Chapter 399: Professional Team

At the heart of Lei Hu, nine figures surrounded Xiao Ai, each sitting cross-legged in meditation.

These nine Daoist experts, the core disciples of the Daoist saints, were gathered beneath the eighteen levels of the underworld, less than a zhang away from Houtu's seven-emotions incarnation, Xiao Ai. They focused intently on experiencing and sensing...

The voice of Xuan Du Da Fa Shi from moments before still echoed in their ears:

To engage with the power of the seven emotions, you must first understand what this force truly is.

It is neither a divine ability nor a spell, but a resonance with one's own emotions. We must confront the emotion of sorrow to master ways of resisting the seven emotions.

For instance, when facing Xiao Ai, try to think of happy things to counteract the negative emotions in your heart.

If you feel you can't hold on, simply step back—the farther you are from Xiao Ai, the less influence you'll feel...

And so...

The scene of the nine saint disciples sitting in a circle hadn't lasted long before Taiyi Zhenren burst out laughing, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. He quickly turned and fled into the distance, crying and laughing at the same time, completely losing his air of mastery.

Duobao Daoist sighed, "Who would have thought Taiyi Shidi was such a sentimental person."

Guang Chengzi smiled without speaking, feeling a slight twinge of embarrassment.

The other eight managed to persist, with Yuding Zhenren, who had come with Taiyi Zhenren, showing no reaction at all—he simply sat quietly in meditation.

"Ah," Xiao Ai sighed softly as she lay there, tears sliding uncontrollably down her face, murmuring in a low voice:

"I'm such a pitiful incarnation, already so tragic, and now I'm being used as a whetstone, surrounded and stared at...

This is probably the fate of us incarnations.

Existence itself is false, just an unwarranted extension.

You're all around me, thinking about how to eliminate me, while I feel a bit of ridiculous joy from this brief liveliness and attention...

How much sadder can it get?"

"Ah, this poor Daoist just can't take it!"

Duobao Daoist stood up, bowed to Xiao Ai, and flew off into the distance.

"The other seven emotions I can handle, but not this one! She's just too pitiful!"

"Ah, the only one who pitied me has left now."

Xiao Ai gave a somewhat desolate smile, her fingers lightly touching the surface of Lei Hu.

"What's the point of existence that brings happiness?"

Jinling Shengmu stood up and walked away, pausing in the distance to leave behind a sigh. She wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and said:

"I'm the same as Dashixiong."

That made three who had withdrawn.

Li Changshou glanced with concern at Yunxiao Xianzi beside him, seeing that her Dao rhythm and emotions remained steady, which put his mind slightly at ease.

Half a day later, the remaining six stood up, each bowing to Xiao Ai before joining the three who had already withdrawn at the edge of Lei Hu for their first meeting on the Houtu rescue operation.

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi said, "Fellow Shidis and Shimeis, do you now have a clear understanding of the seven emotions' power?"

All the immortals nodded.

Guang Chengzi said warmly, "The seven emotions and six desires of living beings are unavoidable, and we practitioners have experienced them over many years, though they don't show in daily life.

Houtu's seven-emotions incarnation doesn't stem from her own emotions but from the fragmented seven emotions that living beings shed before reincarnation. Its power far surpasses any divine ability.

We must approach her seven-emotions incarnation with a heart of acceptance to truly transform them."

"What Dashixiong says makes sense," Taiyi Zhenren nodded, arms folded in agreement, but then he added, "Though thinking about it, it doesn't really say much."

Guang Chengzi glared at Taiyi Zhenren, who calmly rolled his eyes.

"Then you speak," Guang Chengzi said casually, pulling out a large seal and holding it in his hand. "What exactly should we do?"

Taiyi Zhenren put on a serious face and said right away:

"What this poor Daoist just experienced in detail... Dashixiong is absolutely right! We must accept and cherish!"

"Stop joking," Xuan Du Da Fa Shi said with a smile. "Fellow Shidis and Shimeis, do you need more time to experience it?"

All the immortals shook their heads in unison, now understanding how to counter the seven emotions' power.

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi continued, "Earlier, I entered the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk with Changgeng and clashed with the incarnations of malice and desire.

