Chapter 393: Secrets Obtained in the Holy Mother Palace

Why is this Di Fu suddenly so inexplicably terrifying?

After leaving Fengdu Cheng with Youqin Xuanya, Li Changshou remained calm and slowly flew out of Youming Jie. He then placed his hand on Youqin Xuanya's shoulder and quickly executed Shuidun.

“Shixiong?”

“I'll take you back to the mountain gate first,” Li Changshou said gravely. “Something urgent has come up that I need to deal with.”

“If there's anything I can help with…”

Youqin Xuanya's voice trailed off as she sensed the speed of his escape technique, and she wisely didn't say anything further.

It seemed that at this moment, she truly couldn't assist Li Changshou and would only cause him trouble.

“I can handle it, don't worry,” Li Changshou replied via voice transmission. “Go back to the mountain and focus on your cultivation. Remember to find an opportunity to tell Jiang Shibo that you're interested in serving in the Tian Ting. I'll explain the rest to you in detail later.”

With that, Li Changshou concentrated on controlling the escape technique, diverting most of his attention back to his main body. In the secret chamber on Xiaoqiong Peak, he sketched the scenes he had witnessed earlier.

He drew three portraits, all depicting the black-skirted woman lying on the lake surface, weeping. Then, he sat in his chair, lost in thought for a long time.

In the Honghuang world, was his reaction to such a strange event overly excessive?

No, this was actually the result of Li Changshou suppressing the fluctuations in his Dao heart!

Just moments ago, that wave of sorrow had washed over him, stirring up extremely dark emotions in his heart. As someone who had lived a decent life in his previous existence and was now an outsider in the Honghuang, he had nearly broken down in tears.

Although it's no crime for a man to cry, in that instant, if he had been assimilated by that sorrowful Dao rhythm, it would have caused immense damage to his Dao heart.

What exactly was that elder sister about?

She had asked for his help to save her?

Near the Di Fu and the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan…

Analyzing carefully and comparing it to his previous visits to the Lunhui Immortal Island, the only new event this time seemed to be the opening of the gate to the Shiba Ceng Di Yu.

The most likely possibility was that some powerful expert was suppressed in the Shiba Ceng Di Yu!

But why had it targeted him with a spiritual invasion?

Meanwhile, Youqin Xuanya, who was nearby and had relatively lower cultivation with fluctuating emotions, showed no signs of abnormality?

Li Changshou tried to calculate with his fingers, divining the heavenly secrets. Due to his limited divination skills, he could only determine that the woman was a real “spirit” that existed.

What he had seen was definitely not an illusion.

Suddenly, Li Changshou thought of the two massive stone statues carrying the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan.

Could the woman seeking his aid be Dade Houtu?

But why would Dade Houtu be in such a situation?

Recalling how his paper effigy had briefly lost contact when entering the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan last time, and the wretched state it was in upon emerging, as well as the pranks on Qin Guang Wang and Chu Jiang Wang after they entered and exited…

All this evidence proved that Niangniang Houtu was inside the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan and was quite mischievous.

So, who was the one seeking his aid?

That “Lang Qianqiu”?

That seemed unlikely. When the Holy Mother had mentioned the “Lang Qianqiu” predecessor, she had clearly explained his fate—he had been completely erased by the Heavenly Dao.

The one who acted against Lang Qianqiu must have been Daozu, and Daozu, being so ruthless, wouldn't leave such a hidden threat.

Li Changshou had drawn the three portraits partly to test the Heavenly Dao, but there was no unusual reaction…

This completely ruled out the possibility that the woman in the painting was the forbidden “Lang Qianqiu.”

So, who was this woman?

To be safe, Li Changshou didn't plan to keep this as his own secret, as it might drag him into all sorts of strange karmic ties.

What should he do now?

Report it!

If there's a problem, consult the teacher!

He would report the situation to the Doushuai Gong and resolve any personal risks in advance!

