“Li Chang Geng! Open the formation gate! Don’t think you can just hide inside without making a sound, this Bell knows you’re in there! If you don’t open up, this Bell will break right in!

Ahahahaha!”

Senior Master Li: …

Regardless of what spiritual sense messages others might receive, the roar of the Chaos Bell that Senior Master Li heard was exactly like this.

With a perfectly timed hint of ‘brazenness’.

Who could withstand this?

Senior Master Li’s brows slightly furrowed as he gazed through the formation at the small bell that was the transformed Chaos Bell, somewhat hesitant.

Could it just come knocking like this?

Light streams approached from behind—naturally, it was Kong Xuan, along with the Grand Master who had just been awakened from sleep, still stuck to his reclining chair, his whole body emanating weakness.

“Outside, that’s… the Chaos Bell?”

Kong Xuan asked with some surprise, looking at Senior Master Li with a somewhat doubtful gaze that made him quite unsure of himself.

Ling E asked softly, “Is that the legendary Primordial Supreme Treasure?”

“Hehe,” the Grand Master gave a few weak dry laughs, “It did come.”

Senior Master Li hurriedly asked, “Senior Brother, what’s this all about?”

The Grand Master closed his eyes to rest and said leisurely, “Why ask brother about something you did yourself?”

Kong Xuan revealed a subtle smile, while Ling E pouted and covered her face with her hand.

That terrible Senior Brother, even able to attract the spirit of a Primordial Supreme Treasure!

“This…”

Senior Master Li felt quite troubled.

But now that the Chaos Bell had come knocking, he couldn’t leave it outside for too long, lest it draw too much attention.

What if this little bell had purely come for a stroll, or simply to take revenge for that kick he gave it years ago?

One had to stay optimistic—after all, the Chaos Bell was a Primordial Supreme Treasure. The three items that opened the heavens were the highest-grade treasures in the Primordial World, and the Chaos Bell was comparable to the Taiji Diagram.

How could it possibly have taken a fancy to a Dao School disciple like himself?

It made no sense.

And so, moments later, in Senior Master Li’s grass hut.

“Li Chang Geng! Big sister has come to join you! How about that? Aren’t you surprised? And a little touched!

From now on you’ll be a Primordial World master with a Primordial Supreme Treasure to use!”

“Cough, cough cough!”

Senior Master Li held his teacup and coughed repeatedly, looking with a mixture of amusement and exasperation at the ten-foot-tall bell before him, and the phantom quietly kneeling beside it.

The spirit manifestation she created was quite pleasing to the eye, with phoenix eyes and a high bridge to her nose, her light red hair arranged in a simple phoenix tail, those light blue eyes somewhat nervously avoiding Senior Master Li’s gaze while trying to maintain composure as she said:

“Your Uncle Master Tongtian has already agreed. I help him once, and he’ll no longer have designs on me.”

Senior Master Li: So Uncle Master Tongtian’s backup plan was [Chaos Bell plus Duobao Daoren]!

The Chaos Bell continued:

“I feel among the Dao School disciples, you’re doing quite well, even being the current Second Heavenly Emperor.”

Senior Master Li hurriedly said, “Senior, please don’t speak this way. Junior cannot bear such praise, I am merely a subject of His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

Senior’s sudden visit has truly caught Junior unprepared. Please allow Junior to organize his thoughts.”

“Hey!”

The Bell Spirit glared with those phoenix eyes, her eye sockets slightly reddened, her lips even trembling a bit.

“You’re not going to refuse, are you?

You won’t refuse, right?

If this gets out, this Bell will lose so much face in the Primordial World’s treasure social circle!”

“Senior, please wait, just wait,” Senior Master Li wiped the sweat from his brow, his thoughts racing rapidly.

The Grand Master had already found a shady spot by the lake to continue his deep sleep, as if already knowing the outcome of this matter, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

Kong Xuan sat quietly beside the Grand Master, only occasionally glancing toward the grass hut, her eyes carrying a hint of contemplation.

Instead, it was Ling E, who knew her Senior Brother best, who through her Senior Brother’s various expressions and the words of this Chaos Bell ‘Senior’, performed a high-level summary of the scene before her, condensing it into a famous Primordial World painting!

‘The Final Farewell.’

