Chapter 634: Saints Open a Meeting

"Senior Brother, are you really not going to take a look?"

"You go and see Master off," Li Changshou said with a laugh. "Master might not want us to go, but he won't actually scold you for it."

Inside the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, Li Changshou stood up, his expression returning to normal—his gaze clear and his face composed, showing no sign of any disturbance.

Ling E gently bit her lip, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she just sighed softly and turned to walk forward a couple of steps. A beam of golden light carried her out of the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan.

Suddenly, a faint sigh was heard, and two wisps of immortal light appeared beside Li Changshou.

These two lights chased and intertwined, transforming into the figure of Da De Houtu.

Dressed in a flowing ancient robe, her eyes carried a gentle kindness like that of a mother earth, gazing at Li Changshou.

"Aren't you going to see him off for the final journey?"

Houtu Niangniang asked softly, her hands held in front of her, staring at the young Daoist before her.

"Whether I send him off or not, it's all the same, and it won't change anything."

Li Changshou bowed to Houtu Niangniang and slowly sighed, sitting down by the treasure pool, lost in thought for a moment.

Da De Houtu stood quietly to one side, her form seeming ethereal, as if she existed neither in this place nor in the world, like a living painting.

After a long silence, Li Changshou suddenly asked:

"When will the remaining will of Pangu God stir?"

Houtu seemed surprised by the sudden question, a flash of astonishment in her eyes: "Why ask about this now?"

Li Changshou withdrew his gaze, with a slight smile, and said calmly:

"It just occurred to me. With Master's departure, the Fengshen Great Calamity should fully begin. I'm afraid that at a critical moment in the calamity, I might get distracted."

Houtu fell silent for a long time before saying: "Do you know something about this?"

"A little, but not much."

Li Changshou spoke slowly: "From what I understand of the Heavenly Way, it originally stems from the last will of Pangu God, resonating with the Great Dao to give birth to entities that maintain the stability of heaven and earth.

But there are a few points I don't quite understand. Could Niangniang explain them for me?"

"Mm," Houtu Niangniang said, slowly stepping closer and smoothing her skirt as she sat down a short distance away.

At that moment, her demeanor was somewhat contradictory—like an innocent girl unfamiliar with the world, yet also like a wise sage who had seen all the vicissitudes of life.

She said: "If I can tell you, I will, after all... it was you who awakened me from my slumber. I owe you a karma, a great favor."

Li Changshou didn't hold back and said directly: "The Liu Dao Lunhui Pan is part of the Heavenly Way, so this place should be under its scrutiny, right?"

"It can be, or it can't be."

Houtu Niangniang said gently: "The Liu Dao Lunhui Pan is formed from my Dao body, so the Heavenly Way can't erode my will.

But I must adhere to the Heavenly Way's constraints on reincarnation, so that the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan can connect to the three thousand worlds and the various parts of the Honghuang through the Heavenly Way."

As she spoke, Houtu lightly pointed her finger, and Li Changshou heard her soft voice in his heart:

"Speaking here, the Heavenly Way can't detect it."

Li Changshou sighed slightly in his heart.

Houtu asked in his heart: "Are you resenting the Heavenly Way? Or perhaps harboring hatred toward it?"

"No resentment," Li Changshou replied. "The Heavenly Way isn't a living being, after all. Hatred needs a specific target, and in the end, this is just the way of creation playing tricks on people."

"Actually, you could treat the Heavenly Way as a living being."

A hint of hesitation flashed in Houtu Niangniang's eyes, and she smiled lightly: "Your Dao happens to complement what the Heavenly Way lacks, which is probably why the Teacher and Ta Qing Shixiong value you so highly.

I can't ask you to make any sacrifices or contributions.

But if possible, between living beings and the Heavenly Way, between freedom and restraint, that path of balance is needed."

Li Changshou said with a smile: "Niangniang mentioned freedom... Does absolute freedom exist in the Honghuang?"

Houtu Niangniang said softly: "That depends on how you comprehend it.

The Teacher can be called free, but he can't detach himself from the Honghuang or separate from the Heavenly Way; instead, he's bound to the heavens and earth. For beings as ancient and pinnacle as the Teacher, being confined to the world and unable to roam the Chaos Sea is a torment.

Ta Qing Shixiong can also be called free; he could leave the Honghuang at any time and abandon his saint position. But influenced by Pangu God, he upholds the ideal of protecting the heavens and earth and has accepted the control of the Hongmong Purple Qi."

"Control?"

"That was a poor choice of words on my part," Houtu Niangniang said, a slight smile at the corners of her mouth.

