Upon hearing the words “non-aggression pact,” the immortals from each faction had different reactions.

Li Changshou took out several backup scrolls to distribute among the immortals of both sects, then handed his copy to the three Senior Brothers.

The non-aggression pact wasn’t one of the Heavenly Path Oaths that Li Changshou was most familiar with, but rather a purely written agreement.

The core content of the agreement was simple:

[Before the assembly at Purple Void Palace, whichever side between the Enlightenment Sect and Severing Sect declares war first, or secretly provokes the other side into declaring war, the Human Sect will fully assist the opposing side.]

Most of the text on the scroll focused on refining the duration of constraints, enriching applicable scenarios, and reducing potential loopholes.

Before long, the Senior Brothers of the three sects nodded in agreement, and the immortals from both sects thought this arrangement was suitable.

Some immortals from the Enlightenment Sect were dissatisfied with this, which was understandable. After all, signing the non-aggression pact meant the two sects couldn’t go to war, and the Twelve-Petaled Crimson Lotus would likely fall steadily into the Severing Sect’s hands…

But speaking up about this now would only make one appear to be a spy planted by the Western Sect.

Therefore, no immortals from the Enlightenment Sect expressed their dissatisfaction.

This, of course, was all within Li Changshou’s calculations.

The Severing Sect valued loyalty while the Enlightenment Sect emphasized reputation. The former had more impulsive members, while the latter had more who preferred to play it safe.

These were all aspects that could be factored into one’s schemes.

After the three Senior Brothers each wrote down their Daoist titles, besides the Human Sect, three highly respected senior disciples from both sides came forward and wrote their names. Thus, this agreement—though not a Heavenly Path Oath—was established.

Its validity would last until the assembly of Sages at Purple Void Palace.

Great Master Xuandu raised the scroll high, about to deliver a speech that would be neither impassioned nor rousing when Li Changshou suddenly whispered beside him:

“It’s not finished yet, Senior Brother. We should make this in triplicate, one copy for each sect.”

Great Master Xuandu couldn’t help but smile, letting Li Changshou continue his meticulous planning…

Half an hour later, the non-aggression pact was finally settled.

True Person Yellow Dragon gently sighed and said, “For some reason, my heart feels much more at ease now.”

“Three flowers blooming from one vine, the three sects were originally one family.

Why engage in killing when we could sit and drink tea in leisure?”

“Now that we’ve signed the non-aggression pact, let us each return to our cave dwellings and focus on cultivation. When our three teachers determine the extent of the Great Tribulation in Purple Void Palace, if we must face it, then we shall walk this path in the mortal realm!”

“Please forgive any prior offenses, fellow Daoist siblings of the Enlightenment Sect.”

“Our sect also had its improper handling of matters…”

The previously tense atmosphere finally eased.

Whether for the sake of face or propriety, the immortals from both sides now spoke in gentle tones, appearing harmonious at first glance.

This truly was:

Crimson Lotus stirs Enlightenment and Severing,

To protect sect fate through tribulation’s gathering.

Yet schemes abound in this affair,

As open plots and secrets nearly bare steel there.

One scroll’s alliance stays the fight,

Long Star’s clever plan brings brief respite.

Two sects immortals share their hearts,

As mountain-bound cultivation starts.

Just as the two sects were getting along peacefully, True Person Chijing stroked his beard and asked: “Then… how shall we handle this Crimson Lotus specifically?”

The top floor of the Reincarnation Tower fell silent once again.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “This matter is also easily resolved. Today, our three sects shall work together to first locate this lotus, and then see if we can retrieve it.

If we cannot retrieve the lotus, and its birth would bring catastrophe to the Three Realms, then we shall use all our might to destroy it.

If we can retrieve it, we shall present it to our three teachers, letting them decide how to handle it.

What do you all think?”

The Enlightenment Sect immortals pondered carefully and concluded that letting the Sage teachers decide was indeed the best approach.

