Chapter 556: The Third in Hong Huang's Protection of Shortcomings

"This guy Miler, he couldn't have had an epiphany from those casual nonsense words I said... right?"

On Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou, who had just returned from Sanxian Island, was muttering to himself by the lake.

He carefully pondered his words, realizing that for an expert like Miler, they did indeed carry a hint of 'awakening the true self.'

Yet, he had truly only said them offhandedly, intending to plant a crack in Miler's Dao Xin.

Lately, over the past thirty-plus years, he had delved too deeply into researching the characteristics of 'Tianmo,' instinctively aiming to disrupt his opponents' mindsets and create fissures in their Dao Xin.

After all, what had come was merely Miler's incarnation, a rather crude divine sense avatar. Even if he killed it directly, it wouldn't affect Miler much.

The issue was, his own incarnation... might not win.

Recalling the past, he had once used the paper doll nesting method to trick Jinchanzi into seeking out 'Three Moles.'

Now, the paper doll method could no longer deceive people, but he had barely mastered the art of verbal persuasion.

This was also a small step forward!

That rumor about 'Taibai Jinxing having most of his divine powers in his words' wasn't entirely false.

Glancing at the bustling gaming room, Li Changshou sat back in front of his pill room, closed his eyes, and began to deeply comprehend the Balanced Dao.

After the Zixiao Palace events, until the Great Calamity officially descended, the things Li Changshou could do were limited to a few:

Cultivate and comprehend the Dao, striving to enhance his own strength;

Safeguard the establishment of the Shang Kingdom and guard against Western Cult's underhanded schemes;

Control the overall situation in the Three Thousand Worlds to prevent the Immortal Alliance from losing control prematurely;

Accumulate more paper dolls and develop stronger 'anti-interference' restrictions.

The newly improved paper dolls had advantages in stability and lower cost;

Li Changshou's main ideas were threefold. First, strengthen the connection between his own primordial spirit and its power, drawing insights mainly from 'Du Shuren.'

Primordial spirit and Tianmo were essentially different forms produced by the true spirit's consciousness under various Dao principles. This 'upper-class Tianmo' had indeed provided Li Changshou with significant help.

The other two ideas focused on simplifying the paper doll restrictions and enhancing their protective measures.

To this end, he had studied the Shangqing Talismans for over a decade, essentially stealing a bit from Yunxiao.

To be fair, the Renjiao Saint's lessons were relatively straightforward, emphasizing that enlightenment laws arise naturally and wondrously, allowing Renjiao's two Saint disciples to comprehend combat divine powers on their own during enlightenment.

It wasn't that the Saint lords had forgotten to teach or were too lazy to speak.

Now, with abundant cultivation resources at his disposal, the difficulty for Li Changshou lay only in comprehending realms.

Pills and elixirs were readily refined, and treasures were plentiful.

For the excess spirit stones and materials he obtained, Li Changshou didn't let them sit idle. He continued the 'Xiaoqiong Peak Defense Satellite' project and added the 'Xiaoqiong Peak Zhoutian Xing Dou Cannon' to his agenda.

The innate essence of earth he had acquired from the Kunpeng mansion in the Chaos Sea began a long nurturing process, which would take at least several centuries to integrate into the Xiaoqiong Peak grand array as its main array spirit.

By then, if Duxian Sect faced another attack, Ling'e could effortlessly control over half of Xiaoqiong Peak's arrays.

By then...

Wasn't that a bit like hindsight?

Li Changshou slightly opened his eyes, gazing at the vast sky and the endless sea of clouds, a touch of helplessness rising in his heart.

In the end, he had chosen to be constrained by the Heavenly Court.

As he was reflecting, a jade talisman sped toward him from beyond his vision, with a group of heavenly soldiers and generals faintly chasing behind.

Shixiong's Dao rhyme?

Li Changshou waved his sleeve, drawing the jade talisman through the air, and gently dismissed the pursuing heavenly soldiers and generals.

Placing the jade talisman a few meters away, he probed it with his immortal sense. Reading its simple contents, black lines appeared on Li Changshou's forehead.

Domain outer Tianmo going berserk, clamoring to invade the Honghuang world, kill Taibai, and destroy Jinxing?

What was going on?

Was it because he had ordered Jinpeng and Diteng to clear out the domain outer Tianmo, provoking them, or because he had firmly rejected Kunpeng's advances, angering Kunpeng?

In just one month, they launched several major offensives. Without the Taiji Diagram's help, Xuandu City might have collapsed...

