Chapter 437: 万、物、均、衡【High-Energy Extra-Long Chapter】

Combat, combat, combat…

The Qiankun Ruler controlled the universe, and Li Changshou’s escape technique was utilized to its utmost. His mind was concentrated and returned to his main body as he fully calculated the safest way to rescue them.

Before the surrounding powerful demon cultivators could arrive, he needed to defeat the scorpion demon and the three-headed demon tiger before him, and rescue his master and Mu Gong!

His master!

Figures crisscrossed. Amidst the oscillations of the Qiankun Ruler, Li Changshou was suddenly startled deep in his heart.

What was happening to him?

His Dao Heart trembled continuously. Li Changshou’s body kept moving, yet he proactively retreated dozens of feet from the side of the demon tiger.

The Qiankun Ruler lightly swayed. His figure continuously flickered, swiftly distancing himself from the scorpion demon, who wore a pure white mask and whose gender was indiscernible.

Li Changshou dived forward. Lightning burst from his palm, and a sky-wide curtain of lightning crashed down on the demon tiger from all directions. The demon tiger’s wings surged with streaks of blood-red light, wrapping itself in blood light to resist the thunder.

Thunder Escape!

Li Changshou escaped into the lightning, holding the Qiankun Ruler, and charged again towards the massive demon tiger.

But deep in his Dao Heart, he was plunged into immense confusion.

How did he get so impulsive?

His master must be saved, but coming to North Continent alone was not the safest or smartest option. Engaging in such intense combat now would only make his master more vulnerable.

If it were his usual self, even if the thought wasn't to ‘divert attention’ or pressure the demon race, he should have sought out a few powerful cultivators to accompany him…

Old Zhao and Fairy Yunxiao were already on the list of those destined to face the Great Tribulation. If he didn't want them to act, then he could have found experts like True Immortal Huanglong, True Immortal Taiyi, or True Immortal Yuding, who originally didn't suffer misfortune in the Great Tribulation…

At worst, it would just mean promising great benefits.

If he invited them to act in his capacity as a Human School Saint’s disciple, how could they refuse?

Why, when the thought of asking for help arose, did he cut off that line of thought because of Old Zhao and Fairy Yunxiao?

Something is wrong…

The rise of the Shang tribe, the sudden descent of the tribulation, his master's sudden departure, and the sudden dismissiveness and complacency that arose in his heart when he tried to stop his master.

At that time, his thought was actually, "It's just going to Heavenly Courts."

Just… that?

What in the world was happening to him?

Escaping within the lightning, the Qiankun Ruler continuously attacked forward. The attacks from the ancient scorpion demon behind him were completely left behind by Li Changshou's escape technique.

During the intense combat, Li Changshou was thinking, reflecting, and searching for the source of his abnormality.

But no matter how much he reflected, he had already, in a moment of impulsiveness, chased them here. He was about to be surrounded by powerful ancient demon cultivators. This was an unchangeable situation.

It seemed he was affected by something.

At this moment, his Dao body and nascent soul were battling powerful demon cultivators, but in the deepest part of his mind, he was gambling with some unknown entity.

Li Changshou's vigilance was raised to its peak!

The slightly dismissive voice of Saint Nuwa seemed to still echo in his heart:

“That person has become an indispensable part of the Heavenly Dao's evolution.”

Heavenly Dao, tribulation, Senior Lang…

Suddenly, Li Changshou thought of Fairy Yunxiao. She was someone he understood relatively well. She was gentle as water, charming and lovely, and filled with reverence for the Saints. Yet, during the Great Tribulation, she still entered the fray and attacked the Saints with her two younger sisters.

All living beings in heaven and earth are within the Heavenly Dao.

The Great Dao has fifty, Heavenly Manifestation forty-nine. The Jie School's doctrine is to seize a sliver of life.

A sliver…

Of life…

During the intense combat, Li Changshou now fully understood!

His eyelid twitching earlier wasn't because he sensed the tribulation—his cultivation realm was far inferior to Bai Ze's; Bai Ze still needed to calculate to sense the tribulation, so how could he sense it in advance?