Ling E very sensibly stood up and went out to bring some refreshments and freshly brewed tea, placing them before the Chaos Bell.

“Senior, please help yourself.”

The Bell Spirit couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing lightly: “I can’t use these, I’m just a phantom after all.

You’d be better off finding some spirit water to moisturize my body.”

“Ah, Senior, please wait.”

Ling E agreed with a sound, hurrying away with a lowered head, and quickly returned with spirit spring water that Senior Master Li used for pill refining, to clean and wipe the bell’s body.

Being able to touch a Primordial Supreme Treasure up close—this experience was truly unmatched in the Primordial World.

“Sigh…”

Senior Master Li quickly sighed, cupped his hands to the Chaos Bell, and smiled, “Senior, Junior is truly in a difficult position.

Didn’t we already reach an understanding before?

I am but a Dao School disciple. If I were to receive Senior’s favor and wield such an unfathomably powerful Primordial Supreme Treasure, wouldn’t that cause concern among the other seniors?”

“Tch,” the Bell Spirit rolled her eyes, “First time I’ve heard someone make being afraid of death sound so fresh and elegant.

Aren’t you just afraid of the Heavenly Dao targeting you? Why not just say it directly?

Why don’t you think about it—whether you take this Bell or not, the Heavenly Dao will deal with you anyway. Your Great Dao, in the Heavenly Dao’s eyes, shouldn’t be controlled by living beings.

This Bell came to join you because I took a liking to you. If the Heavenly Dao wants to target you, I can take you safely away from the Primordial World.

How about that?”

Senior Master Li smiled and said, “The reasoning Senior speaks of, Junior naturally understands.

Who wouldn’t be moved by a Primordial Supreme Treasure like Senior?

But Senior, Junior has two doubts, please answer them.

First, if Uncle Master Tongtian has given up using Senior to stabilize the Severing Sect’s fortune, why didn’t Senior flee to the Chaos Sea to roam freely there, instead of coming to Junior?

Second, Junior’s current situation is like crossing a river by boat or walking on ice with a heavy load. If suddenly too much weight is added, becoming something the Heavenly Dao abhors, then it won’t be far from the boat capsizing or the ice breaking.

How would Senior address these two doubts?”

“I… well… you…”

The Chaos Bell Spirit hemmed and hawed for a while, finally patting her forehead in frustration and looking at Senior Master Li with deep annoyance.

“Can’t you just act impulsively for this Bell’s sake? It’s a Primordial Supreme Treasure, you know.”

Senior Master Li smiled and said, “Daily I examine myself thrice: am I safe, am I stable, am I secure?”

“Sigh—”

The Bell Spirit sighed dejectedly, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

“Never thought this Bell would see such a day.

Those who don’t appreciate us fight desperately to grab us, those we appreciate use all their strength to push us away, what’s this called?

I suppose this is what they call meeting the wrong person.

But the Chaos Sea is really… too boring.

You living beings probably don’t know, but the consciousness of our treasures was illuminated by living beings.

We originally had no true spirit, being products of the Great Dao. Back when I was still just an axe handle, I was held in Pangu’s great hand. He communicated with us, endowing us with consciousness.

Pangu God’s Primordial Infinite Dao gave us tremendous divine abilities.

Battle after battle with Primordial Divine Demons gradually gave us our understanding of the Dao, thus the Heaven-Opening Axe split into us three.

But being away from living beings for too long, especially in the Chaos Sea where order is unclear, my consciousness is gradually fading. When I lose myself and forget who I am, I’ll become just a sleeping treasure.

‘This bell has died.’—Perhaps someone will say that.

We too have yearnings for freedom, not wanting to be bound by any living being; but separated from living beings, we gradually sink into darkness.

Sigh, I suppose this is fate.

A destiny no treasure in the Primordial World can escape, even I must accept this tragic fate.”

“Senior Brother…”

Ling E called out shakily, clearly moved by the Bell Spirit.

Senior Master Li’s brows furrowed slightly as he gazed at the Bell Spirit and said:

“Senior, please directly answer junior’s first doubt.

In today’s Primordial World, though few ancient and primordial masters remain, they do exist. Masters who can bring out Senior’s power are not limited to juniors alone.

As far as I know, a Primordial Supreme Treasure like Senior places great importance on seniority.”

