Li Changshou knew well that the Jade Emperor would not covet any treasures.
His words about “having fate with Heaven” actually referred to how the Twenty-Four Heavens could complete the Heavenly Court, transforming the Nine Heavenly Palaces into Thirty-Three Heavens.
In the original Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, it was Burning Lamp who manifested the Twenty-Four Heavens, completing it for the yet-to-emerge Buddhist Sect.
Burning Lamp used this to establish his position within the Buddhist Sect and secure some measure of control for Buddhism within the Heavenly Court.
Now, these Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus had a ninety-seven percent chance of not falling into Burning Lamp’s hands. If Zhao Gongming could comprehend the key here and use these treasures to manifest the Twenty-Four Heavens, it would shape a Heavenly Court with far fewer Buddhist connections in the future.
It all depended on how Zhao Gongming would handle this opportunity.
But at this moment, in this place, when the Jade Emperor’s avatar Quandong spoke these words, waves of emotion surged through Zhao Gongming’s heart.
Elder Zhao’s gaze shifted from shock to excitement, then to contemplation and hesitation, before finally settling on determination and resolve…
If the Jade Emperor took his treasure and could provide an additional path of survival for their Severing Sect disciples during the catastrophe, what did it matter if his power diminished greatly?
No matter how powerful a treasure might be, it was ultimately external. At worst, he could learn from the neighboring Enlightenment Sect’s Supreme Unity and seek help from Jade Clarity.
Was Zhao Gongming truly without protection?
Everything paled before the phrase “Jin Ling, save me!”
Thus, Zhao Gongming steeled his heart, his voice trembling as he said softly, “If General has taken a liking to it, this treasure…”
“Elder Brother!”
Li Changshou called out quietly from the side. The Jade Emperor immediately understood that Zhao Gongming had overthought things and promptly returned the pearls before Li Changshou.
Quandong’s lips curved in a faint smile: “Elder Brother Gongming, please don’t misunderstand. This humble official merely meant that this treasure seemed fated to help the Heavenly Court advance another step. I rarely campaign for the Heavenly Court, mostly standing guard before the Linxiao Hall, and have no use for such a powerful treasure.”
The several Severing Sect immortals all breathed sighs of relief.
Zhao Gongming asked puzzledly, “What connection do my pearls have with the Heavenly Court?”
Li Changshou’s finger moved slightly, and the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus flew back before Zhao Gongming, circling slowly in formation.
Zhao Gongming appeared lost in thought as if catching a glimmer of inspiration.
Those beside them dared not interrupt, as this could be Zhao Gongming’s destined opportunity.
After a while, Zhao Gongming’s brows furrowed slightly as he said, “It seems this poor Daoist must carefully study these treasures when I return.”
Li Changshou smoothly changed the topic, raising his cup to drink with everyone.
Whether the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus could become Zhao Gongming’s opportunity depended on the Heavenly Dao. If the Heavenly Dao provided guidance or clearly showed the pearls’ purpose, with Zhao Gongming’s comprehension ability, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to understand.
Though Li Changshou knew the general direction, firstly he dared not say too much, and secondly, this was still speculation, so he didn’t speak of it directly.
In all things, hinting was sufficient to avoid entanglement with karma.
The male immortals exchanged cups, moving the topic away from the great catastrophe. The disciples of both sects could still be harmonious at this time.
The female immortals shared quiet laughs and whispers. Kong Xuan and Yun Xiao were discussing something unknown, spiritual energy fluctuating around them as they appeared to be engaging in scholarly debate…
Li Changshou soon brought out some small items, officially introducing the Great Deity card game.
Thus, the scene quickly transformed into immortals from three sects playing cards with the Jade Emperor’s avatar after drinking, fortunately not wagering any Heavenly Court positions.
Three days passed imperceptibly.
This small realm was extremely stable, hidden by the Taiji Diagram’s power and protected by the Supreme Clarity Sacred One’s subtle intervention, making it ninety percent secure.
Besides Virtual Puti’s ambush alarming the two Sacred Ones of the Western Sect, there had been no further disturbance.
That side… had given up quite decisively.
Li Changshou made thorough preparations and entered that spherical treasure again, his divine consciousness infiltrating Virtual Puti’s spirit platform, once more projecting Maitreya’s appearance.