The Severing Sect immortals thought hard and realized that if they could bring back the lotus, their teacher was in need of just such a treasure to stabilize the sect’s fate. How could the two Uncle Masters not agree?

It would most likely belong to their Severing Sect!

Thus, immortals from both sects nodded in agreement. The Enlightenment Sect praised Water God Li Changgen for his wisdom and clever strategies, while the Severing Sect marveled at how their son-in-law truly favored their interests.

After another round of courteous exchanges, Li Changshou handed over control of the venue to the three Senior Brothers and secretly informed Great Master Xuandu of the Golden Roc’s location…

Afterward, Li Changshou went to a corner and exchanged glances with Green Bull and White Marsh, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Temporarily settled.

White Marsh transmitted his voice in praise: “Water God’s strategies are admirable. Such dedication to the Dao School deserves reward.”

Green Bull also said: “Senior Brother Changgen, you handled this beautifully today!”

Li Changshou looked at the sky, swallowed his debt-collecting words, and smiled with squinted eyes, sitting down to continue contemplating.

Having temporarily suppressed the conflict between Enlightenment and Severing, the next step was to focus on planning for the Crimson Lotus…

Moments later, Dao Lord Many Treasures and True Person Broad Accomplishment began issuing commands.

As for how to search for and retrieve the Crimson Lotus, Li Changshou had already formulated a complete plan and given it to Senior Brother Great Master; now it was simply being voiced through Great Master Xuandu’s mouth to mobilize the three sects’ immortals.

This time, the Dao School would make a high-profile entrance, persuading away various independent cultivators and suppressing troublemaking Asuras;

The Heaven’s Army and Netherworld forces would serve as the Dao School’s backup, ready to seal the Netherworld’s entrances and exits if necessary.

Considering that the secret location of the Crimson Lotus must be extremely dangerous if the Dao School sent too many uses… ahem!

If the Dao School sent too many Qi practitioners with insufficient cultivation or without protective treasures, they would not only die in vain when encountering danger but also burden the top experts.

Therefore, in Li Changshou’s plan, this mission would still center around the three sects’ Senior Brothers, forming a small team of about ten people.

Soon, figures flew out of the Reincarnation Tower one after another, rushing to the edge of the Blood Sea to provide support.

The three sects’ Senior Brothers had also selected their accompanying experts and were now waiting for two or three more people to arrive.

From the Human Sect, the contributors would naturally be the brother duo of Great Master Xuandu and Li Changshou;

The Enlightenment Sect’s Senior Brother particularly favored True Person Taiji, who despite repeatedly declining and showing great reluctance, was still pushed onto this bandit ship by True Person Jade Tripod.

The Severing Sect was the most enthusiastic.

The three great immortals who attended Lord Master Tongxuan today—Great Immortal Black Cloud, Spirit Fang Immortal, and Golden Ring Immortal—volunteered for battle but were politely declined by Dao Lord Many Treasures.

The Seven Attendant Immortals were seven experts who served Lord Master Tongxuan. Though their magical powers were profound and abilities considerable, they had never been granted heavy treasures by Lord Master Tongxuan, making their overall battle strength slightly inferior to the Severing Sect’s Eight Great Disciples.

Among the Eight Great Disciples, the three—Jade Void, Azure Void, and Divine Turtle Sacred Mother—were slightly weaker than the other five, and were also filtered out by Dao Lord Many Treasures. The remaining five would join forces.

—Although Azure Void was purely a case of “sitting at home, refusing to come from the Netherworld,” staying at Three Immortal Island to watch the house, completely uninvolved in the experience.

Regarding this, Jade Void was quite depressed and ran over pouting, calling Li Changshou “Brother-in-law” several times; Li Changshou could only temporarily appease her with the excuse that he “couldn’t interfere with the Severing Sect Senior Brother’s decision.”

At this moment, the Dao School’s lotus-picking small team was just waiting for Matchless Sacred Mother, Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, and Immortal Lady Yun Xiao to arrive…

In the corner, Li Changshou asked: “Master White, would you like to join us in searching for the Crimson Lotus later?”

