High in the sky, the winds ceased and clouds stilled, as heaven and earth fell silent.

The Primordial Heavenly Lord stood with his hands behind his back, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow, bearing no sacred countenance. His form seemed composed of clouds and mist, perfectly merged with the heaven and earth of this place.

This was a Heavenly Saint, one of the Three Pure Ones transformed from Pangu’s Primordial Spirit. Wielding the Banner of Pangu and holding the Jade Ruyi, he was second in cultivation only to Grand Pure Laozi among the Six Saints of Primordial Chaos.

Yet at this moment, this mighty being who should have dominated the situation upon appearing and determined the fate of all living beings with a single word was frowning as he gazed intently at something a thousand zhang away.

There lay a bank of mist and the Primordial Heavenly Lord…

Felt a slight threat.

Whoosh—

The mist was suddenly dispersed by a burst of force, revealing a tall figure within.

Li Changshou, alias Li Changgeng.

At this moment, Li Changshou still wore his long robes and carried no weapons, but a scale beam slowly materialized behind him, its weight still suspended in the air.

He too was gazing at the Primordial Heavenly Lord, their eyes meeting across the distance.

In this instant, Li Changshou completely understood his Second Uncle-Master’s intentions.

Second Uncle-Master didn’t want to place his bets on him, meaning he didn’t have enough trust in him.

And the Primordial Heavenly Lord also sensed Li Changshou’s resolute determination.

To rebel against Heaven!

“No need to hold back.”

The Primordial Heavenly Lord spoke softly, closing his eyes to wait as the Saint’s Dao rhythms swiftly gathered around him.

Li Changshou took a gentle breath, also closing his eyes as the phantom of a giant appeared behind him.

This was a realm beyond the extreme boundary of the Eight-Nine Mystic Art, a divine ability that Lady Houtu had never envisioned.

Li Changshou had achieved this ability by stealing the Heaven and Earth’s Original Essence through ‘Simulated Primordial Spirit – Purple Qi of Primal Chaos’ and absorbing it into himself.

Similarly, it could not be taught to other beings.

[Trump Card: Pangu True Body Visualization!]

When this phantom appeared, the Sun Star dimmed, and the cosmos seemed to manifest a void that devoured everything. Heaven, Earth, and the Great Dao appeared to teeter on the brink of collapse.

The Primordial Heavenly Lord showed a slight smile and muttered “Not bad,” but then shook his head slightly.

‘Still not enough.’

The Primordial Heavenly Lord said: “Just this alone cannot harm me.”

Li Changshou smiled calmly, raising his right hand in a sword finger toward the Primordial Heavenly Lord, as the giant phantom behind him gripped an enormous axe!

Second Uncle Master gives him a few moves was let him prove his strength, prove whether he is qualified to rebel against Heaven.

Therefore, he only had one chance.

Only by wounding Second Uncle-Master with a single strike could he possibly change his mind.

Second Uncle-Master and Elder Guangcheng were truly too clever.

After receiving the Ancestral Master’s ‘hint,’ Elder Guangcheng had already prepared to sacrifice himself, letting the Enlightened Immortal Sect survive in the gap between Heaven’s Dao and living beings, demonstrating the sect’s position of following Heaven’s will.

Elder Guangcheng’s earlier anger and refutation were mere words for Heaven’s Dao to hear, serving as his letter of allegiance to Heaven’s Dao.

But now, if living beings couldn’t unite all their strength, he only had a seventy percent chance of victory, and the possibility of the Dao Ancestor turning the tables in the final step was truly too great.

[The Final Step] had not yet arrived, the time was not right, preparations were insufficient, and what needed to happen was far from occurring.

This was merely the third-to-last step in Li Changshou’s plan to break the situation.

Li Changshou had only three paths before him—

Either convince Second Uncle-Master to change his mind now;

Or make Second Uncle-Master lose faith in Heaven’s Dao;

Or, before the final battle with the Dao Ancestor, slay Second Uncle-Master and seize the Banner of Pangu!

At this point, there was no other way.

Sensing that the Primordial Bell had left the Five Continents’ range, Li Changshou’s concerns lessened somewhat.

Though he could have moved Small Jade Peak away earlier, it was also his ‘hostage’ placed in Heaven’s Court, and moving it would affect the entire situation.

