Chapter 624: The Killing Tribulation is About to Begin

With the Hunlun Zhong in hand, whether to use it to suppress the Jie Sect's fate ultimately depends on the will of Tongtian Jiaozhu.

As they prepared to return to Honghuang and make a detour to capture Tianmo Zunzhe, Tongtian Jiaozhu had to make a decision...

At that critical moment, Zhao Gongming asked with some concern:

"Shizun, although the Hunlun Zhong is one of the three supreme treasures transformed from the Kaitian Shenfu, can it really handle it? Last time, the Yehuo Honglian couldn't suppress even half before it shattered..."

The Hunlun Zhong trembled for a while, its resistance becoming even more evident.

At that moment, Li Changshou, Zhao Gongming, Jinling Shengmu, and Guiling Shengmu all watched Tongtian Jiaozhu standing before the Hunlun Zhong. Tongtian Jiaozhu was engaged in a final exchange with it.

"I, the Jie Sect, have a vast number of followers, experts abound, and disciples beyond count, known as the gathering of ten thousand immortals."

"The Yehuo Honglian exploded!"

"Our Jie Sect's teachings are to intercept a thread of life for all living beings in the world."

"The Yehuo Honglian exploded!"

"Our Jie Sect..."

"The Yehuo Honglian exploded!"

Tongtian Jiaozhu's forehead was lined with black veins as he glared at Zhao Gongming, who had let slip the matter of the Honglian. With a fierce resolve, he scolded the Hunlun Zhong: "Changgeng dares not use you, and you won't let me use you either. If I leave you here and let the Western Cult take advantage, it would ruin everything. Might as well destroy you right now!"

He drew his Qingping Sword, radiating killing intent.

"Shishu! There's no need for that, no need at all!"

Li Changshou quickly intervened, pulling Tongtian Jiaozhu away. The restrained Hunlun Zhong let out a few light tremors, its spiritual awareness hissing in protest.

Li Changshou said: "Shishu, let me talk to it."

"Hmph!"

Tongtian Jiaozhu sheathed his Qingping Sword and turned his back to the Hunlun Zhong with his hands clasped behind him.

Li Changshou stepped forward, looking at the palm-sized bell before him. Several strategies came to mind, and after a brief pause, he began.

The Hunlun Zhong was clearly on guard, its body tilting slightly backward.

"Senior..."

"They shattered the Yehuo Honglian!"

Li Changshou smiled: "I know about that, and it was I who personally brought that twelve-grade Honglian to Biyou Palace back then. Although the twelve-grade Honglian was indeed destroyed, Shishu Tongtian acted in time and managed to protect most of its petals."

"But it's still ruined, isn't it?"

"Senior," Li Changshou cleverly changed the subject, "this way of conversing is a bit inconvenient. I know that innate treasures have their own pride and don't wish to take physical form. Is that the case for you as well? If you could manifest in human form, it would make things much easier."

The Hunlun Zhong rang softly, its immortal light flowing. Though still restrained by Tongtian Jiaozhu, it grew to over a zhang in height. Streams of immortal light gathered at its top, transforming into the figure of a radiant and elegant female immortal.

Her skin was fair and luminous, her face stunningly beautiful with an air of noble grace. She wore a wide skirt in the style of ancient times, exuding an aura of grandeur.

Li Changshou frowned: "Senior, could you not take the form of the Yiri Goddess?"

"Why?" 'Zhong Jie' asked in confusion. "Isn't there anyone who admires Xihe?"

Li Changshou: ...

That statement carried quite a bit of implication.

Did the ancient Yaoting really have everyone as a fan of Xihe?

The light on the Hunlun Zhong shifted again, transforming into the figure of another fairy, who sat on top of the bell, gently swinging her feet. This time, she was less elegant but more fresh and lovely.

Though it had manifested a shadow, it still communicated through spiritual awareness, leaving Li Changshou and the others to interpret its thoughts.

The Hunlun Zhong's divine sense conveyed: "Anyway, the situation is what it is. Either let Tongtian wipe out my spirit and use me to suppress the Jie Sect's fate—in which case, my power will be greatly diminished anyway, and whether it works out is up to their luck. If I'm tainted by those karmic burdens of the Jie Sect, I wouldn't have the face to remain as a treasure. Or, treat me as a defensive treasure. I won't provoke the Heavenly Dao or dwell on the past, and I won't bow or fawn. Two choices—let him decide for himself."

