This?

In the devastated main hall of Bixiao Palace, Li Changshou peered through the layers of figures before him and dozens of light barriers, looking at Patriarch Tongtian on the high platform.

Patriarch Tongtian’s expression was slightly helpless as he gazed at the rapidly spinning Ten-and-a-Half-Petaled Red Lotus in his left hand, then glanced at the bewildered scholar’s soul in his right.

This unpretentious Sage’s countenance had taken on additional solemnity.

At this moment, the scholar’s soul was flushed red all over, his form constantly expanding and contracting as if it might explode at any moment.

With Patriarch Tongtian’s protection, nothing truly dangerous would happen to him.

Li Changshou couldn’t help but marvel inwardly…

Setting aside the artistry of the Red Lotus’s explosive collapse moments ago, these Severing Sect immortals’ responses were truly fierce, swift, precise, and steady!

When the Red Lotus erupted and Patriarch Tongtian acted, Li Changshou’s first reaction was to grab Yunxiao’s arm and call out to Elder Tu for help.

But before he could even raise his arm, golden light flickered before him, and Yunxiao had already moved to shield him with the Primordial Golden Dipper.

Almost instantly, Elder Zhao’s Ocean-Calming Zhenzhu, Golden Spirit Holy Mother’s Four Symbols Pagoda, Qiongxiao’s Golden Dragon Scissors, and over ten protective spiritual treasures thrown out by Master Duobao all appeared near Li Changshou, creating more than ten layers of protection and three or four figures before him!

If only one person had reacted so quickly, Li Changshou wouldn’t have been too surprised. What shocked him was that almost all the Severing Sect masters present had made the correct response in the shortest possible time.

The Severing Sect’s battle style… was terrifying indeed.

It was obvious they had collectively studied the “Three-Yuan Battle Arts and Five-Yuan Killing Techniques.” Their true combat strength was almost all above their respective Dao realms.

No wonder in the original Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, Severing Sect masters often held their own against multiple opponents…

Of course, the quickest to react was still the Sage Lord Patriarch Tongtian.

In the instant the Red Lotus exploded, sword qi appeared before all the immortals present, while Patriarch Tongtian pressed down on the Red Lotus with one hand, forcibly suppressing what should have been the complete eruption of the Twelve-Petaled Red Lotus’s power.

The waves that had just swept out, nearly destroying half the small world, were merely the aftershocks of the Red Lotus’s karmic force.

Subduing such a powerful treasure with one hand – the might of a Sage was undeniable!

“Master!” Master Duobao put away the protective spiritual treasures he had scattered and hurriedly asked, “Could someone be plotting against us?”

Patriarch Tongtian shrugged, looked at the Red Lotus before him, and sighed with a smile:

“It’s that our Severing Sect’s destiny has far exceeded what it can bear.

These Twelve-Petaled Lotus flowers all transformed from the immature lotus seeds of the former Chaos Azure Lotus.

Given today’s situation, suppressing our Severing Sect’s destiny would require the Thirty-Two-Petaled Azure Lotus to transform from the only mature lotus seed of that Chaos Azure Lotus.

Unfortunately, that Azure Lotus has already dissipated.

*Cough*, today’s events were all within your master’s expectations…

Changgen, this human soul has completely separated from the Red Lotus, and the lotus itself is already damaged and won’t continue to collapse. There’s no need for this soul anymore – go settle him somewhere.”

“Yes,” Li Changshou acknowledged and quickly emerged from behind the crowd.

— Earlier it wasn’t that he had retreated; with the Taiji Diagram and the Primordial-Yellow Pagoda on him, Li Changshou had been thinking of protecting Lady Yunxiao.

It wasn’t that he was too slow, rather he ended up being protected by the Severing Sect immortals instead.

Truly treated as the little junior brother.

Li Changshou walked up to the platform steps and took over the bewildered scholar’s soul. Golden light surged from his palm as strands of merit enveloped the scholar’s spirit, dissolving the karma within.

What surprised Li Changshou was that the scholar’s soul now seemed to have transformed, emanating the Dao resonance of an innate spiritual treasure from within, his spirit as sturdy as an ordinary True Immortal realm cultivator!