White Marsh smiled and said: “If Water God has a need, this poor Daoist shall certainly follow.”

“Then I’ll trouble Master White,” Li Changshou said seriously. “This journey is unpredictably strange, and I cannot see through exactly what dangers lie ahead.

The heavenly mechanisms are confused, but with Master White’s divine ability to avoid misfortune and seek fortune, we’ll have an extra layer of protection.”

If possible, Li Changshou himself wouldn’t want to go to such a dangerous place, but Senior Master Taiqing had given so many treasures, and there was that word “go”…

Green Bull smiled and said: “Senior Brother Changgen, let me come along too.

We Human Sect disciples are few and followers insufficient, so even a mount must help make up the numbers.”

“How could I dare let you enter dangerous grounds?”

Li Changshou smiled in refusal and transmitted: “Later I’ll still need to trouble you to watch over Jade Void. She has a hasty temperament and loves to make trouble. If she tries to act secretly, use the Golden Band to take her Golden Scissors.”

The old bull raised his hand to touch his nose ring, puzzled: “How does Senior Brother Changgen know this is a heavy treasure refined by the Lord of Primal Beginning?”

Li Changshou: …

Uh, the chat revealed too much.

How could he not know? Weren’t you the future Great King Rhinoceros of the Journey to the West tribulation, who took Sun Wukong’s Golden Staff, snatched Nezha’s six treasures, played the heavenly immortals like monkeys, and only revealed your true form when the Lord of Primal Beginning came, then left without care?

To be honest, the Great King Rhinoceros’s abilities, background, and treasures were much stronger than that Wine and Women-depleted Bull Demon King, truly worthy of being called Journey to the West’s number one bull.

Li Changshou smiled calmly without explanation.

The muscular Green Bull blinked, seemingly having an epiphany, immediately understanding something.

As for exactly what he understood… that wasn’t important.

White Marsh said: “Water God, let’s go over first.”

“Mm,” Li Changshou agreed, stood up straightening his robes, and raised his hand to wipe his face, transforming into his commonly used young Daoist appearance.

He also took off his white robe, changed into a cyan long gown, turned his silver-white hair black, and simply tied it with a Daoist band.

The reason for changing his appearance was mainly to inspire the “protective instincts” of the three sects’ Senior Brothers…

It wasn’t because Yun Xiao was about to arrive and he wanted to look more handsome!

Turning around and taking a step, the gazes of the various Dao School experts nearby all converged, each revealing smiles of varying degrees.

Boom!

A drum sound?

No, it was his Dao heart suddenly trembling!

In an instant!

As if falling into Goddess Nuwa’s “Time Stop” divine ability, the colors in Li Changshou’s eyes suddenly faded from the tower’s top floor, turning deep grey. His Divine Spirit convulsed, and his spiritual perception trembled violently!

Danger!

This was the sensation transmitted from his paper avatar!

The several heavy treasures carried by his main body showed no abnormality!

Li Changshou instantly regained his senses, immediately cutting off the connection between his main body and that paper avatar, analyzing the several images transmitted to his mind.

Blood Sea, on the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s back…

Just as that intense sense of crisis erupted, ripples appeared layer by layer in the space before the paper avatar, and a pitch-black spear broke through space, thrusting straight at his chest!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, who was hiding his form, reacted with godlike speed, bursting forth golden light feathers around his body, but before these light feathers could fully emerge, that spear had already penetrated the paper avatar’s chest!

The scene ended abruptly with the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s fierce cry.

That spear…

The twisted black shadow in the wrinkled space…

Just through the paper avatar, the killing aura made his spirit tremble uncontrollably!

Li Changshou unconsciously stepped back half a pace, his face somewhat pale, his breathing slightly labored.

Just how many more dangers were hidden in this primordial world…

Li Changshou’s sudden abnormality fell simultaneously into the eyes of more than ten immortals present.

