Chapter 391: Dialogue with the Taishang Saint

The Shang Kingdom is on the verge of rising—how far off can the Feng Shen catastrophe be?

Because she had made three immortal pacts with him, the Heavenly Court Water God, Youqin Xuanya's elder sister Jian Di had named the child in her womb Qi.

If Li Changshou's memory calculations were correct, Qi should be the ancestor of the Shang Kingdom.

Following the guidance of the Heavenly Way, Jian Di would lead the remnants of the Honglin Kingdom to the northeastern part of Nanbuzhou, where they would establish a new nation.

The Shang Kingdom would flourish under Tang, with Qi as its ancestor and Tang as his descendant, also the next common ruler of the human race...

Although Li Changshou had only instructed Kong Xuan to protect the new nation for a hundred years, from what Kong Xuan said, it seemed he intended to stay there for a long time.

—The Phoenix Clan now consisted of only Kong Xuan and that little peacock, so moving was incredibly simple for them.

Moreover, the Phoenix Clan relied on their bloodline to enhance their strength, and mundane impurities could not affect their Dao foundations. Living among mortals for a thousand or eight hundred years was no big deal.

Li Changshou couldn't help but recall the past...

He was so close to the Feng Shen catastrophe.

Originally, he thought that in the mortal world of Nanzhou, there was no trace of the Shang Kingdom yet; it was still the era after the Xia dynasty, with immortal dynasties flourishing and the immortal sects of Zhongshenzhou projecting their influence onto Nanbuzhou.

The fate of the human race was still controlled by a small group of powerful human beings, and at the pinnacle stood the Dao School.

Judging from this situation, the Feng Shen catastrophe seemed to be at least several thousand years away.

But unexpectedly...

Li Changshou had been searching for the prelude to the impending Feng Shen catastrophe, and now, he had become a small part of its melody himself.

This feeling was quite wondrous.

Yet, it also left Li Changshou with a touch of melancholy...

He had truly become a brick in the Heavenly Way of the Great Desolation, moved wherever the Heavenly Way needed him.

Next, he must start to provoke the Heavenly Way and make some attempts at its boundaries.

Being passively reactive was never as reliable as taking steady, proactive action.

Before the Feng Shen catastrophe began, whether he could completely eliminate Lu Ya was the result Li Changshou most wanted.

If he couldn't eliminate Lu Ya, regardless of the reasons, it would prove that he couldn't significantly alter the outcome of the Feng Shen catastrophe. In that case, his efforts would focus on protecting Elder Zhao and the Three Immortal Islands.

Cough, this was all for preserving the vital energy of the Dao School!

With a righteous expression, Li Changshou thought:

If he could successfully eliminate Lu Ya and later foster a deep, earth-shaking brotherly bond between Nezha and the yet-to-be-born Ao Bing...

Then Li Changshou would dare to send the Western Cult straight to the Feng Shen List, reserving a batch of top experts for the Dao School!

As for the matter of granting divine positions in the Heavenly Court, which might allow the Western Cult to influence the Heavenly Way's operations...

That could be resolved by giving the Western Cult only a small portion of unimportant divine positions. The key ones would naturally be held by experts from the Dao School!

No other reason—just because they were trustworthy.

For example, among the Eight Departments of the Heavenly Court, the "Dou Department" gods could have their ordinary positions given to people from the Western Cult, while Dao School experts would take the main positions responsible for managing the gods of the Dou Department.

After all, once the Western Cult was forced to change to Buddhism, all those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would be idle anyway, not contributing much to the Heavenly Way's operations...

To be honest, from the perspective of reducing the burden on the Dao Ancestor and ensuring the stability of the heavens and earth, including the Western Cult in the scope of the Feng Shen catastrophe was a necessary and meaningful thing!

Of course, these were just fantasies, and the most ideal scenarios at that.

To be prudent, Li Changshou had to consider more "less than ideal" situations.

That is, if he couldn't make any changes to the Feng Shen catastrophe, or if all his actions and schemes were actually pushing the script toward the original Feng Shen catastrophe.

In that case, Li Changshou would have to make one final preparation...

