Nezha slew Ao Bing, and the Dragon Clan flooded Chen Tang Pass.

Taibai subdued the dragon horde, thereafter concealing his brilliance.

Half a year had passed since the great flood at the Eastern Sea’s shore. The Heavenly Court’s authority in the Primordial World reached new heights, with numerous immortal sects from the Central Divine Continent pledging allegiance. The military forces dispatched to the Three Thousand Worlds increased by nearly sixty percent.

Within the Three Thousand Worlds, the system of divine authority that the Western Teaching had spent tens of thousands of years building was rapidly collapsing. It seemed possible to free the Three Thousand Worlds from the Western Teaching’s shadow and bring them under Heaven’s rule before the completion of the Great Tribulation of Investiture.

The complete system of the Heavenly Court was just two steps away from full establishment.

As the Court’s senior architect, Star-Lord Li Changgeng of the Great White Star had suddenly awakened his “work spirit” in these past six months.

His visits to pay respects to the Jade Emperor in the Lingxiao Hall had increased significantly. Each time, he would submit memorials benefiting the Heavenly Court, perfecting details across all departments.

He concerned himself with immortals’ salary raises, vacations, assessments, and rotations;

He attended to celestial soldiers’ battle formations, armaments, compensation, and marriage affairs;

He even worried about the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet procedures, the Fairy Maidens’ professional title evaluations, and the rules for consolidating divine positions through mortal worship.

And so on.

The Jade Emperor… felt extremely complicated emotions.

Li Changshous’s departure seemed to have entered a countdown. It would only take a few more great battles in the Southern Continent, and once the matter of deity investiture settled, his time to leave would arrive.

It felt as though someone was rushing him.

During these six months, Dragon Princess Long Ji led a large contingent of celestial troops to Phoenix Mountain in the northern region of the Southern Continent, establishing the Azure Phoenix Palace, secretly guarded by heavenly soldiers and generals.

She was waiting for her moment to enter the Great Tribulation, participating in the entire ordeal as both the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor and disciple of Changgeng.

Li Changshou’s gaze no longer dwelled much on Chaoge City.

There was no point anymore.

This wasn’t because the Great Shang’s defeat was certain, but because Li Changshou would no longer interfere in Great Shang’s internal affairs.

Speaking of King Zhou, one must now mention Daji.

The Imperial Fortune could only protect King Zhou from Daji’s direct harm, but when Daji chose not to harm him and instead enjoyed her life as a Noble Consort, the Imperial Fortune became merely decorative.

Going forward, whether it was Daji offering malicious counsel or King Zhou using her words as an excuse to suppress the old powers and crack down on Chaoge City’s nobility, both would cause severe turbulence in Great Shang’s situation.

As for Daji…

She seemed to have begun believing her act, finding King Zhou quite agreeable;

Completely forgetting Daoist Qi Yuan from those years ago, her heart now only held “my King.”

To check the court nobles’ power, King Zhou summoned Daji’s father and brothers to Chaoge City, promoting them to high positions and important duties, forming a mutual support network with officials like Fei Zhong, You Hun, Fei Lian, and E Lai.

To make an imperfect analogy, if Li Changshou could directly control King Zhou’s thoughts now, Great Shang would have an eighty percent chance of victory.

But there was no help for it – the Heavenly Dao was watching.

Nezha and the Dragon Clan were peripheral parts of the Heavenly Dao’s script, which could be modified at any time as long as the outcome didn’t differ too greatly.

But the Southern Continent’s imperial succession and the great battle between the Zhengyi and截 Sects were core parts of the Heavenly Dao’s script. If he directly reversed these, the Ancestral Master would certainly become furious.

Under Wen Zhong’s guidance, more and more third and fourth-generation disciples of the 截 Sect joined the Shang army.

Holy Mother Huoling became a deputy general at a strategic pass, not far from Chaoge City but with little connection to Wen Zhong. Her days were rather leisurely, and she could leave at any time.

The Orthodox Teaching meanwhile remained composed, as if they had obtained an accurate script. They had even stopped investigating the various feudal lords in the Southern Continent.

