What? What’s going on?

Bian Zhuang stood by the Heavenly River, gazing at the Lingxiao Palace, too shocked to speak.

In all his time in Heaven, this was the first time Bian Zhuang had seen the radiance of Lingxiao Palace dim, the first time he’d felt the Heavenly Dao’s power become scattered and disordered within the Heavenly Court.

Several hundred thousand Heavenly River troops spontaneously gathered at the riverbank. Bian Zhuang heard Goddess Nuwa’s summons in his heart, reminded of his original backing.

He wanted to throw down his armor and rush to the Central Divine State but then thought of the potential conflict between the Heavenly Court and the Heaven-opposing faction. He wanted to rush into Lingxiao Palace to see what was happening.

But he couldn’t.

As the Grand Commander of the Heavenly River Army, he had to maintain order among the troops. Like other direct commanders of Heaven’s forces, he could only use his divine sense to glimpse Lingxiao Palace from afar…

Bian Zhuang watched…

The God of Wealth went in, Mother Doumu was beautiful but her aura was terrifying;

The Jade Emperor came out, looking dashing in white robes, suddenly calling himself “this poor Daoist” and joining the Heaven-opposing faction.

Wait, the Heavenly Emperor opposing Heaven?

Question marks covered Bian Zhuang’s forehead as he felt dizzy, two words rising in his heart:

“Ridiculous.”

“Marshal!”

A shout came from behind: “What are we waiting for? His Majesty has already spoken!”

Bian Zhuang frowned deeply, remaining silent for a moment.

The officers spoke up one after another:

“Marshal, we are all of human origin, how can we not answer Holy Mother’s summons?”

“Grand White Star has gone to confront the Heavenly Dao to protect all living beings!

Something is wrong with this Heavenly Dao!

My Immortal Sect was fine one day, then suddenly gone the next! Central Divine State was so prosperous before, but in a few decades the Heavenly Dao made it decline!”

“This junior doesn’t know about the great matters of Heaven and Earth, nor have I felt the oppression of the Heavenly Dao directly. Everything has gone smoothly, but with the Holy Mother’s summons and Grand White Star going to Purple Mystic Palace, things must have reached an irreversible point.

A common man may not understand affairs of state, but can still shed blood fighting the enemy!

If we care about our positions in the Heavenly Court, wouldn’t we be losing the fighting spirit of humanity!”

Bian Zhuang still refused to speak, his eyebrows furrowed into a ‘river’ character.

A heavenly general cursed: “Marshal if you’re afraid of death, we brothers will resign and go ourselves!”

“Me, afraid of death?!”

Bian Zhuang jumped up with bulging eyes, spittle flying:

“If I wasn’t trying to keep you all steady, I would’ve gone over there already!

I came up with Grand White Star! This nine-toothed rake was given to me by the Old Lord!

Am I not anxious? Am I heartless?

Look back at these several hundred thousand brothers! If you leaders rush forward, how can they not follow?

They’re all Yuan Immortals and True Immortals, without even Heavenly Immortal cultivation, they can’t use Heaven’s battle formations to oppose Heaven, what could they do?

Die for nothing?

Ah!”

The officers fell silent, hanging their heads one by one.

Bian Zhuang took a deep breath and sighed:

“This Marshal got emotional, don’t… don’t take it to heart.

I won’t stop Heavenly Immortals and Golden Immortals who want to go, others stay here and wait, and no one moves without my orders.

Well then, I’ll go find Commander Ao Yi and ask what’s going on.”

As he finished speaking and was about to turn and ride the clouds, a dragon’s roar came from the direction of Lingxiao Palace. A blue dragon soared through the air, quickly landing before Bian Zhuang.

It was Ao Yi!

Ao Yi shouted: “Where is the Heavenly River Army!”

Bian Zhuang stepped forward immediately: “All here!”

Ao Yi took out a jade tiger tally from his sleeve:

“Queen Mother orders the Heavenly Court to open the Middle Heaven Gate, granting passage to humanity’s Holy Mother!

The Heavenly Court suspends operations for one day, and all department deities are temporarily relieved of duties!

The Heavenly River Army is ordered to guard from the Middle Heaven Gate to the Thirty-Third Heaven, protecting humanity’s Holy Mother and the Heaven-opposing heroes!”

The officers responded in unison, each turning to find their unit commanders. Bian Zhuang also breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just as Bian Zhuang was about to speak, Ao Yi winked at him and transmitted a few words of instruction.

Soon after, Bian Zhuang leaped into the air, holding his sword, and declared:

“The Heavenly Dao’s selfish desires have affected the operation of the Three Realms. The Heavenly Court exists to protect the Three Realms and shield the weak. If Heaven is unjust, the Heavenly Court will not respect its commands!

Though the Heavenly Court was established by the Heavenly Dao to manage the Three Realms;

The immortals and soldiers of the Heavenly Court are all beings of these Three Realms!

This time, the Heavenly River Army will escort the army attacking Purple Mystic Palace. Any Heavenly Immortals or Golden Immortals who wish to assist may join the rear formation!

This Marshal will go!”

Several hundred thousand Heavenly River troops responded thunderously, their shouts shaking the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Not just the Heavenly River Army, but the Eight Department Deities and forces from all departments began to move.

