Chapter 353: Yin Yang Not Yet Decided

Is that... all?

Deep underground, Li Changshou's paper effigy, leading a legion of paper effigies, was stationed in a crevice, watching the aerial battle from afar.

After seeing the clash between the Qibao Miaoshu and Tusheng, and then watching a few Tianxian experts pecking away at each other in the sky, Li Changshou truly couldn't muster much interest.

He even felt a bit like laughing...

Well, he had worried for nothing.

It was quite fanciful to think that Kong Xuan, a being of that caliber, would randomly show up and devour people.

Kong Xuan, the greatest powerhouse in the Fengshen calamity, possessed the innate divine ability of the Wuse Shenguang, which swept through everything during the Fengshen Great Calamity.

This divine ability was a hundred times more effective at sweeping treasures than the Luobao Jinqian, and it could even sweep away living beings, including the Saint Zhunti.

However, during the Fengshen calamity, when Kong Xuan faced Zhunti, he used the Wuse Shenguang to trap the saint, but Zhunti manifested his saintly form from within the divine light, breaking it and leading to Kong Xuan's defeat...

From another perspective, although Zhunti was a saint of the "you should leave the group" level and had already attained sainthood,

Kong Xuan, though unable to defeat him, forced Zhunti to reveal his saintly form, which showed just how overwhelmingly powerful Kong Xuan's divine ability was.

He was essentially on the level of the senior brothers of the three teachings!

This brought up the first doubt—why did this guy get involved in the Fengshen calamity for no reason?

Based on the information Li Changshou had gathered, Kong Xuan was the first peacock in the world, born with innate five-element energies, seemingly a bloodline descendant of the Yuanfeng of the Feng clan...

—This was some "wild Honghuang rumor," and Li Changshou couldn't confirm its accuracy.

In the archives of Du Xian Men, there was a record:

In the ancient Wu-Mo Great War, when the human race struggled to survive, a divine bird peacock suddenly appeared from the south, devouring humans and demons for sport.

Later, due to the heavy karma of killing, it provoked heavenly punishment and was struck down by the Xuandu Da Fashi.

The divine bird was defeated and captured by the Da Fashi, then sent back to the south.

This referred to the incident when Kong Xuan first emerged in ancient times, one of the few records of the Da Fashi's interventions.

Looking at the peacock demon now fighting the Du Xian Men immortals in the sky, it was indeed just a peacock yao, about ten zhang long with sharp claws and beak, its feathers mostly gold and blue, and its cultivation only at the Tianxian realm.

At that moment, it was suppressed by several Du Xian Men elders, along with Youqin Xuanya.

Youqin Xuanya stood in the clouds, her slender hands forming sword fingers, leaving trails of afterimages as she cast spells. Sixteen flying swords glowing with ice-blue light darted back and forth, striking the peacock demon and sending feathers flying while covering it in wounds.

The real intense battle: hurling bricks from thousands of li away, where a saint's spiritual treasure and an innate supreme treasure gently collide, darkening the heavens and earth as if the sky might collapse.

The fake intense battle: most spectators' eyes were drawn to the fairy standing in the clouds, dressed in an ice-blue gown with her hair simply tied, her figure neither seductive nor demure yet utterly captivating, perfectly embodying the essence of "immortal spirit."

Overall, the situation here was completely under control.

Li Changshou glanced at his own paper effigy and the legion temporarily summoned from the East Sea, his mouth twitching slightly.

Since they were already here, might as well watch a bit longer.

To play it safe, he'd wait for the Du Xian Men immortals to finish and retreat, then have his paper effigy follow suit.

On the ground, dozens of armored generals stood in formation, their cultivations mostly at the Return to Void or Path of Dao realms, with five or six of them rivaling...

"Demonic immortals."

These mortal generals didn't dare rush in to capture the demon, though they hadn't contributed much; they'd still get credit later.

This location was in the southwestern corner of Dongsheng Shenzhou, close to Nanzhanbuzhou, only about six thousand li from the valley where the black panther couple resided.

The mortal world was expanding continuously.

