Chapter 585: Taming the Flying Knife, Unveiling the War Curtain

Standing by the pavilion's railing, gazing back through the misty rain and swirling sleeves.

Li Changshou asked Ling Zhuzi to invite Heng'e, and she agreed without hesitation. If not for giving him some time to prepare, she could have come that very day to meet him.

The oath that she could not leave Tai Yin Star had already been broken when Yu Di summoned her last time.

In other words, Heng'e now only needed a legitimate reason to leave Guang Han Palace and go out whenever she wished.

Meeting Heng'e alone, however... that wouldn't be appropriate.

Li Changshou arranged a lavish banquet at Tai Bai Palace and specially invited Long Ji to join as a companion. He also brought in a musician with a rather unique status—Ling E.

One could say his survival instincts were quite strong.

Beside the round banquet table, two screens were placed, and behind them, Bai Ze hid within a concealment array, "toying" with the remnants of that gourd-like object. It was mostly disassembled, leaving only the hollow base.

Tiny "parts" floated around like an asteroid belt, and the Zhan Xian Fei Dao, representing the pinnacle of Yao Ting's living creature refinement techniques, held no secrets for Bai Ze anymore.

Mr. Bai had a clever idea and slipped in the two small squares left over from the last assembly into the pile of parts.

Nothing happened, nothing happened.

The natural rules of Hong Huang differed greatly from those of Li Changshou's old home, Blue Star. Here, it was still a round heaven and square earth, with the Heavenly Dao projecting the sky over various worlds, while only the five continents of Hong Huang were the genuine article.

The warmth of Tai Yang Star gradually faded, and a bright moon hung high, casting a pristine path before Tai Bai Palace, as if sliding down from Tai Yin Star.

The fairy of the moon arrived on clouds, wearing that intricately structured immortal skirt that artfully revealed her shoulders and legs, radiating a soft, ethereal glow. It left many heavenly soldiers and generals entranced at a glance and dizzy after a second look.

Fortunately, Bian Zhuang was back home; otherwise, he might have fainted from excessive nosebleeds today.

Neither Yutu nor Ling Zhuzi were suitable to appear at this time; they stayed in Guang Han Palace, sipping tea and nibbling snacks, with Yutu listening to Ling Zhuzi's complaints about his frustrations.

It was mostly about how Jin Peng, Ao Yi, and Bian Zhuang all had missions, while he was stuck running errands.

And only short-distance ones at that.

Heng'e gracefully landed in front of Tai Bai Hall, and Li Changshou, with Long Ji, went out to welcome her.

Maintaining his air of an elderly immortal, Li Changshou bowed with a dao salute and smiled."Star Sovereign, I hope you've been well."

"My lord, please don't be so formal," Heng'e replied with a smile, returning the dao salute while covering her chest with her hand.

Heng'e got straight to the point: "My lord, summoning me this time is probably not just for a simple drink, is it?"

"Ah, Star Sovereign, what are you saying?"

Li Changshou said seriously, "You hold a key position on Tai Yin Star and are one of Heaven Court's top experts. Inviting you for a meal to build some rapport is quite necessary.Star Sovereign, please come in. It's just simple fare, but I offer it with respect."

Heng'e nodded with a smile and stepped into the hall.

Li Changshou activated the hall's restrictions, isolating it from the outside.

Just then, a mournful tune drifted from the corner, slow and filled with endless sorrow, as if a woman were weeping, complaining, and pouring out her grievances.

"Ahem!"

Li Changshou cleared his throat and scolded with his hands behind his back:"What's this with the music? Switch to something cheerful!Haven't I been busy for centuries? Can't I enjoy myself a bit and discuss Heaven Court matters with Star Sovereign?"

In the corner, Ling E couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she didn't undermine her senior brother. She responded softly:"Yes, this humble immortal played the wrong tune. Star Sovereign, please don't be angry. If it's not right, shall I ask my sister to play instead?"

Li Changshou: ..."It's fine as long as you correct it. No need to make a big fuss."

Ling E wouldn't embarrass her senior brother. Soon, the music changed to the tinkling of mountain springs, with a calming effect that cleared the mind and purified thoughts.

If not for the strict rules of Yao Chi, Long Ji, as Wangmu's favorite child who was constantly scolded, would have definitely burst out laughing.

Fortunately, Long Ji held it in. Not only that, she took the initiative to explain to the puzzled Heng'e:"To entertain Star Sovereign, my master has brought out his most treasured possessions."

Heng'e immediately understood and bowed in respect to the unseen musician in the corner before continuing her conversation with Li Changshou.

