Chapter 669: Nüwa Temple Secret Battle

Woo—

A low horn sounded throughout the sky, and from the distance, a long line slowly snaked across the land.

Li Changshou stood on the eaves of a corner building in the Shengmu Palace, his gaze fixed on the distance. He saw a magnificent procession of tens of thousands making their way across the ground, with a hundred men and women wearing *wu zhu* masks leaping about at the front, while behind them, more than a dozen large horns, carried by several people each, blared loudly. On either side, groups of replacements took turns, creating a lively scene.

The majority of the procession consisted of armored soldiers, guarding a huge carriage pulled by thirty-two identical exotic beasts. One had to admit, mortal emperors certainly knew how to enjoy themselves—this carriage was like a small palace, two stories tall, filled with music and the graceful figures of dancing women. Besides Di Xin, there were eight accompanying ministers inside. It was truly a mobile palace.

These so-called exotic beasts were essentially ordinary wild animals that had been tamed by the human race, just stronger and more enduring, making them the preferred choice for royal transport and a symbol of the Shang ruler's status.

At the sight, birds scattered, pedestrians made way, yellow dust billowed, and the sky darkened.

If one possessed the ability to observe *qi*, they would see a golden dragon slowly swimming above the procession of the human emperor, its head hovering above Di Xin.

This was the *ren huang qi yun*.

In ancient times, the dragon clan had become the totem of the human race and had assisted them during their darkest hours, thus becoming their symbolic emblem.

By rights, the *qi yun* of the Shang ruler should manifest as the *xuan niao*, but it paled in comparison to the weight of the title "ren huang."

Feeling inspired, Li Changshou recited a few lines of poetry. He stood with his left hand behind his back and his right hand slightly raised, as if about to point at the rivers and mountains...

“Elder? This elder in white robes?”

A rough voice called from behind. Seeing that Li Changshou ignored it, the voice grew more impolite:

“Old man! Hey! I’m talking to you, old man! The one in white clothes! What are you up to? Thinking of jumping?”

Li Changshou turned around helplessly, looking down at the nearly *zhang*-tall burly man, and then glancing at the armored soldiers who had been patrolling nearby and quickly retreated.

How crude.

He shakily descended from the wooden ladder on the side, chuckling, “This general, this little old man is just taking a look around. Later, with so many people, I won’t be able to see the great king.”

The burly man muttered:

“How old are you and you don’t know better? What if you fall from this height? Just stay put. When the great king arrives, you’ll see him just fine.

Don’t try anything funny, I warn you! If you cause any bloody mess and disrupt the fortunes, watch out!”

The burly man waved his board axe, then rolled his eyes and turned away, hands behind his back.

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

From afar, he could still hear several junior officers reporting preparations to the burly man, repeatedly addressing him as “E Lai commander.”

Shaking his head, Li Changshou walked back to his small hut, quietly waiting for the excitement to arrive.

The Nüwa Temple was already on full alert, as this grand event had drawn crowds of mortals, filling the mountainside.

Hearing the drumbeats from outside and the crowd shouting for the great king, Li Changshou, now changed into a splendid robe, stepped out of the small wooden hut where his *zhi dao ren* usually stayed. He walked with hands behind his back toward the main hall.

The soldiers exchanged glances, unsure what to make of this extraordinary *zhi dao ren*. They hurriedly fetched the burly man from before.

“Hey you!”

E Lai widened his eyes and rushed over, blocking Li Changshou’s path. In a hushed but urgent tone, he shouted, “What are you doing? The great king is about to arrive. Is this a place for you to wander?”

“This...”

“What ‘this’ about it!”

E Lai scolded, “Come on, take him away!”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly, about to explain that he was the honorary abbot here and the presiding officer for today’s sacrifice ritual—he just hadn’t shown himself earlier—when a light call came from the side:

“Is that... is that Grand Historian Da Ren?”

E Lai turned around, and Li Changshou smiled calmly, tucking his hands into his sleeves and standing still.

From nearby, an elderly minister who had come early to inspect the arrangements ran over excitedly. He stared intently at Li Changshou’s youthful-faced, white-haired *zhi dao ren* form, nearly tearing up.

“Grand Historian Da Ren! It really is you! How are you here?

E Lai, step back now!

With that fierce look of yours, how will you scare the old master?”

Li Changshou laughed, “Ah, it’s Xiao Fang. I left Chaoge City and settled here, cultivating myself daily. I’ve managed to live through these extra years.”

“Ah, you still remember this junior. Back then, I owe my position today to your guidance. Please wait a moment; I’ll go inform the great king right away!”

