Chapter 591: Is This Definitely Not Some Kind of Autism Challenge?

The Paper Avatar stepped into the great hall as if entering the largest treasury near the Heavenly Court's Numinous Sky Palace. Piles of precious materials, some Li Changshou recognized and others he didn't, were casually stacked everywhere. In several medicine gardens enclosed by formations, over a dozen sealed spiritual roots were cultivated using micro-universe greenhouse methods.

The four stone walls were covered in intricate carvings. The jade beneath his feet seemed to have been cultivated over countless ages, possessing a unique texture when stepped upon. Yet, Li Changshou couldn't find a single spirit stone here. Was this truly just one ten-thousandth of Senior Lang's original wealth?

What most caught Li Changshou's eye was a bookshelf in the corner, holding only three or four thick tomes, similar in style to the "Annals" he had seen before. Presumably, those were Senior Lang's true relics.

The great hall itself was extremely simple in structure, like a paper box. Though surrounded by rich spiritual light, it gave off a sense of oppression. Was the stone tablet shrouded in mist the "Kun Peng User Manual" mentioned earlier?

This... it was fortunate that Kun Peng was male, otherwise Senior Lang would have been nailed to the pillar of shame and publicly condemned for leaving such words.

At the hall entrance, Li Changshou signaled to Fairy Yun Xiao to retreat with him, and incidentally added two more layers of restrictions to Kun Peng's primordial spirit.

Inside the hall, the Paper Avatar slowly advanced, walking dozens of meters further until it reached the stone tablet. Li Changshou cautiously activated a burst of immortal power, blowing towards the tablet. The mist quietly dissipated, revealing a three-meter-tall stone tablet, and on its front, dense, neat...

"Holy cow!"

Li Changshou almost spewed out a mouthful of complaints. The Paper Avatar stood blankly before the tablet, while his true form silently made a gesture as if lighting a cigarette, feeling an urge to squat down and sigh.

On the tablet before him... it was covered in '正' (tally marks). What a terrible sense of humor Senior Lang had!

"What's wrong?" Yun Xiao softly asked. "Is something amiss? This place feels quite strange; it's best to be careful."

"It's nothing," Li Changshou slowly sighed. "My fellow countryman, this senior... he loves to joke too much." With that, he slowly pushed his hand forward, and the stone tablet slowly rotated, revealing the true inscription on its "back."

It began with a line... "Was your first reaction upon seeing those tally marks an urge to complain but no words came out? You truly are a fellow Daoist of this humble one. Do not misunderstand; these tally marks represent how many centuries I have spent here, and how much effort I poured into transforming Kun Peng. The following content is recorded in a way only you and I can understand. Do not transmit it."

Li Changshou's Paper Avatar frowned as it looked, indeed seeing pinyin again, even with "phonetic symbols" specially marked. However, this time, reading the content made Li Changshou unable to recover for a long time.

From the books in Saint Nuwa's bookshelf to the events recorded here, Li Changshou concluded that Senior Lang must have been very fond of wuxia stories.

The "Wedding Dress Divine Art" was an internal cultivation method from Earth's wuxia fiction. As practitioners deepened their cultivation, they would experience increasing pain, thus transferring their power to others to alleviate their own suffering. Re-cultivating this art would yield twice the results with half the effort, leading to true mastery, effectively "making a wedding dress for others."

Li Changshou wondered how Senior Lang had brainwashed Kun Peng into cultivating the so-called "Second Primordial Spirit" method back then. What kind of Second Primordial Spirit was this? This was Senior Lang's version of the "Wedding Dress Divine Art"!

Kun Peng had painstakingly devoted himself, even stealing the Origin of the First Phoenix, who had shown him great kindness, all to forge a Second Primordial Spirit, preparing for ultimate transcendence. Kun Peng gave birth to the Second Primordial Spirit within his original primordial spirit, allowing the Second Primordial Spirit to drain everything from his original self.

