Chapter 504: Dao Sect, The Agreement Without Battle

Why?

Kṣitigarbha just wanted to ask one thing now: why?

Why had his Wheel of Reincarnation suddenly become a venue for the Daoist Three Sects Conference? And without even a single word to him, the Master of the Wheel of Reincarnation!

It was just so casual, so natural, so thoughtless!

Kṣitigarbha had been waiting, waiting for the Immortals of the Daoist sects of Chan and Jie to arrive. Then he would step forward and shout at them, “Get out of my Wheel of Reincarnation!”

Of course, that was what he thought in his heart; shouting it would be undignified.

He would simply say, "Only righteous gods of the Heavenly Dao sequence are permitted entry into the Wheel of Reincarnation," which would be well-reasoned, convincing, and would subtly put the Daoist immortals in their place.

The thought alone was delightful.

So, Kṣitigarbha endured and waited, until within the Wheel of Reincarnation, Daoist immortals had demarcated their areas. The Chan sect had vigorously summoned hundreds of disciples, while the Jie sect, after being persuaded not to bring too many, eventually gathered several thousand immortals.

Li Changshou had not appeared for a long time, rumored to be searching for the whereabouts of the Red Lotus in the Sea of Blood.

With the crucial "lubricant" missing, the atmosphere between the two sides began to stiffen.

Finally.

Had everyone quieted down? Were no new immortals coming?

Good, now was the time!

Kṣitigarbha narrowed his eyes, and a finger, while Diting was off guard, lightly tapped Diting's forehead, temporarily sealing his mouth.

“Everyone!”

Kṣitigarbha slowly stood up, a confident smile playing on his lips, and starlight bloomed in his eyes.

“You…”

A tremble. His throat was trembling slightly.

Kṣitigarbha was suddenly alarmed, feeling an overwhelming pressure pressing in from the dense crowd directly in front of him, nearly solidifying his Dao heart!

What immense power...

Look at the Chan sect!

The bell-striking immortal sat at the head, the Twelve Golden Immortals at ease.

All those seated were blessed with good fortune, their Dao inherited from Yuqing, their law profound.

Now look at the Jie sect!

Several great disciples with renowned reputations, the Sacred Servants and Great Immortals not to be underestimated.

Three thousand Daoists listened to the Great Dao, a glimmer of life held within their grasp.

At this moment, due to Kṣitigarbha's two calls, the Daoist immortals all looked over. Within this temporarily created pocket dimension, their gazes converged into a torrent, causing Kṣitigarbha, even with the Heavenly Dao's protection, to nearly collapse!

This scene seemed to perfectly illustrate the hard truth that with great numbers, one can do whatever one desires.

The words "Daoist Sect" seemed to appear above the Wheel of Reincarnation. Kṣitigarbha recalled the continuous sighs of his two teachers when he first became a disciple.

The Daoist Sect was simply too powerful.

Duobao Daoist laughed, “This… Tower Master, how may we help you?”

Kṣitigarbha forced a smile and, neither humble nor arrogant, spoke loudly:

“This place is the Second Wheel of Reincarnation, a place protected by the Heavenly Dao. I kindly ask everyone to refrain from loud noise and to maintain the cleanliness of the area!”

Yes, the prestige of the Tower Master!

“Thank you for the reminder,” Duobao Daoist replied with a smile, and the immortals, somewhat bored, averted their gazes.

Kṣitigarbha nodded, silently sat back beside Diting, and unsealed Diting's mouth, realizing his back was drenched in sweat.

Diting buried its head in its paws, its long tail wagging, almost laughing out loud.

Chijingzi asked gently, “Has Junior Brother Chang Geng not returned yet?”

Baize, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward promptly.

By now, Baize had changed into a dark Xuan-colored Daoist robe, and his goatee was more neatly trimmed. He bowed to both sides and smiled, “The Water God will be returning soon. He has already discovered a method to find the Red Lotus, and he should have good news to bring back to everyone.”