The elderly minister turned and hurried toward the courtyard entrance.

“This?”

The hulking commander E Lai glanced at Li Changshou, then at the minister’s retreating figure, scratching his bald, bronze-colored head in confusion.

Soon, laughter echoed, and a middle-aged man in dark wide robes strode forward, his face full of contentment. Upon seeing Li Changshou, his eyes lit up.

It was Di Xin himself.

Li Changshou bowed his head and cupped his hands in salute, saying, “I greet the great king.”

“Ha ha ha ha! Grand Historian, you’re here! I have longed for you!”

Di Xin stepped forward briskly, with a large group of civil and military officials following behind.

Li Changshou thought to himself: ... As if we’re that familiar.

Once closer, several entrusted ministers greeted Li Changshou, and Di Xin sighed:

“Back then, when Grand Historian left without a word, both I and the Grand Preceptor grieved for so long. Today, seeing you in good health brings me great relief.”

Li Changshou replied with a smile, “Alas, I’ve grown old and can no longer offer strategies to stabilize the realm for the great king. It’s quite regrettable.”

A gleam flashed in Di Xin’s eyes, and his smile grew warmer.

“Why is Grand Historian here?”

Clearly, Wen Zhong had mentioned something to Di Xin.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly and said softly, “I’m here to retire and serve as an abbot. The mountains and waters are pleasant, quite refreshing. Today, I was supposed to preside over the great king’s sacrifice ritual, but it seems I’ll have to let another abbot handle it.”

“Grand Historian, please rest,” Di Xin said, looking toward the Shengmu Palace hall and adding, “It’s just a matter of worshiping the deity.”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, “Thank you for your consideration, great king.”

Di Xin nodded with a laugh and said no more, striding toward the hall. Li Changshou was soon surrounded by several ministers inquiring after his well-being.

Nearby, E Lai pursed his lips and frowned, quietly raising his hand to pinch his mouth, unsure what to say.

Li Changshou patted E Lai’s arm and remarked, “What a fine fellow, so sturdy.”

Then he smiled and walked away, leaving E Lai grinning foolishly.

This minor disturbance quickly subsided. Li Changshou followed the ministers and entered the Shengmu Hall with Di Xin.

Another formal abbot arrived to oversee the upcoming sacrifice ritual.

Di Xin strolled with hands behind his back, as the ministers explained, admiring the exquisite murals on the hall’s walls. The murals depicted scenes like Nüwa creating humans, Nüwa mending the sky, and Nüwa granting blessings.

A five-*zhang*-tall jade statue of Nüwa stood in the center of the hall, emitting a faint jade glow, though her face and headdress were covered with white cloth.

“Shengmu does not reveal her true form”—this was the highest respect mortals offered to the Holy Mother.

After Di Xin finished touring the hall, the elderly abbot asked if they should begin the ritual immediately. Di Xin replied:

“No need for excessive formality. I will present the offerings and pay respects to the Holy Mother.”

The elderly abbot dared not object, and the ministers, knowing the great king’s temperament, said nothing about the rituals.

Soon, soldiers brought in roasted cattle, sheep, fruits, and sweets as offerings. Di Xin took three sticks of incense, his expression serious, bowed before the Nüwa statue, and placed the incense in the burner.

Di Xin stepped back a few paces, and soldiers moved a soft cushion nearby. He lifted the hem of his robe and, leading all the civil and military officials, armored guards inside and outside the hall, slowly knelt down.

At that moment, Li Changshou realized why Di Xin had come to worship. The female sacrifice group had been completely excluded, unable to participate in any steps, and with Di Xin’s order to “keep it simple,” they were shut out entirely, allowing him to seize control of the divine authority.

What a clever move.

Just then!

Li Changshou’s ears twitched. As he bowed before the Nüwa statue, he suddenly pointed a finger at Di Xin.

In the unseen realm, a faint purple light shot toward Di Xin, but as Li Changshou pointed, a pale white halo appeared behind Di Xin, steadily blocking the light.

“Hmm?”

Li Changshou narrowed his eyes slightly. His *zhi dao ren* remained kneeling, but his mind shifted instantly.

Outside the Shengmu Temple, an armored soldier frowned slightly, raising his thumb and gently pressing it toward the hall.

But as he moved, a large hand suddenly appeared, gripping his wrist firmly.

The soldier was startled and looked along the hand to see an old daoist in green robes, his form faint and ethereal, smiling as he said:

“Dao friend, long time no see.”

The soldier’s lips curled into a cold smile, his body twitching before collapsing limply.

