Chapter 512: Lifespan Has Its Limits

In Biyou Palace, just after stepping out of the bath pool.

The water temperature was just right, with the pool bottom covered in smooth jade stones that felt comfortable underfoot. A considerate mist of white fog surrounded the area, helping to ease any embarrassment from bathing outdoors.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowed toward me, and the aura of a saint was right there, ready to be sensed at will. Whether I could truly grasp the profound Dao depended on my own comprehension.

This place is one of the five great sacred lands of the world, home to many beautiful immortals. Of course, they don't offer any services and prefer engaging in magical duels and displays of divine powers.

It's worth mentioning that the master of Biyou Palace is incredibly hospitable.

He has no airs about him, unlike those ancient beings born since the creation of the world, who often act overly venerable. His appearance makes him seem like a young immortal, just a few hundred years old, much like myself—this definitely deserves praise.

It's just that when scrubbing his smooth saintly back, my Dao heart trembled a bit, worried I might rub the skin raw and provoke him to strike me with a sword—a sword that even some saints might not withstand.

Though I felt a bit on edge, and as a guest, I ended up doing the work of a servant immortal, the overall experience was quite enjoyable. It's one of the most memorable baths of my life, vastly different from the last time I soaked in my junior sister Ling'e's wooden tub.

No point dwelling on it—the master of Biyou Palace wants to continue our chat.

Looking forward to a more splendid Honghuang, yearning for a more authentic future.

—Chief Experience Officer of the Heavenly Court, Changgeng.

In a corner of Biyou Palace, within the immortal mountain's treasure pool.

Surrounded by swirling mists and the constant rush of water, Li Changshou sat upright in the pool, diligently scrubbing the back of the great figure before him.

"Changgeng, the method you mentioned earlier—I’ve simulated it several times, and it seems feasible, with about a fifty to sixty percent chance of success."

Li Changshou praised, "You're truly remarkable, martial uncle. If it were up to me, I'd only have about a ten percent chance."

Tongtian Jiaozhu chuckled lightly, tapping his fingers on the water surface. "But there's one issue: where can we find a soul that can withstand the karmic power of the Red Lotus and still be accepted by it?"

"This... well, it's just a coincidence, but I happen to have one with me."

Li Changshou said seriously, "Earlier, when Minghe Laozu devoured human souls right in front of me, I sought revenge by inciting the Asura princess to rebel against him. To ensure absolute success, I used a human soul to balance out Minghe Laozu's remnant soul.

Unexpectedly, that soul began to merge with the power of the Red Lotus afterward.

That's when I came up with this idea.

What we're destroying is Minghe Laozu's remnant soul, so why not preserve the Red Lotus by swapping it out? Let this soul compete with Minghe Laozu's remnant soul for control of the Red Lotus.

As long as we weaken Minghe Laozu's connection to it, turning him into nothing more than a patch of blemish on the Red Lotus, we can excise him with minimal loss of the Red Lotus's power, without causing it to collapse.

Then, by treating this soul as the spirit of the Red Lotus and nurturing it a bit, it could truly become a treasure to suppress our sect's destiny."

Tongtian Jiaozhu exclaimed, "What a brilliant plan!"

"You're too kind, martial uncle; it's really just from the guidance my teacher gave me."

Li Changshou wasn't being modest—this insight came from the future event of "Huasheng into Fo," which might or might not happen, and whose details were unclear. The original intent was to compete with Western Sect for destiny, as Western Sect was destined to rise, but it didn't have to be them specifically.

—This involved incredibly complex schemes and a grand contest among saints.

While sitting beside the Taiqing Shengren for eighteen days, Li Changshou's thoughts wandered, and that's how he suddenly thought of this method.

He originally believed that with a saint's abilities, dealing with Minghe Laozu's remnant soul and protecting the Red Lotus should be straightforward.

But... ahem!

Mainly, Minghe Laozu was too cunning; it wasn't that martial uncle Tongtian was lacking in skill.

Tongtian Jiaozhu said, "Let’s summon that soul and take a look."

"Please wait a moment, martial uncle," Li Changshou said warmly, wading through the pool water to his clothes nearby.

