Golden Spirit Sacred Mother let out a fierce curse, causing all the immortals in the Jade Void Palace to change their expressions, their gazes falling upon Ju Liu Sun.
This somewhat short and stout elderly Daoist stood up, frowning as he said: “How does this matter concern me? How could I possibly…!”
“Enough.”
Broad Accomplishment Master’s voice rang out, interrupting Ju Liu Sun’s words.
Ju Liu Sun turned to look at Broad Accomplishment Master, taking two steps forward before suddenly halting, his raised hand uncertain of where to rest.
The surrounding gazes were rather piercing.
True Lord Yellow Dragon was most indignant, standing up and cursing in a low voice: “Junior Brother Ju Liu Sun, did you truly scheme this?”
True Lord Jade Tripod frowned and asked: “And why resort to such dirty schemes?”
Compassionate Navigation Daoist sighed: “Senior Brother Ju Liu Sun, is there some hidden circumstance in this matter? How could you…”
Cloud Dweller stroked his beard with furrowed brows, asking: “Our Orthodox Teaching was founded on righteousness. To become a Master’s disciple requires complete merit, destiny, and virtue. Could this be some misunderstanding, or perhaps a frame-up by villains?”
Ju Liu Sun hastily responded: “This humble one could never do such a thing…”
“Ahem! *cough cough!*”
True Lord Grand Unity coughed several times from the side, speaking calmly:
“If this truly was your doing, Junior Brother Ju Liu Sun, you might as well admit it forthrightly.
You are, after all, among the Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void, Master’s disciple. If you were momentarily confused by calamitous fate and made a mistake, there might still be room for resolution.
But if you continue to deny it, and later get… crushed to death by Star Lord Long Geng… by Star Lord Great White, you won’t be the only one disgraced—the Orthodox Teaching will be too.
By then, only our ever-absent Vice Sect Master could protect you.”
Ju Liu Sun’s brows were tightly knitted, the light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. But in almost an instant, he had composed himself, frowning and asking True Lord Grand Unity with a troubled expression:
“Senior Brother, how could I possibly scheme such a thing? What benefit would I gain from such scheming?”
“Who knows?”
True Lord Grand Unity pursed his lips, and like Broad Accomplishment Master, began to close his eyes and remain silent.
Just then!
Sword light suddenly flashed outside the Jade Void Palace—Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, receiving no response to her first call, had already struck with her sword!
The sword light stretched like a bolt of silk, seemingly able to cleave Jade Void Peak in two!
The Orthodox Teaching’s experts could not sit idly by. Several streams of light flashed from within the hall—Cloud Dweller, True Lord Jade Tripod, True Lord Yellow Dragon, and Pure Essence Master, four Orthodox Teaching experts, moved to intervene simultaneously.
Cloud Dweller occupied the central position, his sleeves floating as he struck out with a palm.
The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth trembled, and the spiritual energy of Mount Kunlun surged!
Cloud Dweller’s palm strike transformed into a misty giant hand, easily “grasping” that sword light and crushing it directly, exploding into countless fragments of spiritual light.
Afterward, Cloud Dweller held up his flower basket, which contained numerous spiritual lights, frowning as he looked toward Golden Spirit Sacred Mother.
As is widely known, Cloud Dweller is also called Little Treasure.
Now that he suddenly revealed his strength, his dao realm was no lower than any of the Orthodox Teaching’s Twelve Golden Immortals.
Cloud Dweller stroked his beard and sighed: “Friend Golden Spirit, why not explain the cause? Why attack our Orthodox Teaching’s Jade Void Hall without distinguishing right from wrong?
This place is the Pure Jade Sacred One’s domain. Please do not bring trouble upon yourself.”
Golden Spirit Sacred Mother’s beautiful eyes blazed with anger, and she was about to manifest her dharma body to engage in battle.
Never mind the details, strike first and talk later, lest the back-and-forth later prevents any fighting, leaving only pointless argument—how unsatisfying!
Fortunately, Zhao Gong Ming at her side was quick to act, hastily pressing down on Golden Spirit’s shoulder, softly saying “The greater situation comes first” three times.
Zhao Gong Ming stepped forward and made a Daoist salute, glancing at Li Chang Shou who sat quietly ahead on the White Marsh beast’s back. Remembering the instructions received on the way, he immediately announced in a clear voice:
“Greetings to all fellow Daoists of the Orthodox Teaching!
Golden Spirit is hasty in temperament; we have no intention of disrespecting Second Senior Uncle.
Today, over twenty of us Severing Teaching immortals have come merely to witness and see who is truly behind the recent uproar that has even drawn in my Second Sister—this matter of the false accusations against a Heaven’s Marshal.”