From aura to demeanor, to habitual movements and the degree of smiling, Li Changshou strived to perfect every detail, opening with:
“Do you understand?”
Virtual Puti’s dao heart trembled, his primordial spirit “opening its eyes” again, his expression now full of exhaustion.
He had not yet noticed the anomaly within his dao heart, having spent these three days in constant contemplation, thoroughly considering every possibility he could think of, finally arriving at a bold conclusion…
“Are you truly my Senior Brother?”
Li Changshou maintained that smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as his primordial spirit “gazed” at Virtual Puti.
A battle of psychology.
After a moment, Virtual Puti gave a bitter laugh and asked, “Is this Master’s arrangement?”
Generally speaking, such questions at this time were traps. Li Changshou also didn’t know if Virtual Puti and Maitreya were disciples of the same Sacred One master, given that the Western Sect had two Sacred Ones.
Thus, Li Changshou still only smiled, his smile growing increasingly enigmatic.
Virtual Puti slowly sighed and closed his eyes again.
“If Senior Brother hasn’t killed this poor Daoist, there must be some use for me. Senior Brother need only say it clearly.
You and I are both Western Sect disciples, once cultivating together at Spirit Mountain. Though we competed secretly, we had no true grudges. This poor Daoist is willing to brave fire and water for the Western Sect, to serve Senior Brother.”
“Very good,” ‘Maitreya’ extended his right hand.
Virtual Puti pretended not to understand, but seeing his ‘Senior Brother’s’ smile gradually fade, his dao heart unconsciously tightened.
Another round of silence passed, as ‘Maitreya’ was about to slowly lower his hand;
Conflict flashed through Virtual Puti’s eyes, but he still pointed at his forehead. A gray figure flew out from between his primordial spirit’s brows, condensing into a gray point of light that ‘Maitreya’ grasped.
Inside the sphere, a drop of essence blood flew from Virtual Puti’s forehead. Li Changshou formed a complex hand seal, instantly solidifying the blood into a teardrop-shaped bloodstone.
The hand seal continued, and chains appeared around the bloodstone.
Demon Emperor’s Soul Imprisonment Technique!
That gray qi flew out from Virtual Puti’s dao body’s chest, entering the bloodstone and transforming into Virtual Puti’s shadow, completely imprisoned by the bloodstone.
From now on, to destroy Virtual Puti’s primordial spirit, one would only need to burn this bloodstone, and Virtual Puti’s primordial spirit would shatter with it.
At Virtual Puti’s spirit platform, as ‘Maitreya’s’ form was about to dissipate, that somewhat bored voice once again entered Virtual Puti’s dao heart.
“Recover here for now. When the time is right, you will be released.
If Master asks, or if we meet under other circumstances, you know how to handle it.
If this poor Daoist doesn’t seek you out first, treat this as if nothing happened.”
Virtual Puti’s eyes widened at these words.
This wasn’t Master’s intention?!
He had simply become a piece in Maitreya’s game?
Virtual Puti’s face showed anger, followed quickly by a long sigh, the bitter smile on his lips growing deeper.
From now on, their relationship as brothers on the surface would be master and servant in secret, with all control in Maitreya’s hands.
The surrounding starlight flickered again, this time the illusion directly dispersed, and Virtual Puti’s primordial spirit sank into endless darkness, his six senses sealed once more.
Inside the sphere, Li Changshou looked at the ‘soul stone’ in his palm, wrapped it in yin and yang qi, placed it in a ring, and turned to exit this treasure.
Great success.
Later that day, at the edge of the Chaos Sea.
A sphere slowly drifted from the Chaos Sea, exploding with a “ping” before the Heavenly Dao’s barrier, leaving behind an old Daoist with blood on his chest but steady breath.
The fragments of the spherical treasure were swept away by chaos energy, and the restrictions around Virtual Puti also dispersed in succession. He opened his eyes, looked at his surroundings, and immediately wrapped his dao body in immortal power before diving into the Chaos Sea.
In Virtual Puti’s heart, he recalled the two matters his ‘Senior Brother’ had entrusted.
The first was what Senior Brother had brought up himself, about coordinating with Senior Brother’s arrangements regarding the plot against Yang Jian.