The Queen Mother sat in Lingxiao Palace, holding the封神榜 (Investiture of the Gods List), suppressing its power;

In Tongming Palace, the deities who usually maintained the Heavenly Court’s operations were now working to obstruct the flow of Heavenly Dao’s power, dispersing it and closely watching for changes in the Heavenly Dao.

In Divine Punishment Palace, the lightning in the Ten Thousand Thunder Pool had been sealed by layers of immortal power;

In truth, the Heaven-sent divine punishments had no connection to the Ten Thousand Thunder Pool, but the Heavenly Court’s immortals and deities sought peace of mind.

‘Opposing the Heavenly Dao.’

Easy to say, but for the human immortals in the Heavenly Court, it felt rather heavy.

The Heavenly Court was established by the Dao Ancestor in ancient times as a supplement to the Heavenly Dao, responsible for maintaining the operation of the Three Realms; now to deny the Heavenly Dao and oppose it inevitably caused some unease among the Heavenly Court immortals and deities.

This could be considered a tribulation for the Heavenly Court.

But at this moment, few could see the direction this tribulation would take.

Rumbling war drums sounded, and countless starlights had gathered below the Middle Heaven Gate, rapidly surging toward it.

Human Heroes – ancient human warriors who died in battle, their beliefs undiminished, relying on the merit and divine power of human emperors’ incense, condensing the collective will of humanity up and down, protecting the human race of Hongmeng.

But the most numerous now were not the Hero Army, but human immortals.

Saint Nuwa condensed her hundred-zhang tall true form to human size, withdrew her snake tail, donned battle armor, and led several tens of thousands of unyielding human heroes skyward first.

Wheels rolled as the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of Fire Cloud Cave led several hundred thousand human heroes following closely behind.

This was all of Fire Cloud Cave’s foundation.

And after these massive numbers of heroes came countless immortals, countless living beings.

Azure dragons coiled through the sky, several hundred ancient dragons mixed among the immortals, their domineering aura causing many immortals’ power to flow erratically.

Horn blasts suddenly sounded as large numbers of the Ancient Tribe rushed from the northern lands, deploying their tribal formations, stepping on black clouds, seeming to want to seize the position of the vanguard in opposing Heaven.

In the Heavenly Court, large numbers of human immortals and deities gathered around the Jade Emperor.

They stood before Lingxiao Palace, waiting for Goddess Nuwa’s figure.

At this time there were still two Saints in Heaven and Earth, but these two Saints did not appear directly;

However, in the small courtyard of Kunlun Mountain and the thatched cottage of Spirit Mountain, the Original Heavenly Honored One and Saint Jieyin were no longer present.

The Saints’ traces were faint, their whereabouts unknown.

The first to enter the Middle Heaven Gate was a single lonely figure.

Dizang wore green robes, riding Qieting as he arrived.

After Dizang and Qieting entered the Middle Heaven Gate, the Queen Mother in Lingxiao Palace shot out a beam of immortal light; the Thirty-Three Heavens suddenly shook, splitting left and right along the axis from the Middle Heaven Gate to Lingxiao Palace.

The Heavenly Road thus opened wide, straight through to the Thirty-Three Heavens!

Dizang closed his eyes in concentration, sitting on Qieting’s back and rapidly ascending. When he flew to a higher position, he heard the Jade Emperor’s call.

“Would Dizang King like to go together?”

Dizang opened his eyes to look at the side of the Heavenly Road, nodded to the Jade Emperor, rode Qieting out of the Heavenly Road, and landed before the Jade Emperor.

Dizang said: “Your Majesty is righteous.”

The Jade Emperor smiled and sighed, not saying much more.

Behind the Jade Emperor, Zhao Gongming removed his grand red wedding robes, changing into his battle armor, with a wooden tablet appearing above his head – Saint Slayer Zhao Gongming.

The Severing Sect immortal holding the wooden tablet looked proudly left and right, quite pleased with himself.

Moments later, streams of light shot upward from below as the unyielding human heroes arrived;

Several dozen azure dragons flew to the very front, using their mighty bodies to scout the path ahead.

The Jade Emperor said: “We should assist humanity’s Holy Mother.”

With these words he stepped forward, leading the immortals and deities into the Heavenly Road, following behind Goddess Nuwa.

The flowing light in the Heavenly Road grew even more numerous for a time.

On the Moon Star, in Guanghan Palace, Chang’e standing in the shadow of the osmanthus tree quietly pondered for a while, speaking softly to the rabbit-eared woman behind her.

In Doushuai Palace, the Old Lord ambled out of the pill-refining room, looking at the docile ox eating grass in the courtyard, revealing a satisfied smile.

In the Jasper Pool, several tens of the highest cultivating fairy maidens flew out together, rushing to aid the Heavenly Road.

Outside the Heavenly Court, at the Five Villages Observatory in Central Divine State, that old Daoist stood under the ginseng fruit tree letting out a light sigh, putting that scroll of the Earth Book into his sleeve, taking a step to break through space and time…

Purple Mystic Palace.

Li Changshou looked with a complex expression at the Dao Ancestor Hongjun before him, but the latter merely smiled, not minding this situation at all.

Li Changshou sighed: “Friend, you have truly… incurred too much hatred.”

“This poor Daoist feels no guilt in his heart.”

Hongjun responded calmly, in the scene displayed behind him, only faint outlines remained of the figure in that great cauldron.

Hongjun waved his sleeve, the Primordial Cauldron lightly trembled, and that figure instantly scattered.

