Chapter 585: Taming the Flying Knife, Unveiling the Battle Curtain

From the dance pavilions and stages, leaning on the railings, one gazes back, enveloped in the misty rain and flowing sleeves.

Li Changshou sent Lingzhuzi to invite Heng'e, and she immediately agreed without hesitation. If not for the need to give Li Changshou some time to prepare, she would have come that very day to meet him. The oath that she "could not leave the Taiyin Star" had already been broken when the Jade Emperor previously issued an order to summon her. In other words, Heng'e could now leave Guanghan Palace and move about freely at any time, provided she found a "legitimate" reason.

Meeting Heng'e alone... that would certainly be inappropriate.

Li Changshou arranged a lavish banquet at the Taibai Palace, specifically inviting Longji to accompany him. He also secured the services of a musician with a rather unique status: Ling'e. One could say his survival instinct was quite strong.

Beside the round banquet table, two screens were placed. Bai Ze was concealed behind them within a hidden formation, "toying" with the bottom of a gourd that had been mostly disassembled, leaving only its scoop-like structure. Tiny "parts" floated nearby like an asteroid belt. The Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger, which represented the highest living creature artifact-refining technique of the Demon Court, held no more secrets in Bai Ze's hands. Mr. Bai, struck by inspiration, seized the opportunity to mix two small squares, which had been left over from the last time he assembled the item, into the pile of parts. Nothing happened. Nothing happened.

The natural rules of the Primordial World differed significantly from those of Li Changshou's old home, Blue Star. Here, the heavens were round and the earth square, with the Heavenly Dao projecting the celestial canopy onto various worlds; only the Five Continents of the Primordial World were genuine.

The warmth of the Sun Star gradually receded, and a bright moon hung high in the sky. Before the Taibai Palace, a pure white path seemed to appear, sliding down from the Taiyin Star directly to the palace entrance. The Moon Immortal maiden arrived on a cloud, her intricate and miraculously revealing celestial gown, which perfectly exposed her shoulders and legs, emitted a soft, shimmering glow. This caused many heavenly soldiers and generals to lose focus with just one glance and become dizzy with two. Fortunately, Bian Zhuang had returned to his hometown, otherwise he would surely have fainted from excessive nosebleeds today.

Jade Rabbit and Lingzhuzi were, of course, not suitable to appear at this moment. The two were in Guanghan Palace, drinking tea and eating snacks, with Jade Rabbit listening to Lingzhuzi vent his inner frustrations. Essentially, while Golden Peng, Ao Yi, and Bian Zhuang all had their own missions, he was only ever relegated to running errands. And short-range errands at that.

Meanwhile, Immortal Maiden Heng'e gracefully descended before the Taibai Hall, where Li Changshou, accompanied by Longji, went out to greet her. Li Changshou, maintaining his appearance as an old immortal, immediately performed a Daoist bow and smiled, "Star Lord, I trust you have been well."

"My Lord, please don't be so polite," Heng'e replied with a smile and a Daoist bow of her own, though she subtly reached up to cover the collar of her gown. Heng'e asked directly, "My Lord, I presume this summons isn't merely an invitation for drinks, is it?"

"Oh, Star Lord, what are you saying?" Li Changshou, with a straight face, politely replied, "Star Lord, you reside in a crucial location on the Taiyin Star and are one of the Heavenly Court's few masters. It's quite necessary for me to invite you for a meal and foster our relationship, isn't it? Star Lord, please come in. This humble wine and simple fare are but a small token of my respect."

Heng'e nodded with a smile and stepped into the grand hall. Li Changshou activated the hall's restrictions, isolating the area from the outside. Just then, a wisp of mournful music drifted from a corner. The slow melody contained endless sorrow, like a woman weeping, yearning, complaining, and lamenting.

"Cough!" Li Changshou cleared his throat and, with his hands behind his back, "reprimanded" loudly: "What's wrong with the music? Change it to something more cheerful. What, has this humble Daoist been busy for several hundred years only to be unable to enjoy himself and discuss Heavenly Court affairs with the Star Lord?!"