Rebelling against Heaven was no easy matter. The phrase “my fate lies in my hands, not Heaven’s” was merely a slogan that stirred the blood, of little practical use.

True rebellion against Heaven required long-term planning, constant positioning, and finding Heaven’s weaknesses!

It also required walking step by step down a path no predecessor had taken, possessing trump cards that made Heaven fear, dread, and become helpless!

Moreover, it required uniting all living beings who could be united and winning over all trustworthy allies.

Thus, at this time, this place, under these circumstances!

He must reveal some trump cards, wound Second Uncle-Master the Primordial Heavenly Lord, and injure this second strongest Saint in Heaven and Earth!

Hum!

Strands of purple light appeared on Li Changshou’s wrist, instantly condensing into brilliant magical seals.

Almost instantaneously, a thin light membrane spread behind Li Changshou, manifesting hundreds of vortexes upon it.

The moment the vortexes formed, spiritual energy from within a hundred thousand li was rapidly drawn to this location, merging into Li Changshou’s Dao body!

It was almost the same as when casting the Hundredfold Spirit Cannon!

But Li Changshou directly absorbed the boundless spiritual energy into himself!

In this instant, blinding light condensed at Li Changshou’s fingertip, and countless fissures appeared in the cosmos before him, shattering like a mirror surface.

[Trump Card: Simple and Unadorned Hundredfold Spirit Finger.]

Bloom!

Li Changshou lightly pointed his finger, and a beam of spiritual power compressed to its limit shot toward the Primordial Heavenly Lord.

The sky vault was like a giant beast opening its mouth, resembling an inverted abyss!

But this was not all.

The phantom behind Li Changshou swung its axe at the Primordial Heavenly Lord, an arc of light entering the ‘abyss,’ following that beam of light!

Heaven and Earth shook.

In the high sky, starlight flickered unstably, those fissures directly swallowed the Primordial Heavenly Lord’s sacred body, and the world was filled with the intense light bursting from the fissures!

Boundless spiritual energy rippled outward, transforming into fierce winds that blew toward all parts of the South Jambudvipa Continent.

Below, disciples of both the Enlightened and Severing sects watched this extraordinary sight with tense expressions.

Among them, only masters like the South Pole Immortal, Many Treasures Daoist, and Immortal Lady Yun Xiao could barely comprehend the strike Li Changshou had unleashed.

And precisely because they barely comprehended it, their hearts were incredibly shaken.

This strike was no weaker than a Saint’s methods!

It could even have severely wounded the Sixth Saint from that day!

In other words, when slaying the Saint together with Zhao Gongming that day, Li Changshou was still concealing his strength and had not revealed all his power, merely to fulfill Zhao Gongming’s achievement.

Time seemed to have been fast-forwarded, as that boundlessly strong light swiftly dissipated.

The ‘abyss’ closed, and the shattered cosmos was quickly repaired by Heaven’s Dao power;

With a wave of the Primordial Heavenly Lord’s hand, the sky vault instantly returned to azure blue.

Like a bright mirror of azure blue.

The disciples of all the Saints held their breath, and though there were only two figures in the high sky, they didn’t know where to look for a moment.

Li Changshou stood quietly in the air, his hands hanging naturally, his aura slightly turbulent.

The Primordial Heavenly Lord still stood with his hands behind his back, his Dao robe without a single wrinkle, though his Saint’s Dao rhythm was much weaker than before.

Drip!

A drop of fresh blood fell from the high sky, creating rippling waves in mid-air before transforming into streams of pure spiritual energy that dispersed into Heaven and Earth.

From the Primordial Heavenly Lord’s left arm, drops of Saint’s blood slowly fell, silently evaporating.

“Second Uncle-Master,” Li Changshou’s calm voice spread throughout Heaven and Earth, but he simply asked: “Is this sufficient?”

The Primordial Heavenly Lord closed his eyes and sighed slowly: “Let me consider it carefully.”

Li Changshou frowned slightly.

Had his proof still not been enough? Were the trump cards he’d revealed still insufficient?

So be it.

“This disciple awaits Second Uncle-Master’s favorable response.”

Li Changshou made a Daoist salute and descended from the high sky.

But the Primordial Heavenly Lord remained standing in the air, eyes closed and silent, like a clay statue.

