Chapter 565: Doomsday Kit Advanced Version

What a pity.

Overall, this outcome was quite regrettable.

Li Changshou had already made ninety-seven percent of the preparations, aiming to incite opposition between Chan Jiao and Xi Fang Jiao today, but the Saint of Xi Fang Jiao never appeared, so he couldn't fully escalate the conflict.

With the arrival of Chan Jiao's senior brother, there was no follow-up.

However, from now on, Yang Jian and Chan Jiao should not get too close, and Chan Jiao's influence on him won't be too great.

This had already met Li Changshou's previous expectations.

After Dongmu Gong delivered the decree, Yang Jian glanced at Ling Shan, snorted coldly, and flew on a cloud toward Xi Tian Men.

The immortals of Chan Jiao each departed, and as Guang Chengzi left, he exchanged a glance with Li Changshou.

Guang Chengzi's gaze was quite complex, while Li Changshou's was entirely calm.

Guang Chengzi didn't say much more; he and Li Changshou exchanged a Daoist bow, then turned and left with Taiyi Zhenren in his sleeve.

Li Changshou blinked, feeling that Taiyi Zhenren's earlier words lacked a bit of essence—they had built up to it but didn't hit the key point...

He was also quite curious about it.

Chan Jiao would inevitably be at a disadvantage against Jie Jiao, assuming Ren Jiao and Tian Ting maintained absolute neutrality.

If they didn't plan ahead and leave some backup with Xi Fang Jiao, they would truly fall into a completely passive position when the great calamity truly descended.

The great calamity was just that—a calamity that required enough experts to die and for disciples of the two sects to fill the vacancies for Tian Ting's orthodox gods.

Objectively, Li Changshou understood this, but subjectively, he didn't agree, and emotionally, he didn't express an opinion.

He could only strive to maintain neutrality in order to fulfill his role in the great calamity.

That day, when Dao Zu kept him for a private session, the clear implication was for Li Changshou to step outside of Ren Jiao, Chan Jiao, and Jie Jiao, and stand at a broader level encompassing the Dao gate, the world, living beings, and the great calamity.

Hmm...

It felt a bit like how Dao Zu treated him, similar to how he treated Yang Jian.

It must be an illusion.

Probably just an illusion.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly. Before the Chan Jiao immortals had disappeared from his view, he bowed toward Ling Shan, then turned and jumped onto Jinpeng's back, chasing after the heavenly soldiers and generals.

Yang Jian did not enter Tian Ting.

He flew to the front of Xi Tian Men, sat cross-legged there to recover his Dao body, absorb the power of the second drop of Zu Wu Essence Blood, and comprehend the might of the Tian Yan.

Seeing this, Dongmu Gong hesitated for a moment before flying forward on a cloud.

Dongmu Gong had intended to remind Yang Jian that he should go to Lingxiao Hall to express his thanks and to Tongming Hall to register his name.

But before he could speak, he heard Li Changshou's voice transmission, explaining that Yang Jian's situation was a special case.

Today, Yang Jian had smashed Ling Shan and made a name for himself, and by accepting Tian Ting's reward, he had already boosted Tian Ting's prestige, counting as a meritorious deed.

Dongmu Gong pondered briefly, then bowed his hands to Yang Jian and said with a smile:

"Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun, may I have a word with you?

I am Dongmu Gong of Tian Ting, and many matters regarding Yunhua Xianzi's entry into Tian Ting were handled by me back then."

Yang Jian opened his eyes, stood up, bowed his hands to Dongmu Gong, and asked with a hint of doubt in his eyes:

"What advice does Dongmu Gong have?"

Dongmu Gong said warmly: "You have made your name resound through the great wilderness today, and your future prospects are boundless. You've truly brought honor to your mother.

What are your plans next?

If there's any difficulty, please don't hesitate to tell me..."

In his voice transmission, Dongmu Gong added: "Don't blame Changgeng for arranging things this way. In reality, Changgeng has been running around for your affairs, unable to rest easy for a hundred years.

Changgeng is just that kind of person—always seeking stability and doing everything to avoid variables, so he took full control of your path of cultivation.

But he truly has no ulterior motives toward you and hasn't used you for anything... Of course, in this matter, he did intend to use your anger to create some rifts between Chan Jiao and Xi Fang Jiao.

You can't blame Changgeng for that—Xi Fang Jiao's actions were truly unscrupulous, and they even tried to infiltrate Tian Ting back then, using your mother to scheme against the Jade Emperor."

Yang Jian couldn't help but purse his lips and frown, looking at the somewhat chatty Dongmu Gong before him, then bowed his hands and asked:

"May I ask Dongmu Gong to convey my greetings to my mother?"

"You might as well go in yourself and talk to her."

