What a predicament.

Li Changshou deployed the Borrowed Heavenly Eye technique, intending to examine the stone coffin’s true nature. Instead, he unexpectedly revealed Dengming’s scheme of using the stone coffin to harvest the vital essence of living beings.

This discovery not only filled the immortals and deities with righteous indignation and angered Li Changshou, but it also made the Western School’s Sage hesitant to rescue Dengming…

The current Western School could not bear such a burden of sin.

Today, it has become impossible to maximize the calculated outcomes.

However, Li Changshou wasn’t greedy. Having resolved the matter of Dengming, subsequent plans would face fewer variables and obstacles.

After sealing the lamp with immortal power and suppressing it with the dual forces of Yin and Yang, Li Changshou descended before the Lingxiao Palace.

With a wave of his hand, he channeled the power of the Heavenly Dao. Clouds and mist swirled as the jade stone slabs gradually regenerated and restored themselves.

Figures flew in from all directions. Li Changshou smiled and cupped his hands in greeting everyone, returning the Definite Sea Zhenzhu to Elder Zhao and tossing the Minor Slaughter Divine Spear toward Golden Roc who stood silently in the distance. He then turned to look at Yun Xiao who stood before the palace gates.

Yun Xiao had just put away the Primordial Golden Dipper. She blinked at Li Changshou while maintaining her dignified, virtuous, and ethereally beautiful immortal maiden bearing.

As for Li Changshou… well…

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, his true form transformed into a rainbow of light and slipped back into the sleeve of his “Clothes-Bursting” paper avatar.

The paper avatar donned a loose robe and revealed a gentle smile. With white hair and white eyebrows, he appeared kindly and benevolent, as if nothing had just occurred.

“Chang Geng, is this lamp truly Dengming’s original form?” Zhao Gongming put away his divine pearl and was the first to approach, examining the slowly rotating Spiritual Coffin Lamp before Li Changshou.

Zhao Gongming transmitted: “Who was that old Daoist from earlier?”

Before Li Changshou could shake his head, several voice transmissions entered his ears. Golden Light Holy Mother, Qiong Xiao, and His Majesty the Jade Emperor all inquired, but Li Changshou could only shake his head in response.

How could he know the identity of that senior expert from the coffin?

Since it was Master’s order, they must have been an acquaintance of Master’s;

The ancient era was too far removed from the present, perhaps it was some great expert who had once “wished to compare heights with Heaven.”

When the Heavenly Punishment struck earlier, the Heavenly Dao bombarded Dengming while leaving the stone coffin untouched, which seemed to contain some hidden “reasoning.”

Before he could think further, Li Changshou found himself surrounded by crowds of immortals.

The various immortals and deities offered their congratulations. The Heavenly Generals could only bow and weren’t able to say many flowery words, repeating similar phrases:

“Star-Lord is truly mighty! To think that villain Dengming refined entire worlds for his use!”

“Thank goodness Star Lord exposed that old Daoist’s true nature!”

“Star-Lord, your battle techniques left this humble general’s heart surging with excitement – I could hardly contain myself. My admiration for you is like the endless waters of the Heavenly River!”

Li Changshou responded diplomatically to all sides, exchanging pleasantries and encouraging them to serve Heaven well.

Golden light blazed from the Lingxiao Palace as majestic heavenly authority spread outward.

Wood Minister called out from within the palace, and the immortals and Heavenly Generals quickly composed themselves, lining up according to rank to enter the Lingxiao Palace and pay respects to the Jade Emperor.

Heavenly soldiers swiftly cleaned up the arrangements before the palace, moving tables and chairs, and carrying away the great drum, their actions quick yet orderly.

Li Changshou transmitted a few words of reminder to Zhao Gongming and the other Severing Sect immortals before his paper avatar headed toward the Lingxiao Palace.

After all, Wood Minister had just announced that His Majesty the Jade Emperor was summoning all immortals to an audience. Though he was just a regular official, he couldn’t act like an exception.

Being an immortal official meant carrying oneself like one.