Clearly, she had used it deliberately.

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said with a smile: "Niangniang is the one who's truly free. The Heavenly Way can't influence you, saints respect you, and in this small realm, you're unbound."

"Free?"

Houtu Niangniang looked around, gently hugging her elbows and leaning forward slightly, saying softly: "Actually, it can get a bit boring."

Li Changshou smiled but didn't say more.

He had already gotten the information he wanted—those few key words.

Erosion, control, treat as a living being.

Suddenly, the small realm within the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan began to tremble, and the immortal lights everywhere swayed.

Li Changshou was about to stand up, but Houtu Niangniang gestured for him not to worry. She waved her hand through the immortal clouds, opening a cloud mirror that revealed a vibrant, colorful passage.

The figure of Qi Yuan Laodao flew through this passage. His appearance gradually faded—from an old Daoist to a middle-aged one, then a youth, a boy, and finally into the form of a fetal spirit, which turned into a tiny green bean-sized light point and entered the colorful vortex at the end of the passage.

The scene shifted to Fengdu City's Wheel of Reincarnation Immortal Island, where thunder and lightning raged. A beam of light pierced through the layers of black fog above the Youming Realm and vanished into the void.

Above the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, flying bear omens appeared, with streaks of purple divine thunder transforming into roaring azure dragons and white tigers.

In the Nan Zanbu Continent, thunder echoed across clear skies, and in a great city of the nobility, fierce winds howled…

Rain, wind, thunder, and lightning all roared together, startling beasts and insects alike.

The cry of a newborn baby echoed through the Youming Realm, and all the omens vanished. Ghosts throughout the Youming Realm gazed at the place of reincarnation, their eyes ignited with longing.

In the Heavenly Court, the golden pillars in front of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall flickered with light and began to spin rapidly, but no names appeared.

Yu Di looked up at the hall’s ceiling and chuckled softly, closing his eyes in meditation, busy with his incarnations causing mischief.

A moment later, a thunderclap resounded from the nine heavens;

The great calamity sword that Li Changshou had seen with his qi observation technique, floating above the Honghuang world, slowly sank downward, its tip nearly touching the lands of the Shang Kingdom.

Living beings grew restless, and cultivators felt uneasy.

In the Taiqing Temple, the emaciated old man slightly opened his eyes and sighed gently.

In the Three Pure Ones’ small courtyard behind the Yuxu Palace, Nanji Xianweng whispered an acknowledgment and turned to find Bai He Tonger.

The Daoist under the tree kept calculating with his fingers, his brows furrowing slightly as the smile on his lips gradually faded.

"Nan Continent…"

On the white jade steps of the Biyou Palace, the young Daoist reclining there chuckled lightly, a hint of indifference in his eyes, and turned his gaze back to the "little bell" beside him.

Similarly, Tongtian Jiaozhu began to calculate with his fingers, his brows furrowing as he muttered:

"The secular world? The dynastic changes of the human race? Corresponding to the Three Teachings Fengshen Great Calamity?

Using the subjects of the human emperor to fill the vacancies for the Heavenly Court’s orthodox gods?

This… is quite interesting."

In Ling Shan, in a secret realm,

Two old Daoists each opened their eyes. One said, "Senior Brother," and the other replied, "No need," and then they both fell silent, closing their eyes.

Inside the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan,

Li Changshou stood up, as if letting go of a burden, feeling much lighter.

He wasn't one to dwell on things; what needed to be released, he let go.

His Dao balanced the relationship between the Heavenly Way and living beings, seeking a path for them to survive in the world while minimizing impact on the heavens and earth themselves.

In return, the Heavenly Way had balanced the great calamity with his master.

The logic was simple—

On the Jie Jiao side, there was Yunxiao, and after his master's reincarnation, he would likely be taken in by the Chan Jiao.

The Heavenly Way had given him a vivid lesson on “balance.” He noted this grudge, and his method to break the situation was already prepared, so he didn't need to dwell on it too much.

This game of strategy had only just begun.

Li Changshou turned and bowed to Houtu Niangniang, about to bid farewell.

Houtu Niangniang said: "Changgeng, could you perhaps report something to Yu Di or the Teacher?"

"Niangniang, please instruct."

"The final calamity shown by the Heavenly Way seems to be manifesting in the Nan Zanbu Continent, in the secular world of the human race."

Houtu Niangniang's brows showed a hint of concern.

"If the Fengshen Great Calamity is only targeting the Dao Gate and the Western Teachings, could you constrain the immortals of the Three Teachings from senselessly killing innocents in the secular world?