The twitching eyelid and the faint sense of danger in his heart at that time were because the Heavenly Dao had acted against him!

Or rather, the Heavenly Dao intended to use him for something in the Great Tribulation!

His head ached.

He seemed to be fighting powerful demon cultivators now, but in reality, he was resisting the Great Tribulation. Although this resistance wasn't intense, from this perspective, he inferred…

Mu Gong would likely not be saved.

No, he couldn't conclude that. This thought might still be a result of the tribulation's interference.

Even if the possibility of his master facing this tribulation wave was low, he couldn't ignore it.

It was also possible that the Heavenly Dao had long discovered his intention to save people during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, and was using his master as bait to eliminate him through the hands of the demon race!

His bottom line now was self-preservation and saving his master. Only after securing this bottom line could he think about saving Mu Gong.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to save anyone.

But how to save them?

To resist the Great Tribulation? No, that's wrong. The Great Tribulation is pushed by the Heavenly Dao, which he couldn't resist. Trying to fight it would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

He needed to contend with the force influencing him, to see the bottom line and ‘elastic space’ of the Great Tribulation. He needed to consider the problem from this angle and find a solution.

Fortunately…

He had already made preparations.

When planning for the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, he had already considered such a situation.

He remembered his hundreds of lessons to Ling'e:

“A trump card, so-called, is a means that can turn the tide at a crucial moment.”

And he never lacked such means!

Whoosh—

A piercing whistle exploded next to his ear!

In the interval when Li Changshou released lightning, the silver-white shuttle, a top-tier spiritual treasure, reappeared, striking towards Li Changshou's face.

Li Changshou's body was currently in a supine position. The Xuanhuang Pagoda above his head scattered streaks of colorful light, and Xuanhuang Qi tightly enveloped Li Changshou.

Grandpa Pagoda's leisurely voice resonated in Li Changshou's heart:

“Little disciple, go for it! To awaken in time is enough to be this old master's disciple. This is your final trial before officially becoming my disciple.”

Clearly, Grandpa Pagoda was reminding him and affirming his line of thought.

“Thank you, Grandpa Pagoda!”

Li Changshou took a deep breath, completely ignoring the shuttle attacking from the side, and closed his eyes.

In his mind's world, a pause button was abruptly pressed.

A single moment in the long river of time was infinitely stretched in Li Changshou's mind.

Heavenly Courts Water God Residence, where the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were undergoing tribulation, the Shang tribe, various Sea God Temples, Little Qiong Peak, around the mountain gate, near the Four Seas Dragon Palace, near Fengdu City in the Underworld, at the edge of the Sea of Blood, near the ends of the earth, near the border of North Continent…

Fairy Yunxiao's boudoir, Ling'e's sleeve, Youqin Xuanya's dressing table…

All paper effigies instantly paused their nascent soul energy fluctuations!

Coincidentally, the two Golden Immortal realm paper effigies inside the demon tiger's mouth had a very weak connection to Li Changshou's mind, so they didn't affect Li Changshou's use of this… divine ability?

It wasn't quite a divine ability, but rather a small trick Li Changshou had developed to cope with such a situation of ‘tribulation attacking the mind’.

At his spiritual platform, Li Changshou seemed to fall into a world of tranquility. Figures originating from himself, whether near or far, high or low, appeared in all directions, every corner…

Birth, old age, sickness, death.

Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness.

Innumerable voices overlapped and intertwined, transforming into bursts of chanting that echoed throughout Li Changshou's Dao Heart!

Mind unified.

Nothing but self.

Dao born eternally.

Silent and clear.

A point of water-blue light blossomed from Li Changshou's nascent soul forehead, instantly sweeping across his spiritual platform, making his Dao Heart incredibly tranquil and at peace.

Trump Card: Clear Dao Heart!

He saw it!

Beyond this expanse of water-blue light, Li Changshou saw strands of black Qi, like spider silk, clinging to his Dao Heart and adhering to the Dao rhythm of the Taiji Diagram.