As Li Changshou’s figure descended, the disciples of both sects had different reactions.

The Severing Sect immortals were all overjoyed, almost wanting to rush up and cheer a few times.

After all, Second Uncle-Master had always been their ‘Dao heart shadow’; for several senior disciples, he could be considered their ‘childhood shadow.’

The Enlightened Sect immortals were as silent as cicadas in winter, their gazes at Li Changshou quite complex, with a touch more awe.

Li Changshou looked toward Yun Xiao, who was holding the Primordial Golden Dipper, and said gently: “Keep watch over Elder Guangcheng for now.”

“Mm,” Yun Xiao nodded tenderly, light gleaming dependently in her eyes, dense spiritual power at her hand.

Then, Heaven and Earth fell into silence again, all sides waiting for the Primordial Heavenly Lord to speak.

After a while.

Li Changshou spoke again: “Grand Preceptor Jiang, first pass judgment on Da Ji.”

Da Ji’s body trembled slightly, but she only lowered her head in silence.

Jiang Shang, who had been sitting with that group of mortals in the corner of the high platform, hurriedly jumped up, his gray hair and white beard flying, clasped his hands in salute to Li Changshou, and quickly sat back in his original Grand Preceptor’s chair.

Just as he sat down and picked up the judgment block, he didn’t dare to drop it casually.

Jiang Shang looked up and asked: “Star-Lord, what crime should Da Ji be charged with?”

“Judge her crimes as a Zhou official, see how you would judge,” Li Changshou said.

“This…”

Jiang Shang frowned deeply, staring at Da Ji’s bewitching figure, yet without a trace of desire.

This Grand Preceptor has seen women before.

After a long while, Jiang Shang sighed softly and said:

“Since ancient times, the victor becomes king, and now the Shang nation has been defeated by Zhou, regardless of the process, this is the result.

I am a Zhou official, following the Great King’s command to judge the crimes of the former Shang King’s consort, now, I sentence Da Ji to death.

Da Ji, do you accept this?”

Qiong Xiao said from the clouds: “Is this even a crime?”

Yun Xiao glanced at her sister, and Qiong Xiao immediately closed her small mouth, her face full of gloom.

Li Changshou looked at Qiong Xiao and said slowly:

“Judging only victory and defeat, without crime or name, this is already the best outcome Da Ji could hope for.”

Then he looked at Da Ji and said:

“Shed your body and meet your King at the God-Making Terrace.”

Da Ji sighed: “Da Ji thanks the Grand Preceptor for his kindness, and thanks the Star-Lord for his protection.”

Li Changshou continued: “But Da Ji’s situation is somewhat special… Where is the God-Beating Staff?”

Golden light flashed in the high sky, and a pillar of golden light descended from heaven, condensing into a golden wooden staff in Li Changshou’s palm.

The Heaven’s Dao artifact, the God-Beating Staff.

The God-Beating Staff first pointed at Da Ji, and her body collapsed softly to the ground, as two beams of light flew from her forehead, transforming into two graceful figures, one solid and one ethereal.

The ethereal figure was a soul, with a face identical to Su Da Ji’s, alluring and enchanting;

The other figure was naturally the Nine-Tailed Fox, now dragging nine snow-white fox tails, with another countenance, devastatingly beautiful.

Li Changshou asked: “Between you two, who is Queen Da Ji?”

“It is I,” the Nine-Tailed Fox sighed softly, not daring to raise her head to look at Li Changshou, kneeling prostrate on the ground, “She is only Su Da Ji’s original soul whom I imprisoned, and whom I have harmed to death. Please, Star-Lord, allow her to reincarnate, all responsibility lies with me.”

Li Changshou nodded slowly and said: “In that case…”

“Wait!”

A shout came from among the Enlightened Sect immortals, as Immortal Manjusri stepped forward half a step, staring at the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Manjusri spoke firmly:

“Star-Lord is showing too much favoritism.

This is a monster!

A female demon who seized the body of a mortal woman, infiltrated the Shang King’s palace to become the Human Emperor’s beloved consort—what crime does this deserve?

Why only punish our Senior Brother while speaking so gently to such a demon woman!”

Li Changshou said: “She will die now, her soul entering the God-Making Terrace. What is improper about this disposition?”

