Chapter 692: Almost Blew Up Little Broken Clock

These immortals...

Li Changshou's expression turned grave. With a casual wave, a beam of golden light flashed from Xiao Qiong Peak, and his main body in the thatched hut grasped a wooden whip.

The Da Shen Bian.

As he held the Da Shen Bian, streams of information flooded into Li Changshou's mind. The names of the immortals who had just entered the Feng Shen Tai appeared before him, along with the divine positions they were destined for.

Jie Jiao disciple Wu Xu, whose name appeared on the Feng Shen Bang, was designated as the Tian Su Xing among the Thirty-Six Tian Gang Stars.

Jie Jiao disciple Li Xian, whose name appeared on the Feng Shen Bang, was designated as the Tian Fu Xing among the Thirty-Six Tian Gang Stars.

Jie Jiao disciple Yao Gonglin, whose name appeared on the Feng Shen Bang, was designated for the position of the Fang Ri Tu among the Twenty-Eight Xiu, under the Dong Fang Qing Long constellation.

There were also Jie Jiao disciples Tang Tianzheng, Liu Da, Zhang Zhixiong, Sun Yi, Song Geng, and Chan Jiao disciples Fang Ling Daoist and Deng Tian Daoist...

Their bodies had perished, but their Dao essence remained, allowing them to enter the Feng Shen Tai.

Incidentally, Li Changshou could see the circumstances of their final battles.

The sky was filled with streaks of light!

On the Jie Jiao side, hundreds of figures charged from the East Sea;

On the Chan Jiao side, they had set up a grand array, seemingly well-prepared, with masters like Chi Jingzi and Wen Shu Guang Fa Tianzun acting decisively. They struck the Jie Jiao ambush directly, catching the Jie Jiao side off guard.

However, the casualty ratio wasn't overly disproportionate. The Chan Jiao side suffered dozens of losses, while the Jie Jiao side suffered about twice as many.

Yet, among those entering the Feng Shen Tai, the Jie Jiao side clearly had the upper hand in numbers.

Inside the Feng Shen Tai, the Jie Jiao immortals were furious and ready to exact a brutal revenge on the souls of the three Chan Jiao immortals.

Li Changshou's mind instantly shifted to the paper effigy on the Feng Shen Tai, and he shouted,

“Hold on!”

With a few soft crackling sounds, beams of light struck these Daoists;

Their immortal bodies were instantly filled with immortal light, and they stood motionless, the anger in their eyes quickly fading. The way they looked at each other became incredibly complex.

It was as if they had been purified by the light.

One of them said,

“Ah, since we've already died once and our Dao has faded, let bygones be bygones.”

Another immortal spirit added,

“Why must we keep fighting and killing? We all stem from the same Daoist roots. Now that we're free from the great calamity, there's no reason for us to oppose each other.”

“Endless fighting and killing only brings endless grudges and troubles.”

“Only by embracing one another can we prosper in harmony.”

“The same Hong Huang, the same dreams.”

Then, these dozen or so shadowy figures held hands and began singing praises to the San Qing, the Dao Zu, Nuwa Niangniang, and Pan Gu. The scene became remarkably harmonious for a moment, leaving Li Changshou, who was about to speak up, with black lines creeping across his forehead.

This was just too cringeworthy?

Forced reconciliation was the most dangerous kind.

The Tian Dao had control over these beings—now, after entering the Feng Shen Tai, they had become part of the Tian Dao's sequence, completely driven by it, with their temperaments altered...

No matter how powerful an immortal was, what could a mere remnant soul do after death?

The Dao Zu's move was truly masterful, all for the stability of the Tian Dao and to ensure these immortals would serve peacefully in the Tian Ting. It was a stroke of genius.

One had to admit defeat.

Li Changshou didn't say much more. After a brief thought, he dispatched a nearby paper effigy to the confrontation site between Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao, to see if any mediation was needed.

The fact that the first clash between the two sects had caused such heavy losses was beyond Li Changshou's expectations.

It was his habitual thinking—he assumed the Dao Zu was sticking to the original Feng Shen script—but apparently, the Dao Zu was capable of creative thinking and had dismantled the script himself.

A Dao Zu who focused only on results and not processes was even more troublesome than before.

Hiss—

Had the Dao Zu already figured out his trump card? Was that why he was rushing things?

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and decided to play it safe. He'd assume the Dao Zu didn't know his trump card and stick to his current approach.

There was no other way; the odds of success were still too low.

The more critical the moment, the more he needed to maintain patience as long as he could endure it.

The shift from passivity to initiative often happened unexpectedly.

Why had such a large-scale battle erupted today?

It all traced back to when Shi Ji left her cave, and ultimately, it boiled down to Li Jing's special identity.

