Chapter 473: Tongtian Cult Leader, Online

With a single "That's it," the winds of change swept through the air.

The saint's oppressive aura paused for a moment, and the saint's manifestation showed a hint of anger.

Yuding and Huanglong frowned with bitter smiles, while Duobao and Gongming focused their gazes intently. Yunxiao Xianzi glanced worriedly at Li Changshou, and Jinling, Kongxuan... nearly burst out laughing.

As for the disciples of the Western Cult around them, they were all furious, their hair standing on end and their eyes bulging wide.

Some Daluo immortals gritted their teeth in rage, some Jinxian experts were bold enough to show their anger, and the saint's direct disciples were all incensed, itching to strike immediately and kill the red-robed male immortal who was shielded behind layers of treasures.

At this point, Taiyi Zhenren realized that his two words had an unexpectedly strong impact. Though they had indeed slipped out due to his straightforward nature, they were far too provocative for a saint.

More importantly, those two words had given Zhunti the perfect excuse to lash out.

Earlier, when Li Changshou had appeared and delivered his entire speech, it was all carefully calculated. He had taken control of the situation single-handedly, throwing out several heavy accusations to force Zhunti to show himself and engage directly.

No matter the scheme, whichever saint made the first move had already lost half the battle.

Zhunti had originally planned to use his saintly authority to suppress Li Changshou, intending to seal him under Ling Mountain for a thousand years. This approach was cleverly devised, leaving himself an out while creating enough "pressure buffer" between Taiqing Temple and Ling Mountain.

As long as Taiqing Saint spoke up later—or even just appeared—Zhunti would hand over Li Changshou intact and offer apologies.

But through this, Zhunti could ensure that Renjiao wouldn't hinder the Western Cult's establishment of a second cycle of reincarnation!

Li Changshou, master of exhaustive reasoning, had long anticipated this possibility, which is why he had invited eight experts and brought various treasures for support.

He had even planned that if a fight broke out, he would temporarily lend the Xuanhuang Pagoda and Kunlun Ruler to his future sister-in-law, Kongxuan, letting her rely on the Five-Color Divine Light, with the Taiji Diagram providing side assistance, and the help of the other experts. They likely stood a good chance against Zhunti Saint.

As long as they could force Zhunti not to act, or make it so that even if he did, he couldn't quickly overpower their group of nine "juniors," then Zhunti would have lost today.

In other words, the Western Cult would have lost.

They would hold the upper hand and force the Western Cult to destroy this reincarnation pagoda.

At the very least, they could prevent a full-scale war and ensure that the Western Cult's incense god nation second reincarnation system wouldn't function completely.

Everything had originally been steered onto the right track by Li Changshou.

He had even gone so far as to act foolishly and shamelessly in front of Yunxiao Xianzi, using clumsy pretense and relying on his defensive treasures to draw the Western Cult's aggro.

But he never expected...

Truly never expected!

Taiyi Zhenren's final appearance had handed the initiative on "whether to reasonably lash out" right to Zhunti with just two words.

Li Changshou: ...

If this were in his past life at school, he'd be yelling into his headset by now!

Who put this holy light off-tank in the group? Randomly taunting for no reason, slapping the saint in the face out of nowhere, not even gearing up properly, and turning all his skills into some digital monster evolution crap, while throwing buffs on the enemy boss!

What? I grouped him myself?

Tsk, well, never mind then.

Every situation has two sides. Although Taiyi Zhenren had disrupted the rhythm, the aggro had clearly shifted fully onto him.

The elegant and easygoing Taiyi Zhenren, straightforward and sharing the heat.

"Ah."

Li Changshou sighed, quickly bowing to Taiyi Zhenren before the opposition could strike, and spoke loudly:

"Senior brother, forgive me, senior brother, forgive me. Earlier, I used the Taiji Diagram to move through the world, and somehow I ended up here.

This place is a bit rundown; let's find a nicer spot later and have a drink."

The pale-faced Taiyi Zhenren, who was barely holding himself together, responded with a grateful look at Li Changshou and said hastily:

"Yeah, yeah, what kind of dump is this to drink in? It's all smog and filth!"

A large hand suddenly struck from behind like thunder, clapping over Taiyi Zhenren's mouth—it was Yuding who had acted in time, sealing Taiyi Zhenren's mouth with immortal power.