At this moment, the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun were linked incredibly closely, no longer distinguishable.

Thus, Hongjun’s gaze grew more calm and peaceful as he asked:

“From the Heavenly Emperor to the immortals, and even that Seven Emotions incarnation of Houtu, they all seem closely connected to you, friend.

Friend, in your journey, could it be you were always calculating how to overthrow this poor Daoist?”

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, not saying more, watching that Primordial Jade Disc fly back to the Dao Ancestor’s hand.

What a treasure…

Li Changshou said: “With this treasure, controlling Heaven and Earth is truly convenient.”

Hongjun asked: “Won’t you go discuss strategy with them?

You may come and go here freely, this poor Daoist has no more preparations to make;

You are dissatisfied with the Heavenly Dao, dissatisfied with this poor Daoist, so this poor Daoist will give you this opportunity.

As long as you defeat this poor Daoist today, this poor Daoist will have no complaints.”

Li Changshou truly laughed: “Friend, you say this after devouring the Heavenly Dao, isn’t that taking advantage of people too much?”

“Hehe,” Hongjun smiled with narrowed eyes, though his gaze was somewhat dim, “Perhaps this is this poor Daoist’s only pleasure.

Changshou, you have not yet experienced too long a passage of time…”

“I have a dao companion.”

Li Changshou cut off Hongjun’s words, then held up two fingers, “Actually two, and quite a few friends as well.”

Hongjun: …

“Very well,” Hongjun patted his knee and stood up from his sitting position, hands behind his back.

Li Changshou also stood up nearby, carefully controlling this false body that should have been Virtual Bodhi, making the movements appear casual and relaxed.

Hongjun asked: “Before they arrive, shall you and I have about?”

“As you wish.”

Faint dao rhythms appeared around Li Changshou as his form became indistinct. He said calmly:

“I am from emptiness, this body is false, only the Dao endures.”

The Dao of Resolving Emptiness, the Law of Empty Stability.

Hongjun raised his hand and pointed with one finger, Li Changshou’s body suddenly twisted into a mass, like a tablecloth being yanked up.

But Li Changshou merely raised his hand casually, his form stepping out from within the twisting, completely unharmed.

Though the two’s actions – one pointing a finger, one raising a hand – seemed casual, they contained quite profound dao meanings.

Hongjun pondered briefly and said with a smile:

“Your false body of Bodhi Patriarch is truly excellent, your level of enlightenment makes this poor Daoist somewhat envious.”

“Friend, you have now integrated with the Heavenly Dao. It would be simplest to seal my false body somewhere,” Li Changshou said calmly, “But to destroy me, a friend would need a way to shatter the Dao of Resolving Emptiness.”

Hongjun countered: “Are you testing this poor Daoist’s control over the Heavenly Dao?”

Li Changshou smiled without answering, turning to walk outside the bamboo house.

Hongjun smiled: “Could it be you’re going to persuade them to return?”

“That was the plan, but unfortunately…”

With his back to the Dao Ancestor, Li Changshou sighed: “Given the friend’s temperament, now that they have stepped forward, there is no turning back. I’ll go forward together with them, and break into Purple Mystic Palace later.”

“No need to break in, this poor Daoist will wait quietly outside the palace.”

Hongjun said seriously: “Regardless, these are this poor Daoist’s final opponents, this poor Daoist will give them sufficient respect.”

Li Changshou waved his hand, and took several steps forward, his form ‘smoothly’ flickering several times before leaving the Purple Bamboo Grove.

Hongjun stared at Li Changshou’s retreating figure, his eyes carrying confusion.

Puzzled, quite puzzled.

At this moment, Hongjun truly wanted to ask how Li Changshou dared to be so arrogant, coming and going freely in his Purple Mystic Palace.

The Heavenly Dao’s will had been devoured by Hongjun – now Hongjun was Heaven, was the Dao of this Hongmeng!

This was unlike before when Hongjun fought with Saint Taiqing, when he could only rely on Heaven and Earth’s original essence, preventing Saint Taiqing from acting; at that time, Hongjun as one merged with the Dao was still somewhat affected by the strongest Saint’s influence over the Heavenly Dao.

But now, how could he lose?

Hongjun truly couldn’t figure it out.

Could it be that Li Changshou had tampered with the Heavenly Dao’s will?

Hongjun sat cross-legged, his expression carrying some gravity as he began carefully searching within himself, quickly checking through all possibilities he could think of.

He could find no problems.

Ninety-eight percent chance he’s bluffing?

Hongjun fell into deep thought, watching Li Changshou’s figure sitting cross-legged outside after leaving Purple Mystic Palace.

Li Changshou’s calm composure, that confidence, didn’t seem fake at all…

Hongjun narrowed his eyes slightly.

No matter.

By now, no one could overturn this Heaven.

Haotian had been affected too deeply by variables, he should be taught a lesson too.

…

Li Changshou is somewhat depressed right now.

They came too quickly!

The various forces of their side came too quickly!

Did they not need time to organize troops? Not even shout some slogans or give pre-battle speeches?

Just rushing headlong toward Purple Mystic Palace, using their heads to crash against the Heavenly Dao?

He was moved and understood everyone wanted to contribute to Heaven and Earth and wanted to dedicate their strength to the freedom of living beings.

Of course, it was also possible they came to support him, but there was no proof of that, better not think too much about it.