The adopted son of Tai Bai.

The incident with suppressing the dragon had already made Li Jing and his son celebrities in the Hong Huang, turning Chen Tang Guan into a place of spectacle.

Though half a year had passed, and Chen Tang Guan had focused on reconstruction and grain storage, the immortals hadn't let their guard down.

This led to Bi Yun Tongzi being accidentally killed by Nezha with an arrow. When Shi Ji angrily headed toward Chen Tang Guan and encountered Nezha on the way, the senior disciples of both sects made the same judgment.

This was bad.

A fight was about to break out today!

Both sects chose the same strategy—keep their core disciples hidden and send slightly peripheral but capable saint disciples to test the waters.

A clash between Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao was inevitable.

This was the consensus among the immortals of both sects after the Xi Fang Jiao had been completely crippled.

For someone like Duo Bao, who managed sect affairs, or Guang Chengzi, making decisions was difficult and full of concerns, as they feared falling into the traps of the great calamity with one wrong move.

Everyone wanted to preserve their sect's strength; no one wanted their fellow disciples to die in vain.

As Shi Ji faced off against Nezha, Nezha didn't know what to say. He only mentioned that he was practicing archery and hadn't meant to do it, and he was willing to take responsibility, whether beaten or scolded.

Holding the Da Shen Bian, Li Changshou could see the full sequence of events.

At the time, Shi Ji was likely influenced by the calamity's fate, her temper flaring. She demanded severe punishment for Nezha and even planned to go to Chen Tang Guan to confront his father.

Nezha grew anxious.

Last time, he had killed a young dragon, and the dragon's family had come and nearly destroyed Chen Tang Guan. They had only just repaired most of it over the past half year.

If this Shi Ji, who seemed highly skilled, set the place on fire again, wouldn't it burden everyone once more?

“This was my doing, Gu Gu. If you want to hit me, I'll take it. If you want to kill me, I'll fight you.

I didn't mean it, and I have no grudge against your disciple. If you're going to take my life over this, I won't accept it!”

“You sharp-tongued brat!”

Shi Ji was furious, grabbing her Bai Gu Jian and Jiu Jie Bian, scolding Nezha, “Who are you calling Gu Gu!”

“Uh... Po Po?”

“You little brat, I'm definitely teaching you a lesson today!”

Shi Ji was about to strike, but Taiyi Zhenren, who had been hiding nearby, couldn't hold back and jumped out, mocking Shi Ji a few times.

What followed was as Shi Ji had described: she attacked Taiyi Zhenren, and he, in a fit of resolve, sacrificed the Jiu Long Shen Huo Zhao.

But unlike before, as the Shen Huo Zhao glowed, streams of light appeared from the horizon. Immortals from both sects witnessed the scene.

Shi Ji was a notable figure in Jie Jiao—how could they let her be killed like that?

The Jie Jiao immortals were enraged and wanted to kill Taiyi Zhenren. He just smiled calmly and said,

“In the Hong Huang, virtue is abundant, and half of it belongs to Jie Jiao. Shi Ji attacked me—should I just stand there and take it?”

The Jie Jiao immortals angrily accused Taiyi Zhenren of twisting words, and thus, the first major battle between the two sects began.

By the time Li Changshou's paper effigy arrived, the immortals had already retreated and were standing divided on east and west. Guang Chengzi and Duo Bao Daoist both appeared, facing off at the front of their arrays.

Dozens of corpses lay before the two sects, carried back by their respective immortals.

Only a few could enter the Feng Shen Tai, and most of the Chan Jiao casualties were minor, peripheral disciples. Jie Jiao, however, had lost several experts in this trap.

Li Changshou didn't step forward. After a moment's thought, he calmly sat cross-legged on the clouds, took out a scroll of cloth, and slowly unrolled it, writing something on it.

The immortals from both sects were puzzled but couldn't see through the Dao rhythms around Li Changshou. They assumed this was part of the Feng Shen overseer's duties.

Which side to help?

Actually, neither.

He had no close friends on the Jie Jiao side and few acquaintances on the Chan Jiao side.

Recalling how the Chan Jiao immortals had arrived just in time during the dragon suppression at Chen Tang Guan—right when Li Jing and the others were about to collapse, with the dragons' momentum broken and the Tian Ting stirring—today was no different.

Shi Ji had barely left her cave, likely activating a teleportation array, to reach here so quickly.

Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao were two sides of the same coin now, having shifted from a Daoist stance to their respective sect positions.

This was the norm for immortals and wasn't entirely wrong, but Li Changshou still felt a bit disheartened. After all, he had put so much effort into team building before.

Ideals were no match for reality.

So, Li Changshou decided not to speak up today. He simply sketched the immortals from both sides on the scroll as a record.

