Chapter 546: Maitreya

With a soft rustle, the inconspicuous mosquito on the paper effigy's shoulder quietly vanished.

Li Changshou's heart stirred slightly. He transmitted a message to Wen Jing Daoist's spiritual consciousness, which had not yet fully dispersed:

"Don't always appear in the form of this mosquito. It's better to be safe than sorry. From now on... disguise your divine ability to look like a golden cicada or a grasshopper."

In a hidden cave dwelling at the foot of Lingshan, Wen Jing Daoist, who was soaking in a pool, was momentarily bewildered.

Lord Star Lord is truly... something else.

In the underground secret room on Little Qiong Peak, Li Changshou spread out a piece of paper, quietly sorting through the opposing party's recent scheme.

The information brought by Wen Jing Daoist was similar to what Di Ting had provided, differing only slightly in perspective.

The demonic cultivators' jade talisman, unexpectedly intercepted by True Immortal Yu Ding, contained information that they were to eliminate several human rulers and leaders in the Southern Continent—the so-called 'mortal emperors';

And when Maitreya sought out Ksitigarbha for 'counsel,' the scheme he revealed was more specific and detailed: targeting the chieftain's clan of the Shang tribe, namely, 'Qi's' descendants.

The message Wen Jing Daoist brought, however, was the command she had received.

This command was not to personally deal with mortals, but to wait south of the Southern Sea. Regardless of whether those demonic cultivators succeeded or not, she was to annihilate every single one of these 'hired' cultivators at the other end of their 'escape route.'

Three pieces of information, three different angles, yet they could be reasonably integrated.

The Western Sect aimed to disrupt the Heavenly Courts' progress with minimal investment.

Ever since the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Courts directly confronted the two Western Sect Saints in the Purple Heavens Palace, the two factions had become adversaries.

The Western Sect's interference with the Heavenly Courts was a way for them to buy time.

After some deliberation, Li Changshou felt that, aside from their poor secrecy, the Western Sect's scheme itself was sound.

Nevertheless, he decided to treat the matter with caution, even if it meant using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Additionally, he needed to keep some attention on the Sect Master, lest the Sect Master fall victim to the Great Tribulation's schemes and become an insignificant ripple.

While ordinary Golden Immortals have very little impact on the Great Tribulation, he would naturally protect him if possible;

After all, if there were no Immortal-Du Sect, he wouldn't be where he was now.

Li Changshou sighed softly, went to his master's thatched hut to offer three incense sticks, then turned and immersed himself in this new scheme.

To intercept the Western Sect!

And, while he was at it, to subtly arrange a small plot for Wen Jing Daoist to inadvertently earn some merit, strengthening her adversarial relationship with him. A pursuit scene would be ideal.

This way, Wen Jing Daoist, who had already passed a Saint's test, would gain more influence within the Western Sect.

—These were all bonus objectives; it was best to secure the main points first.

Li Changshou prepared for two months, contacting Kong Xuan in advance and inviting True Immortal Taiyi and True Immortal Yu Ding to provide support.

Furthermore, this was the first time Li Changshou brought the nineteen human senior experts who had long followed him but had been indulging in leisure, as well as the nineteen demonic soldiers Grand Master Xuandu had brought back from Xuandu City, to another ambush point.

He had the top-tier mighty figure Kong Xuan, two True Immortals from the Chan School, and nineteen ancient human demonic soldiers whose combined combat power was not to be underestimated;

And then there was him, the young Daoist from the Human School, heading to the Southern Continent with the Taiji Diagram, the Xuanhuang Pagoda, and the Qiankun Ruler. It should be...

Ahem, no jinxing, just full effort.

As an extra precaution, he would separately settle Qi's grandsons. As long as the great principles remained intact and the immortal covenant was unharmed, the Shang tribe's rise to the Shang Dynasty would not be significantly affected.

