Chapter 394: Sorrow, So Great

On their return journey from Shengmu Palace to the Five Continents, Da Fa Shi, after listening to Li Changshou's account, was deeply moved and sighed.

"For the sake of all living beings, she transformed into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk, yet still carries the lingering regrets they leave behind. Houtu Niangniang truly...

Junior brother, if you have a way, please help Houtu Niangniang. You are always full of ingenious ideas, and if you can alleviate her suffering, it would be a great act of merit."

"Senior brother..."

Li Changshou was momentarily speechless.

He had merely wanted to do something for the underworld and for the living beings. Even if the Heavenly Dao didn't grant merit, would he not help? Of course, it would somewhat diminish his enthusiasm.

After serious consideration for a while, Li Changshou said, "Senior brother, I fear I cannot handle this alone. According to what Shengmu Niangniang said, Houtu Niangniang's incarnations that have already emerged include one of hatred. With my shallow cultivation, I might be killed by that incarnation before I even get close."

Da Fa Shi pondered for a moment. "You are right."

A wave of relief washed over Li Changshou. With Da Fa Shi protecting him, he could navigate the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk with ease.

—After all, their own sage master would not just stand by and let the two of them get trapped in the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk.

However, Da Fa Shi flipped his left hand, and the Xuanhuang Ta and Taiji Tu appeared simultaneously, gently swirling in his palm before he handed them to Li Changshou...

"Go for it!"

Da Fa Shi patted Li Changshou on the shoulder and said, "As your senior brother, how can I take away your merit? I will stand behind you with our teacher, supporting you all the way. Just go ahead and do it!"

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Li Changshou was deeply touched. He held the two defensive treasures in his hands and bowed deeply to Da Fa Shi.

Then, he murmured softly to himself, "If that is the case, although the timing is a bit short, I could have Kong Xuan Daoist friend repay the favor he owes me. Hmm, but then I would owe him another favor. That wouldn't be hard to return—he has mentioned wanting to visit Doushuai Palace, but I do not know if Laojun would allow it..."

Da Fa Shi, who had already raised his left hand to tear open the fabric of space and leave, paused for a moment.

Li Changshou looked at the two treasures in front of him, feeling an overwhelming sense of security in his heart.

"Ahem, after thinking about it," Da Fa Shi turned back with a warm smile, "it is not quite right to send you on this journey alone. After all, no one knows the exact situation inside the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk."

As he spoke, a large hand reached out and quietly pulled the Taiji Tu back.

"Thank you, senior brother! Hehe."

"You little rascal," Da Fa Shi grumbled through gritted teeth, "Wen Jing Daoist was one thing back then—we knew it wouldn't be easy to win her over. But now... Hmph!

Don't go around arranging things for me willy-nilly. Living freely and at ease doesn't need companionship. A red thread tied only brings trouble."

Li Changshou put away the Xuanhuang Ta, smiled with his eyes narrowed, hopped over to Da Fa Shi's side, and cupped his hands. "Senior brother, how about we go to Jin'ao Island first? There is something interesting happening there. Plus, it would give me time to think about how to help Houtu Niangniang."

"What is so interesting on Jin'ao Island? Is someone forming a dao companion bond?"

"Just the opposite."

"Oh?" Da Fa Shi's eyes lit up. He conjured a white cloud under his feet and carried Li Changshou toward the Five Continents.

Li Changshou closed his eyes and focused, searching for a solution to Houtu Niangniang's issue.

This was the most tricky and difficult problem he had faced since cultivating in the Great Wilderness. Schemes and calculations were useless here; he did not even know how far he needed to go.

As Nüwa Shengren had put it, Houtu Niangniang's situation was that she had taken on the endless emotions of all living beings, pushing herself to the edge of collapse and giving birth to seven incarnations. These incarnations were manifestations of her own seven emotions...

In Li Changshou's understanding, this was Houtu Niangniang splitting her complete 'personality' into 'seven personalities' based on the seven emotions.

Indeed, it was a case of personality dissociation.

Li Changshou had read about many examples of qi refiners experiencing personality dissociation in ancient texts—often, heart demons arose from suppressing or avoiding certain emotions, leading to distorted personalities.

This kind of dissociation was completely different from the mainstream incarnation methods in the Great Wilderness; the former was uncontrollable, while the latter was guided by the qi refiner's own will.

The first three incarnations to emerge were those of grief, desire, and hatred, which made sense:

The souls of beings arriving at the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk mostly carried grief from death;

Desire was something all living beings couldn't avoid, even considering it a basic driving force, and hatred was often linked to it...

