Chapter 537: Hongjun's Small Stove

As Yuanshi Tianzun departed, the signing and sealing of the Fengshen Bang couldn't proceed.

Although this was within Li Changshou's expectations, and he had previously discussed various countermeasures with Yu Di using phrases like "it might happen," when it actually occurred, it still left everyone feeling rather helpless.

Placing a name on the Fengshen Bang meant that person would be entangled by the forces of calamity. Among the saints, only those from Western Orthodoxy might resort to such actions.

After all, whose disciples weren't cherished? They were nurtured through countless lectures and guidance, meant to carry on their masters' legacies.

Tongtian Jiaozhu valued his disciples greatly, and Yuanshi Tianzun held his in high regard—this was entirely reasonable.

Therefore, Li Changshou and Yu Di had repeatedly emphasized that "being on the list could ensure survival amid the great calamity"... but the effect was quite minimal.

Well, at least today, they had managed to secure control of the Fengshen Bang and the God-Smiting Whip, which was already an ideal outcome.

By saying "let it depend on fate," Yuanshi Tianzun was actually favoring Chanism, as it possessed treasures that suppressed its sect's destiny and had many immortals blessed with virtue and fortune.

Yuanshi Tianzun's three principles for accepting disciples—heavenly origins, karmic ties, and destiny—had indeed laid a solid foundation for Chanism in the face of the great calamity.

As for why Yuanshi Tianzun wanted to meet Jieyin Daoist and had been targeting Jiejiao today...

Li Changshou could understand it but didn't want to support it.

Regardless, Taiqing Laozu disliked both Yuanshi Tianzun and Jieyin Daoist, so Li Changshou would have to stand on Heaven's side afterward, maintaining distance from both Chanism and Jiejiao.

Would Taiqing Laozu end up helping Chanism or Jiejiao?

In the original great calamity, the teacher had aided Chanism, but now...

The teacher would only assist the clearly superior side, thereby protecting the vital energy of the Daoist path.

It all depended on how events unfolded, how the calamity manipulated things, and how Chanism and Jiejiao responded.

Li Changshou looked up toward where Tongtian Jiaozhu was, only to see him frowning at the area beyond Zixiao Palace, his gaze slightly complex. But he soon sighed softly and slowly closed his eyes.

The atmosphere in Zixiao Palace grew somewhat oppressive again, with the five saints remaining silent, as if waiting for Taiqing Laozu's word: "Let's go."

Duobao Daoist pondered for a moment before stepping out from behind Tongtian Jiaozhu and asking quietly:

"Grand Martial Uncle, Your Majesty Yu Di, how will this great calamity proceed?"

Taiqing Laozu replied slowly:

"The secrets of heaven are revealed; the great calamity will arise in the mortal world of the southern continent, with no other significant details."

Nüwa Niangniang added:

"This great calamity originates from mortals, so it makes sense for it to unfold in the southern continent. Yet, with the calamity descending, I wonder how many innocents will suffer."

Yu Di laughed and said:

"Dear fellow seniors, why don't we make an agreement here in Zixiao Palace?

The great calamity is destined to bring heavy casualties, but mortals are inherently fragile and not the cause of it, so they receive heavenly protection.

I ask that you all restrain your disciples and prevent indiscriminate killing of mortals.

The death of hundreds of thousands of mortals doesn't compare to the burden lifted from the world by the fall of a single immortal; the calamity is also a test for cultivators."

"That makes sense," Jieyin Daoist opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "I will certainly restrain my disciples and followers, keeping them away from the southern continent."

Li Changshou shook his head inwardly; the speed at which saints could change their demeanor was truly astonishing.

Yu Di nodded with a smile, his gaze lingering on Yuanshi Tianzun's empty seat.

"Let's go."

Taiqing Laozu spoke, and streams of light emanated around the other saints as they prepared to leave Zixiao Palace.

Li Changshou quickly moved to stand behind Taiqing Laozu, but Yu Di interjected:

"Taiqing Senior Brother, may Changgeng stay a bit longer? I wish to discuss the placement of the Fengshen Bang with him."

"Very well."

Taiqing Laozu closed his eyes and replied, vanishing in a flash along with the Grand Mage and the shadow of the Taiji Diagram.

Streams of light flickered, and the other four saints disappeared with Taiqing Laozu, leaving only Nüwa Niangniang's voice behind:

"Changgeng, if you have no other matters, remember to visit me."

Li Changshou bowed toward the outside of Zixiao Palace, then let out a long sigh of relief and turned to exchange a glance with Yu Di, both showing a slight smile.

However, Li Changshou's smile carried a hint of frustration.

