This?

Elder South Pole frowned as he watched the scene before him:

Golden light flashed around Li Changshou’s body, immortal power surging beneath his loose robes, containing a force that made even him feel uneasy;

The four masters of the Severing Sect had locked their auras onto Lighting Lamp, ready to suppress him at any moment.

The surrounding immortals and deities swiftly retreated in perfect order, without the slightest chaos, as if they had rehearsed this beforehand.

Lighting Lamp displayed a slight cold smile, as if he had expected this, yet also seemed to have something to rely on, turning sideways to meet Li Changshou’s gaze.

“Junior Brother Changeng, fellow junior brothers and sisters,” Elder South Pole asked from the side, “what are you planning to do?”

Li Changshou calmly replied: “Previously, Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp kept insisting that he and I had a blood feud. Master Brother knows my cautious nature – I cannot allow such a powerful enemy with a blood feud to roam free, threatening the lives of my friends and family. I must eliminate him while he’s in the Heavenly Court, to settle this karmic debt.”

“Changeng,” Elder South Pole stepped forward with his walking stick, exchanged a glance with Grand Pure One, and immediately said, “have you considered the consequences of this matter? Changeng, if you forcefully kill Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp here, you will have lost your impartiality before the Heavenly Dao. You are the main agent of this great tribulation…”

“Master Brother,” Li Changshou naturally untied his robe’s sash and took off the loose garment, wearing only dark trousers.

Two immortal ropes wrapped around, binding his trouser legs tight. His hair gradually darkened as the Primordial Yellow Tower flew out from within, slowly rotating above Li Changshou’s head.

Under the light of the Sun Star, Li Changshou’s nearly perfect Dao body, achieved through cultivating the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, emitted spots of light.

His right hand opened, the Heaven-Earth Ruler appearing in his palm. His left hand made a gentle gesture, and the Heart-Piercing Lock vanished into invisibility.

The spirit coffin lamp on Lighting Lamp’s shoulder flickered with light. Though he appeared to be standing motionless, he was actually fully focused on guarding against Li Changshou’s sneak attack.

Fear-Keeping Honored One was a previous lesson.

Then Li Changshou spoke to Elder South Pole:

“Whether I have lost my impartiality, the Heavenly Dao will decide. This Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp has tested me several times. If I had made even one mistake, he would surely have ground my bones to dust. Moreover…”

Li Changshou gave a light laugh, his appearance changing from elderly to a young Dao practitioner, using his original appearance – which still maintained over ten layers of disguise.

“Today, it is a disciple of the Human Sect who wants to kill him – what does this have to do with the Heavenly Court? Even proper deities of the Heavenly Court should be allowed some private life.”

“Heh,” Lighting Lamp seemed to laugh from anger, “Today I have shown much restraint in accordance with the Sage’s words! You are merely close to the Severing Sect and deliberately suppressing our Orthodox Sect’s power before the killing tribulation arrives! Your intentions are clear as day, how despicable! You keep saying I have a blood feud with you, that I’ve been bullied by you multiple times, yet you’re the one falsely accusing first!”

He’s anxious, truly anxious.

Tap!

A recording orb rolled from Li Changshou’s palm, rolling several times on the misty jade stone tiles before displaying a scene.

It was the previous scene of Lighting Lamp accusing Li Changshou of abusing his power for private revenge.

[Please reconsider, Your Majesty the Jade Emperor. This Star Lord of Great White and I are mortal enemies!]

Seeing this, Lighting Lamp remained remarkably composed, wearing an expression of ‘you’re just sophistry.’

Li Changshou spoke calmly: “Your provocative words were merely out of fear of Brother Gongming’s Sea-Calming Zhenzhus. Actually, there’s no need to worry. Since I said this is a personal grudge, then it’s a personal grudge. Whoever interferes, whether helping me or helping you, becomes my enemy. Brother Gongming.”

Li Changshou slightly turned his gaze, exchanging a look with Zhao Gongming; the two had perfect tacit understanding, and Zhao Gongming immediately understood something.

Zhao Gongming said: “We disciples of the Severing Sect will not participate in today’s settlement battle between Changeng and Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp.”

“How can we not participate?!”

Golden Spirit Supreme Mother bit her silver teeth in anger, glaring at Zhao Gongming: “Do you know how many trump cards this old bastard has hidden? He’s of the same generation as our Master and the others! Their Orthodox Sect hasn’t even said they won’t help Lighting Lamp!”

“Ahem,” Pure Yang True Person calmly said, “As a disciple of the Orthodox Sect, I naturally cannot stand idle while the Orthodox Sect’s Vice Sect Master faces calamity. That would make people laugh at our Orthodox Sect’s lack of unity, creating factions and small cliques. However, perhaps because the weather has gotten hot lately, I’ve been feeling drowsy, often falling asleep mid-conversation… Hoo— *snoring*”

The crowd: …

To the side, Jade Tripod True Person’s mouth twitched slightly. After considering left and right, he simply closed his eyes to meditate, sitting diagonally on the grand chair with Pure Yang True Person, left and right, ‘falling asleep.’

Thus, snoring sounds rose and fell, making Yellow Dragon True Person beside them extremely anxious.

Li Changshou asked: “Grand Pure One Master Brother, Elder South Pole Master Brother, what do you two say?”

He was forcing Grand Pure One and Elder South Pole to take a stance.