But comically, this Second Primordial Spirit itself had a huge flaw: it could be instantly controlled by Senior Lang. More accurately, it was akin to "hypnosis." Kun Peng himself was completely unaware of any of this. Whenever Senior Lang had a thought, Kun Peng would lose his sense of self, as if falling into a dazed, heavily injured slumber. In reality, at that moment, Kun Peng became a puppet, manipulated at will by Senior Lang. A terrifying method.

What most moved Li Changshou was... Kun Peng began cultivating the Second Primordial Spirit method not when he was in despair and forced to flee into the Chaos Sea, but rather, he actively started practicing it when the Demon Court was at its peak. This Demon Master toiled for hundreds of thousands of years, evolving a more "perfect" Second Primordial Spirit, and indeed gained stronger divine abilities and magic power, with his Dao realm advancing by leaps and bounds.

Yet, in reality, Kun Peng unwittingly abandoned his true self and became Senior Lang's puppet. Those advancements in Dao realm and magic power were all secretly bestowed by Senior Lang. Kun Peng's original primordial spirit was actually the Kun Peng with a true self – the so-called "old transformation" that Li Changshou, Yun Xiao, Bai Ze, and Jin Peng had ambushed. That wasn't an old transformation; it was the real primordial spirit!

Kun Peng's most satisfactory Second Primordial Spirit was merely Senior Lang's design for the Kun Peng Ark's main control. After Senior Lang's demise, Kun Peng's Second Primordial Spirit inherited some benefits from him, such as the formations that could convert chaotic aura into innate spiritual energy. These should all be "Lang's legacy."

According to the stone tablet's inscription, Li Changshou only needed to retrieve the token buried beneath it, hold the token, and recite a "mantra," and Kun Peng's primordial spirit would enter another state. The Paper Avatar lowered its head and fumbled around for a moment, easily finding a round jade talisman, which it carefully weighed in its hand.

Could this be a trap? Out of caution, Li Changshou pondered for a few moments, then temporarily left the area with Yun Xiao and Kun Peng's primordial spirit, leaving the Paper Avatar to guard the place.

A moment later, in front of the immortal palace where Fairy Yun Xiao had previously fallen unconscious. Li Changshou signaled Yun Xiao to step back, activated the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, circulated the Grand Dao of Balance, and radiated streams of aqua-blue light, naturally raising his vigilance to the highest degree. Senior Lang could absolutely not be underestimated, nor could his moral bottom line be overestimated. If Senior Lang had cooked up some "grand scheme," disguised as Kun Peng's Second Primordial Spirit to ambush him, Li Changshou wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.

As for why the other party would ambush him? That was the same logic as why the other party would leave him benefits. Both of them shared many common characteristics that most living beings in the Primordial World did not! For example, having received nine years of compulsory education.

Immediately, Li Changshou activated the Xuanhuang Pagoda, summoned the Lidi Flame Light Banner, mentally urged "Tower Grandpa" to stay alert, held two pills in his left palm, and in his right hand, gripped the jade tablet he had already checked dozens of times, confirming it posed no danger.

Fairy Yun Xiao took two steps forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Li Changshou. They exchanged glances; the latter's eyes held a hint of worry, while the former's expressed readiness to share hardships. Li Changshou recalled the content inscribed on the stone tablet. Although Senior Lang's words were mysterious and filled with flowery language, they boiled down to three steps.

First, knock Kun Peng unconscious. With a gentle tremor from the God-Slaying Spear, Kun Peng's primordial spirit, already weakened by Li Changshou's interrogation and heavily sealed, instantly lost consciousness, falling into a deep coma.

Second, awaken the mark within Kun Peng's body. This was the imprint Kun Peng had previously regarded as the "Mark of Promise." Li Changshou's right hand formed a sword-finger gesture, drawing a complex talisman, which he slowly pushed towards Kun Peng. Kun Peng's primordial spirit quickly reverted to its large fish form, and a faint azure light appeared on its surface, as if containing a tiny universe.

