Chapter 639: Jie Jiao Kill Order

“This…”

“Ah, this…”

In Kunlun Shan’s Yuxu Gong, within Guangchengzi’s Feipubao Tower.

The immortals of the Chan Jiao Sect watched the scene displayed in the Yunjing, showing the golden-armored general Bai Jian leveling the immortal island and laying foundations. For a moment, they were all at a loss.

Since they couldn’t hear Li Changshou’s voice transmission to Bai Jian, they had no idea what exactly had happened. This Bai Jian…

He went from talking to kneeling, and from hesitating to becoming crippled, all in an instant!

When Li Changshou presented the Divine-Striking Whip and the Heavenly Way bestowed a large amount of merit, cleansing Bai Jian of fire poison and transforming his primordial spirit into a stable spiritual body, appointing him as the guardian general of the Fengshen Terrace, Bai Jian was overcome with immense gratitude.

He was on the verge of kneeling and calling out “My lord”!

Beyond Bai Jian kneeling so quickly, there were even more puzzling matters.

Chijizi wondered, “The Heavenly Court has plenty of treasures and countless heavenly soldiers and generals. Why not dispatch a troop to build the Fengshen Terrace? Instead, they’re having Bai Jian do it all by hand, bit by bit?”

Guangchengzi said, “There must be some deeper consideration.”

Taiyi Zhenren narrowed his eyes with a smile and said lightly,

“Why do I feel like Changgeng is just getting revenge on Bai Jian for not giving him face at the beginning?”

“Hey!”

Huanglong Zhenren said seriously, “Junior brother, don’t be so sarcastic. Changgeng isn’t that kind of person!

As a high-ranking god of the Heavenly Court, he must have a broad mind and magnanimous demeanor!”

Yuding Zhenren, standing nearby, showed a mild smile, saying everything without a word.

Guangchengzi rubbed his brow and said, “Let’s set that aside for now.

The Heavenly Court wants to build the Fengshen Terrace, and the great calamity is imminent. The Jie Jiao Sect is bound to strike against the Western Cult, so we must make a decision soon.

Time waits for no one. Summon your fellow disciples and sisters, and let’s settle on a plan today.”

Chijizi asked, “Senior brother, should we call the teacher’s direct disciples, or bring in all the disciples?”

“Those discussing this matter don’t need to be too many, or it might lead to chaos.”

With that, Guangchengzi spoke, and Chijizi immediately understood. He stood up and went out of the tower, instructing several young attendants to deliver messages.

The Chan Jiao Sect had already begun plotting before making a move. Their judgment that the Jie Jiao Sect was about to attack the Western Cult came even faster than the Jie Jiao Sect’s own decision to do so.

In Biyou Gong’s Huachi;

Duobao Daoist, comfortably soaking in the bath, quietly reported about Jiang Ziya and asked his master, Tongtian Jiaozhu, whether they should act against the Western Cult.

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed and said, “Today, you can learn from Changgeng. Lay out the pros and cons, one two three, four five six, so I can see your scheming skills.”

Duobao Daoist waved his hands repeatedly and chuckled,

“Master, you know me. I’m just good at finding treasures. I don’t understand schemes at all.”

“Just say whatever comes to mind,” Tongtian Jiaozhu said with his eyes closed. “We’re master and disciple, not strangers. I know all about your sly ways.”

Duobao patted his slightly bulging belly, thought for a moment, and said slowly,

“In that case, I’ll say a bit more about this matter.”

“Go on.”

“This time, I wanted to target the three disciples of the Western Cult to naturally pave the way for war with them.

I didn’t expect Guangchengzi to block me directly. I thought he’d at least remember we’re all part of the Daoist tradition, but he didn’t care at all and stopped me outright.

It was clear he was taking a stand for the Western Cult.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu, with his eyes still closed, asked, “Are you saying Guangchengzi has connections with the Western Cult?”

“Master, haven’t you seen through it yet?”

Duobao Daoist lowered his voice and said, “The ones connected to the Western Cult aren’t just Ran Deng, Juliu Sun, or Wenshu. Those are ones we already know.

If they’re teaming up with the Western Cult, it’s probably a strategy the Chan Jiao Sect decided on long ago, under the direction of the second teacher.

Ran Deng is just a pawn for the Chan Jiao Sect, handling all the dirty work.

