Chapter 396: Heavenly Overcoming

Pink smoke filled the air, and the grand hall seemed to be undergoing a transformation. Outside, the enormous Houtu statue suddenly transformed into a colossal tree, standing tall in the boundless sand sea.

The trunk of the giant tree was quite peculiar, resembling a woman kneeling in the sand with her hands crossed over her chest. The tree's crown was an extension of her long hair.

But at this moment, Li Changshou, Grandmaster Xuan Du, and the two Yama Kings inside the hall could no longer focus on these changes.

This was because the moment the pink smoke appeared, wisps of mysterious Dao Rhythm enveloped them, directly bypassing the physical bodies of the two humans and two Witches and violently impacting their primordial spirits.

Grandmaster Xuan Du's deep frown wasn't because he sensed any danger.

It was mainly because, despite easily fending off this primordial spirit impact, he was still affected by this Dao Rhythm.

A profound emptiness seemed to emerge in his Dao Heart, and a sense of 'desire' spread throughout his body, eroding the Grandmaster's primordial spirit.

Suddenly...

"Ah!"

King Chu Jiang threw his head back and roared. A long sword appeared in his hand, and surging blood energy pulsed throughout his body. He turned and charged directly out of the hall.

"Witches! We are inherently masters of the earth! Who can stop me!

Damn it! I'll kill all you detestable demons!

I'll roast you all! Wah-ah-ah-ah!"

Amidst his shouts, this Yama King galloped towards the distant dunes, his hair and beard bristling, radiating immense power!

*He's that brave?*

Li Changshou and the Grandmaster silently voiced the same admiration, with a knowing understanding.

Then, King Qin Guang suddenly turned his head and roared, "I! I must awaken my bloodline! I want to become an Ancestor-like being, to transform into Pangu God!

Hahahahaha!

Pangu God, I'm coming for you! I will become the second Strength Saint in heaven and earth!"

*They're really so brave.*

Li Changshou and the Grandmaster simultaneously admired their bravery; now that the Avatar of Desire had made its move, they were no longer flustered.

Come to think of it, given the primordial spirit power of the Witch race...

For the two Yama Kings to still be able to hold on for a few instants under such an attack of Seven Emotions resonance was already quite remarkable.

Li Changshou's lips curled slightly. He felt that these two Yama Kings weren't here to help, but purely to set the mood and create some atmosphere.

However, the 'Avatar of Desire,' which had broken free from Houtu's suppression, didn't seem to have a very strong offensive. Any Golden Immortal with a sufficiently firm Dao Heart could resist it for a while.

Not to mention, beside him was the first disciple of the Human Sect, the eldest senior brother of Daoism, Grandmaster Xuan Du, whose Dao realm was unfathomable...

"Ha, ha—"

The Grandmaster covered his mouth and nose, letting out a deep yawn. His sole desire was stirred by this Dao Rhythm, and his eyelids began to tremble constantly.

"Um... Chang Geng."

Li Changshou looked over at the sound, only to see the Grandmaster skillfully recall the Taiji Diagram and casually release the 'Evil Thought' girl.

The Taiji Diagram slowly expanded to a diameter of one zhang. The Grandmaster took a handkerchief from his robe, tied it over his eyes, and swayed before collapsing onto the Taiji Diagram, where the soft Yin-Yang energies became his perfect mattress and pillow.

The Grandmaster weakly called out:

"Chang Geng, I'll leave the rest to you.

Ah, beautiful dreams and peaceful slumber must not be squandered. Hmph—"

Li Changshou: ...

The 'Evil Thought' girl: ...

Don't sleep!

Get up and fight, Senior Brother!

Is your only desire sleep? Don't you have any other pursuits?

Even those two goofy leaders outside, who are furiously blasting the sandy ground, would be better!

Don't we have any expectations for becoming a Saint?!

The Demon Emperor and Old Ancestor Styx, indirectly buried by your hand, would truly die with open eyes!

In Li Changshou's heart, Lord Pagoda was already laughing uncontrollably.