Ahem, under my cover, Changgeng successfully passed through the desire incarnation and made contact with Niangniang Houtu..."

"Oh?"

Zhao Gongming's eyes lit up as he looked at Li Changshou and said with a laugh:

"Just in time, my second sister is here too. Changgeng, tell us the details?"

Yunxiao Xianzi quickly said, "Big brother, don't do that—we're discussing serious matters."

"It's fine," Li Changshou agreed with a smile, then took out several scrolls from his sleeve and sent them to the male immortals with his immortal power.

Li Changshou composed himself and said seriously:

"The desire incarnation can change in countless ways; for different practitioners, it can be very strong or very weak.

Unlike Xiao Ai, the desire incarnation actively stirs up the desires in your heart—things like cultivation, power, or seeking others' respect. Once it takes hold, your Dao heart will be overrun with desires, leading to demonic possession.

After withstanding several of its assaults, it revealed an extremely powerful ability—transforming directly into the desires of the being itself, interfering with your Dao heart.

Fortunately, when it targeted me, it took the form of lust, and I happened to have some artifacts to calm the mind... these scrolls.

You can carry them with you; if the desire incarnation affects you during the confrontation, just take one out and look at it."

The male immortals, full of curiosity, each opened a scroll and examined it closely. The entire vast expanse of Lei Hu fell silent enough to hear a pin drop...

Suddenly, someone coughed dryly, and the male immortals turned their heads in unison, casting very complicated glances at Li Changshou.

Zhao Gongming pulled out a Dinghai Divine Pearl, pressed it against his eyes, and squeezed out two small streams of water.

Duobao Daoist chuckled, his eyes darting around as if thinking of something.

Jinling Shengmu leaned over curiously to glance at the treasure map in Zhao Gongming's hand, her expression turning odd as she looked at Li Changshou's appearance and muttered:

"Shidi, do you look at these masterpieces of yours before seeing Yunxiao Shimei?"

Li Changshou laughed, "This is just for self-defense; I have no need to defend against Yunxiao Xianzi."

Yunxiao Xianzi smiled faintly without speaking.

Taiyi Zhenren sighed with a laugh, "No wonder all the Daoist disciples are overshadowed by you now.

Water God, you achieve what ordinary people cannot, truly extraordinary."

Li Changshou smiled without replying, smoothly taking control of the conversation, and said calmly:

"After finding Niangniang Houtu, I spoke with her at length.

You all likely understand how the seven-emotions incarnations came to be and why they exist, so I won't repeat that. Let me explain how to deal with them.

As per Niangniang Houtu's guidance, resolving the issues with the seven-emotions incarnations requires a process of guidance and release—seven emotions can't be suppressed; they must be channeled out.

This process involves bringing all seven-emotions incarnations into the world at once, allowing them to influence and restrain each other, achieving a stable state like the seven emotions in ordinary people.

Then, have Niangniang Houtu return from the seven-emotions incarnations to complete this rescue."

He paused, giving the experts a moment to think.

Duobao Daoist pondered for a bit, "We must make all seven-emotions incarnations appear simultaneously and reach a balance? That could be quite difficult..."

Li Changshou nodded and summarized, "The process has four steps: first, bring Xiao Ai back to the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk; second, release Niangniang Houtu's seven-emotions incarnations; third, adjust the power of the seven emotions; fourth, rescue Niangniang Houtu."

Jinling Shengmu frowned, "What about Xiao Ai?"

Li Changshou fell silent for a moment.

"Aren't you known as the most intelligent disciple of Ren Jiao?" Jinling Shengmu said with a look of reluctance. "Why not save her?"

"It's possible, but not advisable."

Li Changshou transmitted his voice: "They are all part of Niangniang Houtu, just with different temperamental inclinations that have developed independent Dao hearts.

We're not the ones involved, so we don't know the pain of having a Dao heart split like that. The essence of the seven-emotions incarnations is still Niangniang Houtu."

Jinling Shengmu hesitated to speak, her Dao realm high enough that she understood Li Changshou's reasoning, though influenced by sorrow.

Li Changshou glanced at Yunxiao Xianzi, then quickly looked away and continued:

"We need to confirm the assignments for the third step; I'll make a detailed plan later.

