Chapter 495: Immortal and Mortal Debate (Part 2)

The moment Li Changshou spoke, all eyes naturally turned towards the clouds. He lightly tapped his left index finger downwards, and a cloud ladder slowly unfurled. As an ordinary deity of authority in the Heavenly Court, he descended the steps with a relaxed and leisurely expression.

Among the gathered immortals, Bai Ze’s smile held a hint of amusement. Like most of the immortals present, he too was wondering how Li Changshou would refute Subhuti. When it came to strategic planning, Bai Ze was undoubtedly among the best of the immortals present, fully grasping the subtle power behind Subhuti's recent statements.

Subhuti had cleverly exploited the contradiction inherent in the concept of "separation between immortals and mortals." He also used the Heavenly Court’s long-standing motto of "protecting the weak" against them, effectively linking the established immortal forces of the three thousand worlds with the Incense God Kingdoms and positioning them as adversaries to the Heavenly Court. The difficulty lay in the fact that, in essence, this was true, making it incredibly hard to refute.

"Mr. Bai, would you like to show yourself and offer assistance?" Jiu Wu whispered telepathically.

"With the Water God present, there’s no need for me to make a fool of myself," Bai Ze replied. He shrugged, picked up the wine goblet from the low table in front of him, and sampled the exquisite wine offered by a fairy, savoring its sweetness. The latter part of Bai Ze's thought remained unspoken: *'Even if I wanted to, this argument isn't easy to win.'* After all, as one of the Ten Ancient Demon Commanders, he had a certain reputation to uphold.

Indeed, such a formidable challenge now confronted Li Changshou. His upcoming rebuttal of Subhuti wasn't about simply winning an argument, but about persuading the gathered immortal forces. Subhuti’s words, though ultimately untenable when confronted with true righteousness, were precisely designed to undermine morale and had indeed struck at the core vulnerabilities of these immortal factions. As a representative of the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou couldn't simply say whatever he wanted. If he were to directly offer lavish incentives, how would the Heavenly Court be any different from the Western Sect? This would make Subhuti’s subsequent attacks even more difficult to counter.

Li Changshou couldn’t help but lament that if these formidable saint disciples of the Western Sect could truly unite, they would indeed pose a significant threat. Fortunately, Ksitigarbha had already been sidelined by Subhuti and his allies; the Western Sect's "corporate culture" was rife with internal power struggles. A sect having two saints did not always bring only benefits.

When Li Changshou decided to use Lamp, he had considered every angle and scenario; all potential "attack points" from the Western Sect were meticulously accounted for in his exhaustive plans. Regardless of whether their opponent was Subhuti or anyone else, the "weapons" they could deploy were limited to just a few. He also owed a solemn thanks to the beautiful hair Ling'e, the little fairy, had pulled out while lost in thought!

Li Changshou originally had a comprehensive strategy of sophistry to counter Subhuti’s tactics. This involved first diverting attention, recounting the Western Sect's numerous past misdeeds to sway the audience’s emotions, then selectively addressing less important issues, discussing ideals, making promises, and giving subtle hints. By inciting a shared sense of indignation among the qi refiners, the opposition instigated by Subhuti would naturally crumble. This method would have been sufficient to handle the current situation.

However, at this moment, Li Changshou felt it was not entirely robust. Subhuti’s question today was particularly sharp, directly addressing the "irreconcilable contradiction between immortal forces and the Heavenly Court." If he were to use sophistry to navigate this challenge, a lingering doubt would surely remain in the hearts of many immortals present. It would also create divisions within the Immortal Alliance, hindering its effectiveness in the future.

Li Changshou took three steps down the cloud ladder, a plan already forming in his mind. A faint smile touched his lips as he proclaimed loudly: "Subhuti's words are inherently not worth debating, for right and wrong, justice, reside in the hearts of the people. However, to prevent any misunderstanding about the Heavenly Court and to avoid being incited by this scoundrel, I will speak plainly today."

Subhuti's avatar calmly remarked, "Has the Water God already devised a way to bewitch minds so quickly?"

Li Changshou’s brow furrowed slightly. Before he could act or speak, a flash of aquamarine light swept from the side. Six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls materialized around Subhuti, instantly immobilizing his avatar.

Zhao Gongming retorted, "You just delivered a long, rambling speech full of nonsense, and my Chang Geng didn't interrupt you once!"