As per usual, when 'Boss Diagram' brought 'Lord Pagoda' and 'Brother Ruler,' 'Auntie Flag' would also descend.

When Li Changshou took the Flaming Light Banner and went to find Ling'e, she immediately understood.

"Brother, are you going out again?"

"Yes," Li Changshou said with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, I'll only be in the Southern Continent for about a month. Keep Master's treasures close to you; don't let them out of your sight."

"Oh," Ling'e replied, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Although they weren't together every day even when her brother was on the mountain, and she had been diligently cultivating and secluded herself daily since he told her to focus on practice and not handle Immortal Alliance affairs.

Li Changshou raised his hand to pat Ling'e's head, then his figure vanished, leaving faint ripples in the cosmos—a testament to his mastery of escape techniques.

"He tells me it's dangerous outside and I shouldn't wander around, yet he himself runs off every day! He doesn't even have his junior sister in his eyes, hmph!"

Ling'e pouted, putting her hands behind her back and sulking for a moment. Soon, however, she began humming a cheerful tune and went to meditate under her favorite lakeside tree.

Li Changshou, observing this scene through his paper effigy, merely chuckled softly before shifting his thoughts to the Heavenly Courts.

At this point, he needed to inform His Majesty the Jade Emperor in advance, to give him a sense of involvement, perhaps by having a clone descend to handle things, as the Jade Emperor was almost... idle these days.

Ahem, it had been peaceful in the Heavenly Courts for a long time, and the Jade Emperor could still sit steadily in the High Heavens Palace. This was a rare display of perseverance and responsibility.

Sure enough, after Li Changshou reported the matter to the Jade Emperor, General Wei Shenmo excitedly went to the Hall of Penetrating Light to retrieve a token, shed his battle armor, donned a purple-red Daoist robe, and secretly departed for the Southern Continent to rendezvous with Li Changshou.

Although the Shang tribe was developing rapidly and had occupied large territories in the eastern part of the Southern Continent, there weren't many prosperous cities within their borders.

At this time, the Shang tribe had set its sights on the prosperous central region of the Southern Continent, steadily encroaching and advancing. Captured prisoners continuously provided surplus labor, and a noble class was beginning to take shape.

However, due to the restrictions of the immortal covenant, those in power, adhering to ancestral teachings, could not use immortal elixirs or spirit medicines to extend their lifespans;

Even if the Shang tribe's chieftains, harboring discontent, secretly acquired spirit pills, these pills would self-detonate as they reached their lips.

And these 'descendants of Qi' who disregarded ancestral teachings and violated the immortal covenant either died suddenly or went mad. After several attempts, the Shang tribe's chieftain clan abandoned this idea.

Mortal wealth and prosperity were enjoyed without yearning for the lifespan of immortals or gods.

In a luxurious private room of a tall building in a prosperous city in the central Southern Continent, Wei Shenmo, listening to Li Changshou's voice transmission detailing these matters, sipped mortal tea and continuously nodded in approval.

"My dear Chang Geng, you've worked hard! To think you arranged this so long ago!"

Li Changshou...

It seemed His Majesty hadn't cared about such a significant matter as the separation of immortals and mortals at all!

He had written all this in his memorials back then, truly 'read it and forgot it'...

Wei Shenmo chuckled, "Oh, right, Youqin Xuan'ya is the original princess of this clan, isn't she? Should we transfer Xuan'ya here this time?"

Li Changshou replied, "Of course, it's up to Your Majesty, but Xuan'ya would have to travel back and forth..."

"It's decided then!"

Wei Shenmo immediately made the decision and closed his eyes. Soon, he opened them and stated, "Lord Mu has already gone to arrange it. Xuan'ya will soon lead a squad of Heavenly Soldiers, secretly disguised as mortals, into the Shang tribe.

Over the years, Xuan'ya has made outstanding contributions to enhancing the Heavenly Courts' image and influence.

My dear Chang Geng, think about how Xuan'ya should be rewarded."

