Chapter 451: A Little, Small Trump Card

Furthermore, Fu Yuan Xianweng self-destructed in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, his Yuan Shen and immortal body instantly reduced to ashes.

Li Changshou stood with lowered eyes before the crowd of immortals and gods, remaining silent with a stern expression.

The hall was filled with an uneasy atmosphere.

Yu Di snorted coldly, his eyes radiating beams of golden light as he scanned the immortals below.

Immediately, more than ten immortals and gods convulsed and collapsed, wisps of black smoke dissipating around them.

Mu Gong bellowed,

“What kind of demon dares to cause chaos in the Heavenly Court!”

The immortals and gods quickly channeled their immortal power, warily scanning their surroundings.

Large numbers of heavenly soldiers and generals rushed up the jade steps, surrounding the Lingxiao Treasure Hall with grave expressions.

This was the first time such an anomaly had occurred in the Lingxiao Hall.

“No matter,” Yu Di said calmly, slowly unclenching his fist hidden in his sleeve. “The opponent has been scared off by Qing Li Changshou.”

Li Changshou bowed in a Daoist salute, his mind racing with thoughts while maintaining his stern face, and spoke clearly,

“Your Majesty, Yunhua Xianzi and her family were ambushed by this group of demons. Yang Tianyou and his eldest son have been killed, and my incarnation is currently escorting Yunhua Xianzi back to the Heavenly Court.”

Yu Di’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he slammed his palm on the jade table, scolding,

“This demon has gone too far!

Is Yunhua Xianzi’s child safe?”

“For now, yes,” Li Changshou replied, bowing his head in another Daoist salute and sighing. “I have failed in the task entrusted to me by Your Majesty. I request punishment.”

Yu Di waved his hand gently and closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long while.

Li Changshou stood quietly, carefully considering the next steps.

This exchange between him and Yu Di was deliberate, allowing the Heavenly Court immortals to ponder it deeply.

Any words that should not be said must not be mentioned at all.

Additionally, Li Changshou was protecting Yunhua Xianzi, deterring any further attacks against her.

Otherwise, the Heavenly Court would not hesitate to go to war.

Although at that moment, most immortals and gods were curious about what Li Changshou had whispered to Fu Yuan Xianweng.

It must have been a very short phrase that caused the imposter Fu Yuan Xianweng, posing as a demon, to flee in panic and self-destruct.

It was excessive, Shishu.

This was Li Changshou’s heartfelt sigh, as well as a calculated warning.

Why did the opponent retreat so abruptly?

Simply put, Li Changshou’s use of the word “Shishu” struck at the heart of the person behind it all.

This was not because the person feared Li Changshou himself, but purely because…

They feared the strongest Sheng Ren behind Li Changshou.

Of course, fear was only part of the reason; another factor was likely that:

If a Sheng Ren personally intervened and was exposed by the disciple of another Sheng Ren, and if Li Changshou was not merely guessing but had grasped clues to their identity, it would give Daoism and the Heavenly Court grounds to act.

Thus, they hastily self-destructed and withdrew from this simple scheme.

Before Fu Yuan Xianweng’s self-destruction, Li Changshou had about a seventy percent certainty that a Sheng Ren was directly involved.

Yet, even on that basis, he could not pinpoint which Sheng Ren it was.

Now, Fu Yuan Xianweng’s tragic state provided Li Changshou with a clear answer—the one scheming against Yunhua Xianzi and Yang Tianyou was the sixth Sheng Ren from the West, who wished to remain anonymous.

First, looking at the outcome, the only beneficiary was Western Teachings.

Li Changshou knew Yang Jian’s growth trajectory well; Yang Jian would likely join Chanism, cultivate the Ba Jiu Xuan Gong, and quickly become a powerful figure, causing chaos in the Heavenly Court and splitting Peach Mountain.

This seemed like Yang Jian’s personal story, but behind it, it deepened the rift between Chanism and the Heavenly Court, escalating conflicts.

Ultimately, the Western Teachings Sheng Ren was employing their old tactics.

They were amplifying Chanism’s crisis, sowing discord in Daoism, weakening the Heavenly Court’s strength and prestige, and laying subtle groundwork for future alliances against Jiejiao.

Second, it was due to the Heavenly Court’s unique nature.

The Heavenly Court is tied to the operation of the Heavenly Dao. Although Fu Yuan Xianweng held no major position, he was still an official god of the Heavenly Court, not someone any random powerful being could target.

Otherwise, the Heavenly Court would have been undermined long ago.