This was the materialization of the Great Tribulation's destiny in his mind.

But at this moment, Li Changshou's heart was completely undisturbed. He calmly opened his eyes. At this moment, he…

Had no emotions.

With the activation of the divine ability, Clear Dao Heart, the world in Li Changshou's eyes suddenly changed. The silver-white shuttle, which had been shooting rapidly, appeared to slow down slightly in his perception.

The powerful demon cultivators, previously detected by his spiritual sense, who were rushing and about to arrive, now appeared as clusters of colored light spots, isolated by the poisonous mist. In one or two more breaths, they would reach this place.

This was the decisive moment!

With Clear Dao Heart operating, Li Changshou's mind deduced seven possibilities, eight methods, and nine plans, from which he extracted the most stable strategy.

The Qiankun Ruler lightly tapped. In front of Li Changshou's face, beyond the barrier of Xuanhuang Qi, a three-foot void appeared in the universe.

Divine Ability: Minor Qiankun Shift.

Using the innate spiritual treasure, the Mighty Qiankun Ruler, Li Changshou's method of shifting objects was incredibly fluid, almost effortlessly smooth!

The silver-white shuttle appeared out of thin air within the demon tiger's expanded blood barrier, right in front of its central large head.

Li Changshou deduced that this shuttle was incredibly swift. The reason its spatial contraction and poison release intervals were so short was likely because these two ‘functions’ had been refined into ‘one’ by the ancient scorpion demon.

Everything in heaven and earth is balanced. Aside from innate supreme treasures, perfection is impossible. This applies to treasures themselves, and to their ‘functions’ as well.

Such refinement, while making the surprise attack seamless, had an absolute weakness—

It couldn't stop the treasure's eruption.

Just like now!

The silver-white shuttle was moved by Li Changshou and the Qiankun Ruler in front of the demon tiger. It erupted in a sky-wide white light, then instantly contracted, releasing a potent poison that could easily paralyze Golden Immortals in a flash of lightning.

This poison should have come from the scorpion demon itself, but that wasn't important.

After performing the Minor Shift, Li Changshou's figure flickered again, moving as far away from the scorpion demon as possible. From his sleeves, two streaks of light shot out, rushing towards the sky.

The paper effigies enveloped in streaks of light all let out a "Ha!", and more streaks of light emerged from the ‘backpacks’ on their backs…

Like festive fireworks, they exploded into the sky!

Clear Dao Heart, mental power maxed out!

Dozens of paper effigies with backpacks transformed into dozens of figures. They then formed teams of three or four, rapidly converging their immortal power, igniting the paper effigies affixed to eight other paper effigies, simultaneously activating eight sets of Earth Fiend Spirit Explosion Arrays!

Did they really think that with the passing mention of ‘Thus, XX years later,’ Li Changshou did nothing?

Thanks to the Holy Mother for the innate ordinary spiritual trees!

These Earth Fiend Spirit Explosion Arrays were merely to obstruct the enemy. Li Changshou's Clear Dao Heart distributed ninety-nine percent of his mental power to control the paper effigies' eruption.

But the remaining one percent of his mental power was enough to sustain the combat.

Now, back to the demon tiger!

As the shuttle erupted, the three-headed demon tiger's central head immediately drooped. Large patches of its tiger skin were burned by the poison, and its tiger body trembled wildly.

Its right head roared and shrieked in agony. Though it had three heads, it didn't possess three nascent souls. At this moment, it was almost gravely wounded by its companion's magical treasure!

Li Changshou charged forward, gripping the Qiankun Ruler, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him, as if employing a clone technique, appearing simultaneously at the demon tiger's abdomen, head, back, and tail…

The Qiankun Ruler continuously tapped forward. Dozens of ‘black holes’ quietly appeared, and the universe distorted. The demon tiger's massive body was stretched, compressed, and twisted like a long snake.

Just then!

