Chapter 648: Zhong Liu Xiao Qiong Peak

"Li Changgeng! Open the array gate! Don't think that by hiding inside and staying silent, I know you're in there! If you don't open it, I'll just barge right in! Ahahaha!"

Li Changshou...

No matter what words others heard from their spiritual senses, the roar of the Hun Dun Zhong that Li Changshou perceived was exactly like this.

There was just the right touch of 'reckless' flair to it.

Who could handle that?

Li Changshou furrowed his brows slightly, gazing at the Hun Dun Zhong transformed into a small bell through the array, feeling a bit hesitant.

It had actually come straight to his door?

A stream of light flew up from behind—it was Kong Xuan, along with Shi, who had just been woken from sleep, clinging to a lounging chair and exuding an aura of weakness.

"Is that... the Hun Dun Zhong outside?"

Kong Xuan asked with a hint of surprise, eyeing Li Changshou with a slightly doubtful gaze that made him feel uneasy.

Ling E whispered, "Is that the legendary innate supreme treasure?"

"Hehehe," Shi let out a few weak chuckles, "It really came over."

Li Changshou quickly asked, "Senior brother, what's this all about?"

Shi closed his eyes to rest, replying leisurely, "You did this yourself, so why ask me?"

Kong Xuan showed a subtle smile, while Ling E pouted and pressed her hand to her forehead.

What a troublesome senior brother—even the spirit of an innate supreme treasure could be drawn to him!

"This..."

Li Changshou felt quite troubled.

But now that the Hun Dun Zhong had shown up, he couldn't just leave it outside for too long, or it might attract unwanted attention.

What if this little bell was just here for a casual visit, or purely to get revenge for that kick from back in the day?

One had to stay optimistic in life. After all, the Hun Dun Zhong was an innate supreme treasure, part of the Opening Heavens set, which were the most top-tier treasures in the Hong Huang world, and it was on par with the Tai Ji Tu.

How could it possibly take a liking to someone like him, just a Daoist sect disciple?

That didn't make sense.

So, a moment later, inside Li Changshou's thatched hut.

"Li Changgeng! Big sister is here to join you! How about it? Aren't you surprised, shocked, and maybe a little touched?

From now on, you'll be a Hong Huang expert with an innate supreme treasure at your disposal!"

"Cough, cough!"

Li Changshou choked on his tea, looking at the towering bell in front of him and the ethereal figure kneeling quietly beside it, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The spiritual illusion she had created was quite pleasing to the eye—danfeng eyes, a high-bridged nose, long reddish hair tied up in a simple phoenix tail, and those light blue eyes that avoided his gaze with a hint of guilt, while she pretended to be nonchalant as she spoke.

"Your Tong Tian Shi Shu has already agreed. I'll help him once, and he'll stop pursuing me."

Li Changshou realized that Tong Tian Shi Shu's backup plan involved the Hun Dun Zhong and Duobao Dao Ren!

Then he heard the Hun Dun Zhong say,

"Among the Daoist sect disciples, you're the one doing the best, and now you're the second Heavenly Emperor."

Li Changshou hurriedly replied, "Please don't say that, senior. I'm not worthy of such praise. I'm just a subordinate of His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

Your sudden visit has left me quite unprepared, so please allow me a moment to gather my thoughts."

"Hey!"

The bell spirit glared with her danfeng eyes, her eye rims turning slightly red, and her lips trembling a bit.

"You're not going to refuse, are you?

You wouldn't refuse, right?

If word of this gets out, I'll lose all face in the Hong Huang treasure circles!"

"Senior, please wait a moment," Li Changshou said, wiping the sweat from his forehead as his mind raced.

Shi had already found a shady spot by the lake to continue sleeping soundly, a faint smile on his lips, as if he already knew how this would end.

Kong Xuan sat quietly beside Shi, occasionally glancing toward the thatched hut with a touch of thought in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Ling E, who knew her senior brother best, summed up the scene based on his behavior and the words of the Hun Dun Zhong 'senior' as a famous Hong Huang painting!