Wood Minister hurriedly emerged from the Lingxiao Palace again, approaching several Daoist experts and revealing a gentle smile as he said:

“Daoist Guangcheng, His Majesty the Jade Emperor summons you all into the palace to discuss matters regarding Daoist Dengming.”

Guangcheng Zi let out a light sigh and was about to step forward when a yawn came from the side. They turned to see True Lord Taiyi stretching lazily as he stood up, looking around with bewildered eyes while muttering:

“What happened? Where did Vice Patriarch Dengming go? Did Junior Brother Chang Geng finish him off?

Well then, I should invite some good friends to Mount Qianyuan for a gathering to commemorate the Vice Patriarch.

Ah, farewell, such a fine farewell indeed.”

Black lines covered Guangcheng Zi’s forehead as he glared fiercely at Taiyi, who smiled calmly and clasped his hands behind his back while gazing at the sky.

Beside them, Yu Ding True Lord also seemed to awaken from a dream. Out of respect for others’ mental faculties, Yu Ding True Lord even rubbed his eyes before standing casually to the side as if nothing had happened.

Wood Minister had already gone to the other side, smiling as he said to Zhao Gongming and the other immortals: “Please enter the palace as well. Today’s events are of no small matter, and I request that you all continue to bear witness.”

“Of course, of course,” Zhao Gongming stroked his beard with a light laugh. The three Severing Sect experts went forward to join Immortal Maiden Yun Xiao, taking the lead in entering the majestic Lingxiao Palace.

Guangcheng Zi and the South Pole Immortal Elder exchanged some transmitted words before leading several junior brothers into the Lingxiao Palace.

Let us set aside for now how the Jade Emperor questioned matters regarding Daoist Dengming in the Lingxiao Palace.

Speaking of the news that “Star-Lord of Great White battled Daoist Dengming, extinguishing Dengming and sealing the stone coffin” – who knows which Heavenly soldier or general spread it;

In just two or three hours, this news spread throughout all major forces across the Five Continents.

There was an uproar.

Some thought Heaven’s Court would wage war against the Enlightenment School, some took pleasure in the Enlightenment School’s misfortune, and many were simply shocked by the “white ferocity.”

While Li Changshou was still in the Lingxiao Palace, he had to divide his attention to control various rumors, spreading beneficial information for Heaven and Earth’s stability through multiple “wide-mouthed bottles.”

The best rumors were just the truth;

Sometimes, the truth was more inconceivable than rumors.

Li Changshou had originally planned to use Dengming to damage the Western School’s reputation, but now he had no concrete evidence, and the Western School had maintained complete silence throughout…

To be safe, Li Changshou decided to temporarily let the Western School be, first establishing Dengming’s reputation as an “ancient great villain,” then emphasizing Heaven’s Court’s “fairness and justice” before speaking of building walls between the Western School and the Enlightenment School.

Without Dengming, a crucial link between the Western School and the Enlightenment School was severed.

Thus, in less than half a day, public opinion across the Five Continents had shifted to this…

“That Enlightenment School Vice Patriarch Dengming wasn’t an innate spirit being or a latter-day being, but rather a spirit consciousness born from an ancient expert’s stone coffin, drawn forth by the Spiritual Coffin Lamp.”

“That great expert must have been formidable – the spirit consciousness reborn after their death reached the level of today’s great experts.”

“Speaking of which, this Dengming was ruthless. For the sake of cultivation, he directly refined entire worlds, sparing nothing from the fragments of the ancient world to plants and insects.”

“Perhaps this is why the Heavenly Dao strongly supported Heaven’s Court’s rise.”

“Heaven’s Court probably won’t conflict with the Enlightenment School this time. This humble Daoist boldly predicts that the Enlightenment School will likely thank Heaven’s Court for discovering Daoist Dengming’s problems and apologize to the Three Realms.”

“Makes sense. Dengming’s refining of entire worlds is truly unforgivable – that’s countless lives, even regular demons aren’t usually this murderous.”

“Extraordinary, extraordinary.”