In the original Feng Shen story, Zhao Gongming died in battle, the Three Xiao Sisters flew into a rage and set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, stripping away most of the cultivation and Dao foundations of the Twelve Golden Immortals, which led to the saints intervening.

Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao died, their souls entering the Feng Shen List, and Yun Xiao was wrapped by Laozi's Qiankun Map and suppressed under the Qilin Cliff of Kunlun Mountain.

Indeed, he would still need to make arrangements near Qilin Cliff later and develop some friendships with the Chan School—ideally, get them to owe him a few favors.

If his schemes for the Feng Shen catastrophe failed, he could at least ask for help to rescue Yun Xiao from under Qilin Cliff.

However...

Li Changshou shifted his mind back to his main body and looked at the Luobao Money lying quietly in his storage treasure.

How could the Feng Shen be unchangeable?

Meanwhile, as Li Changshou's Water God persona was drinking and chatting enthusiastically with Kong Xuan and Zhao Gongming...

The capital of the Honglin Kingdom had quieted down once more.

Most of the immortals from Duxian Sect had returned to their mountain gates, leaving only a few Tianxian realm experts and over thirty Zhenxian attendants to soothe the wounded, aid the mortals, and help Youqin Xuanya handle her family's affairs.

With a single word from the Heavenly Court Water God, the Daowei Immortal Sect dared not trouble the Honglin royal family and even took the initiative to restrain the armies of the two tribes, slowing their advance.

Youqin Xuanya's mother was reasonable and made no excessive demands, saying that surviving by a hair's breadth and continuing their bloodline was already the greatest fortune...

She simply had people bring some treasures from the palace, along with a few loyal families from the Honglin royal clan and several thousand soldiers, and they packed up part of the royal treasures, leaving the capital that very night.

Many mortals in the city, fearing the chaos of war, followed them of their own accord, eventually gathering over a hundred thousand people...

These would become the initial foundations of the Shang Kingdom.

"Senior Brother Changshou?"

A soft call came from beside him. Li Changshou, with most of his mind focused on the 'Water God' paper effigy discussing how to organize the 'divorce ceremony' with Zhao Gongming, shifted part of his attention back to the vicinity of the palace and slowly opened his eyes.

Youqin Xuanya had changed into her fiery red dress, like the dawn arriving early, flying down from the air and landing lightly in front of Li Changshou.

She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, hesitating as if she wanted to speak but held back.

Li Changshou said, "What's wrong? Have you run into another problem?"

"It's nothing..."

Youqin Xuanya transmitted her voice, "After what happened to my family, I wanted to stay with my mother for a while, but she insisted I return to the sect immediately, saying I shouldn't have more ties to the mortal world..."

"Your mother is right," Li Changshou said. "Your cultivation isn't high enough yet, and your Dao heart could still be tainted by mundane impurities.

The phrase 'severing mortal ties' is easy to say but hard to do.

If you want to stay in the mortal world for a few years, I can go and persuade her for you."

"No need, Senior Brother. Now that things here are settled, I'll head back to the mountains right away."

Youqin Xuanya looked at the city where the smoke of war had temporarily died down and murmured, "Later, I still need to go to the Heavenly Court to seek an audience with the Water God. Tonight's life-saving grace from the Water God and you—I don't know how to repay it."

—She had already learned during the Duxian Sect's ambush of the demon clan that the Water God was Li Changshou.

Li Changshou smiled and said, "Don't let this weigh on your mind. If I run into trouble tomorrow, and you can stand up for me just as you did, that would be enough."

"Xuanya will never let you down, Senior Brother!"

As she said this, her eyes shone brighter than the most brilliant stars.

Li Changshou could sense that Youqin Xuanya's state of mind had gained something and lost something compared to before tonight.

If she could use this opportunity to transform her Dao heart, it would be a good thing.

A thought crossed his mind, and Li Changshou said seriously,

"Would you like to come with me to the underworld for a trip?"

"Are we setting off now?"

Youqin Xuanya nodded in agreement without a second thought.

Li Changshou slowly opened his left hand, revealing two Soul-Capturing Pearls, from one of which a trace of karmic hindrance seeped out.

