dao parties naturally occupied the top floor of the Reincarnation Tower, using mustard seed dimension techniques to temporarily transform the originally not-so-spacious top floor into a magnificent hall.

Soon, immortals from both sects arrived one after another.

Eight of the Enlightenment Sect’s Twelve Golden Immortals came, four or five Merit Golden Immortals appeared, and several dozen ordinary sage disciples and followers also arrived.

The Severing Sect’s situation was much more complex, mostly arriving in groups divided by immortal islands—two hundred from Golden Tortoise Island, eighty from Nine Dragons Island, one hundred from Penglai Island… and so on.

Elder Li recalled a joke from his previous life:

[You never know how many fighters can emerge from a BMW 5 Series.]

In this primordial world, the joke still applied:

[Never try to guess how many immortals can stand on a white cloud flying out from a Severing Sect temple!]

The Severing Sect disciples were truly too numerous…

Elder Li couldn’t help but wonder, even if the Severing Sect took that Twelve-Petal Red Lotus, could it stabilize such vast sect fortunes?

In ancient times, when senior experts who first walked the path of cultivation taught simple dao and principles to mountain grass insects, birds, and primitive spirit beasts, helping them awaken wisdom, they could earn merit.

This was ‘enlightening.’

Elder Li now suspected that the Severing Sect’s numerous sage disciples might be because Uncle Master Tongtian got too ‘excited’ when enlightening beings in ancient times and directly transmitted the Dao…

On the top floor of the Reincarnation Tower, Earth Treasury sat in the corner with a dark face, arms crossed, furious but not daring to speak about the current situation.

The Truth Listener revealed its true form as a majestic divine beast, lying around Earth Treasury, pretending to sleep with closed eyes.

While waiting for both parties’ immortals to gather, Elder Li found a random excuse to temporarily slip away to avoid awkwardness.

He, White Marsh, and the Golden-Winged Great Peng found a secluded corner outside Ghost City, secretly deliberating methods to search for the Red Lotus…

“We’ve found ninety-nine suitable souls,” White Marsh said softly. “All have immense karmic burden but were mortals in life. However, there’s one issue—Golden Peng earlier tried taking two souls into the Blood Sea, but the souls easily succumbed to the Blood Sea’s corruption, dispersing in moments.”

Elder Li pondered, “We’ll use immortal techniques to protect their true spirits. We’re only borrowing their power, not letting them scatter.”

Golden-Winged Great Peng said, “Master, these people are burdened with karma. It wouldn’t be a shame if their souls scattered.”

“No,” Elder Li said seriously. “Since they’ve entered the Eighteen Levels of Hell rather than being burned by karmic fire or struck by heavenly lightning, it shows they still have a chance to atone through suffering. As immortals and deities, we cannot cut off living beings’ path to survival.”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng showed contemplation and slowly nodded.

White Marsh took out a pink transparent sphere from his sleeve, with ninety-nine points of light floating inside.

“Water God, should we verify if this method works first?”

White Marsh gave a sensible suggestion, “If it works, we’ll have more say when negotiating with the other two sects later.”

After careful consideration, Elder Li took out a paper avatar from his sleeve and nodded, “Indeed. Golden Peng, take my avatar there. White Sir and I will stabilize the situation here and buy some time.”

“Yes!”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng agreed and left for the Blood Sea with Elder Li’s paper avatar, carrying the transparent sphere.

Elder Li split his attention, immediately discussing with White Marsh how to ‘uphold justice’ later.

In short, the core principle couldn’t waver—

[The Severing Sect is too strong, let’s weaken the Western Sect.]

…

As for Elder Li and the Golden-Winged Great Peng rushing to the Blood Sea, they directly dove into its depths, searching for suitable places to release the ‘souls.’

Sitting on the Great Peng’s back, Elder Li took out six karma-laden souls from his magical item, wrapped them in immortal power to protect their true spirits, and left a trace of his dao rhythm on these souls for identification.

Examining these six thumb-sized souls, Elder Li’s interest was particularly caught by a young man dressed as a scholar.

Looking at his sickly yellow complexion and frail appearance, one wondered what crimes he had committed to accumulate so much karma and be thrown into the Eighteen Levels of Hell for torment.

Elder Li raised his hand and lightly tapped, releasing this soul’s bindings, letting him manifest as a human-sized phantom kneeling before him.

The scholar trembled for a moment, and his eyes, numbed from endless torture, gained some color…

“Have I… served my punishment?”