Yu Di chuckled:

"I thought the saints would discuss profound principles here, delaying us for decades, but it all wrapped up in less than an hour."

"After all, this concerns the lives of disciples from both sects," Li Changshou said, holding the God-Smiting Whip as he stepped forward. "Your Majesty, is it truly up to me to safeguard this whip?"

Yu Di's mouth twitched slightly as he laughed and scolded:

"Still calling it the God-Smiting Whip? You had me take the Fengshen Bang just to play it safe and avoid being summoned by the saints for endless lectures!"

Amid the laughter, Yu Di shifted aside, revealing half of his cushion. "Come, sit."

But Li Changshou didn't dare sit there; he bowed to Yu Di and sat cross-legged on the ground...

The coolness through the fabric reminded him of that earlier embarrassing scene, making him involuntarily raise a hand to his forehead.

Was it intentional on Daozu's part?

It was just too playful and down-to-earth!

"Changgeng, what do you think Yuanshi Tianzun is planning?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but..."

It couldn't possibly be something like being tsundere.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said: "Second Martial Uncle might want to give Jiejiao a thorough rectification."

Just then, a voice came from the side:

"Yuanshi has always been that way—thinking Tongtian has strayed, so he steps in to set him straight. He's more meddlesome than anyone, yet he never gets any good reputation out of it."

Li Changshou's body stiffened instantly, and Yu Di quickly stood up.

On that massive cushion, Daozu's imposing figure reappeared without warning, as if he had never left.

Yu Di pulled Li Changshou to his feet, and together they bowed to Daozu.

Daozu looked at Li Changshou with a half-smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Li Changshou kept his head down, not daring to meet the gaze, his heart twitching slightly.

Why hadn't he insisted on leaving with his teacher?

"Ninety-eight percent," Daozu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why didn't you mention merits today?"

Li Changshou sighed: "This disciple's wisdom is limited and dares not compare with Ancestral Master. If Ancestral Master withholds those merits, it must be for a deeper reason. This disciple will simply follow orders."

Yu Di whispered beside him: "Teacher, is there an issue with Changgeng forming a merit golden body?"

Daozu Hongjun said indifferently: "Doesn't he like ninety-eight percent? Everything just right—a ninety-eight percent merit golden body would be perfect."

Li Changshou's legs trembled, nearly buckling, while Yu Di's forehead was lined with black lines, and he turned away, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

Daozu Hongjun chuckled: "I had Haotian leave you here because there's something I need to entrust to you in advance.

Haotian, return to Heaven first and arrange for the Fengshen Bang. Let Changgeng stay in Zixiao Palace for a while."

Although Yu Di didn't understand, he bowed and gave Li Changshou an encouraging look before hurrying away with the Fengshen Bang and the Heavenly Emperor's Seal.

Li Changshou thought to himself: ...

If he had to describe his current mood with one word, it would be "dazed."

Yu Di's words must have been instructed by Daozu, who was keeping him alone in Zixiao Palace for some matter.

Could there be some divine twist?

Would Daozu Hongjun suddenly say something like "Hey, fellow townsman" with a thick accent?

As if sensing Li Changshou's thoughts, Daozu Hongjun pointed a finger after Yu Di left, enveloping Zixiao Palace in golden light.

Li Changshou instantly felt his connection to the primordial world and to the Great Dao completely severed—it was even more absolute than the isolation of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk!

Was he about to have his soul altered and turned into a puppet of the Heavenly Dao?!

This...

Streams of light swirled around Daozu Hongjun, his imposing figure shrinking to normal size, making him appear kinder.

He spoke slowly and calmly:

"Wondering whether I should call you 'fellow townsman' or replace your soul and turn you into a Heavenly Dao treasure?"

Li Changshou's heart trembled, and he kept his mouth tightly shut, furrowing his brow as he stared at the Daozu before him.

"You... are you?"

"Of course not," Daozu Hongjun laughed. "My current state is thanks to the gift of your fellow townsman. Come, I'll take you for a casual stroll."

With a wave of his hand, their surroundings changed in an instant, transforming into a lush forest with two wooden huts nearby, while they remained unmoved.

It was a shift of space itself!

Daozu stood up, hands clasped behind his back, and walked toward the small wooden hut. His upright posture showed a trace of weariness as he gestured for Li Changshou to follow.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly; even if he were to be erased today, he wouldn't die as a fool...

"Ancestral Master, what exactly happened back then?"

"No need to dwell on the past," Daozu Hongjun sighed softly. "The Heavenly Dao has already erased your fellow townsman. Originally, many beings like Nüwa Niangniang and Houtu benefited from him, and he did much good for the primordial world.