Ling'e, in the corner, couldn't help but roll her eyes. Still, she didn't undermine her Senior Brother, softly responding: "Yes, little immortal made a mistake. Star Lord, please don't be angry. If this doesn't work, how about I invite my elder sister to play?"

Li Changshou: "..."

"It's good to correct one's mistakes. There's no need to make a big deal of it."

Ling'e naturally wouldn't make things difficult for her Senior Brother. The music soon changed to the tinkling sound of a mountain spring, which had a soothing effect on the mind and spirit. If not for the many rules of the Jade Pond, and Longji, as the Queen Mother's favorite, being constantly lectured, she would definitely have burst out laughing at that moment. Fortunately, Longji held back. Not only did she manage to control herself, but she also proactively explained to the bewildered Heng'e: "To entertain the Star Lord, my master has brought out his most cherished treasure."

Heng'e immediately understood and bowed towards the little immortal maiden, who remained out of sight in the corner. Only then did she resume her conversation with Li Changshou. Heng'e had also heard some rumors regarding the situation within the Taibai Palace. Humph, it wasn't because she was too bored from idleness and had nothing better to do than to use her Cloud Mirror spell to observe the heavens, the earth, and the mortal realm!

As the banquet began, Li Changshou displayed his exquisite rhetorical skills, and their conversation with Heng'e proved to be quite enjoyable. However, as it was a tense period of preparation for battle, Li Changshou was unwilling to waste too much time on the matter of the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger. He quickly shifted the conversation to ancient times.

"Previously, when I was chatting with the Star Lord, I seemed to hear that there was no marital affection or conjugal relationship between you and the ancient Great Witch Yi of the Witch Clan. It was merely a marriage alliance, a union in name only."

Heng'e was surprised by Li Changshou's bluntness, her face slightly flushed. She spoke softly: "Heng'e certainly did not speak falsely, but this matter concerns the dignity of both the Human and Witch Clans. I ask that my Lord not reveal it to outsiders."

"Rest assured, Star Lord," Li Changshou said seriously. "I invited you here today because I need your help. I have recently found the Great Witch Yi." After speaking, Li Changshou secretly observed Heng'e's expression. Heng'e's gaze showed little fluctuation; her initial expression was one of relief and subtle joy, though not profound. Such a subtle degree of emotion was difficult to fake. Li Changshou could largely conclude that this sense of relief and joy stemmed from a shared connection among beings of the same era.

Heng'e softly said, "So Yi was not harmed by the Demon Court? That's quite fortunate."

"It's hardly fortunate; he's living a life worse than death," Li Changshou sighed. "I'm now left wondering just how many utterly outrageous acts the Demon Court committed back then. That Demon Master Kunpeng is already a grave sinner, but the Demon Court as a whole was even worse."

Heng'e sighed, "Without experiencing the darkest times of antiquity, one cannot truly understand how difficult it is for the Human Race today. The Witch Clan originally took pleasure in hunting all beings. Though their methods could be brutal, they acted openly and honorably, specifically targeting powerful individuals. The Demon Race, originally formed from all beings and protected by the Heavenly Dao to contend with the Witch Clan, failed to self-govern or restrain themselves. They adopted the rampant behavior of the Witch Clan as their standard, but instead chose to bully the weak. The Demon Court's most prosperous period was also the most suffering time for the beings of the Primordial World. Within the Demon Race, powerful tribes oppressed weaker ones; the Qingqiu clan of today was merely a plaything for those stronger tribes in the past. Taking pleasure in exploiting other beings, failing to strive for self-improvement or advancement, and instead constantly lowering their own moral bottom line, they were ultimately destined to suffer a calamity. No matter how brilliant the Demon Emperor's strategic talent, or how elegant the Demon Queen's character, they could not suppress a Demon Court fundamentally built upon decay. Demon Master Kunpeng was merely a microcosm of this decay."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile and brought the conversation back, saying: "This Great Witch Yi also suffered torture; he is now delirious, with only his spirit essence refined into a treasure. Does the Star Lord wish to see him?"