Great Master flashed before Li Changshou, raised his hand to grasp Li Changshou’s wrist, and a peaceful aura enveloped Li Changshou.

At the same time, the Taiji Diagram’s spiritual perception fell into Li Changshou’s mind;

This Primordial Treasure that had accompanied Saint Taiqing since the opening of heaven and earth had naturally seen much, and now formed three large characters in Li Changshou’s mind, revealing that spear’s origin.

“What happened?” Great Master Xuandu asked with concern.

“Senior Brother, quickly!”

Li Changshou’s palm released Yin-Yang energies, transforming into the Taiji Diagram returning to the Great Master’s left shoulder. “The location I mentioned earlier, the Golden-Winged Great Peng is in danger, it’s the Slaughter God Spear!”

The Great Master’s spirit shook, his form directly vanishing without leaving even a trace of afterimage, space rippling in continuous folds.

The Primordial Treasure Taiji Diagram activated by the Great Master could display most of its power!

The crowd of immortals gathered around.

Dao Lord Many Treasures asked: “What Slaughter God Spear?”

“Wasn’t the Slaughter God Spear destroyed in ancient times?”

“Is it the Slaughter God Spear transformed from the Chaos Green Lotus root? The weapon of Demon Ancestor Luohou from those years?”

Li Changshou took a deep breath, the Xuanhuang Pagoda hovering above his Divine Spirit, the Heaven and Earth Ruler also drilling out of his palm, the anxiety and weakness in his heart dissipating like smoke…

Li Changshou explained:

“Time is of the essence, we’ll talk specifics on the way, first let’s go assist my Senior Brother.

That Crimson Lotus seems to have caught the attention of a formidable being. One of my paper avatars was guarding the suspected location of that Crimson Lotus when it was just ambushed by a shadow wielding the Slaughter God Spear.

Marshal Golden Peng is likely no match for that Slaughter God Spear, so I asked Senior Brother to rush to support.”

Li Changshou’s palm produced clouds and mist, quickly condensing into several images.

Dao Lord Many Treasures swept his sleeve, producing a bronze war chariot!

“No time for more explanations, quickly get on!

We’ve been discussing here for so long, we can’t let others snatch the Crimson Lotus!”

Zhao Gongming, Li Changshou, and White Marsh immediately followed Dao Lord Many Treasures onto the chariot.

True Person Broad Accomplishment turned his head to instruct True Person Jade Tripod and True Person Taiji: “Don’t try to show off later.”

The three Enlightenment Sect experts immediately followed.

As the bronze war chariot was about to start, Jade Void and Divine Turtle Sacred Mother ducked their heads and tried to sneak on from the side.

But the Lord of Primal Beginning’s Green Bull, remembering Li Changshou’s earlier instructions, immediately rushed forward, spreading his arms to block these two Severing Sect immortal ladies…

Green Bull smiled and said: “Let’s just ride the clouds over, don’t add to the chaos for all the Senior Brothers.”

With this delay, Dao Lord Many Treasures had already activated the spiritual treasure chariot;

Space collapsed in front, revealing a large hole, and the chariot transformed into a stream of light flying into it, space instantly returning to normal.

Jade Void glared at Green Bull, then remembering this was the Lord of Primal Beginning’s mount, she snorted slightly in dissatisfaction and pulled Divine Turtle Sacred Mother to fly out of the tower.

With the Dao School experts gone, the Reincarnation Tower quickly became quiet.

Earth Store sat by the window, pondering Li Changshou’s recent words in his heart, secretly saying it was strange.

“Discerning Listener?”

“Master, don’t ask,” Discerning Listener lay down honestly, “This matter is beyond our control, and the three Senior Brothers of the Dao School are sufficient to handle it.”

Earth Store frowned in thought and asked: “Are there calculations from our two teachers in this?”

“There should be, going with the flow, adding fuel to the flames.”

Discerning Listener sighed, raising his head to look at the low sky outside the window.