Li Changshou smiled, "Perhaps it would be better to wait until Xuan'ya has overcome her Golden Immortal Tribulation and can truly lead a force before bestowing any rewards."

"Alright, you, her senior brother, decide," Wei Shenmo said, raising an eyebrow at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou secretly grumbled a few words to himself. He always felt that His Majesty the Jade Emperor wasn't suddenly being more considerate, but rather finding ways to arrange 'good things' for him.

Having a superior who was intent on giving benefits to his subordinates...

It was truly exhausting.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou had been secretly observing the environment around Sect Master Ji Wuyou, essentially witnessing what 'immortal sect bickering' truly entailed.

Just as Ji Wuyou had said, the Free & Easy Immortal Sect and the three other immortal sects did not actually come to blows after multiple forces intervened.

The two sides first confronted each other for a month, during which various reinforcements arrived;

Then, some Grand Unity Golden Immortals, who were senior and well-connected, 'incidentally passed by' and stepped forward to 'speak plainly' and 'verify' the situation. The three major immortal sects, unable to contain their anger, retreated their troops, and both sides began to haggle and negotiate terms.

Li Changshou finally felt relieved about this.

In truth, to genuinely annihilate a sect, one must plot in secret, launch a lightning-fast assault, breach the mountain-protecting array in the shortest time possible, and unleash the strongest decisive power!

Actions like gathering reinforcements from all sides, high-profile confrontations, and constant displays of power are, on the contrary, intended to gain more advantages in subsequent negotiations.

The four immortal sects found a mountain, and under the watchful eyes of the many experts who had come to provide support, they began to recount their past grievances against each other.

From conflicts that caused casualties among their disciples a hundred years ago, they recounted incidents stretching back tens of thousands of years, such as a certain immortal sect elder buying substandard pills produced by the Free & Easy Immortal Sect in a market town.

The Free & Easy Immortal Sect also temporarily cast aside its 'purity and inaction' principle, listing past grievances one by one.

For instance, several rogue cultivators misused the Free & Easy Immortal Sect's name to trick a certain immortal sect out of a batch of magical treasures. That sect then came to the Free & Easy Immortal Sect demanding spirit stones, which resulted in a brawl between the two sides, becoming a joke in the Central Divine Continent... and so on.

Whenever relations between the two sides stiffened and grew tense again, peacemakers would emerge to speak impartially, and both sides would concede a half-step, continuing their wrangling.

Back and forth, Li Changshou watched with great interest.

The Free & Easy Immortal Sect, originally the weaker party, would certainly have to give up several market town spirit medicine shops and pay a sum of spirit stones. The current issue was simply the extent of the losses.

Finally, after nearly fifty days of haggling, the farce came to an end. The Free & Easy Immortal Sect shed a little blood, and the crisis was resolved.

Immortal-Du Sect Master Ji Wuyou, accompanied by several elders, attended the Free & Easy Immortal Sect's thank-you banquet, then discreetly embarked on their journey home.

Li Changshou did not lower his guard. Even as traces of demonic cultivators began to appear in the Southern Sea and the Western Sect's scheme was about to commence, he still kept part of his attention on Ji Wuyou.

During this period, Li Changshou had taken the Jade Emperor's clone sightseeing and inspecting mortal human affairs. All arrangements across the Southern Continent were now complete.

As soon as the demonic cultivators in the Southern Sea revealed their presence, Li Changshou summoned Marshal Golden Peng to coordinate the overall situation.

He also arranged paper effigies for constant surveillance in the capitals of several larger kingdoms in the Southern Continent, to prevent human calamities caused by the extermination of local rulers.

After much calculation and thought, Li Changshou felt he had left no loopholes.

When he arrived with Wei Shenmo at the major city where the Shang tribe leader resided, they met Kong Xuan in an elegant residence.

Kong Xuan asked directly:

"Since we already know the enemy's movements, why not strike directly when they gather, catching them off guard?