But Li Changshou keenly noticed that the Orthodox Teaching had begun secretly promoting Prince Ji Chang of Zhou’s reputation.

Second Master Uncle had calculated something again, or the Heavenly Dao had intentionally given the Orthodox Teaching some hints.

The Heavenly Dao was being quite impartial indeed.

On Little Jade Peak, Li Changshou sat in a rocking chair, gently fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, his gaze somewhat distant.

After the Chaos Bell arrived, the game room became lively again, with Xuan Ya visiting more and more frequently.

He just didn’t know when Little Master Uncle and Little Master Ancestor would return; or whether they could come stay for a while again before he left the Primordial World.

Though he rarely went over there to look around, just being able to hear some laughter and merriment kept his heart from feeling too lonely.

Li Changshou didn’t consider himself a sentimental person, and before survival could be completely assured, he dared not desire any attachments or connections.

But ultimately, everyone would taste what loneliness meant.

The path of cultivation was long and endless, as eternal as heaven and earth.

Without companions, it would indeed feel quite solitary.

So, what kind of situation would arise if several people, or a dozen people, had to survive endlessly in the Sea of Chaos? Could his feelings with them withstand the constant wear of years?

These rather philosophical questions were very practical and realistic.

‘Senior Ancestor Lang, ah Senior Ancestor Lang, you’ve given me a difficult problem.’

Gently and subtly, Li Changshou keenly detected a strand of mystical dao energy wrapping around him, causing him to feel slightly drowsy.

Divine Majesty Hall? Dream Sky Instrument?

No, this seemed to be the Great Dao of entering dreams, but in the Primordial World, only the Heavenly Dao and the Five Sages could influence his current dao heart.

Li Changshou closed his eyes and softly exhaled.

Fully activating his clear and bright dao heart, quickly emptying various thoughts, he confronted this dao energy for a moment. The other party seemed somewhat helpless and could only withdraw.

“Changgeng, it is this poor daoist.”

The Ancestral Master.

Li Changshou pondered briefly in his heart, sealed off his dao heart except for a strand of divine consciousness, carefully made contact with that dao energy, and was then pulled into a dreamscape.

If other cultivators were pulled into a dream, they would only feel the dream was as real as reality, perfectly matching and unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

But with Li Changshou’s manipulations, it was as if he had opened a window in his heart, with his primordial spirit sitting before a ‘screen,’ watching various scenes playing within.

The sense of immersion wasn’t particularly strong.

This was a prosperous town, with a seven-colored barrier array shimmering in the sky, and beyond the barrier was a gray and hazy world.

Upon first entering this place, Li Changshou felt somewhat familiar, yet couldn’t recall where he had seen it or when he had been there.

Figures constantly flew in from beyond the barrier, the vast majority appearing in innate dao bodies, but some maintained beast forms or spirit forms, seemingly not simply human or demon races, but various spirit races as well.

Roughly sensing, the dao energies of these coming and going figures were all extremely substantial – any random one would be an expert.

This reminded Li Changshou of an era, an era when Greater Luo experts walked everywhere and Golden Immortals were as common as dogs in the Primordial World, an era when traffic between the Sea of Chaos and the Primordial World was exceptionally busy.

The end of the Ancient Era, the Initial Tribulation of Dragons and Phoenixes.

At that time, to avoid the great war between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans, innate powerful beings and various experts mostly survived at the edges of the Primordial World.

By then, the Three Pure Ones had already become disciples of Ancestral Master Hongjun, and the Ancestral Master had established the Mysterious Gate. It was later during the Purple Void Palace lectures and dao merging that he changed the Mysterious Gate to the Dao Gate.

When Li Changshou saw the familiar ‘vortex’ in the center of this town, he naturally confirmed what time and place this dream was presenting.

The end of the Ancient Era, Xuandu City.

Just as Li Changshou was looking around, feeling emotional, an imposing elderly Daoist walked out from a street corner nearby, showing Li Changshou a warm smile.

The Ancestral Master, Hongjun.

Li Changshou lowered his head in a Daoist salute, not saying much, and walked over slowly.