Master, you don’t usually deal with these trivial matters. In the conflicts between the Chan Jiao Sect and us over the past tens of thousands of years, Ran Deng has taken most of the blame. That’s what makes the second teacher so formidable.

The eldest teacher doesn’t act, so the second teacher’s schemes are basically unmatched in the Honghuang world. I only figured this out after grinding my teeth over Ran Deng for so long.

We all know Ran Deng is a pawn of the Western Cult, so how could the second teacher not know?

It’s not that he’s pretending to be ignorant. If you say Ran Deng and the Western Cult were also arranged by the second teacher, that wouldn’t be surprising at all.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed and said, “Don’t think of your second teacher that way. He’s just a bit rigid and not really harsh.

You’re still holding a grudge from when he scolded you back then.

Since the creation of the world, how many times has he scolded me?”

“Yes, yes,” Duobao said with a bitter face as he bowed. “I overthought it… It’s all because Changgeng led me astray.”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed heartily, then waved his hand and said, “Continue. Why target the Western Cult at this time?”

“Master,” Duobao Daoist said seriously, “this is our last chance.”

“Oh? That’s an interesting way to put it. Go on.”

Duobao pondered for a moment, then knelt in the water and said with his head lowered, “What I’m about to say might be presumptuous, but it’s something I’ve deduced after thinking for thousands of years.

In this great calamity, Changgeng has given us many hints, both openly and covertly.

Why did Changgeng establish the non-aggression pact for the Daoist sects in the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower?

Why is Changgeng suppressing the Western Cult so forcefully?

There must be reasons behind all of it.

I lost part of my memory when I was under the Heavenly Way’s control, and an important person vanished from my spiritual platform. No matter how I calculate, I can only recall one sentence:

The Chan and Jie sects must fight, and the Western Cult will be the biggest winner.

That sentence is probably what Changgeng has been urging all along.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu’s face turned serious, and he nodded slowly, murmuring, “Did that person say this to you?

Back then, your eldest teacher warned me to keep my distance from him. After he was erased by the Heavenly Way, I watched as your teacher wiped your memory.

You used to play cards with him often, and you picked up this habit of soaking in hot springs from him.”

Duobao Daoist asked, “Master, who was that person exactly?”

Tongtian Jiaozhu’s eyes showed a hint of recollection and emotion.

“He was just a wandering spirit with no fixed abode, but of very high seniority, a close friend of Pangu Shen.

The three of us are incarnations of Pangu Shen’s primordial spirit, so we defer to him and call him uncle.

When your teacher found the path to merge with the Dao, he was still hesitant.

It was because this fellow suddenly went mad and tried to destroy the Honghuang world that your teacher made up his mind to merge with the Heavenly Way. Only by combining forces could they completely erase him…

Alright, let’s not talk about such taboos. It might displease your teacher.

Where were we? Oh, right—the Chan and Jie sects must fight, and the Western Cult is the biggest winner. Why do you think this is our last chance?”

“At this point, the great calamity is about to fall but hasn’t yet, and the calamity’s fate is fully in motion. Any lives lost can count toward filling the calamity’s needs—that’s the first reason.”

Duobao Daoist continued slowly,

“The Chan Jiao Sect can’t wage war against us directly right now; they lack a proper justification.

But you once said, Master, that the Fengshen calamity should occur with the dynastic change in Nanzhanbuzhou. A new dynasty rises only on the ruins of the old one.

I think that’s a clear sign. We and the Chan Jiao Sect will each have to support one side, new or old.

Between us and them, it’ll be like those two dynasties—only one can survive.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed and said, “Bao, it’s good that you can see that far.”

“But I’ve secretly checked, and the Shang kingdom is still quite powerful now, with eight hundred vassal states, none able to rival it.”

Duobao Daoist pondered and said, “I think we shouldn’t rush this. Replacing the old with the new follows the Heavenly Way’s rules, and supporting the new side has its advantages.

That’s for later, though. At least, we need to wait for a new power to rise before we and the Chan Jiao Sect compete over it.

Right now, the best time is to move against the Western Cult. This opportunity might slip away if we don’t act—that’s the second reason.

The third, and most crucial, is Changgeng’s attitude—or rather, your eldest teacher’s attitude.

Since the great calamity hasn’t officially started, even if we have ulterior motives in targeting the Western Cult, as long as we find a good reason to start a duel, the Chan Jiao Sect won’t be able to stop it.

If the second teacher acts, the eldest teacher will act.

