Just then, True Lord Yu Ding spoke:

“My Master is the Primordial Heavenly Lord.”

The old Daoist who called himself Lantern Bearer coldly snorted but said nothing more. He walked straight into the grand tent, led by Guangcheng Zi to the main seat, as Jiang Shang rose to yield his position.

Hmph, this Lantern Bearer of unknown origins at least didn’t try to steal the host’s thunder.

At this moment, Ji Fa was secretly thinking:

‘Previously, these immortals were boasting about how their Enlightenment Sect was one of the Three Realms’ greatest schools. Yet how curious that they show such respect to a wandering Daoist.

Never mind, never mind. Without them, my Zhou Kingdom would be in peril. Even if I must rise and yield my seat today, I cannot hesitate.

Hmm, I should find an opportunity to join the conversation later, to let this Daoist know that I am the one in charge here.’

As Ji Fa continued listening…

Outside the Five Continents, in a Lesser World dominated by the powers of fire and earth.

Li Changshou sat on the dark volcanic rock, smiling as he watched Discerner enthusiastically explaining the current situation between the Zhou and Shang armies.

“Enough, stop prying into mortal minds,” Li Changshou waved his hand and said with a smile, “Now that the Lantern Bearer has made his appearance, I should head back.”

Discerner suddenly trembled. Its previously animated expression instantly turned to anxiety as it quietly said:

“Star-Lord, it’s not that I won’t help you, but this time I truly haven’t heard even the slightest rumor about Maitreya’s whereabouts.”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, summoned a white cloud, and carried Discerner toward the heavens.

He said: “No matter, we should be able to encounter him on the way back.”

“Eh?”

Discerner was stunned for a moment. After careful consideration, it seemed to realize something and looked at Li Changshou with a hint of fear.

To match wits with this one, even if its master and Maitreya joined forces, they wouldn’t be enough…

As a divine beast, although it didn’t possess the great divine ability to attract fortune and avoid calamity like Bai Ze, the leader of the auspicious beasts, it could still be considered ‘clever’ due to its ability to hear the thoughts of living beings.

If this journey wasn’t about finding Maitreya’s whereabouts, yet they came to such a remote Lesser World, then… then…

Was the dog lured here to be killed?

Discerner’s whole body trembled several times, its large eyes becoming misty with tears.

It knew that divine beasts like itself were most feared by calculating old strategists like the Star Lord!

Yet it could rarely hear the Star Lord’s thoughts!

Moreover, as the Star Lord’s cultivation increased, even when it tried its hardest to listen, it couldn’t hear a single word!

Through various channels and methods, Discerner obtained some information and understood that this human deity was currently in a chess match with the Dao Ancestor…

Just how ruthless must one be to play chess with the Dao Ancestor!

It’s over, it’s over. The more it thought about it, the more it felt that Star-Lord had tricked it out here just to spare its master’s feelings, so the master wouldn’t be too heartbroken.

What… what to do?

It couldn’t win in a fight, nor could it escape.

Even if it wanted to cry for help, who in the Three Realms could stop the Taibai Star Lord’s blade?

“Hmm?”

Li Changshou turned his head to look at Discerner and said calmly: “Why are you staying so far behind?”

Discerner tremblingly moved forward, wanting to ask questions but fearing they would become its death warrant, only able to continuously ponder ways to survive.

Li Changshou flew out beyond the heavens on his cloud. Having now mastered the art of opening dimensional gates, he was naturally confident and composed.

The starry river in the void was quite brilliant, with the reflections of various Great Worlds appearing like spiral galaxies in the distance.

He said: “Discerner, when were you born? The Remote Ancient Era? The High Ancient era?”

“High Ancient, the beginning of the High Ancient era,” Discerner hurriedly answered.

Li Changshou slowly nodded and said with a smile: “As my understanding of the Heavenly Dao deepens, I’ve developed some interesting theories.

The Heavenly Dao calculated the Three Thousand Great Daos that form the foundation of the Primordial World, mastering all rules between Heaven and Earth, yet it is not omniscient and omnipotent, always having some deficiencies.

Take the simplest example, the hearts of living beings.

Could it be that the Heavenly Dao cannot calculate the hearts of living beings?”

Gulp. Discerner quietly said: “Can we change the subject?”

“No.”

“This… this,” Discerner was almost crying with anxiety, “The Heavenly Dao is not something a mere creature like me can comment on. You have transcended, while I am just a small amount, unworthy of even a glance from the Dao Ancestor.”

Li Changshou chuckled: “You are indeed well-informed.”

Discerner raised its paw and silently hit itself twice, lowering its head with a soft sigh: “Star-Lord, if you want to strike me dead, could you at least give me a chance to explain myself?”