Hongjun smiled and nodded, saying to Li Changshou: “Come with me.”

“Yes,” Li Changshou maintained disciple’s etiquette, keeping his hands in his sleeves, head lowered as he followed behind the Ancestral Master, stepping into this street.

After many turns, Hongjun pushed open two wooden doors, leading Li Changshou into a courtyard filled with emerald bamboo.

The small courtyard was very elegantly arranged, with winding streams paved with pebbles for floating wine cups, and oddly-shaped rocks dotting various spots. When the wind passed through the courtyard, bamboo leaves made a rustling sound, isolating the clamor outside.

Hongjun led Li Changshou to the streamside, manifested two meditation cushions and a low table, and sat down himself.

“Sit.”

“Thank you, Ancestral Master,” Li Changshou responded softly, lifting his robe hem and sitting across from Hongjun.

Hongjun chuckled and said: “What do you think of this poor Daoist’s dreamscape?”

“The dreamscape Ancestral Master created is quite realistic,” Li Changshou smiled somewhat nervously, “almost indistinguishable from reality.”

Hongjun smiled: “Why do I feel like ninety-eight percent of the time you’re satirizing this poor Daoist?”

Li Changshou: …

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t dare? What wouldn’t you dare to do?”

Hongjun sighed with a smile: “Transforming into the One who departed, the Heavenly Dao cannot erase you, and can only let you leave in the future.

Right under this poor Daoist’s nose, you became a little fellow whom I must address as fellow Daoist.

You’re truly quite crafty.”

Li Changshou said seriously: “Regardless of Ancestral Master’s purpose, that I could reach today’s position was largely due to Ancestral Master’s promotion.

Ancestral Master summoning me here surely isn’t to convince me to trust Ancestral Master again, so please don’t speak such words.

I greatly admire Ancestral Master.”

Hongjun pondered briefly and said: “In that case, let’s have an open and honest discussion.

Let this poor Daoist ask you, what you said that day in the Purple Void Palace about thinking the Human Emperor suppressed Pangu God’s final will – was that truly what you believed in your heart?”

“It was merely my speculation and deduction.”

“Which is to say, it wasn’t the truth,” Hongjun smiled and said, “This poor Daoist is truly curious how much you saw through that strand of Primordial Purple Qi in Kun Peng’s primordial spirit.”

Li Changshou stared at the patterns on the low table and said: “This disciple didn’t see much, certainly not exceeding what the various Sage Lords saw.

But Ancestral Master, directly interfering with the Human Emperor’s thoughts was indeed somewhat excessive.”

“You knew Suiren would suffer self-destruction by intervening, yet you still went to the Fire Cloud Cave to request help from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors – wasn’t that somewhat excessive too?”

Li Changshou said:

“Disciple had no other choice. Only thus would Ancestral Master take a step back then and return to this chess game.

Rather than saying this disciple went to request Senior Suiren’s help, it would be more accurate to say Ancestral Master used the Great Tribulation’s critical point and your advantage of being able to step outside the rules at any time for that scene.

Ancestral Master’s calculations often achieve multiple purposes with a single action, with no distinction between primary and secondary goals – this is what this disciple admires most.

This disciple is far from capable of such.”

“You’re indeed satirizing this poor Daoist, hahaha!”

Hongjun stroked his beard and laughed heartily, continuously shaking his head in amazement.

After the laughter subsided, Hongjun’s eyes revealed some emotion as he said: “We are not opponents. If this poor Daoist had a choice, we need not be in opposition. This poor Daoist truly wished to keep you by my side to nurture.

Unfortunately, Changgeng, you and I have ultimately now stood on somewhat opposing sides.

You should have already seen his records – that fellow countryman of yours was considered this poor Daoist’s close friend, though we had differences back then that ultimately led to a life-and-death battle.

You are different from him, or more accurately, you are even more outstanding than him.

I was deeply influenced by him, but in you, I see a different arc of light.”

Li Changshou said: “Each being is unique. Thank you for Ancestral Master’s praise.”