His presence here represented the neutral stance of Ren Jiao.

Guang Chengzi's face was cold as he stood with his hands behind his back, saying firmly, “Fellow Daoists of Jie Jiao, have you truly lost your patience? First destroying the West, then Kun Lun, to become the greatest sect in the Hong Huang?”

Duo Bao Daoist sighed, his oily face full of bitterness.

“Why speak like that, brother? Must you blame everything on Jie Jiao?

The great calamity is upon us, and we both know it in our hearts. Why put on such a show? It's truly beneath you.

Today, Jie Jiao has suffered heavier losses, and Shi Ji was burned alive by Taiyi Daoist. How do you explain that?”

Regarding the cult's fate, Taiyi Zhenren rarely spoke seriously, stepping forward half a step on the clouds and saying indifferently,

“Respect begets respect.

Since Shi Ji attacked me, she should have considered whether she could withstand my counterattack.”

Wu Dang Sheng Mu stepped forward half a step from behind Duo Bao Daoist, saying coldly, “Shi Ji, my junior sister, had just lost her disciple, so she was emotional. Did you have to strike so ruthlessly, ignoring that we are all part of the three Daoist branches?”

Taiyi Zhenren chuckled awkwardly, “I didn't want to kill Shi Ji, but my Shen Huo Zhao has a flaw—it specifically burns away karmic obstacles.”

“You!”

Gui Ling Sheng Mu frowned and scolded lightly, “Taiyi Daoist, I've misjudged you. You've gained the upper hand and now you're slandering Shi Ji!”

“I'm just stating facts,” Taiyi Zhenren flicked his sleeve, and a wisp of golden light spread out. “This is the merit I gained from burning Shi Ji. I'll return it all.

If I've spoken falsely, let the Zi Xiao Shen Lei strike.”

The air remained silent, with no unusual movements.

At that moment, most Jie Jiao immortals fell silent, though their anger lingered.

Indeed, many of their sect's disciples had unclear origins and unsavory pasts, which gave them less confidence.

But with the calamity descending and immortal blood spilled, how could they turn back or bow their heads!

Duo Bao Daoist sighed, “Guang Chengzi, I'll call you senior brother one last time. Let me ask again—

How will we survive this great calamity?”

Guang Chengzi lowered his eyes slightly and said calmly, “Each relies on their own abilities and seeks their own opportunities.”

“Very well, that's your choice, senior brother.”

Duo Bao Daoist declared firmly, “From today, no Jie Jiao immortal shall leave their immortal islands recklessly. If any do and perish in the great calamity, it's due to their own instability and has nothing to do with Jie Jiao.

But from now on, if Jie Jiao immortals stay on their islands and Chan Jiao immortals still come to kill our brothers and sisters,

Then all of Jie Jiao will rise against Kun Lun!”

Guang Chengzi's eyes opened, a divine light flickering in them: “Agreed.”

“We're leaving,” Duo Bao Daoist said coldly.

Taiyi Zhenren showed a hint of helplessness and retreated two steps, standing among the Chan Jiao immortals.

The Jie Jiao immortals glared back, filled with resentment and reluctance, but they had no choice but to swallow their bitterness. They gathered the bodies of their fallen immortals and transformed into streams of light, heading toward the nearest immortal islands.

The Chan Jiao immortals stood quietly for a while. Seeing no one speak, Guang Chengzi collected the bodies of their fallen immortals, gestured with his hand, and the Chan Jiao immortals rode the clouds back to Zhong Shen Zhou.

Only Nezha, Taiyi Zhenren, and Yu Ding Zhenren remained.

Incidentally, Li Jing was still on his way.

Nezha whispered, “Master, did I... cause big trouble again?”

“Don't overthink it,” Taiyi Zhenren tapped Nezha's head. “It wasn't your fault. You don't understand these things yet; you'll get it when you grow up.”

Yu Ding Zhenren sighed softly but said nothing more.

Taiyi Zhenren glanced at Li Changshou, but Li Changshou only nodded with a smile, showing no intention to speak.

The two Chan Jiao Zhenren understood and knew it wasn't the time to talk with Li Changshou. They bowed to him and rode the clouds toward Chen Tang Guan with Nezha.

With the full conflict between Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao underway, any team building by Li Changshou would be futile.

Nezha turned back to look at Li Changshou sitting on the clouds and muttered, “Isn't that the godfather who helped us before? Why didn't he help us today?”

Taiyi Zhenren smiled bitterly, “Because what we did today can't be called entirely right.

Your godfather is impartial; he only stands with what's right.”

“Then, did we do wrong?”

“Not exactly wrong,” Yu Ding Zhenren said gently, “In this world, there's no absolute right or wrong. Often, we just have to make choices.”