The life force lost from millions or tens of millions of mortals dying is far less than that from the fall of a single ancient or primordial great power."

Li Changshou replied: "I'll report this to His Majesty Yu Di shortly. It would be more appropriate for him to seek a decree from the Dao Ancestor in Zixiao Palace."

"Mm," Houtu nodded gently. "Thank you for that."

"Niangniang, why thank me?"

Li Changshou sighed lightly, with a warm smile, and said: "Mortals are innocent due to their ignorance. True freedom is for them to live their lives joyfully and at ease."

Houtu Niangniang smiled without speaking. Li Changshou bowed deeply to her and was gently sent out by a golden light.

'As expected.'

Li Changshou sighed softly.

In the end, Houtu Niangniang had avoided answering his first question.

The last will of Pangu God was indeed related to the Wu Clan.

As for scheming against the Three Teachings, Li Changshou was confident, with an eighty-five percent success rate.

But this matter was truly hard to control, its consequences unpredictable. To play it safe, he'd best eliminate this uncontrolled variable.

What was going on in front of the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan?

Li Changshou stood on the open ground beside the wheel, watching the crowd of ghosts dispersing, and couldn't help tilting his head slightly.

The underworld had pulled off something big?

Ling E stood near the reincarnation vortex, wiping away tears. Not far away, the Ten Kings of Hell were leaving together, and groups of ghost messengers, ghost generals, judges, and underworld marshals were departing.

The ground was scattered with pale blue petals;

At the bridgehead before the reincarnation vortex, Meng Po Xianren was putting away her extra-large sea bowl.

Nearby, Niutou and Maimian were standing with their arms crossed, holding their head masks and scolding the dozen or so kneeling underworld ghost messengers.

Maimian was relatively calm, advising: "In such a rush, we could only find them. Don't scare them."

Niutou, however, gritted his teeth and scolded: "Is this the best you can do? And you have the nerve to say you're from a family of court musicians in the Da Shang Kingdom?"

An elderly, elegantly dressed ghost messenger cried out:

"Marshal! You have to be reasonable!

You only found us half an hour ago, and we couldn't find the bells or chimes in time, so we had to play the clay xun.

We thought the sound of the clay xun is mournful, which would suit a farewell elegy…"

"Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare. Spare me, Marshal."

"This is reincarnation—do you understand? Reincarnation!

When you lost your lives in the mortal world, from death to rebirth, that's when you play elegies.

Here in the Liu Dao Lunhui Pan, it represents new life and hope—you should have played something uplifting!

You've embarrassed us all the way to His Majesty Yu Di's incarnation!"

Niutou stamped his feet in anger. "Didn't I give you gongs and drums? Why didn't you play them? You're always messing with these gloomy things. Where are we, anyway?"

"The Yin Cao Difu…"

"That's right… Hey, how dare you talk back!"

Not far away, Li Changshou had several black lines on his forehead, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Yu Di's incarnation?

He probably knew what had happened outside. Judging from the dispersing crowd of ghosts, Master's farewell ceremony must have been extraordinarily lively.

What a spectacle.

Master was quite vain, so he must have secretly enjoyed it.

Li Changshou's mood inexplicably improved. He clasped his hands behind his back and floated toward Niutou and Maimian, coughing deliberately from a distance, startling them into a flurry as they put on their head masks.

Outside Fengdu City, Yu Di's incarnation concealed his presence and quietly slipped away, feeling a bit guilty.

At the same time,

The bells of Yuxu Palace on Kunlun Mountain rang out, and the traces of Biyou Palace appeared in the skies above Jin'ao Island.

The two saints of Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao summoned their disciples almost simultaneously, even interrupting key cultivation sessions to hurry and pay respects to the saints.

The figure of Yuan Shi Tianzun rarely appeared in the main hall of Yuxu Palace, sitting quietly in the seat of honor.

The Twelve Golden Immortals quickly arrived, and the various Fortunate Golden Immortals kept their heads down, not daring to speak.

In Biyou Palace of Tongtian Jiaozhu, it was soon packed with crowds of disciples. Jie Jiao, known as the assembly of ten thousand immortals, lived up to its name.

In fact, it was quite modest.

Half a day later, Yuxu Palace was filled to capacity, and Biyou Palace was overflowing with immortals.

Such a scene had rarely occurred since ancient times.

In Yuxu Palace, Yuan Shi Tianzun spoke slowly:

"The great calamity is born from heaven and earth, and fortunes manifest in the mortal dust.

As the Heavenly Way operates and the great calamity reveals itself, this Fengshen Great Calamity will unfold in the Nan Zanbu Continent, centered on the gathering and scattering of the human emperor’s destiny.