Virtual Puti wasn’t surprised by this at all, having long deduced it would be this outcome.
Senior Brother was someone who wouldn’t suffer losses and always returned grudges. After being so badly outmaneuvered by the White Star Lord last time, how could he not have counter-arrangements?
This was very Maitreya-like.
The second matter was what Virtual Puti had asked about himself…
‘Senior Brother, how should this poor Daoist explain these days of disappearance to Master?’
Senior Brother’s response was:
‘I released you at the edge of the Chaos Sea. Didn’t that White Star say this poor Daoist is Kun Peng’s second primordial spirit?’
Virtual Puti immediately understood that this blame should be placed on Kun Peng: Kun Peng had captured him, using extreme speed to exit the Great Wilderness, interrogating him about Western Sect matters. This could barely explain things to Master.
Come to think of it, Senior Brother was truly bold. Harming fellow disciples was already taboo, yet Senior Brother did it directly and succeeded.
It seemed the rumors heard about Senior Brother since ancient times had their basis.
Virtual Puti turned about in the Chaos Sea for a while, returning to the Great Wilderness from another direction. But just as he entered the Heavenly Dao’s barrier, his dao heart suddenly shook, and he hurriedly examined himself.
What was this now?
Virtual Puti looked at the strands of gray energy already rooted in his dao heart, his face suddenly turning somewhat pale.
Even cultivators of the highest level feared producing heart demons and feared even more being devoured by heart demons.
And now in his dao heart, waves of gray-black energy had nearly engulfed it.
Various chaotic emotions surged through Virtual Puti’s heart – sorrow, rage, killing intent – nearly consuming him.
Where did this heart demon come from?!
Virtual Puti calculated with his fingers rushed into the Heavenly Dao’s barrier and immediately sat down to cultivate, golden light floating around him as cold sweat gradually covered his forehead.
‘Senior Brother, how ruthless!
You’ve nearly destroyed this poor Daoist’s heart completely. I fear I can hardly advance half a step further!’
Virtual Puti opened his eyes, the anger in them quickly receding.
No…
This isn’t my heart demon, this is demonic thoughts forcibly planted!
Outer realm demons, edge of the Chaos Sea… Could those previously widespread rumors not be rumors? Could Senior Brother be…!
Virtual Puti’s pupils constricted. He concealed his form and fled toward the edge of the Three Thousand Realms with a heart full of shock, wanting to find a place for quiet cultivation to carefully consider this matter.
If this was truly the case, their Western Sect likely had trouble…
They might even be gradually consumed by Senior Brother!
“Alas, this poor Daoist is already under another’s control, and can do nothing about it.”
…
Half a month passed after releasing Virtual Puti at the edge of the Chaos Sea.
After Li Changshou and the Daoist immortals who had helped this time jointly swore strict Heaven Dao oaths to keep this secret, they quietly ‘dispersed.’
Though Li Changshou didn’t want Yun Xiao to swear the oath, when she spoke up herself, he couldn’t well refuse.
Immortal Yun Xiao didn’t want any special treatment. Regarding matters of the three teachings, she hoped Li Changshou would simply see her as one of the Severing Sect’s four great outer disciples.
Of course, in private, they were already dao companions who didn’t want to let go even after hours of walking hand in hand.
The reason Li Changshou arranged this joint oath was also well-intentioned.
When everyone keeps a secret together, it increases friendship and connections between them.
As long as Supreme Unity True Person, that stable team-forming point, didn’t rashly form teams, the probability of direct war erupting between the two sects could be reduced by at least ten percent!
This could barely count as half a layer of calculation.
When Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao returned together to Three Immortal Island, Li Changshou also advised them to pay more attention to Elder Zhao’s condition.
Li Changshou was somewhat worried that because of one sentence from His Majesty the Jade Emperor, would affect the operation of catastrophic fate, causing Elder Zhao to enter the catastrophe early and the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus to belong to the Heavenly Court.
Though this possibility was very low, Li Changshou still chose to secure things.
Speaking of which…
‘Would Virtual Puti become the monkey’s future master?’
In the White Star Palace, Li Changshou’s divine consciousness watched the paper soldier [Heavenly General] departing with the Three-Point Double-Edge Spear, pondering this profound question.