"Escort to the End."

Ling E sensibly stood up, went out, and brought in some snacks and freshly brewed tea, placing them in front of the Hun Dun Zhong.

"Senior, please help yourself."

The bell spirit couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "I can't really use these—I'm just an illusion.

You might as well get some spiritual water to freshen me up."

"Ah, senior, please wait."

Ling E agreed and hurried off, soon returning with spiritual spring water that Li Changshou used for refining pills, and began wiping the bell's body.

Getting this close to an innate supreme treasure was an experience unmatched in the Hong Huang world.

"Sigh..."

Li Changshou soon sighed, bowed his hands to the Hun Dun Zhong, and said with a smile, "Senior, I'm truly in a difficult position.

Haven't we already reached a consensus before?

I'm just a Daoist sect disciple. If I were to gain your favor and wield such an unfathomable innate supreme treasure, wouldn't that make the other seniors uneasy?"

"Tsk," the bell spirit rolled her eyes, "This is the first time I've heard someone dress up fear of death so elegantly.

You're just afraid of being targeted by the Heavenly Dao, right? Just say it.

But think about it—whether you take me or not, the Heavenly Dao will still come after you. Your Great Dao, in the eyes of the Heavenly Dao, shouldn't be controlled by any living being.

I'm coming to you because I like you. If the Heavenly Dao targets you, I can help you escape the Hong Huang safely.

What do you say?"

Li Changshou replied with a smile, "I know the reasoning you're talking about, senior.

Who wouldn't be tempted by an innate supreme treasure like you?

But senior, I have two concerns I'd like you to address.

First, why didn't Tong Tian Shi Shu use you to suppress the Jie Jiao's fate, and instead of fleeing far into the Hun Dun Sea to roam freely, you came to me?

Second, my current situation is like crossing a river on a boat or walking on thin ice. If I suddenly add too much weight and draw the Heavenly Dao's jealousy, then disaster is imminent.

How do you resolve these two concerns?"

"I... uh... you..."

The Hun Dun Zhong's bell spirit stammered for a while, then slapped her forehead in annoyance, looking at Li Changshou with frustration.

"Can't you just get impulsive for once? It's an innate supreme treasure, you know."

Li Changshou laughed and said, "Every day, I reflect on myself: Am I safe? Am I steady? Am I secure?"

"Sigh—"

The bell spirit sighed dejectedly, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

"Who knew I'd end up like this?

The ones who don't want me cling to me desperately, and the ones who do push me away with all their might. What do you call that?

Meeting the wrong people, I suppose.

But the Hun Dun Sea is just... so boring.

You living beings probably don't know that the spirituality of treasures like us is actually ignited by living beings.

We didn't originally have true spirits; we're products born from the Great Dao. Back when I was part of the axe handle, I was held in Pangu's hand, and he talked to us, giving us spirituality.

Pangu's Hun Yuan Wu Ji Great Dao granted us immense powers.

Through battles with the innate gods and demons, we gradually developed our own understandings of the Dao, which is why the Opening Heavens Axe split into the three of us.

But after being away from living beings for too long, especially in the unordered depths of the Hun Dun Sea, my spirituality is really fading. If I lose myself and forget who I am, I'll just become a dormant treasure.

This bell is dead—or that's what someone might say.

We treasures long for freedom and don't want to be bound by any living being, but without living beings, we slowly sink into oblivion.

Sigh, I guess that's just fate.

It's a destiny that all treasures in the Hong Huang world can't escape, even me—I have to accept this tragic fate."

"Senior brother..."

Ling E called out tremulously, clearly moved by the bell spirit's words.

Li Changshou furrowed his brows and stared at the bell spirit, saying,

"Senior, please directly answer my first concern.

In the current Hong Huang world, although there aren't many ancient or primordial great powers left, there are still some. There are far more experts who can unleash your full power than just me.