[Opening move, showing fangs]
Inside and outside the Jade Void Palace’s great hall, streams of light flew up. Broad Accomplishment Master and Pure Essence Master led the Orthodox Teaching crowd outside, standing on clouds in three layers. Half looked angrily at Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, half had complex expressions as they gazed at Li Chang Shou.
Looking at the Severing Teaching’s side, although fewer than thirty stood on the clouds, each showed anger, their overall momentum no weaker.
Time for today’s protagonist to take the stage…
Li Chang Shou let out a soft sigh, slowly riding White Marsh forward to the center between the Severing and Orthodox Teaching immortals, floating down from White Marsh’s back.
Just as Broad Accomplishment Master meant to step forward in greeting, immortal light flowed around Li Chang Shou’s body, and a stream of light flew directly from his sleeve, transforming into a young Daoist.
Those familiar with Li Chang Shou—Zhao Gong Ming, True Lord Grand Unity, True Lord Jade Tripod, and other experts—recognized at a glance that this was Li Chang Shou’s original appearance, his true body.
At this moment, countless cultivators who witnessed this scene were more or less surprised.
They had never detected that the elderly Daoist on the divine beast White Marsh’s back was Li Chang Shou’s famous paper avatar.
True and false intermingled, difficult to distinguish.
Speaking of Li Chang Shou manifesting his true body, he directly knelt toward the direction of the Three Friends’ cottage, silently kowtowing three rounds, prostrating himself on the clouds.
This scene was transmitted by the bronze mirrors floating around him to various parts of Heaven’s Court and Central Divine Continent.
Not only the celestial soldiers and cultivators watching before the various bronze mirrors, but even the disciples of both Orthodox and Severing Teaching present were somewhat bewildered.
Cloud Dweller, who had some friendship with Li Chang Shou, asked: “What does Junior Brother Long Geng mean by this?”
Li Chang Shou rose and gave Cloud Dweller an apologetic smile, but didn’t answer. He quickly withdrew his smile and knelt again, calling out loudly toward the Three Pure Ones’ cottage:
“Disciple Li Long Geng reports to Second Uncle Master!
Long Geng, following Master’s command to enter Heaven’s Court and assist the Jade Emperor until now, has been diligent and cautious, not daring the slightest negligence for hundreds of years, supporting Heaven’s Court from its humble beginnings, establishing Heaven’s authority in the Three Realms.
Now Long Geng is about to complete his task and withdraw, only waiting for the final killing tribulation to fall and all gods to return, then I can retire behind the scenes, serve at Master’s side, listen to Master’s teachings, fulfill this disciple’s regret of having few years to practice filial piety at Master’s knee after being accepted as a disciple.
But recently!
A disciple of the Orthodox Teaching, for personal gain, wished to implicate the Three Teachings in injustice, attempting to sow discord and prematurely trigger the Great Tribulation!
After returning to my Heaven’s Court residence from the Grand Pure Temple, this disciple felt deeply uneasy about this, thinking back and forth with careful consideration, not understanding why they would act this way.
Now Heaven’s Court is in an uproar everywhere, and this matter can no longer be resolved by this disciple’s few words. Today I specially report this matter to Second Uncle Master.
Shortly, this disciple will take action in the Jade Void Palace and will spill blood three feet high before the Jade Void Palace, only to maintain Heaven’s authority. If I do anything that damages the Orthodox Teaching’s reputation or Second Uncle Master’s face, this disciple willingly accepts punishment afterward.
But today, this disciple must give Heaven’s Court’s immortals and gods an explanation!
This disciple must prove to them that the Jade Emperor’s promises were not empty words and that the blueprint this disciple drew was not mere fantasy.
This disciple has absolutely no disrespect toward Second Uncle Master!
In this disciple’s heart, both Uncle Masters are equally respected!”
After speaking, Li Chang Shou remained motionless in his prostrate position, the entire world falling silent.
A deathly silence.
The Orthodox Teaching crowd now wore extremely complex expressions as they all stared at Li Chang Shou’s figure.
Ju Liu Sun, who had originally resolved to deny everything to the end, now looked somewhat stunned and confused.
He had meant to use the [“Orthodox Teaching’s authority”] and [“A Sacred One’s face cannot be lightly disgraced”] as reasons to ensure his safety today.
But now, Li Chang Shou directly reported this matter to their Sacred One, clearly stating he would take direct action today, even if it meant spilling blood three feet high…
Ju Liu Sun instantly lost his confidence.
And the silence from behind Jade Void Palace could be taken as the Sacred One’s silence.