Subhuti smiled calmly, closing his eyes with an air of composure, as if victory were already assured.

From atop the cloud ladder, Li Changshou spoke slowly: "Just now, this saint disciple of the Western Sect stated that the Heavenly Court sides with mortals because humanity is the protagonist of heaven and earth, and mortals are the primary source of fortune, with the Southern Continent alone concentrating eighty percent of humanity’s fortune. While seemingly logical, this assertion is utterly absurd!

"Do any of you know about the Western Sect’s destruction of the Dragon Race’s Sea Eye? At that time, the Western Sect sought to subjugate the Dragon Race for their own purposes. They openly suppressed them while secretly inciting rebellions among the sea tribes across the four seas, ultimately enraging the Dragon Race and prompting them to align with the Heavenly Court. For the sake of their sect’s supposed prestige, the Western Sect schemed, amassed a large number of karmic great demons and primordial fierce beasts, and ultimately breached the East Sea Eye, plundering the East Sea Dragon Palace’s treasury.

"With the Sea Eye breached, seawater surged back in, threatening to unleash a massive tsunami upon the East Sea. To atone for their ancient sins, countless members of the Dragon Race streamed towards the Sea Eye, only to be torn apart by its violent currents… At that time, I produced a treasure called the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, but using it to suppress the Sea Eye was merely a temporary solution. Then, a Heavenly Court general named Hua Ritian stepped forward, leaped into the breach, and sealed the East Sea Eye with his own body. From that moment, the Dragon Race fully pledged their allegiance, becoming a vital asset to the Heavenly Court, which then began its era of great prosperity."

Li Changshou sighed deeply, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. He paused on the cloud ladder and declared loudly: "Do any of you know who that Heavenly Court general was? And how was he able to seal the Sea Eye?"

Most immortals remained silent. A few, completely engrossed, cooperatively shook their heads.

"General Hua Ritian was, in fact, an avatar of His Majesty the Jade Emperor—the sole Golden Body of Merit forged by the Jade Emperor using merits accumulated over countless ages. Only in this way could he counteract a portion of the Dragon Race’s accumulated karma. His Majesty’s leap was for mortals, but also for the Dragon Race, for the Heavenly Court, and for the common beings of the East Victory Divine Continent, to spare them from the catastrophe of flooding seawater! His Majesty’s words at that time, 'I am willing to protect all beings,' have also remained unforgettable to me.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Heavenly Court’s creed is to protect all living beings under heaven. What Subhuti just said—that we constantly speak of protecting all living beings—is not incorrect. However, the Heavenly Court stands with all living beings, with humanity, not solely with mortals! You are also living beings, an indispensable part of heaven and earth! Would I look down upon you simply because you possess profound cultivation, because you are Heavenly Immortals or Golden Immortals? Would the Heavenly Court discriminate against you because you are not mortals?"

Many immortals couldn't help but chuckle, while Subhuti’s brow, at this moment, was slightly furrowed.

Li Changshou chuckled twice, his voice softening as he spoke earnestly: "You and I are both of the human race, and we both understand the arduous journey of humanity’s rise. Regarding what this saint disciple of the Western Sect said—that immortals and mortals are fundamentally different—I genuinely find it perplexing. When you all manage your own factions, do you perhaps exploit mortals to advance your cultivation? If such a person exists, please stand forth; I shall personally see them off today. Does an immortal's cultivation primarily involve comprehending heaven and earth and the natural world, or does it focus on absorbing incense merit? Are your daily practices akin to those of the Incense God Kingdoms established by the Western Sect?"

The moment Li Changshou finished speaking, several immortals promptly stood up. They declared firmly:

"Water God! My Mo Tian Immortal Sect operates with absolute integrity; our sect rules strictly forbid disciples from wantonly harming the innocent! How could we possibly resemble an Incense God Kingdom?"

"Precisely. Mortals mostly inhabit flat, turbid regions, whereas we cultivators typically reside in majestic mountains and great rivers, drawing in the pure qi of heaven and earth. So, immortals and mortals are separate—what difference does that make?"

"Who here didn't begin their cultivation as a mortal? Most of our respective sect disciples are chosen from the mortal world, aren't they!"

Immediately, the immortals began speaking, having clearly discerned the flaws in Subhuti's earlier statement.