Youqin Xuanya glanced at it and exclaimed,

"Father?"

"Yes," Li Changshou said. "The other dozens of souls are your mother's guards; they fought to the death with utmost loyalty and righteousness.

I know a few friends in the underworld who might be able to help ask if your father could suffer less punishment. The karmic hindrance on him is truly too heavy—he'd be stuck in the eighteen levels of hell for who knows how long."

Youqin Xuanya pursed her lips and said softly,

"Though as a child I shouldn't say this, it's already a great blessing that my father's soul remains. Please don't trouble yourself over it, Senior Brother."

"Very well," Li Changshou nodded slowly, and together with Youqin Xuanya, they rode the clouds and left the city that had been in turmoil all night.

Li Changshou didn't fly too fast; his main body had already returned to Xiaoqiong Peak, and what remained was just this paper effigy.

Unless necessary, his main body couldn't stay outside for long, to minimize the chances of unexpected events.

"By the way, did you kill that woman with the face mask?"

"Yes," Youqin Xuanya nodded.

Li Changshou asked again, "What was her identity?"

"I didn't inquire," Youqin Xuanya answered softly.

"Oh?"

Li Changshou was a bit puzzled. "Don't you want to know who she was? Why she sought revenge on the Youqin clan? Or go and eliminate any remaining threats?"

Youqin Xuanya thought for a moment and said softly,

"She was Yuan Qing's cousin, from a secular noble family in a nearby small country. She's had feelings for Yuan Qing since childhood.

When I removed her mask, I recognized her.

Yuan Qing was treacherous and deserved to die; his clan plotted rebellion and was purged by my father—these were the causes of tonight's events.

If I delved into her background, the remaining members of the Youqin clan would just carry on this grudge...

Things are as they are now, so why continue it?"

Li Changshou was slightly taken aback, looking at this junior sister who was both familiar and strangely new to him.

Just then, the sun rose from the sea, its first rays illuminating her—her slender neck, fair skin, and the cool, weary expression on her face...

All glowed with a light that Li Changshou couldn't quite understand.

In his heart, Li Changshou silently praised her.

Your Majesty, still in the womb preparing to enter the world— it seems the Heavenly Court has truly found a treasure this time.

"Senior Brother, is something wrong?"

"Nothing."

Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back, facing the rising sun in the east, a faint smile on his lips...

This trip to the underworld was just to arrange matters for the ruler of a small mortal kingdom. His identity as a disciple of Duxian Sect, Li Changshou, was sufficient.

The journey was peaceful, yet not entirely so.

As Li Changshou traveled with Youqin Xuanya, the tension in her heart gradually eased. She chatted with him for a bit before sitting on the cloud and dozing off with her head lowered.

But on the other side, after Kong Xuan went to protect the Honglin royal clan, Elder Zhao was full of excitement. He dragged Li Changshou off to the Sea God Temple and began busily preparing—

The divorce ceremony!

Zhao Gongming had figured it out: He needed to explain his failed "Dao companion" relationship with Jin Guang Shengmu to the entire Jie School as soon as possible.

If they just separated quietly, it would not only damage Jin Guang Shengmu's reputation but also lead people to misunderstand his character, Zhao Gongming's, and smear the Jie School!

In the back hall of the Sea God Temple, Zhao Gongming rubbed his hands and paced back and forth.

"Let's do it!

We have to make this grand. Invite all those fellow disciples who sneaked peeks last time!

Don't mortal couples bow to heaven and earth when they marry? We'll do the opposite!

Brother, help me think—how can we reverse it?

And mortal couples wear wedding robes, right? We'll wear black robes instead!"

Beside him, Li Changshou held his forehead with one hand.

Seeing Elder Zhao so excited, he almost thought Elder Zhao had found a new love and was eager to announce to the world that he and Jin Guang Shengmu were innocent!

Of course, Elder Zhao wouldn't do something like that...

Bian Zhuang's personality was shaped in the special environment of Tianya Pavilion and further liberated after going to the Heavenly Court.

Overall, cultivators in the Great Desolation were still quite conservative; most immortals experiencing temporary emotional tribulations would feel shy about it.

—Except for the Dragon Clan and some demon clans.