Yuding said, "...Our master is Yuan Shi Tianzun."

Meanwhile, Huanglong Zhenren vigilantly scanned the surroundings, fearing that some Western Cult member might impulsively attack and spark a full war.

Li Changshou truly didn't dare give Taiyi Zhenren another chance to speak. He had to deliberately expose a weakness, digging a pit for himself to steer the topic back to the reincarnation pagoda.

If he didn't know any better, Li Changshou might have suspected that Taiyi Zhenren had been bribed.

Well, fine, this messed-up group is just charging ahead.

The Western Cult disciples around them had now regained their composure, each pulling out their treasures and preparing their immortal power, ready for an all-out battle.

Li Changshou remained calm and composed, continuing to speak loudly:

"Uncle, you just said you wanted to suppress me under Ling Mountain? And that I don't respect saints?

May I ask, uncle... do you have any evidence?"

"How dare you!"

An elderly Daoist near the saint's feet shouted in anger: "You're still arguing with our teacher, and you dare claim you respect saints?"

Li Changshou laughed:

"This dao brother, your words are a bit unreasonable. I'm just laying out facts and reasoning with my uncle. Perhaps in the Western Cult, disciples must follow strict rules, never daring to utter a word against their teacher and always guessing the saint's intentions.

In our Renjiao, we're more casual. The first time my teacher summoned me to Taiqing Temple, we sat just three feet apart. He chatted with me about principles, shared family stories, and told ancient tales—it was a great experience.

How can you say I don't respect saints?

I swear by the Great Dao here: if I have even a trace of disrespect or irreverence toward my teacher, may I be struck by the Zixiao Divine Thunder!"

Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed in the sky, and dense heavenly power descended, illuminating Li Changshou's figure hidden among his allies.

Li Changshou smiled: "Respecting saints comes from the heart, not just words."

Diji Zang chuckled: "Does the Water God only see Taiqing Master as a saint? Why not swear for all?"

The pit was dug, and sure enough, someone jumped in.

The immortals present were still unaware that Li Changshou had already shifted the rhythm.

Li Changshou deliberately stepped back: "Diji Zang dao brother, your words are too harsh. May I ask, do you dare swear that you have no disrespect toward the three saints of our Daoism?"

Diji Zang narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly advancing on his Tintin mount, full of spirit and divine light in his eyes, and declared:

"The Water God must be afraid, surely hiding something shady.

If our teacher has deemed you guilty of disrespecting saints, how will you argue?

Our teacher is compassionate and won't beat or kill you; he just wants to suppress you under Ling Mountain for a thousand years, which is but a snap for an immortal like you. Your evasion shows your defiance and disrespect.

I should advise our teacher to suppress you even longer!"

Li Changshou furrowed his brow, seeming to have run out of ammunition.

Beside him, Zhao Gongming gave a look asking if they should fight, and Li Changshou subtly shook his head.

Any battle must ensure they had the moral high ground, avoid losses, and allow the three saints of Daoism to intervene logically.

Li Changshou chuckled lightly and sighed:

"I thought Diji Zang dao brother would have some profound insights on the battlefield, but it's nothing special after all."

Diji Zang frowned slightly, and several elderly Daoists near Zhunti's manifestation showed faint gleams in their eyes.

Li Changshou glanced at Yunxiao Xianzi beside him, giving her a reassuring look, then stepped forward two paces to stand in front of Huanglong Zhenren.

"Diji Zang dao brother, do you still remember when we fought the extraterrestrial demons together, sharing drinks and chatting about the heavens, filled with joy?"

Diji Zang gritted his teeth and scolded: "Water God, your skill in spouting nonsense is truly admirable!

When did I ever share drinks with you!?"

"No worries, no worries, I know you're thin-skinned," Li Changshou laughed. "I said back then that 'respect' isn't just one way of interpretation."

"When did you say that?"

"You've forgotten? It doesn't matter; I'll say it again."

Li Changshou smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the many saint disciples present. The Xuanhuang Pagoda appeared above his head, and the Taiji Diagram shimmered with light around him.

He then shouted loudly, his speech gradually quickening:

"All spirits respect saints for their vast divine powers and profound Dao realms, as the strongest in the world—this respect stems from fear.

But as saint disciples and attendants, do we respect saints out of fear?

No, of course not.