Heng'e smiled, "He and I are old acquaintances. If my Lord deems a meeting necessary, please arrange it." Longji, standing nearby, secretly marveled. This immortal maiden from Guanghan Palace was clearly no simple person.

Li Changshou clapped his hands, and from behind the screen, Bai Ze gracefully floated forward, carrying the 'gourd scoop'. On the 'gourd scoop' was an altar. The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence was locked outside a bronze pillar, and the upper section, an 'Immortal Hall' that released sword energy, had been temporarily removed, revealing only a fraction of the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger's secrets. Bai Ze's dismantling and reassembly skills were becoming increasingly refined.

"This..." Heng'e frowned and stood up, walking to Li Changshou's side. She lowered her head, looking at the Great Witch Yi's tragic spirit essence, and couldn't help but softly call out: "Great Witch... Great Witch?"

The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence suddenly opened its eyes, which were filled with frenzy and rage. It then threw its head back, roaring silently, as if intent on incinerating itself. Li Changshou raised a hand and pointed a finger. The spirit essence was instantly sealed by Yin and Yang energies, and it continued its silent, frenzied cries.

Heng'e hurriedly asked, "What is he saying?"

"It's meaningless, just an expression of anger," Li Changshou sighed. "He has been in a frenzy for a long time; it's impossible to communicate with him. Does the Star Lord have any method to awaken his spirit essence? If we cannot awaken Yi's consciousness, this treasure will have to be destroyed along with his spirit essence. Otherwise, keeping it would only pose an unstable hidden danger."

"Alas," Heng'e mused for a moment, then said, "I wasn't particularly close with him, but I do know that the Great Witch most loved his first wife's Witch Clan prayer dance. I can try to see if this method can restore his consciousness."

Li Changshou cupped his hands and said, "I am indebted to the Star Lord for your trouble. Many thanks."

"It's merely doing something for an old acquaintance." Heng'e spoke softly, then walked to the side and hesitated for a moment before subtly inquiring with the "musician" in the corner. Ling'e, being an expert in musical arts and the strongest background music performer of Little Qiong Peak, was skilled in a myriad of techniques. She quickly produced a small drum and began to beat it rhythmically.

Then, Li Changshou, Bai Ze, Longji, and the crazed spirit essence of Great Witch Yi all witnessed a performance that was... a rather clumsy prayer dance. Who could have imagined that Immortal Maiden Heng'e, who moments before was poised and exquisitely beautiful in her multi-layered celestial gown, would suddenly begin to spread her arms, lower her head, arch her back, jump around barefoot, and mutter incantations... The sight was unbearable, leaving all observers with expressions of utter bewilderment. Heng'e possessed an unyielding spirit, but the harder she tried at that moment, the more... pathetic she appeared. The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence remained completely unaffected, continuing its silent, upward cries.

A moment later... "Please don't speak of what happened today, everyone." Heng'e said this with a smile, her narrowed eyes glinting sharply. The short sword in her hand pulsed with a chilling light, causing Longji and Ling'e, whose cultivation was slightly weaker, to shiver involuntarily.

"Rest assured, Star Lord, rest assured." Li Changshou repeatedly assured her. Then, he thought of something and asked, "What if we invite someone from the Witch Clan to portray Yi's wife and perform this dance...?"

Heng'e sighed, "Where would we find someone from the Witch Clan at such short notice?"

"No matter, there's one in the backyard," Li Changshou said, waving a hand. Longji quickly rose and left, dragging out Xiong Lingli, who was sleeping and slacking off from cultivation in the mountains. —The Sea God Lord had already made all the arrangements, so her individual cultivation seemed rather pointless.

Observing Xiong Lingli, with her twin ponytails and small limbs, Heng'e murmured a few times, saying, "She's too thin and weak. The Witch Clan values robust physiques as beautiful."

"That's easy!" Xiong Lingli took a light breath, raised her left hand, puffed out her cheeks, and blew on her thumb. In an instant, she expanded to a height of ten feet! Her entire body bulged with muscles, transforming into her former "rockery-sized" stature. Li Changshou secretly broke into a sweat, thinking Xiong Lingli was about to transform into a giant. He almost threw out the Mustard Seed Universe miniature array specifically designed for her.

