“I still need to visit Mother Goddess Nuwa’s palace. Best to go there early,” Li Changshou thought to himself as he emerged from the earth’s veins, withdrawing the Yin and Yang energies left by the Taiji Diagram. He quietly entered the compound formation of Little Qiong Peak and headed toward his secret chamber.

He had spent three months carefully analyzing the task given by the Heavenly Dao Ancestor himself, finally reaching a useful conclusion.

[Empty speculation is useless.]

The struggles at that level had already surpassed even the Saints’ machinations.

His understanding was too fragmentary, based only on the Heavenly Dao Ancestor’s account of past events. No one could predict what would happen if he rashly involved himself.

The remaining will of Pangu’s incarnation – he sensed it would be a major trap.

Though the Heavenly Dao Ancestor appeared to give him the choice between ‘kill’ or ‘protect,’ he had already made his inclination clear – seeking stability.

Li Changshou let out a soft sigh.

If he hadn’t realized even this much, all these years in the Primitive World would have been wasted.

The bad news was that he had become a blade in the Heavenly Dao Ancestor’s hands.

The good news was that when the Heavenly Dao Ancestor needed him, he would protect him to some degree.

What he needed to do now was figure out how to become stronger in the shortest time possible – at minimum, gaining the ability to survive in the Chaos Sea, and creating a backup plan.

Many things in life originally had no backup plans, but after being cautious enough times, alternatives would emerge.

After three months of contemplation, Li Changshou’s final decision returned to the starting point—

Desperately cling to Master Taiqing’s support!

All future actions must revolve around Master Taiqing!

This was because Li Changshou discovered that the Heavenly Dao Ancestor seemed to harbor some wariness toward his Saint Teacher.

If one were to strip away the emotional bias from the information the Heavenly Dao Ancestor had shared, what story would emerge?

[In ancient times, there was an unknown competition between ‘Senior Lang, Friend of Primitive World Women’ and ‘Great Ancient Victor Heavenly Dao Ancestor Hongjun.’

The goal was to see who could first prove the Way through strength and reach Pangu’s level.

Regardless of whether Senior Lang truly went mad, he must have utilized countless resources accumulated from ancient to prehistoric times, getting ahead of the Heavenly Dao Ancestor on this path.

The Heavenly Dao Ancestor, for unspecified reasons – let’s assume it was to protect the Primitive World – joined forces with the Heavenly Dao to forcibly suppress Senior Lang, directly erasing all traces of his existence.

Among those connected to Senior Lang, apart from Mother Goddess Nuwa who had already become a Saint and couldn’t be touched by the Heavenly Dao, others either died or vanished. Only Chang’e forgot part of her memories, awakening after sleeping for ten thousand years…]

The biggest question here was whether Heavenly Dao’s Ancestor Hongjun had lied about this matter.

Li Changshou personally leaned toward believing that the Heavenly Dao Ancestor had told the truth.

After all, beings like himself who had drifted over from Earth tended to have increasingly complex thoughts…

Analyzing from this angle, Pangu’s remaining will certainly had no connection to Senior Lang. Otherwise, the Heavenly Dao Ancestor would never let him, someone who might show mercy to Senior Lang, take action.

In three months, deducing this much from limited information had cost Li Changshou countless strands of hair.

Fortunately, he had now found a solution!

Tell his teacher!

Kneeling properly before Master Taiqing’s portrait enshrined in the secret chamber, Li Changshou called out: “Disciple requests Master to bestow the treasure pagoda.”

A faint Taiqing Dao charm appeared from the portrait, and Tower Lord’s spirit consciousness resonated in Li Changshou’s mind as it fell from nowhere, landing on his head.

Tower Lord’s spirit consciousness said: “What’s up, going to Three Immortal Island to find Sister Golden Fight?”

But Li Changshou said: “Tower Lord, there’s an urgent matter… When Tower Lord and I communicate through spirit consciousness like this, would the Heavenly Dao monitor it?”

Tower Lord chuckled.

“What is an Innate Spirit Treasure?