If this woman was a dangerous figure, he had only passively received the distress message and done nothing wrong.

Li Changshou summoned three coachman paper effigies, had them each take a painting scroll, and sent them toward the Tian Ting, the East Sea, and the South Sea Water God Temple.

Even as he multitasked, Li Changshou devoted most of his mental energy to his main body, constantly calculating with his fingers to figure out the identity of the woman he had seen.

Half a shichen later, the sound of rushing water echoed in the Sea God Temple as Zhao Gongming happened to return.

Li Changshou stood up to greet him. Zhao Gongming and Jin Guang Shengmu descended from the clouds, both wearing relaxed smiles.

“Have you two sorted things out?”

Li Changshou asked warmly. Before Zhao Gongming and Jin Guang Shengmu had even landed, they both nodded in agreement.

“Just as you said, old brother,” Zhao Gongming sighed with a smile, “we really should give each other an account.”

“What you said that day, Water God, has made it clear to me,” Jin Guang Shengmu said with a slight bow. “My feelings for Gongming Shixiong are more admiration and respect, but being together would make me quite uncomfortable.”

“It's good that you've decided,” Li Changshou said with a smile.

Then, he stirred his mind intentionally, showing a hint of difficulty, and said in a low voice, “Regarding the celebration, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you two organize it for now.”

“It's not right to trouble the Water God with this in the first place,” Jin Guang Shengmu said quickly.

“Has something troublesome come up?” Zhao Gongming asked directly.

Li Changshou nodded solemnly. “Old brother, how much do you know about the Di Fu Yin Si?”

“The Yin Si?” Zhao Gongming asked in surprise. “The Yin Si was established in ancient times, even before the current Tian Ting. It was formed when the Wu Clan ancestor witch, Dade Houtu, sacrificed herself to become the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, guiding the souls of the world that had nowhere to go into reincarnation and rebirth as living beings.

To protect the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan and maintain the stability of the three realms and six paths, the Di Fu Yin Si was created…”

“Do you have any obscure but reliable information that most beings don't know?” Li Changshou asked in a low voice.

Zhao Gongming pondered for a moment, and Jin Guang Shengmu helped think as well.

Soon, Zhao Gongming said tentatively, “Dade Houtu was one of the top three powerful experts among the twelve ancestor witches. Do you know that, old brother?

In the past, she stood upon the earth and was hailed as undefeated. Among the twelve ancestor witches, she had the body closest to an innate Dao body and the deepest understanding of Pangu Shen's Dao.

But such matters are rarely mentioned after ancient times.”

Li Changshou nodded and continued to gaze at Zhao Gongming with expectant eyes.

Zhao Gongming realized he hadn't hit the mark and began calculating with his fingers, his head bowed.

“I once heard,” Jin Guang Shengmu said from the side, “that the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan isn't complete, much like the Zao Hua Yu Die that Daozu used to mend the Heavenly Dao back then.

The Heavenly Dao has flaws, the Zao Hua Yu Die has a slight gap, and the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan also can't be perfect, with some minor defects.”

“That's indeed the case,” Li Changshou said with a smile.

Jin Guang Shengmu, who seemed more mature and insightful than before, smiled a bit embarrassedly.

She really couldn't be of much help.

After waiting a while, Li Changshou asked Zhao Gongming directly, “Old brother, did you meet Houtu Niangniang in ancient times?”

“Of course,” Zhao Gongming said, his eyes filled with reminiscence as he stroked his beard and smiled. “Houtu Niangniang was kind-hearted. Even during the Wu-Yao War, she mostly defended and rarely engaged in killing.

I was once fortunate enough to discuss the Dao with Houtu Niangniang. It's a pity… well, there's nothing to pity. She simply made her own choice, dedicating herself to living beings and the Wu Clan.”

As Zhao Gongming spoke, Li Changshou summoned paper and ink from the desk and quickly sketched a side profile.