From the soldier’s body, a wisp of pale blue mist rose, forming a translucent figure invisible to mortals. The figure stood with hands behind his back, smiling at Li Changshou.

He was slightly plump, with an affluent face, and a faint smile on his lips.

It was Mile of the Western Teachings.

“Dao friend, you don’t seem surprised to see me here?”

Li Changshou sighed, “I had anticipated it, just not that it would be you. Dao friend must have received heavenly permission to return to the world.

No need to ask about that.

But I didn’t expect your incarnation technique to be so crude. Even from eight hundred *li* away, I could smell the rot on you.”

Mile’s mouth twitched slightly, and a hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

“You intend to protect the Shang ruler?”

Li Changshou smiled without responding, enveloping his *zhi dao ren* in a profound dao rhythm, temporarily elevating its weak foundation to match Mile’s aura.

In the next instant, the two translucent figures vanished simultaneously!

A fierce wind whipped through the Shengmu Palace, and high in the sky, one black and one white cloud clashed. Around the palace’s perimeter, two flickering points of light chased and collided, but the aftershocks were swiftly erased.

Thus, the mortals kneeling in worship at the Shengmu Palace noticed nothing unusual.

Li Changshou’s *zhi dao ren* rapidly depleted its magical power, yet he firmly kept Mile at bay outside the palace, neutralizing dozens of streams of light aimed at Di Xin in moments.

In the hall, Di Xin had already risen, and the officials slowly stood as the worship ended.

Mile knew his chance was lost. He snorted coldly and reappeared with Li Changshou, now in the mountains dozens of *li* from the Shengmu Temple.

Li Changshou smiled faintly, his *zhi dao ren’s* power completely exhausted.

Mile said calmly, “Li Changgeng, do you know whose orders I follow?”

“You asking that means the answer is obvious,” Li Changshou replied with hands behind his back.

“Then why dare you act this way?” Mile sneered. “Are you not afraid our situations could be reversed?”

Li Changshou sighed, “I’m only safeguarding the title of *ren huang*. What you’re doing violates the heavenly rules. Are you not afraid of being backlashed by human *qi yun*?

Go ahead and report me if you like. We’ll see who ends up being purged.”

Mile’s mouth twitched, and he said no more. His incarnation dissipated with the wind, leaving only:

“Li Changgeng, I will settle accounts with you.”

Li Changshou smirked, “I’m ready anytime.”

So, Mile had become a dark pawn of the heavens?

By blocking him, had Di Xin completed the worship normally, without any “inscribed poem” incident?

Had he altered the major course of the Feng Shen calamity so easily?

If the Western Teachings or the heavens were behind this, why such a simple setup? Sending Mile to cause trouble while ignoring a minor heavenly official like him...

Doubts swirled in Li Changshou’s mind. As he turned to look toward the Shengmu Palace and shifted his consciousness back to his official *zhi dao ren* nearby, his dao heart trembled unexpectedly.

Roar—

A sharp, ethereal roar echoed. Li Changshou’s *zhi dao ren* in the forest looked up sharply.

There, the *ren huang qi yun* golden dragon reared its head in rage, claws flailing as if to soar, but its massive body was frozen in the clouds, unable to move.

Li Changshou’s eyes glowed with divine light, revealing a dark beam plummeting from the sky.

In the Shengmu Temple hall, Di Xin, about to step over the threshold, paused for no reason. He turned back, hands behind his back, and gazed at the Nüwa statue.

“Why does this Nüwa cover her own face?”

In the forest outside the temple, Li Changshou fell silent, his expression complex. Soon, a self-mocking smile appeared on his lips as his form was consumed by flames and turned to ashes in the wind.

The heavens were acting so openly now, without restraint?

The *qi yun* golden dragon immobilized—unheard of.

Di Xin’s sudden impulse—unseen before.

A mortal emperor, a worldly *ren huang*, toyed with so brazenly by the heavens, without even a facade. After Mile’s failure, they intervened directly...

Why didn’t the Dao Ancestor appear?

Or was this his directive?

In Huoyun Cave, the elder lying at the lake’s bottom—how could he rest peacefully?

A heavenly court upheld by heavenly authority as its mark of orthodoxy—how could it claim “justice”?

Li Changshou had envisioned many scenarios: Quasi-Ti making another move, Di Xin’s character gradually changing over the years, or...

But he never imagined it would unfold in such a straightforward way, fulfilling that essentially empty script.

What followed? No need to watch.

How to counter the heavens?

The Honghuang world... truly too perilous.