An Innate Spirit Treasure is born before the Heavenly Dao, I am a tower formed from the first strand of Primal Yellow Qi in heaven and earth, infused with the Master’s merit of achieving Sainthood. Though not a Supreme Treasure in rank, I still possess the effect of being impervious to all laws.

Unless we’re in the Crystal Palace or Purple Void Palace, the Heavenly Dao can’t probe our communications!”

“That’s good, Tower Lord please help me relay some words to Master.”

Li Changshou carefully chose his words, ‘rambling’ to the Yellow Tower in his mind for a while, then placed the Yellow Tower before Taiqing’s portrait.

“Master! Disciple returns the treasure pagoda!”

A corner of Taiqing’s portrait swayed slightly, space-time formed a shallow vortex, and the Yellow Tower disappeared with a complaint.

“All that work just to have me do this?”

Li Changshou smiled calmly. This was also exploring new employment opportunities for Primitive World’s Innate Spirit Treasures.

True encrypted messaging!

Li Changshou waited for a while until his Dao’s heart rippled slightly as Taiqing’s Dao charm descended, condensing into six large characters:

[Follow Ancestor’s command, Master is here.]

Master’s style was as consistently word-sparing as ever.

Li Changshou bowed deeply, lit three sticks of incense, and then retreated from the secret chamber, his heart considerably lighter.

When the Heavenly Dao Ancestor Lord notified him, he would go find that thing to take action. Whether killing or sparing, Master would be watching over the whole process.

His sense of security finally increased a tiny bit.

His current strength was too low – he could only frantically probe at the edges of Saints’ machinations, let alone the Heavenly Dao Ancestor’s calculations.

Could the Heavenly Dao Ancestor directly read minds?

Not exactly.

Only when the power of the Heavenly Dao or karmic force infiltrated one’s heart could the Heavenly Dao Ancestor possibly know one’s thoughts. That somewhat frightening retort in the Purple Void Palace was probably deduced.

Li Changshou had intended to go see Ling’e and teach her some Dao methods, but after ‘smoke-teleporting’ out of the secret chamber, profound insights arose in his heart.

So he sat in his usual rocking chair, closed his eyes to focus, carefully savoring, and instantly fell into enlightenment.

This trip to the Purple Void Palace had truly accumulated a large amount of ‘material.’

Streams of Dao heart insights flowed like brooks through various parts of his spirit platform, filling in Li Changshou’s not yet perfectly condensed Dao charm.

Li Changshou kept part of his spirit consciousness free and began contemplating matters regarding the Heavenly Dao.

To achieve great perfection in the Way of Balance, one couldn’t avoid comprehending the Heavenly Dao.

The existence of the Heavenly Dao itself was profound among the profound, mysterious among the mysterious, with Great Dao interweaving and Pangu’s will resonating.

The current composition of the Heavenly Dao is quite clear now.

The Heavenly Dao itself, formed by the resonance between all beings’ will and the Great Dao – this was the first part, the Heavenly Dao’s main body.

The Heavenly Dao’s will that he had faced off against, the incarnation of great tribulation – this was the second part, which could be seen as a branch of the main body, but was rather special.

Heavenly Dao Ancestor Hongjun possessed ‘super-administrative rights’ – this was the third.

Pangu’s remaining will had evolved independently from ancient times until now, about to become a quasi-living being – this was the fourth.

What his Way of Balance needed to intervene in and influence was the first part.

Gradually, Li Changshou immersed himself in the Great Dao, entering the realm of mutual forgetting. Strands of profound and obscure Dao charm floated around him, his long hair occasionally stirred by spiritual energy…

Half a month later, an explosion sounded outside the pill room, making Little Qiong Peak tremble several times. Various formation lights flashed chaotically but quickly quieted down.

“Hmm?”

In the lakeside grass house, Ling’e was startled awake by this disturbance. She put down the jade talisman in her hand and ran out barefoot, looking toward the pill room.

Had Senior Brother blown up the pill furnace again?

Ling’e blinked, her eyes full of concern. She stepped onto a white cloud barefoot, holding a formation-passing jade talisman, hurriedly flying toward the pill room.

But just as she flew a hundred zhang, she suddenly felt someone gently poke the ‘steamed bun’ on top of her head, and heard a familiar laugh by her ear:

“Why have you taken to dressing like this?”