She had heard some rumors about what went on in Tai Bai Palace.

Hmph, it wasn't because she was bored and used Cloud Mirror Arts to spy on the heavens, earth, and mortals!

As the banquet began, Li Changshou showcased his exceptional verbal skills, and the conversation with Heng'e flowed pleasantly.

But with the intense war preparations underway, Li Changshou didn't want to waste time on the Zhan Xian Fei Dao matter. Quickly, he steered the topic to ancient events.

"Earlier, when I chatted with you, Star Sovereign, I seemed to hear that you and the ancient Wu Clan great shaman Yi had no real marital affection or relations—it was just a political alliance in name."

Heng'e hadn't expected Li Changshou to be so direct, and her face flushed slightly. She said softly:"I wouldn't lie about that, but this matter concerns the honor of the human and Wu races, so please don't reveal it to outsiders, my lord."

"Rest assured, Star Sovereign," Li Changshou said seriously. "I invited you today because I need your help.I've recently located that great shaman Yi."

With that, Li Changshou observed Heng'e's expression closely.

Her gaze didn't fluctuate much; the first emotion she showed was mild relief and joy, but not deeply so.

This subtle level was hard to fake.

Li Changshou could basically confirm that this relief and joy came from a sense of shared fate among beings of the same era.

Heng'e said gently: "So Yi wasn't harmed by Yao Ting? That's fortunate."

"It's not exactly fortunate—it's more like a fate worse than death," Li Changshou sighed. "I'm just baffled by how many heinous acts Yao Ting committed back then.That demon teacher Kun Peng was already extremely wicked, but Yao Ting as a whole was even worse."

Heng'e sighed: "Without experiencing the darkest times of antiquity, one can't understand how tough it is for the human race today.The Wu Clan took joy in hunting all spirits, though they were brutal, they acted openly and fairly, targeting only the strong.The demon race, formed by the union of all spirits and blessed by the Heavenly Dao, stood against the Wu Clan. But they didn't govern internally or restrain themselves; instead, they used the Wu Clan's ferocity as their standard, preying specifically on the weak.Yao Ting's most prosperous era was also the most miserable time for Hong Huang's spirits.Within the demon race, stronger tribes oppressed the weaker ones, and now the Qing Qiu Clan was once just a plaything for those powerful tribes.Such a system thrived on exploiting other spirits, with no thought of self-strengthening or progress, only lowering their own standards further. In the end, they were doomed to face calamity.No matter how brilliant the demon emperor was or how noble the demon queen's character, they couldn't stabilize a Yao Ting built on decay.Kun Peng was just a microcosm of it all."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile and brought the topic back: "That great shaman Yi has suffered greatly; his mind is gone, with only his essence soul refined into a treasure.Star Sovereign, would you like to see him?"

Heng'e smiled: "We're old acquaintances. If you think it's necessary, my lord, just arrange it."

Long Ji, standing nearby, secretly admired her.

This fairy of Guang Han Palace was no simple figure.

Li Changshou clapped his hands, and from behind the screen, Bai Ze floated over, holding that "hollow" object.

On it was an altar where the great shaman Yi's essence soul was bound to a copper pillar. The upper part, which released sword energy like an immortal hall, had been temporarily removed, revealing only a hint of the Zhan Xian Fei Dao's secrets.

Bai Ze's disassembly skills had become increasingly masterful.

"This..."

Heng'e frowned and stood up, walking to Li Changshou's side. She looked down at the pitiful state of the great shaman Yi's essence soul and softly called:"Great shaman, great shaman?"

The essence soul suddenly opened its eyes, filled with frenzy and rage. It threw its head back in a silent roar, as if trying to burn itself up.

Li Changshou raised his hand and pointed, instantly sealing the essence soul with yin-yang energy amid that silent scream.

Heng'e asked hurriedly: "What was he saying?"

"It's meaningless, just expressing anger," Li Changshou sighed. "He's been mad for a long time and can't communicate.Star Sovereign, do you have any way to awaken his essence soul?If we can't restore Yi's sanity, this treasure will have to be destroyed along with his essence soul—keeping it would just be a risk, not worth it."

"Ah," Heng'e thought for a moment and said, "I'm not that close to him, but I know the great shaman loved his first wife's Wu Clan ritual dance the most.Let me try that and see if it can bring back his senses."

Li Changshou bowed his hands: "Thank you for your trouble, Star Sovereign."

"It's just doing something for an old friend."

Heng'e said softly, then walked aside and hesitated for a while before sending a voice transmission to the musician in the corner for advice.