Li Changshou waited quietly for a moment. After the wave of voices subsided, he continued his slow descent, his voice resonating through heaven and earth: "The order the Heavenly Court seeks to establish is not against immortals, nor is it solely about protecting mortals. It's merely that mortals often find themselves in a vulnerable position, leading to the easy assumption that the Heavenly Court exclusively protects them. Absurd! Ensuring that the strong cannot wantonly prey upon the weak—that is the true objective of the Heavenly Court.

"Compared to mortals, all of you present are strong; yet compared to truly powerful beings, you and I are both considered weak. The Heavenly Court stands for nothing but justice; its actions remain within the confines of the Dao and virtue. Because the Heavenly Court’s foundation in the three thousand worlds is still nascent, and a great menace like the Incense God Kingdoms needs to be eradicated swiftly, I can make a promise to you all now, though this will be the only exception.

"For the immortal forces present here today, I will not extensively pursue past matters. As long as your hearts are inclined towards goodness from this day forward—meaning you do not bully the weak, do not wantonly kill the innocent, and do not devastate living beings—you will all be recognized as integral members of the Immortal Alliance by the Heavenly Court!

"To completely prevent the strong from oppressing the weak is, admittedly, a dream; but to make the strong hesitate and have reservations when contemplating such oppression is precisely what the Heavenly Court intends to achieve within the next ten thousand years! If you are capable of these things, then remain here. Let us collectively discuss how to confront the Incense God Kingdoms, how to rescue mortals, and how to distribute the cultivation treasures and spirit stones seized from them. If you cannot, then turn and depart now. I, Li Chang Geng, will not cause you any difficulty today!"

None of the immortals in the hall stirred. At this moment, ninety percent of them looked at Li Changshou with a mixture of longing and expectation.

Li Changshou waited quietly for a moment. He had now reached the latter half of the cloud ladder, merely a dozen zhang from the Flying Platform, standing level with Lamp and Subhuti. He made a gesture, and Zhao Gongming retrieved the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls that had restrained Subhuti.

Li Changshou smiled. "Does anyone still have doubts? Feel free to voice them today."

A burly man shouted loudly, "I pledge my allegiance to the Heavenly Court! I will serve the Immortal Alliance! I will fight against the Incense God Kingdoms!"

Immediately, enthusiastic shouts echoed throughout the hall:

"This humble Taoist is willing to follow the Heavenly Court! I will serve the Immortal Alliance!"

"To have almost been misled by the Western Sect, how shameful! Truly shameful!"

"Compared to the immortal sects of the Five Continents, we are indeed weaker. The Heavenly Court looks after all living beings, and we qi refiners are also a part of all living beings!"

"The Water God is wise!"

Amidst the wave of acclaim, Li Changshou glanced at Lamp, then his gaze met Subhuti’s. Subhuti shook his head and chuckled softly, seemingly having anticipated this outcome. If the Heavenly Court’s Water God could be defeated so easily, it would be far too simple. Subhuti showed no hint of disappointment. Instead, he remarked, "The Water God truly possesses remarkable eloquence. With such understated ease, you have completely defused my challenge. I have learned a great deal today."

"It's not about eloquence; it's simply the truth," Li Changshou calmly stated. "The Western Sect frequently engages in unrighteous deeds, making it inherently difficult for people to trust you. Today, you believed you had identified the Immortal Alliance’s weakness, yet you failed to even grasp the Heavenly Court’s core philosophy. The Dragon Race, the Demon Race, Spirit Mountain, the Reincarnation Pagoda, the Immortal Alliance… Your defeat is not unwarranted."

Subhuti narrowed his eyes slightly, and his form gradually faded into translucence. "Farewell."

"Fellow Daoist, don't rush off," Li Changshou interjected. "I have two more generous gifts for you."

Li Changshou’s sudden plea for him to stay caused Subhuti’s dissipating avatar to pause. He waited composedly, maintaining the dignified bearing of a saint disciple. "Generous gifts? This humble Taoist is quite curious."