Li Changshou couldn't help but groan, raising his hand to his forehead.

How could he accidentally make enemies like this?

After careful analysis, he determined that the domain outer Tianmo posed little threat to him. However, Shixiong had mentioned the word 'Saint.'

That Tianmo Zunzhe, the 'mother' of the domain outer Tianmo, expressed immense indignation in the divine thoughts passed to them about Li Changshou insulting their Saint.

Could this innate god, Tianmo Zunzhe, have formed some long-term cooperative strategy with Kunpeng?

With these doubts, Li Changshou pondered briefly and quickly prepared two valuable superior-grade transmission jade talismans—one to reply to Shixiong, and one to send to the Golden-winged Peng bird.

In the latter jade talisman, he wrote:

Eradicate Tianmo, benefit all spirits; eliminate evil thoroughly, leave no hidden threats.

Li Changshou didn't dare make his words too explicit, so he kept it in line with Jinpeng's temperament, offering a small encouragement;

Otherwise, he was truly worried that Jinpeng might get excited and order 'better to kill the wrong than let one go,' creating unnecessary karma.

In the jade talisman to the Great Mage, Li Changshou briefly explained the causes and effects, urging Shixiong to be cautious of that likely Kunpeng 'Saint,' whose current strength was unknown.

After handling this, Li Changshou split his divine sense to various places, checking the Three Thousand Worlds and the Honghuang Wubu Continent.

The Immortal Alliance was stable, the Lintian Hall was unharmed, the black panther visited friends and then continued secluded cultivation, as if nothing had happened before.

In the underworld, Ji Wuyou's sect master's soul was nearly fully repaired and would soon reincarnate. Li Changshou would need to go there shortly to see him off.

Time to continue cultivating.

Before becoming an immortal, a single epiphany could break through a minor realm. If not for suppressing it desperately, becoming an immortal would have been effortless.

Now, dozens of epiphanies might not even pierce through the fog ahead, requiring time dedicated to enlightenment.

No effort, no gain.

As insights surged in his heart, Li Changshou sighed lightly. Gentle breezes blew around him, golden lights appeared behind him, and the Balanced Dao manifested as a scroll drifting in the wind.

Cough, that was embarrassing—he had accidentally broken through again.

This reminded Li Changshou of that line: The joys and sorrows of the human world are not connected.

He just felt his foundation was a bit unstable from breaking through too quickly.

As he was about to enter seclusion to stabilize his realm, Lingzhuzi hurried from outside Taibai Palace, seemingly with an urgent matter.

Li Changshou closed his eyes and arranged for a newly modified paper doll body to go out, transforming into his fixed Taibai Jinxing appearance, holding a whisk as he gracefully went to meet him.

Lingzhuzi bowed forward and briefly explained what had happened.

It turned out that in recent years, Yang Jian, cultivating on Yuquan Mountain, had hit a bottleneck and couldn't break through for a long time, which was quite unusual for a Qi refiner focused on physical cultivation.

Cultivating the body differs from the primordial spirit; the latter might stall for hundreds or thousands of years without issue.

But for physical cultivation, at the very least, one could still increase strength somewhat. Yet Yang Jian hadn't progressed at all in recent years.

Lingzhuzi said,

"Shishu, Yuding Shishu mentioned that your understanding of the Bajiu Xuan Gong is profoundly deep, probably unmatched in the world. Only you can guide Yang Jian Shidi.

Yuding Shishu wants you to send a paper doll over. My master is already at Yuquan Mountain."

"Understood," Li Changshou replied with a serious expression, asking Lingzhuzi to wait a moment.

He immediately prepared several paper dolls, altered their aura and Dao rhyme, concealed their faces, and had them slip into Lingzhuzi's sleeve for him to take to Yuquan Mountain.

What was wrong with Yang Jian?

As one of the key figures in the Great Calamity, with exceptional talent and practicing the Bajiu Xuan Gong, which had few bottlenecks...

"Shishu," Lingzhuzi transmitted, "Yang Jian Shidi seems to harbor deep resentment toward the Heavenly Court. If this persists, will it affect his Dao Xin?"

Li Changshou laughed, "No problem. Yuding Shixiong's Dao can perfectly protect Yang Jian's Dao Xin."

"But why... Lingzhuzi knows that Shishu is absolutely not the villain who persecuted Yang Jian's family. Why not tell him the truth earlier?"

Lingzhuzi's fair face was full of confusion.

Li Changshou asked with a smile, "What do you think of Yang Jian's cultivation progress so far?"