Ling’e instinctively stepped forward twice, gracefully turning to look behind her, only to see her Senior Brother had appeared at the edge of the white cloud at some unknown time.

This…

She couldn’t sense Senior Brother’s presence at all with her immortal awareness!

Well, the gap between her and Senior Brother’s strength was growing ever larger.

Ling’e immediately felt a bit dejected.

Li Changshou closely observed the little Celestial Immortal before him. She wore a simple white silk dress with light blue flowers painted above and below, her hair still in two ‘plain buns,’ cuteness and playfulness maxed out.

Ling’e giggled, her little face reddening as she stood on tiptoes, spinning once on the cloud.

“Does it look good?”

“It looks good,” Li Changshou stroked his chin and seriously critiqued, “just lacks some mature steadiness, a bit too childish.”

Ling’e complained somewhat dissatisfied:

“Stinky Senior Brother, just praise it and that’s enough! Your Junior Sister is fully utilizing her natural advantages, trying to differentiate herself from Sister Yunxiao’s style.”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but smile, stepping forward half a step to reach out and pinch Ling’e’s cheek.

Tsk, that familiar smooth feeling.

“Focus on cultivation, no one can escape the Golden Immortal tribulation, you must face it if you want eternal life – that’s where you should be spending your energy right now!”

Ling’e’s pretty face reddened as she raised her hand to cover her pinched cheek, puffing out her mouth corners.

Li Changshou turned around, took one step, his form dispersing like blue smoke, then congealed under the lakeside willow tree. He pointed out two rush cushions and calmly sat down.

“Come, today your Senior Brother will teach you about the Way of the Golden Immortal.

“As for Immortal Alliance matters, you need not worry too much about them anymore. I have had enough energy recently and will personally keep watch over them.

Ao Yi and Spirit Zhenzhu are not far from their Golden Immortal tribulation. Don’t slack off, lest you fall too far behind them.”

“Yes!”

Ling’e nodded quite seriously, her toes lightly tapping as she floated down. She adjusted the rush cushion and sat down next to her Senior Brother, her eyes flashing with fighting spirit.

Li Changshou exhaled a clear breath and began lecturing on Taiqing’s Effortless Changshou Dao. Shadows of green lotuses condensed at his lips, falling to circle Ling’e.

During the lecture, Li Changshou’s gaze fixed on the ‘artificial peak’ across the small lake, and some thoughts unrelated to the lecture arose in his mind.

Previously, Ling’e had gone to great lengths to design suitable clothes for Lingli.

Later, he would still need to visit Lord Lao at Doushuai Palace to see if the Little Slaughter Divine Spear was finished being forged. At that time, he could also request Lord Lao to make a set of size-changing clothes for Bear Lingli.

Yes, Yang Jian’s Three-Point Double-Edge Spear also needed to be put on the schedule. That would probably trouble Lord Lao as well.

The idea of ‘subduing divine dragons and directly transforming them into divine weapons’ was something that could only fool mortals.

Anyone with basic ‘immortal knowledge’ knew that the divine weapon must have first transformed into three divine dragons. The process of the divine dragons battling with Yang Jian was the process of Yang Jian taming this divine weapon.

Thinking carefully, with a disciple like him worrying about various matters, Lord Lao truly couldn’t find peace.

…

At Jade Spring Mountain, in True Lord Yuding’s cave dwelling.

While Li Changshou was lecturing Ling’e, True Lord Taiyi, True Lord Yuding, and True Lord Yellow Dragon were gathering with a rare guest, drinking wine at a stone table in the cave dwelling.

Yang Jian, who had just experienced a ‘perfect’ training session two years ago, was currently sparring with Spirit Zhenzhu in the back mountain.

During his last training, Yang Jian obtained a drop of Ancestor God Gonggong’s source blood essence.

To this day, though he hadn’t fully refined the blood essence, his strength was already not to be underestimated, and Spirit Zhenzhu no longer needed to deliberately hold back.

This made Spirit Zhenzhu, who had cultivated for so long, feel somewhat dejected, and lately, he had been constantly strengthening his physical cultivation.