“When the Great Tribulation comes and the Crimson Lotus appears, all sorts of demons and monsters will jump out.

Since ancient times in the primordial world, the victors have been pure and the defeated have been turbid. How can these turbid ones, even gathered together, overcome these pure ones who are stronger than in those years?

Rather than struggle in vain, better to find a place to settle and end this remaining life.”

“Oh?”

Earth Store glanced at the green-furred dog beside him, “Could I also be your place of settlement?”

“That’s not it,” Discerning Listener blinked, righteously declaring, “Back then it was purely because I saw that Master was wise and resourceful, absolutely not because of your identity as Sage’s disciple!”

“Hmph!”

Earth Store swept his sleeve, closing all entrances and exits of the Reincarnation Tower, sitting there to cultivate in silence.

Everything was no longer his concern.

…

Just moments after Li Changshou and the other Dao School immortals left the Reincarnation Tower.

Above the Blood Sea, in a mysteriously appeared whirlpool over a hundred miles in diameter, Great Master Xuandu held the blood-covered Golden-Winged Great Peng, quietly waiting.

The Taiji Diagram’s Dao charm had not dispersed, a crushed killing aura echoing everywhere.

In the whirlpool below, space was self-repairing, and there were remaining Heaven’s Path charms here as if this place had recently suffered heavenly punishment.

Space collapsed into a round hole, and the bronze war chariot rumbled out;

Dao Lord Many Treasures gathered the spiritual treasure with one hand, and seven figures quickly rushed to the Great Master’s side.

“Senior Brother!”

Li Changshou called out, pulling White Marsh’s arm forward together.

The Great Master who was lost in thought turned around, gently pushing the unconscious Golden-Winged Great Peng toward Li Changshou.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng was covered in blood, his chain mail completely shattered, his long hair stained with blood, with over twenty wounds around his body, all deep puncture wounds, the wounds entwined with strands of black qi.

Fortunately, the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s Divine Spirit only suffered minor injuries, now resisting the erosion of the killing aura, with abundant medicinal power within his body…

Great Master Xuandu said somewhat embarrassedly: “I was careless for a moment and let the opponent escape.”

Dao Lord Many Treasures asked: “How many villains?”

“Seemed to be three or four,” Great Master Xuandu said, “The villain who ambushed Changgen’s avatar and Golden Peng was probably deliberately drawing away our attention.”

True Person Broad Accomplishment asked: “Senior Brother, did you see clearly where they came from? Was it the Slaughter God Spear?”

“I did not,” Great Master Xuandu shook his head with a grave expression, “That Slaughter God Spear is the Slaughter God Spear, yet also not the Slaughter God Spear?

It’s merely the remaining fragments of the Slaughter God Spear fused and reforged, far from having the power of the ancient Slaughter God Spear.

I exchanged one move with him, and then he threw Golden Peng over and directly retreated, leaving several lingering shadows in space.

That not yet fully formed Crimson Lotus is with these villains.”

Li Changshou entrusted the Golden-Winged Great Peng to White Marsh’s care and said: “I have a way to search for the Blood Lotus… Senior Brother, was my paper avatar saved?”

The Great Master shook his head, “The opponent took away your paper avatar, seeming to search for something in your storage treasure.”

Hmm? Search for what?

Li Changshou frowned in thought, and then his eyes lit up.

What did he have in his storage treasure that would interest the opponent? The regularly carried Heart Fire? A bit of poison? The duster?

No, none of these, but rather those ninety-nine souls entangled with karmic obstacles.

Those would be a small supplement for the Crimson Lotus.

Li Changshou pondered in his heart, pacing back and forth in the air above the Blood Sea, and apologized to those ninety-nine souls, it was his fault they would scatter, and he would have to burn some paper offerings later to pay respects.

—The Golden-Winged Great Peng was not seriously injured, so Li Changshou’s tense spirit naturally relaxed.

The urgent matter at hand was to quickly find the Crimson Lotus’s location.