Hongjun continued speaking slowly:

“Regarding the Human Emperor matter, this poor Daoist indeed failed humanity. The position of Heavenly Emperor should have gone to Suiren, but for easier control of the Heavenly Court, this poor Daoist gave it to Haotian.

The Great Tribulation of Investiture was indeed pushed by this poor Daoist from behind the scenes. This poor Daoist wants to transform the Zhengyi Sect into support for both the Heavenly Court and Heavenly Dao, thereby consolidating the Heavenly Court’s order.

That King Zhou – his previous ninety-nine lives were all under this poor Daoist’s calculations, specifically to shape his character in this life according to my blueprint.”

Li Changshou asked puzzledly: “Why must Ancestral Master maintain this script?”

Hongjun said seriously: “Because it benefits heaven and earth, and among countless paths that the Heavenly Dao has derived, this is the path where heaven and earth can exist the longest.

Last time you asked this poor Daoist about my relationship with the Heavenly Dao – actually, you were right then.

This poor Daoist is the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao is this poor Daoist. The difference is that other wills exist within the Heavenly Dao, but this poor Daoist’s will holds dominance.”

Li Changshou: …

“Summoning you to this dream today to tell you these things, this poor Daoist wanted to let you understand that when defining the Heavenly Dao or defining this poor Daoist, you need not use the words good and evil.

What is good and evil?

This poor Daoist wishes to use the Great Tribulation of Investiture to gather the power of beings, making powerful beings serve the Heavenly Court, which in turn consolidates the Heavenly Dao’s order;

To the Zhengyi Sect, this poor Daoist is evil, but to countless ordinary beings, this poor Daoist is the greatest good.

What do you think?”

“Ancestral Master is wrong.”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou said: “Good and evil are mere words, and cannot directly describe an event or person. The principle Ancestral Master wants to express is that different things have different interpretations from different angles.

But at any time, the act of forcefully imposing a stronger will upon weaker wills cannot be called good.

Sometimes, the word ‘dialectical’ is nothing but a shield for hypocrites.

The most fundamental logic must distinguish between black and white, and beings must hold fast to their bottom lines.

And you, Ancestral Master, seem to have lost this bottom line after merging with the Dao.”

Hongjun frowned and said: “Let’s change the topic.”

“Disciple spoke too much.”

The small courtyard fell silent for a long while. After drinking a cup of tea, Hongjun finally spoke:

“Longshou, what do you think of the strength of the beings shown in this dream?”

“Very strong,” Li Changshou said.

“This is just a glimpse of the ancient times,” Hongjun shook his head with a bitter smile. “Changgeng, sometimes this poor Daoist is also helpless.

When merging with the Dao, I thought I could suppress the Heavenly Dao, but its hidden will was too powerful and instead assimilated this poor Daoist.

This poor Daoist can influence the development of the Heavenly Dao in any matter, except for one thing.”

Li Changshou asked softly: “Gathering the will of beings?”

“Correct,” Hongjun said, “You don’t understand, nor comprehend, how the unrestricted development of countless ancient beings, and Pangu God’s creation of the Great Dao of Single True Spirit Beings, developed into what situation.

Beings overwhelmed the Primordial World.

Countless experts, innumerable experts, even large groups approaching the limit of beings, that is, experts in the quasi-sage realm.

If Pangu God were still here, he could naturally suppress them, but Pangu God fell for their sake, instead giving too many experts the possibility of becoming sages.

What do you think caused the three strongest races – Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin – to fight?”

Li Changshou slowly shook his head.

“For spiritual energy,” Hongjun said with a bitter smile, “Too much spiritual energy was stored within beings, the spiritual springs in heaven and earth nearly dried up, and without spiritual energy to protect it, the Primordial World became extremely unstable.

Today’s Dragon Clan is but a single scale of the dragons from that time.”

Li Changshou frowned and said: “But the Ancestral Master previously said Luohou provoked the war between the three races, secretly absorbing the power of beings to attempt to prove the Dao through force.”

“Luohou did exist, but his harm didn’t reach that extent. He was just a catalyst, a pitiful person who thought himself clever.”