If the Orthodox Sect supported Lighting Lamp, Li Changshou would directly request the Old Lord to preside, elevating this matter to an internal private grudge within the Dao Sect, opening a death duel arena.

If these two spokespersons of the Orthodox Sect, one open and one hidden, stated they would not interfere in this matter, then the Orthodox Sect would have no excuse to make trouble over this in the future.

If Master Lu Ya could die, why couldn’t Lighting Lamp?

His orchestrated封神 (Investiture of the Gods) didn’t need such a malicious, unprincipled yet sanctimonious troublemaker.

Without Lighting Lamp, it would be very important for his subsequent advancement of various plans.

Yellow Dragon stood up and quickly walked to Grand Pure One’s side. “Senior Brother?”

Grand Pure One frowned in thought, not responding.

Yellow Dragon stamped his foot, and just as he was about to go forward to plead with Li Changshou, a figure flashed before his eyes – it was Zhao Gongming who had darted over, blocking Yellow Dragon True Person and Grand Pure One.

His feet swayed, and Zhao Gongming suddenly fell forward. Yellow Dragon True Person reflexively went to support him, barely managing to hold Zhao Gongming up.

But then…

With a “Wa” sound, Zhao Gongming spat blood, his body trembling violently. He grabbed Yellow Dragon True Person’s hand and shouted: “Brother Yellow Dragon, quick- quickly help treat my wounds, my old illness has flared up again!”

Yellow Dragon True Person was immediately at a loss, while twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus floated around Zhao Gongming, perfectly blocking the path for Grand Pure One and Yellow Dragon True Person to enter the field.

A hit-and-run scam – the deadly gentle version.

Li Changshou’s voice came again: “If both Master Brothers don’t speak up, I’ll take it that the Orthodox Sect won’t interfere in the personal grudge between me and Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp.”

Lighting Lamp’s eyes narrowed, a trace of ruthlessness flashing through them.

Grand Pure One let out a long sigh: “Changeng, don’t forget the non-aggression pact between Dao sects.”

“Master Brother, you always mention the non-aggression pact between Dao sects, but you’ve forgotten that it constrains the Orthodox and Severing sects, stating that whichever side initiates conflict first, our Human Sect will support the other side. It doesn’t constrain how to handle conflicts between our Human Sect and the Orthodox or Severing sects.”

Li Changshou asked: “What I care about now is the Orthodox Sect’s attitude toward this matter because I respect everyone in the Orthodox Sect and dare not be discourteous to Second Master Uncle.”

Grand Pure One remained silent.

Elder South Pole sighed: “So be it, I cannot control this matter anymore.”

Li Changshou nodded and said: “Since that’s the case, the Orthodox Sect doesn’t oppose me seeking private revenge against Vice Sect Master Lighting Lamp, then…”

Stepping forward, water-blue divine light surged in Li Changshou’s eyes, the Heaven-Earth Ruler trembling slightly in his hand.

Lighting Lamp instinctively stepped back half a step, immediately sitting cross-legged. The green lamp on his shoulder instantly merged into his Dao body, a treasure wheel appearing behind him, green light blazing for hundreds of zhang around!

This battle could no longer be avoided!

In the green light, Lighting Lamp’s holy appearance was solemn, rings of light flashing around him, his Dao rhythm carrying an indescribable sense of stability.

In contrast, Li Changshou hadn’t yet activated his Great Dao divine abilities. Holding the Heaven-Earth Ruler, he stepped forward again, sounds of surging waves and overturning seas rising from within his body.

His blood energy was like wolf smoke, his Dao body as if forged by gods!

[Surface trump card: Eight-Nine Mysterious Art!]

At this moment, Lighting Lamp’s one hundred and eight prayer beads had been collected, his glazed pagoda had long fallen into Li Changshou’s hands, and that weak Heaven-Earth Ruler had also been taken by the Heavenly Court. Although his cultivation was fully displayed now, divine and majestic, it still seemed somewhat shabby.

In contrast, Li Changshou had powerful treasures like the Primordial Yellow Tower, Heaven-Earth Ruler, and Heart-Piercing Lock empowering him, plus the Ground Flame Light Banner protecting his primordial spirit, and could even call upon the Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram at any time.

Today’s difficulty wasn’t how to kill Lighting Lamp, but how to kill him with minimal cost amid the collision of various forces!

He had given face to the Orthodox Sect.

He had established the Heavenly Court’s authority.

Today, as long as he could slay Lighting Lamp, making Lighting Lamp’s fall in the Heavenly Court an undisputed fact, then the divine authority of the Heavenly Court would be secured!

Killing Lighting Lamp would resolve various future difficulties.

Between the two of them, though there wasn’t a master-killing grudge like with Master Lu Ya, they had been at odds and enemies since their first meeting, and now it had come to a death battle.

Whoosh—

A sharp whistling sound came from behind Lighting Lamp, but he didn’t even look, suddenly contracting the green light around him to only ten zhang in diameter, yet layer upon layer, as if substantial!

The ‘arrowhead’ of the Heart-Piercing Lock appeared out of thin air but only stopped beside Lighting Lamp, half a zhang from his shoulder;

The thin chain behind it appeared foot by foot, shining with golden merit light, but advanced no further!

Lighting Lamp gave a cold laugh: “Mere trick…”

Hum!

Suddenly, a breaking sound came from above, a sharp force seemingly at hand!