Dongmu Gong glanced at the figures flying in from the distance and said warmly: "I know you have anger in your heart, but your ability to remain this calm shows the strength of your Dao heart.

Ah, if it were me, caught in the midst of great forces, calculated and arranged from birth, my Dao heart would have collapsed long ago."

Yang Jian: ...

"I'll wait here for now."

Dongmu Gong said: "There's no need to make things too tense with Tian Ting. In the future, we'll all be colleagues in the same court, so I hope for your understanding."

As he spoke, Dongmu Gong took a treasure pouch from his sleeve.

Yang Jian quickly declined, but Dongmu Gong said:

"If you can take your mother away today, do you want her to live in a thatched hut?

She is a princess of Tian Ting, the Jade Emperor's sister—what a noble status.

This is just for Yunhua, not for you. I watched Yunhua Xianzi grow up back then...

Ah, no need to say more. I'll go report to His Majesty and say that you feel guilty and don't wish to enter the heavenly gate, so His Majesty will likely release your mother.

Remember, this isn't the time to act on impulse. Your earlier words about obeying orders but not proclamations were already a major taboo—Changgeng will truly have his hands full with headaches."

With that, Dongmu Gong waved his hand, stuffed the treasure pouch into Yang Jian's hand, and turned toward Xi Tian Men.

Watched his mother grow up?

Wasn't his mother originally in the mortal world?

Yang Jian looked into the treasure pouch and couldn't help but frown.

Tian Ting... is so wealthy...

Just then, laughter came from the side—it was Taiyi Zhenren, released by Guang Chengzi, along with Yuding Zhenren flying over on clouds, and behind Yuding Zhenren was Yang Chan, full of excitement.

"Brother!"

Yang Chan called softly and hurried forward. Yang Jian's tense face finally showed a slightly weak smile.

Setting aside the reunion of this brother and sister for now, let's say that Taiyi Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren took the initiative to approach Li Changshou. Yuding Zhenren bowed to Li Changshou, and Li Changshou returned a half-bow.

Yuding Zhenren said: "You've worked hard."

Li Changshou smiled and signaled for Jinpeng to carry his incarnation inside, while his true body flew out from his sleeve and retracted the Xuanhuang Pagoda back into his primordial spirit.

As for why he had been wearing the Xuanhuang Pagoda...

Well, in his previous life, he wore a helmet when riding, so in this life, riding a bird required some safety measures.

Taiyi Zhenren sighed: "Senior brother still doesn't want to turn against Xi Fang Jiao. Ah."

"It's not bad," Li Changshou transmitted. "Today, Yang Jian killed a disciple of Xi Fang Jiao and smashed their mountain gate, which counts as half of the revenge.

Later, I'll secretly stir up some momentum and undermine Xi Fang Jiao's prestige, so their reputation will completely collapse."

This would also make Chan Jiao and Xi Fang Jiao more hesitant about allying, due to concerns over "face."

—Of course, he couldn't say that directly.

Yuding Zhenren asked: "Can Yunhua Xianzi reunite with them?"

"Don't worry, senior brother—my incarnation has gone to arrange it."

Li Changshou smiled: "But it also depends on what Yunhua Xianzi wants.

Personally, I think it's better for Yunhua Xianzi to clear her own faults and cultivate steadily in Tian Ting, gaining more merit and eating Pan Tao every year, rather than living with her children.

Kids grow up and will have their own ideas.

But after all the twists this family has been through, they definitely need to reunite for a while... Oh, right, Taiyi senior brother, what were you going to say earlier?"

"Ah, actually, I didn't have many thoughts at the time, and today I don't feel any urge to say certain things."

Taiyi Zhenren habitually tucked his hands into his sleeves, curled his lips, and said with a hint of regret:

"I was originally thinking of saying that our master once said Xi Fang Jiao would surely prosper, but I'm afraid no one heard it clearly—our master probably meant they would surely engage in great construction projects.

That's all I can say. Ah, I just can't reach the state of those spontaneous clever lines from before."

Li Changshou: ...

Silently, he took a special treasure from his sleeve and handed it to Yuding Zhenren, instructing: "This should be used when needed."

Yuding Zhenren took it and saw it was a deep blue pearl connected to two thin, long straps, flowing with the power of the five elements, appearing to be a sealing treasure.

Yuding Zhenren exclaimed: "Is this a treasure refined by Lao Jun?"

"Yes," Li Changshou nodded solemnly. "Whether the three sects can avoid war over unnecessary trivial matters depends entirely on you, senior brother."

"Understood," Yuding Zhenren said with a serious expression. "I'll do my best."

Taiyi Zhenren blinked nearby, feeling that...

He was being targeted.