In the distance, eight shining light spheres appeared between heaven and earth. Eight spirit explosions erupted simultaneously, temporarily blocking the powerful demon cultivators rushing to reinforce the area!

Nearby…

The left eye of the demon tiger's left head suddenly widened, filled with terror.

With the Xuanhuang Pagoda above his head and the Qiankun Ruler in hand, Li Changshou appeared directly in front of the demon tiger's left head. The Qiankun Ruler bloomed with streaks of blue-green light, heavily slashing at the demon tiger's neck.

A heavy ruler, though bladeless, could sever the universe!

“Break!”

Li Changshou roared, and immortal power surged into the Qiankun Ruler. The Qiankun Ruler, which had always been elegant and even gentle when bickering, suddenly let out coarse language in Li Changshou's mind, in Grandpa Pagoda's style.

With a single slash of the ruler, the demon tiger's left head's neck suddenly split open. The ‘wound’ was a dark, void-like spatial rift!

A rapid whooshing sound approached from behind. The scorpion demon charged again. Li Changshou's figure flashed, easily dodging the scorpion demon's attack. Lightning burst from his hand, striking towards the demon tiger's left head, which was just beginning to fall.

Just one step away…

Save Master, retrieve Mu Gong.

The lightning avoided the demon tiger's mouth. Li Changshou used Thunder Escape, rushing forward. In just an instant, he would appear beside the tiger's tightly closed mouth, shattering its teeth with a punch from his left hand to rescue his master and Mu Gong!

His Dao Heart trembled slightly, and Grandpa Pagoda warned, “Be careful!”

Behind him, a voice, transmitted to his ears through spatial resonance, carried anger and hatred!

“Please, turn around, my precious!”

A beam of white light swiftly cut into the lightning!

A moment earlier.

Meanwhile, Bai Ze galloped all the way, piercing through clouds and mist, quickly reaching the border between East Victory Divine Continent and North Continent, entering the thick miasma of North Continent.

Currently, he was…

Panicked, very panicked.

Upon receiving Li Changshou's message, stating that ‘Master and Mu Gong have been seized by the demon race,’ Bai Ze's heart sank, and a strikingly real thought emerged:

Would the Water God think he was a traitor?

When he sensed Daoist Qiyuan's fate, he truly felt that auspicious fortune lay ahead for Daoist Qiyuan!

And it was a great opportunity, the kind that meant soaring to the sky and having blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea!

Hiss—

Could it be that a Turbid Immortal's fate is thin and they cannot endure such fortune?

Or was his own divine ability too deeply influenced by the Heavenly Secrets, leading to an opposite judgment?

This shouldn't be, it can't be!

He had previously relied on ‘seeking good fortune and avoiding ill luck’ to evade the Great Tribulation, emerging unscathed.

Amidst his turmoil, Bai Ze sighed softly in his heart.

Initially, viewing the Water God from afar, he thought the Water God was intelligent, resourceful, decisive, and skilled at balancing power, truly a top-tier candidate for a ‘second Heavenly Emperor’.

But having spent a long time with the Water God, interacting with him, he discovered…

While this fellow's heart was a bit ‘dirty,’ he wasn't entirely ruthless. At least towards humans, his relatives, and close friends around him, the Water God was quite friendly.

The Water God's current position within the Daoist sect was actually a bit awkward.

He was a promising talent favored by the Grand Pure Saint; with just one bow to the Grand Pure Temple, he could become the strongest Saint's direct disciple.

But the awkwardness lay in the fact that the Water God also had a master, Qiyuan, who had raised him since childhood. This Qiyuan was arguably the weakest immortal, a contemporary Turbid Immortal.

Moreover, with the Water God's presence, he might even be considered the foremost among Turbid Immortals.

Generally speaking, an ordinary Qi Refiner like Old Daoist Qiyuan absolutely couldn't cultivate a disciple like the Water God.

—And even more so for Ling'e; she was entirely cultivated by the Water God, her style of conduct gradually aligning with her senior brother's.

