Chapter 470: Stable as the Wind, Always Accompanying Longevity

Ten figures had just stabilized within the disk of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Liudao Lunhui, when a faint, ethereal shadow darted out, striking with lightning speed at the immobilized immortal body of Taiyi Zhenren.

Fortunately, Yuding Zhenren and Li Changshou reacted swiftly. The former lightly pointed a finger, while the latter summoned a wisp of the Taiji Diagram's Dao rhythm, freezing the approaching shadow in place.

"Don't be mischievous."

A soft sigh drifted from afar, and through the hazy air, it seemed a delicate hand gently waved, grasping a floating grass ring.

The immortals then heard several voices:

"Ah, it's so hard for us. Someone finally comes in, and even greeting them gets us locked up."

"Hmm, that annoying Men Ding is here again. Last time, we were all entangled and never settled who was superior."

"I want to beat that foul-mouthed jerk to death! He's the one who's short!"

The immortals couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Li Changshou discreetly observed Kong Xuan's reaction and noticed that this formidable figure was curiously examining the scene inside the Six Paths of Reincarnation disk, showing no signs of abnormality.

Meanwhile, Huanglong Zhenren, who had missed the previous great battle, felt like an outsider, somewhat unaccustomed to the atmosphere here.

In the distance, a white shadow appeared as Houtu Niangniang approached, standing on the hilltop about a hundred zhang away, nodding gently to the immortals.

Dabao Daoist called out, "We pay our respects to Houtu Niangniang!"

The Daoist experts bowed in unison, and Kong Xuan arched his hands in a nod of greeting.

"There is no need for such formalities," Houtu Niangniang said warmly, her voice gentle. "You have all come today, is it regarding the great Dao disturbance deep in the Blood Sea?"

"Houtu Niangniang, have you learned the details of this matter?" Li Changshou asked.

A hint of helplessness showed in Houtu Niangniang's eyes as she replied, "A saint has acted, shifting the wheel of reincarnation while I was unaware... I'm afraid this is now unstoppable."

Zha Gongming said gravely, "Niangniang, do you know the exact schemes of the Western Cult?"

Houtu Niangniang answered, "It seems they wish to establish another wheel of reincarnation to consolidate their own destiny."

"Houtu Niangniang, when did the loss of control over the seven emotions first occur?" Li Changshou inquired.

Houtu Niangniang's face reflected a moment of recollection. "Having stayed here for so long, I've lost all sense of time's passage. It must have been quite a while ago."

Dabao Daoist frowned and asked, "Changgeng, are you suspecting that the Western Cult has already targeted the underworld?"

"Indeed," Li Changshou said, taking out several memory orbs from his sleeve and pushing them forward slowly. The orbs projected streams of light.

Three thousand worlds, endless divine kingdoms.

Mortals prayed, and merit filled the skies.

These individuals present were no ordinary beings, and Li Changshou had already explained the details to them earlier. Yet, seeing these scenes still shook them.

"Heh," Kong Xuan chuckled lightly, "A great cult indeed."

Houtu Niangniang furrowed her brows, watching the mortals kowtowing, and asked, "Do these believers still engage in labor, farming, gathering, or hunting?"

"Yes," Li Changshou nodded slowly, "but the believers think that their harvests from farming and gathering are gifts from immortals and gods. Those who spread this doctrine pose as messengers of the immortals and gods, though they are merely mortals themselves, receiving offerings.

All sorts of so-called merit treat mortals like cattle, sheep, or weeds."

Houtu Niangniang asked again, "The human race has long understood the principle that 'heaven's mandate is not subject to human words.' Why do they still worship these things now?"

"The human race is now separated between immortals and mortals," Li Changshou sighed lightly. "Cultivators see themselves as refined and elegant, viewing the mundane world as filthy and chaotic, so it's not comparable to ancient times.

Human emperors are rare nowadays, and even if one's destiny as a human emperor solidifies, it's limited to Jambudvipa, unable to influence the scattered three thousand worlds.

This is how the Daoist path was exploited by the Western Cult."