Another Enlightened Sect immortal said: “Such a monster should have its soul scattered. How can it be enshrined as a proper deity of the Heavenly Court!”

“Fellow Daoist,” Li Changshou smiled, “are you teaching me how to make gods?”

The shouting Enlightened Sect immortal immediately fell silent.

The South Pole Immortal smiled and said:

“Junior Brother Changgeng, what do you think of this?

Why not absolve both Elder Guangcheng and this fox woman of their crimes? Let the fox woman’s physical body enter the God-Making Terrace, and Junior Brother Guangcheng return to the Jade Void Palace for punishment.”

“Heaven’s rules do not allow exchanges. Rules are rules.”

Li Changshou said calmly: “Da Ji must die today, Elder Guangcheng must lose his cultivation, and now we await Second Uncle-Master’s decision on whether Elder Guangcheng must undergo reincarnation.”

The South Pole Immortal sighed: “Junior Brother Changgeng…”

“I am the Great White Star.”

“Star-Lord,” the South Pole Immortal advised earnestly, “we all know clearly why Da Ji entered the mortal world, though it’s not convenient to speak of it and harm that person’s reputation.

Junior Brother Guangcheng had his hidden reasons, and Da Ji had her hidden circumstances. Though unrelated, they have now collided.

Why not let it end here? Turn big matters small and small matters nothing, letting Heaven and Earth remain peaceful. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Li Changshou: …

Though he had fully considered this situation before, seeing it unfold still left him somewhat speechless.

This was one of the three core problems of rebelling against Heaven.

These three problems, ranked by difficulty:

First, the Dao Ancestor and Heaven’s Dao would not sit idly waiting for death; on the contrary, they completely controlled the game.

Second, the Dao Ancestor and Heaven’s Dao possessed nearly endless power and could utilize Heaven and Earth’s fundamental forces.

Third, living beings could not maintain a united front.

This was understandable.

The immortals of both sects present here were already among those with the deepest understanding of the Great Dao in Heaven and Earth, yet only a few of them understood Heaven’s Dao’s oppression of living beings.

The others had long accepted the model of Heaven’s Dao dominating everything, seeing nothing wrong with it.

Li Changshou said: “Star of Longevity, no need to persuade further. Today those who should be judged must be judged.”

The Enlightened Sect immortals fell silent.

The God-Beating Staff in Li Changshou’s hand fell, and Su Da Ji’s body directly shattered into spiritual energy. Su Da Ji’s mortal soul was taken away and naturally sent to the Netherworld for reincarnation.

The Nine-Tailed Fox was again bound by immortal rope, kneeling in the center of the high platform.

Jiang Shang understood and spoke firmly:

“Da Ji, do you have anything to say?”

“Da Ji has words.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox raised her head to look at Jiang Shang, smiled gently, and said softly:

“Thank you, Daoist Master. I was ignorant before and caused you trouble.

When I met the King, my heart was full of desolation. I had no intention of serving a mortal man and would merely enchant him to sleep each night.

But after several months, for reasons unknown, my heart became filled with his shadow. I watched him frown with worry over Shang’s fate, watched him chat and joke with those old men, watched him unable to sleep night after night.

By the time I came to my senses, I realized I had developed feelings and entered the劫 of love.

My previous delusion was merely due to my charm magic’s failure, my unwillingness to accept it, wanting to regain that dignity; now I know that being able to stay with someone who understands you is the greatest blessing.

Later, I could only use Da Ji’s body to stay by his side…

I didn’t know how to make him happy, didn’t know how to ease his worries. I was just an ordinary demon who had been chosen, only able to watch him gradually grow old.

I’m quite grateful for this destiny.

If… I can go to the God-Making Terrace, could you please help shape me into Da Ji’s form? I don’t want him to know I’m a fox demon, don’t want him to think I got close to him to harm his life.

Thank you, Daoist Master, thank you, Star-Lord.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Shang privately thought it strange why the Nine-Tailed Fox would call him Daoist Master, but he didn’t mind such details. He picked up the wooden tablet beside him, about to throw it.

She too was a person of bitter fate.

Suddenly, angry shouts came from the side:

“Da Ji cannot enter the God-Making Terrace! How can this demon woman achieve immortality through god-making!”

