Chapter 513: Honghuang Promotion Which is Stronger?

In the vast and somewhat chaotic main hall of Biyou Palace, Li Changshou looked through layers of figures and more than a dozen light barriers at Tongtian Jiaozhu who was on the high platform.

Tongtian Jiaozhu’s expression was slightly helpless. He lowered his head to look at the rapidly spinning, ten-grade half-red lotus in his left palm, then glanced at the dazed scholar’s soul in his right palm.

This Saint lord, who didn’t show off at all, now had a slightly more solemn look on his face.

At this moment, the scholar’s soul was completely red, his body constantly swelling and shrinking, as if it could explode at any time.

With Tongtian Jiaozhu’s protection, he wouldn’t actually be harmed.

However, Li Changshou couldn’t help but marvel in his heart...

Putting aside the artistic flair of the red lotus’s self-detonation just now, the immortals of Jiejiao acted truly decisively, swiftly, accurately, and steadily!

At the moment the red lotus self-detonated and Tongtian Jiaozhu intervened, Li Changshou’s first reaction was to grab Yunxiao’s arm and call for help from Old Master Tu.

But just as he raised his arm, a golden light flashed, and Yunxiao was already holding the Hunyuan Jindou to shield him.

Almost instantly, Zhao Gongming’s Dinghai Divine Pearls, Jinling Shengmu’s Four Symbols Pagoda, Qiongxiao’s Golden Jiao Scissors, and over a dozen protective treasures thrown out by Duobao Daoist all appeared around Li Changshou, adding more than a dozen layers of defense and several figures in front of him.

If it were just one person who reacted so quickly, Li Changshou wouldn't have been too surprised, but what shocked him was that almost every Jiejiao expert present had made the correct reaction in the shortest possible time.

The Jiejiao style... was terrifyingly formidable.

Clearly, they had all collectively studied something like "The Triad Assembly for Combat and the Pentad Assembly for Slaying Enemies," making their actual combat strength far surpass their individual Dao realms.

No wonder in the original Fengshen Dajie, Jiejiao experts often held their own against multiple foes without faltering...

Of course, the fastest to react was still Tongtian Jiaozhu, this Saint lord.

At the moment the red lotus self-detonated, a sword aura appeared in front of each immortal present, while Tongtian Jiaozhu used one hand to suppress the red lotus, forcibly containing the power of what should have been a full twelve-grade explosion.

The wave that had surged out earlier, nearly destroying half a small world, was merely the aftermath of the red lotus's karmic forces.

Suppressing such a supreme treasure with one hand—truly, the might of a Saint was on full display!

"Shizun!"

Duobao Daoist put away the protective treasures he had thrown out and hurriedly asked, "Is someone plotting against us?"

Tongtian Jiaozhu shrugged, looked at the red lotus before him, and sighed with a smile,

"It's that Jiejiao's destiny has far exceeded what it can bear.

These several twelve-grade lotuses were all formed from the seeds of the Chaos Green Lotus before it matured.

Given today's situation, to suppress Jiejiao's destiny, it would take the Chaos Green Lotus's only mature seed, transformed into a thirty-two-grade green lotus.

Unfortunately, that green lotus has already dissolved itself.

Cough, today's events were all within my expectations as your master...

Changgeng, separate this human soul from the red lotus completely. The red lotus is now damaged and won't collapse further, so you don't need this soul anymore. Just settle it properly."

"Yes," Li Changshou replied, quickly stepping out from behind the crowd.

—It wasn't that he had hidden himself earlier; with the Taiji Diagram and Xuanhuang Pagoda on him, he had actually been thinking of protecting Yunxiao Xianzi.

But instead of being slow, he ended up being surrounded by the Jiejiao immortals' protections.

Truly the treatment of a junior brother.

Li Changshou approached the steps and took the bewildered scholar’s soul. Golden light surged from his palm, wrapping the scholar's divine soul in strands of merit to dissolve the karmic forces within.

To his surprise, the scholar’s soul now seemed reborn, radiating the Dao rhythm of an innate spiritual treasure, with a soul as sturdy as that of an ordinary Zhenxian realm cultivator!

It was as if this were a spirit being that had just shed its old shell, existing between human, immortal, and ghost...

Truly peculiar.

The Jiejiao immortals each retrieved their treasures and gathered around.

Tongtian Jiaozhu suspended the red lotus, now with only ten and a half petals, before him, slightly calculating with his fingers while deep in thought.

Saints stand at the pinnacle of the Dao, yet they are also living beings. Being able to glimpse the heavenly secrets beneath the great calamity's barriers was proof enough of his power—though he moved without showiness or pretense, appearing less profound.

