Though only an ordinary Sage disciple had died, which hardly counted as a major event compared to today’s great battle, somehow all the assembled immortals felt their hearts tremble.

Perhaps it was how casually Tai Bai Jin Xing had struck;

Or perhaps it was how suddenly he killed, without any warning or room for negotiation.

That Soul-Piercing Lock bestowed by the Primordial Lord of Heaven possessed such tremendous power.

Li Changsheng acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining his faint smile as he continued asking:

“What do you all think of my previous proposal?”

The Western Sect immortals dared to be angry but not to speak.

Several direct disciples of the Sage looked toward Guangcheng Zi, but he had already closed his eyes to rest his spirit, no longer speaking.

From the perspective of their informal alliance alone, the Enlightenment Sect had already done their utmost by intervening to protect them today.

Their survival now was only because they had two Sages backing them…

No, that wasn’t right.

The reason the Severing Sect wasn’t killing them now was more importantly because they would be bound by a Heavenly Dao oath, rendering them no longer a threat to the Severing Sect.

In the future, if the Western Sect wanted revenge, only the Sages could act personally.

It was only because Heavenly Dao oaths couldn’t constrain Sages—otherwise, today would likely have played out very differently.

“Well then.”

Li Changsheng asked with a smile: “Have you all lost your backbone? Why can none of you answer?”

“Sigh…”

Kasyapa, that disciple of Jieyin from the Western Sect, slowly exhaled, suppressing his injuries as he stepped forward twice, cupped his hands to Li Changsheng, and still maintained a faint smile.

Only this smile was rather bitter.

He spoke slowly:

“Today’s tribulation that befell our Spirit Mountain was not others’ fault, but truly a tribulation we deserved.

Today’s hardship that befell our Spirit Mountain was not imposed by others, but truly a hardship we were destined for.

Today’s suffering that befell our Spirit Mountain was not given by others, but truly a suffering written in our fate.

Our Master and Uncle Master labored tirelessly to prosper the West, their actions without transgression, their deeds without error.

The error was merely that since ancient times the primordial world respected strength, and none spoke against the strong exploiting the weak. Now the Heavenly Dao promotes the Heavenly Court and establishes order, cutting down powerful beings in the name of protecting the weak.

The Dao Sects’ attack today is merely the strong suppressing the weak.

In ancient times, all great sects and the great clans of dragons, phoenixes, shamans, and demons all respected the hierarchy of strong and weak. Our Western Sect was not as brutal as the shamans and demons, nor as arrogant as the dragons and phoenixes. Our defeat comes solely from not being strong enough.

Does the Dao Sect not also violate the Heavenly Dao’s will?

Can the Dao Sect truly preserve itself in this Great Tribulation?

The Severing Sect’s fate has no treasure to stabilize it—is this because you bear too much karmic burden, or because you do not have the Heavenly Dao’s favor?”

After speaking, Kasyapa’s smile grew deeper as he stared at Li Changsheng.

Smoke curled through the ethereal heavens and earth.

Many Dao Sect immortals wanted to refute Kasyapa’s words, but as the words reached their lips, they felt his words carried their logic.

Many Severing Sect immortals had completely lost their earlier jubilation at destroying the West and eliminating a great threat, instead falling into some kind of struggle, their brows tightly furrowed.

Li Changsheng sighed quietly in his heart.

The Western Sect did have capable people, and Jieyin’s direct disciples were no easy characters.

Unfortunately, Kasyapa’s mindset was now chaotic and had lost its measure, circling to conclude that the Dao Sects would also be buried by the Heavenly Dao.

At this moment, to the Dao Sect disciples’ ears, it truly lacked persuasiveness, seeming more like venting anger and making threats.

This only added to the sense of tragedy.

Kasyapa said: “Does Star-Lord Tai Bai have any rebuttal?”

“None. Fellow Daoist speaks with reason.”

Li Changsheng nodded slowly, “Fellow Daoist’s theory provides an excellent warning for our Heavenly Court’s later work.

Does the Western Sect have anything else to say?”

Kasyapa’s expression grew somewhat cold, while the Western Sect disciples’ faces remained ashen.

Li Changsheng waited leisurely for a while, then smiled and said: “If that’s the case, why don’t you all begin taking the oath?”

The Western Sect crowd remained silent.

Li Changsheng waited a while, his smile gradually fading as he frowned at these Western Sect members who seemed to be trying to stall for time, his duster moving slightly.