“Well,” the Chaos Bell Spirit blinked and smiled, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

“How about the lie?”

“Wow, you’re so handsome!

Such heroic presence makes this Bell unable to resist. If I could transform into a soft Dao body, big sister would offer herself to you, having no other way to repay you.”

“Let’s hear the truth then,” Senior Master Li said, “to avoid any misunderstandings from the high masters.”

The Bell Spirit shrugged, but her voice resonated from within Senior Master Li’s heart:

“First, I find you quite agreeable—that’s the basic requirement. Being by your side should be quite interesting.

Second, you have the Kun Peng and the Kun Peng Secret Realm, which carry weight in the Chaos Sea. I have no sense of security within the Primordial World and will inevitably have to leave, but I’m somewhat reluctant to return just like this.

Third, you’re the only one I’m certain will be fleeing into the Chaos Sea shortly.

Just like how the Heavenly Dao pressured me back then, we share something of the same affliction. I might as well protect you and irritate Hongjun while I’m at it.”

Senior Master Li: …

Sure enough, all that talk about fading consciousness and meeting the wrong person was just a story.

“If Senior wishes to stay here for a while, then please do so.

I swear to the Heavenly Dao that I will not have any improper intentions toward Senior, and will not personally invoke even a fraction of Senior’s power.

May the bright Heavenly Dao bear witness.”

Thunder rolled outside Little Jade Peak. Senior Master Li carefully sensed for a moment, and while feeling relieved inside, he secretly sighed.

To say he wasn’t tempted by a supreme treasure delivering itself to his doorstep would be a lie.

Just as the Chaos Bell said, whether he used the Chaos Bell or not, his Balanced Great Dao was incompatible with the Heavenly Dao, and he would inevitably have to confront the Heavenly Dao one day…

“That’s it?”

The Chaos Bell Spirit tilted her head looking at Senior Master Li, saying with slight disdain: “Why does it feel too casual?”

Senior Master Li smiled without speaking, delegating the important task of taking care of the Chaos Bell’s ‘daily needs’ to Ling E.

A Primordial Supreme Treasure valued face, so he couldn’t directly assign the Chaos Bell to protect Ling E, an ordinary small Golden Immortal;

Changing the approach, having Ling E be Bell Sister’s little follower, responsible for the Chaos Bell’s maintenance work—that would give the Chaos Bell ‘plenty of face.’

Thus it was:

Great treasure comes knocking, undressing itself,

Long Life questions much with doubt.

First tragic, then dramatic, third discussing interests,

Finally a plan for chaos freedom.

Little Jade Peak’s defense system, brand new version, officially upgraded!

…

The Grand Master slept for half a year, and when he opened his eyes, he was full of energy, his gaze at Kong Xuan once again filled with confidence.

These two great beings stood embracing under the willow tree as if no one else was around, admiring the scenery of Little Jade Peak that Senior Master Li and Ling E had carefully designed and Bear Lingli had worked hard to build, finding this place quite suitable.

But ultimately, the Grand Master had his master’s orders and had to return to guard Xuandu City.

—Although there weren’t many Heavenly Demons left now, until the Great Sage Taiqing officially recalled Grand Master Xuandu, Grand Master Xuandu’s primary duty was to guard Xuandu City.

This was also Taiqing’s method of protecting his senior disciples.

Before parting, the Grand Master invited Senior Master Li to walk around Little Jade Peak casually, and the conversation between the two brothers revolved around the matter of the Canonization Tribulation.

Within the chain formation, the two strolled in circles.

The Sun Star’s light drew out their shadows, gently rolling over the shallow green grass.

The Grand Master walked with his hands behind his back, his pace neither fast nor slow, seeming to naturally blend with the surrounding environment.

He asked: “Long Shou, do you have any thoughts about the coming conflict between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects?”

“No particular thoughts,” Senior Master Li smiled with his hands in his sleeves, “Helping either side would be inappropriate. To be safe, better not to help the great sects, only save the few people I want to save.”

“Indeed.”

The Grand Master sighed softly, his gaze rather distant, “The Enlightenment Sect and Severing Sect are different from our Human Teaching. The Human Teaching only has two disciples, both of human origin, but they are not so.