Lighting Lamp’s spiritual sense jumped wildly, his immortal consciousness hadn’t even reacted before he reflexively looked up;

He saw another Li Changshou appear directly above him, wearing cyan robes billowing with contained blood energy, his body like a taut bow, holding a long spear with both hands, smashing down toward Lighting Lamp!

The ‘Li Changshou’ in front remained motionless, his surrounding blood energy dissipating, the Primordial Yellow Tower and Heaven-Earth Ruler shooting toward Li Changshou’s true body.

The one who had stripped to show his perfect Dao body earlier was a paper Dao puppet…

Lighting Lamp had no time to think further. His protective divine ability was directly cut open by the God-Slaying Spear’s tip. He barely raised his hand to push out a palm, using his palm to directly meet the small God-Slaying Spear!

The surrounding green light frantically contracted, the treasure wheel behind his head blazing with light!

Amid the rumbling, Heaven and Earth shook, clouds and mist rose!

The Jade Luminous Hall flashed with golden light, layers of golden radiance completely enveloping it.

Looking again, the valuable jade stone tiles in front of the hall had been smashed through by Lighting Lamp’s body. Li Changshou stood on that layer of green light, Heaven-Earth Ruler in his left hand, small God-Slaying Spear in his right, striking out afterimage after afterimage, seemingly wanting to beat Lighting Lamp into meat paste.

Where the clouds and mist churned, the Wall of Heaven had been smashed into a shallow pit a hundred zhang in diameter!

Lighting Lamp’s left forearm was severed at the root, blood flowing, now relying entirely on his treasure light to withstand Li Changshou’s offensive.

The Heaven-Earth Ruler had no edge, yet could cut through Heaven and Earth;

Though the God-Slaying Spear was damaged, its origin was a Primordial Chaos Supreme Treasure, not much different from the Dao Ancestor’s Heaven-Earth Cauldron in attack and defense.

Li Changshou operated the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, wielding the two powerful treasures, the Primordial Yellow Tower protecting himself, completely ignoring Lighting Lamp’s scattered attacks. Each time the ruler shadow or spear shadow fell, it added a few more injuries to the Lighting Lamp.

One move passive, passive everywhere.

Lighting Lamp truly hadn’t expected Li Changshou would use such methods, calculating so far ahead, preparing this sneak attack ambush from the very beginning.

Deceiving Heaven to cross the sea, secretly moving troops through Chencang!

Three powerful treasures reinforcing the paper Dao puppet, the main body hiding in the darkness, striking with full force for the kill when his attention was drawn away!

In this instant, a touch of regret flashed in Lighting Lamp’s eyes, his lips trembling but making no sound, only able to fully resist Li Changshou’s offensive.

Even if he had no bottom line, he couldn’t speak the words “beg for mercy” at this moment…

Think!

Before his divine abilities were completely broken through, he must think of a way to survive.

In the shadows of the spear and ruler, Lighting Lamp suddenly saw Li Changshou’s eyes.

Not right, he was still calculating!

Lighting Lamp suddenly realized he had greatly misjudged this Human Sect junior disciple’s strength.

Being able to completely suppress him meant their Dao realms weren’t far apart, and according to his secret investigation’s conclusions, this youth could use his Equilibrium Dao against those whose Dao realm exceeded his own by a significant margin.

Now that he, Lighting Lamp, could no longer resist, if the Equilibrium Dao came out, even if it only weakened his cultivation by thirty percent, it would be enough to make him instantly suffer a broken head and heavy injuries.

He was waiting…

He was still waiting!

Waiting for someone behind him to appear!

“Li Changeng!”

Lighting Lamp let out a great roar, and suddenly a green flame appeared on his forehead, the Dao rhythm around him suddenly surging greatly. His severed arm was enveloped in immortal light, his form actually about to send Li Changshou flying.

Burning his primordial spirit!

Burning the oil of his spirit lamp!

Sudden rumbling sounds came from within Li Changshou’s body, and ancient blood patterns crawled from his neck to his cheeks one by one, his power surging by thirty percent. The Heaven-Earth Ruler in his hand smashed down, instantly suppressing Lighting Lamp’s counterattack!

[Shallow trump card: Empress Houtu’s gifted Tribal Warrior secret arts]

Lighting Lamp continuously let out angry shouts. Li Changshou appeared furious on the surface but his Dao heart was incomparably tranquil, clearly analyzing every flow of Lighting Lamp’s immortal power and every surge of divine ability.

To be safe, he would only wait half an hour; if after half an hour, the expert who could truly save Lighting Lamp didn’t appear, Li Changshou would use his Equilibrium Dao to make Lighting Lamp’s corpse lie here.

In the Palace of Great White, White Marsh maintained his auspicious beast form, three long feathers bound to Li Changshou’s paper Dao puppet’s arms, using Li Changshou’s primordial spirit power to sense Li Changshou’s fortune and misfortune.

As long as White Marsh detected any change in fortune and misfortune, no matter how small, he would directly call out to Li Changshou.

In the Jade Luminous Hall, the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother sat on their thrones. The various proper deities of the Heavenly Court had just been brought back to the hall by the Jade Emperor’s methods.

The crowd of immortals, deities and heavenly generals were all peering out from near the hall doors, their voices of praise unceasing.

Dragon Princess was naturally the most nervous, standing at the very front, fingers interlaced before her, fearing her master would be countered by such an ancient powerful being as Lighting Lamp.