Thereupon, Li Changshou proclaimed loudly: "Subhuti, a saint disciple of the Western Sect, has today, in opposition to the Heavenly Court, attempted to beguile the immortal forces of the three thousand worlds, uphold the Incense God Kingdoms, and harm countless living beings. His crimes deserve death. From this day forth, Subhuti is to be listed as an enemy of the Heavenly Court, to be pursued and hunted throughout the three realms! This saint disciple possesses a vile character and has committed grave sins. Anyone who can destroy his spirit and bring his head to the Heavenly Court will receive a substantial reward. May the Heavenly Dao observe this clearly and bring down tribulation upon him, thereby upholding the prestige of the Heavenly Court!"

*RUMBLE—*

The small world abruptly darkened. Fierce lightning dragons appeared in the sky, and a wisp of black qi coiled around Subhuti’s avatar before instantly dissipating into nothingness. It had gone in search of his true form. This sight truly served as a silent warning to many immortals, while those who already felt an affinity for the Heavenly Court beamed with delight.

Daoist Lamp frowned in contemplation, the Golden Spirit Holy Mother subtly pursed her lips, and Zhao Gongming and Lü Yue exchanged surprised glances. To forcefully invoke a karmic tribulation?

Subhuti’s face had turned as black as a cooking pot, as he glared at Li Changshou. "You!"

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for taking the trouble to come here and bolster the Heavenly Court’s prestige," Li Changshou said with a smile. "The Heavenly Court’s ability to establish itself in the three thousand worlds owes a great deal to your contributions. Oh, and fellow Daoist, when you return, please inform your Western counterpart who once incited the Golden-Winged Great Peng to cause trouble in the Heavenly Court that I will settle this karma with him later."

Subhuti frowned. "Has the Golden-Winged Great Peng perhaps been trapped by the Water God?"

Li Changshou smiled with satisfaction. *The Heavenly Court’s secrecy this time has been quite effective.* Or perhaps Subhuti simply hadn't received the relevant intelligence.

*SCREEEEE—*

A piercing cry suddenly echoed from the horizon of the small world. A golden streak flashed into view, materializing into a handsome general clad in golden armor, his aquiline nose strikingly prominent. Before the cry fully faded, he arrived before Li Changshou amidst a gale, clasping his hands and kneeling on one knee. His battle armor was stained with blood, and his long hair was matted with it.

"Teacher! The Western Sect has one thousand three hundred and sixty-two qi refiners concealed in the void tens of thousands of miles away, preparing to bombard this location with a grand formation! Your disciple discovered these villains moments ago. Unable to await your instructions, and to ensure the safety of the Immortal Alliance Assembly, I have eradicated all of them. I request your punishment!"

Li Changshou replied solemnly, "Marshal Jin Peng, please rise. You have performed meritorious service in safeguarding the Immortal Alliance Assembly. Why would there be any talk of punishment?"

Subhuti: …The surrounding immortals: … Killed a thousand immortals in mere moments?

Li Changshou, however, took the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s wrist, pointed at Subhuti, and said, "Remember this old Daoist’s aura and appearance. This will be a significant contribution."

The Golden-Winged Great Peng’s eyes lit up, a keen eagerness in his gaze.

Subhuti’s lips trembled, but with a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve. His form instantly transformed into a wisp of black smoke and vanished, leaving behind only a parting remark: "Water God, your tactics are truly ingenious! As a dignified righteous deity of the Heavenly Court, you actually employ evil methods to control the minds of living beings! The Phoenix Race will surely hold you accountable!"

He still didn't forget to sling mud. However, Li Changshou felt a slight sense of relief. It was fortunate that Subhuti hadn’t continued to press his earlier line of questioning. If he had simply asked, "Will the Heavenly Court eventually pacify the Immortal Alliance?", it would have been genuinely difficult to answer.

Upon hearing Subhuti’s parting words, the Golden-Winged Great Peng could no longer restrain himself. He surged forward two steps, attempting to sense the location of Subhuti’s true form, and cursed loudly: "Do not dare tarnish my teacher’s name! This humble Taoist, enlightened by my teacher, now understands my past arrogance and conceit. From this day forth, I will serve the Heavenly Court and my teacher with all my heart! You old Daoist, I swear this humble Taoist will grind your bones to dust!"

With that, the Golden-Winged Great Peng transformed into his true form as a golden-feathered Roc and shot into the sky. And at this moment, three meditation cushions remained on the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s back…

"What?" Among the immortals, Bai Ze’s eyes widened and his brows furrowed. He seemed on the verge of speaking, then hesitated, a profound sense of "midlife crisis" washing over him. How long had he been away from Black Pool Peak? His master already had backup mounts? No, that incredible speed… Had he, the auspicious beast mount, been relegated to a backup role? Bai Ze’s brow was deeply furrowed, and a thousand thoughts immediately churned in his mind. He needed to find a way to secure his position as a mount within the Human Teaching!