The immortals traced the sound with their divine sense and saw two youths rush out from among the Enlightened Sect immortals—one with sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, the other with a square face of noble bearing, both wearing expressions of anger.

They were King Zhou’s and Queen Jiang’s sons who had been taken away by Elder Guangcheng and Elder Chijing earlier: Yin Hong and Yin Jiao!

Yin Hong cursed: “Da Ji harmed our mother and brought our Shang nation to this state—how can she be made a god!

Why should she become an immortal in the Heavenly Court?

You, Great White Star, hold your position improperly with personal feelings, unable to convince others!”

“Indeed, Da Ji’s sins are deep; her soul should be scattered!”

Li Changshou frowned, but before he could speak, an old man jumped out from the Severing Sect side—it was Lu Yue.

Lu Yue immediately scolded: “Two wet-behind-the-ears youngsters, how dare you speak rashly of justice here!”

The Enlightened Sect’s Elder Chijing couldn’t help but step forward and say to Lu Yue:

“If anyone here has the right to seek revenge on Da Ji, it would be my disciple and nephew. Their mother was harmed by Da Ji; they should have the chance to speak.”

Immortal Lady Yun Xiao said softly: “The root of royal family strife lies entirely with King Zhou; Da Ji couldn’t make the decisions.

Now that King Zhou is dead, even if these two princes have grievances, they shouldn’t blame others. They should go to the God-Making Terrace and ask King Zhou why he did what he did.”

“Indeed,” Many Treasures Daoist sighed, “Yin Hong, Yin Jiao, it was your father who killed your mother. This is a mortal royal tragedy, unrelated to others.

Though the Nine-Tailed Fox was deeply involved, plainly speaking, she was just an excuse your father used, bearing the infamy for your father.”

Yin Hong said: “How obvious was the change in our father’s temperament after Da Ji entered the palace!”

“She bewitched our father with demon words!”

“Enough!”

A light rebuke came from the direction of Chaoge City as golden light flashed, and a female immortal wearing battle armor and carrying a great sword on her back flew over—it was You Qin Xuanya.

“Yin Hong, Yin Jiao, step back and stop tarnishing your father’s name further.”

Yin Hong and Yin Jiao were about to argue, but seeing the newcomer’s appearance, they were stunned, thinking of the portraits hanging in the ancestral temple.

“An… Ancestor…”

“Why didn’t you save our father and mother!”

“I am a Heavenly Court immortal; I cannot interfere in mortal affairs.”

You Qin Xuanya remained calm and composed even before the many great immortals, saying plainly:

“Royal family matters are hard to judge right from wrong; harem strife begins with outside relatives.

Queen Jiang’s death had little to do with Da Ji. Your mother’s death was collateral damage in the struggle between King Zhou and the Jiang family.

Today, if you wish to slay Da Ji, I can petition the Star Lord;

But the Heavenly Court’s god-making is for the Heavenly Court to decide, not for you to interfere with.

Now apologize to the Star Lord!

Do you know that if not for the Star Lord’s rescue back then, the Shang lineage would have ended long ago? How would you two even exist!”

Yin Hong and Yin Jiao’s eyes reddened as they looked at You Qin Xuanya’s stern beautiful face, then raised their heads to look at Li Changshou’s figure.

Li Changshou waved his hand and said: “Xuanya, take Yin Hong and Yin Jiao to wait in Chaoge City. They need not participate in what follows.”

“This commander accepts the order.”

You Qin Xuanya clasped her hands in salute, looked at Yin Hong and Yin Jiao, and rebuked lightly:

“Come with me now.”

Yin Hong and Yin Jiao instinctively looked toward Elder Chijing, who frowned and said: “You may go for now.”

“Master…”

“But this! Ah!”

The two youths lowered their heads and sighed, then rode clouds toward You Qin Xuanya, who took them back to Chaoge City.

The high platform area fell quiet again until You Qin Xuanya’s figure disappeared near the Star-Plucking Tower. Only then did Li Changshou sigh softly and push the God-Beating Staff in his hand toward Jiang Shang.

“Using this to execute her will let Da Ji’s soul go to the God-Making Terrace. She and King Zhou were husband and wife; reunion is not a bad ending.

When making gods, just give her some idle deity position, or make them a pair of deities.”

Jiang Shang stood up, completely confused, not knowing why this senior great deity was telling him these things, holding the God-Beating Staff in his palm.