Yang Chan sat on a tree branch not far away, her little face flushed red as she continuously swung her feet, her mood seeming quite good.

Witnessing this scene, Guangcheng Zi, the head of the Twelve Golden Immortals, let out a sigh:

“Both nephews are truly excellent. Given time, they will certainly be pillars of our Enlightenment Teaching.”

True Lord Yuding said softly: “Elder Brother overstates.”

But True Lord Taiyi let out a snort of laughter, saying: “Strength is one thing, but my precious disciple is especially valued by Junior Brother Changsheng.”

True Lord Yellow Dragon, who had recently started growing a beard to try a new style, couldn’t help but stroke his beard and laugh heartily upon hearing this.

“Brother, you jest. Whether Junior Brother Changsheng values Spirit Zhenzhu or not has nothing to do with Nephew Spirit Zhenzhu’s cultivation.”

“No, no,” True Lord Taiyi shook his head repeatedly while holding his wine cup, “If not for this, why would Elder Brother come here today?”

Guangcheng Zi smiled silently beside them.

True Lord Yellow Dragon laughed awkwardly and asked:

“Elder Brother, what exactly happened in the Purple Void Palace? Why did Master command us not to wander around South Continent after returning?”

“Ah,” Guangcheng Zi’s smile faded as he sighed, “The situation that day is hard to explain in a few words.

Don’t ask too much about this matter, it concerns the stability of the Dao School and the peace of the Three Teachings.

The Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods has gradually become clear, with the Heavenly Court taking the lead. Imperial Lord of Heaven Uncle and Junior Brother Changsheng are the two most crucial figures.

Your Elder Brother came here today precisely to ask you three who are familiar with Changsheng to probe his intentions.”

True Lord Yuding frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: “I’m afraid it would be useless.”

“Indeed,” True Lord Taiyi twisted his mouth, “Elder Brother, you couldn’t be thinking of having us compete with Immortal Yunxiao for Changsheng?”

Guangcheng Zi pondered for a moment before saying solemnly: “This matter is no small affair and must be handled with caution. Don’t speak of it lightly.”

Yellow Dragon asked: “But in that case, wouldn’t we be exploiting our friendship with Changsheng? How could someone as clever as Changsheng…”

“That’s why I say just probe his intentions.”

Guangcheng Zi said gently: “We’re not forcing Changsheng to choose between the two teachings, but rather letting Changsheng know that if he needs to target the Western Teaching later, our Enlightenment Teaching can also lend appropriate support.”

True Lord Taiyi raised an eyebrow, “Is that all?”

“That’s all,” A complex expression flashed through Guangcheng Zi’s eyes, “You naturally don’t know what your Elder Brother saw in the Purple Void Palace?”

True Lord Yellow Dragon leaned forward to ask: “What did you see? We definitely won’t leak it outside.”

“I saw…”

Guangcheng Zi was about to speak but remembered Master’s instructions, then let out a light laugh.

“Ah, the most unexpected thing was seeing Changsheng’s… half buttocks.”

With a “puff” sound, True Lord Taiyi sprayed a mouthful of immortal wine all over True Lord Yuding’s face. True Lord Yellow Dragon’s eyes widened in shock, leaving him speechless.

Guangcheng Zi chuckled a few times and briefly described the scene of the Dao Ancestor beating Li Changshou, leaving the three True Lords with extraordinarily wonderful expressions.

Yet the same story, when told by different people, always had different effects.

At the same moment on Three Immortal Island, the Eight Great Disciples of the Severing Teaching’s inner and outer doors were nearly all gathered.

Duobao Daoren sat in the main seat of the pavilion, also telling the same story, but much more vividly than Guangcheng Zi.

“…And guess what?

When Master Ancestor swung the Purple Void Heaven’s Punishment Whip in his hand, Changsheng was immediately sent flying more than three zhang high, and then lightning flashed and the thunder burst forth, beating Changsheng so he floated in the air unable to fall.

That scene!

Ha! The power of Heaven’s Punishment was incomparably sharp, the sound of thunder exploding never ceased!

You think this was Master Ancestor disliking Changsheng?”

