“You, Li Changgeng! Until you explain yourself today, this Daoist isn’t finished with you!”
Beneath the pillar of light rising from the Blood Sea, at the edge of the great city, within the area covered by the Taiji Diagram.
True Lord Taiyi, his body scorched black, pointed at the sleeping Fairy Yunxiao and others beside him, cursing at Li Changshou: “What’s the meaning of this? So you dared to use me as a test subject!
That was Heaven’s Punishment!
You think everyone’s like you, acting like the Dao Ancestor’s own grandson, casually getting struck by lightning for practice!
Ouch—it hurts, hurts, hurts!”
Li Changshou stood beside him, repeatedly bowing and smiling apologetically.
“Alas…”
On the other side, Baize groomed his flowing hair, wiped his face, and tearfully trimmed his goatee even shorter. Looking left and right at his reflection in a conjured mirror, he was filled with melancholy.
He never imagined that he, an auspicious beast who avoided misfortune, would one day be struck by Heaven’s Punishment.
Following the Water God truly let him experience things he couldn’t have imagined before in his beast life, making it increasingly complete…
True Lord Taiyi calmed down after his outburst. Sitting next to Baize with arms crossed, he sulked while adjusting his internal energy and looked toward the distant great hall.
True Lord Taiyi asked: “What should we do now? Wait for Senior Brother and the others to wake up?”
“There’s no time,” Li Changshou stood on the broken wall, gazing up at the turbid Blood Sea above.
Just as he finished speaking, the Blood Sea churned, and figures streamed out one after another, rushing toward the pillar of blood light;
Men, women, old, and young of the Asura race, all expressionless with their eyes filled with blood light, dissolved the instant they crashed into the light pillar.
Even their trace amounts of true spirit were devoured by the pillar.
Li Changshou’s expression grew stern, but he remained unhurried. He turned and jumped back to Baize and True Lord Taiyi’s side.
True Lord Taiyi gritted his teeth and cursed: “Then why did you only pull me and Fellow Daoist Baize when you were struck by Heaven’s Punishment earlier? Why not more people?”
“Well, we’re close friends, so it’s easier to explain,” Li Changshou squinted and smiled lightly.
“You just thought others weren’t worthy opponents! And you’re still smiling!”
Baize hurriedly said: “Stay calm, stay calm, Fellow Daoist Taiyi, don’t be so agitated.
Think carefully, Fellow Daoist. Water God’s choice just now was born of necessity.
Let’s set aside the Senior Brothers of the Three Schools for now. Among those present—ahem, those lying there, which one isn’t proud and arrogant? If they don’t break free from the dream realm through their enlightenment, it will surely affect their Dao’s heart.”
Hearing these words, True Lord Taiyi nodded quite approvingly, but the more he pondered it, the more something felt off.
He, True Lord Taiyi, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Enlightenment School, wasn’t worthy of being proud and arrogant…
True Lord Taiyi sighed dejectedly, then frowned as he looked at Li Changshou, asking the question Baize was also curious about.
“Changgeng, how did you break free so quickly?”
Li Changshou smiled calmly, standing with his hands behind his back, his long hair floating behind him, his entire being seeming to emit a faint glow.
He said:
“Thirty self-reflections daily: Is this matter right? Are there schemes involved? Is this stable enough?
Thus, when things go too smoothly or develop entirely according to my heart’s expectations, I engage in self-reflection.
Know that enemies are not foolish, they won’t submit without a fight, they too will adapt to circumstances. Everything exists within the game, and what’s gambled most is the push and pull.
Nothing can be purely black or white, and no successful scheme can claim complete victory. Generally speaking, achieving seven or eight-tenths victory in a matter is already quite remarkable.
But in dreams, everything arises from one’s thoughts, all scenes are what one’s subconscious wants to see.
For me, this was indeed much easier to break through than ordinary illusion formations.”
Pausing his words, Li Changshou turned his head to look at True Lord Taiyi and Baize, whose gazes had become somewhat fixed…
Li Changshou said gently:
“Don’t worry, I’ve already notified the Jade Emperor and several masters from both the Enlightenment and Severing Schools. Around twenty or more masters from both schools should be on their way here.”
True Lord Taiyi frowned and asked: “Coming to enter this dream?”
Li Changshou hummed thoughtfully, looking beyond the Taiji Diagram.
The origin mirage qi was unidentifiable and undetectable, and he didn’t know how much more existed outside the Taiji Diagram. This place was truly…
A treasure trove!
This origin mirage qi was absolutely a perfect tool for self-preservation!
Even someone as strong as Grand Magus in the Dao realm would fall prey to it if caught off guard, and even Tower Lord and Old Master Chart had no time to react!