The probability was quite high, after all, in the current Great Wilderness, Virtual Puti was the only one associated with the name ‘Puti.’
Moreover, Virtual Puti had now become a puppet in his hands, useful for future schemes against the Western Sect or Buddhist Sect. As long as Virtual Puti didn’t mess things up himself, Li Changshou wouldn’t easily discard such a chess piece.
First, there was Sister-in-Law-to-be Wen Jing, and now Virtual Puti…
His infiltration work against the Western Sect was proving quite effective.
Thanks to Master’s assistance this time!
Such things couldn’t be done too often, after all, the Sacred One Master wasn’t his treasure, and frequently asking the Sacred One to do things beyond ‘teaching, explaining doubts, and disciplining junior sacred ones’ would likely reduce his favorability with Master.
Just as Li Changshou was about to withdraw his divine consciousness back to Little Jade Peak, a figure drifted on clouds outside the White Star Palace – it was the Jade Emperor’s avatar ‘Understanding Emperor.’
During the previous banquet, Quandong had let several things slip;
On the way back to the Heavenly Court with Li Changshou’s paper soldier, Quandong realized this and remained silent for quite a while.
Fortunately, Li Changshou spoke up in time, explaining that he had worried the immortals might accidentally speak offensively, so he had revealed the Jade Emperor avatar’s identity beforehand through voice transmission. Only then did the Jade Emperor feel relieved.
As long as he hadn’t exposed himself, his face had to be maintained.
Today when Quandong rushed over again, Li Changshou would bet two packages of ‘Ling’e’s Personally Made Spicy Spirit Beast Meat’ that it was about Yang Jian’s matter.
Sure enough, Quandong arrived before the White Star Palace on his cloud, properly requesting an audience before Li Changshou ‘summoned’ him into the hall through voice transmission.
Once within the formation in the deepest part of the White Star Palace, the two exchanged smiles. Li Changshou returned the courtesy he had just received, took out a paper soldier with middle-aged features, and sat down with Quandong.
Quandong got straight to the point: “Evening Star, I’ve come to ask about Yang Jian’s matter. How is Yang Jian’s trial progressing?”
“Your Majesty, please look,” Li Changshou brought out an extra-large, reinforced bronze mirror and placed it before them.
With a point of his finger on the bronze mirror, ripples appeared on its surface, followed by blurry images that quickly became very clear.
It showed a great realm, where rolling demon qi obscured the sun, moon, and stars, with several streams of light constantly chasing each other in the sky.
Li Changshou and Quandong looked closely and saw Yang Jian’s figure among those streams of light.
He wore somewhat tattered battle armor, his right hand gripping a spear, his left hand holding a slightly cracked precious sword. Golden and red light streams encircled him, traces of blood sliding down his face from his forehead, his tied-back long hair largely stained with demon blood.
He opened his mouth, seemingly letting out a roar, his form suddenly accelerating, leaving behind multiple afterimages and causing waves of spiritual energy fluctuations, immediately catching up to a snake demon!
The snake demon’s face showed ferocity as it turned and spat out a sky full of poison mist.
The spear darted forward, sword light slashed horizontally, and the next instant demon blood filled the sky. Yang Jian’s form pierced through the snake demon’s enormous body, his spear tip pressing against the snake demon’s primordial spirit, one sword strike shattering its primordial spirit…
Quandong asked softly: “Why are there images but no sound?”
“Your Majesty, this is what Jade Clarity True Person sees. At this moment, Jade Clarity True Person might have forgotten to open the restrictions on that small bronze mirror.”
“I see,” Quandong nodded, watching intently as Yang Jian hunted down several great demons.
After another while, the great battle concluded.
Yang Jian had slain three great demons, with the last great demon escaping beyond the heavens.
Yang Jian had to hurry back to deal with the three great demons’ corpses, preventing their demon qi from spraying wildly and harming the mortals in this area.
This Yang Jian had truly grasped the essence of the Eight-Nine Mystical Art, swiftly handling the great demons’ corpses, extracting the heavenly essence and earthly treasures from their bodies, and cutting off their most spiritually potent flesh and blood.
