HomePull StringsChapter 717: Ancestral Master, You Are Being Superficial

Chapter 717: Ancestral Master, You Are Being Superficial

Within the grand formation outside the pill-refining chamber on Little Qiong Peak.

The Dao Ancestor gazed at the flame in Li Changshou’s palm, falling into a rare silence.

Li Changshou extinguished the flame in his palm, and the golden light merged with the black energy before him, transforming into a strand of pure spiritual energy.

This trump card was half inherited from Senior Lang, who had given Li Changshou the practical “technique.” The other half came from Li Changshou’s continuous exploration and contemplation, carrying doubts that were never ignored or forgotten, until finally, at a crucial moment, inspiration struck, connecting all the information and finding the direction of this small path.

As Li Changshou had said, the worldly system constructed by the Hongjun Dao Ancestor had three pillars: Heavenly Tribulation, Merit and Karma, and the Heavenly Court.

If Li Changshou were to recklessly destroy the Heavenly Court and trigger the power of the Nine Pollution Springs, this system that the Hongjun Dao Ancestor had spent countless years building would collapse in a short time.

Even if the Hongjun Dao Ancestor could rebuild it, replace the immortals and deities, and restart with another batch of living beings, it would come at an enormous cost.

The idea that the Heavenly Dao was supremely impartial was not a joke.

Although the Heavenly Dao now contained its own will and the Dao Ancestor’s will, becoming a tool for the Dao Ancestor to control heaven and earth, there were many fundamental rules it could not violate.

If things became more serious and caused the collapse of the Heavenly Dao and the withering of the world’s origin, both the Primordial World and the Dao Ancestor would perish with it. Everything would return to chaos, becoming meaningless.

Nothing could emerge from nothing – the essence of spiritual energy was also energy.

Naturally, this was just one of Li Changshou’s trump cards and one of the main cards that could directly make the Dao Ancestor wary. It was his last resort against the Dao Ancestor, serving as a form of deterrence.

‘When the Dao Ancestor thinks you have the power to threaten him, you’d better actually have it.’

—A truth that all old Earth people understood.

The current silence of the Dao Ancestor was brewing something.

Li Changshou sat before him, fearless and seemingly unconcerned about anything.

Perhaps the Dao Ancestor was thinking: ‘When did this fellow accumulate so many trump cards?’

Or perhaps: ‘If this variable had been eliminated earlier, there wouldn’t be so many thorny problems now, right?’

Guessing the thoughts of the strongest being in the Primordial World was quite interesting.

The matter of the Nine Pollution Springs struck directly at the Heavenly Dao’s weakness.

Ironically, the Dao Ancestor, now merged with the Heavenly Dao, could not directly move against Li Changshou, this ‘variable,’ could not eliminate this threat.

To bet that Li Changshou would not destroy the Heavenly Court in this way…

The Dao Ancestor would certainly not make such a choice.

For no other reason than it would be beneath his dignity.

Among the fundamental laws of the Heavenly Dao, the most basic laws that constituted the Primordial World, there was one that stated [Heaven and Earth May Preserve Variables].

If this law were to be analyzed, its formation reasons were incredibly complex, involving the mutual influence between true spirits and the world, and questions about the form of existence of the Primordial World.

When Li Changshou first tried to understand this law, he compared it to [the slight errors that occur during gene replication, which enable biological groups to continuously evolve over long periods] – the Primordial World had a similar ‘mechanism.’

Tracing further back would lead to the time of the world’s creation when Pangu carved and arranged each law.

These fundamental laws were set down by the Pangu and were also established by Pangu.

Now, all living beings were within the chessboard of the Heavenly Dao, following the system set by the Dao Ancestor.

But was the Dao Ancestor himself not also bound by the rules that Pangu had established back then?

“Ah…”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor sighed softly, then showed a faint smile and said slowly:

“This poor Dao indeed did not misjudge you.”

Li Changshou smiled modestly and said:

“These are actually among this disciple’s final measures, Ancestral Master. I understand your desire to verify them, and if they were truly used, it would only result in mutual defeat. As long as the few people closest to this disciple remain unharmed, this disciple would not go mad in such a way. Ancestral Master, shall we continue our empty sparring? I have some more trump cards that I can verify for Ancestral Master – you need only give me a few more immunity tokens, and this disciple can demonstrate them one by one, with detailed explanations.”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor chuckled and shook his head, saying:

“No need. Once you mastered this power, you already earned the right to play this game with this poor Dao. Shall we continue our empty sparring?”

As he spoke, Hongjun Dao Ancestor took out a wooden tablet from his sleeve, upon which was written the characters “East Hua.”

“This time, the stakes shall be your good friend Emperor East Hua, the East King. What do you say?”

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed slightly.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor smiled and said: “In this poor Dao’s arrangements, the Heavenly Court’s Lord Wood must face a deadly tribulation. If you can win this match, this poor Dao will spare Lord Wood. What do you say?”

Li Changshou lowered his eyelids and said calmly: “Ancestral Master, why don’t we respect Lord Wood and let him fall if he is meant to fall?”