We Daoism disciples respect saints for their elegant character and broad minds that encompass the Three Realms, for their transcendence beyond worldly ties and unbound freedom, for their deep Dao realms as the pinnacle of all beings.

Our ancestral teacher, Daozu, established the origins of all paths, and the saints teach us the Dao, essentially guiding us on how to be true beings.

My respect for the two uncles of the Western Cult comes from reverence for their Dao realms and their own noble selves. How can you say I don't respect them?

I merely have some immature opinions on certain aspects."

"How dare you!"

An elderly Daoist rebuked angrily: "Li Changgeng, how brazen you are to openly criticize our teacher's character!"

Li Changshou turned his head, exuding an indescribable aura of authority, with the treasures' light shining even brighter.

He spun around and roared back:

"You dare speak! How dare you use the saint's character as a weapon to attack others and as a shield for yourself!

Do you even have any regard for Zhunti uncle? For your own saint?

My teacher once said that in ancient times, the two saints of the Western Cult made great vows that moved the emotionless Heavenly Dao, granting them immense merits and sainthood.

What noble purity and sentiment that is!

But what about you?!

You Western Cult disciples deceive your superiors and hide from your inferiors, committing all sorts of misdeeds and tarnishing your uncles' reputations!

You seize treasures by any means, claim talented individuals as your destined ones, even scheme against the demon race and secretly harbor ancient sinful demons. For materials, you stop at nothing, ambushing the dragon clan's sea eyes and causing suffering to the four seas' beings!"

An elderly Daoist shouted: "Nonsense! Water God, don't spout baseless accusations!"

"Let's leave it to the Heavenly Dao to prove," Li Changshou gestured invitingly. "If you claim these aren't done by you Western saint disciples, then swear by the Great Dao!

If the Heavenly Dao confirms you didn't, I'll kneel and apologize to you today!"

Diji Zang sneered: "Is the Water God's only trick swearing by the Great Dao?"

"I know," Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and smiled, "It's called one trick that works everywhere.

If Diji Zang dao friend isn't convinced, feel free to find a way to counter it."

"You've got it wrong, old brother," Li Changshou laughed. "I don't have any tricks; I just have complete trust and reverence for the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao is impartial and exists only for the stability of heaven and earth.

That's why, when the Heavenly Dao owed me merits, I accepted it without hesitation.

I trust the Heavenly Dao."

The Daoism immortals nearby all tilted their heads, puzzled, with question marks on their foreheads.

Kongxuan asked in confusion: "Can the Heavenly Dao owe merits to a being?"

"It can't really be called owing," Li Changshou laughed. "It's just delayed."

No sooner had he spoken than thunder rumbled overhead. A small gray cloud formed above Li Changshou, striking him with a thin Zixiao Divine Thunder no thicker than a hair.

Neither the Taiji Diagram nor the Xuanhuang Pagoda blocked it, letting the tiny lightning hit Li Changshou's forehead and make his whole body tremble.

The depths of the Blood Sea fell silent once more.

Unlike the earlier saint's appearance and Taiyi's "That's it," which had quieted things twice before, this time...

Nearly all the Western Cult experts looked on with thick confusion and shock.

That playful little thunderbolt...

Was the Heavenly Dao endorsing the Water God?

The Heavenly Dao owed the Water God merits, and when he mentioned it publicly, he only got a light tap from the Zixiao Divine Thunder!

Was this really the world-ending thunder that even quasi-saints fear?

Li Changshou, however, felt completely at ease. He sorted through the logic in his words and shouted again:

"Look, Uncle Zhunti!

These pests in the Western Cult are deceiving you here, claiming to rebuild the reincarnation for the sake of all beings, when it's really just to solidify their own incense god nations!

Are they doing this for the Western Cult?

No! They're just hiding under your shadow, sucking the blood of mortals, trapping their souls, and using it to cultivate, survive tribulations, and become powerful!

Moreover, last time at Ling Mountain, villains schemed against our Daoism and sowed discord among the three teachings. You, Uncle, ordered the mountain sealed for a thousand years, but now what?!

Is Ling Mountain empty?

These Western disciples are the true ones disrespecting saints; they're the ones dragging down the Western Cult!

Uncle Zhunti!"

Li Changshou said passionately: "I truly can't stand by and watch!

