Chapter 484: End of Life, Doing My Best

Last night, a gentle breeze and light rain fell. Slightly tipsy, I couldn't quite shake off the mix of joy and sorrow.

As dawn broke in the east, only scattered cups and plates remained in the back hall of the Sea God Temple.

Daoist Wen Jing was the first to depart, not due to defeat, but because the power of her blood mosquitos was completely depleted. Furthermore, to leave a good impression on the Grand Master, she subtly employed a tactic: she didn't absorb the calico cat's life force. After the blood mosquitos created by her divine ability dissipated, the cat remained unharmed.

The only lingering effect was that the cat became particularly clingy to the Grand Master.

At dawn, Kong Xuan was the second to bid farewell and leave. He seemed to have more on his mind, and as he departed, he gave Li Changshou a meaningful glance.

Li Changshou, for his part, simply pretended not to notice. Could he really get directly involved in such a matter? The main players in this chaotic situation were Kong Xuan, Daoist Wen Jing, and Grand Master Xuandu. Aside from Daoist Wen Jing, who excelled at sneak attacks, scheming, and ambushes, and whose direct combat was clearly inferior to the other two, which of them could Li Changshou possibly provoke?

Most importantly… The Grand Master was clearly quite resistant to the idea.

As the Grand Master was about to leave, he frowned in deep thought, pondering meticulously. After a long while, he finally reacted, muttering to himself: “Changshou, could it be that Daoist Kong Xuan has thoughts about me that go beyond mere fellowship?”

Li Changshou squinted and smiled, “Senior Brother, you’re overthinking things.”

“That’s good,” the Grand Master sighed in relief. “This matter is truly difficult to handle. How comfortable it is to sleep alone for a long time; having someone else by my side would be too restrictive.”

Li Changshou calmly added, “Both of them are deeply enamored with Senior Brother; it’s long since passed the stage of merely ‘not fellow Daoists.’”

The Grand Master’s eyes widened instantly. He paced back and forth for a moment, then sighed, “Help me sort this out!”

Li Changshou spread his hands. “This matter is too complicated. Daoist Wen Jing was specifically mentioned by Teacher, and Daoist Kong Xuan is one of the rarest masters in the world. Senior Brother, just think: if we could attract Daoist Kong Xuan and have him join our Human Cult as a top master… then in situations where supreme experts are needed to hold the fort, wouldn't you naturally be able to slack off?”

Teaching according to aptitude, persuading according to nature.

The Grand Master considered it carefully, then smiled. “That does make sense. Putting aside the matter of a Daoist companion, I would never entertain such a deluded thought. However, if Daoist Kong Xuan could join our Human Cult, the destiny of the Daoist sects would also become more solid. Changshou, you should keep this in mind and do your best to make it happen. I’ll be returning to Xuandu City now.”

Having said this, the Grand Master’s palm surged with Yin-Yang energy. He slapped the Taiji Diagram onto Li Changshou’s shoulder, then with a swift turn, he vanished.

No matter how Li Changshou looked at it, the Grand Master seemed to be somewhat fleeing in disarray. Ultimately, though, the Grand Master remained unfettered, viewing Kong Xuan and Daoist Wen Jing as mere trouble, completely unmoved. The Grand Master even slapped the Taiji Diagram onto him before leaving, and Li Changshou knew in his heart that the Grand Master would undoubtedly hide in Xuandu City afterward…

The next time he saw the Grand Master would likely be during the discussions in the Purple Heaven Palace.

Li Changshou casually scattered a handful of Samadhi True Flames, burning all the tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks that Daoist Wen Jing and Kong Xuan had touched to ashes. Standing at the back hall’s doorway, he sighed softly. His true body then used Earth Escape and vanished from the shores of the South Sea.

Half a day later.

Li Changshou returned to Little Qiong Peak, placing the Taiji Diagram, the Xuanhuang Pagoda, the Qiankun Ruler, and the Flame Light Banner together before the revered diagram of the Grand Pure One, and bowed three times. A faint Daoist rhyme floated up from the Taiji Diagram, and the four treasures were retrieved to the side of the Grand Pure Saint. Seeing this, Li Changshou also felt a weight lifted from his heart. It seemed his true body wouldn't need to make an appearance anytime soon…

Taking Ling’e, he temporarily left their underground dwelling to relax on the surface of Little Qiong Peak and get some fresh air. Ling’e prepared tea and brought two plates of pastries for him, then rode her cloud to play with Jiu Yushi.