At this time, Li Changshou's true body, shielded by the Taiji Diagram, was actually hiding nearby.

Baize’s words served as a preliminary setup, enabling his smooth entrance.

Indeed, no sooner had Baize’s voice faded than the immortals of the Jie sect began to stir; most of the Chan sect immortals remained calm, though a few showed signs of worry.

Just then, a sigh echoed through the top floor of the Wheel of Reincarnation, and Li Changshou’s white-haired, white-robed figure appeared at the staircase entrance, stepping into the pocket dimension.

“Junior Brother Chang Geng!”

“Chang Geng is here!”

“Chang Geng, have you found the Red Lotus?”

Li Changshou held his whisk, raised both hands, and declared loudly, “Senior brothers and sisters, junior brothers and sisters, do not fret, do not fret, listen to what I have to say!

I have only found traces of the Red Lotus, but it is possible that the location is a deliberate trap. I returned to gather with all of you before investigating further.

As I speculate, the Red Lotus is not yet ready to emerge. We shall guard it here at the edge of the Sea of Blood, ensuring that no one else can seize it!”

As he spoke, Li Changshou had already walked to the neutral zone between the two sects, specifically bowing to Guangchengzi and Duobao Daoist, addressing them as senior brothers.

The two senior grand-disciples also rose and returned the bow, showing Li Changshou great respect.

At this moment, many immortals looked at Li Changshou’s empty space behind him…

They were not looking at his body parts, of course.

As immortals from both sects continued to arrive, Heavenly soldiers and generals delivered a large number of chairs and meditation cushions. The immortals of both sects sat on separate sides, clearly divided.

At this time, there was a row of stone chairs to Li Changshou's left and right, which had previously been fully occupied.

Taiyi Zhenren laughed, “Junior Brother Chang Geng, would you like to sit here? It’s a bit stuffy, and I happen to need some fresh air.”

“Brother-in-law, come here!”

Qiong Xiao immediately retorted, offering the seat behind her, “I'll stand.”

Li Changshou then revealed… an awkward yet polite smile.

He naturally intended to stick to his previous strategy—remain in the center, but not take a seat.

Guangchengzi suddenly spoke, pointing between his and Duobao’s seats, and laughed, “Chang Geng, though you entered the sect a bit later, today you fully represent the Human Sect, and you even have the direct command of our Eldest Uncle-Master.

Today, there might be some disagreements between our Chan and Jie sects, and we need a mediator.

Perhaps you should sit here.”

Guangchengzi looked at Duobao Daoist with a smile and asked, “What do you think, junior brother?”

“Excellent, most excellent!”

Duobao Daoist patted his belly, exuding a calm confidence.

Li Changshou frowned inwardly, contemplating his next plan, and was about to immediately reject this seemingly good suggestion.

The higher he was praised, the harder he would fall;

His own strength was insufficient, and his cultivation level was barely upper-middle among those present, which he largely owed to half of the Jie sect immortals lowering the average.

If he were to sit as an equal with the two senior grand-disciples of the great sects, it would be four words—virtue mismatching position.

Not a stable path to take.

“Thank you, senior brothers, for your favor.”

Li Changshou bowed again and gently said, “Junior brother, I am of shallow talent and learning, and I fear I am not qualified to be such a mediator.

Although my teacher has commanded me to manage the sect affairs, our Human Sect only has six mountain peaks and a few courtyards.

For such a grand occasion, it is still up to you two senior brothers to take charge. I will just move a cushion and sit here to offer suggestions. What do you two senior brothers think?”

Guangchengzi laughed, “Just come and sit. Who doesn’t know of Chang Geng’s wisdom and foresight?”

“Exactly,” Duobao Daoist urged, “With you seated in the center, who wouldn’t be convinced?”

“Senior brothers, this is absolutely not permissible!”