If all seven emotions could be released, would that free Houtu Niangniang from this suffering?

Li Changshou diverted half his mind to the secret chamber on Xiaoqiong Peak, spread out a sheet of paper, and began organizing his thoughts the old way.

One reminder from Nüwa Shengren struck Li Changshou as crucial.

His true advantage lay in the 'strange ideas' that beings native to the Great Wilderness did not have.

In terms of divine powers and magical abilities, who in the current Great Wilderness could surpass a sage?

If divine powers and spells could help Houtu Niangniang... Li Changshou did not dare speculate on what other sages might do, but Nüwa Shengren had clearly indicated that if she could intervene, she would not stand idly by.

After all, Houtu had once been her opponent and also her friend.

"Sigh..."

As they approached Jin'ao Island, Li Changshou suddenly sighed.

Da Fa Shi asked warmly, "What's wrong?"

"I've just been feeling a bit emotional," Li Changshou said, looking down. "People often say that good deeds bring good rewards.

But Houtu Niangniang sacrificed herself for all living beings, transforming into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk, only to endure the pain that living beings inflict in return.

In this seemingly beautiful Three Realms, the happiness of the majority relies on a few beings bearing the suffering...

Sigh, I truly do not know how to comment on this."

Da Fa Shi chuckled. "Why so profound all of a sudden? Longevity, ahem, Changgeng ah."

"I am here."

"That is the Dao."

Li Changshou was taken aback and stood lost in thought beside Da Fa Shi for a while, then burst into a wry laugh.

He transformed into his white-haired, white-robed form as the Heavenly Court Water God and said with a smile, "Senior brother, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Does the Dao manifest with right and wrong, positive and negative, good and evil?"

"Of course not," Da Fa Shi replied warmly. "The Dao has nothing to do with you or me. We merely walk alongside it, seeking its beginning and end."

"But senior brother, living beings have right and wrong, and good and evil," Li Changshou said softly. "Can living beings become one with the Dao?"

This time, Da Fa Shi was startled. He stroked his beard and pondered for a long time before letting out a wry laugh and continuing warmly,

"If we speak of the myriad living beings, birth, aging, illness, death, and the seven emotions and six desires are naturally part of the Great Dao.

But for an individual being, it is the resonance between the Great Dao and the true spirit, and cannot be judged by the Dao itself.

Thus, we pursue freedom and ease, yet must not overstep the Dao, as in that oft-mentioned saying—follow your heart's desires without crossing the line, so that living beings can accompany the Dao, with light hearts and relaxed spirits, finding endless joy."

Li Changshou pondered this for a moment, then bowed to Da Fa Shi. "Thank you for clarifying, senior brother."

"Good."

Da Fa Shi nodded with a smile, secretly wiping away a bead of sweat.

Goodness gracious, what realm had this little guy reached in his insights?

It had only been a few centuries!

If he cultivated for a few more, the questions he asked next time might be...

Da Fa Shi glanced at Li Changshou, who had fallen back into deep thought, and his mouth twitched a few times.

It was time to retire to Xuandu City.

When Li Changshou and Da Fa Shi arrived at Jin'ao Island, the place was bustling with immortals coming and going, streams of light everywhere.

The qi refiners on Jin'ao Island with nothing to do had all helped Zhao Gongming deliver invitations.

Zhao Gongming had explained in advance that he was inviting friends to Jin'ao Island as witnesses to share his and Jin Guang Shengmu's attempts and efforts on the path of dao companionship, and to officially...

Restore their status as ordinary fellow disciples.

When Da Fa Shi heard Li Changshou mention this, he laughed heartily. Such a novel event was truly unprecedented in the Great Wilderness.

Of course, no Heavenly Dao merit would descend for it.

Da Fa Shi and Li Changshou did not show themselves directly but hid in a corner of Jin'ao Island. The former watched the Jie Sect immortals busily setting up, while the latter focused on pondering how to claim the great merit from the underworld.

Merit to form a golden body was within reach, but Li Changshou felt no excitement at all;

For him, helping Houtu Niangniang resolve her seven emotion incarnations was a hundred times harder than slaying enough ancient karmic demons.

This was a problem even sages found difficult to solve.

Treating it like an illness, Li Changshou felt the first step was to prevent the condition from worsening.

But how could he do that? Stop the Six Paths of Reincarnation? The Heavenly Dao would not allow it, and Houtu Niangniang herself probably would not agree.

A few hours later, over a thousand Jie Sect immortals gathered on Jin'ao Island...

Da Fa Shi saw that Li Changshou was still deep in thought and advised, "Do not put too much pressure on yourself. Even if you cannot help, no one will blame you.