From within the Dao robe sewn by Ling'e herself, he took out a treasure pouch, retrieved a magic treasure for nurturing souls, and unsealed the soul, holding it in his palm to present to Tongtian Jiaozhu.

Tongtian Jiaozhu's eyes lit up, and he laughed. "You've really prepared everything thoroughly. So why keep it a secret earlier? You could have shown it right away."

Li Changshou: ...

I couldn't very well say that I didn't expect a saint like you to have trouble with this.

Time to use some verbal finesse.

Li Changshou said seriously, "I seized the Red Lotus for the Daoist path, and I'm presenting it due to my teacher's command. Preparing all this, however, is for my personal affairs, so please don't hold it against me, martial uncle."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! What a way to put it—personal affairs!"

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed heartily, then sighed. "Not only did you help me keep Yunxiao, my dear disciple, in check, but you also taught my stubborn disciple Gongming how to be more flexible. And now, you're going to all this trouble today.

Should I go and knock Yunxiao out and bring her here for you?"

"Well," Li Changshou's throat bobbed as he whispered, "martial uncle, let's just let things develop naturally."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! You're even blushing! I'm just teasing you. I wouldn't dare... Let's unseal this soul and have a deep talk with him, since we need his help."

"Right here?"

Li Changshou glanced at the mist around them.

"We're all men—what's there to fear?"

"Yes, as you command."

And so, Li Changshou tentatively awakened the soul.

The scholar emerged from his daze as a faint human-like shadow, which gradually solidified.

Tongtian Jiaozhu fully restrained his saintly pressure, not revealing any aura, afraid a single glance might shatter this hard-won ally.

Compared to his last conversation with Li Changshou, the scholar hadn't changed much—just darker circles under his eyes, wisps of pinkish aura around him, and paler skin.

The scholar blinked, slowly regaining his senses, and tilted his head at the two "sincere" young Daoists before him.

"Huh?"

What was going on?

The scholar, even in life, had heard rumors of wealthy households keeping male companions, and in his desperation, he'd nearly agreed to a brothel owner's proposition due to his own good looks.

But this... this...

He overheard the two immortals talking right in front of him.

The unfamiliar male immortal on the left frowned. "Changgeng Shizhi, this soul is so weak—will it work?"

The other, who felt strangely familiar despite being a stranger, smiled. "If martial uncle wants it to work, then it will."

The scholar shuddered and trembled. "What... what do you want to do? I don't have a body; I'm just a ghost soul."

Tongtian Jiaozhu smiled warmly. "Don't be afraid; I just want to discuss something important with you."

The scholar's eyes showed a hint of despair. "Immortals, you won't even spare a soul?"

"Changgeng, this..."

"Martial uncle, please be patient; let me talk to him."

Li Changshou bowed to Tongtian Jiaozhu, then pulled the scholar's soul aside in the pool and said warmly, "What's the matter? Don't you recognize me?"

The scholar nodded obediently. When Li Changshou transformed into his Water God form and released a trace of his aura, the scholar immediately relaxed.

"Oh, it's you, the old immortal! Thank you for saving me from that evil ghost!"

The evil ghost was likely referring to Minghe Laozu.

Li Changshou laughed. "Your ordeal was partly because of me—I took you from the eighteen levels of hell. Otherwise, you'd have been safely enduring your punishments there without this trouble.

No need to thank me."

The scholar suddenly thought of something and pleaded with a mournful face, "Could you not send me back to hell? I lived an ordinary life... passable, really. I didn't commit any great evils; the judges said most of my karma was just assigned to me!"

"You don't want to go back and suffer?"

Li Changshou pondered. "That might be tricky, as it goes against heavenly rules. I'm an immortal, so I can't make exceptions for you without reason, unless..."

"Please, tell me," the scholar said quickly. "I'll do anything."

"Now, there are three choices in front of you," Li Changshou said. "I know it's hard for you to decide, but I have to explain them clearly.

First choice: I'll send you back to the eighteen levels of hell and plead with the judges to reduce your sentence. That way, once your karma is cleared, you can reincarnate, though you might have to be an insect, beast, bird, or fish for several lifetimes.