Hongjun shook his head and spoke slowly:

“At that time, the strongest in the Primordial World, also the beings closest to Pangu God, were the Dragon Ancestor and the First Phoenix.

Luohou gave them the so-called opportunity to become sages, ultimately triggering the Dragon-Phoenix War, involving countless races, fighting for several grand kalpas.

The nearly endless ancient Primordial World shattered because of this.

It was then that the Heavenly Dao, originally lurking beneath the Great Dao, awakened its own will and, taking advantage of the darkest era, swiftly took control of the entire Primordial World.

The fragments of the ancient Primordial World becoming the Three Thousand Worlds were the masterpiece of the Heavenly Dao’s will.

The Heavenly Dao you know today is the Heavenly Dao that was stimulated by the shattering of the Primordial World then – this is heaven and earth’s will to preserve itself, and also Pangu God’s final will.

In your view, the Heavenly Dao gathering the power of beings greatly harms beings, somewhat overcorrecting the problem.

But if you had experienced that tribulation, experienced those dark years when the power of beings gushed forth without limit, you would understand why the Heavenly Dao insists on this path.

The Heavenly Dao is indeed supremely impartial – it is law, it is nature, it is the projection of heaven and earth’s will.

Yet its sole purpose of existence is not to protect beings, but to protect this heaven and earth – beings are merely a part of heaven and earth.

Now you tell me, is the Heavenly Dao good or evil? Black or white?

Now, do you still want to continue representing beings and remain in a deadlock with the Heavenly Dao?”

Li Changshou frowned silently, then said softly: “Did Ancestral Master seek out this disciple today to say that later, I should not obstruct the Heavenly Dao’s scheme regarding the Orthodox Teaching and Zhengyi Sect’s war?”

“Correct.”

“Ancestral Master need only command it, and this disciple will naturally obey,” Li Changshou bowed and said, “If Ancestral Master has no other matters, this disciple will take his leave now.”

With these words, Li Changshou stood up and walked toward the courtyard’s wooden door.

Hongjun asked: “Changgeng, why can you still not understand the Heavenly Dao?”

“Ancestral Master,” Li Changshou stopped, slightly turned his head to look at Hongjun, then turned completely around to directly face this somewhat distressed Daoist.

“This disciple understands the Heavenly Dao, otherwise I couldn’t have reached my current dao realm. But Ancestral Master, you have confused three things, or rather deliberately ignored them.”

“Oh? What things?”

Li Changshou spoke slowly:

“First, the Primordial World was created by beings, and it was true spirits who changed the Sea of Chaos’s environment.

Second, if we compare the Primordial World to a human body, the Heavenly Dao would be like the body’s immune system – the Ancestral Master should understand what this term means. Many times, what kills the body is not the bacteria, but the immune system’s overreaction, like a cytokine storm.

Third, the Heavenly Dao wants beings to be quiet, to become mere vessels for true spirits to cycle through heaven and earth. This situation can be summarized in one word.

Prison.

This disciple understands the Heavenly Dao but does not agree with it. There must be a balance between beings and heaven and earth – each being in the world has its unique significance.

But this disciple also understands that I came a bit too late. That senior fellow countryman missed the best opportunity to restrain the Heavenly Dao, and now this disciple only thinks about survival.

This disciple doesn’t want to be any hero, only wants to remain constant from beginning to end, taking those this disciple cares about away from the Primordial World, guarding humanity’s flame beyond the heavens, watching over humanity’s rise and fall.”

Hongjun sighed long and deep: “Fine, do as you wish. You could have taken this poor Daoist’s position.”

Li Changshou remained silent, bowed to Hongjun, then turned to push open the wooden door before him.

Taking a step out, the thin mist around him slowly dispersed as Li Changshou closed the small window in his heart.

‘The Ancestral Master cannot be easily trusted.’

Senior Suiren’s words slowly echoed in his heart as Li Changshou sat in the rocking chair, eyes closed as if sleeping deeply, mysterious dao energy emanating from around him.

Well then, that Azure Cloud Boy was done for.