Wood Duke’s expression was most emotional, after all, he had personally witnessed Li Changshou’s rise;

Looking at Changeng, from that minor wild god who met the Jade Emperor and him in the Sea God Temple back then, to now being able to continuously suppress an ancient powerful being, a true pillar of the Heavenly Court face to face…

He, Wood Duke, remained unchanged, just with “former” added before “second-in-command of the Heavenly Court”…

The Jade Emperor sat on his throne with closed eyes, silent, his divine consciousness all on his avatar, prepared for any need.

At this moment the Jade Emperor also didn’t quite understand…

‘Since Changeng wants to kill Lighting Lamp, why is he deliberately delaying?’

Quanzhu pondered carefully for a while, then quickly shook his head.

In this matter, Changeng must have his considerations, just wait and see.

…

Li Changshou divided plans into two types. The first type was plans implemented normally step by step, with clear annotations of when to start and what the purpose was, implemented gradually.

The second type was plans where he prepared the plan itself in advance but didn’t set a time for the plan to start, looking for opportunities to implement it.

Just like this scheme against Lighting Lamp.

Li Changshou had long prepared the You Qin Clan case, prepared the strategies and arguments to use today, and conducted full simulations.

This wasn’t premeditated plotting, but rather having all arrangements prepared in advance.

And the decisive factor that triggered this “extinguish the light plan” was only one point—

Lighting Lamp entering the Heavenly Court.

If the You Qin Clan case couldn’t make Lighting Lamp submit to the law, then Li Changshou would directly use the pretext of a personal grudge to launch a one-sided challenge against Lighting Lamp.

In the Heavenly Court, his teacher was right above his head, the Jade Emperor stood on his side.

Even if the Heavenly Dao wanted to protect Lighting Lamp, to let Lighting Lamp make trouble in the final killing tribulation of the later Investiture of the Gods, Li Changshou had nearly ninety percent confidence in snatching Lighting Lamp’s life from the Heavenly Dao’s hands.

But his plan wasn’t just this.

The plan’s first target was Lighting Lamp, and the second target was the Western Religion.

Lighting Lamp was the Orthodox Sect’s Vice Sect Master, but his position in the Orthodox Sect was very awkward – few of the Orthodox Sect’s Sage disciples truly regarded him.

Why would Second Master Uncle Original Heavenly Honored One allow Lighting Lamp to continuously make trouble?

There were factors of [Original Heavenly Honored One himself wanting to use Lighting Lamp as scissors to trim the Severing Sect’s branches and leaves], and there should also be calculations between the Sages.

Supposing Second Master Uncle knew Lighting Lamp was the Western Religion’s hidden chess piece, then Second Master Uncle was intentionally calculating against the West, deliberately重用 Lighting Lamp, and even letting the Twelve Golden Immortals call Lighting Lamp teacher.

Was it possible Second Master Uncle didn’t know?

Yes, but the possibility was very weak…

But in the original script of the Investiture of the Gods, the warfare between the Orthodox and Severing sects continuously escalated. Although the Orthodox Sect borrowed the Western Religion’s two Sages Zhunti and Jieyin to strike and make the Severing Sect unable to recover, the Orthodox Sect itself didn’t get much benefit.

Lighting Lamp got the twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus, defected to the Western Religion, received the Heavenly Dao’s enlightenment, evolved the twenty-four heavens, filled the Heavenly Court’s nine heavens, achieved thirty-three layers of heavens, and gained boundless merit for himself.

What was this?

This was equivalent to Lighting Lamp bringing the foundation of fortune and merit to the Western Religion.

When Li Changshou previously pondered the entire Investiture of the Gods tribulation and many major events before and after, he had formed clear thoughts.

Especially in the recent two hundred years, as his Dao realm deepened and his understanding of the Heavenly Dao grew more profound, he had also gained an indirect connection to the Heavenly Dao through Kun Peng’s Primordial Purple Qi, obtaining many messages he couldn’t see before.

First, the Heavenly Dao had powerful script convergence ability.

Although the current Investiture situation had greatly changed and the Western Religion had officially entered the tribulation, unable to watch from the sidelines like before, what about the story after the great tribulation?

There was a storyline Li Changshou “saw”, which was also the storyline of the original script in the later period of the Investiture tribulation.

[Wen Jing Dao Person was secretly turned by the Human Sect. When Jieyin and Zhunti rushed to help the Orthodox Sect, he took a breath of the twelve-grade merit golden lotus, making the lotus fall to nine grades, and the Western Religion’s religious fortune foundation nearly collapsed.

As it happened, the Western Religion’s Sages had taken in the Severing Sect’s “three thousand” immortals.

The Western Religion no longer had anything to suppress their religious fortune, which could collapse at any time, falling into the Severing Sect’s previous awkward situation.

This gave the possibility for “transforming barbarians into Buddhists”, replacing the Western Religion with Buddhism flourishing in the West, thus fulfilling the Dao Ancestor’s prophecy that “the West would greatly flourish”.

Later, the Human Sect’s leader Supreme Clear descended to travel the mortal world, passing down the Dao De Jing, then left through Hangu Pass, implementing the scheme of transforming barbarians into Buddhists, establishing Duobao Dao Person, who was captured during the Investiture battle, as the leader of Buddhism.