Second choice: You help me half-heartedly with one thing—beating up that evil ghost who wanted to eat you. I'll use methods to ensure you win easily; you just follow my instructions. If it succeeds, you'll become half an immortal and live forever, though you won't be free to wander.

Third choice: You help me with all your effort, and I'll help you with all mine. With this great one here, I'll make sure you survive. Even if it fails, I'll still get you a minor god position. How about that?"

The scholar's throat trembled, and he quickly replied, "Isn't this just telling me to pick the third one?"

Li Changshou smiled slightly. "It's your opportunity, young man."

"Can I ask which immortal you are?"

"Me? The Water God of the Heavenly Court—I oversee everything related to water," Li Changshou said warmly. "You've heard of the Dragon Kings of rivers, lakes, and seas, right?"

The scholar nodded obediently.

"They all need my approval to become river gods or lake gods."

The scholar asked, trembling, "Immortals don't lie, do they?"

Li Changshou said solemnly, "I don't lie to you."

"Then," the scholar gritted his teeth, his eyes slowly brightening, "I'll give it my all! Just tell me what to do!"

Li Changshou smiled faintly and looked toward Tongtian Jiaozhu, who had somehow appeared at the pool's edge, hands behind his back, gazing at the sky.

Uh, does martial uncle Tongtian disapprove of my patient persuasion?

Then he heard Tongtian Jiaozhu sigh softly. "Changgeng."

"I'm here."

"In my Biyou Palace, why don't you open a Muhua Academy? I'll give you the position of deputy head and let you properly teach my disciples."

Li Changshou: ...

Indeed, even the Wangmu and Yudi's mortal love story was live-streamed for the saints to see!

Though the title of deputy head sounds tempting, Li Changshou wouldn't dare accept it.

Not to mention Jiejiao's current decline, his teacher Taiqing probably wouldn't allow it.

As a disciple of Renjiao, how could he guest-teach in Jiejiao?

Of course, Tongtian Jiaozhu was mostly joking and not issuing a saintly decree.

If Taiqing Shengren perfectly embodied the pinnacle of the Dao, then his martial uncle from Shangqing was demonstrating how to use one's true nature to master the Dao.

After they each dressed and left the treasure pool, Tongtian Jiaozhu suggested Li Changshou not reveal the solution yet, to test the Jiejiao disciples.

The result left Tongtian Jiaozhu both amused and exasperated.

Duobao led the Jiejiao immortals in discussion and came up with a few ideas.

For instance, the most supported plan was to destroy Minghe Laozu's remnant soul memories and turn it into a treasure spirit.

The downside was that if Minghe Laozu was faking it, it would be a huge risk.

Another idea from Zhao Gongming was to gather a group, lie down in front of Ling Shan’s gate, throw the Red Lotus on the ground, and demand Ling Shan replace it—or face the Zhuxian Four Swords attacking Ling Shan!

The downside was that it could spark a saintly war and destroy the Honghuang Five Regions entirely.

In short, the Jiejiao immortals brainstormed, offering all sorts of strategies, but none fully resolved the dilemma.

About half of the Jiejiao disciples didn't care much, thinking the Red Lotus was expendable—after all, Jiejiao had thrived for so long without it and was still the greatest sect with ten thousand immortals.

When the refreshed Tongtian Jiaozhu returned to the great hall with the equally refreshed Li Changshou, he sprawled sideways on the steps in front of his throne as usual and said with a smile, "Go on, share your ideas. What's the best plan?"

The senior Jiejiao disciples eagerly offered their suggestions, and Tongtian Jiaozhu nodded along while pointing out their flaws.

At the front of the steps, Yunxiao Xianzi curiously glanced at Li Changshou beside her, as if asking with her eyes what had happened earlier.

Li Changshou smiled calmly and blinked his left eye, conveying that everything was understood without words.

Just then, Tongtian Jiaozhu said, "Changgeng, explain your method. Let your senior brothers and sisters see what real strategy looks like.

They're far behind you in planning and scheming."