It was as if this was a spiritual entity that had just shed its old shell, existing between human, immortal, and ghost…

Truly peculiar.

The various Severing Sect immortals put away their treasures and gathered around.

Patriarch Tongtian suspended this Red Lotus with only ten and a half petals remaining before him, calculating slightly with his fingers while continuously pondering.

Sages stand at the peak of the Dao, but they are still living beings. Being able to pierce through the catastrophe’s obstruction to glimpse the Heavenly Secrets at this time was enough to prove his strength. It was simply that his movements lacked showmanship and pretense, making him appear less profoundly mysterious.

Zhao Gongming sighed with a smile: “In the end, it was all for nothing, and we even sacrificed so much of Biyou Palace’s scenery and objects.”

Patriarch Tongtian opened one eye and said: “Gongming, go restore the outside and take inventory of the damaged treasures.”

“Ah, yes!” Elder Zhao hurriedly bowed to accept the command and left in a hurry with several Severing Sect immortals.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said softly: “Master, could it be that there are so many karma-bearing individuals who have mixed into our Severing Sect, dragging down our sect’s destiny?”

Patriarch Tongtian smiled and said:

“Merit and karma are Heaven-ordained, good and evil deeds stem from true nature.

Back when your master was lecturing on the Dao in the East Sea and South Sea, those of improper character naturally could not approach me;

Those who could hear my Dao naturally had an affinity with my teachings.”

These words were… Li Changshou couldn’t help but translate in his heart…

[This wave, this wave is swallowing broken teeth.]

Holy Mother Wudang asked from the side: “Why doesn’t Master simply clear out today those who are just using our Severing Sect’s name and instead dragging down our sect’s destiny?”

But Golden Spirit Holy Mother said: “What would that make us?

Before the great catastrophe, we relied on having many immortals to uphold the Severing Sect’s reputation, but after the catastrophe came, we would drive away these fellow disciples.

To share only in glory but not in hardship – that is not our way.”

Holy Mother Wudang said seriously: “Sister, you shouldn’t speak that way. For this catastrophe, the Ancestor in Purple Tenuity Palace has already given a clear indication that we, along with the Enlightenment Sect and Western Sect, will enter into tribulation.

Letting these karma-bearing disciples leave our sect, allowing them to escape the catastrophe – this is actually a good thing.”

Master Duobao pondered: “The reasoning makes sense, but others will surely slander us when interpreting it.

Moreover, how would these expelled fellow disciples feel?”

Qiongxiao smiled and said: “Since we’ve said we share in fortune, we naturally should share in hardship too.

The catastrophe won’t just happen once – we’ve gone through several from ancient to primordial times. With Master here, we needn’t worry too much.”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said: “Indeed, under the catastrophe, we must be united in heart and strength. If Heaven’s Way wants to bring down catastrophe, we’ll fight with all our might and seize a thread of survival!”

The gathered Severing Sect masters all responded in unison:

“It would be better to have the Red Lotus, but it’s no matter if it’s destroyed.”

“This probably means we need to go practice our sect’s teachings and resist the catastrophe to the end.”

“Hmph, those fellows in the Enlightenment Sect must be laughing themselves awake during cultivation!”

Lady Yunxiao stepped forward and said softly:

“Master, can this Red Lotus not be restored? If we cast it into the Blood Sea, could it be made whole?”

“Our sect’s destiny just now directly broke this Red Lotus’s stem and root.”

Patriarch Tongtian showed a regretful expression but soon recovered some smiles, pushing this Red Lotus through the air before his disciples, saying: “This object, with some repair, would still make a fine spiritual treasure.

Who among you wants to use it?”

Li Changshou: …

Is this how the Severing Sect distributes treasures?

Then for him, who barely qualified as a half-member of the Severing Sect while being a Human Sect disciple, wouldn’t that mean…

Think peaches, think peaches.

Though his ties with the Severing Sect ran deep, he needed to keep public and private matters separate. If he sank into the quagmire, how could he pull others out of it?

The soul in his hands had now settled down. Clearing the karma from this scholar hadn’t consumed too much merit, but rather sparked many insights in Li Changshou’s heart.