After Li Changshou’s series of operations, there were indeed fewer people stirring up trouble than before.

At Mount Kunlun’s Jade Void Palace, Enlightenment School disciples who had been scattered outside cultivating spontaneously returned to this Sage’s domain.

But the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Enlightenment School fell into silence, not making any sound…

At Spirit Mountain in the Western Ox Continent, many old Daoists gathered to discuss for half a day but couldn’t reach any conclusions.

Just as these old Daoists began feeling relieved that the fire hadn’t spread to their Spirit Mountain, Heaven’s Court released several more pieces of news.

[Daoist Dengming harbored sinister intentions within the Three Schools of the Dao, constantly provoking conflict between the Enlightenment School and Severing Sect, causing many disciples from both schools to form deadly feuds – this seemed intentional.]

[Daoist Dengming was very close to Maitreya, and when Maitreya was identified as Kun Peng’s second primordial spirit, Dengming spoke up in Maitreya’s defense.]

[It is said that Western School doctrine scriptures were found among Dengming’s relics in the stone coffin.]

Spirit Mountain was in a state of panic, golden light flashing everywhere, presenting a situation as if facing a great enemy.

Fortunately, Heaven’s Court showed no movement this time, and there was no sign of dense troop movements among the Heavenly soldiers and generals stationed in the Western Ox Continent.

One day later.

The Five Continents were unsealed, and Heaven’s Court publicly announced the matter of Enlightenment School’s Vice Patriarch Dengming. Though the Heavenly Mechanisms were obscured, some great experts with stronger calculation abilities could investigate this matter through the Heavenly Dao.

Who was the great expert in the stone coffin?

This question truly had no answer – perhaps only the Three Pure Ones knew the truth.

Li Changshou hadn’t had any free time these three days. The palace discussions alone consumed an entire day, and afterward, he had to closely monitor the discussions among common people, which was quite mentally taxing.

The primary post-battle matter was how to handle the stone coffin.

The Supreme Pure One personally sealed the hundred-zhang-tall ice mountain. This stone coffin was thrown outside the Middle Heaven Gate, becoming a temporary neighbor to the “Rumor-Crushing” monument.

Li Changshou pondered extensively on how to handle this stone coffin.

He still wanted to use this stone coffin to trap the Western School…

The Spiritual Coffin Lamp was already in his hands, and Dengming had no possibility of return. The corpse in the stone coffin seemed to be an ancient expert of extremely high seniority. If a certain Sage from the Western School couldn’t resist taking action…

A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and Li Changshou’s eyebrows rose as he immediately had an idea.

He summoned Yang Jian, called for Golden Roc, and had his paper avatar request Bai Ze to test the fortune of this venture. Li Changshou’s true form remained hidden in reserve, while a hundred thousand Heavenly soldiers escorted the ice mountain, slowly heading toward the Netherworld.

Three days later.

Outside the gong-and-drum-filled City of Fengdu, beneath the Tower of Reincarnation that towered beside the Three-Ways River.

The ghost officials dug a great pit, several Kings of Hell summoned the power of the Heavenly Dao to make preparations, and a group of Heavenly Generals arranged several layers of grand formations according to the blueprints. The ice mountain was thus suppressed beneath the Tower of Reincarnation.

At the top of the Tower of Reincarnation, Ksitigarbha in white robes and Li Changshou in green garments stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the busy scene outside the window.

Discernment cowered in the corner, its two paws moving back and forth as it prepared kung fu tea.

Ksitigarbha frowned and said: “Why do I feel like you’re calculating something in all of this?”

“Eh,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “Brother Dao, you understand me – I never calculate for petty gains when faced with matters of right and wrong.

This great expert is no ordinary being. Master won’t let me destroy the corpse, and neither the Heavenly Dao nor Heavenly Punishment fell within the stone coffin – their background must be significant.

The great expert in the stone coffin is a corpse, involving the Dao of Reincarnation;

In this world, only the Tower of Reincarnation is qualified to suppress this stone coffin.”