After all, it is not your responsibility; you are just stepping up out of righteousness."

Li Changshou deliberately showed a determined gaze and whispered, "For the merit, I will give it my all!"

Da Fa Shi chuckled twice and pointed ahead. "Look, one of yours has arrived."

Li Changshou looked up and saw a cloud on the horizon parting to reveal three graceful figures—the Sanxiao Xianzi from Sancai Island, all invited by Zhao Gongming.

Da Fa Shi asked, "Should we show ourselves? Though it might involve some tedious greetings."

"No need, I will just send a message."

Today was Zhao Gongming's show; they could not steal his spotlight.

Li Changshou transmitted his voice: "Xianzi, I am here with Xuan Du senior brother, watching from hiding. We have matters to attend to later, so we will not meet today."

Yunxiao looked up, and with a single glance, she spotted where Li Changshou and Da Fa Shi were hidden. A slight smile tugged at her lips as she nodded gently to Li Changshou.

Li Changshou: ...

It seemed his cultivation was still lacking—if the Taiji Tu was concealing him and he sent a message, it still got exposed!

Beside her, Qiongxiao's eyes darted around, and she sniffed lightly. "How strange."

"What's wrong?" Bixiao asked, blinking.

"There's a whiff of an old white-haired man's musty scent," Qiongxiao mumbled, smacking her lips.

Yunxiao looked at Qiongxiao with a hint of helplessness and said softly, "Do not tease him like that. He has his own difficulties."

Qiongxiao and Bixiao exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha," Da Fa Shi clapped his hands and laughed lightly. "Yunxiao Shimei is indeed gentle."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, but a flash of insight suddenly crossed his mind—though it vanished too quickly for him to grasp.

When Houtu Niangniang transformed into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk back then, what had she experienced, and how had she done it?

Did that hold the key to the problem?

Li Changshou closed his eyes again in thought, ignoring the bustling noise around him.

At dusk, the separation ceremony officially began.

Over a thousand Jie Sect immortals gathered by the treasure pond, surrounding it completely, with several sage disciples who came to show support hovering in the clouds.

Zhao Gongming stepped forward first, walking into the open space amid the crowd, and bowed with cupped hands in all directions. He declared loudly,

"Today, I have presumptuously invited all you fellow disciples here just to bear witness.

If I have disturbed anyone's cultivation, please forgive me.

This matter involves me and Jin Guang Shimei, but since it has drawn the attention of all you fellow disciples, I have asked you here today to clear the air.

There is no unpleasantness today; it is all about achieving carefree lightness.

My journey with Jin Guang Shimei in exploring dao companionship..."

Zhao Gongming began recounting his and Jin Guang Shengmu's story, and the Jie Sect immortals listened quietly.

Jin Guang Shengmu soon stepped forward as well, explaining that she had realized her true heart—she admired Gongming Shixiong so much that she wanted to form a dao companion bond with him, but after spending time together, they found they were not suited...

"Senior brother, let us go to the underworld and handle this."

"Have you figured it out?" Da Fa Shi asked.

Li Changshou shook his head. "I can only try contacting Houtu Niangniang's seven emotion incarnations first, ideally speaking directly with Houtu Niangniang herself to find some clues."

"Good."

Dao rhythms swirled around Da Fa Shi, and the two sat on the cloud, quietly slipping away.

Just then, from afar, Yunxiao Xianzi looked up.

Li Changshou waved with a smile, and Yunxiao returned a faint smile, nodding to him before his figure vanished.

On the way, Da Fa Shi suddenly thought of something and placed his hand on Li Changshou's shoulder, asking,

"How are things between you and Yunxiao? It wouldn't be like Junior Brother Gongming and Jin Guang Shimei, where you find you're completely incompatible, would it?"

Everyone was worrying about this.

Li Changshou steered the conversation back to Houtu Niangniang's matter and discussed it with Da Fa Shi for a while, and soon they arrived outside Fengdu City.

With Da Fa Shi along, the journey was much faster.

After discussing, the two decided to lay their cards on the table with the Wu Clan and get the full support of the underworld's yin officials.

Da Fa Shi released his aura, and together with Li Changshou, they revealed themselves in the low sky outside Fengdu City.

The Ten Yan Kings were all startled, and the wails and howls inside and outside Fengdu City instantly fell silent. Even the bull-headed and horse-faced guards feasting on the mountaintop trembled.

"Bull, did we add too much seasoning? Neigh..."

"No, no way? Just a bit of seasoning, and Da Fa Shi shows up personally!"