— An important aspect of the Balanced Dao was the system of humans, spirits, immortals, demons, devils, and ghosts. Beings like this scholar who had become “special” existences through coincidence helped Li Changshou complete the Balanced Dao.

Only by understanding all things could one balance all things.

With the Red Lotus before them, the Severing Sect immortals didn’t fight over it, all looking at this lotus flower with some disappointment.

Where the Severing Sect’s failings lay, all twenty or thirty immortals present knew well.

The flame of hope that had been ignited earlier was now doused by a bucket of cold water, leaving everyone feeling somewhat dejected.

It was indeed quite a blow to the morale of the Severing Sect’s top experts.

The Severing Sect’s Senior Brother Duobao smiled and said: “Master, this treasure was brought by Junior Brother Changgen. Though damaged, it can still transform into an innate spirit lotus. Why not gift it back to Junior Brother Changgen?

Fellow junior brothers and sisters should have no objections to this.”

The various Severing Sect immortals all nodded in agreement.

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Though this treasure is damaged, it’s still considered precious, and it still retains the power to absorb karma.

The Human Sect has only two disciples – myself and Senior Brother Xuandu. I serve in the Heavenly Court, and Senior Brother Xuandu doesn’t accumulate karma. Thinking objectively, it would be most appropriate to leave it with the Severing Sect.

Uncle Master, in this disciple’s humble opinion, why not let Senior Brother Duobao hold this treasure? While the great catastrophe hasn’t truly descended yet, it can help dissolve more of the destiny the Severing Sect carries.”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said from the side: “Master just said that karma is merely ordained by Heaven’s Way – our Severing Sect doesn’t judge good and evil by this.”

Li Changshou glanced at Lady Yunxiao, whose gaze carried some expectation.

She wanted him to convince the Golden Spirit Holy Mother.

Well then, he would convince the Golden Spirit Holy Mother.

And incidentally, he must take this opportunity to instill some ‘necessary’ concepts into the Severing Sect.

“Sister, your words are mistaken,” Li Changshou said gently, “Heaven’s Way only sets the rules to constrain all beings. Because there are so many living beings and Heaven and Earth are too vast, the rules set by Heaven’s Way must be simple and direct enough to maintain overall stability.

Just as in the mortal world, many laws in great cities stem from basic rules like ‘killers die, those who harm face punishment, thieves face public shame.’

Merit and karma are the same way – Heaven’s Way hasn’t refined the constraints.

As a Human Sect disciple of human origin, this is how I understand Uncle Master’s earlier words.

Let me give an example: a virtuous person with great merit, due to certain circumstances, takes the lives of four people in a family of five, leaving only a youth alive. This youth tempers himself, finds an opportunity, and kills this virtuous person to avenge his family, thus accumulating great karma.

Therefore, we cannot use simple merit and karma to judge whether beings are good or evil.

But Golden Spirit Sister, is this youth evil?”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother said: “Avenging one’s family is not evil, but he will be stained with much karma – this is where Heaven’s Way is unfair.”

“Indeed, but he is still doing evil.”

Li Changshou said seriously: “Sister, don’t be hasty, please hear me out.

Setting aside the identity of the virtuous person as the enemy, this youth killing someone is, in essence, doing evil.

The unfairness of Heaven’s Way lies in converting the virtuous person’s merit into karma upon the youth, making him bear torment he shouldn’t have had to bear.

For the youth, Heaven’s Way protected the greatest evil in his eyes.

But for the mortals who were helped by the virtuous person, this youth is the evil one.

When the youth goes to the underworld and faces the judge, he will still receive the heavy sentence of suffering in the eighteen layers of hell.”

Qiongxiao said: “Then… by this reasoning, should this youth not seek revenge?”

“He can, but need not kill with his own hands, need not let himself fall into the evil path – this is why Heaven’s Way is greatly promoting the Heavenly Court.”

Li Changshou stepped forward two paces, made a Daoist salute to Patriarch Tongtian, and said in a clear voice:

“If the Heavenly Court is powerful enough to influence the Three Realms, the story of the virtuous person and the youth could be improved.