However…

His true body still couldn’t descend directly, needing his senior brother Xuandu to break through the final barrier.

If Big Senior Brother delayed even slightly, once fighting started here, relying solely on the Dao of Resolving Emptiness, he absolutely couldn’t protect everyone on their side.

The problem was, that he couldn’t go directly and tell everyone to wait.

If the Dao Ancestor saw through that his current self was just putting up a strong front and struck first to destroy the Heaven-opposing faction’s beings, the consequences would be even more serious.

However, such an opportunity was rare, with victory chances at ten-tenths.

In the Kun Peng Secret Realm, at his true body’s location.

Li Changshou looked at the Primordial Golden Dipper before him. At this time, all beings in the secret realm had been isolated and placed within the Golden Dipper, preventing anyone from causing trouble.

Li Changshou quietly waited, the Yin-Yang energies coiling around him somewhat impatient.

Bringing the golden dipper before him and placing it in his embrace, a small head poked out from within – it was Ling’e.

Ling’e asked softly: “Senior Brother, why didn’t you return earlier?”

“Show weakness to the enemy, make noise in the east but strike in the west,” Li Changshou said, “Using the spies here to let the Dao Ancestor know I’ve been here all along, thereby concealing my important activities secretly carried out in Hongmeng.

To be safe, I just need to find a stable method to return to Hongmeng in an instant, then I can use this to deceive the Dao Ancestor.”

Ling’e blinked, giving her senior brother a thumbs up, asking softly:

“Is the method to return ready?”

“Three plans, don’t worry,” Li Changshou said, “I can descend anytime, it’s just a matter of cost. Right now I’m waiting for a method that won’t require paying a price.”

“Then good luck!”

Ling’e made an encouraging gesture, Li Changshou smiled and raised his hand, pressing a finger on Ling’e’s head.

Then, his brows furrowed slightly as he muttered: “Coming so quickly.”

He forcefully pushed Ling’e back into the Primordial Golden Dipper, then put the dipper into his sleeve.

Time to prepare.

In the Hongmeng world, outside Purple Mystic Palace, several tens of figures had arrived, heading toward Li Changshou’s silhouette.

Li Changshou didn’t turn around at this moment, just sitting there quietly, pondering how to delay for time.

The first to arrive were the white-robed Jade Emperor and Zhao Gongming. The two reached Li Changshou’s left and right, about to speak when Li Changshou gave a light laugh:

“Been well?”

Zhao Gongming smiled: “Little brother, you know how to hide.”

The Jade Emperor looked toward Purple Mystic Palace, his gaze somewhat complex as he sighed: “Still came to this step.”

“Your Majesty,” Li Changshou stood and made a Daoist bow, “To be able to speak for living beings, directly face the Heavenly Dao’s selfish desires, this minor deity truly…”

“Ah,” the Jade Emperor waved his hand, “These words can wait until after this battle, look, who’s come?”

Li Changshou turned accordingly, looking at the mass of figures behind him.

The Holy Mother sat upon her war chariot, giving Li Changshou a gentle smile, the golden battle armor on her body emanating rich Saint dao rhythms.

Clearly, humanity’s sacred fire had not only allowed the Holy Mother to recover her power in a thousand years but had also let her advance a step further.

Li Changshou bowed his head in a Daoist salute:

“Human descendant Li Changshou greets the Holy Mother!”

“Changshou has worked hard,” the Holy Mother said, “Today we shall fight with all our might, don’t worry about victory or defeat, this is already the final hope.”

“Holy Mother don’t rush, I have my methods…”

Suddenly a joyful shout rang out: “Uncle Chang’an!”

Li Changshou turned his head to look, seeing Nezha and Yang Jian approaching together, Sun Wukong frowned as he stood slightly further away, his body bound by layers of immortal ropes.

Li Changshou made a gesture, telling them not to come closer.

“Star-Lord!”

Heavenly generals shouted, several hundred generals who had removed their battle helmets bowed with clasped hands, calling out:

“Greetings to Grand White Star Lord.”

Behind the generals, the various human scattered cultivators each performed Daoist bows, those orthodox deities of the Heavenly Court who had followed the Jade Emperor bowed simultaneously.

After them, the gathered heroes also turned their gazing eyes.

“Everyone is too courteous!”

Li Changshou raised his hand in acknowledgment, declaring loudly:

“Honored predecessors! Fellow compatriots!

The Heavenly Dao is ill, and the Dao Ancestor’s selfish desires have infected the Heavenly Dao, relying entirely on personal whims to determine the fate of living beings, and determine the evolution of Heaven and Earth!

Living beings are like prisoners between Heaven and Earth, Heaven’s will is like a knife, increasingly constrictive!

Today, we must carry out the act of opposing Heaven, intending to request the Dao Ancestor step down, release Heaven and Earth to freedom, and return Heaven and Earth to all beings!”

All the heavenly generals, all the heroes, those beings of Heaven and Earth rushing out from the Heavenly Road and gathering in increasing numbers, all ignited with fighting spirit.

Just then!

That Purple Mystic Palace wrapped in seven-colored auspicious light, extending countless chains probing into the surrounding primordial chaos, dark clouds appeared in large swathes.

Seeing this, the white-robed Jade Emperor stepped forward several paces, his palm holding the sun moon, and universe, his feet treading the shadows of countless stars, blue lightning blooming in his eyes.