After chatting idly with Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren for a bit, his incarnation entered Lingxiao Treasure Hall with Dongmu Gong.

Using his mind for two tasks at once, Li Changshou's true body, disguised as an old immortal, approached Yang Jian.

Yang Jian looked vigilant and subconsciously shielded Yang Chan behind him, though he didn't immediately grab his Sanjian Two-Blade Spear.

Li Changshou retrieved the treasure banner floating behind Yang Jian, put it in his sleeve, and said with a smile: "Zhenjun, do you have some free time to accompany me to the Liu Dao Lunhui in the underworld?"

Yang Jian frowned slightly, his eyes showing some resistance.

Li Changshou added: "To see your father."

Yang Jian immediately nodded in agreement and started to move forward with Yang Chan.

Li Changshou said: "Let Yuding senior brother take Yang Chan into Tian Ting to reunite with Yunhua Xianzi first. The Jade Emperor has already drafted a decree to pardon your mother's faults.

The Liu Dao Lunhui Disk is a heavenly treasure, isolated from the great wilderness, and not something ordinary people can enter."

Yang Jian hesitated for a moment, turned to Yang Chan, and Yang Chan's eyes immediately turned red.

As she was about to speak, a beam of light flew in from the side, and a finger precisely tapped her neck, skillfully using immortal power to support her.

Behind the finger appeared a handsome face—it was Lingzhuzi.

"Leave her to me; you can rest easy!"

Yang Jian couldn't help but smile bitterly and said softly: "Lingzhu senior brother, you know everything?"

"Well..."

Lingzhuzi felt a bit awkward and looked to Li Changshou for help. The latter chuckled and said:

"Let's go. Go and come back quickly, so your mother doesn't have to wait too long."

Yang Jian sighed lowly, first went to bow to his master and grandmaster, didn't chat much, and hurriedly returned to Li Changshou's side.

Li Changshou condensed a white cloud nearby and sat in the corner, while Yang Jian sat cross-legged on it, his expression eventually turning melancholic.

Under the gaze of Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren, Li Changshou and Yang Jian, separated by about half a zhang, flew on the cloud toward the East Sea.

Although one could enter the underworld from any of the four directions of the world, the East Sea was undoubtedly the safest, with the lowest risk of ambush.

Li Changshou was using his true body to fly, so they moved like the wind, with immortal power enveloping them both, shielding them from the wind and any jolts.

After a silent journey, they reached above the East Sea.

"Do you feel a sense of powerlessness?"

Li Changshou asked softly.

Yang Jian was startled, turned to look beside him, and hummed affirmatively through his nose.

Li Changshou smiled, raised his hand to his face, and transformed back into his youthful Daoist appearance. His white hair fluttered and gradually turned black, then was tied back with a hair band on its own.

"If I've offended you in any way, please forgive me," Li Changshou said. "But Tian Ting truly needs a rising star who can contend with great powers.

This represents the hope of Tian Ting and also the hope of the world.

From your own experiences, how do you think the harmony between the world's order and the freedom pursued by living beings should be achieved?"

Yang Jian frowned slightly and asked: "Do the immortals and gods of Tian Ting all like to chat like this—testing others at the drop of a hat?"

"Not at all," Li Changshou sighed. "I just want to understand your inner thoughts better.

Forget it, as a gesture of apology, I'll give you some hidden benefits."

As he spoke, spheres of memory orbs flew out from Li Changshou's sleeve and floated in front of Yang Jian.

Yang Jian examined them carefully and was soon captivated by their contents, beginning to view them one by one.

These depicted a certain Heavenly Emperor's descent to the mortal world for trials, along with his inseparable childhood sweetheart and a mortal would-be brother-in-law, showing their daily life in a scholar's academy.

The young people laughed and quarreled, oblivious to worries.

Li Changshou said softly: "Once His Majesty sits on that throne, he must control his emotions, avoid impulsiveness, suppress his expressions, and always appear more divine.

The three realms are vast, and for Tian Ting to establish an order protecting the weak, it needs a Heavenly Emperor who doesn't act on emotions."

Yang Jian responded with a sound, immersing himself in those scenes, lost in thought for a long time.

Li Changshou smiled without saying more, leading Yang Jian swiftly onward, passing through the underworld, entering Fengdu, and smoothly arriving inside the Liu Dao Lunhui Disk.

Li Changshou led Yang Jian forward and paid respects to Dade Houtu; she summoned the fully restored soul of Yang Tianyou and then disappeared with Li Changshou.

Setting aside the scene of Yang Jian reuniting with his father, which was likely just silent tears and a kneeling bow, let's say that Li Changshou was taken away by Houtu Niangniang, but actually, they were just hidden a few hundred zhang away.