Just then.

"Heh~"

A charming voice echoed in Li Changshou's mind, and most of the surrounding smoke gathered towards him.

Within this smoke, a faint, graceful figure slowly appeared, gently circling Li Changshou and constantly whispering something in his ear.

This woman was much more mature than Xiao Ai. She wore only a light purple silk robe, her figure, vaguely discernible, was so alluring, and her slightly curled long hair exuded a wonderful sense of languor.

The Evil Thought girl, now free from the Yin-Yang energy's restraint, was squinting and smiling. A small dagger appeared in her hand as she approached with a skip and a hop, her light footsteps like drumbeats.

"Is it my turn now? Disciple of Grand Pure."

The figure in the smoke gradually drifted away, appearing on the throne inside the hall. Her slender, smooth legs were crossed, her water-silk-like skirt draped to the side, and a charming smile graced her lips.

"He's still resisting the intrusion of his own desires. Be careful he doesn't counter you."

The Evil Thought girl immediately jumped away upon hearing this, frowning as she stared at Li Changshou's face. She spoke coldly:

"You can't even handle him?"

"His situation is a bit special, but rest assured," the Avatar of Desire chuckled, "what kind of living being has no desires?

He's just exceptionally resilient in mind."

The little evil girl nodded, waiting quietly nearby, idly scratching her chin with a small finger, seemingly contemplating how to torment these two new toys.

The Avatar of Desire leaned forward and lightly blew a breath towards Li Changshou. Layers of Dao Rhythm rippled out like waves, repeatedly washing over him.

For a moment, thoughts arose in Li Changshou's mind as the seductive and alluring female voice, imbued with a certain Dao Rhythm, like a demonic melody, ceaselessly whispered in his ear:

"Do you want power? A mere third-rank Heavenly God.

Just a slight nod from you, and the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk will be at your command. Countless beings will pledge allegiance to you; you will be the Heavenly Emperor of the Three Realms..."

*Heavenly Emperor?*

*What's good about being the Heavenly Emperor? He's currently an ordinary influential minister in the Heavenly Court. In terms of combined influence from Daoism and the Heavenly Court, he's not much worse than the Heavenly Emperor.*

*Constantly monitored by the Heavenly Dao, with virtually no personal freedom, he has to create avatars to mess around everywhere, completely losing the right to choose. Even if he wants to go down to the mortal realm and have some fun, the Queen Mother will watch him like a hawk.*

Li Changshou muttered, "Change it."

The woman on the throne squinted and chuckled. The Evil Thought girl first froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, clutching her belly.

"Quite interesting."

The wide robe of the Avatar of Desire shimmered slightly, and a purple beam of light shot out, directly pointing towards Li Changshou's figure.

The Profound Yellow Pagoda flew out on its own, hovering above Li Changshou's head; however, this beam of light ignored the pagoda's obstruction and shone directly upon Li Changshou's primordial spirit.

"You... you really want merit, don't you?"

*Merit?*

Li Changshou murmured, "Actually, merit is just for self-preservation."

"Do you want to be invincible in the Three Realms?"

"True invincibility means others do not know my name, my Dao, or my existence, while I stand beyond all beings.

Invincibility in Dao realm and cultivation is, in the end, merely an illusion. The stronger you become, the more beings close to you will perceive you as a threat.

Fellow Daoist..."

Li Changshou opened his eyes, which held a hint of helplessness, as he gazed at the Avatar of Desire on the throne. "You are attached to appearances," he said.

"Is that so?"

The Avatar of Desire squinted and chuckled. Her face, which bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Xiao Ai and the Evil Thought girl, was still as alluring as ever.

Without any warning, her figure suddenly dispersed. Wisps of colorful light rushed towards Li Changshou, instantly disappearing into his chest.

Li Changshou immediately closed his eyes. It wasn't that he hadn't thought of escaping earlier, but he quickly determined that he couldn't escape the Avatar of Desire's assault.

This was neither a divine ability nor a spell.