For a Sacred One’s disciple, no prevention from the Sacred One meant tacit approval!
“Ju Liu Sun, Senior Brother.”
A call came from the front.
Standing among the immortals, Ju Liu Sun suddenly felt as if the surrounding figures had all dispersed, as if only two figures remained in heaven and earth—himself, Ju Liu Sun, and Li Chang Shou, who was slowly rising from his kneeling position.
Li Chang Shou now did not attempt to conceal his anger.
Today’s matter had nothing to do with being [“stable”] or [“proud”].
Stability was only his way of doing things, a 98% unwavering pursuit related to his personality, but unrelated to his attitude or stance.
The stability before becoming an immortal was the ordinary preservation on Little Jade Peak;
The stability after becoming an immortal was the calculation amid busy work at the Sea God Temple;
Later ah, as his position grew higher and he understood his path, stability had been carved into his bones, becoming that universally praised thoroughness.
Today, Li Chang Shou suddenly discovered that his stable, thorough, all-encompassing way of doing things had instead become a weakness for others to exploit him and those around him.
He acted thoroughly, felt strong belonging to the Dao Gate, exhausted himself establishing non-aggression pacts, unwilling to see the Dao Gate fight…
How laughable.
Now the most stable choice was to use this opportunity, to reveal part of his strength, to display his background, the power he had gathered, the strength he could influence and borrow, to let them see clearly.
Let them weigh carefully what they could and couldn’t touch!
The Primordial World was extremely dangerous due to its rule—might make right.
The biggest winner of ancient times, the Dao Ancestor, and the biggest winners of high antiquity, the Six Sacred Ones—which of them didn’t rely on force?
Li Chang Shou had always been under Sacred Ones’ protection.
But when one’s Sacred One background was countered by an enemy’s Sacred One background, everything still came down to one’s abilities.
Of course, complete revelation was impossible; some trump cards must remain hidden.
Li Chang Shou stood up, putting away his [“Great White Star”] paper avatar, his gaze fixed only on Ju Liu Sun, and spoke again:
“Senior Brother Ju Liu Sun, did you not hear this god’s call?”
Ju Liu Sun unconsciously lowered his head. His dao heart, cultivated since high antiquity until now, actually felt somewhat flustered, struggling to maintain a calm expression.
Thump!
Ju Liu Sun suddenly felt his shoulder being bumped by someone, a surge of immortal power flowing in. He involuntarily stepped forward twice, the two Orthodox Teaching immortals before him parting left and right, letting him reach the front lines.
True Lord Grand Unity, passing behind with hands clasped behind his back, lowered his head and walked away, wearing the excellent expression of someone who was just passing by.
Li Chang Shou directly told Ju Liu Sun: “Come with me to Heaven’s Court for trial.”
“Trial?”
Ju Liu Sun looked up at Li Chang Shou, his rather plain face showing traces of confusion. “This humble one doesn’t know what Junior Brother Long Geng is talking about.
In recent years, this humble one has been cultivating in the Flying Cloud Cave of Pincer Dragon Mountain. What has happened…”
Li Chang Shou suddenly interrupted Ju Liu Sun’s words: “Are you questioning my Master?”
“How… how could you say that?” Ju Liu Sun frowned: “This humble one also has the utmost respect for Great Senior Uncle!”
“Master divined that this was your doing.”
Ju Liu Sun’s eyes widened: “That’s impossible. Someone must be impersonating this humble one. This humble one doesn’t even know what happened, having just emerged from closed cultivation.”
“Just emerged from closed cultivation?”
Li Chang Shou’s voice suddenly turned cold. Ju Liu Sun looked up to see that in the young Daoist’s eyes, azure divine light had already erupted.
The heavens and earth suddenly darkened for ten thousand li around, and a brilliant star appeared in the Eastern Sky;
Under the vast heavenly authority, that great star casts down two streams of purple light, separately enveloping Li Chang Shou and Ju Liu Sun.
The dao rhyme around Ju Liu Sun manifested, the might of an ancient power undeniably revealed. With some anger in his eyes, he spoke first:
“Junior Brother Long Geng, don’t push too far! This humble one also listened to Master’s teachings, and am also your Senior Brother!”
Li Chang Shou said nothing, stepping forward once.
Immortal light blazed from Ju Liu Sun’s sleeve as an immortal rope shot out like a spirit snake, directly coiling toward Li Chang Shou!
Seeing this, Zhao Gong Ming immediately moved to act;
Seeing this, True Lord Jade Tripod instantly prepared to flash forward!