Massive amounts of dark clouds condensed above the white-robed Jade Emperor’s head, directly colliding with the dark clouds drifting from Purple Mystic Palace.

The two merged midway, lightning flashing and thunder roaring within, neither yielding!

In the Heavenly Court’s Lingxiao Palace, the Queen Mother closed her eyes in concentration, using her divine abilities to watch this scene in her heart, her delicate hand striking the Investiture of the Gods List, nearly completely stagnating the flow of Heavenly Dao’s power.

“Dao Ancestor!”

The white-robed Jade Emperor’s hair floated wildly as he called out loudly: “This disciple’s heart does not submit!”

“May I ask the Dao Ancestor,” Dizang riding Qieting came forward, speaking slowly, “Can Heaven and Earth’s illness lie in the affliction of living beings?”

Zhao Gongming and Golden Spirit Holy Mother stepped forward together, Zhao Gongming shouting: “Ancestral Master, today this disciple dares to seek vengeance from Ancestral Master for my master’s humiliation.”

The divine eye on Yang Jian’s forehead blazed with light, seeming about to see through Purple Mystic Palace as he declared firmly: “What is justice, what is righteousness, what is Heaven.”

“Hongjun!”

Several tens of rough, aged voices merged into this angry roar – it was a group of dragon race experts charging to the front left!

“The blood feud of the ancient battle must have a conclusion today.

Our dragon race was harmed by your schemes, trapped guarding the sea eye until today! The ancient battle souls do not die, we must have justice!”

“Master,” though Goddess Nuwa’s voice was soft, it contained a certain soul-stirring power, “What wrong did living beings commit, why have calamities been endless since ancient times?

What wrong did Hongmeng commit, why must it be torn apart?”

“Amitabha!”

A Buddhist chant suddenly drifted over.

In the distance, primordial chaos churned as space-time split open a great hole, rays of golden light shining from within as a great Buddha flew out, eyes half-lowered, bearing a dignified sacred countenance.

Buddha’s Ancestor Duobao spoke slowly:

“May I ask the Dao Ancestor, why must Buddhist teachings instruct people to endure silently, to follow Heaven’s will, to believe in their own destined path?

Why cannot they strive to seize a thread of survival.”

“This poor Daoist also has some doubts.”

A grey-haired elder wearing a dark robe stepped through the void, wide sleeves hanging down, wreathed in immortal light – it was Great Immortal Zhenyuan.

“When the Dao Ancestor taught three times at Purple Mystic Palace in those years, you said Heaven and Earth would stabilize from then on, and living beings would dwell peacefully in the Five Continents and Three Thousand Worlds.

But why by today has Purple Mystic Palace grown ever higher while the Three Realms grow ever smaller, living beings increasingly decline, and old friends become increasingly hard to find?”

“Dao Ancestor!”

Behind the Hero Army, a withered old Tribe woman shouted with effort:

“Was my Ancient Tribe calculated by the Dao Ancestor’s hand toward a path of destruction?

Was Houtu Ancestor painstakingly schemed by you, transformed into that Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, never to be freed for all eternity!”

“Alas, these are just the victims who survived.”

A sigh came from the corner of the Hero Army as that young Daoist in red robes, standing behind that Daoist of plain appearance and form, said somewhat guiltily:

“From ancient times till now, who knows how many grievances there are from beings who cannot speak up.”

Taiyi and Yuding.

Humm—

Intense dao vibrations appeared in Purple Mystic Palace.

True Lord Taiyi shrank his neck, wide-eyed as he hid behind True Lord Yuding.

His words weren’t even sarcastic, so why did the Dao Ancestor strike at him?

Before Purple Mystic Palace tens of thousands of auspicious lights shone, that imposing elder Daoist figure appearing in the center of the light, wearing a grey-white robe, sitting cross-legged upon a lotus platform;

The elder Daoist merely half-opened his eyes, but that incredibly dense power of the Heavenly Dao already overwhelmed the auras of all beings present.

The Dao Ancestor, Hongjun.

Anger burned in many beings’ eyes, while only determination remained in the Human Race’s Holy Mother’s gaze.

Li Changshou took half a step forward at this moment, his form appearing before all beings, leaving his back to them.

He had to control the rhythm of the entire situation, only then could he control the timing of his true body’s appearance.

Li Changshou gave a light sigh:

“What you all don’t know is, that the Dao Ancestor didn’t just arrange these things. Since the primordial chaos first opened and Heaven and Earth were created, the Dao Ancestor has woven a great net, playing with Heaven and Earth in the palm of his hand.

He once conspired with the Demon Ancestor, burying the entire ancient era.

He deliberately provoked and secretly manipulated, not hesitating to let the ancient Hongmeng shatter, triggering Pangu’s final will to protect Heaven and Earth, evolving it into the Heavenly Dao’s will, all just so he could devour it now and merge with Heaven and Earth.

The ancient demon race were merely pieces on his board, the various great powers merely handled in his hand.

Everything proceeded according to his script, allowing no resistance, allowing no different voices.

And he called this protecting Heaven and Earth.”

Hongjun sighed: “All this poor Daoist has done was for Heaven and Earth.”

“I’ll leave friend one last dignity, and won’t say more.”

Li Changshou had now walked between all beings and the Dao Ancestor, deliberately blocking the beings behind him as thoughts turned slightly in his heart as he continued:

“Now only the Dao Ancestor’s will remains in the Heavenly Dao.