Just as Li Changshou was about to reason, set up a ploy, and appeal to emotions, a voice suddenly came from behind him:

“Let me see, who is bullying Chang Geng?”

The immortals followed the sound, only to see a yin-yang fish diagram behind Li Changshou, appearing from who knows where or when, and a figure slowly stepping out from it.

This was an eight-foot tall man, with long hair casually loose, eyes not sharp, and a slightly ordinary but quite pleasing face.

He wore a dark blue robe and black-soled, white-patterned boots. With just a light laugh and a teasing remark, he brought peace to people’s minds.

When the Chan sect immortals saw this person, Guangchengzi immediately bowed, and all the immortals lowered their heads in salute.

When the Jie sect immortals saw this person, there was a slight commotion, but Duobao Daoist cleared his throat, and the surroundings fell silent. Three thousand immortals, with somewhat uneven movements, also bowed their heads in salute.

The immortals spoke, their voices converging into one phrase:

“Greetings, Senior Grand-Disciple.”

Though a bit chaotic, with echoes rising and falling, the deep respect was still palpable.

Xuandu, Grand Master!

Li Changshou truly breathed a sigh of relief, his back unconsciously straightening. “Senior Brother!”

The Grand Master blinked, smiling and nodding.

To the side, the Golden-winged Great Peng Bird lifted a stone chair and nimbly placed it directly in the center between Guangchengzi’s and Duobao Daoist’s seats.

The Grand Master waved his hand, surveyed the surroundings, and sighed with a smile:

“A single lotus flower has caused such chaos in the Daoist Sect, making you junior brothers and sisters so anxious. Why?

Where is the demeanor of a great sect?

And where is a clear and righteous Dao heart?”

Many immortals from both the Chan and Jie sects showed ashamed expressions, not daring to meet the Grand Master’s gaze.

The Grand Master stepped forward, sat on the central stone chair, and motioned for Duobao, Guangchengzi, and the immortals of both sects to be seated as well.

Li Changshou smoothly retreated to a corner, exchanging glances with Baize and Azure Ox.

Baize gave Li Changshou a questioning look, and Li Changshou returned a firm gaze, causing Baize to ponder slightly before a gradual smile appeared.

‘Is everything arranged?’

‘Don’t worry, everything is arranged.’

Then, within the gathering…

Guangchengzi asked, “Senior Brother Xuandu, has the fighting in Xuandu City been stable recently?”

“Temporarily undisturbed.”

Grand Master Xuandu said leisurely, “This time, Chang Geng called me urgently, saying that the Chan and Jie sects were about to fight over a Red Lotus, so I had to rush back to see if I could help mediate.

As far as I understand, the junior brothers and sisters of the Jie sect want this Red Lotus to suppress their sect’s destiny, while the junior brothers and sisters of the Chan sect believe this Red Lotus is a collection of karma from heaven and earth, which will bring disaster.

Is this correct?”

Duobao Daoist said solemnly, “Indeed.”

“Precisely,” Guangchengzi added, “The Twelfth-Grade Karmic Red Lotus is inherently connected to Old Ancestor Nether River; we must not give that fiend an opportunity.”

Duobao Daoist was about to retort, but Grand Master Xuandu raised his hand to stop him.

The Grand Master asked, “Do the two Uncle-Masters have any decrees?”

Duobao Daoist and Guangchengzi simultaneously fell silent, each sitting in their stone chairs.

“Alas,” the Grand Master sighed, “The two Uncle-Masters have not said how to handle it, yet you have gathered all these junior brothers and sisters here…

Why are you so anxious? How do you know this isn’t a scheme?”

Duobao Daoist laughed, “Senior Grand-Disciple’s lesson is correct.

However, the great tribulation is approaching, and our Jie sect lacks an artifact that can suppress its luck, which is why we are a bit anxious…

Please, Senior Grand-Disciple, lend us your full support!”