"It's been remarkably fast, advancing by leaps and bounds, truly astonishing."

"A large part of that comes from his inner obsessions," Li Changshou said. "Even if I explain to him, I couldn't eliminate the inner demons in his heart.

Back then, as a child, he witnessed Yunhua Xianzi's family being schemed against. No matter how you argue or who controlled the heavenly soldiers' minds, it was the Heavenly Court's soldiers who killed his father and elder brother.

Rather than me explaining and letting him temporarily suppress his inner demons, it's better to turn that demon into his obsession, giving his pent-up emotions an outlet.

The human race is inherently weak, without a powerful physical body or innate primordial spirit. Achieving immortality or godhood quickly isn't easy."

Lingzhuzi fell into thought. After leaving the Heavenly Court, he transformed into a streak of light heading toward Zhongshen Continent.

"But Shishu, he went out for training twice and somehow heard rumors that you and the Heavenly Court's Jade Emperor are his enemies who killed his father.

He's asked me several times what kind of person Shishu is. Since you instructed me before, I never knew how to answer."

"It's fine, don't let anything slip, or else all the efforts between me and Yuding Shixiong will be in vain," Li Changshou laughed. "Just relax. I have my own arrangements."

Lingzhuzi hesitated but ultimately nodded silently, flying faster.

Two hours later, in Yuquan Mountain.

The beardless version of Li Changshou, resembling Zhao Gongming, hid in the clouds with Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren, watching the young Daoist meditating in the mountain forest, discussing Yang Jian's 'condition' without much intensity.

Li Changshou quickly determined that Yang Jian's bottleneck wasn't due to the Bajiu Xuan Gong, but confusion in his Dao Xin.

Taiyi Zhenren said,

"I think you're just spoiling him too much. So what if he's stuck for a few years? Which of us didn't face dilemmas lasting hundreds or thousands of years to reach our current cultivation?"

Yuding Zhenren and Li Changshou exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

Li Changshou said, "My cultivation time is short."

Yuding Zhenren added, "Bottlenecks... not many."

Taiyi Zhenren's mouth twitched, suppressing the urge to argue and avoiding a beating.

Yuding Zhenren asked, "Changgeng, do you need to contact Jian directly?"

"He's already at a decent cultivation level and might see through my paper doll technique," Li Changshou pondered and declined Yuding Zhenren's suggestion.

Although he knew this was unlikely, he decided to play it safe.

Li Changshou continued, "In these years, Shixiong, have you talked with Yang Jian?"

Taiyi Zhenren, arms crossed, interjected,

"You mean how many times? Ever since Yang Jian hit a bottleneck, that certain master of his has been endlessly worried yet insists on maintaining his dignity. He casually passes by, recites some scriptures, or says a few ambiguous words, trying to inspire his disciple.

Why didn't we get this kind of treatment back when we were cultivating?"

Yuding Zhenren coughed, "I only have this one disciple, after all."

Li Changshou smiled and, after some thought, suggested a simple solution.

Have Lingzhuzi get Yang Jian drunk first and see if it works.

Taiyi Zhenren frowned, "I thought Changgeng Shidi would have some profound insight. But... just that?"

"The Dao is profoundly simple," Li Changshou laughed. "As long as it works. Lingzhuzi and Yang Jian are of the same generation and close friends.

The younger generation might not feel comfortable sharing with us, but they could open up after drinking with peers.

Since we're intervening, let's prepare thoroughly...

First, have Lingzhuzi try to break through Yang Jian's heart defenses and figure out what's troubling his Dao Xin.

Then, we'll follow up. Yuding Shidi, use your divine powers to protect Yang Jian's Dao Xin, and Taiyi Shixiong, use your divine sense to invade and address the issue directly."

"Excellent."

"Alright, let's try it."

The three Daoist experts discussed various details and instructed Lingzhuzi via voice transmission for a long time before finally putting the plan into action.

But as soon as the plan started... it hit a major setback.

At the back of Yuquan Mountain, Lingzhuzi said to Yang Jian,

"Shidi, you look so gloomy lately. You seem quite down. How about I accompany you out for a walk to clear your mind?"

Yang Jian sighed lightly and stood up from his meditation, saying, "Is it that obvious?"

"Of course," Lingzhuzi said seriously. "Yuding Shishu is quite worried about your condition and specially asked me to come talk to you."

Yang Jian glanced toward the front mountain cave and said with a hint of apology,

"I've worried Master. Let's go, a walk might do some good."

