Before the Lingxiao Hall, Li Changshou stood for a while.

He gazed at the churning sea of clouds before him, watched the Celestial Soldiers patrolling back and forth, and looked out at the distant immortal mountains, slightly lost in thought.

It should be enough now.

Feeling that watchful gaze upon him disappear, the Ancestor Dao should have taken action.

‘A smokescreen…’

Li Changshou clasped his hands behind his back and rode a cloud toward his Taibai Palace, carefully contemplating in his heart how the Ancestor Dao might react.

The Ancestor Dao had far too many pieces he could move – he could intervene through the Great Tribulation, use tools like Maitreya to cause trouble in the shadows, or even make promises to several Sages, getting them to run errands for him.

Especially that Sixth Sage who desperately needed to find confidence by trampling on insects, relying on the tacit understanding that ‘Sages cannot die,’ he would surely bounce around during the upcoming tribulation.

Yet in most situations, one could only watch him with frustration.

Simply ridiculous.

Li Changshou shook his head, the corners of his mouth revealing a meaningful smile, as he flew his cloud even faster.

Suddenly feeling somewhat poetic, Li Changshou recited in his heart:

“Mountains high reach without end,

Raising hands to touch the dome of heaven.

If for the sake of preservation,

Not failing the name of stability.”

Tch, how flowery, how flowery.

Unfortunately, he dared not recite it aloud, only secretly declaring his aspirations in his heart, before reactivating his clear and bright Dao heart, suppressing his emotions, and re-examining various arrangements from this moment until Zhao Gongming’s tribulation.

Odds of success: 98 percent.

To be precise, it should be 99 percent now.

He had made a small breakthrough, reaching his historically highest odds of success. After all, this flash of inspiration and perspective shift was a fortuitous plan that could both present a great gift to the Heavenly Dao and completely put the Ancestor Dao’s mind at ease.

If he could find such solutions to break through at every stage hereafter, he wouldn’t need to go fifty-fifty with the Heavenly Dao anymore.

Victory odds below 80%, taking action is foolish.

Victory odds below 90%, walking the edge of life and death.

Of course, this was just the Hongmeng Survival Guide, not applicable to other survival environments, only representing the words of the Shou family.

“Star-Lord! Star-Lord!”

A shout came from behind, and Li Changshou, who was about to enter Taibai Hall, paused and turned to look at the Celestial General flying swiftly over as a rainbow light.

After a brief wait, this Celestial General dropped to one knee, kneeling at the foot of the white jade steps, and called out:

“Star-Lord! The maiden from the Holy Mother’s Palace has entered the East Heaven Gate. The Holy Mother wishes to invite you to her palace for a discussion about some matters.”

Li Changshou nodded slowly and said gently: “Rise. The Heavenly Court doesn’t have so many kneeling customs. Just have that maiden come over.”

“Yes!”

The Celestial General responded firmly, rose, and hurried away.

Holy Mother…

Li Changshou first narrowed his eyes slightly, his brows furrowing along with them, divine light flickering slightly in his eyes, then he sighed softly, his eyes full of tranquility.

Well then, after all, it was the Holy Mother, and he should show proper respect where respect was due.

His thumb pressed lightly in the direction of Small Jade Peak, activating layer upon layer of formations there. The Chaos Bell Spirit, who was holding a handful of cards, froze for a moment and pushed the Chaos Bell’s physical form behind Ling’e.

Ling’e tilted her head and frowned: “Bell Sister, you’re being a bit excessive with looking at the cards.”

“Pah, do I need to look at cards? It’s the agreement with your Master! He must be heading out, and in these special times, we need to be ready to escape with you at any moment!”

Ling’e blinked and smiled somewhat nervously.

Beside them, Bear Lingli raised her hand in query: “What about me?”

The Bell Spirit sneered: “You can just defect on the spot, become some mighty deity in the Heavenly Court, no big problem.”

Bear Lingli: …

So love does disappear, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile, Li Changshou waited for a while in Taibai Hall before the maiden from the Holy Mother’s Palace arrived at the hall entrance, escorted by two Celestial Generals.

This maiden was quite familiar, being the one who had lived at the Jiang mansion for some years, witnessing the first half of Jiang Shang’s life of glory and wealth. Now dressed like a lotus emerging from the water, she came forward and gave a graceful bow.

“Greetings, Star-Lord.”

Li Changshou smiled: “The Holy Mother wishes me to visit her palace?”

“Yes,” the maiden said softly, “With the human race currently in the Great Tribulation, the Holy Mother has many concerns and wishes to discuss several matters with Star-Lord.”