Guangchengzi frowned, “The Red Lotus is formed from karma; how can it be used to suppress sect destiny?”

Duobao Daoist conceded no ground, “The Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus has the same origin as the Twelfth-Grade Golden Lotus; why can’t it suppress sect destiny?”

“Exactly!”

A Jie sect immortal stood up and declared loudly, “The Twelfth-Grade Red Lotus has, in ancient times, suppressed the Asura clan’s destiny!

Our Jie sect does not seek much; we just want to suffer less damage during the great tribulation, nothing more, and we are not targeting the Chan sect!”

From the Chan sect, an immortal immediately rose and replied, “Regardless of other things, with so many saint disciples in the Jie sect alone, can this Red Lotus truly suppress it?”

A fiery-tempered female immortal spoke up, rebuking, “You, why do you speak such unpleasant words?

Our Jie sect is united, with fellow disciples like brothers and sisters, and we only lack an item to suppress our destiny!”

“The Red Lotus goes against the natural order, and is intolerable to the Heavenly Dao. How can it be allowed to appear, and how can it be used to suppress sect destiny?

This, this doesn't comply with the rules, does it?!”

“How can treasures be good or bad, and how can divine powers distinguish between right and wrong?”

“Exactly!

Why is the Chan sect so eager to obstruct us today? Are they perhaps trying to make a joke of our Jie sect?

Or are they trying to make more of our Jie sect immortals die during the tribulation to help your Chan sect fill the karmic debt?”

“We are all disciples of the Daoist sect, why must we quarrel like this?”

“Pah! I've long found you displeasing, and today, I will!”

*Buzz—*

A black and white halo burst forth from the Grand Master’s body, washing over everything like a wave, forcibly suppressing the imminent conflict between the two sects and plunging the top floor of the Wheel of Reincarnation back into silence.

The Grand Master smiled, “Where did Chang Geng hide? It’s your turn.”

“Senior Brother, I’m here!”

Li Changshou answered from the corner and stepped forward.

The Grand Master’s smile gradually faded, and he said coldly, “Those who just engaged in a heated argument and kept escalating the conflict, have you noted them?”

Li Changshou declared loudly, “All noted!”

“Investigate thoroughly afterwards, to see if there are spies planted by the Western Sect.”

Grand Master Xuandu said indifferently, his face conveying authority without anger, causing the Dao hearts of most immortals present to tremble slightly.

Following that, the Grand Master’s figure leaned back in his chair, and his relaxed voice spread throughout the area:

“The three Daoist sects are originally one family.

The Chan sect, Jie sect, and Human sect merely have different doctrines. The two Uncle-Masters indeed had a few disagreements regarding accepting disciples back then, but they never truly opposed each other.

Why is it that today, you junior brothers and sisters are so confrontational?

Ask yourselves, are you worthy of the word ‘Dao’ above your heads?”

A moment of silence fell among the immortals.

Seeing that he had held the entire audience in check, the Grand Master then relinquished the main role.

“Chang Geng, speak of the Red Lotus matter as you see it.”

“By Senior Brother’s command, please, fellow cultivators, hear me!”

Li Changshou bowed to all directions, held his whisk, took two steps forward, and spoke loudly:

“Today, I will not speak of what the Western Sect is like, for everyone should already understand the true nature of the Western Sect!

Today, I will also not speak of how the Chan and Jie sects should coexist peacefully. With the great tribulation ahead and the outcome uncertain, no one knows what will happen when the six Saint Lords of the Purple霄 Palace gather.

However, if the Chan and Jie sects were to engage in a fierce battle simply over this Red Lotus, it would be utterly laughable.

If a fight had truly broken out just now, whose hearts would it have pleased, whose desires would it have fulfilled?

And whose relatives, friends, Dao companions, and fellow disciples would have been lost?

At this moment, amidst the great tribulation, how can any of you determine whether you have already been affected by the karmic fate?