This way, we could also avoid causing panic among the mortals here."

Li Changshou considered carefully, then said, "For safety's sake, it's better to guard this place. We don't know if these demonic cultivators are merely a diversion; acting rashly could easily lead us into their trap."

"Indeed," Kong Xuan nodded lightly, sitting quietly on a wooden chair by the window, deep in thought.

Beside him, Wei Shenmo couldn't help but frown repeatedly, subconsciously glancing at Kong Xuan, then quickly averting his gaze as he scrutinized the first peacock born since the creation of heaven and earth.

He saw that Kong Xuan at this moment possessed the complete appearance of a woman.

Her figure was slender and shapely, her face had become beautiful, and her phoenix eyes held less majesty and a touch more allure. Having been of undetermined gender previously, she had now embraced her female form, acquiring the inherent charm of a woman.

The kind that could make 'Little Martial Ancestor' Jiang Lin'er burst into tears.

Wei Shenmo looked at Li Changshou, casting him a gaze of admiration.

Li Changshou, however, instantly understood the deeper meaning of that look. He quickly clarified the matter, transmitting a whispered 'Grand Master' to Wei Shenmo.

Kong Xuan asked softly, "Has he been back recently?"

"He returned for the meeting at Purple Heavens Palace," Li Changshou replied, "but then he hurried back to Xuandu City."

Kong Xuan nodded, saying nothing more, and sat there, closing her eyes to rest.

Though her gender was determined and her yin and yang differentiated, her personality remained unchanged. Her inherent pride was difficult to conceal, and she had no desire to hide it.

After waiting there for merely half a day, Li Changshou's paper effigy detected dozens of streams of light flying from an island in the Southern Sea, rapidly approaching the Shang tribe's major city in the Southern Continent.

"They're here."

"Mm," Kong Xuan replied, her body radiating a five-colored divine light. Her slowly opening eyes were filled with chilling killing intent.

Li Changshou glanced at his sect master, found that the master had safely returned to the Immortal-Du Sect, and then redirected most of his attention to the matter at hand.

On the coast of the Southern Sea, in Anshui City.

A young Daoist, transformed from the Golden-Winged Great Peng, was slowly savoring a round pastry on the street.

As those streams of light swiftly passed tens of thousands of miles away, Golden Peng showed a hint of regret, swallowed the pastry whole, clapped his hands, and vanished as a wisp of breeze.

"It has begun."

On the top floor of the Reincarnation Pagoda, a Daoist sitting in the corner shadows chuckled softly. His Daoist robe, like a sack, even had several patches.

Under the window, Di Ting idly wagged its tail. Ksitigarbha, who was seated cross-legged beside it, opened his eyes.

Ksitigarbha asked, "Since you clearly know it's a losing battle, why waste your energy in vain?"

"Oh?"

The slightly plump Daoist's lips still held a smile as he retorted, "Junior Brother, what do you consider victory, and what do you consider defeat?"

Ksitigarbha fell silent.

The slightly plump Daoist's hand now held a golden alms bowl. He slowly pushed the bowl forward, and from within it, a light screen emerged, revealing the outline of a large mortal city.

In the sky south of the city, dozens of stars lined up and softly flickered, rapidly approaching the great city.

The slightly plump Daoist raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening.

"I almost forgot, Junior Brother's mount can eavesdrop on the hearts of all living beings. In this situation, there's no need for me to display it; sitting here, you already perceive everything in the Three Realms."

Ksitigarbha frowned and said, "Senior Brother's words carry hidden meaning; it seems you are suspecting something of me."

"Indeed, I do have suspicions."

The slightly plump Daoist, Maitreya, the Western Sect's Eldest Senior Brother, straightened his posture, leaning forward halfway. His slightly oily, smiling face made Di Ting subconsciously lower its head, not daring to meet his gaze.