Li Changshou's immortal sense swept over tens of thousands of li, revealing plains and mountains filled with human traces, developing several major kingdoms and dozens of smaller ones, locked in endless wars.

The "Honglin Kingdom" mentioned by Sect Leader Ji Wuyou was Youqin Xuanya's homeland—Honglin Kingdom in Dongsheng Shenzhou.

Honglin Kingdom enjoyed a strategically favorable position at the southern end of Dongsheng Shenzhou and had already extended its influence to Nanzhanbuzhou.

Though the Three Realms had countless mortals and numerous nations and tribes, Honglin Kingdom was one of the rare "transcontinental" powers, with fairly prosperous national fortunes.

In the current mortal world, anyone who becomes a ruler gains a share of human tribal luck;

But precisely because of this luck, they cannot embark on the path of cultivation.

Nothing more than the limitations imposed by the Heavenly Dao.

One phenomenon that Li Changshou found quite interesting was:

In the great mortal nations, half of the generals and commanders had cultivations, and they were originally Qi refiners.

Li Changshou's Sea God temples were widespread along the South Sea coast, and he had once traveled by boat in Nanzhanbuzhou, conducting detailed investigations.

The Qi refiners who entered the mortal world in Nanzhanbuzhou mainly came from three sources.

First, many immortals who saw no hope of breakthroughs or had strong desires in their Dao hearts would come to the mortal world to indulge in pleasures.

How did they indulge? The mortal world's temporary trials of emotion were beneath them.

They either became "immortal ministers" of a nation or lived incognito as generals or commanders, striving for a harem of wives and concubines, basking in ultimate wealth and glory...

The rolling red dust was also a form of tempering, but few immortals who entered the mortal world as officials could ever return.

Their Dao hearts became tainted, their foundations corrupted, their lifespans shortened, and their immortal paths blocked.

Between gains and losses, the Heavenly Dao Lord maintained a delicate balance.

Second, nations with strong immortal sect backgrounds would have the sects directly send disciples to serve them.

This mainly occurred in the central regions of Nanzhanbuzhou.

Many mortal kingdoms had become proxies for immortal sects, providing endless "wealth" and "immortal seedlings."

Third, people like Yuan Qing back in the day, who wanted to seek a master for cultivation and then return to the mortal world.

These three situations emerged after Emperor Yu returned to Huoyun Cave and had since become the norm in the mortal world.

In Nanzhanbuzhou and Dongsheng Shenzhou, these great nations either developed powerful "royal protection forces" or had their royal families as puppets controlled by some immortal force behind the scenes.

The more dominant mortal royal families would use various means to secure backers for themselves.

Du Xian Men was the backer for Honglin Kingdom, enjoying its ongoing tributes.

Otherwise, how could they sustain so many disciples with just the limited spiritual veins within two thousand li of the sect?

The immortal path's control over mortal order was inherently chaotic;

Immortals' private desires amplified in the red dust was already straying toward the demonic path.

Li Changshou had one or two bold ideas about this, but the time wasn't right; a fierce "reform" could shake the foundations of the Daoist sects' luck...

"Execute this demon on the spot!"

A shout came from the sky. Li Changshou focused on the scene above and saw several Du Xian Men Tianxian experts unleashing their full power, hurling a dozen streams of light that bombarded the peacock demon.

The peacock demon let out a miserable cry and plummeted from the sky;

Youqin Xuanya pointed her sword finger forward, her graceful figure diving down as the sixteen flying swords gathered before her, forming a three-zhang-long giant sword that slashed straight for the peacock demon's neck!

The peacock demon struggled desperately, twisting its head to glare angrily at Youqin Xuanya. A wisp of flame surged from its forehead, enveloping its body in flames as it crashed to the ground like a fiery meteor, kicking up waves of fire.

Youqin Xuanya touched her jade arm with her left hand and gently shook her sword finger with her right, halting her descent abruptly before flipping upward. Immortal power swirled around her like an ice-blue flower blooming in the night sky.

The giant sword pierced through the flames, wrapped in ice-blue immortal light, aiming straight for the peacock demon's head!