Li Changshou sat in a rocking chair, gently swaying, and fiddling with a golden 'longevity lock' in his hand… Uncle Master Tongtian presenting such a significant treasure right away—was it truly, as Ling’e thought, hinting at something to him?

This treasure had already announced its identity, projecting a spiritual sense into his mind that manifested as a somewhat cold female voice: “I am the Heart-Piercing Lock. By Master’s command, I will henceforth obey your orders and be your accompanying treasure.”

Li Changshou calmly expressed his thanks, and was currently familiarizing himself with the Heart-Piercing Lock’s power. This lock… Li Changshou didn’t have many past-life memories related to it, and its reputation naturally paled in comparison to Jie Sect treasures such as the Four Swords of Zhuxian, the Green Ping Sword, or the Hunyuan Gold Dou. But the ability to communicate directly with him was the mark of a powerful treasure.

This lock, named Heart-Piercing, was also a treasure of lethal power. When activated, this treasure could be used as a hidden weapon, effortlessly slaying ordinary Grand Immortals. It could also function as an immortal rope, capable of binding an opponent while simultaneously restraining their primordial spirit and sealing their immortal power. It was truly a top-tier treasure for killing, robbing, sneak attacks, and ambushes! Its operational style was quite similar to Li Changshou’s usual methods. Unfortunately, such a powerful treasure couldn’t be casually poisoned; it deserved sufficient respect.

“Let’s work well together from now on,” Li Changshou said with a smile, holding the Heart-Piercing Lock in his palm as he began its initial refinement. The Heart-Piercing Lock did not resist. Instead, it actively deepened its intimacy with Li Changshou, adapting to his primordial spirit power…

A gentle breeze swept through the forest, rustling the leaves. Outside the grand formation, white clouds drifted, and occasionally, human Qi Refiners could be seen flying past.

Unconsciously, Li Changshou’s mind wandered slightly. He lingered among the clouds, playing with the returning birds, then sighed softly, thinking about the next thousand years. A thousand years from now, would he be able to retreat completely unscathed? This was not a guarantee he dared to casually make…

After resting for half a day, he still had to return to the Heavenly Court for work. The Western Sect had achieved a minor victory this time, and their destiny had somewhat recovered; he needed to find a way to suppress them as soon as possible. There were still over eighty years until the discussions on the Investiture of Gods in the Purple Heaven Palace. Before then, there was still much he could do.

Several questions couldn’t help but surface in Li Changshou’s mind… Was Ksitigarbha truly tricked by his master, Jieyin? Or was the entire scheme within Saint Jieyin’s control? Had the Primordial Heavenly Venerable and Grandmaster of Heaven already realized that a battle between the Jie Sect and Chan Sect was inevitable? The Primordial Heavenly Venerable had mentioned 'three friends' that day, clearly recalling their old friendship. But how much of that old affection could truly extend to the disciples of Grandmaster of Heaven? Would Taiyi Zhenren’s mouth truly trigger an internal war within the Daoist sects…

Li Changshou unconsciously yawned as drowsiness surged over him. A slight warning immediately arose in his heart, so he used his empty and clear Dao heart to verify from all sides, confirming that the tribulation fate had not affected him. It was probably due to dealing with the Saint’s challenge earlier; his mind was a bit weary.

‘I should divide my mind into sections and let them rest alternately for a while.’

Li Changshou closed his eyes, entering a state of light sleep, while the grand formations all over Little Qiong Peak stood ready.

In a semiconscious state, Li Changshou seemed to have a dream. In the dream, he saw a blood-red lotus absorbing turbid spiritual energy within a hazy mist. The lotus had nine petals, but a tenth was slowly forming. Li Changshou couldn’t conjure many thoughts at that moment; he merely ‘watched’ the lotus, trying to decipher its message. Then, his vision blurred, and he saw the figure of a tall, thin old Daoist appear behind the lotus.

