Chapter 576: Martial Uncle's Heart-to-Heart Talk, Kunpeng's Contest

The stars were exceptionally bright tonight, a cool breeze brushed across the mountains, sweeping away the worldly noise and revealing the dark forest-like peaks.

A white cloud drifted in from the southwest, heading towards a certain location in Zhongshen Zhou. It was exceptionally quiet on top of it.

At the front of the cloud sat Li Changshou, his white robe and white beard making him look like the paper daoist who had appeared in the Shang Kingdom of Nan Continent.

Behind him, the 'holy heavenly demon,' tainted by the minor deity's power, was curled into a ball, tears streaming down and soaking into the cloud.

How should one refer to this being?

Names like Shengmo or Sheng Tianmo sounded too grand, and Mei Wenhua's strength wasn't particularly impressive. In fact, she didn't seem to have any obvious divine abilities right now.

The original outer heavenly demons' greatest power was invading the dao hearts of creatures in the Honghuang; the mutated ones also retained this ability.

The difference was that the former corrupted people, while the latter purified them into goodness.

It was precisely because Li Changshou realized this that he decided to bring Mei Wenhua to Huoyun Cave...

Ironically, despite Mei Wenhua gaining the Heavenly Dao's approval and obtaining this immortal spirit body after enduring trial after trial,

she still hadn't earned Li Changshou's complete trust.

How to handle this mutated heavenly demon was giving Li Changshou quite a headache.

He hadn't even decided yet whether to make this public, and if so, when to do it and what benefits it might bring to the Heavenly Court or himself.

More importantly, he couldn't entirely dismiss the threat she posed.

If all of this was a show put on by Mei Wenhua, and she managed to get close to some Heavenly Court officials with vulnerable dao hearts, the consequences would be disastrous.

This wasn't necessarily referring to Mu Gong.

One must always maintain basic respect for outer heavenly demons and never let down one's guard, as they specialized in messing with creatures' dao hearts.

Li Changshou had thought about killing Mei Wenhua directly more than ten times, but he felt it would be a waste.

What if this mutation was unique and impossible to replicate? Then he would be losing a crucial card against Kunpeng and the heavenly demons.

Suddenly, Li Changshou recalled a few words.

It was during a conversation on Empty Mountain after a rain, when he and his master, Qi Yuan Daozhang, were strolling in the mountains and discussing the matter of the fox girl, A Lan.

His master's guidance still echoed in his ears, giving Li Changshou a significant realization.

A sense of reverence.

Never lose reverence for living beings...

With that in mind, Li Changshou extended his hand towards the curled-up Mei Wenhua, opening his palm and adding two more layers of immortal power for protection.

Better safe than sorry.

Outer heavenly demons could be considered part of Kunpeng's peripheral forces, and Kunpeng had targeted him repeatedly, even threatening his junior uncle this time.

This was intolerable!

He needed to think of a countermeasure.

On this trip to Huoyun Cave, he could casually consult the retired human emperors and see if they had any ideas for dealing with Kunpeng.

That Kunpeng was just too reckless.

Meanwhile, beyond the five continents of the Honghuang, in the vast and boundless void,

Li Changshou's paper daoist was tucked in Jiu Jiu's sleeve, with Jiu Jiu concealing her presence as she sped toward the Lintian Hall.

Jiu Jiu's intuition hadn't been wrong earlier; Li Changshou had indeed lied to Quan Tong at the time.

But some things couldn't be said directly to His Majesty the Jade Emperor, so Li Changshou had only hinted at it through a voice transmission.

He couldn't just say that he wanted to take this special outer heavenly demon to Huoyun Cave to see if it could help Sui Renshi.

That would be taboo.

There were rumors from the late ancient era that the position of Heavenly Emperor should have gone to a human emperor, and Sui Renshi was the oldest and strongest of the ancient human emperors.

Unlike Fuxi Shi and Shennong Shi, Sui Renshi was of pure human descent, and with the human race now thriving, there was a sense of "legitimacy" to it.