The Water God already had a master. If he were now taken as a disciple by the Grand Pure Saint, and this matter were to get out…

Wow, the strongest Saint snatching a disciple from a Turbid Immortal?

While no one dared to openly criticize, that's exactly what it was.

According to Bai Ze's understanding of the Water God, at this moment, the Water God should have a clone kneeling before the Saint's portrait. However, the Saint would likely not directly intervene to save a Turbid Immortal; that would truly be unreasonable…

Even if he was favored, it wouldn't be to this extent.

At this moment, the Water God was a bit impatient, rushing alone into the North Continent. A group of ancient demons were hiding there, with several demonic beasts being followers of the Demon Emperor from back then, their strength no weaker than the Ten Great Demon Marshals.

Although the Water God was protected by the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda, judging from his battle with Lu Ya, his cultivation realm itself should not have reached the Grand Unity realm. If he were besieged, he would likely encounter trouble.

He could easily become an unbreachable yet immovable mountain.

Rumble—

Heaven and earth resonated like a drum, myriad poisons shrieked like madness.

The beings within the miasma cloud were frantically fleeing at this moment, their panic settling in Bai Ze's heart.

Ahead, within a radius of a hundred thousand *li*.

The thick, mountain-like miasma cloud of North Continent, which lingered year after year, was now like a stormy sea, constantly surging and vibrating!

Bai Ze had already transformed into his true form. Layers of watery ripples flowed in his eyes, and the three long feathers on his head flickered with faint light. He saw the very core of the turmoil.

That was originally the most concentrated area of miasma in North Continent, but now it was…

Clear sky and bright earth!

Under the clear blue sky, the sunlight was surprisingly dazzling. In the sky, there were layers of ‘cloud rings’.

Sixteen massive demonic beasts rushed inwards from the periphery of the miasma cloud's opening, and within it…

Bai Ze's pupils contracted.

He happened to see Li Changshou, who was using Thunder Escape, struck out of the lightning by a beam of white light, and saw the demon tiger's severed head, just a hundred feet from Li Changshou…

A Golden Crow encircled by white flames, accompanied by sonic booms and layers of distorted space, swiftly pierced through the demon tiger's head!

“Lu Ya, how dare you!”

Li Changshou let out a cold, low shout, his figure diving downwards. But a large seal crashed down from the demon tiger's head, instantly growing hundreds of feet tall, forcibly ‘pushing’ Li Changshou away.

Demon Emperor Seal!

“Hahahahaha!”

Daoist Lu Ya's joyful and triumphant laughter came from behind the great seal. One of Lu Ya's Golden Crow claws forcibly grabbed Mu Gong, who was already poisoned and gravely injured.

Looking at the two paper effigies, a trace of ferocity flashed through Lu Ya's eyes, and a hint of mad destructive intent arose in his Dao Heart.

Opening his mouth, Lu Ya, behind a tongue of fire, brewed a mouthful of extremely powerful True Solar Flame!

Li Changshou's eyes widened. The Qiankun Ruler directly smashed onto the Demon Emperor Seal. Although his cultivation realm limited him from unleashing the Qiankun Ruler's true power, he still managed to flip the Demon Emperor Seal away.

He saw it: Lu Ya's true form, the three-legged Golden Crow, opened its mouth, aiming at his two…

Two paper effigies that had just re-established connection but couldn't move!

Lu Ya's bird eyes reflected Li Changshou's figure, filled with mockery.

Lu Ya should not have known what was in the sleeves of those two paper effigies…

Just a moment, just a breath!

In the distance, Bai Ze had realized something at this moment. His body frantically surged forward, his voice, transmitted through spiritual sense, exploding beside Lu Ya's ear:

It was so urgent, so panicked.

“Stop! Even if you kill Mu Gong, don't touch those two transformations—”

Whoosh—

White flames erupted. One paper effigy made a forceful throwing motion, launching the beast-hide bag in the shortest time with the clearest judgment…

But the True Solar Flame was too fast. A mere shallow flame blossom enveloped the Hundred Spirits Beast-hide Bag, licking through it.