“Old brother, do you recognize this person?”

“Isn't this Houtu Niangniang?” Zhao Gongming laughed. “Where did you see such a portrait… Old brother, what's wrong? Your expression looks off.”

Li Changshou took a slow breath and stepped back to sit in the main seat.

This matter seemed to exceed his expectations.

Two shichen later, Li Changshou finally confirmed that the woman bound on the lake surface, dressed in black and radiating endless sorrow, was indeed the legendary Dade Houtu.

He had first shown the portraits to Zhao Gongming, who confidently identified her as Houtu Niangniang.

Then, Li Changshou's paper effigy went to the Dragon Palace to inquire with the Dragon King, drawing on the vast knowledge of that “Honghuang living fossil,” once again verifying the fact.

During this process, Li Changshou was honest with Zhao Gongming but vague with the Dragon Palace.

He didn't want them to worry unnecessarily.

In the back hall of the Sea God Temple, Zhao Gongming and Jin Guang Shengmu paced back and forth in front of Li Changshou, one stroking his beard and the other rubbing her chin, both racking their brains to help unravel the mystery.

“Houtu Niangniang sought your aid—could there be something wrong with the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan?” Zhao Gongming asked. “The heavenly secrets show that everything in the Di Fu is fine, with no signs of collapse.”

“Or maybe it wasn't Houtu Niangniang seeking your aid at all,” Jin Guang Shengmu suggested brightly. “Could it be that you've had an issue with your Dao heart, Water God?”

Li Changshou smiled helplessly, closed his eyes, and let a faint green light emanate from his paper effigy's body, with a pure and untainted Dao rhythm flowing around him.

“Daoist friend has achieved an Immaculate Dao Heart—my apologies for the hasty words,” Jin Guang Shengmu praised.

“How about I go to Sanxian Island and ask around?” Zhao Gongming said. “More minds on this might be better than us being stuck here.”

“You can't do that, old brother,” Li Changshou said seriously. “The fewer people who know about this, the better, to avoid causing panic among beings. I'll go ask Xuandu Shixiong or consult Laojun directly. Please, old brother, and Daoist friend Jin Guang, don't mention this to anyone.”

“Very well!”

Zhao Gongming agreed solemnly and left with Jin Guang Shengmu, urging Li Changshou not to worry about their matters and to focus on this important issue first.

As soon as he saw them off—these two immortals of Jiejiao who were about to make history in the Honghuang—Li Changshou's Water God incarnation in the Tian Ting had already flown to the outside of Doushuai Gong.

Laojun was away on a journey, so Li Changshou easily found the dozing Great Mage in the backyard.

Unfortunately, he didn't get much useful information; he simply reported the matter to the Great Mage, adding another layer of protection for himself.

The Great Mage also found the situation suspicious everywhere, so he summoned the Taiji Tu and performed a full divination, but the only conclusion was:

“The Liu Dao Lunhui Pan shows no problems.”

“Then the issue is likely with Houtu Niangniang herself,” Li Changshou said.

“Houtu Niangniang is the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, and the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan is Houtu Niangniang—they are one and the same,” the Great Mage said seriously. “The heavenly secrets show the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan is fine, so Houtu Niangniang must be as well. Changshou, is it because Emperor Yu and Queen Mother have gone to the mortal world for trials, leaving you to handle Tian Ting affairs, and you've put too much pressure on yourself, affecting your Dao heart?”

“Well… I'm actually quite relaxed. Ahem, that's not to say I'm not taking Tian Ting matters seriously—there just aren't many affairs in the Tian Ting.”

Li Changshou explained a bit awkwardly, then said, “Great Mage, could you accompany me to visit the Holy Mother in Shengmu Palace?”

“Of course, that's a small matter,” the Great Mage said with a smile and a nod, without asking further, agreeing directly.