Li Changshou had even entertained conspiracy theories, suspecting that the Heavenly Dao might have deliberately used demonic energy to control Sui Renshi to ensure the Heavenly Court's stable rule over the three realms.

Of course, Li Changshou wouldn't confuse his own identity or position.

He was a regular minister of the Heavenly Court, currently working for the Heavenly Dao.

This visit to Huoyun Cave was simply out of respect for the human emperors and to fulfill a minor agreement with Dayu Dijun—bringing Mei Wenhua to try alleviating some of Sui Renshi's suffering.

Before parting from Quan Tong, Li Changshou, worried that His Majesty might not grasp the key points, took the initiative to explain a bit more through voice transmission.

"Fire Cloud Cave's esteemed human sages once entrusted this minor deity with a matter.

It concerns Sui Renshi's early fall to demonic influence, and now the demonic energy is becoming harder to suppress.

As the saying goes, extremes lead to reversal. Mei Wenhua might have a unique way to counter demonic energy, so this minor deity will attempt to have her help suppress the injuries of the ancient human emperor, Sui Renshi."

Quan Tong had blinked at the time... and calmly nodded in agreement, furrowing his brow slightly as he left.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly—His Majesty the Jade Emperor clearly minded this matter. Anyone at the pinnacle of power would likely be wary of anything that could threaten their authority.

The "enlightened" Heavenly Emperor thought: "Hmm? Why is Changgen emphasizing this? Is it hinting that I should show goodwill to Huoyun Cave?

True, I overlooked this before. Now that the mortal humans revere the Heavenly Court, I must ensure the ancient human emperors don't hold any grudges.

I'll arrange for that when I return—it's all thanks to Changgen's thorough consideration."

A true grand-scale disconnect between sovereign and minister in the Honghuang.

For this trip to Huoyun Cave, aside from Mei Wenhua, Li Changshou had brought only Bian Zhuang along.

No particular reason—just to have a witness the whole time, to avoid any misunderstandings from His Majesty.

Long Ji was the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, and Ao Yi was purely one of his own people, but Bian Zhuang, who had shown goodwill toward him and was a Heavenly General loyal to the court, was just right for the role.

Li Changshou multitasked, his two paper daoists observing different scenes while he organized his thoughts.

Even after Kong Xuan goes to Xuandu City, it doesn't mean they won't get dragged into the Fengshen calamity later.

Having accepted the human race's destiny, they'd be pulled into such a great calamity, and this time it might be hard to avoid.

If he forced Kong Xuan out of the calamity, he'd have to think carefully about whether he could handle the backlash from the vacant position of Buddha Mother.

Breaking through the barriers of fate always comes at a cost.

He couldn't just arrange for the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird to take Kong Xuan's role and then end up with... Buddha Father instead?

Forget it; he was overthinking. The matter of Kong Xuan might be better left to his senior brother.

"Changshou."

"Hmm?"

The invisible Jiu Jiu murmured softly, sending a voice transmission to the paper daoist in her sleeve: "You've been pretty busy lately, huh."

Li Changshou chuckled and replied, "For the past one or two hundred years, I've mostly been cultivating. It's thanks to you and the others running around that I don't have to devote all my energy to matters outside of cultivation."

"Oh, come on, no need to be so polite with me," Jiu Jiu said with a cheerful smile, then cleared her throat. "Ahem, well, Ling E's been doing okay lately, right?"

"She hasn't had any issues; she's just cultivating in the mountains," Li Changshou sighed. "After Du Xian Men faced its calamity, I couldn't leave her there to share the hardship, so I moved Little Qiong Peak to the Heavenly Court for safety. It's left her a bit lonely, though."

"Then why don't you spend more time with her?" Jiu Jiu's smile faded as she muttered, "Don't let Ling E down.