Within it, the figure of an old Daoist appeared…

A Turbid Immortal, at the True Immortal realm…

Streaks of light surged around the old Daoist's body; these were protective spiritual treasures Li Changshou had left for his master, but they were directly shattered by the True Solar Flame.

The ‘human’ character paper effigy that flew from the old Daoist's sleeve was already defeated by the flames just as it burst with immortal power.

In an instant, the old Daoist was enveloped by the True Solar Flame, burning even faster than the paper effigy…

After all, this was the innate divine ability of the Golden Crow clan.

However, these contingencies left by Li Changshou bought his master an extra moment, an extra chance to speak.

The old Daoist was first stunned. Looking up, he saw Li Changshou's figure frantically rushing towards him, no more than ten feet away. Ignoring the excruciating pain throughout his body and the terror of his impending destruction, he urgently shouted:

“Quickly leave! Don't come… here…”

The flames devoured the old Daoist's face, tore his nascent soul apart, and the extremely high temperature reduced the old Daoist's fragile Dao body to ashes.

Li Changshou lunged, missing his target. His open left hand grasped a handful of fine ashes…

Master…

Mast…

Blankness, silence.

Li Changshou stood there in a daze. Because the Clear Dao Heart suppressed his emotions, scenes continuously revolved in his mind…

A single tear slowly slid down from the corner of his eye.

A trace of blood faintly seeped from the corner of his mouth.

In his heart, it felt as if a knife was sliding, cutting…

As if waking from a dream, Li Changshou looked at Lu Ya, who had flown into the distance, and saw the massive demonic beasts approaching him, his voice trembling slightly…

“You… you killed him?”

Lu Ya's brows furrowed. He said indifferently, “So what if—”

“You killed him.”

Li Changshou closed his eyes, slowly exhaled, then opened them. His pupils were bloodshot, and an anger Lu Ya couldn't comprehend surged in their depths.

Bai Ze, flying from afar, subconsciously stopped a thousand *li* away.

Dangerous.

Extremely grave danger!

Bai Ze's fur stood on end. His divine ability frantically warned him. Then he gave a bitter smile, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply.

The demon race was completely finished.

“You killed him!”

Li Changshou's voice became incredibly resonant.

Lu Ya was about to speak, but then he saw divine light surging around Li Changshou, and a scroll slowly appeared behind him.

As the scroll unfurled, heaven and earth abruptly darkened!

The painting depicted the sun, moon, and stars; prosperous mortal realms; continuous immortal mountains, serene clouds, and towering palaces.

It was just a six-foot-long scroll, seemingly only showing clouds and mist. Yet within the mist, it depicted all beings, heaven and earth, and the connections between all things and all spirits.

Humans, gods, ghosts; demons, spirits, devils.

The scroll lightly swayed, and a vast, obscure, complex, yet ultimately simple Dao rhythm swept Lu Ya and the sixteen ancient giant demons, who were still hesitating whether to try and destroy the Xuanhuang Pagoda, into it.

In just an instant, Li Changshou lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, faint light appearing all over his body.

He ignited his nascent soul power.

Just like a Qi Refiner's desperate last stand, he ignited his nascent soul power, a move destined to cause severe damage to his vital essence.

Trump Card: The Dao.

‘Lu Ya.

Regarding you, I shouldn't have sought stability multiple times, shouldn't have thought that you, as one of those destined for the Great Tribulation, would have Heavenly Dao's protection, shouldn't have waited for absolute certainty…’

Suddenly, Li Changshou raised his left hand, and a faint light pulsed in his palm.

That cold, empty, emotionless voice resounded everywhere.

“Balance.”

A beam of black light emerged from behind Li Changshou, then instantly vanished. It was as if a strange Heavenly Dao power appeared, yet it was completely different from Heavenly Dao power, directly enveloping the sixteen demonic beasts and Lu Ya.

Instantly, these demonic beasts seemed to be sealed; their bodies abruptly shrank, and their cultivation realms inexplicably vanished by more than half!