But in the end, for some reason, he went mad and tried to attain sainthood by force, shattering the heavens, which provoked the Heavenly Dao's backlash.

The Heavenly Dao is impartial, merely the order and rules condensed under Pangu God's will.

Your Great Dao is quite good—it's provided feedback and filled a gap for the Heavenly Dao. That's why I've intervened multiple times to stop the Heavenly Dao from interfering with you."

Li Changshou felt a slight stir in his heart and bowed: "Thank you, Ancestral Master."

As they spoke, Daozu Hongjun led him to the front of a wooden hut and pushed open the door, revealing its simple interior.

"Sit. There's no need to worry; today, I actually have a request for you."

Daozu Hongjun sat on a cushion and, seeing Li Changshou's still uneasy expression, smiled: "If I wanted to destroy you, why would I have nurtured you all this way?"

"Thank you, Ancestral Master."

Li Changshou could only repeat the words, bowing before sitting on a cushion below Daozu Hongjun.

Daozu Hongjun's smile grew warmer: "How much do you know about me and the Heavenly Dao?"

"This disciple knows nothing and dares not speculate."

"Look," Daozu Hongjun said, a verdant jade dish appearing in his left hand. It projected intersecting lines forming a three-dimensional grid, which displayed a shadow of the primordial world.

"I am the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao is not me.

In other words, I can temporarily control the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao cannot influence me."

Li Changshou was deeply shocked but then frowned and asked: "Ancestral Master, you are already all-powerful in this world—what could this disciple possibly do?"

"All-powerful?"

Daozu Hongjun countered with a question and slowly shook his head. "If I were all-powerful, how could great calamities still occur?"

He gently rotated the jade dish in his hand, and the lines representing rules faded, replaced by nine springs of various colors.

The Nine Foul Springs.

"The Nine Foul Springs exist between reality and illusion. Calling the sea eyes the Nine Foul Springs is both right and wrong."

Daozu Hongjun explained: "The sea eyes are merely one outlet for the power of the Nine Foul Springs, and the same goes for the Blood Sea. These springs gather the karmic obstacles of all beings; once they accumulate too much, the Nine Foul Springs will overflow and bury the primordial world, resetting the cycle for a new era.

This is something even I cannot prevent. Though I've reached the pinnacle of the cultivation path, I still can't compare to Pangu God.

Thus, whenever the Nine Foul Springs are about to erupt, the Heavenly Dao brews great calamities to continually delay the calamity of beings."

Li Changshou realized: "So, the Heavenly Dao suppresses the strength of beings because each great calamity leaves behind massive karmic obstacles, making the buffer for the Nine Foul Springs increasingly narrow?"

Daozu Hongjun praised: "Your insight is truly sharp.

But the Great Dao of beings manifests in birth, aging, sickness, and death, which is the natural order for individuals and all life alike.

So, I am not all-powerful; I've merely reached the peak of beings, merged with the Heavenly Dao, and fulfilled it to continue Pangu God's legacy.

Likewise, I cannot leave this world now.

All of this is thanks to your fellow townsman. Back then, to stop him from attaining sainthood by force and destroying the primordial world, I had no choice but to merge with the Heavenly Dao, giving up my chance to prove the Dao of Primordial Chaos in the Chaos Sea."

Li Changshou asked quietly: "But primordial legends say you feared the Heavenly Dao couldn't bear your ascension?"

"That's just a misconception spread after the Heavenly Dao erased him," Daozu Hongjun sighed. "Without my alliance with the Heavenly Dao, we couldn't have subdued him.

That fellow arrived in the ancient primordial world due to the chaos of creation and was friends with Pangu God."

Senior Wave was that formidable?

Li Changshou was first surprised, then a bit downcast.

Such a powerhouse was erased by the Heavenly Dao and Daozu Hongjun... Better not to have any improper thoughts. Once the Fengshen calamity is resolved, he should retire and live quietly.

"Feeling threatened?" Daozu Hongjun asked.

"This disciple... is indeed a little afraid."

"As long as you don't do anything to destabilize the world, the Heavenly Dao won't target you," Daozu Hongjun laughed. "Do you know when I first noticed you?"

"This disciple doesn't know."

"Guess."

"Well," Li Changshou thought for a moment. "When this disciple's soul arrived in the primordial world?"

Daozu Hongjun shook his head with a smile: "Your homeland isn't in the primordial world, but whether you come with memories or as a true spirit, it makes little difference.

The Chaos Sea is boundless; the universe you know might just be a grain of sand in it.