“Oh?” Hongjun Dao’s Ancestor was slightly puzzled. “Why?”

“This disciple cannot be like Ancestral Master, able to casually use others’ lives as stakes and bets. Ancestral masters can restrict the activities of living beings in heaven and earth by drawing their fate paths – this is what the Heavenly Dao commonly does, and at least there is some system to it. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a good thing. But for Ancestral Master to directly determine a being’s life or death… isn’t that going too far?”

Li Changshou sighed softly: “Perhaps this is the absolute domination of the strong over the weak. The Heavenly Court insists on the principle of non-interference between strong and weak beings, yet the Ancestral Master standing behind the Heavenly Court casually determines the life and death of its immortals and deities – isn’t this too ironic?”

Hongjun smiled: “The Primordial World has always been thus.”

Li Changshou said: “The Primordial World should evolve forward.”

“Rules are made by the strong and the winners.”

“Ancestral Master, your definition of strong and weak is too narrow.”

“Changgeng, would you truly care about the lives of ants?”

The Dao Ancestor casually conjured two teacups and a purple clay teapot, poured Li Changshou a cup of tea, and smiled:

“Would you care? You wouldn’t. When you want to move forward and have already taken a step, the ants at your landing point are no different from grains of dust to you – you wouldn’t expend effort to withdraw your foot for them. Is Changgeng merely speaking noble words here to shake this poor Dao’s heart of the Way? To become stronger, necessity breeds survival – this is the nature of living beings. Even if you sincerely think that becoming stronger is for protection and better sacrifice, isn’t the essence just seeking pleasure and a sense of superiority when dealing with the weak? The existence of the strong is itself oppression and exploitation of the weak – what’s wrong with making this exploitation more direct?”

Li Changshou fell silent for a long while, then laughed:

“That’s why I say Ancestral Master’s definition of strong and weak is too narrow.”

“The Primordial World is different from your old home,” Hongjun said earnestly. “Here, becoming stronger means your magical power, your divine abilities, your magical treasures, your Way.”

Li Changshou said: “Then according to Ancestral Master’s words, how is revering immortal methods any different from revering wealth in my old home?”

“There is no essential difference between the two.”

“Ancestral Master, you are wrong.”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor’s words caught in his throat as he frowned at Li Changshou and said calmly:

“Oh? Where does the error lie? How do you define right and wrong?”

“Ancestral Master has switched concepts,” Li Changshou smiled and said. “Being an immortal should not be defined by how much spiritual energy control you’ve gained, nor by whether your punch can shatter mountains or just a heated kang. With views like Ancestral Master’s, you might as well switch to a different ranking system: Trainee Qi Cultivator, Apprentice Qi Cultivator, Professional Qi Cultivator, Qi Cultivation Instructor, Qi Cultivation Researcher, Senior Qi Cultivation Researcher. Compared to the cultivation system Ancestral Master established for the Primordial World – Qi Condensation, Spirit Transformation, Void Return, Way Return, Origin Immortal, True Immortal, Heaven Immortal, Golden Immortal, Great Completion – what’s the difference? It’s just deepening understanding of the Way and strengthening control over spiritual energy.

“This is just a system of power, and those who keep climbing it are nothing more than Qi Cultivators different from mortals. Ancestral Master, what is an immortal?”

Li Changshou posed this question, but without waiting for the Dao Ancestor’s answer, he continued:

“From within spiritual energy, an immortal takes the meaning of clarity, purity, emptiness, and spirit. When my heart roams free, unbound by mortal dust – this is a mortal realm immortal. When heaven and earth are naturally pure, dwelling high and gathering morning dew – this is a transcendent immortal. An immortal represents elegance, righteousness, etherealness, and naturalness. It is the sublimation of living beings pursuing a higher state of existence, the transformation of heart and mind, the wondrous realm of living beings coexisting with nature – not determined by cultivation level.

Encountering injustice on the road, drawing a sword to protect the weak.

Loyal to the sovereign, guarding the nation’s gates, willing to die for the people.

Noble birth means nothing, all people are equal in worth.

Though this body is weak, its candlelight illuminates the stars.

These too are immortals – they are chivalrous immortals, and their stories are naturally immortal chivalry. Ancestral Master, you are being superficial.”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor: …

“If we don’t do this empty game, then this poor Dao will consider you to have lost this round.”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but give a bitter laugh.

The Dao Ancestor said calmly: “At this time, this heaven and earth are still under this poor Dao’s control. Since Changgeng cares about these forms, this poor Dao will phrase them differently. I give you a chance to save Lord Wood – will you take it or not?”

Li Changshou frowned in deep thought, and silence once again fell in the forest.

“I’ll take it.”

“Isn’t this the same?”

“This is different.”

“Heh,” Hongjun chuckled softly, sweeping his sleeve across the stone table before him. “Come then, let us play this empty game, with Shang and Zhou’s victory as stakes.”