Future Heaven and Earth will also just be played within the Dao Ancestor’s palm.

Dao Ancestor, I ask one final time.

Will you return Heaven and Earth to living beings, will you release your constraints on living beings, will you speak one word of apology to Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth.”

Hongjun looked at Li Changshou expressionlessly, raising his right hand to lightly point at space-time to the side.

Behind him appeared layer upon layer of treasure wheels, thirty-six rings in total;

The treasure wheels’ light flashed slightly as circular doorways appeared throughout the void, countless grey-robed elder Daoists walking out from within.

In an instant, dense pressure deeply emanated from these elder Daoists.

Just these elder Daoists joining forces was enough to completely suppress the power of all beings present.

This was Hongjun’s answer.

Many beings’ faces paled, while anger burned in many beings’ eyes.

Hongjun seemed unwilling to say more, raising his left hand, about to issue the order to annihilate the beings here.

Moo~

An ox’s call as a green ox carried Supreme Lord Lao through the void, causing Hongjun’s strike to hesitate.

“Master.”

A call came from behind the green ox as that middle-aged scholar came with hands behind his back, staring at Hongjun’s form.

Original Heavenly Honored One!

“With so many beings, Master directly annihilating them would likely drop the living beings’ power in Heaven and Earth to rock bottom.

Since the Master can modify beings’ memories, why not do that instead, leaving some remembrance for Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth.”

Hongjun said calmly: “Do you mean to take action?”

Original Heavenly Honored One looked at Li Changshou and smiled: “What are Changgeng’s chances of victory today?”

“Ten-tenths.”

Li Changshou’s gaze was firm as he spoke these words, “Ten-tenths certainty of complete victory.”

“Oh?” Original Heavenly Honored One frowned slightly.

“Uncle Master need not act today, this disciple will handle it.”

Li Changshou breathed out softly as this body rapidly dissolved, transforming into a layer of mist rising, wrapping a layer of dao rhythms around the beings here.

The Dao of Emptiness, from substance to void.

Li Changshou’s voice still sounded from its original position:

“Speaking so much was just to buy some time.

Listen.”

Hongjun raised his head to look southeast.

That was the direction where Xuandu City once stood!

A rumbling suddenly arose!

Purple Mystic Palace’s auspicious light rippled as immortal light erupted around many grey-robed elder Daoists, the entire void seeming to tremble as those chains connecting to Purple Mystic Palace shook frantically.

It seemed something enormous had crashed into Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth!

Look at the ruins of Xuandu City!

A five-colored trail slowly dispersed in the void of the primordial chaos sea that had been broken through.

That Kun Peng, a Kun Peng of incredibly massive size, had now crashed head-first through Heaven and Earth’s barrier, its front half fallen into Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth!

Atop this Kun Peng’s head, Great Master Xuandu stood proudly, his wide robes and long hair flying wildly as he raised both hands high, holding up the Taiji Diagram vertically!

“Open!”

The Great Master shouted as the Taiji Diagram’s yin-yang fish directly split apart!

Behind him, in the trail of his approach, the phantoms of countless Taiji Diagrams opened doors!

Light flashed from the primordial chaos sea!

That was an escape technique, the ultimate escape technique!

That figure using the escape technique crashed through the space-time gates opened in the primordial chaos sea one by one, wrapped in yin-yang energies, completing hundreds of jumps in an instant to appear beside the Great Master!

Wearing cyan robes, hair bound up with a Daoist hairpin.

Who else could it be but Li Changshou?

“It’s yours,” Great Master Xuandu laughed lightly, handing the Taiji Diagram to Li Changshou.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Li Changshou took the Taiji Diagram, looking ahead, “Senior Brother can come to join everyone shortly, I’ll go settle the Heavenly Dao’s selfish desires first.”

Before the Great Master could retort, Li Changshou stepped forward again.

He raised his hand to part yin and yang, condensing the Heaven and Earth ahead into a single step, as if turning Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth’s thickness into a mirror frame, stepping from outside the frame into it!

Li Changshou’s form appeared before Purple Mystic Palace from the edge of the Three Thousand Worlds!

Steady, natural, without the slightest sense of abruptness.

Li Changshou looked up at Hongjun, the corners of his mouth showing a faint smile.

“Friend, the auspicious time has arrived.”

…

Complete silence fell before Purple Mystic Palace.

The beings watched Li Changshou’s back, could only watch Li Changshou’s back.

The dao rhythms emanating from Li Changshou’s entire body at this moment, that confidence, left them somewhat startled, as startled as the Dao Ancestor.

But Li Changshou no longer hid anything, sending the Primordial Golden Dipper back beside Zhao Gongming as figures flew out from within.

Without looking back, Li Changshou began stepping forward, his words spreading everywhere:

“The problem was never about fighting.

When writing the words ‘Heavenly Dao’ into my Balanced Great Dao, I already had this enlightenment;

The Dao Ancestor is not a Mixed Origin Limitless Great Dao Saint – how could he defeat my master and two uncle masters joining forces in this Heaven and Earth?

The problem is that the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao first, using the Heavenly Dao to seal Heaven and Earth’s original essence within himself. Wanting to destroy the Dao Ancestor would mean burying Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth along with him.

The problem lay in the Dao Ancestor’s merger with the Heavenly Dao.”