Lingzhuzi turned and gestured invitingly. Yang Jian cupped his hands in thanks and was about to step forward when...

"Gege!"

Yang Jian paused, and both he and Lingzhuzi turned their heads slowly, like rusty necks, toward the source of the voice.

As Yang Jian was about to explain, Lingzhuzi flashed forward, using a Wu clan battle technique to appear behind Yang Chan's delicate figure, pointing a finger at her back.

Yang Chan rolled her eyes and fainted. Lingzhuzi used his immortal power to form a hammock, suspending her in the trees.

"Done," Lingzhuzi said, clapping his hands and giving Yang Jian a straightforward look. Yang Jian's mouth twitched.

That was decisive.

So, the two brothers rode the clouds out of Yuquan Mountain's array, found a nearby peak in the mountains a few hundred li away, set up a small array, and lay on tree branches drinking and chatting.

But no matter how Lingzhuzi asked, Yang Jian wouldn't speak, only saying he was fine, just that some thoughts weren't clear, and once he figured them out, it would be okay.

Leaving Yuquan Mountain, Yang Jian indeed seemed much more relaxed.

As they chatted about other topics, they unknowingly got a bit drunk.

Lingzhuzi said,

"This wine has such a strong aftereffect..."

Yang Jian yawned, about to lie down and sleep, but then thought of something and sat up to meditate.

As he tried to dispel the alcohol, drowsiness overwhelmed him like a tide, flooding his Dao Xin.

In the array, snores filled the air...

In a hidden corner nearby, Li Changshou, Yuding Zhenren, and Taiyi Zhenren, concealed by the Taiji Diagram's power, exchanged glances and smiled lightly.

Taiyi Zhenren transmitted,

"Drugging his own disciple—truly befitting of the Taibai Star Lord."

Li Changshou smiled nonchalantly and reminded, "Shixiong, make sure not to mess up later."

"Just reciting a few lines," Taiyi Zhenren said calmly. "Pretending to be a Western Cult Saint disciple to mislead Yang Jian's Dao Xin and strengthen his obsessions—that's something even I hadn't thought of."

—They had specifically asked Lingzhuzi to invite Yang Jian away from Yuquan Mountain to make this easier; otherwise, it would be hard to explain how Western Cult figures bypassed Yuding Zhenren's sight and broke through Yuquan Mountain's array.

"Yang Jian is just unclear about his path and a bit lost," Li Changshou said, looking at Yuding Zhenren. "Shixiong, please protect his Dao Xin."

Yuding Zhenren smiled without speaking, waving his left hand. A vibrant, seven-colored cauldron appeared before the three, showing a somewhat blurry scene inside, where Yang Jian seemed to be meditating in the center of a square platform.

This was... Yang Jian's spiritual platform!

Li Changshou and Taiyi Zhenren exchanged looks, feeling a bit speechless.

What was true favoritism toward a disciple?

This was it!

Constantly monitoring his disciple's primordial spirit changes, using unique divine powers to watch his spiritual platform, fearing heart demons or instability in his Dao Xin.

And using his own life-bound primordial spirit to form a green cauldron hovering above his disciple's primordial spirit—without the power to break the cauldron, one couldn't harm Yang Jian's primordial spirit...

Unbelievable? Unbelievable?

Li Changshou admitted he couldn't do this for Longji;

Taiyi Zhenren wished he could care for Lingzhuzi this way, but was limited by his own strength.

Yuding Zhenren calmly said, "Let's begin."

Taiyi Zhenren sat cross-legged, his face serious, and a red light flew from his forehead, condensing into a phantom.

Under the Taiji Diagram's concealment, this was done silently.

Just as the phantom was about to leave the Taiji Diagram's coverage, a breeze suddenly blew through the forest.

Li Changshou reacted quickest, raising his hand to signal Taiyi Zhenren to stop. The three focused and saw a wisp of phantom drifting by.

"Whose divine sense?" Taiyi Zhenren frowned.

Yuding Zhenren's face darkened instantly. He waved his left palm over the cauldron illusion before them, and the scene inside became crystal clear.

Around Yang Jian's spiritual platform and primordial spirit, a gray-haired old Daoist appeared, slowly drifting nearby, blocked by the green cauldron above Yang Jian's primordial spirit.

Li Changshou quickly identified the source of this divine sense... Western Cult, Xu Bodhi!

Yuding Zhenren pointed lightly, and the voices from Yang Jian's spiritual platform echoed in the minds of the three Daoist immortals.

"Yang Jian, how have you considered what I told you last time?"