Though they belonged to different sects—Orthodox and Severing—at this moment their purpose was the same: to protect Li Chang Shou’s form from Ju Liu Sun’s magical treasure.
But!
They were a step too late!
Not just Zhao Gong Ming and True Lord Jade Tripod, but even the Orthodox Teaching experts closest to Ju Liu Sun were all a step too late!
There was no other reason—Li Chang Shou moved faster.
Just as Ju Liu Sun raised that immortal rope, he suddenly caught a glimpse of cold light in his vision. Azure dao rhyme silently crossed beneath his feet, and his primordial spirit and dao body felt as if recovering from serious injury, unexpectedly unable to use much immortal power!
The usually invincible Immortal-Binding Rope went limp!
This was!
Li Chang Shou’s Equilibrium Great Dao!
This level… could it be that he had equalized him with mortals…
*Thump!*
With a soft sound, Ju Liu Sun stared at the arrow-like golden lock that had pierced through from his back and emerged from his chest, stained with his fresh blood. His primordial spirit had been directly suppressed.
How could the strike be so fast…
At this moment, the Heart-Piercing Lock’s slender golden chain slowly revealed itself, emanating dense merit treasure light, its end gripped in Li Chang Shou’s left palm.
Li Chang Shou pulled up, and Ju Liu Sun’s form, now restrained by the Heart-Piercing Lock, flipped over, rolling several times on the cloud path before being bound tight by the Heart-Piercing Lock, rolling to Li Chang Shou’s feet.
Li Chang Shou said nothing. Taking advantage of the moment before the surrounding immortals could react, he struck down with a palm toward Ju Liu Sun’s chest.
“Long Geng, please show mercy!”
Broad Accomplishment Master shouted, his great seal smashing toward Li Chang Shou.
But Li Chang Shou didn’t even look, continuing his motion without moving his form, allowing the Heaven-Overturning Seal to strike him directly from the front. His right hand tossed out an insect emanating azure dao rhyme while his left palm struck Ju Liu Sun’s chest.
Severely wounding his primordial spirit.
Within the Heart-Piercing Lock’s restraint and suppression, Ju Liu Sun opened his mouth and vomited blood, which splattered exactly three feet high.
Meanwhile, the great seal—which hadn’t used any force, merely to attract Li Chang Shou’s attention—was knocked away by the insect.
Unfortunately, this insect couldn’t withstand such force backlash and directly exploded into powder.
Strands of azure light returned to Ju Liu Sun’s body, returning the portion of strength Li Chang Shou had equalized away back to Ju Liu Sun.
Alas, it was too late—severely wounded and captured, Ju Liu Sun had no strength left to struggle.
That insect was naturally being used to equalize with Ju Liu Sun.
Because Li Chang Shou and Ju Liu Sun’s strengths were close, the conditions for Li Chang Shou’s Equilibrium Great Dao had become quite lenient. Combined with the Heart-Piercing Lock, a surprise attack treasure refined with his merit, taking advantage of unpreparedness and coordinating with momentum, subduing Ju Liu Sun took no effort at all.
But this scene falling into the eyes of the gathered Dao Gate experts and the Three Realms’ cultivators was truly somewhat…
Frightening.
What level was Star-Lord Great White?
What level of strength was this?
Was this the Human Teaching’s junior disciple who hadn’t cultivated for even a thousand years? Even if his strength was above Ju Liu Sun’s, they should have fought for several exchanges, but with just one encounter…
Sun was finished?
After today, the Primordial World’s Premium Innate Spiritual Treasures Register would likely have a place for the Heart-Piercing Lock.
Li Chang Shou made a Daoist salute to the stunned Orthodox Teaching crowd and was about to walk to White Marsh’s side, carrying the Heart-Piercing Lock.
“Junior Brother, wait!”
Broad Accomplishment Master stepped forward with furrowed brows, holding the Heaven-Overturning Seal in his palm, his expression somewhat unsightly.
Li Chang Shou turned around and said calmly: “Does Senior Brother Broad Accomplishment have any guidance?”
Broad Accomplishment Master walked forward several steps and said to Li Chang Shou:
“Can we discuss this matter at length?
Junior Brother Ju Liu Sun listened to the Master’s teachings as a personal disciple and is also one of the Jade Void Palace’s Twelve Golden Immortals.
Since Great Senior Uncle said he schemed this matter, then he surely did scheme this matter, but could we not first interrogate him here in the Jade Void Palace? We will surely give Heaven’s Court an explanation.”
With these few sentences, Broad Accomplishment Master believed he had given Heaven’s Court enough face, speaking reasonably.