Li Changshou’s bitter smile deepened: “Then isn’t Lord Wood surely doomed?”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor smiled and said: “You’ve made so many arrangements, and the Shang kingdom now has over seventy percent chance of victory. Why such dejected words?”

“What seventy percent? It’s merely ten or twenty percent,” Li Changshou sighed. “Dao Ancestor, after merging with the Dao, you’ve lost many things. Some things, because too much time has passed, you can no longer understand. Or perhaps, you simply disdain to understand. Never mind, since Ancestral Master is in such a mood, this disciple shall naturally accompany you.”

Hongjun Dao Ancestor’s eyes crinkled in a smile, and with a light tap of his hand, a ‘three-dimensional’ landscape projection appeared above the stone table before him.

Countless living beings condensed into points of light upon it, like chess pieces.

A true sandbox game.

In this second round, Li Changshou had already steadily resigned himself to losing.

If so, he and the Dao Ancestor would be tied one to one.

With the Dao Ancestor’s competitive spirit rival to that of old men playing chess in the park, he would drag him into a third round!

The first round verified Li Changshou’s trump cards, determining if he qualified to compete in the chess game – he had won this round.

The second round was the life and death of Shang and Zhou – he would most likely lose this round.

The third round…

The battle between the Clearing and Severing Sects? That should be it.

The Dao Ancestor was truly formidable.

This move seemed to be just making a bet with him, but in reality, it forced him to make a choice, directly taking away his authority as the manager of the Investiture of the Gods, preventing him from continuing to interfere with the great calamity, making him take a preset position.

His hope of accumulating more advantages against the Heavenly Dao through the Investiture of the Gods was now nearly impossible.

Making the worst assumption, the Dao Ancestor would simplify the game, achieving his desired results in a short time, completing the final step of the Investiture of the Gods.

Suppressing the saints.

The Dao Ancestor’s appearance at Little Qiong Peak today was equivalent to the Heavenly Dao entering the game, directly fixing the ‘greatest variable,’ thereby letting the great chess game of the Investiture proceed according to the Heavenly Dao’s current script, unaffected by variables.

Truly brilliant.

“It seems there’s still some time before the battle between Zhou and Shang,” the Dao Ancestor smiled. “This poor Dao has always seen that little Ling’e cooking meals, but doesn’t know how they taste.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Please wait a moment, Ancestral Master, this disciple will arrange it right away.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou was about to stand.

But Hongjun Dao Ancestor said: “Ah, just stay seated. Can’t you use voice transmission? Though Ling’e is just an ordinary Golden Immortal, this poor Dao truly has a great fondness for her. If you and I didn’t have conflicts of ideology and position, this poor Dao would even want her to stay in the Purple Void Palace for some time. But alas, she cannot stay – you would probably directly destroy this heaven and earth. Rest assured, if this poor Dao were to act directly before you fell, I absolutely would not touch her. Even if I did, it would only be like with Chang’e – merely removing her memories. This is no lie – this poor Dao said the same to your senior back then.”

The elder and the youth’s gazes met for a moment, and Li Changshou nodded with a smile, removing the formation around the card room.

“Junior Sister, please prepare some good dishes for Ancestral Master; Lingli, bring over some roasted meat.”

Hongjun smiled and said: “Remember to prepare several spirit fish – this poor Dao hasn’t indulged in culinary desires for a long time.”

Li Changshou: …

Would this count as aiding the enemy?

In the card room, Ling’e and Zhong Ling looked at each other, while Bear Lingli, lying on the side, lazily stretched and shed tears of emotion from the corners of her mouth.

After the great feast, the Dao Ancestor transformed the wooden stool into a large recliner and lay there comfortably.

Ling’e and Bear Lingli cleaned up the empty plates, bowing and retreating, not feeling much pressure – they were just simply shaking hands, trembling feet, and panicking hearts, that’s all.

“Changgeng, do you have any more arrangements to make?”

“When Ancestral Master speaks of empty gaming, do you mean divination?”

“No, no divination,” the Dao Ancestor said calmly. “The Primordial World is but a chess board – what use are divination and hypotheticals? Let things continue to happen as they will. If you make no arrangements, this poor Dao has nothing to arrange either. We’ll just advance time to when Shang and Zhou decide their battle, and see the results.”

“Ancestral Master, why don’t we just wait for some time,” Li Changshou said. “This disciple also wishes to comprehend more about heaven and earth.”

“Very well,” the Dao Ancestor smiled. “Just afraid we might feel awkward after the atmosphere grows cold. Since it’s like this, this poor Dao will take a short rest first. When the Shang-Zhou conflict shows results, we’ll determine the winner of this round. From this moment on, whoever interferes loses this round. How about that?”

“This disciple obeys.”

Li Changshou slowly nodded.

With the Dao Ancestor sitting before him, his consciousness had to completely return to his main body, not daring to divide his attention even slightly. All his paper avatars around the world stopped their activities.

To interfere, one needed spare energy first.

“Burp.”

A certain Dao Ancestor patted his belly, showing a slightly satisfied smile, and muttered:

“Having company is truly nice.”

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