Among the seven emotions' powers, Xiao Ai is the strongest, followed by malice, then desire. Fear and anger come next, with love and joy being the weakest.

After all, living beings rarely have thoughts of joy when facing death, so love and joy left little with Niangniang Houtu...

Malice and anger are the most aggressive, but we need to weaken malice and amplify anger to ease malice and quickly strengthen anger.

Malice has clashed with my Dashixiong before, so let my Dashixiong handle it again. What do you all think?"

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi smiled and nodded, and the immortals agreed.

Li Changshou added, "Now, there's a question: who can make the anger incarnation angrier in the shortest time?"

The immortals thought for a moment, and eight pairs of eyes turned toward...

The handsome and dashing Taiyi Zhenren in his red robe.

Taiyi Zhenren's mouth twitched slightly. He took out a mirror, looked at himself, and said calmly:

"In this era, even being a straightforward male immortal gets you targeted like this!

Fine, this poor Daoist will handle the anger incarnation!"

"That seems fitting," Li Changshou said with a narrowed-eye smile, "since the anger incarnation isn't all that strong overall."

Taiyi Zhenren laughed and scolded, "You sly Changgeng! Come to my Qianyuan Mountain for a drink when you have time!"

"Definitely," Li Changshou replied, then continued discussing assignments with the immortals.

Soon, the list was finalized.

Zhao Gongming would handle the fear incarnation; Yuding Zhenren volunteered for the desire incarnation;

Jinling Shengmu would take the easiest ones, love and joy; Li Changshou and Yunxiao Xianzi would team up against the most infectious one, the sorrow incarnation.

Guang Chengzi and Duobao Daoist would serve as the relief team, providing timely support where needed.

Li Changshou cautioned, "This isn't just about fighting. For example, with the joy incarnation, the goal is to make her even happier.

The love incarnation has its own arrangements; it's not just romantic love—it includes all forms of love in the world...

Guang Chengzi Shixiong, there's something that requires help from the Chan Jiao immortal sects."

Li Changshou handed a jade talisman to Guang Chengzi, who read it and nodded, promising to arrange it soon.

The arrangements for Jie Jiao were similar.

Yunxiao Xianzi asked softly, "How can we make Xiao Ai more cheerful?"

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi laughed, "Changgeng, why don't you demonstrate for Yunxiao Shimei? It could set an example for everyone."

"Yes, Shixiong."

Li Changshou stood up, bowed to the group of Shixiongs and Shimeis, then rode a cloud toward the lake.

"Ah..."

Xiao Ai's sighs and murmurs drifted from afar.

"Poor me, now used as a demonstration...

Sorrow is so overwhelming—how can it be filled?"

Li Changshou descended from the cloud and said gently, "Dao friend, how can you know my thoughts if you're not me?"

Xiao Ai replied weakly:

"Is mutual understanding necessary? Does anyone truly want to understand others? It's just a pretense for getting a response.

Isn't that tiring?"

Li Changshou: ...

He couldn't outargue her; no matter what reasoning he used, it would be met with more counterarguments.

So, he changed tactics.

Li Changshou sat calmly in front of her, took out a book from his sleeve, and read it, occasionally smiling lightly or bursting into laughter.

The distant Daoist immortals showed signs of realization, grasping the essence.

Distract her attention and spark her curiosity!

But Xiao Ai just lay there, silently shedding tears, ignoring Li Changshou entirely.

Li Changshou continued reading his book, unfazed by any risk...

After a while, Xiao Ai opened her eyes, her tearful gaze mixed with helplessness.

"Must you mock a grieving person here?

You have your joys; I have my sorrows. Can't you laugh somewhere else?"

Li Changshou closed the book and asked curiously, "Dao friend, what exactly do you have to be sorrowful about?"

"Life itself is false, not meant to exist—isn't that worth sorrow?"

"Then, what is real?"

Li Changshou asked warmly: "You've said before that everything stems from living beings' perceptions of the external world, that all prosperity is illusory like passing clouds, meaningless.

But Xiao Ai, who defines these meanings?

Is it you?

Or did other living beings impose this concept on you?

Right now, as we talk, aren't you real?"