From what I know, treasures like you place great importance on seniority."

"This," the Hun Dun Zhong's bell spirit blinked and said with a smile, "Do you want to hear the truth or the lie?"

"What's the lie?"

"Wow, you're so handsome!

Your heroic aura makes me irresistibly drawn to you. If I could take on a soft, physical form, big sister would definitely offer herself to you as repayment."

"Let's hear the truth," Li Changshou said, "to avoid any misunderstandings from the great powers."

The bell spirit shrugged, but her voice echoed directly in Li Changshou's heart.

"First, I find you somewhat likable—that's the basics, and being around you should be quite interesting.

Second, you have Kun Peng and the Kun Peng secret realm, which gives you influence in the Hun Dun Sea. I'm not safe in the Hong Huang world, so I'll have to leave eventually, but going back like this feels unsatisfying.

Third, you're the only one I'm sure will enter the Hun Dun Sea soon.

It's like how the Heavenly Dao forced me back then—we're both in the same boat, so I might as well protect you and give Hong Jun a bit of a provocation."

Li Changshou...

Sure enough, that talk about fading spirituality and meeting the wrong people was just a story.

"If you want to stay here for a while, senior, then feel free to do so.

I swear to the Heavenly Dao that I won't have any improper intentions toward you and won't personally activate any of your powers.

The Heavenly Dao bears witness to this."

Thunder rumbled outside Xiao Qiong Peak, and after carefully sensing it, Li Changshou let out a quiet sigh of relief while feeling a twinge of regret.

An offered treasure like this—it's impossible not to be tempted.

Just as the Hun Dun Zhong said, whether he used it or not, his balanced Great Dao was incompatible with the Heavenly Dao, and a confrontation was inevitable...

"Is that it?"

The Hun Dun Zhong's bell spirit tilted her head, looking at Li Changshou with a hint of disdain. "It feels a bit too casual."

Li Changshou just smiled without replying, handing over the responsibility of tending to the Hun Dun Zhong's needs to Ling E.

An innate supreme treasure like this loved face, so he couldn't directly assign it to protect an ordinary Golden Immortal like Ling E.

Instead, by phrasing it as Ling E being the bell spirit's attendant, responsible for its maintenance, the Hun Dun Zhong would feel quite honored.

Thus,

A great treasure arrives and disrobes itself,

Changshou questions with much hesitation.

One tale of woe, two acts of drama, three discussions of interest,

Finally, the Hun Dun Zhong's plan for freedom.

The defensive system of Xiao Qiong Peak, new version, officially upgraded!

Shi slept for half a year, and when he awoke, he was full of energy, his gaze toward Kong Xuan brimming with confidence once more.

The two great powers stood under the willow tree, oblivious to others, embracing and admiring the scenery of Xiao Qiong Peak, which Li Changshou and Ling E had carefully designed, with Xiong Lingli putting in the hard work—they found the place quite suitable.

But ultimately, Shi had duties and had to return to Xuan Du City to guard it.

—Although the heavenly demons were few now, as long as Tai Qing Saint didn't formally recall Xuan Du Shi, his primary task was to defend Xuan Du City.

This was also Tai Qing's way of protecting his eldest disciple.

Before leaving, Shi invited Li Changshou to stroll around Xiao Qiong Peak, and the two senior brothers discussed matters related to the Feng Shen calamity.

In the chain arrays, they wandered in circles.

The sunlight from the sun star cast their shadows on the soft green grass.

Shi walked with his hands behind his back, his steps neither fast nor slow, blending naturally with the surroundings.

He asked, "Changshou, for the upcoming conflict between Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao, do you have any thoughts?"

"Not really," Li Changshou said with his hands in his sleeves and a smile, "Helping either side wouldn't be appropriate. To play it safe, I'll just not assist the major sects and only save the few people I want to save."

"Yes."