She's not like you—you're a high-ranking god of the Heavenly Court, one of the top ones, a great divine being in the Honghuang, admired and watched by the world, with countless identities.

But Ling E has only one: your junior sister.

She started admiring you just a few years after entering the mountain, and all these years, she's stayed devoted to you."

Li Changshou laughed and said, "Don't worry, senior uncle; I won't let Ling E be wronged."

"How come your answer still feels a bit disappointing?"

"Hmm?"

"Never mind, I'm used to it," Jiu Jiu waved her hand dismissively, glancing to the side with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, though it quickly vanished.

Oh well, better not think about other things right now.

Jiu Jiu asked, "Changshou, how are things going with you and Ling E?"

"Well," Li Changshou pondered for a moment, not sure how to reply, "it's fairly stable."

"You two can have a little baby now?" Jiu Jiu asked in surprise.

"That's impossible," Li Changshou replied with a touch of helplessness. "Actually, sometimes I feel a bit conflicted."

"Conflicted?" Jiu Jiu blinked. "You have something you can't resolve? The great Star Monarch!"

"Don't tease me, senior uncle."

Li Changshou laughed, feeling a sudden urge to open up, and after a brief hesitation, he decided it was fine to talk to Jiu Jiu about this.

In all the realms, after journeying this far, he had dao companions scattered across the three worlds.

But true confidants... his senior uncle was even before Bai Mister.

Li Changshou said slowly, "Cultivators must avoid losing sight of their true heart and nature. If you feel lost, bottlenecks will come quickly.

I'm just an ordinary person with emotions and desires, hoping for perfect endings to everything, even though that's unlikely.

My feelings for Ling E go beyond those for a dao companion—she's someone I raised, whose skills I taught. We're like siblings, like master and disciple. Watching her grow every day gives me a strong urge to protect her.

But I'm afraid that if we become dao companions, it might make our relationship regress.

Sometimes I think about letting her make more friends, letting her explore the world once things are stable, so her life isn't so monotonous with just me. But then I worry she might drift away from me.

That subtle fear of losing her unique place in my heart is really something that makes me laugh and cry at the same time."

Jiu Jiu pouted and lectured, "You're just lacking a bit of boldness."

"Boldness?"

"Yeah, boldness. You're not decisive at all."

Jiu Jiu huffed and continued, "You managed to win over someone as powerful as Yunxiao Xianzi, but you keep your distance from your own junior sister, who's completely devoted to you.

I think you're just too proud to let go of your ego. You're worried that all the good you've done for Ling E might seem self-serving, and it'll make you uneasy.

You're just avoiding that unease.

So what if it is? Who cares what others say? Let them talk. You're master and disciple, childhood friends growing up together.

Ling E puts her heart into cultivating, making herself more beautiful and better, all to please you. And here you are, worrying about your own pride. Honestly..."

"Really?"

Li Changshou thought for a moment and reflected, "Senior uncle, you're right, but it feels a bit off somehow.

I have tried to be more forward, but Ling E always..."

"Always what?"

"Ends up running away because she's too shy."

"Just for that?"

Jiu Jiu looked exasperated. "Have her drink some wine! It's that simple! Wine gives courage to the timid. Get Ling E to have a few drinks, and it'll be sorted.

You're the Taibai Jinxing, and that's the best you can come up with?"

Li Changshou had black lines on his forehead, feeling that approach wasn't quite honorable.

"Senior uncle, I still need to think this through carefully."

Jiu Jiu asked puzzled, "Why? What's there to think about?"

"A relationship, especially one between a man and a woman, has different stages," Li Changshou explained. "People often focus on the joy and fulfillment when emotions deepen, calling it happiness.

But few consider how to maintain it once it settles into dullness.

Even mortals, with lives of just a few decades, have to face that.

For immortal beings with endless lifespans, as long as they don't face calamities, will that long period of dullness lead to exhaustion and mutual resentment?"

"This..." Jiu Jiu blinked. "Do you have to think that far ahead?"