The Daoist experts beside him fell into thought.

Li Changshou stopped there, not elaborating further. Some matters couldn't be changed by mere divine abilities; they required careful planning and long-term arrangements.

Then, he steered the conversation back to the main topic, saying firmly:

"Although the Western Cult hasn't directly challenged the Daoist path, if they succeed today, they'll use these divine kingdoms as their foundation during the great calamity. Their immortal troops will be endless, and experts will emerge endlessly, leading to infinite future troubles.

Fellow senior brothers and sisters, as a Daoist disciple, I don't want to see the Daoist path decline.

Our teacher previously summoned me to cultivate in the Taichi Temple for three years to prevent the Western Cult's rise at this time, which aligns with the teacher's intentions.

Houtu Niangniang, may I be so bold as to ask one more thing.

If the Western Cult threatens you with the countless souls accumulated in their divine kingdoms, would you agree to establish a second wheel of reincarnation?"

Houtu Niangniang stood on the verdant hillside, remaining silent.

Kong Xuan snorted beside her, "If you seek benevolence in the moment but end up letting countless future beings be controlled by such incense divine kingdoms, it's a case of losing the greater for the smaller. Why hesitate?"

Yuding Zhenren countered, "Every soul is the imprint of a living being. Houtu Niangniang, with her great virtue, cannot bear to see that."

A hint of coldness flashed in Jinling Shengmu's eyes as she said, "If you all don't want to play the villain, I can handle disposing of those ghosts myself."

Dabao Daoist advised, "With the great calamity upon us, junior sister, don't create unnecessary karma, or you might be exploited by the calamity's fate."

Huanglong Zhenren whispered, "Does that mean... only I don't know exactly what we're supposed to do?"

Li Changshou chuckled softly and explained via voice transmission.

The Western Cult was secretly building a new wheel of reincarnation system, and once the Hall of Reincarnation was complete, they would surely bring out the mortal souls accumulated over tens of thousands of years in their incense divine kingdoms.

The most pressing issue now was that if Li Changshou and his group acted to destroy the Western Cult's new Hall of Reincarnation, how would they handle those countless souls?

These souls were preserved by the Western Cult using incense merit and secret methods, enduring long ages, and many were already fragile. If they couldn't reincarnate promptly, they would dissipate quickly...

Houtu Niangniang, being compassionate, could not bear such a tragedy.

And that was precisely what the Western Cult intended to exploit.

In Li Changshou's view, the key to this contest lay in Houtu Niangniang's stance.

As long as Houtu Niangniang stood firmly with them and refused to recognize the Western Cult's Hall of Reincarnation, the rest would just be a matter of combat.

Taiyi Zhenren, now released from his restraints, muttered, "This is the Western Cult's sin. Why are we entangled over it?"

The grass ring on Houtu Niangniang's head trembled slightly, and Taiyi Zhenren instinctively stepped back half a pace, hiding behind Yuding Zhenren.

"Houtu Niangniang, suppose I can properly arrange for those souls, would you then have no more concerns?" Li Changshou asked with a smile.

"How would you arrange it?" she replied.

"The best plan is to seize the Blood Sea and deny the Western Cult any foothold in the underworld, but that would be equivalent to a full-scale war with them, which is hard to achieve.

The middle plan is to strike before they release those souls, rescue them, and then quickly arrange for them to enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The worst plan is to do our utmost."

Even Yunxiao, who had been like an observer, was amused by the phrase "do our utmost," smiling slightly.

He has moments when he can't cover everything.

Zha Gongming said, "The Sea-Calming Divine Pearls could be tried."

Dabao Daoist rummaged in his sleeve and pulled out a pile of items—sacks, treasure bottles, basins, pearls, and more—all useful for nurturing souls and preserving spirits...

"Everyone, take some. We'll grab as many as we can and do our utmost."

Houtu Niangniang said softly, "Worldly affairs are rarely perfect. If we can achieve the best or middle plan, that would be ideal, but there's no need to force it.

Incense divine kingdoms trapping beings is a great evil.