At this time, although the Western Religion was one move behind, they hurriedly countered. Lighting Lamp, who had obtained the twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus in the Investiture tribulation, stood out, deduced the twenty-four heavens, and defected to the Western Religion.

The Western Religion’s fortune greatly increased. Relying on this counter, they established Mahayana Buddhism, Zhunti transformed into the present Buddha Tathagata, demoted the Buddhism established by Duobao Dao Person to Hinayana Buddhism, and firmly established themselves in the West.

Lighting Lamp was titled Past Buddha, while Wenshu, Puxian, Fear-Keeping Honored One, and Merciful Sailing, who had made a full profit in the Investiture tribulation and were taken to the Western Religion by Lighting Lamp, each received rewards and became Buddhism’s powerful experts with real authority.

Duobao transformed into Duobao Buddha, also losing his proper role, instead bringing the fortune of boundless treasures to Buddhism.

Perhaps there was Original Heavenly Honored One’s calculation in this, letting his disciples gain the fortune of the Western Religion’s great prosperity.

Buddhism flourished from then on, received the Heavenly Dao’s protection, and assisted the Heavenly Court in stabilizing the three realms.

The Dao Sect lost the Severing Sect, the Orthodox Sect was weakened, and no longer had the strength to contend with Buddhism. From then on Buddhism flourished while Dao declined, leading to the later Journey to the West tribulation.]

This was the original Heavenly Dao script.

Looking at the results, the Orthodox Sect was the loser, so no matter how Second Master Uncle Original Heavenly Honored One was calculating now, Li Changshou couldn’t let things be, he had to make his plans.

Lighting Lamp played too many roles in the subsequent series of major events.

Although now, Brother Zhao’s disaster star – the Treasure-Falling Copper Coin had been taken by Li Changshou, and Li Changshou had repeatedly reminded Zhao Gongming to contemplate more on his Sea-Calming Zhenzhus.

But as long as Lighting Lamp lived, Li Changshou felt unstable.

Although he liked stability, he was also of a nature that knew gratitude and sought to repay it. Almost everything he had was given by teacher Supreme Clear. Without the Human Sect’s protection, he would likely have been erased by the Heavenly Dao early on.

So he didn’t want to disappoint his teacher, and even more didn’t want his teacher to feel dejected.

Even if the Dao Sect had to decline, they should drag the Western Religion down together. First, destroy the Western Religion’s foundation, then talk about other matters.

Even if the Dao Sect had no competitors, and the Heavenly Dao let Li Changshou help the Orthodox Sect, letting the Orthodox and Severing sects weaken simultaneously, Li Changshou was willing to be that villain.

In his Investiture plan, regarding transforming barbarians into Buddhists, he had a complete set of calculations, as well as various backup plans.

The struggle between great religions was a struggle for fortune.

Without fortune to stand on, decline was just a matter of moments.

Heavenly Dao Sages ultimately couldn’t defeat the Heavenly Dao itself.

Li Changshou’s plan was very simple, just [two blockings] and [two promotions].

The first blocking was blocking Lighting Lamp’s line, preventing Lighting Lamp from getting the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus, which overlapped somewhat with his plan to protect Brother Zhao and the Three Pure Ones.

The second blocking was blocking all opportunities for the Western Religion to obtain “fortune supplements”.

The two promotions were respectively:

Promoting opposition between the Orthodox Sect and Western Religion;

Promoting Duobao Dao Person to establish Mahayana Buddhism and become the future Tathagata Buddha.

Contributing his modest strength to his teacher’s great plan of transforming barbarians into Buddhists!

Therefore, today Li Changshou had to kill Lighting Lamp, but couldn’t directly kill him. He had completely considered all possibilities of “delay breeds change” and chosen the safest option.

Had to admit, Li Changshou was gambling this time.

He was gambling on whether Sage Jieyin knew that Lighting Lamp would have the ability to deduce twenty-four heavens to complete the Heavenly Court and Heavenly Dao in the future.

This gave the Western Religion a multiple-choice question.

If they chose to save Lighting Lamp, Li Changshou would completely expose Lighting Lamp’s relationship with the Western Religion.

The news that [The Western Religion planted spies in the Orthodox Sect for years, deliberately provoking conflict between the Orthodox and Severing sects] would spread across the Five Continents within hours. The Severing Sect could launch an attack against the Western Religion in advance, and the Orthodox Sect couldn’t interfere.

Even the Orthodox Sect, for the sake of reputation, or rather Second Master Uncle Original Heavenly Honored One for the sake of reputation, would join hands with the Severing Sect to jointly besiege Spirit Mountain.

If Jieyin and Zhunti chose not to save Lighting Lamp, Li Changshou would directly kill Lighting Lamp, similarly having the effect of blocking the Western Religion’s great prosperity.

《Stable》.

The choice was with the Western Religion.

This would depend on how much Lighting Lamp’s life was worth in the eyes of the Western Religion’s two Sages.

At this point, Li Changshou’s calculations had nothing to do with Grand Pure One and Elder South Pole.

And of all these calculations by Li Changshou, none of the living beings present could figure them out.

—Mainly because they knew too little information, there was a serious information asymmetry.

“Li Changeng! Today I’ll perish together with you!”

Lighting Lamp Dao Person shouted, the flame on his forehead becoming somewhat dazzling. At this point he was covered in dents, half his bones shattered, looking quite frightening.