What was his Small Qiong Peak’s composite defense formation lacking?
Wasn’t it exactly this kind of mirage qi!
If he could find a way to collect some…
Baize muttered: “Why do I feel that Water God’s interest in this mirage qi seems greater than in Red Lotus?”
“How could that be?”
Li Changshou shook his head, then looked up at the Asuras crashing into the light pillar above, sighing: “These are also living beings of heaven and earth recognized by the Six Paths of Reincarnation. We must think of a solution.”
True Lord Taiyi laughed: “Heh, a righteous god of Heaven.”
Li Changshou glanced at True Lord Taiyi and smiled: “Heh, a primordial being.”
Baize stroked his goatee and smiled on the side.
Li Changshou lifted the hem of his Daoist robe and sat cross-legged in the center position corresponding to the Taiji Diagram, saying: “Before our reinforcements arrive, I need to find a way to break through this layer of mirage qi, otherwise we can’t approach Red Lotus’s location.
Mister Bai, shortly Old Master Chart will wrap you in yin and yang qi and send you to the outer perimeter. Contact the Golden-Winged Great Peng—if his injuries have recovered sufficiently, have him prioritize bringing several masters here, trying their best to keep the Asuras at bay.”
“Yes,” Baize cupped his hands in agreement, his expression extremely solemn.
True Lord Taiyi asked: “What do you need this poor Daoist to do?”
“Don’t rush, Senior Brother, you’ll have great use later.”
Li Changshou spoke with closed eyes as several streaks of light flew from his sleeve, transforming into several paper warriors at the late Heaven Immortal realm, flying beyond the area covered by the Taiji Diagram.
Suddenly, a drowsy sensation surged into his brow. Li Changshou inwardly exclaimed at its potency, gathered lightning in his palm, and struck himself in the posterior region. His whole body was instantly surrounded by electric light, making him fully alert.
Just a trace of divine soul power encountering the origin mirage Qi nearly made his physical body fall asleep…
The Chaos Sea was truly too dangerous, better to cultivate honestly in the Great Wilderness.
As for why he struck his posterior region…
Simply put, there was more flesh there.
These paper warriors either charged forward ascended upward, or darted left and right, each releasing more paper warriors from their sleeves.
Li Changshou continuously sensed the subtle reactions of each paper warrior while maintaining the lightning attacks on himself;
Each strand of his long hair stood on end, making him appear like a god within the lightning at this moment.
True Lord Taiyi watched from the side and quietly praised: “This avatar technique is truly unique in the Three Realms.”
Then he asked the question that the four black shadows, who were observing the outside situation from within the ruined great hall, were also puzzling over:
“What is Water God doing?”
Unfortunately, while True Lord Taiyi had Baize to explain, the others could only speculate wildly.
Baize said: “He might be probing the range of the mirage qi’s influence, but that’s just the ordinary explanation.
Following Water God’s usual extraordinary thinking, he might also be letting his divine soul adapt to the mirage qi, exploring its characteristics, seeing if it can be identified and collected for self-protection.”
True Lord Taiyi: …
Different, they were indeed different.
…
‘That bull demon didn’t follow?’
Somewhere in the Blood Sea, the silver-haired young woman warily scanned her surroundings, clutching the treasured sword in her arms.
Such a powerful bull demon, could this be a great ability from the ancient demon race?
That ring could seal the Yuan Tu Sword. Although the Yuan Tu Sword hadn’t acknowledged her as its master and couldn’t unleash its original power, its grade was genuinely that of a supreme primordial spiritual treasure…
The young woman lowered her head to rub her cheek against the sword hilt, took a light breath, and was just about to leap away on her toes to guard her ancestor.
No one understood better than the beings of the Blood Sea how to traverse the Blood Sea!
“Fellow~ Daoist~ Hahahaha!”
The silver-haired young woman’s footing faltered, nearly causing her to drift sideways in the Blood Sea.
She bit her silver teeth and turned her head toward the direction of the voice. There, the polluted waters of the Blood Sea parted left and right as a burly man with bull horns on his head and a nose ring strode forward, repeatedly raising his hand in greeting.
“Hmph!”
The silver-haired young woman gripped her sword hilt, fully on guard. Although she knew she was far from being this bull’s match, she still had the pride of being an Asura race princess.
The silver-haired young woman cursed in a low voice: “If you want to kill or capture me, please make it quick, Fellow Daoist!”
The Azure Bull made a sudden stop in front of the young woman.
Having just changed into a blue-green robe, he had now arranged his previously somewhat disheveled long hair until it was sleek and smooth;
Taking advantage of the earlier opportunity, he had even taken a bath and sprinkled some perfume powder, crushing one of Lord Supreme Elderly Lord’s refined spirit pills into powder and sprinkling it on himself, adding a hint of fragrance.