Think about it – when the virtuous person harmed the youth’s parents, they had already fallen into evil ways. The Heavenly Court could sentence this virtuous person to death, and their accumulated merit could be used for improving their fate in the next reincarnation.

The youth wouldn’t need to kill with his own hands, yet revenge would be achieved – wouldn’t this be a hundred times better than ending evil with evil?

Heaven’s Way promotes the Heavenly Court to uphold justice under these simple iron rules of Heaven’s Way!”

“Justice…”

Golden Spirit Holy Mother murmured, and the Severing Sect immortals fell into contemplation.

Patriarch Tongtian showed a slight smile to Li Changshou but didn’t speak, lounging on the steps while observing his various disciples’ reactions.

Seeing the Sage Lord’s approval of this moment, Li Changshou truly felt relieved…

Today’s portion of Heavenly Court promotion work is complete!

Not being able to directly explain the concept of ‘rule of law’ was truly quite troublesome.

— After all, in the Heavenly Court’s eyes, the disciples of the three Dao sects were all ‘lawless’ types.

If today’s words could plant a seed in the dao hearts of the Severing Sect immortals, making even one or two of them less resistant to the Heavenly Court and the Investiture of the Gods, Li Changshou wouldn’t have wasted his breath.

Li Changshou changed the subject, returning to this Red Lotus.

“When the great catastrophe descends, immortals with karma are indeed easily turned to catastrophe ash. If they’re truly improper, so be it, but for fellow Daoists like that youth, wouldn’t it be too much of a shame?

Contending with Heaven’s Way, seizing a thread of opportunity, doesn’t necessarily mean fighting and killing.

Methods, strategies, flexibility, maneuvering, calculations… these are all incredibly important.

When listening to my teacher’s teachings, I was particularly struck by one saying.

The strength of divine abilities, the power of treasures, the height of knowledge – these aren’t the main factors determining life and death for you and me. Arrogance is.”

After speaking, Li Changshou made several Daoist salutes in various directions, then calmly walked back to Lady Yunxiao’s side.

Like most Severing Sect immortals at this time, Yunxiao wore a thoughtful expression, her eyes flickering with a hint of light.

While the Severing Sect immortals weren’t paying attention, Patriarch Tongtian winked at Li Changshou;

Li Changshou hurriedly bowed his head in respect, not daring to accept such praise from the Sage Lord.

He collected the scholar’s soul back into the spiritual treasure that nourished souls, pondering these words in his heart.

Actually, according to his principle of seeking stability in all things, some words shouldn’t have been said; but for the sake of more stable planning of future matters, some words spoken today might just have an effect.

“Thank you.”

Yunxiao suddenly transmitted a message.

Li Changshou smiled calmly and exchanged a glance with her, everything was understood without words.

…

Half a day later, outside the Three Immortal Islands.

Qiongxiao and Bixiao flew back laughing into the thousand-li cloud mists, while Lady Yunxiao rode a cloud and Li Changshou hitched a ‘favorable wind cloud,’ floating toward the Southern Jambudvipa Continent.

The damaged Red Lotus naturally stayed with the Severing Sect – being able to reduce some karma wasn’t bad.

On the cloud, Lady Yunxiao sat sideways nearby, while Li Changshou sat properly in meditation, their gazes quickly moving away whenever they met.

Strangely enough, Li Changshou truly found a bit of the ‘drift’ and ‘leisure’ from his ‘green years’ in his previous life.

Yunxiao said softly: “What you said was right – that arrogance is the main factor determining life and death for us, truly thought-provoking.”

Li Changshou said: “This is my teacher’s teaching.”

— In reality, he had read these words in a book in his previous life, and they had left a deep impression.

However, for a more reasonable explanation and to avoid showing too much of his edge, attributing such ‘good things’ to his teacher Supreme Clarity Sage was fine – his teacher would have no reason to blame him.

Li Changshou felt somewhat guilty and calmly changed the subject: “From what you know, how many karma-laden masters are there in the Severing Sect?”

“I know of several,” Yunxiao softly recited a few Dao titles.

When hearing the two words ‘Shiji,’ Li Changshou’s eyes couldn’t help but light up.