Presently, Jiang Shang first sat down and said to Da Ji:

“Now judging Da Ji, death sentence, soul to enter the God-Making Terrace!”

Then he stood up on his own, holding the God-Beating Staff with both hands, quickly walked to Da Ji’s side, gripped the staff’s handle with his right hand, and raised the wooden staff high.

Da Ji tightly closed her eyes, tears rolling down, but her lips wore a smile.

Divine light flashed from the wooden staff in Jiang Shang’s hand, about to strike down on Da Ji’s head!

“Wait, this poor Daoist has something to say.”

Another unexpected turn, branches sprouting endlessly.

Golden light flashed from the west side as auspicious clouds spread, and two figures slowly approached.

The Western Conductor and the Western Teaching’s Senior Brother, Maitreya.

Divine light surged in Li Changshou’s eyes as he looked at Maitreya.

Maitreya unconsciously stepped back half a step, staying behind the Sacred Western Conductor, showing Li Changshou a refined smile.

Maitreya smiled and said: “Star-Lord, have you been well?”

Li Changshou didn’t directly attack, saying calmly: “Thanks to Fellow Daoist’s fortune, I’ve gained many troubles.”

Maitreya said: “To be able to cause Star Lord some trouble, this poor Daoist is deeply honored.”

Li Changshou said: “If I have any strength left today to kill Fellow Daoist, I certainly won’t leave any remains.”

“Likewise,” Maitreya clasped his hands and smiled, saying, “Earlier this poor Daoist saved living beings from three great thousand-world realms, thereby washing away Heaven’s Dao sins and gaining Heaven’s Dao’s acknowledgment. Now if Star-Lord wants to punish this poor Daoist, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

What a casually chosen excuse.

Truly worthy of being Heaven’s Dao’s watchdog who would replace him.

“My wanting to kill you is purely personal enmity,” Li Changshou said calmly, “just like with Burning Lamp.”

Maitreya nodded, then stepped out from behind the Western Conductor and spoke loudly:

“Let’s set aside our grudge for now, but Da Ji cannot enter the Register of Gods.

The Register of Gods should judge based on origin and destiny, requiring Heaven’s Dao’s approval to become a proper deity of the Heavenly Court and enter Heaven’s Dao’s sequence.

Star-Lord, do you perhaps think the Heavenly Court is now your domain alone?”

Li Changshou said calmly: “The Heavenly Court selects immortals and deities primarily based on character, secondly ability, and only after that, origin and destiny.”

“Oh?”

Maitreya smiled and said: “Then why does this poor Daoist feel that what’s most important for Heavenly Court immortals is still their origin?

Can the Star Lord truly still represent Heaven’s Dao?

Does Star-Lord perhaps think we don’t know you’ve fallen out with Heaven’s Dao?

Today at this place, why not openly discuss and debate everything? Star-Lord has lost Heaven’s Dao’s support, why continue putting on such airs?”

Li Changshou closed his eyes and sighed lightly: “It seems you dare to appear because you’ve made thorough preparations.”

Maitreya said: “I dare not claim thorough preparations, only that we received Heaven’s Dao’s permission to request Star Lord make a decision.

Star-Lord, please kill Da Ji now and destroy her divine soul.

Otherwise, don’t blame us for taking action to correct this matter for Star-Lord!”

Many Treasures Daoist frowned and said: “Just with you lot?”

“Just with us.”

Maitreya’s smile deepened: “Friend Many Treasures, why don’t you think about why your master hasn’t appeared yet?”

Many Treasures Daoist’s expression changed as he glared at Maitreya.

Just then!

A cross-shaped light flashed in the high sky!

Many Treasures Daoist swept his sleeve, and that light instantly fell to this place, hovering a hundred zhang in the air.

A broken sword!

The Severing Sect immortals looked up and all changed color drastically!

The Green Pinewood Sword!

The broken Green Pinewood Sword!

“Master! Master!”

Qiong Xiao couldn’t help but cry out, her voice trembling slightly.

Just then, a strand of Dao rhythm flowed, and a crack opened above the Severing Sect immortals’ heads. A figure fell from within, barely managing to stand straight in mid-air.