Li Changshou, with his main body hidden inside a coachman paper effigy, secretly arrived at Doushuai Gong in the Tian Ting to meet the Great Mage.

The Great Mage used the Taiji Tu to break through space and took them to the outer heavens, to Shengmu Palace.

This pair of master brothers, not yet officially announced to the public, soon left the Five Parts Continent and appeared in the starry void beyond the heavens.

The Great Mage rode the clouds, leading Li Changshou toward a brilliant point of light. Before they had flown a hundred li, immortal light shone ahead, and a portal materialized out of nowhere, drawing them inside.

They arrived in that beautiful lesser realm world, with abundant spiritual energy, refreshing breezes, and carefree laughter drifting in the wind, which instantly calmed Li Changshou's mind.

Two immortal maidens arrived on cloud boats and bowed from afar. One said:

“Niangniang already knows why the two Renjiao Shixiong have come. Please, Xuandu Shixiong, wait in the hall. Niangniang will see only the Water God today.”

The Great Mage nodded with a smile and said nothing more, stepping onto one of the cloud boats.

Li Changshou bowed to the Great Mage, boarded the other boat, and said:

“Shixiong, rest assured.”

As he glanced at the sets of comic books in his storage treasure, Li Changshou felt a bit uneasy. This time, how long would Niangniang keep him confined?

There was one advantage, though: being confined in that blank world's pavilion by Niangniang would give him more time to refine his state of mind—hundreds of years inside meant just an instant outside.

The two cloud boats traveled together for a while before parting ways amid the clusters of palaces.

Li Changshou was led to the serene lake and directly to the heart island, where he stood before the pavilion and bowed.

“Disciple pays respects to Niangniang.”

“Come in,” came a voice from inside, laced with a hint of laziness, as if the Holy Mother had just woken up.

Li Changshou turned to look behind him, but the guiding immortal maiden was gone. He pushed open the wooden door.

Ahead was a membrane shimmering with rainbow light. Li Changshou carefully stepped through, feeling the flow of time nearly stop, and entered that familiar room.

The familiar pool, screen, carpet, and decorations…

Nüwa Niangniang, now in a loose warm-yellow short skirt, floated in the pool, supported by an air cushion. A comic book from Li Changshou's hand hovered before her, with various fruits, delicacies, and her favorite iced fruit juice floating nearby.

Seeing this scene, Li Changshou felt a bit speechless.

The Honghuang lacked mustard, making the way of sashimi imperfect, and without happy water for homebodies, the way of leisure lost some joy.

Ahem, back to business.

“Niangniang…”

“You've seen Houtu, haven't you?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou answered honestly, keeping his head lowered and not daring to look around. “I've come to seek your guidance, Niangniang.”

“What do you want to know?” Nüwa asked calmly.

Li Changshou rummaged in his sleeve and brought out three stacks of thick books.

Nüwa snapped the book in her hand shut, her beautiful and dignified face breaking into a satisfied smile:

“Go ahead, ask what you want. The matter of Houtu isn't entirely forbidden, just quite secret, known only to us few.”

Li Changshou bowed and respectfully sent the paintings over with his immortal power.

He then recounted everything he had seen, including the portraits.

Nüwa summoned the painting and examined it closely, a hint of helplessness in her phoenix eyes. “She's had it rough.”

“Niangniang, what do you mean by that?”

“Have you entered the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan before?” Nüwa asked.

“My disciple went in once with an effigy,” Li Changshou said, a bit surprised. “Didn't you know, Niangniang?”

“If I wanted to know, I could,” Nüwa said indifferently, “but why would a saint monitor every living being in the heavens and earth at all times?”

Li Changshou was at a loss for words. “Well…”

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Nüwa said, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as she teased, “Your temperament is quite peculiar. If you became a saint, you'd definitely monitor all things in the world, finding joy in what others would see as self-inflicted hardship.

Of course, you can't become a saint in this world now.”