Without warning, Li Changshou's spiritual senses jolted.

The giant sword fell, and the flame-wrapped peacock demon seemed unable to resist, lowering its head in resignation as if its head would be severed in the next instant.

But right then!

The scattered flames suddenly froze, the descending giant sword halted in midair, and a flash of green light streaked by so quickly that the peacock demon vanished instantly.

Li Changshou realized at once that the freezing of the flames and sword was an illusion; it was just how fast that green light had been.

The giant sword struck empty air, the flames dissipated, Youqin Xuanya frowned slightly, the Du Xian Men elders looked utterly baffled, and the Honglin Kingdom generals below had no idea what had happened.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort echoed from the horizon.

Looking toward the sound, they saw a figure suspended in the moonlight, at an unknown distance.

Then, with a single step, the figure appeared before Youqin Xuanya and the Du Xian Men elders, five-colored lights flickering around them.

Before they could clearly see the newcomer's face, the green light flashed again, and the peacock demon reappeared behind them...

The newcomer, right in front of the Du Xian Men immortals, raised a hand and lightly tapped, causing the flames around the peacock demon to retract into its body. Its demonic form shrank visibly, transforming into the figure of a young woman sitting cross-legged in the clouds.

The elders quickly stepped forward, shielding Youqin Xuanya behind them;

Youqin Xuanya's right sword finger trembled slightly as the giant sword shattered into sixteen flying swords circling her, warily watching this sudden arrival—a

man?

This person exuded no pressure, with a tall and slender build, long hair casually loose, dressed in a green brocade robe, but their face had a somewhat feminine quality, strikingly beautiful.

Most peculiarly, they had no masculine aura nor any feminine softness; yin and yang seemed perfectly fused in them, simply exuding an indefinable beauty...

When they spoke, their voice was indistinguishable as male or female, carrying a hint of arrogance.

"She killed how many people?"

"What do you mean, Daoist friend?"

One Du Xian Men elder frowned.

"To settle karma," the newcomer said indifferently. "Either I kill everyone here,

or you tell me how many humans she killed, and I'll go save that number of humans, so we're even."

The Du Xian Men elder's gaze flickered uncertainly; the spatial shift the newcomer used upon appearing had already revealed an extraordinary realm.

Youqin Xuanya snorted lightly, about to retort, but a voice transmission entered her mind:

"Don't speak; we can't afford to provoke them."

Youqin Xuanya's delicate brows furrowed, and she bit her lower lip gently.

The newcomer raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "Come out, the one underground."

Li Changshou's mouth twitched a few times, but he didn't hide any longer. His paper effigy shot up three thousand zhang, dispelling the earth-escape technique, and appeared before the group of mortal immortal generals.

He was disguised as the "Little Mage" in middle-aged Daoist form, standing with hands behind his back, looking up at the sky with an air of authority.

"You're truly formidable, Daoist friend.

I am Xuandu Xia Fashi, just passing through here today. These people are all from my Renjiao lineage, so I ask you to show mercy."

"Little Mage?" The newcomer frowned slightly. "What's your relation to that Great Mage?"

Li Changshou bowed with clasped hands: "We are fellow disciples."

"What proof do you have?"

Li Changshou took out a jade token and tossed it up;

The newcomer flicked a finger, sending the jade token back midway, and stared at Li Changshou below with a complex gaze.

"Is he... doing well lately?"

Li Changshou's mind was instantly filled with questions. The tone, the manner, and the fleeting emotion in the other's eyes.

What was going on?

The Heavenly Emperor's Zhengde Tablet was still warm, and now another "Honghuang big news" was brewing!?

As Li Changshou's thoughts raced, the newcomer rode the clouds and descended directly, bringing the peacock demon-turned-woman with them.

Above, the Du Xian Men elders finally reacted, bowing to Li Changshou in salute, while Youqin Xuanya frowned slightly.

Renjiao Little Mage... Wasn't the voice transmission just now from Senior Brother Changshou?