Lu Ya transformed into his human form, trembling slightly. His youthful face returned, and he looked at Li Changshou with utter astonishment…

But then, his astonishment vanished. He threw Mu Gong into the distance, and like the demonic beasts beside him, fell into boundless rage, his eyes filled with murderous intent, almost as if to devour Li Changshou.

This was the rage Li Changshou balanced upon them!

The disguise on Li Changshou's face vanished, restoring his original appearance as a young Daoist.

Crack, crackle…

Faint cracking sounds continuously emanated from Li Changshou's body. He stood in the air, his smile filled with bitterness.

Master, you don't even know what Dao your disciple has cultivated.

Master, you don't even know…

Li Changshou raised his hand and pointed at his heart. Streaks of colorful Dao rhythm condensed into dark, web-like strands of tribulation, which he then lightly pointed towards Lu Ya.

A wisp of black Qi entwined itself around Lu Ya's nascent soul, making him even more furious.

Clear Dao Heart, shattered itself.

‘I draw the tribulation into me, and I bestow it upon you.

Lu Ya.

Perhaps in the past, the endless conflict was due to stance, to interest, to preventing future troubles.

But today…

I am your tribulation!’

The treasured diagram rustled, and water-blue Dao rhythm continuously washed over this heaven and earth. Lu Ya and the sixteen experts roared in unison, lunging at Li Changshou like madmen.

Li Changshou's long hair fluttered, his Daoist robe flapped. The Xuanhuang Pagoda sank onto his head, covering his nascent soul. His left eye was ice-blue due to the manifestation of his Dao, and his right eye was blood-red from the uncontrollable murderous intent in his heart.

Great Yu's Flood Control Map, appear;

Water God's treasured artifact, the Black Martial Banner, appear;

Holding the Qiankun Ruler, one step severed the sky!

“Die!”

Suddenly!

From the southwest, a colossal hand, obscuring the sky and sun, reached out, grabbing at the thousand-*li* area enveloped by Li Changshou's Dao rhythm.

Another soft sigh drifted above the nine heavens.

High in the sky, an old Daoist appeared, seated cross-legged on a futon. Beneath the futon, there was an image of water and fire Taiji.

The old Daoist's face was haggard, seemingly devoid of cultivation. His eyes lacked spirit. When he raised his left hand, his wide sleeve fluttered in the wind, and his fingertip lightly flicked.

That colossal hand, obscuring the sky and sun and several thousand *li* in diameter, shattered in an instant, vanishing into nothingness.

The old Daoist spoke with some effort, looking up in the direction from which the large hand had attacked. His faint voice, however, struck like thunder.

“Scram.”

In the southwest, an unknown distance away, an old Daoist holding a treasured tree trembled all over. Yet, he dared not meet the gaze of the old Daoist above the nine heavens, lowering his head and saying:

“Senior Brother, my apologies.”

Then he turned and left, vanishing without a trace.

The old Daoist above the nine heavens showed no further expression, looking down at the battle below.

Everything in the world seemed like fleeting smoke to the old Daoist. The Great Dao of heaven and earth seemed completely unrelated to him. His very presence was the Dao; a single strand of his hair could expound boundless true meaning.

The old Daoist didn't intervene further, just watched quietly, observing Li Changshou below, who was like a berserker, smashing demon beast heads with the Qiankun Ruler, tearing open demon beasts' wings with a single hand…

As those demonic beasts fell into this Dao rhythm, they also plunged into boundless rage.

This was Li Changshou's Dao, born from the Dao of Taiji, named the Balance of All Things.

When the Dao of Balance of All Things was deployed, it could pull powerful enemies into the same cultivation realm as himself. Everything could be balanced, and it was up to the master of this ‘domain’ to decide whether or not to balance something.

This Dao was not yet complete; otherwise, Li Changshou would have entered the Grand Unity realm.

Furthermore, this Dao was not yet perfected; Li Changshou was temporarily gaining the power to unleash this Dao by burning his nascent soul