This scene flashed by very quickly. The lotus shattered thereafter, and Li Changshou’s dream gradually dissipated.

A Heavenly Dao aura?

Maintaining an empty and clear state of mind, Li Changshou keenly caught a wisp of Daoist aura flowing away like a stream, and his lips curled slightly. He knew then that the Heavenly Dao was hinting at something to him!

Combining this with having heard twice before that Patriarch Styx might not be completely dead, this scene, no matter how it was viewed, suggested that Patriarch Styx might be reviving soon. Regarding this, Li Changshou pondered carefully and decided… not to accept such a hint. What he saw in dreams and the induced anxiety were common methods used by the Heavenly Dao. If Dao Ancestor had been giving him a hint, it would have been a few words directly formed; a precedent had already been set for him to owe one and deliver it with the next.

Li Changshou could now confirm that the Heavenly Dao was divided into at least three components. One was the will of heaven and earth. The second was the will of all living beings. These two intertwined, forming the Heavenly Dao that oversaw heaven and earth, based on the Great Dao. It was utterly impartial, selfless, emotionless, and heartless, treating all things equally. Its evolutionary trend was the stability of heaven and earth. The third was Dao Ancestor Hongjun, who, after complementing the Heavenly Dao, was not completely assimilated by it. Although he couldn’t detach himself from the Heavenly Dao, he could, conversely, influence it to a great extent.

The tribulation fate of the great calamity, he concluded, was an evolution of the Heavenly Dao itself, with no direct connection to the Dao Ancestor. The reason Li Changshou could distinguish so clearly was that he had genuinely interacted with the tribulation fate of the great calamity, using it to eliminate Daoist Lu Ya. And while he was recovering in the Hunyuan Gold Dou, the black shadow that appeared in his Dao heart was the tribulation fate initiated by the Heavenly Dao’s original will, a concrete projection within his Dao heart. It was not a living being, but the Heavenly Dao’s will itself, supervising him to prevent disruption and ensure the Investiture of Gods calamity began smoothly.

When Dao Ancestor had formed words to communicate with him twice, the Daoist aura that appeared was similar to, yet distinct from, the tribulation fate of the great calamity. Therefore, Li Changshou could conclude that the Heavenly Dao was trying to use him as a tool, deliberately giving him such a warning while his mind was at rest. Wouldn’t it be much simpler and cleaner if it just struck him with Purple Heaven Divine Thunder?

Li Changshou naturally wouldn’t take risks and would quietly cultivate at home. If the Sea of Blood were to undergo changes, he could then seize the opportunity to organize another ‘team-building’ event for the masters of the three Daoist sects… With Taiyi Zhenren’s mouth, what kind of gathering couldn’t be brought about?

On another note, which part of the Heavenly Dao decided to erase Senior Wave back then? Li Changshou carefully calculated, but the information he had at the moment was too limited, and he couldn’t draw a conclusion. Yet, the answer to this question was incredibly important to him…

“Water God?! Water God!”

A burst of excited shouts suddenly came from beside his ear. Li Changshou quickly woke up, immediately feeling refreshed and invigorated. His breathing was much smoother, and the mountain forest scenery before him was even more pleasant.

A portion of his mind shifted to the Heavenly Court’s Water God’s residence, activating a paper effigy and examining its appearance in a bronze mirror. With white hair, a white robe, and a lean face, embodying kindness, majesty, experience, and gravitas, this was naturally the Water God’s exclusive persona.

Pulling open the study room door, Li Changshou saw Qin Tianzhu’s excited face and smiled: “Marshal Qin, what is this about?”

—Previously, after a trip to the Underworld, His Majesty the Jade Emperor had rewarded his own avatar for its merits, promoting him to the rank of Marshal.

Qin Tianzhu widened his eyes and took a breath. With all his might, he transmitted two soft words: “It’s happened!”

Li Changshou was a little bewildered.

Qin Tianzhu slapped his thigh and transmitted with a grin, “My junior sister, she’s pregnant!”