Long Gang, rather than standing from the Heavenly Court’s perspective, you might consider this matter from humanity’s perspective.

Now that humans are the protagonists of Heaven and Earth, yet the Human Sovereign has a mortal body, this will inevitably cause turmoil in the situation, with disturbances every few decades.”

“This is the Heavenly Dao’s intent.”

Senior Master Li said: “Humans becoming the protagonists of Heaven and Earth, and the sole protagonists, is actually because of the distinction between immortals and mortals.

Humans are born weak, needing the Dao, methods, spiritual energy, and self-enlightenment through cultivation to gradually become immortals.

But the vast majority of humans cannot achieve these things, only living through decades in a lifetime, traveling no more than a few thousand li, seeing only the space between cities.

Thus, an individual’s threat to Heaven and Earth is minimal, and the entire mortal collective’s influence on Heaven and Earth is less than two great beings fighting with magical arts.”

The Grand Master nodded with a smile: “In the blink of an eye, you’ve already become an indispensable figure in the Heavenly Court.”

“Senior Brother jests,” Senior Master Li smiled in response, “This Heaven and Earth won’t be destroyed by the absence of any one person, and the same goes for the Heavenly Dao and Heavenly Court.

But speaking of Senior Brother, do you have plans to have children, to solve Sister-in-law Kong Xuan’s Phoenix Race reproduction issue?”

The Grand Master’s smile instantly froze as he glared at Senior Master Li, cursing softly: “Don’t bring this up randomly. If Master hears about it and gets interested, wouldn’t that be too much!”

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze blew past, carrying a trace of Dao rhythm.

The Grand Master’s eyes widened, and Senior Master Li’s eyebrows twitched, each forming a single character in their hearts.

[Birth].

[Help].

The Grand Master opened his mouth, his forehead covered in black lines.

Senior Master Li frowned deeply beside him, already pondering a very serious question.

Would future nephews or nieces be like humans with live birth, or like the Phoenix Race with egg-laying?

Although the Primordial World didn’t need to worry about cross-species issues, great beings wanting offspring had been a problem troubling the senior great beings of the Primordial World for countless years.

Worth researching, an excellent question.

When the Grand Master left, he seemed to be fleeing in panic no matter how you looked at it.

Kong Xuan was quite worried about this and transmitted a message asking Senior Master Li what had happened, but Senior Master Li couldn’t explain.

He couldn’t say it—whether to have children was their own business, Master was just expressing his beautiful wish to be a grandmaster.

Was there any pressure on the Grand Master?

Not.

Senior Master Li’s true body went to send his senior brother and sister-in-law to the East Heaven Gate, and before leaving, specifically stuffed several treasure pouches into his senior brother’s sleeve.

Whether they would be useful or not, he didn’t know, but since Master asked him to help, he had to do something.

For instance, that seventh-grade spirit pill level heart-fire burning, though it would be difficult to affect Kong Xuan and the Grand Master’s mental state, could still add some atmosphere, and create some ambiance.

Shaking his head, Senior Master Li turned to ride the clouds back to Taibai Palace, but after just a few steps, he felt some ripples in his heart.

His thoughts turned, activating the Old Immortal Paper Clone located in Taibai Palace, opening the formation to let in the celestial general who had come to report.

This celestial general seemed to be a Golden Immortal leader responsible for guarding the Heaven Gate.

He was at the East Heaven Gate, presumably because there was something unusual at one of the other Heaven Gates.

“Report—

Informing the Star-Lord, the Severing Sect cultivator Holy Mother Huoling requests an audience with the Star Lord from outside the South Heaven Gate!”

Huoling?

What did she want with him?

Senior Master Li’s thoughts turned, and he instinctively wanted to divine with his fingers but realized he wasn’t the Jade Emperor who could see through the tribulation to read the heavenly secrets.

Senior Master Li said: “Huoling is also my fellow disciple’s niece. Please have her wait in the Guest Immortal Hall, I’ll be right there.”

“Yes!”

The celestial general bowed to accept the order, turned, and hurriedly rode away on his cloud.

Senior Master Li carefully pondered for a moment, but still used this paper clone to go out, while his true body quietly returned to the ‘large fake mountain’ in Taibai Palace’s back garden, speculating about Huoling’s purpose in coming.

It should be related to the Southern Continent…