All my disciples are in the midst of this calamity and must enter it. If your blessings are insufficient, your destiny lacking, or karma entangled, you will respond to the calamity and be listed on the heavenly scroll, bound by the heavenly book.

The Heavenly Way gives birth without error.

You must prepare well to face this calamity."

As soon as Yuan Shi Tianzun finished speaking, the Chan Jiao disciples exchanged glances.

A dignified middle-aged Daoist in a silver robe stood up from his seat and bowed, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals—Wenshu Tianzun.

He asked: "Teacher, is there a way to avoid this calamity?"

"There is a way to avoid it, though not perfectly," Yuan Shi Tianzun said with half-open eyes. "Disciples with deep blessings may take on one or two disciples to have them respond to the calamity in your place, entering the Heavenly Way's sequence as immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court.

The fundamental intent of this great calamity is ultimately to establish the Heavenly Court and manage the three realms."

The Chan Jiao immortals all breathed a sigh of relief.

Having a way to avoid the calamity was quite good.

Another immortal asked: "Teacher, is this great calamity truly being overseen by our Senior Brother from Ren Jiao, Changgeng?"

"The Heavenly Way has shown that Changgeng is acting on its behalf for the Fengshen. Do not make enemies of him."

Yuan Shi Tianzun said calmly: "Whether within or outside the teachings, do not speak ill of Changgeng."

The immortals bowed their heads in agreement, each responding, and another asked if there were any divine arts or techniques for avoiding the calamity. Yuan Shi Tianzun then gave a rare lecture.

This was Chan Jiao's “saint assembly,” which contrasted sharply with the simultaneous gathering in Jie Jiao.

In Biyou Palace, Tongtian Jiaozhu sat diagonally on his throne, his face troubled, his brows furrowed.

The immortals in the hall dared not speak, with the eight great disciples, the seven attending immortals, and the second-generation elites standing on the white jade steps, each feeling uneasy.

Many of Jie Jiao's experts scattered across the three thousand worlds hadn't returned in time.

For example, Lü Yue, who was recuperating in a secret realm at the edge of the world.

"Tsk! Hiss! Ah—"

Tongtian Jiaozhu sighed and frowned: "This great calamity is actually unfolding in the Nan Continent's secular world, centered on the succession of the human emperor's position.

Do any of you have thoughts on this? Speak freely."

The disciples looked at one another, but no one dared to speak.

Duobao Daoist asked: "Master, why not ask Changgeng Senior Brother?"

"No."

Tongtian Jiaozhu said indifferently: "Earlier, a child of great calamity was born, fully triggering the Heavenly Way's calamity. From this moment, we've entered the true killing calamity.

Heavenly intent is like a blade, ready to fall at any time, but everything can be traced. The outcome is still unknown at this point.

Changgeng is a key minister of the Heavenly Court overseeing the calamity, so we mustn't seek him out later."

Jin Ling Shengmu asked: "Master, why not directly wage war against the Western Teachings to resolve some of the calamity's karma?"

"Do not act recklessly," Tongtian Jiaozhu sighed. "Jie Jiao has no treasure to suppress our teaching's destiny. Right now, every idea you have could be the result of Heavenly Way’s interference."

Jin Ling Shengmu frowned and fell silent, pondering on her own.

Zhao Gongming asked: "Then, Master, is there a way to avoid the calamity?"

"For now, the best is to stay still," Tongtian Jiaozhu said. "After thinking it through, the only way to avoid the calamity is to guard.

From today, all of you return to your caves and Dao fields to cultivate. Do not act rashly or wander aimlessly.

Whether we can withstand this great calamity depends on whether we can endure.

As for the treasure to suppress our teaching's destiny, I'll continue to find a way. Remember, do not move carelessly."

The disciples bowed in response.

Tongtian Jiaozhu waved his hand: "The eight disciples stay; discuss some arrangements for the great calamity with me. This calamity requires Chan Jiao, Jie Jiao, and the Western Teachings to send people to the Heavenly Court as immortals and gods. It wouldn't be right for us not to send anyone."

The immortals bowed and took their leave, each with heavy hearts.

Soon, Biyou Palace was enveloped in the saint's Dao rhymes as Tongtian Jiaozhu and his eight disciples deliberated for a long time, deciding to first send a few disciples to the Nan Continent to “test the waters.”

Not long after, Wen Zhong and Huo Ling Shengmu were summoned back and entrusted with important tasks by Tongtian Jiaozhu.

This was precisely:

The flying bear descends, the great calamity stirs; Chan immortals take disciples, Jie seals itself.