I ask that you all not only stand for the Daoist path but also for the sake of all living beings in this matter.

Is there anything I can do?"

"Houtu Niangniang, you only need to refuse to recognize the second wheel of reincarnation. We'll handle the rest," Li Changshou bowed with hands clasped.

"Very well," Houtu Niangniang nodded gently, reaching up to remove the grass ring from her head and sending it forward.

The ring spun slowly, shrinking to the size of a bracelet and slipping onto Li Changshou's wrist.

"Use it wisely," she said.

"Don't worry, Niangniang," Li Changshou bowed in a Daoist salute, maintaining his composure.

Turning around, he bowed to the experts present.

Including Kong Xuan, the nine experts returned the salute.

"Don't start rambling!" Jinling Shengmu said. "We all admire your scheming. Just give the orders."

"Then I'll be bold," Li Changshou said, taking a glazed treasure pagoda from his sleeve with his right hand.

Zha Gongming laughed, "This pagoda looks familiar."

Kong Xuan also smiled slightly, recalling that night... of the group extinguishing the lights.

"Fellow senior brothers, sisters, and Kong Xuan Daoist friend, please bear with it for now and enter the pagoda to wait.

Allow me to gather more intelligence first. Once I have enough information and a detailed plan, we'll seize the opportunity and strike suddenly, catching them off guard!"

The immortals agreed one after another, all feeling it was a solid plan.

Dabao Daoist and the others entered the glazed treasure pagoda in sequence, with Yunxiao and Kong Xuan going last.

Yunxiao Immortal asked with some concern, "Why not let me stay outside with you?"

"There's no need," Li Changshou said seriously. "Rest assured, if we're talking about success, I only have about a fifty percent chance.

But if it's about survival, I have roughly ninety-eight percent confidence this time."

"Very well," Yunxiao nodded gently, her eyes still filled with worry, and she urged him not to take risks.

Li Changshou naturally agreed with a smile.

Kong Xuan said nothing more and entered a separate level of the glazed treasure pagoda, keeping to himself.

Then, under Houtu Niangniang's curious gaze, Li Changshou sat down cross-legged and began his preparations.

No matter how high one's cultivation, one shouldn't blindly trust their own divine abilities.

One mountain is higher than another, and even the most exquisite illusions or transformations can be seen through by those with superior cultivation.

Li Changshou used the Taiji Diagram's Dao rhythm to conceal himself, briefly restoring his true appearance. He then took out eyebrow pencil and rouge, carefully applying them.

Why had he studied painting in the past?

One reason was to "fix" the appearance of his paper effigies, and the other was for disguising his true self.

Today, this skill was coming in handy!

In just a moment, he had physically altered his face on a fundamental level, making it about seventy to eighty percent similar to Lu Ya Daoist's real features.

Next, he took two jade bottles from his sleeve, pouring out the essence of Golden Crow blood he had extracted from his robes during the North Continent battle. He used it to coat his body with the corresponding aura.

On top of that, he mixed in strands of Solar True Flame.

—Solar True Flame wasn't just the Golden Crow's innate ability; it could also be collected from the core of the Sun Star, and the Tushita Palace had reserves for alchemy.

Finally...

He slung the purple-and-white gourd of the Immortal-Severing Flying Blade over his back, changed into a brown Daoist robe, and cast a transformation spell, turning into a hunched old Daoist.

With that, the first four layers of disguise were complete.

Li Changshou turned around, dispelled the Taiji Diagram's Dao rhythm, and bowed to the somewhat stunned Houtu Niangniang with a smile.

"Niangniang, could you send me silently to the outskirts of Fengdu City? Ideally, right through the great array."

"Very well," Houtu Niangniang agreed, unable to resist asking, "What is this..."

"Just some necessary disguise techniques," Li Changshou replied with a smile. "Lu Ya Daoist is already dead by my hand, but the Golden Crow clan excels in flame divine abilities and are divine birds. If I'm discovered, I can trick them by pretending to use the Phoenix clan's rebirth method."

"I see."

For some reason, uncertainty crept into Houtu Niangniang's voice.