Qiongxiao, Bixiao, and Divine Mother Guiling sitting on the left, all nodded together, while Yunxiao, Divine Mother Jinling, and Zhao Gongming, sitting on the right, were full of concern.

Duobao Daoren smiled proudly, cupping his hands toward the side and above, taking a breath before continuing:

“Not at all, not at all!

The Dao Ancestor was telling the Western Teaching that Changsheng was his personally valued grand disciple.

Though Heaven’s Punishment Whip looked frightening, it only had an intimidating presence. Though the Purple Void Divine Thunder made a great commotion, every strike fell on Changsheng’s fleshiest part – his bottom.

What is this?

Isn’t this clearly like when a mischievous human child in the mortal realm is caught and beaten by an elder at home?

What is intimacy? This is intimacy!

Moreover, Master Ancestor was far from acting randomly. He had anticipated Changsheng’s nature of fearing trouble and being good at deflecting responsibility, so he first subdued Changsheng and threw him down unable to move, then took out that Heaven’s Book Investiture List and God-Beating Whip, shaking his hand to let them fall into Changsheng’s hands, establishing him as the one in charge of the Great Tribulation of Investiture.

Those two Saints of the Western Teaching beside him called out… ‘Master, our Western Region is impoverished!’

Master Ancestor glanced at them, almost directly saying ‘You’ve been at it for so many years without seeing the West prosper, all show and no substance.’

Of course, Master Ancestor preserved the face of the two Western Teaching Saint Lords, smiling and saying he was old and his hand shook a bit, it seemed these items had fate with Changsheng.

He left right after speaking, without lingering, and thus established Changsheng’s authority to preside over the Great Tribulation of Investiture.”

Duobao Daoren took a long breath, and the several junior brothers and sisters beside him successively praised this outcome, naturally quite pleased.

Then, Duobao Daoren looked at the elegant and graceful Immortal Yunxiao and smiled:

“Your Elder Brother has said so much, actually just to ask one thing…

Sister, when do you plan to see Changsheng?”

Yunxiao’s fine brows furrowed slightly as she said seriously: “I haven’t seen him for only a few decades, why should I rush to meet?”

Duobao Daoren was immediately at a loss for words. His slightly plump hands waved a few times before he stammered for a while and finally squeezed out:

“Isn’t it… well, don’t you miss him?”

A slight blush flew across Yunxiao’s pretty face. She stood up and turned away, instinctively about to argue a few words, but as she faced her true heart and experienced her true nature, she couldn’t help but gently purse her thin lips and say softly:

“I… naturally want to see him more.

It’s just that now the Great Tribulation has descended and he’s in charge of it. I fear that after meeting, he might show bias and err in his own path.”

“Sister’s words are mistaken!”

Duobao Daoren stood up and smiled: “The Great Tribulation is the Great Tribulation, matters of Dao companions are matters of Dao companions, these naturally cannot be confused.

If Sister can’t find a reason to seek out Changsheng, your Elder Brother has prepared one for you!

Here!”

As he spoke, Duobao Daoren took out a jade talisman and a three-inch miniature immortal sword from his sleeve, handing them to Immortal Yunxiao.

“Master previously found a treasure spot in the Chaos Sea, where there lies a great opportunity for Changsheng. Master’s Trap Immortal Sword can take you there.

Now that the Purple Void Palace has just finished discussing the Investiture matters, we can’t possibly directly fight with the Enlightenment Teaching, and the Western Teaching dares not show its head. This is the perfect time to retrieve this treasure.

Most importantly, you can take this chance to spend some good time alone together.

In the Chaos Sea, there’s no Heavenly Dao surveillance, even the Saint Lords can’t find your location or use supreme treasures to peek…

Seeing Yun Xiao’s hesitation, Duobao Daoren pressed on:

“Don’t forget our Severing Teaching’s doctrine – seize the single thread of life’s opportunity.

Just waiting empty-handed won’t bring anything.

The Great Tribulation arrives tomorrow, no one knows what will happen afterward, what if… Sister, you don’t want to leave regrets, do you?”

Immortal Yunxiao frowned slightly, slowly gripping the jade talisman and small sword tighter.”