"Yang Jian is quite suitable for the Eighty-Nine Xuangong; in such a short time, he's already reached this level," Dade Houtu said gently.

Li Changshou nodded with a smile and replied: "After all, he is a child of the great calamity."

"What about you?" Houtu Niangniang blinked, her gentleness mixed with a touch of playfulness. "You've already perfected the technique I created in such a short time—it's quite embarrassing for me."

Li Changshou smiled awkwardly and quickly said: "It's all thanks to the Zu Wu Essence Blood you granted me."

Houtu laughed without responding and lightly changed the topic.

"In Zixiao Palace, did the teacher discuss the great calamity with you?"

"Yes," Li Changshou nodded. "It's indeed a bit tricky."

Houtu thought for a moment, seeming hesitant, but eventually asked: "Did the teacher mention the matter of Pangu God's remaining will?"

Li Changshou frowned: "Niangniang knows about this?"

"I'm close to the Heavenly Dao, so I can sense its changes."

"Then what is Niangniang's view..."

Houtu's beautiful face showed helplessness as she murmured softly: "If it's for the sake of the world's living beings and we must erase Father's remaining will, then so be it."

Li Changshou inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that Houtu Niangniang might ask him to protect that will's incarnation.

Houtu Niangniang asked: "How have the Qiqing been lately?"

"They've been enjoying the mortal world, so they're safe and sound," Li Changshou said with a smile. "Niangniang doesn't need to worry; the Qiqing incarnations have been active within the Shang tribe's territory.

Once they tire of playing, I'll take them to Tian Ting for cultivation."

"Thank you for your trouble."

"It's my honor to do something for Niangniang."

Houtu shook her head with a light laugh, gazing at the figures of Yang Jian and Yang Tianyou, seemingly deep in thought.

What surprised Li Changshou was that Yang Jian didn't interfere much with Yang Tianyou's reincarnation and didn't inquire about his reincarnated form.

Yang Tianyou had already passed on.

In the Liu Dao Lunhui Disk, after bidding farewell to his father's soul, Yang Jian knelt for a long time, though it was unclear if he shed manly tears.

Li Changshou, of course, didn't shortchange Yang Tianyou and had the Yan Monarch arrange good fortune and luck for his next life.

Whether to be a mortal or to cultivate in the next life would be up to Yang Tianyou himself.

What made Li Changshou find this family a bit odd was that Yang Tianyou took the initiative to ask the Yan Monarch to hide all information about his reincarnation, severing ties with Yunhua, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan.

Li Changshou: ...

This family was just strange.

In the Liu Dao Lunhui Disk, Li Changshou waited at the side for half a day before Yang Jian silently stood up and said softly:

"Shishu... thank you."

Li Changshou smiled, though he would have preferred to hear something like "Xingjun."

"Get up and walk with me; let's talk calmly," Li Changshou said warmly. "I also dislike it when people say it's for your own good and arbitrarily arrange our fates.

I know your resentment toward me might last for ages.

But that's fine—today, I'll chat with you properly about Tian Ting matters."

Yang Jian frowned: "What does Tian Ting have to do with me specifically?"

"You'll find out later," Li Changshou said, taking out a brocade pouch wrapped in heavy restrictions from his sleeve and smiling. "Can you keep this for me?"

Yang Jian looked serious, stared at the pouch for a while, then took it.

Li Changshou said: "Don't show it to anyone easily—not even your mother, master, or sister—and don't open it casually.

This is of great importance; inside, there are no treasures, just some words and strategies from me.

If one day I leave this world, and the heavens, Tian Ting, face an insurmountable crisis, or if you feel yourself falling back into the despair of being controlled by me as before, the restrictions will dissipate on their own.

Then, you can open it and see; inside are the clever plans I left for you."

Yang Jian asked: "Why give it to me?"

Li Changshou smiled lightly, a smile that etched itself into Yang Jian's Dao heart.

"Because I trust you, because you are Yang Jian."

Yang Jian silently gripped the pouch, stored it on his person, and nodded solemnly to Li Changshou.

"Let's go and talk about something else," Li Changshou said warmly, gesturing for them to proceed.

Yang Jian looked at Li Changshou's profile, his eyes showing less hostility and more respect.

As they chatted freely in this place isolated from the three realms, Li Changshou's ideas about order, living beings, strength and weakness, and balance made the respect in Yang Jian's eyes grow more evident.

'Perhaps, I should get to know this minister of Tian Ting anew.'

Yang Jian thought to himself, and unknowingly, the gap between him and Li Changshou was buried in his heart, set aside for now.

As the saying goes, in the Jianghu, you can't avoid getting stabbed.

Taibai Xingjun's persuasion was indeed... impossible to guard against.