Elder Li asked, “Are you a wicked person?”

The scholar lifted his head to look at Elder Li, his expression calm, but his body relaxed somewhat.

Hell was full of evil ghosts and fierce souls, and even the ghost officers mostly appeared fierce. Suddenly seeing such a kind-looking elderly immortal, he truly felt no fear.

He explained in a somewhat weak voice: “I studied for eighteen years, just to inherit my father’s will and become a record-keeping clerk.”

“Oh?” Elder Li frowned slightly, wondering if this was a case of wrongful conviction.

This needed looking into.

Elder Li gestured for Golden Peng to fly slower and said seriously, “Then why did you accumulate so much karma?”

“Ah…”

The scholar sighed deeply, full of desire to confide, and said with a bitter smile: “Do you want to hear the detailed truth, the brief truth, or would you prefer a fabricated lie?”

This way of speaking was quite interesting.

Elder Li smiled, “Then the brief truth.”

“I spoke too slowly.”

“Oh?” Elder Li frowned, “How does speaking slowly accumulate karma?”

The scholar smiled bitterly and continuously, “I was born doing things methodically, unhurried, and steady, and when several matters were placed before me, I often became indecisive, not knowing how to choose.

The first karma burden probably came when the neighbor’s house caught fire. I was the first to arrive, and there were cries for help from both the wing rooms and the main house. I became confused immediately, not knowing whether to save the main house or the wing rooms first, whether to save the elderly or the children first…”

Elder Li asked puzzled, “Then why did you accumulate karma?”

“Probably because I kept hesitating and forgot to call for help.”

Black lines immediately appeared on Elder Li’s forehead.

The scholar sighed, “The second karma burden came because the neighbor’s fire eventually burned down our entire street. I was driven out of town, became homeless, and met an injured soldier with several arrows in him, one piercing right through his shoulder.

He asked me to report to the officials in town, but he passed out before explaining clearly.

Should I report to the city lord, or should I report to the general, or should I report to the guard captain whom I might be able to see…

Later, by the time I made my choice, the city had fallen.”

Elder Li: …

“The third karma burden came because I hated my incompetence and wanted to retreat to the mountains to end my days, but my luck was poor, and I was captured by a group of female ghosts. They asked me to choose who would drain my yang energy first.

Should I choose Little White, or should I choose Little Qian, or should I choose Ah Lan?

They seemed very angry in the end and went on a killing spree that night. I took the chance to escape.

Now thinking back on my life while in the underworld, that time… was quite regrettable.”

“I understand now,” Elder Li sighed and released the other five souls into karma-dense areas of the Blood Sea, observing while listening to the scholar recount his tragic life.

Soon, the method provided by Truth Listener showed results.

Five souls, five karma burdens, indeed showed a tendency to drift in the same direction!

As the scholar continued his narration, Elder Li began to [increase the sample size], raising the number of deployed souls to thirty, observing their induced direction, and drawing an arrow on the Blood Sea ‘map’ in his mind.

After drawing the arrow, Elder Li immediately retrieved these souls, sat on the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s back, and moved to another area.

Following the same method, he drew a second arrow.

The intersection point of the two lines extending from these arrows would be the source of this ‘attraction’!

But how could Elder Li make such an arbitrary conclusion?

Relying on Golden Peng’s speed, Elder Li began darting back and forth through the Blood Sea, rushing in all directions, continuously placing karmic souls, observing karma convergence and drift directions, and striving to eliminate all interfering factors.

Finally, after ninety-nine arrows were drawn, determining a narrow range, and Elder Li distantly sensing a trace of mysterious dao rhythm…

That scholar’s soul sighed faintly, having finished recounting his short life.

“Immortal,” the scholar couldn’t help asking, “are you going to let me go, or send me back to hell, or perhaps…”

Snap!

A finger flicked the scholar’s forehead, transforming him back to thumb-size and sealing him back in the magical item.

A true chatterbox ghost.

Elder Li said, “Golden Peng, conceal your aura and hide here. Note the aura of anyone who enters within a hundred li, but don’t interfere.”

“Yes! Rest assured, Master!”

Elder Li nodded slowly, closing his eyes to rest on Golden Peng’s back.

The Reincarnation Tower was already at daggers drawn, with both sects’ powerful disciples about to roll up their sleeves and begin ‘sparring.’ He needed to hurry back to redirect the conflict and export it to the Western Sect…

Ahem, to uphold the justice belonging to the Dao Path.