Little Nezha was full of confusion and clicked his tongue.

“Don't dwell on it,” Taiyi Zhenren looked toward the East Sea. “Jie Jiao retreating today is already showing great restraint.

Compared to them, we've been a bit too ruthless.”

Yu Ding Zhenren said, “With Jie Jiao's multitude of immortals, Senior Brother Guang Chengzi must feel pressured too.”

“Exactly,” Taiyi Zhenren's eyes gleamed, “Otherwise, I wouldn't have seized the chance to kill Shi Ji today.

In this great calamity, you can't afford to be soft-hearted.

Junior brother, why not temporarily move your cave to Qian Yuan Shan? We could be neighbors and look out for each other.”

Yu Ding Zhenren: ...

At the Jie Jiao-Chan Jiao battlefield, where traces of spiritual energy vortices lingered,

Li Changshou slowly stood up. After thinking for a moment, he added a distinctive title to the completed scroll.

“Feng Shen Ji Shi: Po Jie Pian.”

In the scroll, nearly a thousand immortals from both sects faced off, with corpses floating and immortal blood staining the air.

He had changed the clear heavens to a dim yellow, and behind the immortals of both sects, ferocious beasts loomed. The ground beneath their feet was a dark gray.

The Tian Dao manipulates, and living beings pursue self-interest;

Each fights for themselves, positions clashing.

This was the Feng Shen calamity.

The malice of living beings had been stirred by the Tian Dao, reducing immortals and gods to mere ashes of calamity.

In the Hong Huang, with divine powers, magic, immortals, and saints,

In the end, it all boiled down to human nature, trapped between ethics and reason.

“Ah, well.”

Li Changshou shook his head, and a door in his Dao heart slowly closed. In the Li residence's backyard, the advanced household servant paper effigy that had existed for so long turned to ashes and quietly dissipated.

Protecting the human race was enough.

On Xiao Qiong Peak, Zhong Ling tapped the bronze mirror lightly, and the images on it slowly faded.

Ling E rested her chin on her hands, sitting at the table, slightly lost in thought.

Youqin Xuanya whispered, “Is the war between Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao truly irreversible?”

“That's just how calamities go, sister,” Zhong Ling laughed. “Living beings are like this. If every one of them had an untainted Dao heart, even the Tian Dao couldn't destroy them.”

Ling E said softly, “It's a good thing Yun Xiao jie jie didn't show up today; otherwise, senior brother would be unbearably upset.”

“I don't think so,” Zhong Ling shook her head. “Yun Xiao is a Jie Jiao disciple through and through, and she's all about loyalty. She's bound to face off against Chan Jiao later.

The real challenge is how to save her.”

Youqin Xuanya said, “I remember senior brother mentioned that His Majesty the Yu Huang issued a decree for Yun Xiao Xianzi, exempting her from the calamity.”

“That's just exemption from being driven by the calamity's fate,” Zhong Ling corrected. “The calamity can still pull her in by influencing those around her.

Did you notice?

The Chan Jiao side was quite indifferent to their fallen immortals because they don't interact much; they just cultivate separately.

The Jie Jiao side is much more invested, with many immortals ready to fight to the death.

From that perspective, the final winner should be Chan Jiao.”

Youqin Xuanya frowned, “Jie Jiao values loyalty more, so why...”

Ling E shook her head gently and sighed, “Loyalty becomes a chain in the great calamity. During the battle, many Chan Jiao immortals glowed with merit light—that's Jie Jiao's biggest issue.

They've harbored too much impurity.

It's like bandits in the mortal world who value brotherhood but can't be excused for their crimes just because of that.”

“You're right, Ling E. We can't judge people by one aspect alone.”

Zhong Ling of the Dong Huang Zhong looked a bit helpless and smiled,

“Could I really suppress Jie Jiao's cult fate?

Not entirely.

If I can't suppress it in this instant, I can borrow from the previous or next instant, tripling the power of the Da Dao of Time to hold it down. As long as I can manage one instant, I can solidify the cult fate completely.

That's about all I can do.

But, I really don't dare, and somewhat don't want to.

Let's have some tea. Your senior brother has his own ways to handle this. His plans are probably deeper than even the saints'. Don't worry; the Daoist sects won't be completely depleted.”

Ling E blinked and whispered, “Zhong jie, can you see what's about to happen?”

“How could I possibly!”

Zhong Ling waved her hands quickly, “This little bell doesn't have that ability, or I wouldn't have been kicked back to the Hong Huang by your senior brother.

A little bell, just a little bell, one that no one dares to mess with.”

As she spoke, Zhong Ling picked up her tea and took a sip, then gently blew on it.

Oh dear, almost said too much.