Setting up several roasting racks, he carefully roasted the meat, frowning as he forced himself to endure the discomfort, eating it bite by bite to strengthen his own blood essence.
Doing what the Ancient Shamanic Tribe would do was indeed the correct way to practice the Eight-Nine Mystical Art.
Li Changshou praised: “Truly heroic.”
Quandong’s eyes were full of light as he also praised: “He shows some of your style when you slay demons, Evening Star.”
Li Changshou: …
Why did these words sound like he had some direct connection with Yang Jian?
“Evening Star,” Quandong smiled, “I’ll leave this avatar here. When you want to check on Yang Jian’s situation, remember to call me.”
Li Changshou said: “Maintaining this bronze mirror only costs some spirit stones. This minor deity will keep a close watch on this matter as well.”
“Excellent!”
Quandong immediately smiled with satisfaction, continuing to watch the scenes in the bronze mirror as Yang Jian quickly disappeared on the horizon, successfully avoiding counterattacks from demon race experts.
Seeing this, Li Changshou laughed inwardly, knowing the Jade Emperor was delighted at finding talent. He left a small portion of his divine consciousness here while his main body entered a shallow cultivation state.
At this time, Li Changshou naturally didn’t know if Elder Zhao had comprehended anything from the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus;
But he had comprehended something.
The Heavenly Dao constantlyè¡¥filled and perfected itself, giving it an almost ‘selfish’ purposefulness.
For ordinary beings and even long-lived immortals, the Heavenly Dao was impartial, only following Heavenly Dao rules and maintaining the stability of heaven and earth.
But standing on the bank of the river of time looking out, one could see the Heavenly Dao grow ‘from small to large,’ from ‘incomplete to complete.’
The Heavenly Dao had a core principle: no posterior being or treasure could be perfect, only primordial beings and supreme treasures could reach true perfection.
This was also why currently, besides Great Law Master of the Mysterious Capital, almost all top experts were primordial beings.
Could the Heavenly Dao itself achieve perfection?
Variables would always exist, and the Heavenly Dao’s imperfections would always exist…
Li Changshou pondered these things, gradually sinking most of his divine consciousness into the great Dao, roaming through heaven and earth, and wandering through past and present.
When he awakened from one session of closed cultivation, he found the Jade Emperor’s avatar still enthusiastically observing Yang Jian, from his fierce battles with demon beasts and maneuvering against qi cultivators, to his moments of blank staring and resting in town districts.
Soon, the trial plot arranged by Bai Ze appeared, with Yang Jian being led into a dangerous area. After months of fierce fighting to emerge, he subdued a three-headed divine flood dragon, which transformed into the ‘ancient divine weapon’ Three-Point Double-Edge Spear.
From Jade Clarity True Person’s and Quandong’s perspective, there was no trace that this had been artificially arranged.
Sir Bai’s ‘Great Wilderness Director’ soul had begun to awaken.
Over the next several decades, Quandong spent most of his time in this White Star Palace.
Li Changshou felt like he was temporarily taking over the Heavenly Emperor’s duties, with the Jade Emperor consulting him on various Heavenly Court matters before using his main body to stamp the imperial seal in the Linxiao Hall.
Most of the time, the Jade Emperor’s avatar and Li Changshou’s paper soldier just watched the bronze mirror in the depths of the White Star Palace.
This made Li Changshou feel somewhat embarrassed to even mention wanting to go out on a date with Immortal Yun Xiao.
Yang Jian’s cultivation progress could be called divine in speed, his combat power now matching most Golden Immortal realm qi cultivators, and his realm not far from the Golden Immortal tribulation.
This day, Quandong suddenly said: “Evening Star, don’t you feel Yang Jian is missing something?”
“Missing what?”
Li Changshou, whose main body was teaching Ling’e, quickly turned his attention here and smiled: “A set of bright new robes?”
“No,” Quandong said, “I rather feel that Yang Jian seems to be missing a companion, just like Sir Bai Ze is to you.”
Companion?
Quandong stood up and said: “Wait a few days, beloved official. I’ll go back and use the Heavenly Dao’s power to check if any special breeds in the Great Wilderness could serve as his mount.”
Mo-mount?
Hiss, so that was Howling Celestial Dog’s original position…