As long as you can hold off the two saints of the Western Cult, Master, we can take down their elite forces. Then, the later Fengshen struggles will just be between us and the Chan Jiao Sect.”

Duobao Daoist pondered for a moment, saw that his master was still hesitant, and added,

“Master, Changgeng wouldn’t spell all this out for us.

I can sense it—this is what he means… Although Changgeng can’t favor us or the Chan Jiao Sect during the great calamity, he’ll definitely support wiping out the Western Cult’s threats first!”

“But the Western Cult is destined to prosper.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu sighed, “Besides, the Western Cult hasn’t directly clashed with us, so acting this way would lack righteousness.”

“Master!”

Duobao Daoist urged, “What time is it now? Why bother with righteousness toward them?”

“If there were no such thing as righteousness, what would be the point of the Jie Jiao Sect’s existence?”

Tongtian Jiaozhu gestured for Duobao not to say more. “I’ll think about it. You can withdraw for now. I’ll decide within half a day.”

“Ah, yes.”

Duobao Daoist agreed, turned to leave the Huachi, but couldn’t help turning back to mutter,

“Master, the disciples of the Western Cult and Chan Jiao Sect combined aren’t a match for our Jie Jiao Sect’s disciples.

But with their three saints and disciples, their strength still surpasses ours.

The Chan Jiao Sect and Western Cult are destined to ally. If we don’t cut off their wings early, we might face real danger later…”

“Go on.”

Tongtian Jiaozhu waved his hand, and Duobao lowered his head in agreement, sighing lightly as he walked away in his Dao robe.

After Duobao left, Tongtian Jiaozhu drew open the Qiankun with his fingers, took out a small bell, and placed it by the pool, but said nothing, only closing his eyes in deep thought.

His eldest disciple’s words made sense.

But as a saint, he had long seen all of this.

Those who haven’t reached the saint realm don’t know the terror of the Heavenly Way.

The Jie Jiao Sect lacks a supreme treasure to suppress its destiny, like a city without walls— no matter how prosperous, it’s still fragile.

Duobao wanted to use the Ren Jiao Sect to pressure the Chan Jiao Sect, force them to show their hand, or keep them from acting rashly, then wear down the Western Cult’s vitality for the later calamity.

But if they did that, the Western Cult’s saints could directly intervene later. If he were held back by Jiyin, and Zhunti raised the slaughter against their disciples, with the second teacher persuading the eldest…

Things could spiral out of control.

The Zhuxian Sword Formation can only be broken by four saints, but he’d have to strike first to draw them in, or have the other saints enter voluntarily.

Zhunti is an exception.

In the end…

Tongtian Jiaozhu looked toward the Chaos Bell and smiled warmly.

The Chaos Bell, now bell-sized, trembled slightly, as if shuddering in fear and unease.

What’s the most painful thing in the world?

A few days ago, Li Changshou would have said it was being a good young man from the Blue Star world suddenly transported to the brutal Honghuang world, where power is completely unrestrained.

But now, the most painful thing had changed to…

His true body was right in Yunxiao’s boudoir!

Ling’e was in the next room chatting with Yunxiao about music, chess, calligraphy, and poetry!

Yet his mind had to be elsewhere, wandering the mountains and seas with his superior, discussing philosophy and chatting about everything under the sun.

Oh well, think of it as giving lessons to the Jade Emperor in advance.

He’d soon be fully committed to arranging the great calamity, so chances to chat like this with the Jade Emperor would be rare.

There was also a major task, just as he’d told Bai Jian—they needed to create a detailed set of rules for the great calamity to restrain the experts involved and prevent the southern continent from descending into utter carnage.

The two of them had studied for several days, and Li Changshou had jotted down several hundred rules. Later, the Jade Emperor would take them to Zixiao Gong to present to the Dao Ancestor.

The Heavenly Way might disregard mortal lives, but the Heavenly Court could not.

Benevolence, norms, rigor, and stability would be the four basic principles for the Heavenly Court’s future actions.

Once this major matter was settled, the Jade Emperor’s incarnation finally showed signs of leaving.

This excited Li Changshou greatly.

But Quanyu quickly dashed his hopes with a bucket of cold winter water, leaving him feeling quite “despairing.”

“Changgeng, in the conflict between the Chan and Jie sects, who do you think will win in the end?”

A new topic!