Shi sighed softly, his gaze distant. "Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao are different from our Ren Jiao. Ren Jiao only has two disciples, both of human origin, but they're not like that.

Changgeng, instead of viewing this from the Heavenly Court perspective, you might also consider it from the human race's angle.

Now that the human race is the protagonist of heaven and earth, yet the human emperors are mere mortals, this will inevitably lead to turmoil and waves every few decades."

"That's the intent of the Heavenly Dao."

Li Changshou said, "The human race becoming the sole protagonist of heaven and earth is due to the distinction between immortals and mortals.

Humans are born weak, needing the Dao, methods, spiritual energy, and personal cultivation to gradually become immortals.

But most humans can't achieve that—they live just a few decades, their paths spanning only a few thousand li, and their world limited to one city.

Thus, individuals pose almost no threat to heaven and earth, and even the collective of mortals has less impact than two great powers clashing in battle."

Shi nodded with a smile. "In the blink of an eye, you've become an indispensable figure in the Heavenly Court."

"You're joking, senior brother," Li Changshou replied with a smile, "The world won't be destroyed just because someone is missing, and neither will the Heavenly Dao or the Heavenly Court.

By the way, senior brother, do you have plans to have children and help Kong Xuan with the Feng race's reproduction issues?"

Shi's smile froze instantly, and he glared at Li Changshou, whispering, "Don't bring that up! If the teacher hears, and gets ideas, that would be disastrous!"

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a faint Dao rhythm.

Shi widened his eyes, and Li Changshou raised his brows, both forming a big character in their hearts.

Shi opened his mouth, his forehead covered in black lines.

Li Changshou frowned deeply beside him, pondering a serious question.

Would his future nephew or niece be born like humans, or like the Feng race with eggs?

Although the Hong Huang world didn't worry about cross-species issues, having descendants was a problem that had troubled the great powers for countless years.

It was worth studying—an excellent question.

When Shi left, he seemed to be fleeing in a hurry.

Kong Xuan was quite worried and asked Li Changshou what had happened, but he couldn't explain it clearly.

He couldn't say it—whether to have children was their own matter, and the teacher was just expressing his desire to be a grandfather.

Was there any force involved?

Clearly not.

Li Changshou's true body went to see off his senior brother and sister-in-law at the East Heaven Gate, and before they left, he discreetly slipped a few treasure pouches into his senior brother's sleeve.

He didn't know if they would help, but since the teacher had asked him to, he had to do something.

For example, those seventh-grade Heart Fire Pills might not affect the mindsets of Kong Xuan and Shi much, but they could add some romance and set the atmosphere.

Shaking his head, Li Changshou turned to ride the clouds back to the Tai Bai Palace, but after a few steps, a slight ripple stirred in his heart.

His thoughts turned, and he activated the elderly immortal paper effigy in the Tai Bai Palace, opened the arrays, and let the heavenly general who had come to report enter the grand hall.

This heavenly general seemed to be a Golden Immortal in charge of guarding the heaven gates.

Since he was at the East Heaven Gate, something must have been amiss at the other gates.

"Report—

Your Excellency Xing Jun, the Jie Jiao cultivator Huo Ling Sheng Mu is seeking an audience at the South Heaven Gate!"

Huo Ling?

Why was she coming to see him?

Li Changshou's mind raced, instinctively wanting to divine with his fingers, but he realized he wasn't His Majesty the Jade Emperor and couldn't bypass the great calamity to see heavenly secrets.

Li Changshou said, "Huo Ling is my fellow sect's junior, so please invite her to wait in the Ying Xian Hall. I'll be there shortly."

"Yes!"

The heavenly general bowed and quickly rode the clouds away.

Li Changshou pondered carefully, deciding to use this paper effigy to go out while his true body quietly returned to the 'large artificial hill' in the backyard of the Tai Bai Palace, guessing at Huo Ling's purpose.

It was probably related to the Nan Zan Bu Continent...