Once the matter with Jin Guang Shengmu was settled, Elder Zhao should be able to focus on cultivation and quietly await the Feng Shen catastrophe...

"Brother," Li Changshou said with a smile, "why don't you go and discuss this with the other party first?

Tell her all your concerns and how much you've been thinking of her. Be completely open and honest.

This can't just be us putting in the effort; if she doesn't agree, it could backfire."

Zhao Gongming's eyes lit up, and he shouted energetically,

"You're right!

Brother, wait here for me. I'll go talk to Junior Sister Jin Guang about this and come back to you!"

With that, Zhao Gongming rode his precious pearls and hurried away, not giving Li Changshou a chance to add more advice...

"This brother is so impatient—he might end up eating a bad tofu," Li Changshou muttered.

This incarnation stood up, held his dust whisk, and walked toward the front hall. In the partition between the Sea God Temple's front hall and back hall, he found the Taiji painting he had hung earlier...

Li Changshou bowed in respect, then carefully placed the original Qiankun Ruler and Tower Lord on the altar.

A wisp of Dao rhyme swirled around, and the Linglong Pagoda of Heaven and Earth and the Qiankun Ruler vanished instantly...

"Teacher!"

Li Changshou suddenly spoke, bowing his head. "Your disciple has some doubts and wishes to seek your guidance!"

That dispersing Dao rhyme gathered again, this time forming a faint word in Li Changshou's heart!

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, knowing that the saint could hear his inner thoughts, so he directly asked in his mind:

"Has your disciple's cultivation so far changed anything?"

"Is your disciple now being influenced by the Heavenly Way when making certain judgments?"

No need for self-doubt; the Dao has its end.

Li Changshou felt joyful in his heart and bowed deeply to the Taiji painting, saying aloud, "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher! Your disciple's heart is at peace!"

Heavenly Court, of paramount importance.

Heavenly Court, of paramount importance?

Just as Li Changshou was getting excited—after all, he had directly conversed with his own saintly teacher, and the teacher had acknowledged him—these six words that formed made him freeze in place again.

What did "Heavenly Court, of paramount importance" mean?

The Dao rhyme in his heart had completely dissipated, so Li Changshou couldn't ask more, nor would he dare to. He could only speculate wildly on his own.

Would a saint explain everything clearly? That would undermine their aura.

Biding one's time was key.

Had he misunderstood all along? Maybe his Teacher Taiji didn't value the Dao School as much but placed immense importance on the Heavenly Court?

"No need for self-doubt; the Dao has its end"—this was easy to understand; the saint was telling him not to worry blindly, as the Heavenly Way couldn't influence a living being's judgments.

Otherwise, the Great Desolation wouldn't be what it is today.

The Heavenly Way only needed to subtly influence key figures at critical moments to gradually bind countless living beings within the heavens and earth.

In that case, the Great Desolation would be a dead stillness, though incredibly stable.

After asking these three questions, Li Changshou felt more confident about scheming for the Feng Shen catastrophe!

He could make changes, scheme against the Western Cult—the success or failure was another matter, but the possibility definitely existed...

Yet, the saint followed up with those six words, plunging Li Changshou into greater confusion.

Heavenly Court, of paramount importance.

So...

Even if it meant sacrificing the Dao School's strength to quickly fill and perfect the Heavenly Court, it would be worth it?

This interpretation was a bit terrifying.

Soon, Li Changshou walked back to the back hall of the Sea God Temple, holding his dust whisk, lost in deep thought.

Upon reflection, Li Changshou realized that for the truth of the Feng Shen catastrophe, he seemed to know a lot, yet knew nothing at all...

Should he go to the Niangniang Palace to investigate?

Looking at the comics he had drawn in recent years, such a thought crossed Li Changshou's mind.

But immediately, his main body and incarnations shivered in unison.

That vast, cage-like "update-demanding" world—he really didn't want to be locked in it again.

Right, weren't there many Niangniang Temples in the mortal world?

As a descendant of the human race, going to a Niangniang Temple to pay respects and burn a few comic books as offerings to the saintly mother would be perfectly reasonable and beyond reproach.