Li Changshou thought for a moment and smiled, “Your Majesty, you’ve stumped me. I truly don’t know the outcome. Even if I glimpsed some scenarios before, many have been changed by my own hands.”

“Your contest with the Heavenly Way—I’ve seen it all.”

Quanyu chuckled and continued walking with Li Changshou along the rugged seaside cliffs.

The Jade Emperor gazed at the sea and said slowly,

“In the Heavenly Way’s sequence, I’m placed first, even above the six saints. The teacher has given me many privileges, allowing me to leap over the great calamity and observe the Heavenly Way’s changes at any time.

But even so, sometimes I can’t see through what you’re really aiming for, Changgeng.

Is your wish truly for the eternal prosperity of the Daoist sects?

If so, I can lend you a hand.”

Li Changshou’s throat bobbed slightly, his eyes flickering, but he smiled and said, “Your Majesty, that’s the teacher’s wish. My own is just two words:

Peace and stability.”

Quanyu asked, “Will the world after the Fengshen calamity make you feel unstable?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou said. “Your Majesty, you might not understand… The Heavenly Way doesn’t trust me; I’m from the same hometown as a certain taboo.

Being able to withdraw safely now is already more than enough.”

“You…”

Quanyu shook his head with a bitter smile. “My dear minister Changgeng, you’re just too cautious.”

Li Changshou smiled without replying and smoothly changed the subject.

“Your Majesty, it seems Longji is also involved in this great calamity.”

“Yes,” Quanyu nodded slightly, his expression turning serious as he whispered, “I’ve known about this for a while, but I can’t interfere, or how would I maintain order?

Still, with you as her teacher protecting her, I have no worries.”

Li Changshou: …

Was this the Jade Emperor’s confidence, or his excessive trust in him?

This was probably the sacrifice required of a Heavenly Emperor—he could save the world’s people but not his own flesh and blood, instead relying on others.

Just as Li Changshou was about to give a steady assurance, a slight surge rose in his heart.

He suddenly heard an unexpected conversation!

He quickly said, “Your Majesty, there seems to be something unusual with my true body.”

Quanyu showed concern and told him to handle it without formalities. Li Changshou bowed, and his mind shifted back to his true body.

As soon as he arrived, he walked to the window and looked toward the pavilion.

He saw Yunxiao Xianzi hurrying over on clouds, with the eight great disciples of the Jie Jiao Sect gathered!

He had just caught, through the Wind Speech Curse, his elder brother Duobao saying— “Master will decide within half a day. Let’s prepare. If Master agrees to destroy Ling Shan, how should we do it?”

When had the Jie Jiao Sect become so perceptive?

Had Uncle Tongtian divined something?

In the pavilion, the eight great disciples shared their views. Jinling Shengmu was for a full-frontal assault, Yunxiao Xianzi for a gentle approach with minimal killing, Zhao Gongming for “Why don’t we discuss this with Changgeng”… and so on.

Li Changshou quickly judged!

This could be the best opportunity to steer the Fengshen situation toward a “brand-new version”!

Should he make a move, scheming a bit while ensuring his own safety?

Right then!

A sword light cleaved through the mists above Sanxian Island, and a small jade sword fell into the pavilion, engraved with a striking, dark red character for “kill.”

The eight great disciples perked up, and Duobao Daoist’s face lit up with joy as he stood, holding the sword in his palm and calling out,

“Jinling, Wudang!

Gather all disciples above the third-grade Jinxian realm on Jin’ao Island under the pretext of a Dao discussion assembly!

Guiling, Qiongxiao, hurry to Jin’ao Island to make arrangements!

Gongming, you and Yunxiao, go tell Changgeng about our plan to move against the Western Cult and ask for his opinion. It’d be best if he gives some advice.

Bixiao!”

“Here!” Bixiao immediately stood tall, her youthful figure appearing graceful in that moment.

Finally, something for her!

“You stay on Sanxian Island and cultivate,” Duobao Daoist said with a warm smile. “This time, you don’t need to act. Focus on refining your Dao.”

Bixiao’s face fell, and her senior brothers, sisters, and siblings all looked at her with affectionate gazes.

The youngest is always the most spoiled, especially when cute and endearing.

In Yunxiao’s room, Li Changshou watched this scene and fell into thought.

In his heart, boxes representing various options and possibilities lit up.

Since the Jie Jiao Sect had this resolve, he couldn’t lag behind.

The Western Cult.

Before the great calamity, it was time to settle accounts.