The river of true spirits flows within, accompanied by the Great Dao of life and death; beings are ultimately disturbances and coincidences, manifestations of the Great Dao and rules.

Thus, in my eyes, you are no different from any ordinary being—your origins are insignificant."

Li Changshou: ...

Why did he feel oddly pleased and yet a bit disappointed?

"Then when did Ancestral Master notice this disciple..."

"When you passed your immortal tribulation at sea, you even deceived the Heavenly Dao," Daozu Hongjun said with a laugh. "I was startled and discovered that your Great Dao stems from the balance of yin and yang, which the Heavenly Dao needs.

So, I secretly intervened, having a statue of you erected in that witch village to alter your original fate.

Without that, you might have stayed in the mountains until the end of time.

But I never expected you to excel so much—not only in your own Dao but also in single-handedly supporting Heaven, saving me a great deal of effort."

Li Changshou couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.

Finally, the mystery was solved!

Daozu Hongjun waved his hand gently, and a light spot appeared on the jade dish, vaguely outlining a meditating figure surrounded by hazy light.

"I left you here because of this. Do you know what it is?"

"This disciple doesn't know."

"It's the remnant will of Pangu God within the Heavenly Dao," Daozu Hongjun sighed softly. "As the Heavenly Dao evolves, it has gradually developed its own thinking.

If the Heavenly Dao is greatly disturbed, it will be born from within."

Li Changshou exclaimed: "Could Pangu God be reborn?"

"Not that; it's just a trace of his regret," Daozu Hongjun explained. "What I entrust to you is to judge, upon its birth, whether it benefits the world or harms it.

If the former, protect it from being erased by the Heavenly Dao;

If the latter, ensure it's completely eliminated."

Li Changshou asked softly: "This disciple might not be a match for Pangu God's remnant will."

"When it first emerges, it won't have spiritual energy around it and can't draw energy for itself—it's quite weak," Daozu Hongjun said, his gaze complex in a way Li Changshou couldn't fully grasp.

"Its life, and the fate of the world, rests on your decision.

The Three Pure Ones are transformations of Pangu's primordial spirit, the two saints of Western Orthodoxy are self-serving, Nüwa is indecisive, and Haotian is too deeply tied to the Heavenly Dao. Only you handle things with the utmost steadiness.

Do you want any reward?"

Li Changshou hesitated before sighing: "If I can share Ancestral Master's burdens, it's this disciple's good fortune."

Daozu Hongjun looked regretful, pulling a small ancient bronze cauldron from his sleeve and then tucking it back.

"I was going to give you this Qiankun Cauldron, which suppressed Luohou, ahead of time. But if you're so selfless, forget it."

Li Changshou's eyes widened, and he nearly choked, almost fainting on the spot.

"Ancestral Master, about this disciple's merit golden body, you see..."

Daozu Hongjun's eyes crinkled with laughter: "Didn't I say? Just use ninety-eight percent of it."

"But this..."

"Hahaha!"

Daozu Hongjun clapped his hands and laughed, then took a stone tablet from his sleeve and tossed it to Li Changshou.

"Cultivate well and perfect your Great Dao of Balance soon, so I can have less hassle from the Heavenly Dao.

Go back.

If there's any disturbance from the Heavenly Dao later, I'll send you a message."

Li Changshou wanted to say more, but Daozu Hongjun waved his hand, and the scene shifted. In a blink, Li Changshou found himself standing above the vast, endless waves.

This was... the East Sea?

Everything that had happened felt like a dream, except the stone tablet in his hand felt real.

He stood up mid-air, examining the stone tablet with its inscribed Dao patterns—clearly a cultivation method.

So, Daozu had merged with the Heavenly Dao to stop Senior Wave from attaining sainthood by force and destroying the primordial world?

And a being formed from Pangu God's will was about to emerge from the Heavenly Dao and escape its control?

This...

Better to play it safe; even if the information came from Daozu, he could only believe about sixty—no, forty percent of it.

History is written by the victors, and Senior Wave, no matter how reckless, probably wouldn't destroy the primordial world.

Was Daozu truly just dedicated to protecting beings?

Li Changshou put away the stone tablet, his mind foggy. He transformed into a fish and dove into the East Sea, heading toward one of his safe houses.

First, calm down, think through the situation and this task from Daozu, and decide whether to report it to his teacher—that was the priority.

Thus, three months later,

Li Changshou acted as if nothing had happened and quietly returned to Xiaoqiong Peak.

PS: Taiyi's illustration "Just This" has been uploaded to the Easter egg chapter—everyone, please send more barrage comments!