After some simple instructions, Xiong Lingli took a breath and, in front of "Immortal Maiden Heng'e," the Three Realms' foremost dancer, she began to perform the prayer dance she had once shown Li Changshou—bouncing around beside the banquet table. The Witch Clan itself was quite extraordinary.

The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence ceased its agitation and instead revealed an expression of yearning. As the drumbeats grew livelier and Xiong Lingli danced with increasing joy, the Great Witch Yi's spirit essence gradually froze. Chains appeared around its body, binding it firmly to the bronze pillar. By the time Xiong Lingli was dancing with sweat pouring down her face, the Great Witch Yi's expression had turned affectionate and nostalgic, with crystalline teardrops forming at the corners of its spirit essence's eyes. A tender murmur, spanning countless ages, then resounded in the hearts of those present...

"Is that you, Iron Hammer...?"

Heng'e couldn't help but palm her forehead, almost taking her leave immediately.

A moment later.

"Xiong Lingli of the Witch-Human Clan greets Senior."

Beside the banquet table, Xiong Lingli bowed. The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence, now restored to consciousness, gazed at Xiong Lingli with a complex expression, and its voice resonated in the hearts of the immortals present.

"Is there no longer a place for my Witch Clan in this world?"

Li Changshou replied, "Great Witch, you needn't worry. Empress Houtu has sheltered a branch of the Witch Clan in the Underworld, and the Witch Clan in the northern part of North Kuru Continent is also thriving and multiplying. While they no longer enjoy their former glory and are under the Heavenly Dao's supervision, their bloodline has not been severed."

'Heng'e is here, and Demon Marshal Bai Ze is here... So, who are you?'

The Great Witch Yi closed his eyes, but Li Changshou felt a sharp gaze fixed upon him, causing his Dao heart to tremble slightly. Truly worthy of an ancient mighty being capable of mending arrays for the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

"I am merely a Star Lord in the current Heavenly Court," Li Changshou said with a smile.

Bai Ze spoke up from the side: "Great Witch, if you still hold any affection for the Witch Clan, then do not disrespect this immortal deity before you. Were it not for him, the Witch Clan in the Northern Continent would likely have been wiped out, and Empress Houtu would have also faced great trouble..."

"Mr. Bai, there's no need for further explanation," Li Changshou said, raising a hand. His eyes fixed calmly on the Great Witch Yi's spirit essence, "I don't actually need to explain too much to you; it would be difficult to clarify everything quickly. Let's keep it simple between us: I'll state my request, and you state yours. It would be ideal if we could reach a quick agreement."

'Speak.'

"I intend to use the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger, and in a thousand years, I will grant you freedom and the chance to reincarnate."

'Agreed.'

"Mr. Bai, please reassemble the gourd."

The Great Witch Yi's spirit essence opened its eyes, frowned at Li Changshou, then shifted its gaze to Heng'e. Heng'e offered a faint smile and nodded at him.

'You are still alive. Those few human generals didn't make things difficult for you, which is decent enough.'

Heng'e sighed, "There's no need to elaborate on what happened back then. Even if they had caused trouble, what could they have done? My father would naturally protect me. It's good that you can reincarnate. The Star Lord is arguably the most interesting being in the world today, and his promises to you will certainly not be false."

'Ultimately, my Witch Clan lost,' Great Witch Yi sighed, a hint of distant nostalgia in his eyes. 'Congratulations.'

"Thank you."

Having spoken, the Great Witch Yi closed his eyes and said no more, carried by Bai Ze to behind the screen. Li Changshou and Heng'e exchanged glances. The latter smiled helplessly, a touch of sadness in her eyes as she recalled the past. She picked up her wine goblet and drank by herself.

The Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger could finally be used. Having acquired another treasure capable of slaying Grand Unity Golden Immortals and injuring mighty beings was, all in all, a joyous occasion. However, Li Changshou didn't waste much time. After seeing Heng'e off and spending a playful moment with Ling'e, he immersed himself in his intense strategic planning.