Ling E was an expert in music, the top background musician of Xiao Qiong Peak, skilled in a hundred techniques. She quickly produced a small drum and began beating it rhythmically.

Then, Li Changshou, Bai Ze, Long Ji, and the deranged great shaman Yi's essence soul witnessed...

A rather awkward ritual dance.

Who could imagine that the dignified and beautiful Heng'e, in her multilayered immortal skirt, would suddenly spread her arms, bow her head, arch her back, and dance barefoot while muttering incantations?

The scene was almost painful to watch, leaving everyone with dark lines on their faces.

Heng'e had a stubborn streak, but the harder she tried, the more... pitiful it seemed.

The great shaman Yi's essence soul showed no reaction, continuing its silent roar.

A moment later...

"Please, don't mention what happened today to anyone."

Heng'e said with a smile, her narrowed eyes flashing with sharp light, and the short sword in her hand gleaming coldly, making the less powerful Long Ji and Ling E shiver involuntarily.

"Star Sovereign, rest assured, rest assured."

Li Changshou assured her repeatedly. Then, he thought of something and asked: "What if we ask the Wu Clan to step in and have someone play Yi's wife to perform this dance..."

Heng'e sighed: "Where would we find Wu Clan members on such short notice?"

"No problem, we have one in the back courtyard," Li Changshou waved his hand. Long Ji got up and hurried off, dragging out Xiong Lingli, who had been sleeping and slacking off in the mountains, too lazy to cultivate.

—Even the Sea God had arranged everything for her; what was the point of her cultivating on her own?

Looking at Xiong Lingli with her double ponytails and small arms and legs, Heng'e murmured: "She's too slender; the Wu Clan values robust beauty."

"That's easy to fix!"

Xiong Lingli took a deep breath, lifted her left hand, puffed out her cheeks, and blew on her thumb. In an instant, she expanded to over three meters tall!

Her muscles bulged, transforming into her former "mountain-like" form.

Li Changshou secretly wiped away a bead of sweat, thinking she might turn into a giant and nearly threw out the mustard seed array specially for her.

After a brief instruction, Xiong Lingli took a breath and, in front of the Three Realms' top dancer "Heng'e," performed the ritual dance she had once shown Li Changshou—hopping around beside the banquet.

The Wu Clan was truly extraordinary.

The great shaman Yi's essence soul stopped its frenzy and instead showed a hint of longing.

As the drumbeat grew livelier, Xiong Lingli danced more energetically. The essence soul gradually calmed, chains appearing around it and binding it firmly to the copper pillar.

By the time Xiong Lingli was sweating profusely, the great shaman Yi's expression had turned tender and nostalgic, with crystal tears at the corners of his essence soul's eyes.

A murmur, full of deep affection across countless years, echoed in their hearts...

"Is that you? Iron Hammer..."

Heng'e couldn't help but cover her face with her hand, nearly ready to leave.

A moment later.

"The Wu Clan member Xiong Lingli pays respects to the senior."

Beside the banquet, Xiong Lingli bowed. The great shaman Yi's essence soul, now restored, looked at her with a complex expression, his voice resounding in the hearts of those present.

"Is there no place left for my Wu Clan in the world?"

Li Changshou said: "Great shaman, don't worry. Lady Houtu protects a branch of the Wu Clan in the underworld, and those in the northern part of Bei Ju Lu Continent are still multiplying.Though they no longer thrive as in the past and are under Heavenly Dao's watch, their bloodline hasn't been cut off."

'Heng'e is here, and demon commander Bai Ze is here... Then, who are you?'

The great shaman Yi closed his eyes, but Li Changshou felt as if he were being pierced by a sharp gaze, his dao heart trembling slightly.

Not surprising for an ancient powerhouse who could stand alongside the twelve ancestral witches.

"I'm just a star sovereign in Heaven Court today," Li Changshou said with a smile.

Bai Ze interjected:"But if you have any regard for the Wu Clan, don't be rude to the immortal god before you.Without him, the northern Wu Clan might have been wiped out, and Lady Houtu would have faced troubles..."

"Mr. Bai, no need for more words," Li Changshou gestured, his eyes fixed on the great shaman Yi's essence soul as he said calmly, "I don't need to explain much to you, and it would take too long anyway.Let's keep it simple: I'll state what I want, and you state your demands. If we can agree right away, that's ideal."

'Speak.'

"I want to use the Zhan Xian Fei Dao, and after a thousand years, set you free and give you a chance to reincarnate."

'Fine.'

"Mr. Bai, please reassemble the gourd."