Just then, Lighting Lamp’s left hand had just recovered raised high. Li Changshou’s back experienced slight Heaven-Earth turbulence as a stone coffin made of bluestone appeared out of thin air, pressing down toward Li Changshou’s back!

When this coffin emerged, the entire Heavenly Court was dimmed by three parts, containing strands of extremely obscure Dao rhythm.

Li Changshou didn’t even look back, his left hand letting go of the Heaven-Earth Ruler to directly clash with that bluestone coffin!

The Heaven-Earth Ruler was swift, the stone coffin slower. When the two collided, Heaven and Earth rippled in layers, shock waves shooting out in all directions.

Fortunately, by this time the Heavenly Court’s crowd of immortals and deities had retreated hundreds of li. If within a hundred li, who knows how many heavenly soldiers would have been killed by the shock?

It was only because the Heavenly Court had the Heavenly Dao’s protection that every flower and blade of grass could be indestructible, and Heaven and Earth were incomparably stable.

Otherwise, this place would have been devastated long ago, with rifts in Heaven and Earth and black holes everywhere.

In the contest between the two treasures, Supreme Clear Sage’s Heaven-Earth Ruler proved superior, directly batting away the stone coffin, but the Heaven-Earth Ruler also suffered enormous recoil force, as if that coffin had considerable weight.

Just then!

Immortal light exploded around Lighting Lamp as the stone coffin’s lid opened a crack, shooting out a beam of black light from within!

Li Changshou’s body hair stood on end. He actively gave up suppressing Lighting Lamp, suddenly turning around, his gaze fixed firmly on the crack revealed in the coffin, the God-Slaying Spear in his hand directly pointing toward that black light.

Clang!

Li Changshou’s figure was directly sent flying, while Lighting Lamp took the opportunity to soar up from that huge pit!

“Please turn around, treasure!”

A light shout, a flash of white light – that large gourd which had appeared beside Li Changshou at some unknown time sprayed out a white rainbow. Lighting Lamp had nowhere to dodge and was immediately struck in the neck.

Primordial spirit severely wounded!

But at this moment, as the stone coffin moved downward and Lighting Lamp moved forward, an old hand had already reached into the crack opened in the stone coffin.

Li Changshou watched coldly from the side, anger burning in his eyes, yet he didn’t launch a strong attack at this moment.

Brilliant immortal light flashed, and Lighting Lamp’s injuries throughout his body rapidly healed. He sat cross-legged atop the stone coffin, the flame on his forehead flickering, the treasure wheel behind his head rotating, appearing so divine.

Lighting Lamp sneered: “Li Changeng, did you truly think that I, having lived from ancient times until now, only had those abilities? Today you cannot kill me. If we continue fighting like this, the Heavenly Court will only become a laughingstock. Why don’t we end this battle here, and settle all our grudges and merits once and for all.”

Li Changshou let out a light breath, letting the small God-Slaying Spear circle beside him. His left hand formed a sword finger and suddenly pointed up at the sky.

A black cloud quickly condensed above the Jade Luminous Hall, floating above Li Changshou’s head.

Li Changshou swung his sword finger toward Lighting Lamp and his stone coffin, shouting:

“Borrow Heaven’s Eye! Open!”

The black cloud churned like flames, revealing a vertical eye within, from which the bottom burst forth a beam of divine light, instantly striking the stone coffin beneath Lighting Lamp.

A projection appeared around the Lighting Lamp. His expression changed, and just as he wanted to move, he was bound by Heaven’s authority.

What the projection showed…

At some unknown time, in some unknown place, seemingly at the end of high antiquity, seemingly in the three thousand worlds.

In a great world that was peaceful with song and dance, harmonious in spirit, where humans flourished, daylight suddenly fell into endless darkness. A wooden coffin appeared in the sky, its lid wide open, sprinkling down sheets of black mist.

Shortly after, the black mist enveloped the entire great world, then dragged this great world rapidly into the coffin.

The stone coffin vanished into the void, carrying the endless miserable cries of the living beings within, quickly refining this great world into endless vitality.

In that projection, similar scenes occurred three or four times.

Among the crowd of immortals in the Heavenly Court who could see this scene, they were naturally incomparably shocked and showed anger on their faces. The female immortals turned pale, and the heavenly generals all drew their swords.

In the Jade Luminous Hall, the Jade Emperor suddenly slammed the table, cursing angrily.

Elder South Pole and Grand Pure One exchanged glances, now also seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

Refining the living beings of several great worlds to replenish one’s vitality…

Such deeds, let alone for primordial beings from remote or high antiquity, could be compared to the evil acts of the Demon Ancestor back then.

Li Changshou suddenly felt that his plan could still have backup options, but today, he absolutely could not let Lighting Lamp leave the Heavenly Court.

Half an hour was too long.

Make the choice now, Western Religion.

His left hand’s sword finger changed to five fingers spread open, Li Changshou’s expression severe, a touch of water-blue Dao rhythm spreading out, encompassing ten thousand li in all directions.

Equilibrium between Lighting Lamp and Bian Zhuang’s Dao realms.

On the stone coffin, Old Dao Person Lighting Lamp’s body trembled slightly, his old face somewhat pale. Though he forcefully summoned his primordial spirit power, at this moment he felt his immortal power completely unable to circulate…

The next instant, Li Changshou gripped the small God-Slaying Spear tightly, put away the Heaven-Earth Ruler and Heart-Piercing Lock, and took a gentle breath, strands of spiritual energy vortices appearing at his mouth, his long hair continuously floating upward.

Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, Tribal Warrior battle techniques.

Heaven and Earth are limitless, Supreme Clear mysterious methods.

Five Elements teleportation, Heaven-Earth holes.

One who holds a spear should advance unstoppably!

Charge!

Li Changshou’s figure was almost torn apart by Heaven-Earth’s resistance, drawing out a cyan-red beam of light before the Jade Luminous Hall!

The scale of time was broken down to the extremely minute at this moment, Heaven and Earth like a water curtain rain screen, split open a crack by this beam of light…

So fast the light and shadow blurred, so swift immortal consciousness couldn’t capture it.

Even Golden Immortal realm immortals and deities could only barely see the general situation with their immortal consciousness.

Star-Lord of Great White’s one spear seemed to carry the might to destroy Heaven and Earth, yet concentrated all power at the God-Slaying Spear’s tip, reaching Lighting Lamp Dao Person’s face in an instant.

Lighting Lamp only had time to strike out a palm forward. At this moment with no treasures to use, he truly couldn’t bear the suffering.

The two figures crossed past each other. Lighting Lamp still sat quietly on the stone coffin while Li Changshou stopped in the air at the Jade Luminous Hall, suddenly turning around.

Old Dao Person Lighting Lamp maintained his raised hand position.

The flame on his forehead suddenly shattered, revealing a blood dot the size of an ant, then this blood dot turned into a bloodline, extending from his forehead to his nose bridge, then to his chin…

His entire Dao body was split into two halves by Li Changshou!

But!

That stone coffin erupted with seven-colored immortal light, and Old Dao Person Lighting Lamp’s body which was about to separate into two pieces was stuck back together. Lighting Lamp closed his eyes tightly, and his primordial spirit that had just been crushed by Li Changshou was pieced back together at this moment.

What divine ability was this?

Li Changshou said nothing, turned back, and attacked fiercely with his spear, enduring the Primordial Yellow Tower cursing in his Dao’s heart, turning into a second cyan-red beam of light.

In a flash, he pierced through Lighting Lamp’s Dao body again!

This time, Lighting Lamp seemed to be in a recovery period and did not react at all.

But just as Li Changshou’s figure stopped, Lighting Lamp’s remnant body again joined together and grew, his primordial spirit could reconstruct itself even when shattered.

Why was this?

Li Changshou’s eyes showed some confusion as his immortal consciousness swept over all areas, taking in the expressions of several Orthodox Sect immortals.

They also didn’t know Lighting Lamp had such abilities.

That stone coffin was strange.

Just as the thought of trying to equilibrate that stone coffin arose in his mind, his spiritual sense jumped slightly.

Li Changshou used the same technique again, but this time didn’t stop, his figure became beam after beam of light, continuously piercing through Lighting Lamp’s Dao body.

Crushing, smashing, true flame tempering, attacking that stone coffin…

Li Changshou kept trying, gradually understanding something.

Lighting Lamp’s background might not be simple at all.

When the Dao Ancestor lectured on the Dao at Purple Spirited Palace in high antiquity, why didn’t Lighting Lamp go? Was it really because Lighting Lamp was too proud, or was there another reason?

That method of twenty-four heavens, Li Changshou had pondered it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out at all. Why could Lighting Lamp do it after getting the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus?

What exactly was inside this stone coffin? Why did he get a hair-raising feeling as soon as his Equilibrium Dao tried to cover it?

Soon, a flash of inspiration struck Li Changshou’s heart. Stopping his movement again, looking at the rapidly rejoining and healing Lighting Lamp Dao Person, he already had an idea.

The Divine Authority treasure Black Martial Banner appeared behind him as he called out lightly: “Heaven’s Punishment!”

Thunder boomed in the Heavenly Court, cloud after black clouds surged over, quickly condensing into a patch of gray clouds above Lighting Lamp’s head.

At this moment Lighting Lamp was completely unmoved, meditating with closed eyes.

The gray clouds erupted with lightning after lightning, striking Lighting Lamp’s Dao body to break again. The Heavenly Dao’s power fiercely bombarded that stone coffin, knocking it down once, then again from the sky.

Li Changshou pondered briefly, suddenly thinking of Lighting Lamp’s action of actively incorporating the spirit coffin lamp into his body at the start of the battle, showing realization on his face.

Lighting Lamp’s true body might be very mysterious, possibly originating from this stone coffin, or rather what was buried in the coffin.

Suppose in remote antiquity a great Dao resonated with a true spirit, giving birth to a powerful primordial being, and after his death his body was buried in this stone coffin, buried at Spirit Vulture Mountain.

Then the corpse in the stone coffin gained spiritual wisdom and transformed into Lighting Lamp Dao Person.

That wasn’t right either.

If the spirit coffin lamp and stone coffin were matching treasures, with the stone coffin providing vitality and spiritual power as [lamp oil] and the spirit coffin lamp as the [wick], then Lighting Lamp…

Was he that small flame?

His continuous strikes at this flame were just slightly consuming some ‘lamp oil’, while the ‘wick’ could continuously relight.

The key was the wick – the spirit coffin lamp!

Only by extinguishing the wick could he completely disperse this small flame without burning up all the lamp oil.