Driven by a surge of passion, shouting about sacrificing oneself for the sect, in the end, it would only turn into karmic dust, harming your own great sect’s fortune and diminishing the Daoist sect’s fortune!

Do you all wish for this Red Lotus to become the turning point for the Daoist sect’s decline from prosperity?”

The immortals fell silent.

Taiyi Zhenren sighed, “It’s unfortunate, but judging by the current situation, a battle will happen sooner or later.”

Li Changshou stated firmly, “Even then, we must prioritize and know why we fight!”

Zhao Gongming, who had remained silent all this time, could not help but speak, “Chang Geng, what exactly do you mean?”

“Senior Brother, do not fret. Today, I will speak a few direct words, without hiding anything, making everything clear.”

Divine light flashed in Li Changshou’s eyes, and the shadow of the Taiji Diagram appeared behind him as he took another two steps forward.

His voice, though calm, contained an extraordinary authority.

“First, I will state two points that our three Daoist sects must adhere to.

The first point is that before the few Saint Lords in the Purple霄 Palace discuss how to resolve the great tribulation, we must absolutely not have internal strife!

If our three teachers wholeheartedly strive to secure a glimmer of hope for us, yet we fight each other to a bloody pulp before then, what would that say?

The second point!

Even if, after the Purple霄 Palace, the Saint Lords fail to resolve the great tribulation, and we must weaken the power of living beings, you and I must ensure that we can simultaneously weaken the power of other great sects outside of the Daoist sect.

How could our three teachers wish to see us fighting amongst ourselves?

Are you all willing to see the Chan and Jie sects fighting, only for the Western Sect to reap the benefits?

When the great tribulation erupts, we three sects need not even act in concert; if the Jie sect, which has the most immortals, simply engages the Western Sect alone, with the Chan sect and Human sect waiting on the side, allowing the Jie sect to send the enemies that need to be eliminated to fill the karmic debt, wouldn't our Daoist sect suffer fewer casualties?

The principle is exactly that. If any fellow disciple is unconvinced or finds it inappropriate, the Human Sect is willing to mediate and act as guarantor.

But today!

If anyone later stands up and says, ‘What fault does the Western Sect have?’ or ‘What does the Western Sect have to do with this matter?’, then I ask the three senior grand-disciples to act, cripple their Dao foundation, and expel them from the Daoist sect!”

Li Changshou's final words were impactful and powerful, causing all the Daoist immortals to nod in unison, with a few even breaking out in a cold sweat on their foreheads.

In the corner, Kṣitigarbha snorted,

“The Water God is truly formidable, making our Western Sect a target to alleviate internal conflicts within the Daoist Sect.”

Li Changshou said, “If you say one more word, I will ask Senior Grand-Disciple to use the Soul Transference spell on you, making you personally reveal all the details of the Western Sect’s schemes against the Daoist Sect over the years.

Our two factions are inherently in contention for the great destiny of heaven and earth, and our stances are opposed. Now that the great tribulation has descended, what needs to be said should be said openly, lest there be those in our Daoist Sect who are unaware of the Western Sect’s evil, and, being soft-hearted, fall prey to the Western Sect.”

Kṣitigarbha snorted, but remained silent.

Li Changshou shook his head and continued to say loudly:

“Regarding this Red Lotus matter, I will point out three suspicious aspects.

First, the timing of its appearance is rather subtle.

The Red Lotus seed did not appear early or late, but precisely when this great tribulation descended, it appeared in the Sea of Blood, and the news reached both the Chan and Jie sects almost simultaneously.”

Li Changshou turned to face the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan sect, gazed at Guangchengzi, and bowed, “Senior Brother Guangchengzi, there must have been people in the Chan sect who argued that if the Jie sect obtained the Red Lotus, how could the Chan sect contend with the Jie sect during the great tribulation?

Senior Brother, you don’t need to say who it was; if you have heard such words, just nod.”