Ksitigarbha’s mouth twitched slightly: “Whenever Friend Dao makes long speeches, there must be calculations hidden within.”

Li Changshou: …

“Ah, the most basic trust between living beings.”

Ksitigarbha snorted with laughter: “This poor Daoist would like to trust Friend Dao, but Friend Dao has never trusted this poor Daoist.”

“No,” Li Changshou glanced at Ksitigarbha, “when you jumped into the Tower of Reincarnation, I truly believed you could make such a self-sacrificing choice to benefit the Western School.

Let me ask Brother Dao once more – was it worth it?”

“The Western School is this poor Daoist’s root,” Ksitigarbha tucked both hands into his sleeves, a peaceful smile on his lips, “it’s not about worth or worthless, only about doing or not doing.”

Li Changshou nodded and casually said: “I thought that back then, Brother Dao was largely disillusioned with the Western School and used this as an excuse to find a quiet place.

Like now, raising a dog, cultivating the Dao, contemplating sentient beings – isn’t this quite nice?”

A small voice came from the corner: “St-Star Lord, this humble one isn’t a canine divine beast…”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou’s gaze swept over, and the divine beast Discernment immediately trembled all over, turning its head away “shyly” while making a sound:

“Woof.”

Self-preservation, self-preservation.

Li Changshou smiled with satisfaction. He wasn’t some evil deity; he wouldn’t oppress weak divine beasts of the primordial world.

Li Changshou asked again: “Has that criminal cultivator Maitreya come to seek Brother Dao recently?”

“Criminal cultivator…”

Ksitigarbha smiled bitterly and sighed: “Has Friend Dao considered what it would mean if the Three Realms became subject to Heaven’s Court’s every word?

One word could define great experts and those with great divine abilities as evil, one word could define immortal sects and schools as heretical, one word could make mortal cities in South Jambudvipa change their royal banners, one word could leave living beings unable to breathe…

What then?”

“It’s rare for Friend Dao to consider such questions.”

Li Changshou clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at the horizon where the sky met earth, and slowly said:

“This question can be summarized in one sentence: how to monitor absolute power.”

Ksitigarbha nodded slowly.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Actually, in the primordial world, there’s no need to worry about this. The Heavenly Dao is formless, Heaven’s Court has form, and the two are originally one.”

“What of the Heavenly Dao?”

When Ksitigarbha softly asked these three words, Li Changshou’s expression remained unchanged. Instead, he said: “Brother Dao is now also in the Heavenly Dao’s sequence. Some words should be said, some words shouldn’t – one must weigh carefully.”

Ksitigarbha sighed: “Sometimes I truly can’t see what you’re calculating.

Whenever I think I’ve grasped your line of thinking and deduced your ultimate goal, I always misjudge your next move.”

“Brother Dao jests. What calculations? What schemes?” Li Changshou smiled and said, “I’m merely following the trend. Master ordered me to assist Heaven’s Court, so I assist Heaven’s Court.”

“Is it that simple?”

“It is that simple.”

“This poor Daoist believes you,” Ksitigarbha laughed lightly, looking toward the horizon with Li Changshou without saying anything more.

Beneath the Tower of Reincarnation, the ice mountain had been buried under layers of grand formations. Li Changshou soon bid farewell, and since he rarely came to this place, he naturally had to visit Queen Houtu.

By the way, he needed to prepare various matters for Master Qi Yuan’s reincarnation.

…

Defeating Daoist Dengming was indeed something worth celebrating.

But since Dengming was ultimately the Enlightenment School’s Vice Patriarch, it wasn’t appropriate to light lanterns and beat drums in celebration. Thus, Li Changshou ordered Heaven’s Court to strictly prohibit singing and dancing for one year.

Banquets couldn’t possibly be prohibited, after all, Elder Zhao and the others hadn’t left Heaven’s Court but had gone to the “rock garden” in the backyard of his Great White Palace, eating, drinking, and chatting merrily.

Unfortunately, Mount Minor Qiong in Heaven’s Court was no longer easily approachable, so such festivities were rather rare.