The Azure Bull recalled in his heart how his Senior Brother Changgeng had behaved in various situations when facing Fairy Yunxiao, which Lord Elderly Lord had observed through magical means while Azure Bull was carrying him abroad…
He squeezed out an elegant smile, raised his hand to brush the imaginary bangs on his forehead, and said softly:
“Fellow Daoist, what happened earlier was purely a misunderstanding. I had no intention to kill or capture you, I merely wished to make your acquaintance.”
“Disgusting!”
The silver-haired young woman snorted, lowered her head, and sped away, her form transforming into a streak of light.
“Eh…”
The Azure Bull raised his hand wanting to keep her back, but could only watch the silver-haired young woman leave, his spirited bull eyes filled with tenderness.
“Even her cursing is so beautiful… Fellow Daoist, wait for me!”
With a movement of his feet, Azure Bull caught up in a single stride, his speed through the Blood Sea steadily surpassing the silver-haired young woman’s.
This made the latter gnash her teeth in frustration, yet she dared not provoke this ‘ancient demon race powerhouse.’
And so…
Azure Bull did the backstroke, butterfly stroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, easily keeping pace beside the silver-haired young woman.
His mouth showing slight smiles, gentle smiles, and affectionate smiles, he continuously asked the silver-haired young woman her name and surname, where she lived, how many were in her family, if her parents were still alive, and if she would walk around with him to try to understand each other better.
Of course, what responded to Azure Bull were the silver-haired young woman’s disgusted and resolute glares, along with repeated:
“Disgusting!”
“Scoundrel!”
“You shame yourself as a senior, lacking the bearing of a master!”
Fortunately, the term ‘pervert’ wasn’t popular in the Great Wilderness, otherwise Azure Bull would have won that title hands down.
After charging forward for countless miles, the silver-haired young woman stopped in her tracks, having reached the limit of her patience. With a ‘clang’, she drew her treasured sword three inches out of its scabbard and cursed: “What exactly do you want!”
Azure Bull instinctively pressed his nose ring, gave an embarrassed laugh, then with sincere eyes and a deep, masculinely charming bass voice, mooed:
“Fellow Daoist, I may have entered tribulation.”
The silver-haired young woman’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, somewhat puzzled.
Azure Bull grinned: “Entered the predestined tribulation of love that I must experience with you.”
“Get lost!”
“Sorry, but even your anger is so enchanting,” Azure Bull shook his head in admiration and said softly, “Won’t you try to get to know me? I might meet your criteria for a Dao companion.”
The silver-haired young woman gritted her teeth and cursed: “I don’t want to! Everything I have was given by my father, matters of Dao companions have nothing to do with me!”
“Oh?”
Azure Bull suddenly recalled in his heart the image of ‘Senior Brother Changgeng speaking confidently before the Sage.’ He thought of the Orthodox School scriptures he had heard and comprehended when Supreme Lord Taiqing had taught the Grand Magus principles years ago, and said seriously:
“Fellow Daoist, your upbringing seems somewhat improper. Though our bodies and skin were received from our parents, and among all virtues filial piety comes first,
But after we are born, we are all independent beings. We should respect and honor our parents, but also maintain our own identity, not be controlled by them.
We are not anyone’s attachments, much less objects owned by others. In this regard, Fellow Daoist’s parents truly haven’t done right…”
“Shut up!”
The young woman lifted her chest and head, fiercely cursing: “You’re not me, how could you know me? This is the principle of my existence, this is my destined path!
I have urgent matters today, if you won’t kill me or capture me, stop pestering me!”
Azure Bull said: “Fellow Daoist, whatever urgent matter you have, why not let me come along to help?”
“Get lost!”
The silver-haired young woman drew the Yuan Tu Sword, “Otherwise, let’s fight to the death right here!”
“Don’t be agitated, peace, peace,” Azure Bull waved his hands repeatedly, backing up several steps, and asked meekly, “Then, could you at least leave a jade token for communication?”
“Hmph!”
The young woman turned her head and left, her toes lightly touching as she transformed into an interweaving stream of red and white light, disappearing into the depths of the Blood Sea.
“Alas…”
Azure Bull sighed dejectedly, standing there for a long while, memorizing this young woman’s aura.
‘Later when the Blood Sea Red Lotus matter is settled and Senior Brother Changgeng has time, I’ll ask him for some advice.’