Mother Shiji, who would ‘sit at home while arrows come from beyond the sky’ – ranking in the top three of the ‘Investiture of the Gods Misfortune Index’ among Severing Sect immortals – had such heavy karma herself?

Li Changshou didn’t want to add to Yunxiao’s worries and didn’t ask more about this matter, immediately glossing over it lightly.

And so, the two chatted casually, growing increasingly closer to each other, the distance between them changing from three feet to two feet.

However, to progress further would require many tests.

Yunxiao found the right context and suddenly asked: “What did Master say to you when he took you to the treasure pool?”

“Not much was said, just simple talk about the Red Lotus matter,” Li Changshou sighed, “Third Uncle Master is a good master.”

“Mm,” Lady Yunxiao said, “Master has never been stingy with us, caring for us in every way, like a father.”

“This… I could feel it.”

“What is it?” she asked curiously, her eyes full of brightness, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Li Changshou said: “When the Red Lotus erupted, Uncle Master’s first reaction was to protect his disciples with sword qi, and only then to suppress the Red Lotus and save the precious treasure.

These days, I’ve gone from my teacher’s Supreme Clarity Temple to Second Uncle Master’s Jade Void Palace, and then to Third Uncle Master’s Azure Void Palace – it truly feels like a dream.”

Yunxiao said gently: “It must have been hard on you, constantly rushing about for the Dao sects.”

“I only hope the great catastrophe can pass quickly,” Li Changshou said warmly, “Then, when you and I travel abroad, Uncle Master can be more at ease, not needing to watch so closely.”

Yunxiao couldn’t help but tilt her head.

In Azure Void Palace, a group of Severing Sect disciples sitting on the steps looked at each other in bewilderment;

Patriarch Tongtian, lounging higher up, frowned and wondered aloud: “He could see through your master’s techniques?”

Before the disciples could answer, from the four-sided ‘picture frame’ formed by the Four Demon-Slaying Swords came Li Changshou’s laugh:

“I was just making that up.”

Yunxiao, however, looked quite seriously in various directions and arranged several layers of clouds.

At the same time, in Supreme Clarity Temple.

A certain old Daoist watched the virtual image of the Taiji Diagram before him with a smile – the picture was vivid and extremely clear, the sound full and refusing distortion.

And so Li Changshou and Lady Yunxiao continued with light conversation and gentle smiles until they reached the Southern Jambudvipa Continent.

Li Changshou summoned the Water God’s treasure Zao Wu Banner, searched around here and there, visited several dragon kings of great rivers, and found three places where he could settle the scholar’s soul.

Li Changshou took out the scholar’s soul and said he would fulfill his promise to let the scholar become a minor deity of the Heavenly Court.

The scholar immediately became grateful to tears, continuously bowing.

“This time I’m giving you three choices,” Li Changshou said with a smile.

The scholar trembled a few times, somewhat worried and afraid, but after hearing the options Li Changshou gave, he finally relaxed a bit.

It was nothing more than choosing between three different territories – at least he wouldn’t be sent to the “Ice River” in hell.

Subsequently, the scholar’s soul started muttering:

“Choose location A – mountains are clear and waters beautiful, but few people live there. Being a minor deity there, I’d only have insects and fish to talk to.

Choose location B – more people living there, can receive worship, but too many people would make me uncomfortable.

Choose location C – moderate population, but only one small river, couldn’t achieve much… what should I do?”

Li Changshou smiled without speaking, letting the scholar pick and choose on his own, while he and Lady Yunxiao wandered the mortal landscape, touring mountains and waters, walking at leisure.

However, after a while…

The scholar began scratching his head and ears, staring at the characters A, B, and C floating before him, repeatedly raising his hand only to lower it again.

Li Changshou, who had been telling Yunxiao about how he had once groped his way through mirage vapors, suddenly felt something in his heart…

A guest had arrived in the back hall of the Sea God Temple in Anshui City!

Li Changshou swept his divine sense over and immediately didn’t dare to be careless. After a few words of explanation to Lady Yunxiao, he sank his consciousness over there.

Soon after, an old immortal paper man drilled up from the ground and made a Daoist salute to the figure waiting in the inner hall.

“Senior Brother Yuding, what brings you here today?”