The light and shadows he saw were meaningless, and those flowing lights were like nothingness. His opponent was directly affecting his mind.

Outside the hall, the two Yama Kings were scurrying around beneath the 'peculiar' colossal tree, their punches and kicks creating cracks in the ground.

They stirred up dust and sand everywhere, seemingly transported back to ancient times, battling demon kings.

Inside the hall, the Grandmaster, wearing an eye mask, was sound asleep on the Taiji Diagram.

Not far from him, Li Changshou sat cross-legged, again closing his eyes and concentrating, occasionally frowning or humming softly, as if undergoing a trial of his mind.

The Avatar of Desire continuously assaulted his primordial spirit, probing his innermost thoughts, trying to unearth his deepest desires.

Li Changshou fully resisted the inflation of his own mindset, reminding himself to be humble and modest, and that reckless adventuring would surely lead to death.

The desires of the Seven Emotions don't solely refer to lust; they can be understood as 'longing' or 'craving'.

A moment later, wisps of purple smoke overflowed around Li Changshou, transforming into a slender woman who was precisely the Avatar of Desire.

Her expression was quite unpleasant, having lost her previous composure. She looked at Li Changshou and instinctively recoiled half a step.

The little evil girl skipped over and asked curiously, "Is this human truly without desires?"

"No, he has them," Sister Desire said in a deep voice. "I saw a massive desire in his primordial spirit, an extreme longing and pursuit of his, but this desire, I cannot stir."

"Why not?"

"If I stir this desire, he will gain the power to defeat me."

"Huh?" The little evil girl's forehead was filled with question marks. "What do you mean?"

"His desire is... a kind of... very hard to describe..."

"What is it, exactly? Can you just say it clearly?"

The Avatar of Desire raised a hand to her forehead and whispered, "It's stability, the stability of seeking security. What he desires most is precisely stability!"

The little evil girl paused, stunned, then her cheeks puffed out, and a cascade of 'hahs' burst from her mouth as she laughed until she was rolling on the ground.

Li Changshou covertly observed this scene, carefully analyzing it in his mind.

When he had previously tricked this little evil girl, he had intentionally misstated by calling Houtu's Seven Emotions Avatars 'seven extreme' emotions.

But in reality, these were seven complete personalities, each with a particular focus.

For instance, the little evil girl currently exhibited emotions of happiness, excitement, and amusement, while the Avatar of Desire was currently feeling conflicted and frustrated.

How could he meet Lady Houtu through them?

Did he have to subdue both avatars?

If he truly engaged in battle here and the little evil girl unleashed her full power, he feared he would be no match.

After careful consideration and weighing his options, Li Changshou quickly formed a plan in his mind. He opened his eyes again and leisurely observed the two Seven Emotions Avatars before him, who, despite originating from the same being, bore little resemblance to each other.

The little evil girl gritted her teeth and cursed, "What are you looking at! Stare any longer and I'll carve a turtle on your face!"

"Ladies, I wish to see Lady Houtu."

"Hehehe," the Avatar of Desire slowly lay down on her side in front of Li Changshou, biting her lip slightly. "Aren't we the Lady Houtu you're looking for?"

The little evil girl scoffed disdainfully, "If we let you see the main body that only bullies me! Wouldn't you find a way to eliminate us?

Hmph! Wishful thinking!"

"So, shall we simply endure like this?"

Li Changshou chuckled, "I have treasures protecting me, and neither of you can harm me. It would be better if you let me see Lady Houtu; my senior brother and I will then leave on our own.

You two are actually Lady Houtu as well; it's just that each of you has embraced an extreme of the Seven Emotions.

Furthermore, this isn't about killing or eliminating; you are inherently one entity. What I wish to see is merely Lady Houtu in a normal emotional state."

"No, you're wrong," the Avatar of Desire said with a squinting smile.

Li Changshou's smile slowly faded, and he said seriously, "Where am I wrong?"

"I can't harm you?"