He was bathed in blood, his long hair stained with gore, his aura already very weak. His left shoulder was completely shattered, wounds covered his entire body, four sword phantoms circled him, and the formation diagram beneath his feet had been pierced through.

The Sovereign of the Severing Teaching…

“Master!”

“Master, what happened to you!”

Dozens of streams of light flashed as the Severing Sect immortals immediately gathered around the Sovereign of the Severing Teaching.

Many Treasures Daoist, Yun Xiao, and other senior disciples watched their surroundings vigilantly while Gui Ling and Qiong Xiao supported the Sovereign of the Severing Teaching from both sides.

“Master, what happened to you?”

“It’s nothing, won’t die, cough, cough cough!”

The Sovereign of the Severing Teaching immediately steadied his breath, but his injuries were too severe, and for a moment he couldn’t even stand up.

He looked at Li Changshou, who was currently watching him, grinned at Li Changshou, and said softly:

“Got ambushed by Teacher.

I’ve held you back, Changgeng.”

“Rest well, Third Uncle-Master,” Li Changshou shook his head and said gently, “With the Purple Qi of Primal Chaos and Sacred Merit restricting you, Third Uncle-Master couldn’t display much of your true strength. No need to blame yourself.

However, it seems the Dao Ancestor has made the first move.”

Li Changshou looked up at the sky and said coldly:

“Fellow Daoist, why not show yourself?”

A light laugh came from high in the sky as golden light surged, condensing into a figure.

The newcomer wore a golden kasaya with long flowing hair, had a serene countenance with eyes flickering with light, held a Seven Treasures Wonderous Tree, and sat upon rainbow-colored auspicious clouds.

“Subhuti?!”

“How is the Sixth Saint still alive?”

The Severing and Enlightened Sect immortals were all shocked, but Li Changshou’s expression remained normal.

“Be careful,” the Sovereign of the Severing Teaching sighed, “He’s just a vessel reshaped by Heaven’s Dao, containing Heaven’s Dao’s will, counting as Teacher’s avatar.

His strength is above mine.”

That ‘Subhuti’ smiled with a flower between his fingers, looking down at Li Changshou, and said calmly:

“Fellow Daoist, shall we begin this third battle?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Primordial Heavenly Lord sighed lightly, his figure flashed from the high sky and landed before the Enlightened Sect immortals, saying:

“Elder Guangcheng has a deep destiny and righteous origins; he shouldn’t be cast into reincarnation like this.”

Li Changshou nodded, made a Daoist salute to the Primordial Heavenly Lord, and said seriously:

“Fellow Daoist, you cannot save Elder Guangcheng.”

“Haha! Hahaha!”

Maitreya suddenly threw back his head and laughed, his laughter full of madness.

At this moment, waves of Sacred pressure echoed through Heaven and Earth, all things fell silent, Heaven and Earth were completely still, and this laughter was particularly grating.

“Li Changgeng! Your day has finally come!

Opposing Heaven’s Dao, who do you think you are?

Haha! Hahaha!”

Having submitted to Heaven’s Dao, Maitreya truly felt victory was assured.

Now, with the Dao Ancestor’s avatar ‘Subhuti’ appearing, able to strike at living beings at will, this was one of the Dao Ancestor’s trump cards.

—’Subhuti’s’ appearance was merely to irritate Li Changshou; this figure should have been a gray-robed Daoist, and a gray-robed Daoist possessing Sacred strength.

The Sovereign of the Severing Teaching had fallen into an ambush, likely calculated by Heaven’s Dao when he was rushing here, directly crippled by the Dao Ancestor’s strike.

The Primordial Heavenly Lord had seized the opportunity to make his choice, standing on Heaven’s Dao’s side.

The Sacred Western Conductor already owed boundless merit and had deep grudges against Li Changshou, who naturally also belonged to Heaven’s Dao’s camp.

The Sacred Mother was not involved in this situation; in this Heaven and Earth, only the strongest Sacred One remained behind Li Changshou, yet to appear.

No matter how Maitreya looked at it, their side had the advantage.

However he thought about it, Li Changshou was already at his end.

This was the first of the three great problems of rebelling against Heaven—the Dao Ancestor would never sit idly waiting for death.

The Dao Ancestor had countless ways to start the battle, and now even directly declared that this game was over before it had begun.