Lighting Lamp’s actions of refining great worlds in high antiquity could also be logically explained.

—Replenishing lamp oil.

The primordial chaos was truly full of wonders beyond imagining.

Li Changshou took a gentle breath, divine light surging in his eyes, some hesitation flashing through his heart.

He did have a way to knock out that spirit coffin lamp, but wouldn’t reveal such trump cards of his by exposing too much…

A flash of inspiration struck, and Li Changshou immediately shouted:

“Brother Gongming! Let me borrow the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus!”

Zhao Gongming, who had already stood up, was stunned upon hearing this, but without hesitation directly pushed the twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus toward Li Changshou.

Li Changshou’s divine thought suddenly received twenty-four spiritual thoughts, these spiritual thoughts chirping away, calling out like children in his heart.

“Star-Lord of Great White, what are you using us for?”

“Star-Lord of Great White is master’s brother-in-law, we’ll help!”

“Star-Lord of Great White, when are you marrying Aunt Yun Xiao? I’m asking for master!”

“Everyone be quiet! What are you all chattering about? Can’t you hold these random things until after the fight?!”

With one shout from Tower Lord, those twenty-four spiritual thoughts immediately quieted down, each showing some intent to curry favor.

A true treasure gang’s evil influence.

Heavy realizations arose in Li Changshou’s heart as he understood how to activate the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus.

Then, carrying gazes and immortal consciousness from all around, the Primordial Yellow Tower above his head, accompanied by the Heaven-Earth Ruler and God-Slaying Spear, the Ground Flame Light Banner appearing beneath his feet, the Divine Authority Black Martial Banner floating behind him, he approached that stone coffin with the twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus.

He couldn’t be sure whether an unparalleled powerful being would suddenly jump out from inside…

Better safe than sorry.

“Please teacher bestow the Taiji Diagram!”

Li Changshou called out loudly, and a virtual image of the Taiji Diagram immediately appeared before him, rapidly solidifying.

Powerful treasures on his body, mysterious arts protecting him.

Li Changshou safely reached a hundred zhang before the stone coffin and formed a simple seal with both hands;

The twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus flew out like a swarm of bees, taking up twenty positions above and below, encompassing the stone coffin and Lighting Lamp at the center.

“Pour!”

With Li Changshou’s loud shout, the twenty-four Sea-Calming Zhenzhus blazed with light, water-blue radiance surging out from within. Each beam of radiance contained the water volume of a great river of the South Continent, surging toward that stone coffin’s crack!

As the Water God of the Heavenly Court, there was no threshold to controlling the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus.

That stone coffin was about to close immediately. Li Changshou waved his left hand, sending the small God-Slaying Spear flying forward to wedge into that stone coffin’s crack first.

Just this moment’s delay allowed hundreds of water-blue radiance beams to enter the stone coffin.

Atop the stone coffin, Lighting Lamp’s figure suddenly became somewhat transparent and dim. Already in a state of fake death recovery, he helplessly lowered his head, his form instantly vanishing.

The flame was directly extinguished.

These Sea-Calming Zhenzhus were both Lighting Lamp’s opportunity and his nemesis.

This Dao was truly incomparably mysterious.

But Li Changshou didn’t relax his vigilance, watching the stone coffin’s movement while continuing to let the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus inject boundless seawater.

Shortly after, water light spilled from the stone coffin’s edges. Li Changshou immediately recalled the Sea-Calming Zhenzhus and used divine power to make a transparent cover around the stone coffin to prevent the farce of water from flooding the Jade Luminous Hall.

No movement?

Just as Li Changshou was about to probe, that stone coffin’s lid suddenly slowly opened, the God-Slaying Spear returning on its own.

A bloodlessly pale hand pressed on the edge of the stone coffin, accompanied by rushing water sounds…

An old Dao person slowly stood up from within, a large hole broken in his chest, boundless vitality and spiritual power surging all over his body, yet without a trace of life force or spirituality.

The old Dao person’s face somewhat resembled Lighting Lamp’s. His eyes gazed at Li Changshou without any ripples, not opening his mouth, yet his voice spread everywhere:

“You’ve won.

Can you spare my remnant body? I will flee far into the Primordial Chaos Sea.

Lighting Lamp was merely a strand of heart thought born after I died in remote antiquity – three lives, three deaths, three reincarnations. This heart thought has been destroyed by you.”

Li Changshou gripped the God-Slaying Spear and Heaven-Earth Ruler tightly.

“So be it,” this old Dao person with the hole shook his head, his form lying back in the coffin. Strands of ice-cold aura surged out from the coffin, almost instantly freezing the coffin and transforming it into a hundred-zhang-high ice mountain.

A lonely lamp floated outside the ice – it was that spirit coffin lamp.

Li Changshou advanced with his spear, naturally unable to leave this scourge.

But just as he was about to act, Supreme Clear’s Dao rhythm appeared, his heartstrings vibrating – his teacher had reminded him.

[Collect the lamp, that will suffice.]

“Yes, disciple obeys the command.”

Li Changshou made a Dao salute toward the sky and drew that ancient lamp over, suppressing it with divine power.

The Taiji Diagram moved forward on its own, transforming into strands of yin and yang energy, suppressing and sealing that ice mountain, moving it outside the Heavenly Court…

Li Changshou glanced in the direction of the Western Heaven Gate, his mouth twitching, his gaze falling on the ancient lamp before him.