Li Changshou smiled: “In that case, let us depart now.”

With these words, he stood up and walked forward a couple of steps.

The maiden, not expecting Li Changshou to agree so readily, couldn’t help but blink and softly reminded him: “Star-Lord, you’d better come in your true form…”

Li Changshou smiled and pulled back his sleeve, touching his finger to his wrist, where a drop of blood with a faint golden glow seeped out, only to be reabsorbed by the wound.

The aura of the Eight-Nine Mystic Art at grand perfection, mixed with various Dao rhythms, harbored violence within tranquility, endless power surging beneath the rules.

That single drop of blood seemed capable of tearing apart the cosmos and suppressing Golden Immortals and Daluo Immortals.

The maiden from the Holy Mother’s Palace was momentarily speechless, lowering her head to create a cloud boat. Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, casually drawing a circle in front of him. The circle slowly expanded, and beyond it was the familiar void.

It was already outside the Holy Mother’s Palace.

“This way is quicker,” Li Changshou made a welcoming gesture.

The maiden, dumbfounded, hurriedly stepped forward and carefully entered the circle, having already crossed the Heavenly Court’s formations, crossed the Five Regions’ boundaries, and arrived in the void beyond the Five Regions.

Li Changshou followed behind, his sleeve gently waving, and the cosmos gathered like flowing water, the ‘circle’ quietly disappearing.

Like footprints on a beach, gently filled in by waves.

Door Traversal Technique – Simplified Version.

The maiden couldn’t help but ask quietly: “What… realm are you at now?”

“An ordinary Daluo,” Li Changshou said with a smile. “The Dao realm is just appearance, also a kind of constraint. The true path to becoming stronger is actually to comprehend the Great Dao and resonate with it. When you receive the Great Dao’s acknowledgment, you can transform that Dao into your divine ability. Let’s go pay respects to the Holy Mother.”

“Ah, please wait,” the maiden quickly created a cloud boat, carrying Li Changshou toward the Holy Mother’s Palace gates.

Li Changshou maintained his usual expression, seemingly unaware of what would happen next.

A doorway appeared in the void, bearing the words “Holy Mother’s Palace.”

The boat sailed in, and that peaceful paradise appeared before their eyes once more.

The cloud boat took form on a clear river, both banks filled with exotic flowers and trees. Rich and pure spiritual energy swirled everywhere, and fairy maidens as beautiful as flowers and as pure as river water flew about here and there.

From one hall came the sound of young acolytes reciting scriptures, their voices clear and resonant;

From another hall came the sound of fairy maidens laughing as they played in the water, their voices inspiring flights of fancy.

The Holy Mother’s Palace was mostly populated by human female immortals, and among them were not a few experts, making them a force that couldn’t be ignored, though they lacked powerhouses like the great disciples of the Sage’s schools who could stand on their own.

The cloud boat traveled to that peaceful lake, where the small tower in the center of the lake still emanated strands of pure and wonderful energy.

Li Changshou was quite familiar with the way now, jumping off the cloud boat and ascending the small path step by step. At the door, he made a bow and said: “Disciple Changshou has come as commanded, paying respects to the Holy Mother.”

“Come in.”

A slightly languid call came from inside.

Li Changshou lowered his head in acknowledgment, pushed open the door, and once again stepped into that white expanse of ‘cosmos.’

Ah, entering the Holy Mother’s divine ability again.

Looking up, the Holy Mother was the same as always, lying by the pool reading a picture book created by Li Changshou, her slightly curly long hair casually spread out, her loose long dress emphasizing nothing but casualness.

Li Changshou went to sit in his usual place of his own accord, preparing ink and brush, spreading out the paper board, and asked with a smile:

“What kind of story would the Holy Mother like to see this time?

Time is pressing, I can only draw one book within Holy Mother’s divine ability, how about I deliver all previous debts after the Great Tribulation?”

The Holy Mother’s mouth curved slightly: “Just make something good to look at, the type doesn’t matter, just make sure to draw the characters beautifully.”

“Alright then,” Li Changshou agreed, lowering his head to think for a moment before slowly beginning to draw.

The tower immediately fell silent.

It seemed as if the Holy Mother had summoned him here just to draw manga.

The river of time seemed to be isolated outside, as the Holy Mother slowly turned the pages, occasionally bringing an immortal fruit to her mouth, her seven-colored tail occasionally swaying gently.

Li Changshou seemed to quickly enter a state of focus, fully concentrated.

The Holy Mother looked up at Li Changshou several times, her beautiful brows carrying traces of contemplation, vaguely feeling…

Something was amiss.