Unexpectedly, Li Chang Shou seemed iron-hearted today, directly shaking his head and saying: “This matter should be tried and sentenced by Heaven’s Court. I can guarantee that His Majesty the Jade Emperor will personally try the case, without damaging the Orthodox Teaching’s reputation.”
“Junior Brother Long Geng, this is somewhat unreasonable,” Broad Accomplishment Master said. “Today you so brazenly taking Junior Brother Ju Liu Sun from the Jade Void Palace, won’t this make the Jade Void Palace a laughingstock of the Three Realms?”
Li Chang Shou said: “It won’t be that serious. If the Jade Void Palace fully cooperates in this matter, the Three Realms will only praise Senior Brother Broad Accomplishment’s noble character, not protecting a fellow disciple who has lost his private virtue and harbors evil intentions.
Conversely, if Senior Brother Broad Accomplishment insists on keeping Ju Liu Sun here, and then has the Orthodox Teaching explain to Heaven’s Court…
Does this not suggest the Orthodox Teaching intends to shield such a serious Heaven’s Court criminal?”
“Junior Brother, you won’t even give the Orthodox Teaching this much face?”
“Senior Brother, if I concede today, how will Heaven’s Court conduct affairs in the future? Where will reason lie in the Three Realms!”
Li Chang Shou’s gaze flashed like lightning, Broad Accomplishment Master’s immortal light flowing endlessly.
Broad Accomplishment Master spoke firmly: “Today this humble one has only one thing to say: let Ju Liu Sun stay in the Jade Void Palace. Once he leaves the Jade Void Palace, Heaven’s Court may arrest him at will.”
Li Chang Shou said calmly: “Today I also have only one thing to say.
I will take Ju Liu Sun, and no one can stop me.”
The Heaven-Overturning Seal emanated waves of pressure, and Broad Accomplishment Master’s eyes carried dense authority, the dao rhyme around his body undulating like waves.
“Long Geng, if you take him today, can it be considered that the Three Teaching’s non-aggression pact is hereby void?”
“This is a matter between Heaven’s Court and individual disciples of the Orthodox Teaching,” Li Chang Shou said. “If Senior Brother threatens with this agreement, then whether it’s void is Senior Brother’s decision and all consequences will be borne by Senior Brother.”
“You truly wish to act this way? There’s no room for compromise?”
Broad Accomplishment Master stepped forward twice, already on the verge of attacking.
Li Chang Shou slowly nodded, his gaze not yielding at all. “If Senior Brother insists on teaching me, Long Geng is willing to experience Senior Brother’s expertise.”
Eight-Nine Mystic Arts, Equilibrium Great Dao, Grand Pure Yin-Yang Dao, activate.
Mysterious Yellow Pagoda, Ground-Leaving Flame Light Banner, protect primordial spirit…
“Great… Great Senior Brother!”
True Lord Yellow Dragon suddenly called out, rushing over from the side to flash between Li Chang Shou and Broad Accomplishment Master, hurriedly saying:
“Great Senior Brother, Junior Brother Long Geng, can you each take a step back?
This will only invite more mockery!
Why must you argue so over the evil deeds Ju Liu Sun committed?”
With someone taking the lead, several Orthodox Teaching immortals came forward, separately stopping Broad Accomplishment Master and Li Chang Shou, either transmitting voice or speaking directly, persuading the truly angered Broad Accomplishment Master and Li Chang Shou.
Compassionate Navigation Daoist spoke: “Why don’t we each take a step back—let us Orthodox Teaching immortals deliver Ju Liu Sun to Heaven’s Court, and afterward our Orthodox Teaching will not interfere further.
Great Senior Brother, Junior Brother Long Geng, what do you think of this?”
Broad Accomplishment Master waved his hand and turned away, putting away the Heaven-Overturning Seal, clasping his hands behind his back and sighing deeply.
Li Chang Shou slowly nodded, his voice carrying for a thousand li:
“Yang Jian, stop hiding.
By my command as Second-Rank True God and Star-Lord Great White, quickly come capture Ju Liu Sun and return to Heaven’s Court!”
As his words fell, a figure leaped out from the clouds several dozen li away, his form flying forward to salute Li Chang Shou and accept the order.
“This lowly marshal obeys!”
Li Chang Shou glanced at Broad Accomplishment Master’s back, made a Daoist salute toward him, and then turned to make another Daoist salute toward the Three Pure Ones’ cottage.
“After this matter is concluded, this disciple will come before Second Uncle Master to request punishment.”
With these words, Li Chang Shou tossed the end of the Heart-Piercing Lock to Yang Jian and jumped onto White Marsh’s back.
Depart, return to Heaven’s Court!