Moreover, when this scheme was plotted, Yu Di and Wangmu were undergoing tribulations.

Their tribulation locations were protected by Heavenly Dao forces, which could intervene precisely when the great calamity was imminent.

Only a Sheng Ren would dare to scheme in such a way.

Most importantly, it was the Sheng Ren’s own special attributes.

Sheng Ren are immune to all calamities and unaffected by great tribulations.

At this sensitive time, when the great tribulation was not yet clear, any disturbance in the Heavenly Court could influence the tribulation’s course and drag the actor into irreversible doom.

Even Xuan Du Dashi would not dare to act against the Heavenly Court without consequences…

But Sheng Ren are different; aside from their heavenly secrets being obscured, they themselves are not influenced by the great tribulation and can simply observe from the sidelines if they choose.

Following the principle of “bold hypotheses and careful verification,” Li Changshou had kept this possibility in mind seven years ago, step by step calculating and confirming it, leading to those simple five words earlier.

Engaging indirectly with a Sheng Ren face-to-face…

It was quite thrilling.

On that basis, the three heavenly soldiers Li Changshou had briefly fought in the mortal realm were likely not controlled by the Sheng Ren personally.

During the fight, Li Changshou vaguely sensed their presence, and they felt much weaker than Zhao Gongming, probably disciples of the Western Sheng Ren.

The opponent’s clear intent was to kill Yunhua Xianzi, Yang Tianyou, and Yang Tianyou’s eldest son, Yang Jiao, planting a seed of hatred toward the Heavenly Court in Yang Jian’s heart.

And Yang Jian’s identity as one of the “great tribulation children” in the Investiture of the Gods calamity had undoubtedly been calculated by the West.

Ah…

Li Changshou suddenly sighed.

The immortals and gods in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, who had just begun to relax, tensed up again.

What Li Changshou was thinking about was how a dignified Sheng Ren would stoop to scheming against two mortals, using such methods to sow seeds of hatred against the Heavenly Court in the fate-bound Yang Jian…

It was truly unparalleled.

Half an hour later, a team of heavenly soldiers arrived outside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, escorting Yunhua Xianzi inside.

The immortals and gods all turned to look. Yunhua Xianzi’s hair was somewhat disheveled, as if she had lost her soul, her entire being dazed and listless, her beautiful eyes devoid of any spark.

As she entered the hall, Yunhua Xianzi collapsed into the mist on the white jade floor.

Yu Di glanced at Li Changshou, who had no choice but to step forward and ask in a cool, indifferent tone,

“Yunhua Xianzi, do you know your crime?”

Yunhua Xianzi showed no reaction, sitting quietly and lost in despair.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly; now, he had no option but to play the villain.

“Yunhua Xianzi, you descended to the mortal realm without permission, married a mortal, lived among humans for years, and even tried to deceive Yu Di and Wangmu. Your crimes are unforgivable.”

Yunhua Xianzi murmured softly, her voice hoarse,

“Is this the reason you killed my husband…”

Li Changshou remained silent.

From the side, Mu Gong said quietly,

“Xianzi, you must understand!”

“Mu Gong, step back,” Yu Di said, his eyes still closed, his tone calm. “Leave this matter to Qing Li Changshou.”

Mu Gong turned and acknowledged the order, saying no more.

The other immortals, who had wanted to explain that “Yu Di only ordered your family to be brought back,” dared not utter another word.

Li Changshou continued,

“Do you know your crime?”

Yunhua Xianzi smiled bitterly, tears streaming down her face. She slowly stood up, her frail, True Immortal-level body tainted by mortal impurities, yet radiating an indescribable strength.

Her hoarse voice roared and accused, venting her inner hatred as she pointed at Li Changshou and scolded,

“This is the Heavenly Court… This is the Heavenly Emperor…

This is the benevolent Water God!”

“Do you know your crime?”

Li Changshou frowned and asked.

“You want to kill, so kill me! Why kill my husband and my eldest son!”

Li Changshou replied calmly, “If you admit your crime, I can ensure your children remain unharmed.”

Yunhua Xianzi trembled, as if awakening from a dream. Her once resolute figure quivered, and she finally knelt down, pressing her forehead to the white jade floor.

“Please, do not harm my children.

They have nothing to do with this. I disobeyed the heavenly rules—it was all me…

Water God, I beg you, do not kill them.”

Li Changshou closed his eyes and sighed lightly, then turned to bow to Yu Di and request,

“Your Majesty, Yunhua Xianzi has admitted her crime.