Putting everything else aside, Senior Lang's aesthetic sense was quite good; the successfully transformed Kun Peng primordial spirit alone possessed an indescribable beauty. Art wasn't just Patrick Star. Li Changshou then overcame his discomfort, raised the round jade token in his hand, aimed it at the large fish's forehead, and began the third step:

Shout loudly at Kun Peng's Second Primordial Spirit!

"Kun Peng Super Evolution! Void Great Kun!"

Silence... A hush fell before the hall. Fairy Yun Xiao frowned, looking at Li Changshou. Though she didn't understand why, she could feel his overflowing sense of shame.

"Argh!" Li Changshou felt his entire body go numb. He couldn't help but stomp his foot, looking at the unchanged Kun Peng primordial spirit before him, nearly throwing the jade token in his hand away! Was this really not some deliberately designed social anxiety challenge? How could he, the dignified Grand White Venus, have done such a thing in front of Fairy Yun Xiao! Senior Lang was the second being in the Primordial World, the second capable of making him lose his composure! He felt as if he could already see it: when he returned, a new line would appear on the stone tablet — "When fellow countrymen meet, mischief is a must."

Rumble!

The grand formation covering this secret area suddenly trembled. Fairy Yun Xiao gently tugged Li Changshou's hand and uttered, "Kun fish." Li Changshou looked at the sound, only to see that the body of the Kun fish, lying silently in the Chaos Sea, suddenly erupted with streams of colorful light. Intertwined streams of immortal light burst forth around its massive body, solidifying into pitch-black scales that enveloped the giant fish from head to tail. Its fins disappeared, replaced by a pair of Peng wings. Its fish head slightly shrunk, and a golden drill, hundreds of li long, appeared on its crown, imbued with the Dao rhymes of slaughter, bloodlust, and ferocity. Even the Kun fish's mouth was sealed by scales, and then, outside the black scales, terrifying shark teeth formed!

On the black armor of the giant fish's back, eighty-one slaughtering grand formations simultaneously activated, capable of instantly condensing the power of the five elements! On the giant fish's belly, vortices continuously absorbed chaotic aura. The Kun fish's magic power, largely depleted from the previous battle, was now slowly recovering. Kun Peng's large fish primordial spirit struggled faintly, but at this moment, the primordial spirit lay silently, unconscious, as if devoid of all life.

Once the Kun fish's massive body completed its "evolution," a beam of light shone from the large fish primordial spirit's forehead onto the jade token in Li Changshou's palm. A small box appeared on the jade token.

"Start authentication? Upon completion, you will become the new owner of the Kun Peng Ark and gain all permissions."

Li Changshou took two steps back, suspending the jade token before him. His eyes gleamed as he asked, "What do I need to pay?"

The jade token vibrated faintly. At this moment, the jade token and the large fish primordial spirit seemed to be one entity. Another line of small text appeared in the box: "This command has no prefix requirements. Whoever finds the jade token and initiates Kun Peng's Super Evolution can become the new owner of the Ark."

"Who are you?"

"Retrieval failed. No 'self'."

Li Changshou frowned, concentrating, and fell into thought before the jade token. Beside him, Yun Xiao looked at the greatly transformed Kun fish outside, then at the scene before them, and recalling her previous experiences, she too fell into contemplation. What had she... witnessed?

Half a day later, on the back of the Kun fish.

Li Changshou sat quietly on a meditation cushion, gazing at the scenery of the Chaos Sea, and couldn't help but glance at the primordial behemoth beneath his feet. It felt... very unreal. His initial impression of Senior Lang was that he was reckless, starting with a "perfect hand" but ending in a sorry state. He knew Kun Peng was closely related to Senior Lang, always thinking Kun Peng was Senior Lang's subordinate, at most his mount.