The great shaman Yi's essence soul opened its eyes, frowned at Li Changshou, then shifted his gaze to Heng'e.

Heng'e gave a faint smile and nodded at him.

'You survived, and those human generals didn't trouble you—that's good.'

Heng'e sighed: "Let's not dwell on the past. Even if they troubled me, my father would protect me.Your reincarnation is a good thing. Star Sovereign here is the most interesting being in the world today; his promises won't be false."

'In the end, my Wu Clan lost,' the great shaman Yi sighed, his eyes carrying a trace of distant nostalgia. 'Congratulations.'

"Thank you."

With that, the great shaman Yi closed his eyes and said no more, as Bai Ze carried him behind the screen.

Li Changshou and Heng'e exchanged a glance; she smiled helplessly, perhaps saddened by memories of the past, and raised her wine cup to drink alone.

The Zhan Xian Fei Dao could finally be used.

Gaining another treasure capable of slaying Da Luo and injuring great powers was indeed a cause for joy.

But Li Changshou didn't linger; after seeing Heng'e off and playing around with Ling E for a bit, he dove back into his intense scheming.

Capturing Kun Peng was divided into three phases: building momentum, stabilizing the situation, and making the move.

As soon as news of the Hong Meng Purple Qi emerged, the great powers of Hong Huang would surely erupt into chaos.

But if Daoist experts became active and showed a determined pursuit of the Hong Meng Purple Qi, it could make the various powers hold back to some extent, avoiding premature conflicts that would add variables.

Li Changshou's first step was to make those below Da Luo realm cultivators back off.

Whether in his previous life or in Hong Huang, as long as beings had bold ideas, opportunists would never be lacking.

His solution was simple—decree the heavenly fate.

By spreading the news of the Hong Meng Purple Qi's impending appearance alongside revelations from heavenly secrets that the eighth and ninth wisps belonged to Daoist disciples, most cultivators would be deterred.

If the ninth wisp of Hong Meng Purple Qi truly emerged, it would be a treasure even saints would fight over; whichever great sect obtained it could gain a semi-saint...

Any rational loose cultivator in Hong Huang wouldn't dare join the fray.

As for the side effects of this approach, like deepening conflicts between Daoist cultivators and others or increasing resentment toward the Daoists among the world's spirits, they were all within acceptable limits.

Once they caught Kun Peng, they could publicize the matter and have Heaven Court apologize publicly.

This would earn Heaven Court some reputation while reinforcing the image of Heaven Court as powerful enough to outmaneuver Kun Peng—a plan that killed multiple birds with one stone.

Fifteen years until the planned battle at Xuan Du City.

Discussions about the Hong Meng Purple Qi began appearing in Hong Huang, with many cultivators broaching topics they usually avoided, debating the differences between Heavenly Dao saints and Great Dao saints.

That same year, various omens appeared around Huo Yun Cave, with rare ancient beasts emerging.

According to some self-proclaimed "one hundred and thirty-second generation great-grandsons of one of Emperor Xuan Yuan's pillow attendants," the atmosphere in Huo Yun Cave was serious, with several human sages frequently gathering to discuss major affairs.

The signs of an impending storm were quietly forming.

Ten years to go.

A piece of minor news exploded across Hong Huang's heavens and three thousand worlds.

The Hong Meng Purple Qi that Old Ancestor Hong Yun had wasn't just divided into eight wisps—nine was the ultimate number, so it was divided into nine, and the ninth was about to appear! The omens at Huo Yun Cave were the precursors!

After the leak, Huo Yun Cave immediately sealed off all connections to the outside and closed its entrances.

Large numbers of Emperor Xuan Yuan's generals were deployed around the great marsh, seemingly searching for something.

Hong Huang's heavens saw small-scale turmoil, with messages flying around, true or false, as cultivators perked up their ears and widened their eyes, eager to witness this great event.

Formerly thought-to-be-ascended great powers began showing traces in various places.

The entire Hong Huang was completely stirred up by a single wisp of Hong Meng Purple Qi.

At this time, Li Changshou, through Mei Wen Hua and her three easily assimilated sisters' senses, confirmed that Kun Peng had heard the news.

—Mei Wen Hua sensed that the Heavenly Demon Lord had started accelerating the "division" of heavenly demons.

The curtain was fully raised, and Li Changshou was about to head to Xuan Du City to set up various arrays.

A large hand slowly extended, and though Kun Peng was vast, it couldn't escape this hand's grasp...

But what Li Changshou didn't know was that as he extended this hand, another hand was opening beneath it, encompassing him and the entire world.