“Oh?” Hongjun stared at Li Changshou as a great cauldron appeared behind him.

Li Changshou didn’t even look, just continuing to speak:

“This Heaven and Earth is Pangu’s life’s blood, the dwelling place of living beings – no one can decide whether this Heaven and Earth should be destroyed.

I had to consider what method could separate the Dao Ancestor from Heaven and Earth’s original essence.

At first, I went down the wrong path, always thinking about how to separate the Heavenly Dao from the Dao Ancestor, but as I began to touch the deeper levels of the Heavenly Dao, The Heavenly Dao is controlled by the Dao Ancestor, having become his magical tool, but the Heavenly Dao isn’t essential to Hongmeng – it’s essentially just a feedback mechanism.”

Hongjun raised his hand and pointed a finger, sending boundless purple-black lightning crashing toward Li Changshou.

He seemed to be merely testing, while Li Changshou’s response was even simpler.

The Primordial Yellow Pagoda suspended above his head, the Taiji Diagram casually blocking, already sweeping away all the lightning.

Hongjun said calmly: “So, you found a method?”

“Indeed, I found it.”

Li Changshou smiled: “I asked myself many times what the Heavenly Dao is, what exactly is the Heavenly Dao.

This concept is very vague and abstract.

First, the Heavenly Dao began with Pangu’s belief in protecting Heaven and Earth, this belief resonated with the Three Thousand Great Daos forming Hongmeng’s sea of principles, thus creating the Heavenly Dao.

Three Thousand is a figurative number.

The Heavenly Dao is a net woven from Great Daos, an interpretation of the Great Dao, management authority recognized by the Great Dao.

The Primordial Jade Disc cannot control the Great Dao, it can only record and assist in comprehending the Great Dao, and because Great Daos repel each other, friends cannot perfectly master the vast majority of Great Daos.

This is my opportunity.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou raised his hand and pressed down, some mist appearing around him as three identical figures emerged from behind him.

[Divine Ability: One Breath Transforms Three Pure Ones]

The three avatars each held the Primordial Bell, Taiji Diagram, and God-Slaying Spear, standing behind Li Changshou, looking at the Dao Ancestor in unison, speaking in perfectly merged voices:

“The Heavenly Dao is not unchangeable.”

A trace of amusement passed through Hongjun’s eyes as he said calmly:

“Relying on your Balanced Dao?”

“Partly,” Li Changshou said, “Friend, will you not act to stop me now?”

Hongjun leisurely raised his hand and lightly pushed, the great cauldron behind him turning forward.

Suddenly, flute music sounded from the side. Hongjun’s brows furrowed slightly as distracting thoughts rippled in his dao heart, his peripheral vision glancing toward that flute-playing girl.

Seven Emotions!

Not just that.

That gentle woman kneeling by the riverside in the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk formed hand seals, causing the disk to shake without warning, creating an obvious stutter in the Heavenly Dao’s power!

Even the Dao Ancestor’s movements slowed slightly.

The experts behind Li Changshou almost instantly caught this ‘opportunity’!

An opportunity that must not be missed!

Li Changshou’s avatar holding the Primordial Bell suddenly turned his head, palm aimed at Goddess Nuwa in the distance, already deploying the Balanced Great Dao!

Balance: Dao Realm!

Dong!

The Primordial Bell suddenly rang out as time accelerated around Li Changshou, his string of words becoming a light ‘da’ sound.

The great cauldron before Hongjun immediately moved to cover Li Changshou!

But at this moment, Li Changshou – borrowing a Saint’s dao realm and using the Primordial Bell’s power to accelerate his time flow – moved faster than the limits!

His true body deployed the Balanced Great Dao;

Three avatars simultaneously deployed the Balanced Great Dao!

A point of golden light bloomed at Li Changshou’s brow, almost instantly sweeping in all directions, encompassing the entire Purple Mystic Palace within.

In Li Changshou’s eyes, the Dao Ancestor and those grey-robed elder Daoists about to strike together moved as slow as snails!

The Dao Ancestor naturally had methods to accelerate time – Li Changshou was betting on this time difference!

Using the Primordial Bell’s power to suppress himself, able to directly reverse an instant at the critical moment – unless the Dao Ancestor knocked down the Primordial Bell first, he couldn’t stop Li Changshou’s actions.

The process of knocking down the Primordial Bell was already completely sufficient for what Li Changshou needed to do.

He had verified countless times, certain he could complete all his arrangements!

[I say, the Great Dao has no high or low, balance should exist.]

[I say, living beings cultivate the Great Dao, true spirit nature exists of itself.]

[I say, life and death have boundaries, dao traces eternally remain.]

Balance, Dao, and Dao!

Balance, Dao, and Spirit!

Balance, Life, and Death!

“I sacrifice my Balanced Dao! Never to enter the Saint Realm!”

In the frantically accelerated time, Li Changshou shouted, the four scale beams behind his true body and avatars transforming into streams of golden light, first surging into Li Changshou’s back, then blooming at his forehead!

This process, under the Primordial Bell’s protection, didn’t even take an instant from others’ perspective!

That golden light swept everywhere, profound and obscure, its specific purpose unknown.

Li Changshou struck out with an empty palm as a golden desk appeared in the air before him. As this desk manifested, a magnificent golden palace rapidly condensed, separating the Dao Ancestor and all beings outside!

This was his solution to deal with the Dao Ancestor!