Screech—
A high-pitched cry suddenly came from overhead. Azure Bull blinked, his form flashing as he broke through thousands of waves in the Blood Sea, jumping straight out.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng was circling in the air, with three or four figures already standing on his back. A strand of the Great Peng’s voice transmission entered Azure Bull’s ear, making him perk up.
‘Senior Azure Bull, my master, and the others have encountered trouble and need our help.
I’ve already picked up Fairy Qiongxiao and Holy Mother Guiling from the Severing School, and Daoist Chijingzi and True Lord Yellow Dragon from the Enlightenment School!
We’re not far from where my master and the others are.’
Azure Bull leaped up, landing steadily on the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s back.
Handle the important matters first, handle the important matters first, to avoid having his peach and spirit pill rations deducted.
However, what Azure Bull hadn’t expected was…
The Golden-Winged Great Peng spread his wings and flew swiftly, instantly plunging into the Blood Sea, rushing extremely quickly toward the edge of that great city.
Moments later, they met with Baize, who had just been escorted out of the great city by the Taiji Diagram. Baize briefly explained the matter of the mirage qi, then gave arrangements according to Li Changshou’s instructions.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng had extreme speed but his injuries hadn’t fully healed, and Holy Mother Guiling’s divine abilities were comparable to defensive supreme posterior spiritual treasures—they would stay in the outer perimeter together to prevent those Asuras from approaching the light pillar.
Azure Bull and Fairy Qiongxiao would enter to assist; once Li Changshou found a way to break through the mirage qi, they would go to seize the Red Lotus.
Qiongxiao also knew this was a serious matter. At this moment, she put away her playful heart, her pretty face full of seriousness, and took out her Golden Flood Dragon Scissors.
Two strands of yin and yang qi flew over, bringing Qiongxiao and Azure Bull into the city, landing in a corner of the broken wall to meet with Li Changshou.
Baize grabbed the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s arm and spoke solemnly in a low voice.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng nodded in agreement and said softly: “Don’t worry, Mister Bai, Golden Peng knows what to do. If necessary, I won’t show misplaced mercy.”
However, Holy Mother Guiling pursed her lips and said gently: “The Asura race are also living beings, shouldn’t we…”
“Let’s do our best.”
Baize smiled and said: “Water God said the same words, that’s why he had us block them here.”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng asked: “Can’t that light pillar be broken directly?”
“Water God’s avatars tried earlier, but blocking was useless,” Baize said, “That’s just the light shadow that the twelve-petaled Red Lotus can project…
Another batch of Asuras is coming, they’ll become more and more numerous, block them.”
The Golden-Winged Great Peng nodded, turned around, and sped through the Blood Sea, his wings flapping to raise surging waves in all directions, making the Blood Sea thoroughly boil.
Just then, a white light broke through the surging waves, darting urgently toward the great city.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s narrow eyes slightly narrowed, and without Baize’s prompt, his form flew over extremely quickly.
The delicate figure hidden within the white light showed no fear, her eyes focused as she immediately moved to draw her sword to meet him!
But the Golden-Winged Great Peng flew too fast, the young woman couldn’t react in time, and their figures crossed…
“Golden Peng!”
An anxious shout came from the edge of the great city, and the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s restraint was quite timely.
With an “Ah!” sound, the Golden-Winged Great Peng sealed the young woman’s magical power, grabbed her by the neck, flashed back to Baize’s side, and placed the captured young woman at Baize’s feet.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng turned and left gracefully, continuing to raise huge waves in all directions to prevent the Asura race from approaching this place.
“The Yuan Tu Sword?”
Baize frowned as he looked at the sword in the young woman’s arms, then turned his head to look at the towering figure standing on the broken wall.
Azure Bull somewhat embarrassedly rubbed his bull nose, his face almost completely red, squeezing his legs together as he swayed back and forth, saying softly:
“Well…
This is my friend from the Asura race, could we not kill her…”
Below the broken wall, Li Changshou, who had already figured out how to break through the mirage qi, couldn’t help but open his eyes to look at Azure Bull.
Beside him, True Lord Taiyi’s elbow nudged Li Changshou’s arm as he winked at Li Changshou.
“Even the Orthodox School’s mount gets a Dao companion?”
Li Changshou felt somewhat powerless to mock this, having also seen that Yuan Tu Sword. He pondered briefly in his heart, his lips showing a slight smile.
Setting aside schemes for now, Sir Xi falling in love was no small matter. If not handled properly, it would directly affect whether the teacher and Lord Elderly Lord’s travels would be peaceful.
In the Journey to the West tribulations he knew of, did Sir Xi have a wife?
He had no impression of this.
But judging by common sense, this silver-haired young woman should be an expert on the Asura race, and shouldn’t have much to do with the Journey to the West story…
Probably.