Li Changshou smiled with his hands behind his back: “Then guess what I was going to say just now.”

Discerner smiled bitterly: “If I guess correctly, you’ll assume I can hear your thoughts and strike me dead…”

“Just guess,” Li Changshou said seriously, “If I wanted to kill you, I have thousands of methods, and wouldn’t need to bring you here to do it.

Coming here was just to be far enough from the Five Continents.”

“Are you trying to use this method to draw out Maitreya?”

“It’s worth trying,” Li Changshou said, “Maitreya is now working for the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao doesn’t want me involved in the upcoming Investiture of the Gods, so it will try to prevent me from returning to the Five Continents.

If Maitreya wants to hide, with the Heavenly Dao’s cover, it would be truly difficult for me to find him.

But when the Heavenly Dao needs to use treasure people, it will think of Maitreya.”

Discerner: …

Then why did you bring me out here?!

Of course, it didn’t dare ask this question aloud. Although Taibai Star Lord claimed he ‘wasn’t an evil deity’, the actual situation…

Those who know, know.

Li Changshou said: “Taking advantage of this opportunity, I also have something to ask you. If you don’t answer truthfully, you needn’t return to the Tower of Samsara.”

Discerner immediately became alert, every hair on its body listening to Li Changshou’s words.

Li Changshou asked: “Where do divine beasts come from? And for what purpose were they born?”

Discerner: Confused.

How would it know why it was born?

The auspicious cloud that gave birth to it wasn’t even a living being, just a cluster of spiritual energy.

“As expected of Star-Lord,” Discerner’s front paw gave a thumbs up, “This question truly touches upon the essence of living beings, the core of divine beasts!

Well… um… good!”

Li Changshou glanced at it: “Don’t waste words. I still remember every good deed and grievance between us from before.”

Discerner was almost crying: “I really can’t answer this. You should ask Senior Bai Ze about this. Senior Bai Ze was an innate supreme being who later became an auspicious beast, also known as a divine beast.”

Li Changshou said: “Since ancient times in the Primordial World, anything related to divinity has been connected to the Heavenly Dao sequence.

Even the Ancestral Demons were no exception. Water God Gong Gong and Fire God Zhu Rong both left their marks in the Heavenly Dao due to mastering the power of rules.

It seems you’ve been known as a divine beast since the High Ancient era, correct?”

Discerner hurriedly said: “Are you suspecting that I’m connected to the Heavenly Dao?”

“Indeed,” Li Changshou said calmly, “How is your divine ability to hear all beings’ thoughts achieved?”

Discerner: …

This was the second time it was dumbfounded.

Discerner suddenly had a feeling that the one who understood it best wasn’t itself, but rather this young human deity before it, whose Dao realm had clearly reached unfathomable depths.

“Star-Lord, I truly don’t understand this matter,” Discerner sighed, “I… I am really at a loss for how to answer your questions.

In my earliest memory, I was just floating in a cloud of mist in a Great World, with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth gathering toward me. From that time on, I could already hear the thoughts of living beings within tens of thousands of miles.

When I left the mist, I was just a foot-long small beast, wandering between Heaven and Earth.

The problem is, that I cannot turn off my divine ability. It seems to be a part of me, I must listen to these thoughts.

Whenever I heard thoughts of ill intent toward me, I would distance myself. Gradually, I came to know the treachery of human hearts and the complexity of living beings. By the time I came to my senses, I had already reached the edge of the Three Thousand Worlds.

I wanted to go into the Chaos Sea, as I didn’t like hearing the thoughts of all beings.

There was too much darkness, too much evil, too many things like sludge…

But the chaotic energy made me hesitate. We beings who rely on the Primordial World, even if we can resist chaos energy, without an overwhelming divine ability like Kong Xuan’s Five-Colored Divine Light, entering the Chaos Sea would be like self-exile.

I feared death, so I stayed in a Lesser World, far from living beings, and fell into a cold and quiet slumber.

When I awoke, I met my master…”

Li Changshou listened to Discerner’s slow narration, analyzing possible logical gaps within.

Discerner was attracted by Ksitigarbha’s pure heart of Dao, finding rare peace by his side.

Initially, Ksitigarbha hadn’t thought about having a mount. He sensed Discerner’s pain from hearing all beings’ thoughts and used all his wisdom to help Discerner forge a method to turn off its divine ability.

When Ksitigarbha wanted to continue his cultivation journey, Discerner hopped along, biting his trouser leg, and voluntarily offered up an immortal contract.

“Since then, I’ve been urging Master not to return, not to return, as there are few good people in the Western School.