Li Changshou’s eyes lit up. He cupped his hands and transmitted: “Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations! This is truly a great joy!”

“Hehehe, hahahaha!”

Qin Tianzhu immediately put his hands on his hips and laughed heartily, holding his head high, chest out, and radiating might. “It’s truly not easy! My junior sister and I are both innate spirits, and our Dao realms are already quite high!”

Li Changshou gave a thumbs-up. “Your Majesty is as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger, bringing blessings to all living beings; you certainly deserve such good fortune.”

As Qin Tianzhu laughed heartily and Li Changshou offered his congratulations, they formed a somewhat strange, silent scene that left the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals of the Water God’s residence a bit bewildered.

Before long, Qin Tianzhu composed himself and loudly called out, notifying Li Changshou to go to the High Heavens Palace. Li Changshou originally thought His Majesty the Jade Emperor would discuss his promotion to a divine rank. Instead, he sealed off the High Heavens Palace, and they had a big drinking session. Finally, the Jade Emperor collapsed drunk on the jade steps, and Li Changshou could only pretend to be drunk beside him. His experience from his previous life told Li Changshou: Even if your alcohol tolerance is better than your superior’s, you shouldn’t show it. Otherwise, you’ll either be dragged to drink on their behalf or you’ll annoy them.

The Queen Mother was pregnant, and the timing surprisingly coincided perfectly with the reincarnation of the Seven Emotions Avatars. Li Changshou genuinely broke into a sweat; if he hadn’t personally sent the Seven Emotions Avatars to be reincarnated in the mortal world, he would have truly thought there was some connection. The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother did not publicly announce this matter, but rumors circulated in the Heavenly Court. Many Heavenly Court record keepers were monitoring the movements in Jade Pool, and whenever they saw an immortal maiden from there, they would approach and inquire. Duties throughout the Heavenly Court were generally leisurely, so such a major event was indeed enough to stir the nerves of various immortals and gods.

Thus, ten months later.

The Queen Mother naturally had no developments, as the gestation period for innate spirits was different from that of mortals. The woman Li Changshou and Kong Xuan had found was about to give birth. Li Changshou secretly rushed to Kong Xuan’s location in the form of the Heavenly Court Water God to provide protection.

Without any surprises or dangers, the woman successfully gave birth to a baby girl. At that time, streaks of rosy light filled the sky, auspicious clouds gathered everywhere, and pink petals fluttered throughout the city. After the baby girl was born, she didn’t cry or fuss. Her large eyes observed her surroundings, and a grass bracelet adorned her wrist. Though just born, she was already perfectly formed like sculpted jade and considerably larger than an ordinary infant.

After the midwife received her reward and left, the Heavenly Immortal-level bird spirits Kong Xuan had previously arranged stepped forward to care for the baby. At this time, the memories and personalities of Little Ai and the others were still sealed. They would gradually awaken as she grew, and after sixteen years, she would fully recover into her original Seven Emotions Avatar. This Dao body was personally created by Goddess Nuwa, providing seven dwelling places for the Seven Emotions primordial spirits. In the future, they could choose to take turns controlling this Dao body, or they could coordinate and simultaneously engage in combat with others, without any sense of fragmentation.

Before long, Kong Xuan in white robes, Li Changshou in a green Daoist robe, and several gorgeously adorned immortal maidens gathered by the bed, pondering.

Kong Xuan said, “Since she is the Seven Emotions Avatar, why not just call her Seven Emotions?”

“No,” Li Changshou said. “Among the Seven Emotions, each avatar is relatively independent. It would be rather inappropriate if one name encompassed all seven of them.”

Kong Xuan smiled. “Then you name her.”

“Great virtuous Houtu, who blessed all living beings and was the gentlest ancestor of the Witch Tribe—the Seven Emotions Avatars originated from her and furthermore integrated the seven emotions of all living beings. In that case, how about calling her… Iron Egg?”

Inside the room, the silence was instant and complete. The baby girl, who had originally been giggling, suddenly burst into tears with a wail, kicking her little legs wildly. A faint aura of sadness emanated from her.