Zhao Gongming sighed with a laugh, "In the end, it was all for nothing, and we even damaged so much of Biyou Palace's scenery and objects."

Tongtian Jiaozhu opened one eye and said, "Gongming, go restore the outside and tally the treasure damage."

"Ah, yes!"

Zhao Gongming quickly bowed and led several Jiejiao immortals away in a hurry.

Jinling Shengmu whispered, "Shizun, could it be that there are truly so many with heavy karma mixed into Jiejiao, dragging down our destiny?"

Tongtian Jiaozhu chuckled,

"Merit and karma are decreed by heaven; good and evil lie in true nature.

When I lectured by the East Sea and South Sea back then, those with ill intent couldn't approach me;

Those who could hear my Dao were simply fated with my teachings."

Li Changshou couldn't help but translate this in his mind...

This was basically swallowing broken teeth and enduring it.

Wudang Shengmu asked from the side, "Shizun, why not clear out those disciples who are just using Jiejiao's name and dragging us down?"

But Jinling Shengmu said, "What would that achieve?

Before the great calamity, we relied on our many immortals to uphold Jiejiao's prestige, but now, with the calamity upon us, we drive them away?

To share fortune but not hardship isn't our way."

Wudang Shengmu said seriously, "Senior sister, you mustn't speak like that. Our ancestor in Zixiao Palace has already given the clear sign—we, along with Chanism and Western Cult, are entering the calamity.

Letting those with karma leave Jiejiao would free them from the disaster; it's a good thing."

Duobao Daoist pondered, "The reasoning is sound, but others will surely twist it when they interpret it.

Besides, how would those expelled disciples feel?"

Qiongxiao laughed, "Since we've said to share fortune together, we should share hardship too.

The great calamity isn't just this one; we've been through several since ancient times, and with Shizun here, we don't need to worry too much."

Jinling Shengmu added, "Exactly, in the great calamity, we must unite as one. If heaven decrees it, we'll fight with all our might and seize a thread of survival!"

The Jiejiao experts present all responded in unison,

"Having the red lotus would be great, but if it's destroyed, so be it."

"This is probably about us living up to our teachings and fighting the calamity to the end."

"Hmph, those Chanism fellows are probably waking up laughing in their cultivation!"

Yunxiao Xianzi stepped forward two paces and said softly,

"Shizun, can this red lotus be restored? If we throw it into the Blood Sea, could it be mended?"

"It's that our Jiejiao destiny directly snapped this red lotus's stem."

Tongtian Jiaozhu showed a look of regret, but quickly regained a hint of a smile, pushing the red lotus toward his disciples and saying, "Fix this up, and it'll still be a decent spiritual treasure.

Who wants to use it?"

Li Changshou...

So this was how Jiejiao distributed treasures?

As a Human Teachings disciple who was barely a quasi-Jiejiao immortal, wouldn't that mean...

He thought of the peaches, thought of the peaches.

Though his ties with Jiejiao were deep, he had to keep public and private matters distinct. If he himself sank into the quagmire, how could he pull others out?

The scholar’s soul in his hand had stabilized, and clearing the karma hadn’t used much merit; instead, it sparked many insights in Li Changshou’s heart.

—A key aspect of the Equilibrium Great Dao was the system of humans, spirits, immortals, demons, and ghosts; a being like this scholar, who became an 'anomaly' through sheer chance, helped Li Changshou perfect the Equilibrium Great Dao.

Only by understanding all things could one balance them all.

With the red lotus before them, the Jiejiao immortals didn’t scramble for it, just gazing at the lotus with a sense of loss.

They all knew where Jiejiao’s flaws lay.

The spark of hope that had ignited earlier was now doused in cold water, leaving them all feeling downcast.

It was indeed a significant blow to the Jiejiao experts' morale.

Duobao Daoist, as the senior brother, laughed and said, "Master, this treasure was brought by Junior Brother Changgeng. Though damaged, it can still become an innate spiritual lotus. Why not give it to him?

The rest of you junior brothers and sisters probably won't object."

The Jiejiao immortals all nodded in agreement.

Li Changshou quickly said, "Though this treasure is damaged, it's still a supreme item, and it retains its power to absorb karma.

Human Teachings has only me and Senior Brother Xuandu as disciples, and I'm serving in Heaven, while Senior Brother Xuandu doesn't accumulate karma. Objectively speaking, it's most suitable to keep it in Jiejiao.

Shizun, in my humble opinion, let Senior Brother Duobao hold this treasure and use the time before the great calamity fully unfolds to resolve some of Jiejiao's destiny."

Jinling Shengmu added, "Shizun just said that karma is merely heaven's decree; Jiejiao doesn't judge good and evil by it."

Li Changshou glanced at Yunxiao Xianzi, whose eyes held a touch of expectation.