After “Extinguishing Dengming,” Guangcheng Zi and the South Pole Immortal Elder only stayed in Heaven’s Court for half a day to set the tone for this matter, explaining that the Enlightenment School was unaware of Dengming’s actions, before taking their leave.

Before the two left, Li Changshou escorted them to the Middle Heaven Gate, conversing through voice transmission all along the way on the clouds.

Li Changshou naturally apologized, saying he had gotten somewhat carried away this time, really couldn’t help himself after seeing Dengming, and thus planned against Dengming, overlooking the Enlightenment School’s dignity.

He just hadn’t expected to accidentally uncover such great crimes during the battle.

Guangcheng Zi only sighed at this without answering, lacking interest in conversation, with “dejection” written across his face.

However, the kind-looking South Pole Immortal Elder shared sighs with Li Changshou, saying they had also misjudged, and the Enlightenment School was not a place that harbored evil.

Li Changshou truly believed the South Pole Immortal Elder’s words.

There was no other reason – from Second Master Uncle Jade Pure One’s temperament and preferences to the Enlightenment School’s doctrines, none would allow an extremely fierce person like Dengming who fed on entire worlds.

Dengming’s actions with the stone coffin could deceive the Heavenly Dao.

When they reached the Middle Heaven Gate, Li Changshou and the two Enlightenment School “Senior Brothers” bid each other farewell. A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he suddenly spoke up:

“Senior Brother South Pole?”

“Does Chang Geng have something else to instruct?” South Pole Immortal Elder turned around with a smile, looking at Li Changshou kindly.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Heaven’s Court lacks many positions for proper deities. There is a type of independent cultivator who normally doesn’t need to manage many affairs, yet represents matters of fortune, prosperity, and longevity, able to receive endless merit from incense offerings.

Junior Brother boldly asks one question – would Senior Brother South Pole be willing to take up an official position in Heaven’s Court, serving as one of the proper deities of Fortune, Prosperity, and Changshou, bringing good fortune and luck to all living beings in the world?

Moreover, this position doesn’t require much work, nor must one necessarily serve in Heaven’s Court. One only needs to appear at some major events, such as the Peach Banquet or the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s millennium birthday celebrations.

Senior Brother, what do you think?”

“This…”

“If Senior Brother is interested, I will immediately report to the Jade Emperor for His Majesty to personally decide.”

South Pole Immortal Elder pondered for a moment and smiled: “Regardless, thank you for Junior Brother Chang Geng’s kind intentions. This poor Daoist still needs to ask Master before being able to give Junior Brother an answer.”

Li Changshou said: “Please be sure to give me a response.

Oh, right, Senior Brother Guangcheng, please don’t take offense. You already have many Enlightenment School affairs to handle daily. I truly dare not trouble Senior Brother with Heaven’s Court matters.”

Guangcheng Zi nodded with a smile without saying more, taking his leave together with the South Pole Immortal Elder.

This move wasn’t anything new.

Just “Balance,” that’s all.

In just a few days, there naturally wasn’t any response from South Pole Immortal Elder’s side. When Li Changshou returned to Heaven’s Court from the Netherworld, he specifically asked the gate-guarding Heavenly Generals, but none had heard of the South Pole Immortal Elder’s return.

No rush, wait slowly – the Enlightenment School would likely agree.

After all, for the Enlightenment School, this matter had a hundred benefits and no drawbacks, and could incidentally offset the negative impact of Dengming’s death.

To be honest, this was all Li Changshou could do.

He entered the East Heaven Gate and took the path to the Great White Palace.

Everyone he passed bowed in greeting, everywhere immortals were calling out “Star-Lord.”

Li Changshou smiled and nodded in response. Before reaching the Great White Palace, his immortal consciousness had already seen the graceful figure pacing back and forth before the Great White Hall.

Why wouldn’t she… just go in?

Meanwhile, in the Chaos Sea.

“Eh? These fellows are quite imposing. Wonder if the disciples will like them or not.”

A certain young Daoist looked at the “secret realm” before him, muttering quietly to himself.