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and smiled: "Why not find a middle ground?"

"Can this be compromised? How?"

The Hunlun Zhong retorted: "Such a massive Jie Sect, even a diagram couldn't handle it! I saw Tongtian Jiaozhu's preaching sessions in ancient times—they were terrifying. The entire island, inside and out, top to bottom, with birds, beasts, human immortals, and monsters—all welcomed without exception! And talking about intercepting a thread of life? It's clearly getting lost in all that 'teacher' flattery."

Tongtian Jiaozhu sighed deeply from the side.

Li Changshou suggested: "Is there any way to use you just to suppress the fate of the core disciples?"

The Hunlun Zhong replied firmly: "Impossible."

Zhao Gongming said: "Changgeng, suppressing fate is about cutting off the backlash of karmic burdens so they don't affect the sect's destiny. It's not about placing the treasure over our heads; it's about bearing the Heavenly Dao's reckoning for the great sect. How can we protect only the core disciples and not the others?"

Jinling Shengmu added: "Even if such a method existed, could we really use it? It would go against righteousness."

"Not entirely."

Li Changshou gave Jinling Shengmu an apologetic smile and said seriously: "With the great tribulation upon us, we're all struggling to survive. The Jie Sect's strength mostly comes from these core disciples, but they're dragged down by those with ulterior motives. Suppressing the fate should focus on protecting the core disciples; it doesn't mean we're letting down the other disciples."

"But even if it's possible," Zhao Gongming sighed, "how could we do such a thing? If the disciples found out, wouldn't it chill the hearts of the ten thousand immortals?"

"Ge, you saw what happened when the Honglian shattered," Li Changshou said with a sharp glint in his eyes. "Under the saint's authority, so much karma accumulated! There must be a significant number of disciples who joined the Jie Sect just to evade disasters and shift the burden onto us! Isn't the tribulation meant to settle accounts with them?"

"But..."

"Changgeng Shidi," Guiling Shengmu asked quietly, "do you already have a way to let the Hunlun Zhong suppress only the fate of the core disciples?"

Li Changshou replied: "Establish a new sect, with the Jie Sect's core disciples holding dual identities, and use the Hunlun Zhong to suppress the new sect's fate."

"How could that work?" Zhao Gongming frowned deeply. "If we establish a new sect, who enters and who doesn't? How would those left out feel? The Jie Sect's teachings are to intercept a thread of life for all beings. If the great tribulation comes and we need that thread, yet abandon most disciples... Would that still be the Jie Sect?"

"This is the only way to suppress your fate, Ge."

"If that's the method, I'd rather face the great tribulation with all my Jie Sect brothers and sisters."

Li Changshou said firmly: "This matter should be decided by Shishu Tongtian. Don't be so hasty, Ge."

Zhao Gongming looked toward his master, and the hall fell silent.

At that point, Li Changshou suddenly realized he had intervened too much in this affair. He wasn't part of the Jie Sect, just closely connected to it. His perspective was that of an outsider, with his interests focused on his friends and his destined partner.

Indeed, establishing a new sect and using the Hunlun Zhong to protect the core disciples and those with pure origins could work within the Heavenly Dao's bounds, essentially exploiting a loophole in the tribulation. But just because he didn't mind didn't mean the Jie Sect wouldn't.

Considering the atmosphere within the Jie Sect...

"Changgeng, I know you mean well."

Tongtian Jiaozhu turned around, smiling warmly at Li Changshou, his handsome face showing a touch of emotion. He said: "I'll take the Hunlun Zhong for now. When we get back, I'll gather the disciples to discuss this and let them choose for themselves. The Jie Sect falling into this predicament is due to my oversight as their master. By the way, does the Hunlun Zhong agree to this?"

'Zhong Jie' glanced at Li Changshou, her eyes twinkling, then looked at Zhao Gongming and the other Jie Sect disciples, and nodded: "If it's done this way, it won't harm me, so helping you is fine."

Zhao Gongming lowered his head with a soft sigh, staring at his broad palm.

Jinling Shengmu walked over and gently took his arm, the two exchanging a silent glance.

Li Changshou bowed to Tongtian Jiaozhu and said: "I spoke too much today, Shishu, and Shige, Shijie, please don't hold it against me."

With a sigh, he turned and walked back to his corner, sitting down to meditate with eyes closed. He could roughly guess what would happen next. It was just that his concern had made him act impulsively. He shouldn't have said those things. As long as his own plans progressed steadily, protecting Yunxiao and his two sisters-in-law wouldn't be difficult. Anything else, he shouldn't interfere with too much.