Clearly, she wanted him to persuade Jinling Shengmu.

In that case, he would persuade her.

And while at it, he had to instill some 'necessary' ideas into Jiejiao.

"Senior sister, you're mistaken," Li Changshou said warmly. "Heaven only sets the rules to restrain all beings.

With so many beings and such a vast world, the rules must be simple and direct to maintain overall stability.

It's like in the mortal world's major cities, where laws often stem from rules like 'killers die, injurers are punished, thieves are publicly shamed.'

Merit and karma work the same way; heaven doesn't specify the details.

From the perspective of a Human Teachings disciple like me, who comes from the human race, I interpret your earlier words this way.

For example, a benevolent person with great merit harms four out of five in a family, leaving only a youth alive. That youth hones himself, seeks the chance, and kills the benevolent one to avenge his kin, staining himself with heavy karma.

So, we can't judge if a being is good or evil based solely on simple merit and karma.

But, Senior Sister Jinling, was that youth doing evil?"

Jinling Shengmu replied, "Seeking revenge isn't evil, but he would still be tainted with much karma. That's the injustice of heaven."

"True, but he was still doing evil."

Li Changshou said seriously, "Senior sister, hear me out.

First, setting aside the benevolent one's identity as the youth's enemy, the youth killed someone, which is inherently evil.

Heaven's injustice lies in turning the benevolent one's merit into the youth's karma, making the youth suffer what he shouldn't.

To the youth, heaven protected his greatest enemy.

But to the mortals helped by the benevolent one, the youth is the evil one.

When the youth goes to the underworld and faces the judges, he'll receive a severe sentence to the eighteen levels of hell."

Qiongxiao asked, "Then... according to that, the youth shouldn't seek revenge?"

"He can, but he doesn't have to kill with his own hands or fall into the evil path—that's why heaven is greatly promoting Heaven."

Li Changshou stepped forward two paces, bowed to Tongtian Jiaozhu, and spoke clearly,

"If Heaven were strong enough to influence the three realms, the story of the benevolent one and the youth could improve.

Imagine: the benevolent one harmed the youth's parents, already falling into evil, so Heaven could sentence him to death, and his accumulated merit could be used for his reincarnation.

The youth wouldn't have to kill, his revenge would be served, and it would be a hundred times better than evil begetting evil!

Heaven's rise is to uphold fairness under heaven's simple iron rules!"

"Fairness..."

Jinling Shengmu murmured to herself, and the Jiejiao immortals fell into thought.

Tongtian Jiaozhu smiled slightly at Li Changshou but said nothing, lounging on the steps to observe his disciples' reactions.

Seeing the Saint lord permit this, Li Changshou felt a wave of relief in his heart...

Today's Heaven promotion work was done!

It was truly tricky not to directly mention 'rule of law' concepts—after all, in Heaven's eyes, the Three Teachings' disciples were all a lawless bunch.

If even a word or two from today planted a seed in the Jiejiao immortals' Dao hearts, making even one or two less resistant to Heaven or Fengshen Dajie, it wouldn't be a waste of words.

Li Changshou shifted the topic back to the red lotus.

"In the great calamity, immortals with karma are more likely to turn to ash. If they're truly of poor character, so be it, but if they're like that youth—fellow Daoists—wouldn't that be a pity?

Struggling against heaven to seize a thread of opportunity doesn't mean resorting to fighting and killing.

Methods, strategies, adaptations, games, calculations... all are incredibly important.

I once heard my teacher say something that struck me:

The strength of divine abilities, the power of treasures, the depth of insight—these aren't the main factors determining life and death. Arrogance is."

With that, Li Changshou bowed to everyone and calmly returned to Yunxiao Xianzi's side.

Yunxiao, like most Jiejiao immortals at that moment, wore a thoughtful expression, her eyes flickering with a subtle light.

While the Jiejiao immortals weren't paying attention, Tongtian Jiaozhu winked at Li Changshou in secret.

Li Changshou quickly lowered his head in a bow, not daring to accept such praise from the Saint lord.

He stored the scholar's soul in a treasure for nurturing the divine soul, reflecting on the words he had just spoken.

By his principle of seeking stability in all things, some words shouldn't have been said, but for even stabler plans ahead, saying them today might just bear fruit.

"Thank you."

Yunxiao suddenly sent a voice transmission.

Li Changshou smiled calmly, met her gaze for a moment, and let the understanding pass in silence.

Half a day later, outside Sanxian Island.

Qiongxiao and Bixiao laughed and flew back into the clouds a thousand li away, while Yunxiao Xianzi rode a cloud, with Li Changshou hitching a ride, heading toward Jambudvipa.