The Avatar of Desire slowly floated upwards, as if swimming underwater.

She raised a hand and gently pointed at the little evil girl, then transformed into swirls of pink smoke, enveloping and seeping into Li Changshou's body, leaving only one sentence behind:

"Today, I shall bestow desire upon you, to be your desire. How will you resist?"

*Bestow inner desire? Is that even possible?*

Li Changshou's mind tensed, and he quickly called out to his Senior Brother inwardly, but then, an array of indescribable images suddenly appeared before him.

Waves of heat emanated from around Li Changshou, transforming into surges of hot air that swept through the entire hall.

Li Changshou's face, from his cheeks to his earlobes, turned crimson, and veins bulged on his neck...

Just then, Li Changshou heard a shout.

"Desire, what have you done to me!"

The little evil girl cursed loudly, her face flushed, "Do you believe I'll destroy you! I am also the Great Virtue Houtu! How dare you make me do something like this!

Do I, do I have no dignity?!"

As she spoke, the little evil girl bit her lip hard, her eyes slightly wavering. She uncontrollably took half a step towards Li Changshou, her breath already somewhat heated.

Though she was trying her utmost to endure, she was indeed on the verge of mental collapse.

In Li Changshou's mind, the Avatar of Desire let out a proud, charming laugh as an array of indescribable images flooded his mental platform, and his primordial spirit began to be affected by this inner desire.

Even so, Li Changshou, who held Great Virtue Houtu in immense respect and wished not to offend her in any way, still couldn't help but think...

*Is that all?*

Lord Pagoda emitted a brilliant light as profound yellow energy cascaded down, pushing the little evil girl away first.

Li Changshou held his breath, calmly took out a scroll from his robe, and slowly unrolled it...

Look, the painting skill is incredibly exquisite, the figures are lifelike, and the characters in this 'Picture of One Hundred Beauties in Old Age' almost seem to leap out of the painting...

Li Changshou seemed to hear a clear bell chime, instantly regaining peace as the images in his mind were completely torn apart.

"Hmph!"

The Avatar of Desire let out a cold snort, and that inner desire surged forth like a tide once more.

Li Changshou slowly exhaled and replaced the scroll in his robe with another. This time with even greater force, it was precisely the 'Picture of One Hundred Beauties as Old Mecha Steel Golems'...

*Om—*

Li Changshou's Dao Heart instantly became incredibly firm, and a golden halo appeared behind his head.

The Avatar of Desire shrieked in his mind, as if severely wounded.

She gritted her teeth and cursed furiously, unleashing her full power!

But...

Life is about learning to, at all times, enjoy the scenery along the way.

In leisure, we sit on the cold floor, with the Profound Yellow Pagoda, renowned for being impervious to all laws, above our heads, taking out a brand new scroll in our hands and slowly unrolling it nearby.

Ah, the story of 'Steel Mecha One Hundred Beauties in Old Age Battling Toothless Old Zombies' truly is...

"Ugh!"

Li Changshou turned his head and gagged. His entire being erupted with streaks of golden light!

This was the radiance of Pure Yang!

Within this golden light, a graceful figure stumbled out, filled with disbelief and letting out a sharp shriek.

Li Changshou sharply raised his head, his body lunging forward, his right hand forming a sword-finger gesture, and his fingertip already touching the brow of the yet-to-solidify graceful figure!

*Found it!*

The Avatar of Desire's shriek came to an abrupt halt.

Li Changshou was like one who had pushed open a door, his primordial spirit rushing into a brilliant starry sky...

Just then, in a corner of the hall, the little evil girl, enveloped and pushed away by the profound yellow energy, was sitting on the ground.

She lowered her head, her light pink hair slowly falling. A small hand gripped the longevity lock around her neck, and her face, covered in fine sweat, radiated intense hatred.

"Bastard!

Am I truly so unattractive? I am also Great Virtue Houtu!"

*Crack...*

The longevity lock instantly snapped, and streaks of black energy condensed out of thin air within the hall, surging wildly towards her!