I dare to ask you today to stand aside and let me and our Daoism senior brothers and sisters teach them a lesson for you!"

Pfft...

This wasn't a laugh; it was one of the saint disciples beside him blacking out and spitting blood.

Zhunti's saint manifestation increased its pressure, but now it spoke calmly, without surprise or anger:

"Have you... said enough?"

Clearly, Zhunti was now ready to negotiate and make some concessions to Daoism.

What Li Changshou needed to push for next was to make the Western Cult abandon the second reincarnation themselves.

Today, there was no need for a major fight; everything could wait for the decisions at Zixiao Palace regarding the Fengshen events. Beating down the Western Cult prematurely would only let the great calamity spiral out of control.

The ideal outcome was for this batch of Western Cult saint disciples to turn to ashes in the calamity, while Heaven's needed righteous gods would be filled by Daoism's non-top-tier experts. Heaven could then select and appoint them according to proper procedures.

Just as Li Changshou was about to step forward, bow, and respond...

Taiyi Zhenren's mouth was still sealed, and aside from Jinling Shengmu's fiery temper showing some dissatisfaction, the other experts all looked at him with full approval.

Handling things without fighting—that was true stability.

Blundering through everything would just make you another forgotten wave of the past.

Li Changshou steadied himself, a breath rising from his dantian to his throat, about to raise his hand in a bow...

"Hold on, Changgeng, keep scolding!

As for that broken pagoda, I'll smash it for you later."

This clear and relaxed voice!

This calm and composed tone!

The four Jiejiao experts perked up, turning together to look at the young Daoist who had appeared unnoticed in the air a hundred zhang behind them.

Behold this youth:

Sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high-bridged nose, dressed in cyan-blue robes with a lightly swaying hair tie. His eyes held specks of stars, and faint Dao rhythms surrounded him, as if he'd always been there but simply silent.

He wasn't standing or sitting but lounging on a cloud, his left foot slightly raised and his left hand resting on a sheathed treasure sword.

At this, Zhunti's saint manifestation's face fell completely, its authority disrupted and unable to coalesce...

Duobao Daoist, Zhao Gongming, Jinling Shengmu, and Yunxiao Xianzi all showed solemn respect, bowing and saluting in unison:

"Master, we greet you!"

Li Changshou and the other Daoism disciples also bowed and said:

"Uncle, we greet you!"

"Mmmph mmmph!"

—From a certain sealed mouth.

Kongxuan gave a slight bow, his eyes still eager, and said:

"I greet Tongtian Jiaozhu."

The group of Western Cult saint disciples hurriedly bowed and said:

"We greet Uncle Tongtian."

Tongtian Jiaozhu snorted:

"Who said you could call me uncle? When did our Daoism accept scum like you?

Changgeng?"

Li Changshou quickly replied: "Disciple is here."

"Keep scolding, don't stop. It's just getting good—why negotiate with them?"

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed: "If you can scold them for three hours straight today, I'll approve your marriage to Yunxiao. How about that?"

Li Changshou: ...

Yunxiao frowned slightly, pursed her lips, and said softly:

"Master, how can you speak like that?

You always teach us to act openly and uprightly, not to oppress with divine powers or authority, and that all beings must strive on their own to seize that sliver of opportunity.

Why, today, without asking me a word, do you decide my matter of Dao companionship?

Can't I handle this myself?"

"Well..."

Tongtian Jiaozhu sat up straight and said warmly: "Yunxiao is right; it's my fault for getting carried away in the moment.

If Changgeng scolds them well, I'll give him a treasure instead. How's that?"

Yunxiao bowed: "I have offended Master and am willing to accept your punishment."

Tongtian Jiaozhu glared secretly at Li Changshou, who quickly stepped forward, cleared his throat, and rapidly thought about how to adjust his strategy.

With this big shot here, the offense and defense had switched.

Now, the goal was how to hurt the Western Cult badly?

No—more precisely, under the premise of maximizing Daoism's benefits, he needed to minimize his own aggro and avoid unnecessary karma.

Still...

Li Changshou glanced at Diji Zang on his Tintin mount, who was now frowning deeply as if facing a great enemy.

Forget it; focusing on one dirty secret might backfire. Better spread it around and give some "attention" to Diji Zang's fellow disciples too.

"Today, let's thoroughly discuss this... incense god nation!"