The damaged red lotus, of course, stayed with Jiejiao—it could alleviate some karma, after all.

On the cloud, Yunxiao Xianzi sat slightly to the side, while Li Changshou sat upright in meditation, their eyes quickly darting away whenever they met.

Somehow, Li Changshou found a bit of the 'youthful waves and slowness' from his past life.

Yunxiao said softly, "What you said was right—arrogance is the main factor determining life and death. It's truly thought-provoking."

Li Changshou replied, "That's actually my teacher's guidance."

—In truth, that line was from a book in his past life that had left an impression, but to explain it reasonably and without drawing too much attention, attributing such wisdom to his teacher, the Taiji Saint, was fine, and the teacher had no reason to blame him.

Li Changshou felt a bit guilty and smoothly changed the topic. "Based on what you know, how many Jiejiao experts have deep karma?"

"I know of a few," Yunxiao said lightly, mentioning a few Dao titles.

When he heard "Shiji," Li Changshou's eyes lit up involuntarily.

Shiji Niangniang, that Jiejiao immortal who met her end sitting at home with an arrow from the sky—one of the top three in the 'Fengshen misfortune rankings'—had significant karma herself?

Li Changshou didn't want to add to Yunxiao's worries, so he didn't ask more and lightly moved on.

And so, the two chatted idly, their distance growing closer, shrinking from three chi to two chi.

But to go further would require many trials.

Yunxiao seized the moment and suddenly asked, "When Shizun took you to the treasure pool, what did he say?"

"Not much, just a simple explanation about the red lotus," Li Changshou sighed. "Your third shishu is a good master."

"Mm," Yunxiao Xianzi said, "Shizun has always been generous and caring toward us, like a father."

"Well... I can feel that."

"Is something wrong?" she asked curiously, her eyes full of light, lashes fluttering slightly.

Li Changshou said, "When the red lotus erupted, Shizun's first reaction was to protect me with sword aura, and only then did he suppress the red lotus and save the treasure.

These past few days, going from my teacher's Taiji Temple to my second shishu's Yuxu Palace, and then to my third shishu's Biyou Palace, it feels like a dream."

Yunxiao said gently, "It's been hard on you, constantly traveling for the sake of Daoism."

"I just hope the great calamity passes soon," Li Changshou said warmly, "so that when you and I go out, Shizun can be at ease, without having to watch so closely."

Yunxiao tilted her head slightly.

In Biyou Palace, the group of Jiejiao disciples sitting on the steps exchanged glances;

Tongtian Jiaozhu, lounging higher up, furrowed his brow and muttered, "Could he have seen through my methods?"

Before the disciples could respond, laughter from Li Changshou came through the four-sided frame formed by the Zhuxian Four Swords,

"I'm just making it up."

Yunxiao, however, looked around seriously and casually set up several layers of cloud mist.

Meanwhile, in Taiji Temple.

A certain old Daoist smiled as he watched the illusory Taiji Diagram before him, the image vivid and clear, the sound full and undistorted.

As for Li Changshou and Yunxiao Xianzi, they continued their light conversation and smiles, arriving at Jambudvipa.

Li Changshou summoned the Water God treasure, the Zhaowu Flag, and searched various places, visiting several river dragons to find three suitable spots for the scholar's soul.

He took out the scholar's soul and said he would fulfill his promise, making the scholar a minor god in Heaven.

The scholar was overwhelmed with gratitude, bowing repeatedly.

"This time, I'll really give you three choices," Li Changshou said with a smile.

The scholar trembled a bit, slightly fearful, but relaxed after hearing the options.

It was just choosing among three different areas—thankfully, no being sent to the underworld's ice rivers.

Then, the scholar’s soul began muttering to himself,

"Option A: Mountains and clear waters, but sparsely populated—I'll be the local minor god, talking only to insects and fish.

Option B: More people, so I can receive offerings, but it's too crowded for me.

Option C: Neither too many nor too few people, but just a small river—hard to achieve anything... What to do?"

Li Changshou smiled without speaking, letting the scholar ponder while he and Yunxiao Xianzi wandered the mundane world's scenery, enjoying the mountains and rivers.

But after a while...

The scholar started scratching his ears and cheeks, staring at the floating characters A, B, and C before him, constantly raising his hand only to lower it.

As Li Changshou was telling Yunxiao about how he had navigated the mirage that day, his heart suddenly stirred...

There were visitors at the Anshui City Sea God Temple's back hall!

Li Changshou swept his divine sense over, not daring to be careless, and instructed Yunxiao Xianzi a few words before sinking his divine sense there.

Soon after, a paper Daoist in the form of an old immortal emerged from the ground and bowed to the figure waiting in the inner hall.

"Senior Brother Yuding, what brings you here today?"