Li Changshou smiled at the sight and calmly said: “You seven have indeed awakened now. Don’t cause trouble. I certainly wouldn’t give you such a name; I was merely testing you. This is the mortal realm, where mortals naturally prioritize the seven emotions and six desires. You should observe carefully here. If anything happens, you can find me or Daoist Kong Xuan at any time. Just let me know where you want to go, and I will arrange it for you. But remember, if you use your divine abilities to influence others and cause tragedies, I will take you away from this vibrant world and make you cultivate austerely in the mountains.”

The baby girl subtly rolled her eyes, yawned in her swaddling clothes, and closed her eyes, falling asleep.

Li Changshou smiled slightly, exchanged a glance with Kong Xuan, and left the house.

“Fellow Daoist, I’ll have to trouble you quite a bit.”

“It’s I who should be thanking you,” Kong Xuan said earnestly. “Whether it’s looking after this Shang tribe or looking after the reincarnated Seven Emotions Avatar, both are matters that can improve the destiny of my Phoenix Clan.”

Li Changshou waved his hand and smiled, “We are family; there’s no need for formalities. You and my senior brother are close friends, so I naturally have to consider these benefits for you.”

Kong Xuan immediately showed a gentle smile, then sighed softly. “Chang Geng, do you know that I have already decided to establish the yin-yang alignment, but I currently lack a wisp of innate profound Yin qi as a guide?”

Li Changshou hastily asked, “Where can this item be found?”

“In the Sea of Chaos,” Kong Xuan said, “or on the Taiyin Star.”

“Oh? The Taiyin Star?” Li Changshou pondered for a moment, then smiled. “Since that’s the case, I’ll make a trip to the Taiyin Star to see if I can assist you, fellow Daoist.”

Kong Xuan was slightly embarrassed. After much thought, he quietly asked, “Is there anything you need my help with? Receiving such favors from you without reciprocation truly makes me uneasy.”

“Oh, no!” Li Changshou waved his sleeve, gazed into the distance with starlight in his eyes, and said solemnly: “Without Senior Brother Xuandu, there would be no me today. I only hope in my heart that Senior Brother Xuandu can be safe and stable, accompanied by a Daoist companion worthy of him, free beyond the mortal world, wandering at ease between heaven and earth. Currently, I can only address you as ‘fellow Daoist,’ but someday, I still wish to address you as… Senior Sister.”

Kong Xuan was startled. He too gazed towards the horizon, his eyes filled with peace, unable to snap back to reality for a long time.

Li Changshou: ...

False matchmaking for others is merely about love turning one green with panic, or having a shovel ready to dig up any corner. True matchmaking for others, however, revolves around the senior brother: painting a beautiful future for Kong Xuan, who admires the senior brother, sparking anticipation in Kong Xuan’s heart, and then declaring full assistance to bring the matter to fruition! This was Changshou’s way of repaying kindness!

Hmm, he would think of a way to stabilize Wen Jing later, so that she could steadily work for the Human Cult while also nurturing a little more hope for her future.

Senior Brother, your junior brother can only do these insignificant little things for you.

“Tsk, tsk…”

On the city wall of Xuandu City, the Grand Master Xuandu, in his sleep, couldn’t help but turn over. He raised a hand to pinch his nose, then continued to sleep comfortably.

In the distant Sea of Chaos, gray qi undulated, but those annoying extraterrestrial demons and beings from outside the heavens were nowhere to be seen.

In an inconspicuous corner of the Sea of Blood, the scene Li Changshou had witnessed in his dream ten months ago was unfolding. At this time, this blood lotus had already formed eleven petals, and the twelfth petal already had a rough outline and faint image, gathering the resentment, hatred, evil, and killing intent of all living beings, forming boundless karma. Behind the blood lotus, the figure of the old Daoist was extremely faint.

Just then! This dim world was suddenly illuminated by purple light, and streaks of purple lightning surged like wild waves, instantly engulfing the blood lotus!

But after the lightning, the blood lotus remained unharmed; only the old Daoist behind it had vanished. The boundless karma accumulated in the Sea of Blood gathered again, and a pale white flame rose from the center of the lotus. Eerie, yet undisturbed.