Maitreya spoke slowly:

"I am not doubting Junior Brother. I deeply respect Junior Brother's ability to sacrifice himself for Lingshan.

However, Junior Brother, don't you find that in the previous encounters with the Water God, everything felt rather peculiar?

Is Li Chang Geng truly so prescient, always seizing the initiative against us? Even in the battle of the Broken Dragon Eye in the Eastern Sea, his arrival was far too timely.

Have you ever suspected there might be something amiss here, Junior Brother?"

Ksitigarbha's gaze darted back and forth, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

At this moment, on the light screen projected by the golden alms bowl, dozens of streams of light had reached within a hundred miles of the great city, poised to strike the imperial palace in its center.

Suddenly, within that great city, five-colored divine light flashed, and a figure swiftly appeared in the air, standing quietly, facing the dozens of incoming demonic cultivators.

Of the Phoenix Clan, Kong Xuan.

Maitreya glanced at the scene in the display, seemingly unconcerned. He continued to gaze at Ksitigarbha and Di Ting through the light screen, chuckling:

"Junior Brother, besides being able to perceive the voices of all beings, your mount also seems capable of transmitting thoughts to all beings in reverse, doesn't it?"

Di Ting's body stiffened, an inexplicable chill rising from its limbs and bones.

It felt as if behind that smiling face was an utterly ferocious beast, capable of devouring it whole, despite its considerable strength.

Ksitigarbha said coldly, "Senior Brother, I don't know your exact intention. At this moment, you should be focusing on the group of human Qi Refiners you arranged."

"Them?"

Maitreya chuckled, "Junior Brother, do you know how mortals catch fish?

One method is called angling: one takes a thin line and a small hook, wraps bait around it, casts it into a river, pond, or lake, waits for a while, and the fish, taking the bait, falls into the angler's trap."

"Senior Brother used a chain of schemes?"

"It's not really a chain of schemes, just a few minor arrangements."

Maitreya raised his hand, pointing at the light screen, then seemingly through the screen at Di Ting, causing the latter's body to tense almost to the breaking point.

"Look, Junior Brother," Maitreya's smile gradually faded, "this woman is Kong Xuan of the Phoenix Clan. She possesses the Five-Colored Divine Light divine ability, and her strength rivals the top Saint Disciples of the Dao Sect. Even I am not confident I could defeat her.

These desperate demonic cultivators, gathered from three thousand worlds, have no idea they're about to face such an adversary. They're already starting to panic.

Look, Kong Xuan has made her move."

The light screen showed Kong Xuan's five-colored divine light flashing like five sharp swords sweeping across the sky, instantly decapitating a dozen or so demonic cultivators who were charging at the forefront.

Kong Xuan let out a cold snort, revealing her might.

The group of demonic cultivators were stunned for a few moments. When Kong Xuan's figure flashed and appeared before them, the remaining twenty-odd demonic cultivators turned and fled, each displaying their divine abilities, moving at more than double their previous speed!

Kong Xuan snorted coldly again. As her hand rose and divine light fell, several more figures were horizontally severed by the five-colored divine light.

This was merely the most basic application of the Five-Colored Divine Light; its sealing, restricting, imprisoning, and sweeping effects were entirely unutilized.

On the top floor of the Reincarnation Pagoda, Maitreya narrated this scene with a smile;

For some reason, Di Ting began to tremble all over, burying its head in its paws, not daring to look up.

"See, these rogue cultivators are very clever; they've started to scatter and flee. From the south, another Golden Peng bird has flown in—the Golden-Winged Great Peng who first defected to Lingshan and then betrayed us for the Heavenly Courts. He and Kong Xuan are siblings.

However, a few of them still carry Great Teleportation Talismans, which can directly teleport their forms south of the Southern Sea.

There, I have arranged dozens of Primordial Ferocious Beasts."

Ksitigarbha slowly nodded, saying, "The scheme is a good one, but Senior Brother seems to have underestimated the Water God. He certainly wouldn't fall for such a shallow trap."