On the Flying Platform, Li Changshou chuckled twice, bowed to Daoist Lamp, and ascended the steps once more, returning to the white clouds above. Bing Qingyue stepped forward at the opportune moment, bowing respectfully in all directions, and then invited Alliance Leader Lamp to return to his throne.

The assembly proceeded without further disturbance. Thanks to the Heavenly Dao’s benevolent assistance that day, the Immortal Alliance Assembly’s final outcome far exceeded Li Changshou’s initial expectations. To bring down a karmic tribulation upon a Western Sect saint disciple with merely a few words… Who could possibly withstand that?!

Li Changshou then recalled his Uncle-Master Yuanshi Tianzun’s words, that he had become the primary orchestrator of the Great Tribulation. This… Could it be that he had inadvertently usurped his master’s reincarnated self’s role? If the Investiture of the Gods was not under Yuanshi Tianzun’s control but instead fell into the Heavenly Court’s hands, why would Yuanshi Tianzun have taken Jiang Ziya as a disciple? No, the situation seemed even more nuanced. Precisely because Jiang Ziya had countless ties to him, the Heavenly Court Water God, it was indeed plausible that Yuanshi Tianzun would still choose to admit Jiang Ziya into the Jade Void Palace… In essence, certain elements of the Great Tribulation remained unchanged; only the motivations and origins of their occurrence differed. Different causes leading to a singular outcome—this remarkable power of convergence…

Layers of understanding dawned upon Li Changshou. He glanced at Bai Ze and Jiu Wu, then closed his eyes on the cloud, openly entering a state of profound enlightenment. He no longer needed to concern himself with subsequent matters; Mrs. Bian and the others could determine the Immortal Alliance’s future development path themselves.

The nominal figurehead: Lamp merely spoke a single sentence, ostensibly to "cast a brick to attract jade" for the Western Sect’s saint disciple. He then witnessed the saint disciple being drawn into tribulation and dared not speak again, subsequently being smoothly sidelined by a group of vice-alliance leaders.

The true strategist behind the scenes: Li Changshou had meticulously planned for ten years, establishing the Immortal Alliance’s entire framework. Now that the Alliance was successfully in place, he would no longer need to be heavily involved; a single paper Daoist would suffice to regularly monitor its operations.

And so, half a month later.

Streaks of light departed from the venue, and the Immortal Alliance Assembly officially concluded. Lamp departed rather swiftly. Zhao Gongming and Lü Yue had originally intended to secretly cause some trouble for Lamp, but Lamp gave them no opportunity whatsoever. Interestingly, Daoist Cihang, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan School, did not depart with Lamp.

After the assembly concluded and most factions had departed, Daoist Cihang hesitated for a moment before flying towards Li Changshou and his companions, who were gathered, chatting and laughing.

"Junior Brother Chang Geng?" From ten zhang away, she spoke, "Could I speak with you outside? I have a few doubts I’d like Junior Brother to clarify."

As Li Changshou was about to respond, Zhao Gongming instinctively stepped forward, blocking him. Elder Zhao smiled calmly and steadily, saying, "Junior Sister Cihang, can’t you tell your Senior Brother instead?"

Daoist Cihang’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and her smile was a little forced, but she replied directly, "Senior Brother would likely find it difficult to answer my questions."

Zhao Gongming: …

The Golden Spirit Holy Mother calmly stated, "Then ask me."

"Well…"

Li Changshou smiled. "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I’ll be back shortly; it won’t take long."

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and shook his head, while the Golden Spirit Holy Mother let out a slight warning hum. Lü Yue, initially slow to grasp the situation, then recalled the true authority within their sect…

"Chang Geng!" Lü Yue called out to Li Changshou, quickly took two steps forward, and tucked a flask of pills into Li Changshou’s sleeve.

Li Changshou couldn’t help but ask, "What is this?"

Lü Yue whispered telepathically, "It's the Steadfast Heart Pill, a unique creation of this humble Taoist. Take care."

Li Changshou’s eyes lit up. *Old Lü really does have his tricks.*