At that moment, another voice transmission reached her ear:

"A great power is present; we must not act rashly today. If my guess is correct, this is one of the top figures in the world."

Youqin Xuanya nodded in agreement.

The newcomer seemed to have heard the transmission and smiled faintly.

This smile had a strangely enchanting power, like the coquettish laugh of a blooming flower or the gentle smile of a refined man...

Very contradictory, yet harmonious.

As if to confirm Li Changshou's words, five rays of divine light flickered behind the newcomer, radiating an extremely powerful pressure.

The divine light and pressure flashed and vanished, but the mortal immortal generals were terrified, their courage broken; the Du Xian Men elders and Youqin Xuanya turned pale, their Dao hearts trembling.

The newcomer ignored everyone else, merely staring at Li Changshou's paper effigy, hovering three zhang above the ground with an air of arrogance:

"You're right in your guess; I am Kong Xuan.

A while ago, my niece's bloodline went berserk, and she lost her senses. I just awoke from seclusion and tracked her here.

She must have eaten some humans; tell me the number, and I'll go save that many before coming back to chat with you."

Li Changshou glanced at the Du Xian Men elders, who all remained silent;

Youqin Xuanya, standing beside him, spoke up: "Saving lives and killing are two different matters."

"In the past, when I lost my senses, I devoured a hundred thousand humans—what of it?" Kong Xuan snorted coldly. "Later, when the demon race refined weapons to exterminate the humans, I acted to protect a million humans, repaying the karma.

If karmic obstacles and merits can offset each other, why can't killing and saving?"

Youqin Xuanya stepped forward, enduring the unintentional pressure from Kong Xuan, and said firmly: "Are the ones killed and saved the same people?"

Kong Xuan's phoenix eyes narrowed coldly: "The heavenly mandate is clear; increases and decreases balance out."

"The ones devoured..."

"Ah, Xuanya!" Li Changshou quickly stepped in, blocking her. "Say no more, say no more."

One of the elders beside them added: "This demon has harmed mortals and devoured dozens of people."

"Hmph!"

Kong Xuan's figure flashed and vanished on the spot, leaving his niece—the peacock demon that had caused the harm—behind.

A moment later, sharp whistles echoed through the heavens.

A flicker of light appeared in the night sky, and the green light reappeared, flashing past Li Changshou and leaving behind iron cages containing hundreds of mortal men and women...

Kong Xuan stood above the cages, looking at Youqin Xuanya, and said indifferently:

"These are blood food captured by demons; consider it tenfold repayment."

Youqin Xuanya pursed her lips, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Li Changshou sighed and said directly: "Xuanya, are you a match for this Kong Xuan Daoist friend?"

"No," Youqin Xuanya replied softly.

Li Changshou continued: "Neither am I. Let's endure it."

Youqin Xuanya bowed to Kong Xuan and stood behind Li Changshou, saying no more.

Kong Xuan smiled faintly again and said: "You, Little Mage, are quite an interesting person.

By the way, has your Great Mage... ever mentioned me?"

Li Changshou pondered inwardly; telling the truth might anger this ambiguously aligned Honghuang fierce character.

"I didn't spend much time with the Great Mage..."

Kong Xuan's face darkened visibly.

"But I did hear him mention you once or twice!"

Kong Xuan's expression cleared instantly, and he smiled with narrowed eyes: "What did he say?"

Li Changshou: ...

Are you male or female, great one?

This question unresolved, everything felt like it could get... extremely exciting.

"Daoist friend," Li Changshou frowned, "this involves the Great Mage's reputation, so forgive my boldness in asking: Is your Dao title written as 'xuan' from 'xuan cao' or 'xuan' from 'xuan gao'?"

"Ask if I'm yin or yang directly; I thought you were straightforward and likable earlier."

Kong Xuan huffed and said indifferently: "I haven't decided on my yin-yang affiliation yet."

Pausing, Kong Xuan added with a touch of reminiscence: "If not for him avoiding me back then, I might have made a choice by now."

Is that even possible?

No, there seems to be a story here, but for safety's sake, Li Changshou dared not say more or ask further... nah.