But the master wouldn’t listen…”

Discerner slowly sighed, its eyes full of memories.

“Sorry, Star-Lord, I’ve said too much, but I truly don’t know what you’re trying to ask.”

Li Changshou nodded and said:

“I previously thought you might be the Heavenly Dao’s completion mechanism, used to monitor the thoughts of all beings.

Now I can make a judgment that although you have a connection to the Heavenly Dao, you probably aren’t some hidden chess piece.”

Discerner asked puzzledly: “How did you believe me so easily?”

Li Changshou: …

“I could choose not to believe.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou silently drew a long sword from his sleeve. Discerner quickly said that wasn’t necessary, its paw frantically covering its mouth.

Li Changshou said: “Continue listening to the thoughts of Zhou Kingdom’s ministers, see what they’re doing over there. I’ll try to fish for Maitreya some more.”

“Yes,” Discerner hastily agreed.

Come to think of it, Discerner found this somewhat perplexing.

Earlier, it had keenly noticed a flash of killing intent in Li Changshou’s eyes and thought it was surely done for today.

But unexpectedly…

Star-Lord was surprisingly easy to talk to, seeming truly not to be an evil deity.

“Star-Lord, shall I carry you back?”

“No need,” Li Changshou shook his head, “We must still show proper respect to your master.”

“Ha, you’re too kind!

He’s just immature, and hasn’t been beaten up enough times,” Discerner said with a fawning smile, continuing to monitor the situation in the Zhou army’s camp in the Five Continents.

Soon, the words flowed from its mouth like a stand-up comedy routine:

“This Lantern Bearer is truly remarkable. He has now provided a solution to break the Ten Absolute Formation Array. He wants the Enlightenment Sect to first select ten immortals to enter the formation, using their lives to absorb the formation’s killing intent.

This is called ‘feeding the formation.’

Then they can select ten experts to enter and break the formation. This Lantern Bearer will directly sever the connections between the formations, allowing these ten experts to slay the Ten Heavenly Lords.

Hiss—

This Lantern Bearer is so sinister, directly making the Enlightenment Sect choose ten sacrificial lambs to enter the tribulation, taking the catastrophe in place of those ten experts!”

Li Changshou slowly nodded and said: “The Sixth Sage is just like this, using any means necessary, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.”

“What? This is a Sage Lord? Hic!”

Li Changshou didn’t even look at Discerner’s dumbfounded expression. His left hand gripped the Cosmic Ruler as the white cloud began to accelerate continuously, the cosmic void rapidly retreating behind them.

Discerner remained stunned for a while before continuing to chat non-stop beside him.

This was the correct way to use Discerner’s divine ability. Although it couldn’t probe the thoughts of experts like the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Enlightenment Sect, it could effortlessly monitor any mortal within the camp.

That Lantern Bearer, who was Sage Lord Zhunti, was going to directly deal with the Ten Absolute Formation.

This truly…

Was somewhat beyond Li Changshou’s expectations.

But overall, it was still within Li Changshou’s plans.

Next would be the opening of the grand show, and how this show would develop—Li Changshou could only control one direction of it, trying his best to guide the results toward that direction.

Everything was for having enough winning odds when it came time to flip the table at the end.

“Discerner.”

“I’m here!”

“In the future, stay peacefully by your master’s side. If someday you hear something you shouldn’t…”

“I’ll be deaf, I won’t have heard anything! You can rest assured!”

“Good.”

Li Changshou slowly nodded, reconsidering once more the plan deepest in his Dao’s heart.

When it came time for his final confrontation with the Dao Ancestor, Discerner would be a necessary treasure person who couldn’t be directly eliminated; but keeping Discerner alive carried a tiny bit of risk.

Therefore, Li Changshou chose to bring Discerner out once, imperceptibly leaving a shadow in Discerner’s Dao heart.

Moreover, his wariness of Discerner was just part of the ‘just in case’ portion of this plan, something that could be there or not.

It was simply being extra careful about being careful.

“Let’s go back,” Li Changshou said softly, “I estimate Maitreya won’t dare to show himself.”

Just as Discerner was about to respond, it felt the surrounding cosmos rapidly receding.

Li Changshou held the Cosmic Ruler, his form moving freely through the void without any hindrance.

His profound understanding of the Great Dao of Space and Time made Discerner’s eyes bulge, secretly warning itself.

Best not to provoke him, best not to provoke him.

Now quickly return to guard master, spend each day bantering and spacing out—that’s good enough.

…

Speaking of the Lantern Bearer arriving at the Zhou camp, the Zhou army’s morale was lifted from its previous low point, and immortals like Guangcheng Zi became confident.