“Niangniang, saying it in such a flat tone is really disheartening.

Niangniang, please tell me about Houtu.”

“What's the rush?”

Nüwa lifted her chin slightly, and Li Changshou turned to see that the corner where he had sat last time had been turned into a small study.

With a low table, cushion, screen, and incense burner—the setup was quite complete.

“You're here now, so you might as well draw another one.

As a reward, I'll point you toward a way to earn merit in the Di Fu, helping you complete your Merit Golden Body. How about that?”

Li Changshou bowed calmly and went to sit in the corner. He spread out the paper and ink, took out his set of rulers and templates for drawing, and began.

After sketching for a while, he started asking questions again, and with the Di Fu's great merit in mind, Li Changshou had some ideas.

Soon, the sound of water splashing came from the pool as Nüwa stepped out, her snake tail transforming into legs and her short skirt into a golden long dress.

Though casually dressed and without her saintly aura, Nüwa exuded an indescribable presence, radiating holy light at all times.

She walked to the new bookshelf and carefully placed the works he had just finished one by one; even something she could do with immortal power, she handled with great care.

“Niangniang, about the figure I saw…”

“It's Houtu, yet not Houtu,” Nüwa said with a touch of regret. “You should know that when living beings gain spiritual intelligence, they have seven emotions…”

Li Changshou paused his brush and quickly realized, “Could it be that Houtu Niangniang has been influenced by the reincarnated beings?”

“Exactly,” Nüwa said gently. “Even if souls drink Meng Po Soup before reincarnation and lose their memories, they always retain faint traces of the seven emotions.

The spiritual thoughts of souls enter the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan but can't accompany beings through rebirth, so these traces of emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, desire—are left behind in the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan.

This isn't a flaw in the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan; it's how it operates.

When Houtu decided to transform into the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan in ancient times, she was prepared for this, but we saints and Houtu herself underestimated the complexity of living beings' emotions.

Over time, her divine sense nearly collapsed, forcing her to fully merge with the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, unable to separate.”

Nüwa paused, now leaning against the bookshelf and opening the first volume of Li Changshou's new work, continuing:

“However, as living beings continue to reincarnate, especially with the Ren Zu becoming the protagonists of the heavens and earth, their limited lifespans have made reincarnation more frequent.

Moreover, the Ren Zu have the most seven emotions and six desires among all races, which has undoubtedly increased Houtu's burden.

But she hasn't complained to the Heavenly Dao; she's endured it silently until one day…”

“What happened?”

“She sealed her true self and allowed her emotional thoughts to overflow, creating the first emotional incarnation—the one you saw, Houtu's sorrow.”

Li Changshou was stunned and asked, “Is this incarnation suppressed beneath the Shiba Ceng Di Yu?”

“Yes,” Nüwa said. “From what I know, three emotional incarnations have appeared so far: sorrow, hatred, and desire. Sorrow is the mildest, so it's suppressed under the Shiba Ceng Di Yu.

Hatred and desire are bound within the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan by Houtu.”

“What if all the emotional incarnations appear?” Li Changshou asked.

“Houtu would likely lose herself, splitting into seven parts, and her will would shatter,” Nüwa said, pausing. “She would become the spirit of a Heavenly Dao artifact, but that would be detrimental to the Heavenly Dao.

If you can think of a way to help Houtu through this crisis, the Heavenly Dao will grant you great merit.”

Li Changshou smiled bitterly. “If even the saints can't manage it, what can this disciple do?”

“You're different from us,” Nüwa said, flipping through the book as if casually advising. “Some strange ideas might only exist in your mind.

Perhaps that's why Houtu reached out to you through her sorrow.”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and asked, “Is Houtu Niangniang connected to that Lang Qianqiu predecessor?”

“No connection… Are you going to draw or not?”

“I am, I am. Niangniang, let me sort my thoughts and find some inspiration,” Li Changshou replied, lowering his head to get back to work.