Who knew Senior Lang was so ruthless? Such a massive Kun Peng, such a fierce ancient Demon Master, was directly trapped and 'killed' by Senior Lang's layered schemes, abandoning his true self and placing hope in the Second Primordial Spirit. As a result, the Second Primordial Spirit was transformed by Senior Lang into an unconscious "control system," and Kun Peng himself became the "Ark" in Senior Lang's words, left for him. The amount of information received in this wave was too overwhelming for Li Changshou to fully process. However, Senior Lang at least didn't disgrace people from Earth. He didn't mention anything about avenging fellow countrymen, nor did he put a price on these gifts.

At this moment, Paper Avatars were searching inside and outside Kun Peng's body, while Fairy Yun Xiao was searching the nearby secret area. Li Changshou sat quietly here, most of his mind occupied with controlling the various Paper Avatars.

The game of the Primordial World, Li Changshou suddenly felt he couldn't quite understand it anymore. From ancient times until now, layer upon layer of schemes, major events, and powerful figures all played out on this chessboard. Ordinary beings lived ignorantly, knowing only to follow their basic desires. Mortals did not comprehend the true meaning of existence, respecting fate and decorum, living bustling lives for decades before passing away. Qi Refiners endured hardships and struggled fiercely, striving for transcendence, longevity, and ultimate freedom. Those mighty beings who had climbed ashore from the river of time watched the chaotic scenes within it with detached eyes, yet found themselves lost, unable to advance further.

Only the Dao Ancestor; only the Six Saints. They stood at the pinnacle of living beings, comprehending the true essence of the Grand Dao. Li Changshou was truly confused at this moment. He couldn't entirely be sure what Senior Lang was resisting, or why he had contended with the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Why was he confused? Li Changshou actually knew very well. Aside from the disputes among the Six Saints—namely, the current Investiture of the Gods catastrophe and the Western Sect's divine kingdom of incense offerings—had the Saints oppressed ordinary beings? No. They didn't care, couldn't see; mortals were merely "small foundations of providence." Had the Heavenly Dao oppressed mortals? No, the Heavenly Dao was actually protecting mortals and suppressing Qi Refiners. The Heavenly Court upheld the will of the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Emperor had a bottom line of protecting the weak.

Then, why rebel against Heaven? Just because there was no more room at the top of heaven and earth, one had to defy heaven and squeeze in? Wouldn't that be causing turmoil in heaven and earth for one's own selfish desires? What would that make it?

Li Changshou gazed at the Chaos Sea, wanting to see some "justification" for Senior Lang's actions back then. But Senior Lang had erased everything, leaving him no clues. In this regard, Senior Lang was a true man.

Never mind, no more overthinking. There were still matters to attend to. Kun Peng's Second Primordial Spirit, or the Ark's main control "system," had merged with the ninth wisp of Grandmist Purple Qi from the eighth Dao. Li Changshou truly had no idea what would happen next. Prepare for the worst: at most, he would destroy this Ark.

Meanwhile, outside Xuandu City.

"Can't find them?"

"The Kun fish swims too fast; it disappeared too far away. The jade talismans on Chang Geng and Yun Xiao are also undetectable."

Several figures gathered before the city walls, discussing with worried expressions. Bai Ze whispered, "This humble Daoist senses great fortune..."

"Mr. Bai," Saintess Jin Ling frowned, "Let's set aside great fortune or great disaster for now. The Chaos Sea is boundless. If Chang Geng and Junior Sister Yun Xiao get lost there, it will be truly troublesome."

Daoist Duobao, who had just returned from tunneling to check the situation, advised, "Junior Sister, don't worry. Senior Brother Xuandu has already gone to think of other ways. That Demonic Venerable is closely related to Kun Peng. If Senior Brother Xuandu can capture him, he should be able to find Kun Peng's hiding place."