This fellow was not simple at all. He might have already seen through her arrangements, but then why at this time…

“You…”

“Holy Mother, this disciple has always had a question he wanted to ask but didn’t dare to.”

The Holy Mother said: “Just ask. The Fire of Humanity has already fallen into your hands, and as the Human Race’s Holy Mother, I should listen to some of your opinions.”

Li Changshou said softly: “When the ancient human race faced catastrophe, and ninety-nine percent of humans were slaughtered, why didn’t you appear to stop it?”

The Holy Mother’s expression immediately turned somewhat cold, and she said indifferently: “I was caught in a scheme at that time and was blocked outside. You’ve asked this before. If I could have gone to save them, I naturally wouldn’t have allowed the demon race to do such things.”

“Specifically,” Li Changshou said without raising his head, “specifically what delayed you, and who delayed you?”

“I don’t want to discuss this matter.”

“Holy Mother, is it that you don’t want to discuss it, or that you can’t discuss it?”

Li Changshou stopped his brush and looked up at the goddess by the pool, saying calmly:

“Back then, when that senior wanted to shatter Hongmeng, what was your attitude, Holy Mother?”

Mother Goddess Nuwa closed her eyes, her form gently floating as she slowly walked out of the pool.

In a flash of golden light, she had transformed from her human-serpent form into purely human form, wearing an elegant and noble golden dress, walking barefoot on the carpet to sit back on the soft couch;

With a light wave of her jade arm, her dress hem slowly fell, and an air of majesty naturally arose.

“Changshou, you might as well speak directly.”

Li Changshou sighed softly and looked up at Holy Mother.

He said quietly: “Holy Mother, the ancient events that are now circulating in Hongmeng, their chronological order seems somewhat incorrect, isn’t it?”

“Why would you have such an absurd thought?”

“Just a feeling,” Li Changshou’s smile carried several parts bitterness, “Actually, that senior left me many messages, and I’ve gradually come to understand what happened.”

Mother Goddess Nuwa frowned slightly and sighed: “You’ve indeed been influenced by him. You have no connection with him at all, why are you unwilling to believe what you’ve seen, heard, and witnessed, and instead choose to believe the words of a being who once wanted to destroy Hongmeng?”

“Is that truly what Holy Mother thinks in her heart?”

Li Changshou’s voice was very calm as he sat behind the low table, looking directly at Mother Goddess Nuwa.

Nuwa’s gaze was equally calm, seemingly undisturbed in her heart.

This too was a contest.

But this time, Li Changshou took the initiative to lower his head, avoiding the Holy Mother’s gaze.

He ultimately didn’t want to do anything that would harm the Human Race’s Holy Mother.

Li Changshou spoke slowly: “Holy Mother, I will only say three things. You need not answer, nor deny.

First, Senior Lang… I feel that senior was truly too unrestrained, I’ve always called him this in my heart.”

With a light chuckle, the Holy Mother truly couldn’t hold back, laughing: “Such a nickname is quite fitting. He was indeed too unrestrained, and his character wasn’t exactly virtuous.”

Li Changshou smiled and continued seriously: “This first matter, when Senior Lang secretly battled with the Heavenly Dao and Ancestor Dao back then, you must have held some crucial bargaining chip in your hands.

You chose the Heavenly Dao and Ancestor Dao, didn’t you?”

The Holy Mother’s smile immediately faded, and she couldn’t help but ask: “How did you learn of these secrets?”

Li Changshou pointed to his head, “Making reasonable deductions based on available information. You need not answer. You couldn’t bear to see living beings suffer, couldn’t bear to see Hongmeng shatter. This disciple completely understands.

If this disciple were in Holy Mother’s position then, he would certainly make the same choice, protecting Hongmeng, and stopping Senior Lang.

He simply chose the most irresponsible option among all choices.”

“Ah…”

The Holy Mother sighed softly, not saying more.

Li Changshou said: “The second matter, when the ancient human race was tragically slaughtered, the one who prevented you from going to save them wasn’t anyone else, but Master Ancestor, correct?

Master Ancestor’s reasoning at the time must have been along the lines of ‘this is training before humanity’s great rise’ and ‘as long as the seed of fire doesn’t extinguish, humanity will naturally prosper.’

Isn’t that right?”

Mother Goddess Nuwa had an expression of slightly pursed lips.

Li Changshou sighed softly, thinking in his heart that it was indeed so, but ultimately still unwilling to tear away that thin veil and put the Holy Mother in an awkward position.