The hall soon fell silent. Li Changshou reminded Jinpeng, and the Four Plum Generals began sensing the location of Tianmo Zunzhe. This innate god demon had been wandering at the edge of Honghuang, seemingly waiting for Kunpeng's response. Unfortunately, Kunpeng's primordial spirit was completely sealed by Li Changshou, and to prevent any mishaps with the Kunpeng vessel, Li Changshou had no intention of letting it break free. Kunpeng was essentially gone, leaving only the cleverly crafted ark, the Fangzhou Kunpeng.

Not far from the Heavenly Dao boundary, the Fangzhou Kunpeng began to change course.

In the hall, the Hunlun Zhong and Tongtian Jiaozhu reached a temporary truce, and he released its restraints. After all, as an innate supreme treasure that had opened the heavens, suppressed the witches and demons, and smashed two Wu Clan ancestral witches, it had its pride and wouldn't run.

Yet, the Hunlun Zhong flew over to Li Changshou and manifested its spiritual form as a woman, hovering around him as if trying to strike up a conversation.

Li Changshou smiled warmly and continued contemplating the Taiji Tu and reading the works of Lang Senior.

A few days passed like this.

"Hey, what are you reading?" 'Zhong Jie' whispered, "Why won't you talk to me? Do you think I was too easily restrained, so I must not be that capable?"

Li Changshou laughed: "Senior, you're joking. No one here doubts your abilities."

"Then why won't you get close to me?" 'Zhong Jie' blinked. "It's so strange. I hid in the chaos to avoid being fought over. But when I got to you all, it's like I'm some hot potato."

"Treasures are fine, but you need the fortune to wield them," Li Changshou said, closing the book in his hand. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. The timing wasn't right, and it wasn't appropriate to get too close to the Hunlun Zhong just yet.

Li Changshou continued: "Your power could protect me fully, but what I seek is more than just my own safety. It's not that I don't want to, but the circumstances won't allow it. Still, if you enjoy staying near me, I won't let you feel lonely. Let's be friends and regard each other as confidants. But in Honghuang, let's keep interactions to a minimum—the Heavenly Dao will be watching us both."

"Friends?"

'Zhong Jie' tilted her head and smiled: "You're a rare one among living beings. Others shout about defying fate and struggling against the Heavenly Dao for their chances, but you... show such respect for it."

"It's probably just my nature," Li Changshou shrugged. "In Honghuang, even ordinary beings' thoughts are influenced by the Heavenly Dao, and their basic right to choose life or death is stripped away. How can they fight it? I think my fate isn't dictated by heaven, nor by me."

"Then by what?"

"By the heart's desires."

Li Changshou stopped there, saying no more, and returned to his reading, leaving 'Zhong Jie' to tilt her head in various ways.

After half a year, they located Tianmo Zunzhe.

Tongtian Jiaozhu didn't hold back. He charged forward with his Qingping Sword and quickly subdued Tianmo Zunzhe with a few strikes, binding its spiritual core.

Afterward, Tongtian Jiaozhu took the Hunlun Zhong and his disciples back to Honghuang first, while Li Changshou and Jinpeng stayed behind to clear out the remaining extraterrestrial demons.

As it left, the Hunlun Zhong specifically asked Li Changshou where he lived in Honghuang, but Li Changshou just smiled without answering.

On second thought, if the Hunlun Zhong really came to find him in the Heavenly Court, how should he handle it? It wasn't a big issue, though. What he had said earlier about taking the Hunlun Zhong leading to suspicion and targeting by the Heavenly Dao was an exaggeration. If the Hunlun Zhong could truly stand against the Heavenly Dao, why had Donghuang Taiyi fallen, or the Yaoting been defeated by the Ren people? In the end, it was just a treasure, no matter how powerful or mystical—useless against a Daozu. Struggling against the Heavenly Dao was about the greater forces and rules, not amassing treasures to stand tall.

Not far from Honghuang, Li Changshou wasn't in a hurry. His secrecy measures this time were thorough; he had even arranged for Longji to use transformation techniques to appear as him in the Taibai Palace, so Honghuang hadn't been disrupted by his absence. The Western Cult was too unstable to act; they didn't want to lose any more strength before the killing tribulation. Even when Li Changshou used the Taiji Tu to observe Dizang's Wheel of Reincarnation Tower, he saw no trace of Maitreya. This senior disciple of Ling Mountain seemed to have vanished.