Maitreya said, "That's not necessarily true."

"Does Senior Brother have any other arrangements?"

"Alas," Maitreya sighed softly. "I actually don't wish to interfere with these matters, but our Western Sect is indeed in a critical moment.

I have observed the Water God closely for a long time, and I have also fully recreated our repeated encounters with him, identifying the Water God's weakness...

Junior Brother, do you think the Water God is skilled in scheming and inherently suspicious?"

"Indeed."

"Then you are mistaken," Maitreya said. "The Water God, in fact, always seeks the greatest certainty. His nature is not suspicious, but rather strives for stability.

For example, at this very moment..."

The light screen showed:

Under the pincer attack of Kong Xuan and Golden Peng, the scattering demonic cultivators quickly collapsed. However, a few of them, in the chaos, pulled out jade talismans, narrowly escaping the Five-Colored Divine Light and golden feathers.

At this point, Golden Peng unhesitatingly pursued them beyond the Southern Sea, while Kong Xuan did not chase forcefully, but instead returned directly to the great city.

"See," Maitreya chuckled, "these siblings likely had no opportunity to communicate, yet they so decisively adopted an offensive and defensive stance. This must be the Water God guiding them in secret.

Even with an easy victory, he won't let down his guard. This is the Water God's modus operandi."

Ksitigarbha retorted, "How is Golden Peng pursuing alone considered stable?"

"You're mistaken, Junior Brother. It's not just Golden Peng pursuing them; the Water God, whom we cannot see, is also chasing."

"Why are you so certain, Senior Brother? Neither of us has seen any trace of the Water God. Perhaps he's only here in a clone today, and his true body hasn't appeared."

"Why so certain... Junior Brother, just watch."

Maitreya lightly swiped his finger, and a dark expanse appeared on the golden light screen, seemingly the void beyond the heavens.

Here, a massive six-pointed array glimmered, displaying a grey vortex within. One could faintly discern dozens of figures, either humanoids or fierce beasts, lurking around the array.

The Great Teleportation Talismans' landing point was here. The few demonic cultivators emerged from it one by one, and a graceful figure actively stepped forward to greet them.

Within the Reincarnation Pagoda, gods, spirits, and beasts watched this scene. Ksitigarbha had already foreseen the fate of those individuals, a faint bitter smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Maitreya smiled, his eyes narrowed.

"Haven't you realized yet, Junior Brother?

When the Water God was still the Sea God, his true body always appeared either beside the Grand Master or protected by numerous supreme treasures. These were changes that occurred as the Water God's strength continuously increased.

The target I chose this time, though seemingly just a mortal city, is actually a weak point in the Water God's grand plan connecting the Heavenly Courts and mortal humans. He would naturally attach great importance to it, and his true body would definitely be here, accompanied by the Innate Supreme Treasures: the Taiji Diagram and the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda.

Under the circumstances just now, since Golden Peng pursued them, the Water God would have no reason to let his favored general face danger alone.

According to the Water God's modus operandi, it would actually be him making the move this time, with Golden Peng merely providing support.

With the Taiji Diagram and Xuanhuang Pagoda protecting him, no one could harm him unless a Saint intervened. His action would be the most secure.

Look, hasn't he arrived?"

As Maitreya spoke, the graceful figure stepped onto the Qiankun Array. The light-blue array's glow illuminated her captivating appearance, clearly Wen Jing Daoist.

Wen Jing walked up to the few who had fled there, a captivating smile gracing her lips, and an eerie crimson light flashing in her eyes.

The eyes of those demonic cultivators immediately turned vacant, allowing Wen Jing to walk past them, letting her slender fingers trace their foreheads.

As Wen Jing walked to the other side of the array, these kneeling figures suddenly collapsed, turning into piles of fine sand, suspended in the void.

Precisely at this moment!