I take the liberty to ask Your Majesty to order her suppression for a thousand years in the Heavenly Court, beside the Yao Pond.”

Yu Di, with his eyes closed, said,

“Approved.”

Li Changshou flicked his sleeve, and heavenly soldiers and generals stepped forward to escort Yunhua Xianzi away.

Li Changshou secretly transmitted a message, and Mu Gong promptly excused himself and followed.

“Dismiss for today,” Yu Di said, standing up with an unreadable expression, his figure turning into mist and dissipating from the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

The immortals and gods below bowed in unison, silently dispersing.

Li Changshou acted as if nothing had happened, riding the clouds back to the Moon Palace, resuming his position as chief instructor for the remaining half-year term.

Within half a day, stories of Yunhua Xianzi’s family tragedy began circulating in the Heavenly Court.

The Chang E dancers in the Moon Palace showed less enthusiasm toward Li Changshou, replaced by more reverence.

To be precise, it was fear.

Li Changshou paid it no mind and continued his duties.

In the Lingxiao Hall, he had promised Yunhua Xianzi that Yang Jian and Yang Chan would be safe. Although Li Changshou knew Yang Jian would likely be fine, he still summoned the Xuan Huang Pagoda.

He casually dispatched a paper effigy legion, along with the Xuan Huang Pagoda, to the underground of Guan Continent City.

He did not appear before Yang Jian again, merely guarding him in secret and observing.

After the initial disaster at the Yang residence, chaos ensued. Yang Jian, still a child, quickly assessed the situation and fled with his sister.

The siblings lived a nomadic life for half a month. The once lively Yang Jian became silent, wandering the streets daily with his sister, sleeping rough, unsure of where to go or what to do.

Fortunately, they occasionally encountered kind people who gave them food and blankets…

This was not due to Li Changshou’s paper effigies; it was likely the effect of Yang Jian’s destiny.

In the dead of night on the streets, Yang Jian held his sister close, the two huddled under a tattered quilt.

Yang Jian could not sleep for a long time. Since the incident, he had not shed a tear; he only gently patted his sister’s back, soothing her frightened mind.

This was probably the hardship required for his rapid rise.

Half a month later, a Chanism immortal passed by thousands of miles away and was startled by Yang Jian’s destiny, so he reported it back to the Jade Void Palace.

That day, more than a dozen immortals arrived at the Jade Void Palace, including Huang Long Zhenren, Yu Ding Zhenren, Taiyi Zhenren, and Chijingzi.

Chijingzi used a Qi-observing technique and determined that Yang Jian would achieve great things in the future. The other Zhenren also considered taking him as a disciple, though Yu Ding Zhenren was the most composed, neither competing nor rushing.

He had only been brought along by Taiyi Zhenren.

Taiyi Zhenren had offended many with his mouth and, with the great calamity approaching, did not dare venture out alone without a powerful ally.

Influenced by the tribulation, divination was restricted, so the Chanism experts could not discern Yang Jian’s origins.

But after inquiring in the city and connecting it to the recent widespread rumors of “the Jade Emperor’s sister descending and marrying in secret,” they all hesitated.

Chijingzi said, “Now that the Heavenly Court leads the great tribulation, we must consider the face of our Shishu, the Jade Emperor.”

Taiyi Zhenren sighed, “I truly want to take him as a disciple. Such destiny is rare, but alas, his karma is too heavy. He will surely clash with the Heavenly Court in the future.

With my mouth, I’m afraid I couldn’t protect him.”

Yu Ding Zhenren said quietly,

“I’ll do it.”

Before Huang Long Zhenren could speak, Yu Ding Zhenren had already ridden the clouds and descended.

Huang Long Zhenren thought to himself that he wouldn’t mind either…

Soon, Yu Ding Zhenren rode the clouds back with Yang Jian and Yang Chan. Yang Jian watched the old Daoists warily, and Yu Ding Zhenren waved his hand to make him fall asleep, then carried him with immortal power.

Chijingzi hesitated but said nothing, only remarking,

“Let’s return.”

The Zhenren each rode their clouds toward the north.

Yu Ding Zhenren sensed something, turned his head toward the mortal city below, glanced at a certain alley where a figure flashed by, and smiled faintly.

Taiyi Zhenren rode over, hands tucked in his sleeves, eyeing Yang Jian and Yang Chan as he muttered,

“Shidi, are you sure you want to take on this karma?”

“It’s fine,” Yu Ding Zhenren replied, withdrawing his gaze from the alley. “Trust Changshou.”