Li Changshou smiled and said, "Actually, I've already thought of a way to handle this."

"What is it?"

"I want to send Ling E to Nüwa Palace for a period of cultivation, though I haven't fully committed to it yet. With a saint's protection, she'd be safe. We'd be apart for a while, letting her childhood admiration cool down.

If she still has feelings for me after that, I won't hesitate anymore—we'll become husband and wife and stay together."

Jiu Jiu smiled and said, "That's not a bad idea; it could even enhance her foundation."

"Thank you for your guidance on this, senior uncle," Li Changshou said warmly. "I've arrived at Huoyun Cave on the other side, so I need to attend to things there."

"Go ahead; I can sneak back quietly. Don't worry too much."

Even though Jiu Jiu said that, how could Li Changshou not worry? After all, her cultivation was only at the late Tianxian realm.

Li Changshou kept a third of his focus on that side, using his immortal sense to scan the farthest possible distance.

On the other end, above the great lake where Huoyun Cave's entrance lay,

Li Changshou created a "bubble" with his immortal power, letting the tearful Mei Wenhua fall asleep inside it. He brought Bian Zhuang along and pulled the bubble forward, bowing toward the entrance of Huoyun Cave.

"This junior, Li Changgen, seeks an audience with the esteemed human sages."

The highly tense Bian Zhuang stood rigidly, bowing properly toward the front.

A swirling vortex of flowing light appeared above the lake surface. Li Changshou led Bian Zhuang into it, walking through the long tunnel until they reached another great lake. Ahead, a familiar figure in a bamboo hat approached over the waves.

It was Dayu Dijun.

Li Changshou shifted his attention to the paper daoist on the other side, seeing Jiu Jiu darting through the air, frequently tilting her head back in a silent, furious roar, her speed increasing dramatically.

Wine withdrawal frenzy?

Li Changshou chuckled. With his paper daoist escorting Jiu Jiu back to Lintian Hall, he could also pass on some brewing methods to keep her stocked with wine and sweets.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, master. My dao has been reversed, and I can sense it even through the Heavenly Dao's power."

"Reversed?"

In a remote corner of the Chaos Sea, two divine senses intertwined in conversation.

Kunpeng shook his massive body, his fleshy wings folded at his sides, his form resembling a giant fish.

After thinking for a moment, Kunpeng asked:

"Are you saying someone reversed your dao, turning the heavenly demon into something else, not purifying it directly?"

"Yes, master. There are over a dozen known great daos that can purify me, but none have ever made me feel this afraid.

This time, I completely lost my connection to that child, and she became something I utterly loathe—an existence completely opposite to me."

"Don't be too afraid," Kunpeng said. "There are countless creatures in the Honghuang; it's probably Hongjun researching ways to deal with us.

Hongjun can't escape the Honghuang Heavenly Dao, so he's no longer a real threat.

Which child did you lose?"

"She was the one you sent to the Honghuang, master. You once gave her the name Mei Wenhua."

"Oh?" Kunpeng pondered for a while. "Sense the locations of the remaining three false spirits and tell them not to slack off—make sure they succeed quickly."

"Yes."

The heavenly demon venerable agreed, and the two divine senses disentangled.

Kunpeng opened his terrifying giant eyes, a flicker of killing intent within them.

It seemed relying solely on these heavenly demons wouldn't accomplish anything.

With that, Kunpeng spread his enormous fleshy wings, as if splitting open two worlds, and with a gentle flap, his body plunged into the Chaos.

It was time to wake up, you evaders who dare not face the great calamity.

On the other side, in Huoyun Cave, Li Changshou was discussing the "fishing" plan with Dayu Dijun, Xuanyuan Dijun, and Fuxi Shi in the pavilion on Dayu Dijun's mountain.

"Have you seniors come up with a strategy? It's best to lure Kunpeng near Xuandu City and set up a perfect trap to capture him once and for all, eliminating the threat forever."