In recent decades, the losses among Honghuang's beings had mainly occurred in the three thousand worlds. According to his development plan, the Lintian Hall, which had grown to a certain scale, began pressuring the Incense God Kingdoms from the sidelines, disrupting the balance of power with the Xianmeng. The Xianmeng received major aid from the Heavenly Court and secretly allied with Lintian Hall to launch a thunderous strike against the Incense God Kingdoms. The Heavenly Court's expeditionary forces in the three thousand worlds shifted from their previous sluggish pace to consecutive victories. The Western Cult's influence in the three thousand worlds rapidly shrank. That so-called three thousand Buddha kingdoms, under Li Changshou's manipulation, essentially died in the womb.

After bidding farewell to Tongtian Jiaozhu, Li Changshou stayed in the Chaos Sea for another three years. He studied the notes left by Lang Senior and thoroughly analyzed the spiritual core of the innate god demon, understanding the existence of 'multiple true spirits.' These extraterrestrial demons were part of his 'X's Disappearance' plan as a backup scheme. Thus, Li Changshou didn't destroy it but used secret methods to control it and had Jinpeng take it back to the Heavenly Court for suppression.

During those three years, the Four Plum Generals 'prayed' on Jinpeng's back, attracting an endless swarm of extraterrestrial demons, which they gradually purified. Li Changshou easily gained an army of 'benevolent demons.' He spent several more years settling these benevolent demons in a few outposts beyond the Heavenly Dao's influence, making full use of Kunpeng's legacy. After making some minor arrangements in the Chaos Sea, he had the Fangzhou Kunpeng move a bit farther from the chaos. Li Changshou then hid in Jinpeng's sleeve, using the Taiji Tu to conceal himself.

This trip, though not overflowing with gains, gave Li Changshou more ways to secure his position. As for how the Jie Sect discussed things and whether to use the Hunlun Zhong, he couldn't interfere further.

Meiwen Hua, Meimao Bing, Meidi Xian, and Meixin Qing were left by Li Changshou in the outer heavens; they were focused on saving their kin and had no place in Honghuang's Heavenly Court.

Jinpeng, escorting Tianmo Zunzhe's spiritual core back, had accomplished a great feat; Li Changshou had prepared a script in advance for Jinpeng to tell a story of wits and battles against the innate god demon upon returning.

The journey back was uneventful, with little chatter in the chaos.

When Jinpeng's shadow returned to Xuandu City, Li Changshou glanced at the sleeping Grand Pure One, signaled to Kongxuan, picked up Ao Yi who was guarding the 'signal relay station,' and reentered Honghuang.

Calculating the time, if they used the original Fengshen script's node of Emperor Xin being overthrown and the Shang replaced by the Zhou, there were still over two hundred years left. If based on Emperor Xin's birth, it was less than one hundred and fifty years.

On the way back, Li Changshou wasn't idle; he repeatedly reviewed his various plans, still feeling a bit uneasy. No matter how he calculated, the Fengshen Great Tribulation couldn't avoid a war among saints; That was beyond his control. Moreover, even if Emperor Xin was tyrannical, in the cultural atmosphere of Nan Continent that revered heaven and ancestors, how could he do such a thing to Nüwa Niangniang's statue? If not for the tribulation's influence, someone must have been scheming behind the scenes. And Nezha's arrow from the Zhentian Bow was highly suspicious; As for why Lingzhuzi was reincarnated, he still couldn't be sure.

'Most likely, the Fengshen Great Tribulation is on hell mode for me, starting with a showdown against saints.'

Li Changshou rubbed his brow in secret. Things had come to this, so he had to face it head-on. In the Fengshen Killing Tribulation, he was no longer just passively accepting it or saving people; he needed to use this great tribulation to gain more 'capital' for his own survival.

Under what circumstances could the Heavenly Dao not act against him? Li Changshou had been pondering this since his master's incident.

In the distance, the five continents of Honghuang came into view. Perhaps a moment of insight or a sudden idea struck him; Li Changshou used the Qi-Observing Technique to gaze far at this mysterious realm. His face changed, and the tiny figure in Jinpeng's sleeve stood up abruptly, his mind flashing with an image. A blood-red giant sword hung over the five continents, its hilt wrapped in black mist, its blade showing visions of screaming beings, already suspended high in the sky... The killing tribulation manifested, the resentment of the Ren people!