A streak of jade-colored light flew from Yun Xiao’s sleeve, forming the shadow of a jade statue hundreds of zhang tall behind Li Changsheng;

The jade statue raised its arm, aiming at Spirit Mountain’s great hall.

Li Changsheng’s voice came, still leisurely: “Will you take the Heavenly Dao oath?”

Heaven and earth fell completely silent.

Li Changsheng nodded, and the lifeless eyes of the jade statue behind him suddenly blazed with purple-red light. The world’s spiritual energy surged again as rainbow-colored rivers of spiritual energy appeared once more behind the jade statue…

Immortal Yun Xiao watched Li Changsheng’s paper avatar, seeming somewhat hesitant to speak.

These matters should have been her responsibility.

“We’ll… take it…”

Kasyapa closed his eyes somewhat painfully, “We’ll take the Great Dao oath!”

Li Changsheng’s duster moved, and the jade statue behind him immediately stopped gathering spiritual energy.

A piece of cloth flew out from Li Changsheng’s paper avatar’s sleeve toward Spirit Mountain’s great hall.

Li Changsheng returned to his squinting smile, standing among the crowd of immortals yet seeming to neither exist nor stand, unknown to others.

He quietly sensed that the Great Tribulation’s power had decreased by about twenty percent.

At this moment, a paper avatar specifically hovering beyond the edge of the world used the art of reading qi to gaze across the primordial world’s Five Continents, seeing that the sword of the Great Tribulation had shrunk by two circles.

This was the… outstanding contribution made by the Western Sect.

Li Changsheng’s paper avatar made constant calculations in his little notebook, finally arriving at a number he found somewhat acceptable.

Based on the number of experts lost in today’s Spirit Mountain battle corresponding to the decrease in the Great Tribulation’s power, for the tribulation’s power to completely dissipate would require the direct death of sixty percent of the “total strength” of the Severing and Enlightenment Sects.

The so-called total strength was a fuzzy value.

Specifically, it meant that the death of one Great Luo Immortal equaled the death of ten Golden Immortals, with each living being representing different amounts of vital force.

Sixty percent was acceptable.

This value had originally approached eighty percent, representing the near-total annihilation of the Severing Sect, or the destruction of the Enlightenment Sect and heavy casualties for the Severing Sect.

Looking back, it was because Western Sect’s Sage Zhunti couldn’t resist that one palm strike when he was killing Lu Ya, allowing him to draw the Western Sect into the Investiture’s Great Tribulation.

This Heavenly Dao oath was surprisingly short.

After all, it had to be considered that if taking the oath took too long and Zhunti or Jieyin returned, wouldn’t all their efforts be wasted?

Following a muffled thunder in the sky, the sound of oath-reading gradually faded from Spirit Mountain’s great hall.

Li Changsheng retrieved the cloth and made a Daoist salute to the great hall, saying seriously:

“Thank you all for giving this poor Daoist such a face. From today forward, as long as the Western Sect keeps their oath and doesn’t move against our Dao Sects, I, Li Changsheng, disciple of the Human Sect, will no longer scheme against you all.

Of course, please follow the Heavenly Dao’s order and refrain from any evil deeds.

The Heavenly Dao watches us all.”

With these words, the jade statue behind Li Changsheng transformed into a stream of light and shrank back into Yun Xiao’s palm, being tucked into her sleeve under the envious gazes of the Severing Sect immortals.

The Western Sect disciples in the hall remained silently, activating a simple formation, seemingly unwilling to say another word.

“Satisfying,” Lu Yue said with his hands behind his back, his old face full of relief, “Today was truly satisfying!”

The Severing Sect immortals began making various post-battle declarations, their momentum high as they showed solidarity.

The Enlightenment Sect immortals were ready to leave, with Guangcheng Zi making a salute to Li Changsheng and turning to depart…

“Senior Fellow Daoist Guangcheng.”

Li Changsheng’s gentle voice stopped Guangcheng Zi, and all the Enlightenment immortals halted.

The scene’s focus returned to Li Changsheng’s paper avatar.

Guangcheng Zi smiled: “Does Junior Fellow Changsheng have other guidance?”

“I wouldn’t dare call it guidance. I just have a few words to remind Senior Fellow Daoist, and naturally, to remind Senior Fellow Daoist Golden Spirit as well.”

Li Changsheng deliberately showed a bitter smile as he saluted both Guangcheng Zi and Golden Spirit, speaking earnestly:

“Senior Fellow Daoists, next time there’s such a matter, please don’t call on me.

I am now a deity of the Heavenly Court, too close to the Heavenly Dao, and also the one overseeing the Great Tribulation.