Fortunately, Li Changshou's next words were: "Ten Yan Kings, do you know your crimes?"

The bull-headed and horse-faced guards both breathed a sigh of relief and clutched their seasoning jars tightly.

Thus, half an hour later.

Li Changshou alternated between sternness and leniency, forcing the Ten Yan Kings to reveal the underworld's troubles and the truth about Houtu Niangniang, and he proposed that he and Da Fa Shi would try to help Houtu Niangniang overcome this 'affliction.'

In terms of tactics, the Yan Kings were no match for the Heavenly Court Water God.

The Ten Yan Kings not only spilled every detail of the underworld's secrets but also expressed boundless gratitude to Li Changshou, as if they had entrusted their lives to him.

Li Changshou suggested starting by seeking out the 'grief incarnation' in the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and the Yan Kings dared not refuse. Qin Guang Wang and Chu Jiang Wang personally led the way, guiding Li Changshou and Da Fa Shi into the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

The gruesome sights along the way need not be described; they went straight to the deepest level.

The two Yan Kings undid forty-nine layers of restrictions and stepped into a realm thick with Heavenly Dao power, arriving at the lake Li Changshou had seen before.

"Da Fa Shi, Water God... you will understand once you see for yourselves."

Qin Guang Wang sighed, his expression complex, as he formed hand seals. Four figures floated forward on their own, entering a vast expanse of white mist.

After traveling an unknown distance, Li Changshou once again saw the woman curled up on the lake surface.

Qin Guang Wang and Chu Jiang Wang announced together,

"Ancestor, Da Fa Shi and Water..."

"Sigh~~~~"

The woman lying on the water let out a long sigh, and a thick wave of dao rhythms spread out, nearly unbalancing Li Changshou's dao heart.

She did not move at all, her light voice carrying a faint sadness:

"What's the point of seeing me? There is no need. Everything is futile; existence has no meaning.

Hehe, my brothers and sisters are all gone; why should I still exist..."

The two Yan Kings immediately teared up, sinking into sorrow and unable to extricate themselves.

Da Fa Shi and Li Changshou landed ten zhang away from her and bowed together.

Da Fa Shi said clearly, "Niangniang, may we have a conversation with you and your junior brother?"

The woman lay there motionless, her light voice now tinged with weariness:

"It is useless; there is no point. Just go back. While the world hasn't been destroyed yet, eat and drink as you please."

As she spoke, waves of that peculiar dao rhythm emanated from her nonstop, even forcing Da Fa Shi to actively resist it.

Li Changshou asked from the side, "Niangniang, is there anything we can help you with?"

The woman whispered, "Help me? Set me free from here?

The outside world is just a bigger prison; the heavens and earth are all an illusion. I'm fine here, just slowly withering away, slowly fading..."

Li Changshou and Da Fa Shi exchanged glances, nodded in unison, and stepped forward in sync.

The woman lying there did not even look at them, continuing to weep silently. Her fair skin looked even more fragile, and the black gauze skirt seemed to symbolize some omen.

Li Changshou stored the Xuanhuang Ta in his primordial spirit, sat down in front of her, and smiled warmly, taking the initiative:

"Isn't it you who asked me to come save you?"

The woman opened her eyes, her pale blue eyes radiating intense sorrow that assaulted Li Changshou's defenses.

Li Changshou quickly thought of some happy things...

"It is no use," the woman murmured. "No one can save me. I can only sink here; my heart is already dead.

Who are you... Never mind who you are. Why do you think we live?"

"For..."

"It is so tiring, isn't it? Sorrow is so overwhelming."

The woman spoke quietly, slowly raising a hand chained with silver links and gently tugging at the corner of Li Changshou's robe.

"The spirit exists only to suffer in the world, so it longs for the release of the end. What do your experiences and thoughts have to do with others?

The world in the spirit's eyes is just a construct of its own mind. Why should such a world exist?"

"This..."

"Sigh," the woman sighed faintly. "You cannot even answer this; how can you save me?

Can't you even lie to me?

In this desolate world, my tears will eventually..."

"Can you sit up and talk?"

Li Changshou tried to take control, but...

"What is the point? Will sitting up change my thoughts? You still do not understand, young one. The world is all false, all useless, all ending in nothingness.

Who can save whom?

It is all a joke. If you have nothing else, just leave and let me lie here quietly, okay?

I have already tried my best not to let my pain affect others. What more do you want from me? Sorrow, so overwhelming.

This lake's water, my tears."

Li Changshou stood up, his figure flickering several times as he quickly retreated from her side.

Incurable, beyond saving—farewell!