The others exchanged glances, then sighed deeply. At this time, experts like Jin Peng and Zhao Gongming were all searching for traces of the Kun fish in the Chaos Sea. To say they weren't worried would be false. Li Changshou being swallowed and Yun Xiao recklessly activating the Green Ping Sword to pursue them could easily lead to trouble.

Daoist Duobao said, "After Master finishes his fight, he should be able to find the Green Ping Sword. Our worrying more is useless."

Jin Ling worried, "Master is fighting two. I wonder if he'll run into trouble."

"Don't worry..."

"Trouble?"

With a light chuckle, three masses of chaotic aura rippled slightly to the side. A young Daoist floated into the air with hands clasped behind his back, surrounded by four immortal swords, standing upon a formation diagram. At the same instant, the figures of two old Daoists appeared on the other side of Xuandu City.

Three Grand Daos expanded, still subtly vying against each other. Among the powerful figures remaining here, the weaker cultivators, Bai Ze and Saintess Guiling, were now pale-faced and felt stifled in their chests. Though there was no Heavenly Dao blessing here, the Grand Daos of the three Heavenly Dao Saints confronted each other, their might terrifying!

Three Saints, appearing simultaneously!

The old Daoist sitting on the cloud revealed a slight smile, like a spring breeze, full of compassion. He said, "Daoist Tongtian, your Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is truly formidable. This humble Daoist and my Junior Brother have experienced it firsthand today. This humble Daoist and my Junior Brother were merely passing by; we never intended to harm your juniors. Now that matters are settled, we shall take our leave for now."

Grandmaster of Heaven scoffed coldly, stating indifferently, "What a pity I couldn't include you in the formation."

Daoist Jieyin shook his head with a smile, turning with the always-smiling Zhunti. Their figures were about to fade into emptiness.

Suddenly!

A gentle breeze suddenly blew through Xuandu City without warning, and the imposing might of the three Saintly Grand Daos instantly vanished. Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, whose figures had already faded, now seemed to "stutter," and two faintly swirling yin-yang fish appeared around their bodies.

The Dao originates from Yin and Yang, is modeled after nature, solidifies in virtue, and this is the true meaning of Dao and Virtue. An old Daoist appeared above Xuandu City at some unknown moment, his meditation cushion surrounded by wisps of smoke, with no immortal light around him, yet the entire Xuandu City became naturally peaceful and serene, losing its previous murderous aura. There were no more waves in the Chaos Sea; the Primordial World was utterly silent. Incomplete Dao principles naturally reverted, and the ultimate truth of yin and yang rotation became formless.

The Six Saints of the Primordial World, Laozi the Grand Pure One.

The smile on Daoist Jieyin's lips froze. He opened his mouth and said, "Senior Brother Taiqing has actually come as well..."

Buzz—

A grey light wave surged around Saint Taiqing, instantly sweeping through Xuandu City, directly silencing Jieyin's words. Subsequently, Saint Taiqing gently flicked his left hand, and black-and-white yin-yang fish blossomed in his palm. As he slowly pushed a palm forward, swirling currents of air suddenly appeared beside Jieyin and Zhunti. Heaven and Earth became incredibly stable, as stable as a cage.

A moment later, the wind died down and the waves subsided. The Grand Daos intertwined, and immortals like Duobao completely failed to understand what had happened or what means Grand-uncle Taiqing had employed. Daoist Jieyin maintained a smile, sitting calmly amidst the swirling currents, but behind him, Zhunti was drenched in cold sweat, with the faint illusion of the Seven Treasures Tree appearing behind him. The Seven Treasures Tree shook slightly, and two branches fell off. Had they observed carefully, they would have also seen a drop of cold sweat on Daoist Jieyin's forehead...

Looking back at the city, there was no longer any trace of Saint Taiqing. A wisp of Dao rhyme rose in the hearts of the immortals, condensing into two words. When the immortals looked inward at their spiritual platforms and savored the words, thinking this was Li Changshou's whereabouts, they were startled to find that these two words were none other than... "Passing by."