Inside the glazed treasure pagoda, the Daoist experts and Kong Xuan, witnessing this, wore various expressions.

In his solitary level, Kong Xuan's mouth twitched slightly, and he finally burst into laughter.

The other Daoist experts in the same level couldn't help but share their thoughts on Li Changshou's style...

Dabao Daoist laughed, "Making an enemy of Changgeng is truly a huge hassle."

Jinling Shengmu said, "This is just too... I don't even know how to describe it."

"Changgeng is thorough and cautious in his actions—a model for us all!" Zha Gongming praised enthusiastically.

Taiyi Zhenren shrugged with his hands in his sleeves. "I think you might all be misunderstanding. He's probably just genuinely afraid of dying."

Yunxiao glanced over, her brows furrowing slightly...

Taiyi Zhenren didn't know why, but his legs went weak, and he sat down cross-legged, adding involuntarily, "But on matters of principle, Changgeng never hesitates!"

Yuding Zhenren nodded with a smile, while Dabao Daoist and Zha Gongming exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Then, they heard Li Changshou's disguised, aged voice from outside the pagoda:

"Niangniang, please wait a moment. Let me cast a transformation spell first."

The experts all peered out, watching as Li Changshou turned into a female Asura child with silver hair and red eyes—common in the Blood Sea—and then shrank to the size of a thumb, transforming into a transparent lizard with its aura completely hidden.

The immortals and Houtu Niangniang all raised their hands to their foreheads in unison.

The little lizard scurried a few steps, quickly entering the colorful light ring ahead, and vanished in a flash...

At that moment, in Li Changshou's heart, the pagoda spirit chuckled while scolding:

"What are you up to, little apprentice?

I lent you the Taiji Diagram boss to go all out in a fight! But here you are, calling in helpers and disguising yourself. This is really damaging our Taichi lineage's reputation.

Just head straight to the depths of the Blood Sea. I'll team up with the Taiji Diagram boss—if that damn Seven-Treasure Wonder Tree shows up, so what?"

The true Qiankun Ruler chimed in, "Exactly!"

A voice that blurred yin and yang asked in Li Changshou's heart:

"Why bring so many Daoist disciples?"

Li Changshou laughed inwardly and replied:

"If the one guarding the second Hall of Reincarnation is a Western saint, with all of you protecting me and our teacher shielding us, I might escape unscathed. But wouldn't that leave no room for turning the situation around?"

The pagoda spirit dismissed it, "Saints meddling secretly with the great Dao is one thing, but personally acting as guards? Come on."

"This is unpredictable," the Taiji Diagram surprisingly agreed.

The pagoda spirit laughed, "If the Taiji Diagram boss says so, then it is. What I admire most about you, little apprentice, is how steadily you handle things.

But even with these saint disciples, they aren't a match for a saint."

Li Changshou smiled, and as the little lizard sped through the void into the depths of the Blood Sea, he thought to himself:

Some things are hard to explain to others; I just need to understand them myself.

All his arrangements and the experts he'd invited were merely to buy a split second if they suddenly faced a saint's attack, allowing their own saint to arrive.

With the Taiji Diagram, Xuanhuang Pagoda, and Qiankun Ruler;

Combined with Kong Xuan's Five-Color Divine Light, Zha Gongming's Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, Yunxiao's Primordial Golden Fight, Jinling Shengmu's Dragon-Tiger Ruyi, Dabao Daoist's "King's Treasury," Yuding Zhenren's cauldron, Taiyi Zhenren's... mouth...

His chances of survival against a saint were still about ninety-eight percent.

Glancing at the grass ring on his wrist and feeling the quietly flowing power of the seven emotions within, Houtu Niangniang had also given him an extra layer of protection.

Li Changshou had one more safeguard.

He deliberately invited Huanglong Zhenren, not just because he was an honest dragon, but purely because...

This one was a hidden lucky star!

In the original Investiture of the Gods calamity, Huanglong had been captured so many times, hung at the Zhou army's gates, and dragged by his whiskers, yet he never died.

It was a matter of superstitious luck.