Li Changshou looked toward True Person Broad Accomplishment and Dao Lord Many Treasures, clasped his hands, and said: “I must trouble both Senior Brothers to notify fellow immortals everywhere to seal off the Blood Sea from now on, letting unrelated people leave quickly.

Just say that when the Crimson Lotus erupts, it will devour the souls of beings with lower cultivation to fill itself.

If reason doesn’t work, direct expulsion is best. I will have the Heaven’s Army spread the announcement everywhere.”

“Good!”

“Agreed!”

True Person Broad Accomplishment and Dao Lord Many Treasures agreed, immediately sending out jade talismans.

Li Changshou paced back and forth thinking for a while, having already sent paper avatars to King Yama’s Palace, preparing to take several dozen more souls with karmic obstacles clinging to their corners, to search for the Crimson Lotus.

A flash of inspiration struck Li Changshou’s mind, his eyes brightening.

Merit!

His right palm surged with golden light, pulling out a trace of merit to condense into a lotus flower, wrapped with a layer of immortal power.

Carrying this merit lotus, Li Changshou’s form shifted a hundred miles away, facing the Blood Sea in deep thought.

It was known that karmic obstacles and merit could cancel each other out, and the Twelve-Petaled Karmic Crimson Lotus was now absorbing karmic obstacles, so it should have a repulsive feeling toward merit…

That’s not right either, the Crimson Lotus just wouldn’t absorb merit, no need to keep merit away from itself.

Can’t make such simple judgments.

Great Master Xuandu and the others caught up from behind, not daring to disturb Li Changshou as he sat cross-legged above the Blood Sea, quietly pondering.

Another moment passed, and several graceful figures flashed at the edge of the Blood Sea, one white, one gold, one light blue, rushing here with all their might…

Li Changshou suddenly understood the key point here, turned, and called out: “Senior Brother Many Treasures, can I borrow a merit spiritual treasure!”

“Ahem,” Great Master Xuandu interrupted, “Changgen, no need for such trouble.”

“Hmm?” Li Changshou was startled.

The Great Master clasped his hands behind his back, raising his chin toward the southwest, “Look there.”

Li Changshou turned to look, his mouth twitching slightly several times.

Ninety thousand miles to the southwest, a blood-red pillar of light shot straight into the sky, continuously releasing ring after ring of light halos above it, as if calling for something…

At this moment, in the Blood Sea, on various “sky islands” where the Asura race lived.

Men and women of the Asura race had their eyes filled with blood light, regardless of gender, age, or cultivation level, all flew out from the sky islands, converging into floods within the Blood Sea, heading toward where that blood-red light pillar appeared.

Li Changshou recognized at a glance what place lay beneath the light pillar.

The dragon’s pool and tiger’s den he had once broken into while searching for the Reincarnation Tower, the great city heavily guarded by Asura race experts!

Standing still, Li Changshou seemed to see through layer upon layer of obstacles, through the Blood Sea’s waves, to the elder sitting cross-legged in the ruined great hall at the center of that city, and that twelve-petaled lotus about to bloom…

Of course, he hadn’t seen it, these were just scenes imagined in his mind.

While in reality…

In that abandoned great hall, four black shadows stood at four positions, either holding long spears or gripping broken swords, watching that Crimson Lotus that was condensing its twelfth petal.

Only the karmic obstacles gathered by the Crimson Lotus were still insufficient, the twelfth petal always unable to form.

The phantom of Blood River Ancestor appeared again behind the Crimson Lotus, though by now this phantom was extremely faint…

“Do we want to save him? Wasn’t it enough how he bullied us back then?”

“He is the Crimson Lotus, and the Crimson Lotus is him. The ancient covenant, he also guarded against us.”

The black shadow holding the long spear casually took out a cloth package, tore it apart, took out a spherical magical device from within, and threw it near the Blood Lotus.

Strands of karmic force flew out from within, quickly absorbed by the Crimson Lotus.

Well, better than nothing.