According to the Heavenly Dao’s will, I should treat the Western, Severing, and Enlightenment Sects equally. I could directly target the Western Sect today was already openly taking sides, mainly because the Western Sect wasn’t strong enough internally and had too many problems.

But in the future…

The Great Tribulation has become an internal matter of the Dao Sects, and it would be inappropriate for me to favor either side. I can only temporarily prioritize my position as a Heavenly Court deity over my position as a Dao Sect disciple.

Please understand and forgive me, Senior Fellow Daoists.”

Li Changsheng made continuous Daoist salutes in all directions.

Golden Spirit Supreme Mother’s fierce beautiful face finally showed a slight smile as she said:

“Junior Fellow Daoist Changsheng, you need not worry. From today forward, our Severing Sect immortals will not wander carelessly through the primordial world, and will actively avoid conflicts with our ‘Fellow Daoists’ of the Enlightenment Sect.”

She bit heavily on the words “Fellow Daoists.”

Guangcheng Zi also said: “Under the Great Tribulation, all things are variable—the path ahead need not be only killing intent.”

With these words, Guangcheng Zi made a Daoist salute to the Golden Spirit Supreme Mother.

The Enlightenment Sect crowd each had their thoughts, but following the example of the Twelve Golden Immortals, they uniformly made Daoist salutes to the Severing Sect immortals.

On the Severing Sect’s side, Yun Xiao returned the salute first, followed by most of the Severing Sect immortals returning the salutes sporadically, rather uncoordinated.

Seeing this, Li Changsheng smiled and raised his hand to summon a certain green-furred large dog that had been shrinking beneath Spirit Mountain’s great hall. He mounted it and said:

“This minor deity takes his leave.”

That Discerning Sound shook off its spirit, suppressing its earlier fear to stand proud and tall, cyan flames sprouting beneath its feet as it carried Li Changsheng toward the horizon.

Looking at the old immortal’s silhouette, light and flowing, ethereal and illusory, it seemed to contain countless dao rhythms, yet also appeared to be just an ordinary elder.

Golden Spirit Supreme Mother made a gesture, and the Severing Sect immortals transformed into streams of light, drawing a long river across the sky as they headed toward the Southern Jambudvipa Continent.

Guangcheng Zi said “Let’s go,” and the Enlightenment crowd returned the way they came—this trip had been for nothing.

After all the immortals had departed, blue-cyan true flames suddenly ignited across the half-remaining Spirit Mountain, specifically burning those remaining souls and corpses. Even the fragments of Great Luo Golden Immortals’ bodies were quickly consumed by these true flames.

The cyan flames grew more numerous, sounds of bitter weeping spreading through heaven and earth, a desolate atmosphere pervading hundred thousand li.

Various primordial experts who witnessed this scene couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly.

This Spirit Mountain, which had committed numerous evils since ancient times and had once become a haven for fierce beasts and demon beasts under the protection of two Sages, was thus leveled.

At this time, the Western Sect’s two Sages had not yet returned, their whereabouts unknown. None knew if they would go berserk and start a battle of Sages upon seeing Spirit Mountain in this state.

Probably not.

Looking back at the Western Sect’s past glory, they were nameless in ancient times. After the demon race’s decline and humanity’s rise, as the secular world of humanity grew larger, the Western Sect obtained methods to profit from incense smoke merit.

They began taking in fierce beasts and demon beasts, cleansing their karmic burdens for their use;

They began establishing one divine kingdom after another based on incense smoke and their doctrines, consolidating their sect’s fate.

Before they decided to swallow up the dragon race, they had already reached the peak of their power.

Though they didn’t dare openly clash with the Dao Sects, the “army” they had secretly gathered was quite terrifying.

So how did they begin to decline?

Looking along the axis of years, one can see a clear mark.

The East Sea’s eye was broken.

Li Changsheng missed one move when Pure Merit Golden Body of the Jade Emperor jumped into the sea eye to plug it. The dragon race turned their hearts to the Heavenly Court, pushing the Western Sect and Heavenly Court into opposition.

The Western Sect’s arrogance and the Heavenly Court’s initial weakness led them to make a series of fatal judgments—

[The rise of the Heavenly Court conflicts with the West’s rise, so the Heavenly Court’s rise must be suppressed.]

And before that, the Western Sect’s thinking was:

[How can the West rise and obtain great dao fortune if the Dao Sects won’t make way?]

And hidden deepest, the drive:

[The Western Sages achieved Sagehood through great vows—if the West cannot rise, they might be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao.]