A ghostly image of the Taiji Diagram eerily appeared above Wen Jing Daoist, and the white-browed, white-haired old Daoist stepped out.

The Grand White Golden Star, Li Chang Geng!

Wen Jing's expression changed. She instinctively let out a sharp shriek, and the dozens of ferocious beast shadows around her pounced, launching a fierce assault on the old Daoist.

On the top floor of the Reincarnation Pagoda, Maitreya's eyes narrowed. The light screen projected by the golden alms bowl focused on Wen Jing Daoist and the few most powerful ferocious beasts.

Seeing them continuously vomit blood from being suppressed by the Xuanhuang Pagoda, Maitreya's smile grew even wider.

"The repeated leaks of information should have nothing to do with Wen Jing. In that case...

Di Ting, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

"Ex-explain what?"

Di Ting mumbled softly, "Did you misunderstand? The Water God wants to get rid of me quickly."

Ksitigarbha, however, said, "Senior Brother, is this grand display merely to investigate who is the Water God's informant?"

"That's only thirty percent of my intention."

Maitreya flicked his finger, and the screen split into two parts.

On the left was the void, where numerous Primordial Ferocious Beasts besieged the Heavenly Courts' Grand White Golden Star, who was protected by the Xuanhuang Pagoda, managing to temporarily trap Li Changshou in place;

On the right was a hazy cloud, where more than a dozen black figures, enveloped in dark mist, sat quietly. The grey mist seemed to be constantly moving.

Maitreya chuckled, "Look at these. These are Golden Immortals I painstakingly gathered. Although their strength isn't exceptional, they all come from a Jie School background.

Junior Brother, Di Ting, I only have one question for you today.

Where exactly is the Water God's true body hidden?"

Ksitigarbha frowned, "How would I know?"

"You may not know, but it does," Maitreya said, looking at Di Ting. His smile turned utterly chilling, and waves of oppressive aura swept towards Di Ting!

Di Ting's blue fur bristled, but in an instant, it was suppressed by the oppressive aura, forced to lie prostrate on the ground, stiff and unable to move.

Ksitigarbha's face showed anger. "Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this? Do you think I betrayed Lingshan and have long been colluding with the Water God?"

"Don't be anxious, Junior Brother. I merely suspect there's something amiss with this divine beast of yours. I would never doubt you."

Maitreya maintained a faint smile, his finger pointing remotely at Di Ting.

"Little one, Junior Brother Ksitigarbha is now listed among the Heavenly Dao sequence, while you are still merely a mount.

I will ask you one more time: where does the Water God's true body usually hide? And which Human School immortal sect did he begin his cultivation journey from?"

Di Ting stammered, "I... I truly cannot be certain..."

"Is that so?"

Cold light flickered in Maitreya's eyes.

"Senior Brother, that's enough."

Ksitigarbha's sleeves billowed, his long hair swayed, and a dense power of the Heavenly Dao erupted around him, divine light emanating from his eyes.

"Di Ting is my mount."

Maitreya's smile remained, but the cold light in his eyes was almost tangible.

"But you are still a disciple of my Western Sect."

Crack, crack!

In the corner of the room, the bookshelf suddenly splintered, and a fierce outward wind began to blow within the Reincarnation Pagoda.

"Immortal-Du Sect... it's the Immortal-Du Sect!"

Di Ting suddenly cried out, "The Water God's hiding place is the Immortal-Du Sect! Di Ting only learned this half a month ago and hasn't had time to report it to Master!"

Ksitigarbha frowned, and the cold light in Maitreya's eyes receded as he naturally chuckled twice.

Precisely at this moment, the two parts of the light screen, separating Ksitigarbha and Maitreya, suddenly changed.

On the left, several ferocious beasts suddenly unleashed dozens of streams of light, blasting cracks and fissures in the cosmos around the Heavenly Courts' Grand White Golden Star!

On the right, the hazy grey scene suddenly shifted. The grey mist dissipated with the wind, and more than a dozen figures, enveloped in black mist, appeared high in the sky.