The capture of Kunpeng was primarily divided into three stages: Generating momentum in the early stage, steadily controlling the situation, and finally, making the move to catch the target. As soon as news of the Grandmist Purple Qi surfaced, the mighty beings of the Primordial World were sure to erupt in a frenzy. However, by having the Daoist experts actively project an aura of absolute determination to obtain the Grandmist Purple Qi, various mighty beings could be persuaded to largely remain on the sidelines, preventing premature conflicts that would introduce unpredictable variables.

The first thing Li Changshou needed to do was to make the qi refiners below the Grand Unity realm "retreat in the face of difficulty." Whether in his past life or in the Primordial World, opportunists were never in short supply whenever beings harbored audacious ambitions. Li Changshou's method for dealing with such a situation was simple: To fix destiny. All he needed to do was to simultaneously release the news of the Grandmist Purple Qi's imminent appearance along with the revealed Heavenly secret that the eighth and ninth wisps of Grandmist Purple Qi were destined for Daoist disciples. This would naturally deter most qi refiners. If the ninth wisp of Grandmist Purple Qi truly manifested, it would be a treasure even Saints would contend for. If it belonged to a major sect, that sect could gain another quasi-saint... Any rational rogue cultivator in the Primordial World would not involve themselves in such a commotion. As for the "side effects" of such actions—like deepening the conflict between Daoist qi refiners and others, or increasing resentment towards the Daoist sect among beings throughout the world—these were all within acceptable limits. If Kunpeng was caught later, they would publicize the matter, and the Heavenly Court would then proactively issue an apology to the outside world. This would both earn the Heavenly Court a wave of positive reputation and solidify the impression that the Heavenly Court was "strong enough to scheme against Kunpeng." It was indeed a plan that killed many birds with one stone.

The countdown to the planned great battle at Xuandu City began: fifteen years. Discussions about the Grandmist Purple Qi began to emerge in the Primordial World. Many qi refiners spoke of matters they normally dared not discuss, such as the difference between Heavenly Dao Saints and Grand Dao Saints. In the same year, various unusual phenomena appeared around Huoyun Cave, with many rare ancient beasts making an appearance. According to certain influential figures who claimed to be "the one hundred thirty-second generation great-grandson of one of Xuanyuan Huangdi's bed companions' nephews," the atmosphere within Huoyun Cave was very serious, with several human sages gathering regularly to discuss important matters. The classic premonition of a coming storm, "mountain rain about to come, wind filling the tower," had quietly taken shape.

Ten years remaining. A rumor then exploded across the Primordial World and the Three Thousand Worlds. The Grandmist Purple Qi of Ancestor Hongyun from back then wasn't merely divided into eight wisps; nine was the ultimate number. It had been split into nine wisps, and the ninth was about to manifest, with the continuous strange phenomena at Huoyun Cave serving as a premonition! Upon discovering the leak, Huoyun Cave immediately severed its connections with the outside world and sealed its entrances and exits. Furthermore, a large number of Xuanyuan Huangdi's generals were stationed around the Great Marsh, seemingly searching for something. Minor disturbances appeared throughout the Primordial World, and countless pieces of news were difficult to verify. Qi refiners pricked up their ears and widened their eyes, eager to witness what major events might unfold in the world. Mighty beings, once believed to have assimilated into the Dao, constantly revealed their traces in various locations. The entire Primordial World was utterly set into motion by a single wisp of Grandmist Purple Qi.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou had, through Mei Wenhua and the senses of her three easily assimilated sisters, confirmed that Kunpeng had heard the news. —Mei Wenhua sensed that the Heavenly Demon Venerable had begun to accelerate the "differentiation" of Heavenly Demons. The grand curtain had fully risen. Li Changshou was about to depart for Xuandu City to make various array arrangements. A large hand slowly opened; though Kunpeng was immense, it could not escape the grasp of this hand...

What Li Changshou did not know, however, was that as he extended this massive hand, another, even larger hand was simultaneously opening from below, encompassing him and the entire world within its grasp.