A plan that could only be successfully implemented here in Purple Mystic Palace, in this Purple Mystic Palace that gathered the Three Thousand Great Daos, at this starting point of the Heavenly Dao’s power – Purple Mystic Palace!

Li Changshou summoned a jade pen, writing a series of large characters in the air.

Throughout the palace, the Three Thousand Great Daos appeared in succession, like brush strokes without fixed form;

Nearly two-thirds of the Great Dao projections flickered with three to five weak points of light.

Spirit Nails!

Li Changshou’s left hand scattered starlight everywhere, driving thousands of Spirit Nails into those Great Daos he hadn’t previously found the chance to seed!

The Great Dao is everywhere, but the Great Dao’s power is not evenly distributed.

Only Purple Mystic Palace is the one place where all Three Thousand Great Daos can be found!

The Three Thousand Great Daos were drawn out by Li Changshou’s sacrificed Balanced Great Dao, all showing their traces here!

Those large characters Li Changshou wrote now transformed into bell tolls, making each insubstantial Great Dao continuously vibrate.

[First: This place is transformed by the Balanced Great Dao, only appearing when both Primordial Bell and Taiji Diagram are activated and with this palace guardian’s permission, the Balanced Great Dao no longer belongs to any being.

Second: For each Great Dao that ever had a being perfectly master it, using that being as a baseline, project their shadow based on dao traces remaining in that Great Dao, confined within this palace as dao spirits belonging to this place.

Third: If a Great Dao has no cultivator, list it as a silent dao; if no being has perfectly mastered this Great Dao, use the dao traces of the being who walked farthest on this path as a projection!

Fourth: This place does not enter the Three Realms or Five Elements, does not enter Hongmeng’s Heaven and Earth, does not enter the substantial realm, does not enter the sea of dao principles.

Fifth: The being projections in this place are where beings resonate with the Great Dao, if the being lives, entering with dao nature, cannot harbor personal desires, that being is permitted to retain memories of this place as a warning to beings.

…

Thirty-second: All daos shown are dao traces left by beings, all daos cannot contain half a spirit thought.

Thirty-third: Besides this place’s guardian, no being may enter.

Thirty-fourth: Beings interfering with this place’s operation, all daos abandon.

Thirty-fifth: Great Daos interfering with this place’s operation, all daos shatter.

Thirty-sixth: Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the current Heavenly Dao cannot contact this place.

…]

Li Changshou’s iron pen flew across space as a set of ‘rules’ long prepared and quickly condensed, each word embedding into various parts of the palace, transforming into mysterious dao patterns.

Finally!

Li Changshou took a breath, put down the iron pen, and called out firmly:

“Today I establish the Court of All Daos with the Balanced Great Dao!

Three Thousand Great Daos, manifest at once!”

Hum—

Immortal light flashed chaotically in the golden palace as phantom after phantom appeared from nowhere, each standing on their lotus platform, each platform different.

Of these phantoms here, only a small portion had various expressions – naturally, these were the living expert beings who could represent these Great Daos.

The crucial zero point two percent Li Changshou spoke of!

Most phantoms were expressionless, all performing Daoist bows to Li Changshou in unison.

Look at that elder standing on the lotus platform surrounded by black flames – isn’t that Suiren?

Look at that headless corpse on the lotus platform wrapped in earth-yellow light – isn’t that the great Ancient Tribe warrior Xingtian wielding a shield and axe?

Those mighty azure dragons with forms shrunk countless times were the remnant shadows transformed from dao traces left by Dragon Ancestor and dragon race’s experts, occupying quite many seats here.

That middle-aged scholar wrapped in golden flames seemed to be ancient demon emperor Di Jun;

The elder in red robes was none other than that ancient good person Hong Yun.

Look at the Twelve Ancient Tribe Ancestors, each with a strange form and fierce expression, Lady Houtu among them.

Look at the Demon Court’s Ten Great Marshals, each imposing, but like the Ancient Tribe Ancestors, mostly only remnant projections remained.

Departed beings left only remnant shadows;

Living experts’ expressions weren’t much richer.

Here naturally included many faces familiar to Li Changshou, mostly Hongmeng experts who could see and sense this place’s conditions.

Great Master, his own Yun, Brother Gongming, two junior aunts, Wudang Holy Mother, His Majesty the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother… and Ling’e whose own dao was too strange…

And so on.

The Six Saints’ figures were also here.

Only Saint Zhunti who had completely died had a cold expression, the other five Saints had various expressions, with Saint Jieyin’s being the most complex.

In the corner, there was even Dao Ancestor Hongjun’s figure.

To be safe, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun was directly blocked outside by Li Changshou’s set rules, the phantom here merely transformed from the imprints left when Hongjun cultivated his own Great Dao in the past.

Spirit Nails were originally just simple magical tools, their function being to make inanimate objects produce spirit phantoms.

The Balanced Great Dao originally balanced all things, but Li Changshou used One Breath Transforms Three Pure Ones to deploy it four times simultaneously, constructing this place.

Li Changshou didn’t hesitate at all, now striking the desk.

“The Dao Ancestor is without dao, the Heavenly Dao is unbalanced.

I, as the first guardian of the Court of All Daos, propose reconstructing the Heavenly Dao!

By the guardian’s authority, if this matter does not have over seventy percent of Great Daos opposing, it shall be executed immediately!

Who opposes?”