This Lantern Bearer seemed somewhat impatient, explaining the method to break the formation and then letting the Enlightenment Sect choose ten cannon fodder to ‘ward off disaster’ in the formation before directly breaking it.

The Twelve Golden Immortals had varying reactions to selecting the cannon fodder.

Yu Ding and Tai Yi immediately expressed that they would not participate in the upcoming battle.

But Guangcheng Zi named Yang Jian, having him be one of the ten experts to break the formation, dealing with Golden Light Holy Mother, the relatively weaker formation master of the Golden Light Formation.

Yang Jian looked at his master, then at Uncle Master Tai Yi, and finally stepped forward to cup his hands in agreement.

He was, after all, a disciple of the Enlightenment Sect and didn’t want to make things difficult for his master.

Next came the selection of cannon fodder.

True Lord Tai Yi wanted to speak sarcastically but was secretly stopped by True Lord Yu Ding.

Yellow Dragon Daoist just frowned and said something about this not being quite right, but was persuaded by voice transmission from Pure Essence Zi.

Manjusri said: “If we can break the Ten Absolute Linked Formation, some sacrifice is necessary.”

“We shouldn’t put it so bluntly,” Compassionate Navigation said gently, “How should we explain this to our fellow Daoists?”

The old Lantern Bearer smiled without speaking, just quietly waiting for the Enlightenment Sect immortals to make their decision.

This feeling was truly not bad.

Soon, the hesitation in Guangcheng Zi’s eyes completely retreated as he calmly said: “I’ll go ask in the camp now, whether they’re immortals of our Jade Void or wandering cultivators who have joined the Zhou camp.

Whoever dares to explore the Ten Absolute Formation, our Enlightenment Sect will treat them well.”

The crowd of immortals remained silent.

Pure Essence Zi sighed, stood up, and walked outside the tent with his hands behind his back, transmitting messages to several dozen immortals in the camp.

The ten sacrificial cannon fodder were quickly determined.

The ten experts to break the formation were also settled right after.

Among the Twelve Golden Immortals, Fearless was absent, Yu Ding and Tai Yi wouldn’t fight, and Yang Jian served as a supplement—exactly ten experts to enter the formation and break the situation.

Guangcheng Zi looked at the Lantern Bearer, his eyes carrying a hint of a smile, and asked softly:

“Senior, are you fully confident in holding the linked formation?”

“Naturally,” the Lantern Bearer smiled and said, “Rather if outsiders interfere in this matter, are you prepared?”

Guangcheng Zi said: “Our Enlightenment Sect should still command this much face.”

“Then breaking the formation today won’t be an issue.”

Guangcheng Zi cupped his hands to the Lantern Bearer and said: “Many thanks, Senior.”

The Lantern Bearer continued to close his eyes in silence, his Dao rhythm peaceful and calm.

Half an hour later.

The Zhou army withdrew their truce flag, drum sounds rose to the heavens, and ten streaks of light flew out from the Zhou camp!

Their eyes carried some trepidation, but mostly determination, as they rushed toward the Ten Absolute Formation simultaneously.

In the Ten Absolute Formation, Qin Wan let out a light shout, and the Ten Heavenly Lords were fully alert!

When those ten streaks of light stopped at the formation gates, the Ten Heavenly Lords were slightly startled, seeing that these ten immortals were all unknowns, each with unremarkable cultivation.

What kind of opponents were these, and how could they need the formation?

They could kill them on the spot just by personally appearing to fight.

“Don’t be careless,” Qin Wan cautioned, “They must be here to probe. Just keep them here. We only need to show restraint against the Twelve Golden Immortals.”

The Ten Heavenly Lords each agreed. When those ten immortals reported their names and entered the formation, they fully activated the formation.

Shortly after, screams rose one after another as ten lonely souls headed for the Investiture Temple.

In the Zhou army’s main camp, ten figures rode clouds forward, each rushing toward their predetermined formation gate.

That old Lantern Bearer revealed a slight smile, standing before the gate. With a wave of his sleeve, continuous muffled thunder sounded within the Ten Absolute Formation, and the spiritual energy exchange within was suddenly frozen.

The Ten Heavenly Lords were each shocked—the previously unsolvable linked formation had now directly lost effect!

And just as they were about to discuss countermeasures, nine of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Enlightenment Sect, plus Yang Jian, the outstanding representative of the third-generation disciples, had already charged through the formation gates!

“Don’t fear!”

Qin Wan gritted his teeth and shouted: “Each face your opponent, watch out for each other!”

The Dao hearts of the other nine immortals among the Ten Heavenly Lords suddenly sank.