Hearing this, the Jiejiao disciples looked at Li Changshou with some dissatisfaction.

Li Changshou smiled awkwardly, bowed to everyone, and quickly credited it to his "teacher's" inspiration. He then detailed his "switching the prince with a cat" plan and brought out the scholar from the magic treasure.

Zhao Gongming frowned. "This could work?"

"It's worth trying," Duobao Dao Ren praised. "Did you think of this back in the Asura ancient city, junior brother, using the path of balance to shape this human soul as a catalyst?

Sigh, why didn't we think that far when we faced Minghe Laozu's remnant soul?"

Jinling Shengmu grumbled, "Think what? Weren't we all asleep?"

Duobao Dao Ren chuckled, and light, cheerful laughter echoed around.

They decided to act immediately.

Tongtian Jiaozhu held the Red Lotus, and Li Changshou brought the soul forward, unsealing Minghe Laozu's remnant soul.

Due to Tongtian Jiaozhu's sword strike, Minghe Laozu's remnant soul had little power left, but it was still far beyond what the scholar could match.

So, Li Changshou invoked the Dao of Balance again, and this time, it didn't take much effort to equalize Minghe Laozu's remnant soul with the scholar's soul.

Then, Tongtian Jiaozhu pointed a finger, using his saintly power to nearly completely suppress Minghe Laozu.

Li Changshou summoned strands of golden merit from his palm, enveloping Minghe Laozu's remnant soul to create a repulsion from the Red Lotus.

To be safe, Li Changshou used a bit of sorcery to make the scholar's soul more aggressive, then threw the scholar into the Red Lotus.

Almost instantly, the scholar fused with the Red Lotus and began vying for control from Minghe Laozu.

It was like a possession struggle. With the help of Tongtian Jiaozhu, Li Changshou, and the senior Jiejiao disciples, Minghe Laozu was forced back step by step until he was cornered.

Although they could have continued squeezing Minghe Laozu's "living space," Li Changshou played it safe. "Martial uncle, that's enough."

Tongtian Jiaozhu swung his sword, directly severing Minghe Laozu's remnant soul from a corner of the Red Lotus!

Before Minghe Laozu's remnant soul could curse, Duobao Dao Ren acted quickly, sacrificing a Soul-Extinguishing Cauldron to refine it on the spot. He then extracted the newly severed essence of the Red Lotus and returned it to the flower...

The Jiejiao disciples watched the Red Lotus nervously, while Li Changshou recited a calming incantation to steady the scholar's soul.

The twelve-grade Karmic Red Lotus...

Remained intact!

"Did it work?" Zhao Gongming shouted in delight.

The scholar turned into a three-inch-tall figure, peeking out from the edge of the Red Lotus, still trembling with fear.

Li Changshou cupped his hands toward him and smiled. "Congratulations, Dao friend."

A fairy exclaimed, "Now Jiejiao has a treasure to suppress our destiny!"

Qiongxiao added, "Master, quickly test what this Red Lotus can do!"

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed heartily, holding the Red Lotus in his palm. "Changgeng deserves great credit for this—we must reward him well!

Watch closely; this Red Lotus can absorb karma and use it to suppress our sect's destiny.

Rise!"

With a light command, the Red Lotus slowly rose while spinning, pulling the scholar's soul back into its center to merge with it.

In the next instant, waves of black energy surged from all directions toward the Red Lotus—it was the karma of the Jiejiao immortals and the accumulated tribulations of the sect over the ages.

One wave, two waves...

Suddenly, thunder rumbled, and massive dark clouds appeared around Biyou Palace, pressing down on the Red Lotus.

Zhao Gongming cried out, "Oh no, this Red Lotus can't handle our sect's destiny!"

"How could Jiejiao have so much karma!"

Li Changshou's face changed, and he frowned in concentration.

Tongtian Jiaozhu's expression turned serious, his eyes flashing with sword light as he decisively reached out to grab the trembling Red Lotus.

But it was too late!

A buzz echoed as a pale red wave erupted from Biyou Palace, rippling through the small world and collapsing several peaks...