The Sovereign of the Severing Teaching was gravely injured, the Demon-Slaying Formation broken, and the living beings had lost their pillar of support.

More importantly, the Severing Sect immortals had not grown timid or retreated because of the Sovereign of the Severing Teaching’s injuries.

On the contrary, their eyes were full of fury, and without needing destiny’s drive, they were already beside themselves with anger!

The Severing Sect had already lost their heads.

This was the Dao Ancestor’s method, giving Li Changshou no chance—methods that could achieve multiple goals in a single step!

“Brother-in-law!”

Qiong Xiao stepped forward holding the Golden Crocodile Shears, gritting her teeth and shouting:

“Let’s fight them to the death!”

Yun Xiao silently took out the Jade Image, quietly watching Li Changshou’s back, her eyes full of calm.

Many Treasures Daoist sighed lightly: “Heaven’s Dao, Heaven’s Dao, truly our Severing Sect was never favored by Heaven’s Dao.”

But then, Many Treasures clenched his left fist, and crushed a jade talisman, and a giant drum’s phantom appeared behind him as he roared:

“Where are the Severing Sect immortals?

Where are the Severing Sect immortals?

Master has been wounded, rush to the South Continent!

Heaven wishes to destroy our Severing Sect, today, for ourselves,

Let us serve as a lifeline of survival!

The Severing Sect rebels against Heaven!”

Lu Yue pointed at the sky and cursed loudly: “To hell with Heaven’s Dao!”

“They wounded our Master, only death in battle remains!”

The Severing Sect immortals responded thunderously as countless streams of light rippled through Heaven and Earth!

Li Changshou showed a pained expression and slowly closed his eyes.

Suddenly!

His figure shot sideways, causing ripples in the cosmos, a pagoda’s shadow hovering above his shoulder, like an arrow leaving the string, like a comet in the sky.

The cosmos shattered, and the Dao patterns trembled!

Those after images shattered together with the cosmic fragments as a void fissure shot toward Maitreya!

The Western Conductor frowned slightly, made a hand seal with his left hand, and pressed down toward Li Changshou’s approaching figure.

But!

As the Western Conductor struck out with his palm, Li Changshou’s figure strangely flickered several times, splitting into dozens of phantoms, all pouncing toward the Western Conductor and Maitreya’s figures simultaneously.

Maitreya unconsciously stepped back half a step, suddenly feeling a chill on his neck as a large hand had already gripped it.

In the next instant, Maitreya felt the world spinning and his vision darkening. When he came to his senses, he had appeared in the high sky, the surrounding cosmos pressing down, a fist rapidly growing larger in his vision!

“Li—!”

Bang…

A blood lotus bloomed in the sky.

Li Changshou’s left hand held Maitreya’s corpse by the collar as he watched the shattered divine soul and vessel before him, spewing True Samadhi Fire from his mouth that directly engulfed Maitreya’s corpse.

He casually scattered the ashes.

Then, Li Changshou glanced at the Western Conductor, revealing a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

“I have some difficulty killing Sacred Ones, but killing your disciples is no problem.

Today, whichever Sacred Friend dares to kill Severing Sect immortals.

I, Li Changshou, will surely come to settle accounts with you in the future.”

“Fellow Daoist,” that ‘Subhuti’ spoke, “why make such useless struggles?”

Li Changshou said: “Fellow Daoists directly entering the fray, the effect is truly not bad.”

“Sigh.”

‘Subhuti’ sighed softly, “Your master has already come, presumably to duel with this poor Daoist. Why not wait for the result? That way you can leave with peace of mind.”

After speaking, ‘Subhuti’s’ figure slowly dissipated, streams of golden light rising toward the Nine Heavens.

Two streams of light flew from Li Changshou’s sleeve, also going to the Nine Heavens.

They were the Heaven-Earth Ruler and the Ground-Leaving Flame Banner!

In the Purple Void Palace, Three Thousand Great Daos manifested myriad shadows.

An old Daoist came slowly sitting on a wind-fire cushion, a Taiji Diagram slowly shining behind him, the Heaven-Earth Ruler and Primordial Five Elements Banners flying together, slowly rotating around the old Daoist.

“Fellow Daoist.”

The Grand Pure Sacred One slowly opened his eyes, staring at the layered figures before him.

“Why bully my disciple… harm my younger brother…”