These three points were the “driving force” behind the Western Sect’s point of no return.

But looking back more carefully, one can see that the Western Sect encountered a series of stumbling blocks along the way, each carved with a glaring name.

Sea God, Water God, Star-Lord Tai Bai, Supreme Clarity disciple Li Changsheng.

Earth Store, who schemed from behind the scenes, was defeated by his hand;

The cunning Virtual Bodhi met defeat whenever they encountered him;

Maitreya, who always said “Just be happy,” was forced to the battle of Spirit Mountain’s destruction, not even daring to show his face.

Smashing the Western Sect’s mountain gate, breaking their rising fortune, repeatedly forcing the Western Sages to put aside their dignity until eventually their face became a joke and their authority vanished…

If everything could start over, surely some Western Sect elder would stand up and shout hoarsely with earnest advice to the then-spirited Earth Store:

“Why did you have to provoke him?!”

…

Half a day later, at the Tower of Samsara in the Netherworld.

Discerning Sound lay by a screen to the side while Earth Store sat grimly by the window. Li Changsheng’s paper avatar stood by a bookshelf on the tower’s top floor, reading a Western Sect scripture with great interest.

Discerning Sound’s large eyes looked from one side to the other, an odd thought bubbling up in its heart.

‘Ah, if only Master were a fairy.’

“Why not punish me?”

Earth Store murmured, “Spirit Mountain is nine-tenths destroyed, the West has no chance to rise again. Li Changsheng, you’ve truly won.”

Li Changsheng’s paper avatar replied without looking up: “It’s too early to talk about winning or losing—your two teachers may well have anticipated this scene.”

Earth Store fell silent, closing his eyes with a slow sigh.

“Then why not take this opportunity to remove my position as Master of the Samsara Tower? That would also cut off the Western Sect’s foundation of fortune.”

“You are a complement to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. If I moved against you for this matter, it would be taking personal revenge through official means.”

Li Changsheng smiled, putting the scripture back on the shelf as his finger “stuck” to another one.

Freely prying into Western Sect cultivation methods.

Li Changsheng smiled: “Besides, your going to Spirit Mountain was within my expectations; you do have a conscience, far better than that Senior Brother of yours.

Let’s forget about this incident—it’s natural for living beings. I’ll put in a good word with His Majesty the Jade Emperor later, and you’ll be spared punishment this time.”

Earth Store remained silent, hints of contemplation flashing through his eyes before he finally asked softly:

“Is there truly no way to prevent the conflict between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects?”

“Mm,” Li Changsheng’s smile faded as he put the scripture back in its place and casually walked over to sit beside Earth Store.

Li Changsheng’s eyes closed slightly as he said calmly: “No matter what I do, I cannot resist the power of the Heavenly Dao.

The Dao Sects have already reached their peak—there is only a decline ahead.

Most tragic is that looking across the primordial world, the Heavenly Dao cannot arrange an enemy for the Dao Sects, so it can only make them kill each other.

The West, Dipankara, you and I—we’re all just pieces in the Heavenly Dao’s game to weaken the power of living beings.”

“You still have the Dao of Balance.”

“That’s all talk for later,” Li Changsheng asked: “One’s dao is also part of oneself as a living being—can living beings truly contend with heaven and earth?”

Earth Store thought for a moment and said: “Probably not.”

“Yes, we cannot.”

Li Changsheng murmured, leaning against the wall beneath the window and closing his eyes as if falling asleep.

Earth Store turned his head to stare at Li Changsheng’s form, slowly sighing as the hatred in his eyes gradually dispersed.

Everyone had their position—there wasn’t any hatred.

If one temporarily forgot about being opponents, this fellow’s path hadn’t been easy either.

Earth Store zoned out briefly.

A moment later, he put on a stern face and asked coldly:

“Are you planning to take a nap here? Maybe cultivate a bit? My Tower of Samsara doesn’t welcome you!”

“Lower your voice, I can hear you just fine!”

Li Changsheng gritted his teeth in reply, opening his eyes to say: “I’m talking with my Yun right now—we finally got some atmosphere going and you have to make noise!”

Earth Store: …

“Hmph! Indulging in beauty!”

“I want to.”

Li Changsheng’s mouth twitched, “Discerning Sound, transform into a young woman and dance for your master.”

Discerning Sound’s dog face immediately turned red along with its fur, stammering for a long while before using a transformation technique…

“By the way,” Li Changsheng frowned at Discerning Sound.

Is this one, female or male?