“Indeed,” Guangchengzi replied, then closed his eyes to rest.

Li Changshou then looked at Duobao Daoist, bowed, and said, “Senior Brother Duobao, has anyone in the Jie sect ever said that the Red Lotus is an evil treasure, and how could it be used to suppress Dao resonance, only to be refuted by others?

Similarly, Senior Brother, you don’t need to say who refuted it; if you have heard such words in recent days, just nod.”

Duobao Daoist slowly nodded, also closing his eyes to rest.

At once, the immortals of the Chan and Jie sects began discussing amongst themselves through spiritual transmissions. They were more or less filled with doubts, and started to reflect on whether they had been used.

In the corner, Baize’s eyes were full of admiration; he truly wanted to praise:

“Water God, a master of sophistry.”

Sophistry by means of changing concepts is a common tactic, but few can use it as skillfully as Li Changshou.

With just a few simple sentences under the first point, along with the previous hints and groundwork, Li Changshou easily made ninety percent of the immortals in the room believe that the reason for today’s conflict and division between the two sects, which nearly escalated into a clash, was purely due to external provocation…

This served to temporarily conceal the fundamental conflicts between the two sects.

It also gave the immortals of both sects a warning, telling them that spies from the Western Sect were undoubtedly lurking within their own ranks.

Duobao and Guangchengzi naturally understood this as well. Their cooperation and silence indicated their belief that Li Changshou’s handling of the situation aligned with the current ‘interests’ of both sects.

Li Changshou continued to guide the thousands of immortals present…

“Secondly, several years before us, the Western Sect began searching the Sea of Blood, sending thousands of beings there.

This begs the question: Have they already retrieved the Red Lotus? Or did they find nothing at all?

The Western Sect claims to be impoverished, yet they also have a particularly diligent Saint who works tirelessly, day and night, traveling everywhere to collect all sorts of treasures.

Do you think that Saint would overlook such a Red Lotus?”

All the immortals shook their heads.

Li Changshou then said, “The power of a Saint is unfathomable; they can certainly find the whereabouts of the Red Lotus. At this point, there are only two possibilities.

One, the Western Sect Saint cannot take the Red Lotus, implying there is a setup that even a Saint fears.

Two, the Western Sect Saint took it or deliberately left the Red Lotus behind to carry out various schemes.

Under such circumstances, how can we be careless?”

The immortals nodded one after another.

Even an intelligent immortal maiden like Qiong Xiao felt that Li Changshou’s words were entirely sound.

“Third, if this Red Lotus were controlled by Old Ancestor Nether River for his resurrection, why wouldn’t Old Ancestor Nether River remind the Asura clan to prepare early?

As a result, the Asura clan now acts like headless chickens, frantically scurrying about in the Sea of Blood?

Upon closer inspection, everywhere are traps, and everywhere are schemes.”

“Chang Geng is right,” Duobao Daoist sighed, “This time, we were indeed inconsiderate.”

Guangchengzi also opened his eyes and slowly said, “We nearly fell victim to someone else’s scheme. Fortunately, Chang Geng was vigilant and warned us in time.”

Li Changshou:…

These Senior Grand-Disciples, they all pretended to be confused while perfectly understanding!

From the Chan sect’s side, Yuding Zhenren asked in a deep voice, “Chang Geng, how should we resolve today’s situation?”

“Senior Brother Yuding, do not fret, I already have a plan.”

Li Changshou took a scroll from his sleeve, held it up with one hand, and effortlessly unfurled it, revealing lines of neatly written characters.

“I, Li Chang Geng, a disciple of the Daoist Sect, initiate this matter today!

From this day forward, until the six Saint Lords of the Purple霄 Palace discuss the great tribulation, the Human, Chan, and Jie sects shall not engage in conflict!

If you all agree, sign this Non-Aggression Pact here!

May the three sects flourish!

May the Daoist Sect not decline!”