Xiao Ai murmured, "Yet my existence is something to be erased, something that must be corrected—still false."

"Then, before being corrected, don't you want to experience other emotions?"

"What's the point?" Xiao Ai asked sorrowfully. "Can't you just let me fade away?"

Li Changshou continued gently:

"It might mean nothing to you personally, but to the being who gave birth to you and needs your help, it means a lot.

Even if you're consumed by sorrow and grief, Xiao Ai, aren't you still her?

The you who's always hidden here, afraid of hurting others, and the her who bears all suffering while helping others—they're ultimately the same being.

The same kindness."

Xiao Ai's lips trembled as she cried, "What can I do to help her? I'm just a useless thing that only knows sorrow and despair!"

"Come on, let's play a simple game—it might help you."

Li Changshou extended his right hand to Xiao Ai. "Think of it as for her—can you try to sit up?"

"It's meaningless..."

"Then you can stay lying down. Look."

Golden specks of light appeared in Li Changshou's right hand, each containing scenes of his earlier laughter while reading.

"This is a portion of my joy; you contribute an equal amount of your sorrow."

Xiao Ai's finger trembled slightly as a pale blue light orb slowly floated over, swirling in Li Changshou's palm.

Li Changshou closed his eyes and channeled his power, merging the two orbs. The lights intertwined, forming a taiji symbol before dissolving into chaos.

Xiao Ai tilted her head, watching, though she sensed the profound Dao rhythm, she didn't understand its meaning...

Soon, Li Changshou produced a treasure pearl, infused the taiji orb into it, and covered it with a black cloth.

"Xiao Ai, what do you think is inside—joy or sorrow? You should understand the Dao of yin and yang I just showed."

"It's neither... it's the chaos of emotions..."

"Chaos is constantly evolving, but the direction isn't fixed. I can tell you clearly, the emotion inside has taken shape.

From chaos comes yin and yang; inside, the most basic emotions—sorrow and joy—have formed.

So, there's a fifty percent chance it's sorrow and fifty percent it's joy, right?"

"Mm, that seems to be the case."

"Then, if you never lift this black cloth, can sorrow and joy be considered to exist simultaneously?"

"You could say that..."

Xiao Ai tilted her head slightly, and the distant Daoist immortals did the same, growing a bit confused.

Li Changshou smiled, "So, sorrow and joy are now superimposed, and as long as you don't remove the cloth, they can coexist.

Look ahead—to the next moment, the next hour, perhaps you can see, but further?

If time is distant enough, beyond what you can foresee, wouldn't the emotions there be in a state of chaos?

In the chaos of emotions, sorrow and joy exist together, undecided, only collapsing into one direction when you reach it.

Fifty percent sorrow, fifty percent joy, right?"

"No, that's nonsense," Xiao Ai shook her head at once. "I won't live that long; everything about me is predetermined."

"Then tell me," Li Changshou shook the cloth-covered orb, "is it definitely sorrow inside?"

Xiao Ai was stunned.

Li Changshou smiled slyly and added, "Look down."

Xiao Ai instinctively glanced down and realized she had unknowingly propped herself up into a half-sitting position, her black gauze dress slipping slightly off her shoulder...

Li Changshou stood up, placed the cloth-wrapped pearl in front of Xiao Ai, and said softly:

"Sorrow isn't the meaning of your existence; it's about feeling the sorrow of living beings."

With that, Li Changshou turned and rode his cloud back to the Daoist immortals.

Xiao Ai stared at the cloth-wrapped pearl, slowly sitting up straight, her hand reaching out but pulling back just before touching the cloth, repeating the motion.

The sorrowful aura permeating Lei Hu had thinned considerably.

"Ah, Xuan Du Shixiong," Zhao Gongming sidled up to Xuan Du Da Fa Shi and muttered, "What realm is Changgeng in now?"

"I don't know," Xuan Du Da Fa Shi said, looking at his own hands where two light orbs slowly rotated.

Zhao Gongming laughed, "What are you doing, Xuan Du Shixiong?"

"Learning a bit; I'll use it later against the malicious incarnation," Xuan Du Da Fa Shi said, crushing the orbs with a calm smile, full of confidence.

The essence of taiji is simple, of course—something he's all too familiar with!