Li Changshou continued: “The third matter, this divine ability I’ve entered this time seems somewhat different. Holy Mother, this time you haven’t accelerated the flow of time here, but rather slowed it down, correct?”

The Holy Mother’s eyes revealed some surprise, then showed a slight smile, “You can distinguish this.”

“To be honest,” Li Changshou smiled and took out two magical treasures from his sleeve, placing them on the low table before him, “after this disciple first entered Holy Mother’s divine ability, he made these little things.”

These were two hourglasses. The sand in the left hourglass flowed uniformly, but the right hourglass, wrapped in a layer of yin-yang energy, had sand flowing incredibly fast within.

Li Changshou said: “Holy Mother can control the flow of time within a certain range, able to make time flow faster in this tower, where one moment outside equals a hundred years inside.

You can also slow time in the tower, where several months outside equal one moment inside.

According to the falling speed of the sand, in this brief moment since I came in, half a year has already passed outside, hasn’t it?”

The Holy Mother remained silent, slowly closing her eyes.

Li Changshou continued: “If I’m not mistaken, Holy Mother intended to keep me here, to delay past Zhao Gongming’s tribulation, thereby avoiding my direct conflict with the Ancestor Dao.”

“Correct,” the Holy Mother sighed, “Changshou, you cannot defeat teacher.”

Li Changshou said: “Holy Mother, I will not destroy Hongmeng.”

“If you use humanity’s Fire to oppose the Heavenly Dao, it would be equivalent to dragging the human race into a bottomless abyss.”

“This disciple doesn’t want to do anything with the Fire. This Fire was entrusted by Senior Suiren, and in this disciple’s plans, the Fire was never part of the equation!”

“But now you represent humanity.”

Nuwa’s eyes blazed with sharp divine light, “That fellow accumulated power for half of ancient times, and still ended up defeated by the Ancestor Dao and Heavenly Dao. How much have you accumulated, how many trump cards can you have?

I know you act comprehensively, know your thoughts are cautious, and know you’re three parts more excellent than my brother, but how many years have you been cultivating?

I cannot let you gamble humanity’s fate.”

Li Changshou unconsciously clenched his fists, looked up at Mother Goddess Nuwa, put down his brush, and stood up supporting himself on the low table.

He said quietly:

“Holy Mother, do you perhaps wish to see the world in complete silence?

Do you perhaps wish to see, after Buddhism’s great rise, three thousand Buddhist nations replace the three thousand worlds, all living beings cultivating forbearance, cultivating the next life, bowing to authority, fearing heaven and earth, fearing nature?

Do you truly wish to let the Heavenly Dao complete its final plan, to make living beings lose themselves for the sake of infinitely extending heaven and earth, leaving only shells carrying true spirits!”

However, Mother Goddess Nuwa didn’t yield at all, saying firmly:

“Do you perhaps wish to see the human race slaughtered again, to experience such dark moments as in ancient times?”

Li Changshou fell silent, smiling bitterly: “Holy Mother, you’ve already been frightened by Master Ancestor.”

“Frightened?”

Mother Goddess Nuwa’s smile was full of bitterness. She raised her hand to cover her chest, seeming to have trouble breathing, “When humans were being slaughtered, I resisted, I struggled.

They are my children, children I created with my essence.

What do you know? What do you understand?

You look at today’s Hongmeng history that has been distorted by the Ancestor Dao, presumptuously speculating about what happened back then. What you see is only what the Ancestor Dao wants you to see, what you hear is only what the Ancestor Dao wants you to hear.

Who hasn’t thought about protecting living beings?

Who hasn’t felt that they could win against heaven, and triumph over heaven’s calculations?

But in the end?

In the end!

In the end…”

Hum—

A light blue halo rippled out from around Nuwa, and the previously white expanse of cosmos suddenly turned gray, revealing sky, earth, lake, and a huge figure.

The sky was broken, with an endless void outside;

On the ground remained various pits, and that huge figure was human-bodied and serpent-tailed, pierced by seven ten-thousand-zhang-long spears, nailed to the ground.

Chains black as pitch wrapped around her extremely weakened body, those chains densely covering her lusterless scales.

Her hands were bound by countless chains, pulled high to the sky dome, only helplessly hanging her head.

Heaven-locked, Earth-bound.

Around her, countless white bones lay silently, most broken beyond repair.

They were humans.

“In the end…

Give up, child, I’m begging you.

It’s my uselessness, unable to protect you all.

Igniting the Fire formed from humanity’s will with Sage power was already the last gift I could leave you.

I truly have nothing left that I can trade with the Heavenly Dao for your fate.”