Taiyi Zhenren sniffed, puzzled.

The next day after Yang Jian was taken by Yu Ding Zhenren, Li Changshou handled a long-prepared matter.

He led the one hundred and eight magic soldiers to the underworld to seek aid from Houtu Niangniang.

With the Xuan Huang Pagoda protecting his true body, he borrowed a large ship from the Dragon Palace and set off grandly toward the east of the East Sea, heading to the Youming Underworld and Fengdu City.

Using Houtu Niangniang’s seven emotions Dao fruit, he hoped to salvage the Dao hearts of these magic soldiers.

Meanwhile, on Sanxian Island.

Qiongxiao, Bixiao, and Han Zhi Xian, having heard the latest rumors, hurried to Yunxiao Xianzi’s pavilion and told her about the Yunhua Xianzi incident spreading through the great wilderness.

In the circulating version, whether due to deliberate scheming or distortions in retelling, the deaths of Yang Tianyou and his eldest son were attributed to the Heavenly Court’s orders.

In this story, Heavenly Court Water God Li Changshou was portrayed as the outright villain, both sentencing Yunhua Xianzi and personally escorting her for suppression.

Qiongxiao frowned and said, “Logically, Jiefu—haha, that Water God is our Dashibo’s favorite disciple. He wouldn’t need to handle such dirty work for the Jade Emperor.”

“I also find it suspicious,” Bixiao muttered seriously.

Yunxiao Xianzi pondered for a moment and said softly,

“Why do I feel that escorting Yunhua Xianzi was actually protecting her, suppressing her was for future safeguarding, and sentencing her was like taking on blame to suppress the matter…

There must be more to this.

Third sister, I permit you to go out and investigate the full cause and effect.

If others are intentionally slandering, I cannot stand by.”

Qiongxiao complained,

“Ah, not being able to use divination makes it so troublesome!”

She summoned the Jin Jiao Scissors and shot into the sky.

Half a day later, Qiongxiao returned with the complete story, explaining that Yu Di had only ordered the family of five to be brought back, but heavenly soldiers were controlled; a certain god, Fu Yuan Xianweng, was killed by a single word from the Water God, turning to ash, and over ten Heavenly Court immortals seemed to have been mind-controlled…

Yunxiao thought carefully and said quietly, “No wonder he had to step up and bear this. There must have been a Sheng Ren involved.”

The other fairies exchanged glances.

“A Sheng Ren? For something like this? That seems unlikely…”

“Do not mention this further. I cannot see through the underlying scheme for now. Just notify the various islands in our sect with the full details.”

Yunxiao rested her cheek in her hand for a while, then took out pen and paper, wrote a letter, and handed it to Qiongxiao.

“If Big Brother is with him, ask Big Brother to pass this letter on.

Even if he doesn’t care about others’ misunderstandings, I should still offer him some support.”

Qiongxiao and Bixiao looked at each other and chuckled, quickly excusing themselves before their sister could scold them, each sending out transmission jade talismans.

On the other side, within the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk.

Li Changshou stood by the pool where Master Qi Yuan’s soul was soaking, waiting for Houtu Niangniang to approach slowly.

“Niangniang,” Li Changshou turned and bowed, smiling. “Could you assist me with something else?”

Houtu smiled and said, “Is it about the ancient magic soldiers of the human race? I already agreed to that earlier, so there’s no need to say ‘assist again.’”

“Yes, it is that,” Li Changshou replied.

He flipped his left hand, revealing a treasure bead gently glowing in his palm. “Here is one soul and one spirit from a certain human. With the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk, can we restore them?”

Houtu asked softly, “Have the other souls shattered?”

“They have,” Li Changshou nodded. “Not even fragments remain, but fortunately, I extracted this one soul and one spirit in an instant beforehand.”

“If they’ve shattered, they can be repaired. If the other souls were still intact, the Heavenly Dao wouldn’t allow it.”

Houtu continued, “As long as he has passed through the reincarnation disk before, traces will remain.

Collect those traces, reconnect the shattered souls, and with this one soul and one spirit as a guide, restoration will take just one or two hundred years.

Place it in the pool. What is his name?”

Li Changshou carefully placed the one soul and one spirit next to Master Qi Yuan’s soul and answered,

“Yang Tianyou.”

Houtu asked curiously, “Is he your fellow disciple?”

“No,” Li Changshou thought for a moment and smiled. “Consider him my nominal disciple, plus a little… backup plan.”