They looked down, directly below them lay a tranquil immortal sect's mountain gate, its thin, smooth grand array reflecting the light of the sun star.

Di Ting almost held its breath, staring at the scene in the display. Just as a trembling sound escaped its throat, the more than a dozen black figures suddenly plunged downwards, without hesitation, crashing into the mountain-protecting array!

Precisely at this moment, in the left part of the golden light screen, the Grand White Golden Star abruptly turned, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

On Little Qiong Peak!

In the surrounding forests and streams outside the mountain-protecting array!

Figures shot into the sky. Dozens of male and female cultivators, old and young, at the Heavenly Immortal realm, seemed to have been lurking everywhere for a long time, ready to meet the dozen or so black figures rapidly descending from the sky.

The black figure at the very front suddenly paused, took out a black pearl from his robe, and forcefully crushed it. A pitch-black orb surged forth, instantly enveloping the mountain gate below and sweeping across a thousand li!

Each of those rising figures, male and female, young and old, suddenly lost their forward momentum, transforming into paper effigies mid-air, drifting powerlessly downwards!

The paper effigies were out of control!

Several black figures simultaneously struck with their palms, smashing onto the mountain-protecting array below. The array glowed brilliantly, but cracks appeared in its luminous barrier.

On the top floor of the Reincarnation Pagoda, Maitreya had already risen to his feet.

"For the sake of your divine beast finally telling the truth, I will spare its life today. From now on, you two will remain quietly and honestly on this Reincarnation Pagoda.

You've already jumped out of the vortex of sectarian conflict, so why must you get involved again?

Also, in today's situation, there will be absolutely no clues pointing to our Lingshan, apart from what I have told you here.

The illusion I have created this time is that our Western Sect and the Chan School collaborated to scheme against this Water God. We will subsequently vehemently deny having done anything.

If this provocation fails, and the Water God only takes his anger out on us, without blaming the Chan School...

Tsk, I wonder what divine beast meat tastes like."

Di Ting trembled all over, lowering its head with a dejected sigh.

Maitreya turned to leave, but Ksitigarbha stated firmly, "Senior Brother, what difference does it make even if this Human School immortal sect is destroyed? It won't harm the Water God's vital essence."

"But it will make him very displeased."

"This will only deepen his prejudice against our Western Sect, bringing no benefit to us!"

"Foolish Junior Brother," Maitreya, who had been facing the wall, slightly turned his head, his peripheral vision fixed on Ksitigarbha by the window. "Whether out of stance or personal emotion, he already desires to eliminate the Western Sect swiftly.

After the Purple Heavens Palace incident, we are mortal enemies with him.

Only by making him suffer a little will he develop deeper apprehension. His nature, which always seeks the greatest certainty, will make him re-evaluate the strength of our Western Sect.

And most importantly..."

The golden alms bowl flew into Maitreya's hand. The last remaining image showed the Grand White Golden Star attempting to depart with the Taiji Diagram, but the ferocious beasts were frantically attacking, causing the surrounding cosmos to continuously vibrate.

Meanwhile, at the Immortal-Du Sect's mountain gate, the mountain-protecting array had already shattered under the subsequent impact of the black figures. Figures flew out from the Immortal-Du Sect's various peaks, hastily moving to engage the enemy...

The images faded as the light screen dimmed and dispersed. Maitreya had already retrieved the golden alms bowl into his sleeve.

Maitreya vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there, leaving not a single ripple of Daoist charm, only that final soft chuckle and faint words.

"Retaliating against the Water God once will significantly uplift my spirits."

Ksitigarbha closed his eyes and frowned. Di Ting slumped to the ground, sighing heavily.

"Were you really the one leaking information?"

"Master, you must believe... Alas, just the last few times..."

"Don't get involved again in the future."

"Yes, Master," Di Ting replied, closing its eyes and attempting to sense the