Chapter 709: The Road to Breaking the Great Calamity

Inside the Fēngshén Platform, laughter and chatter filled the air. Lǐ Chángshòu stood quietly outside for a moment, then turned and headed back to the Zhōngtiān Gate.

His elder brother had gone off to drink, leaving the task of wrapping up the aftermath to him, a mere ordinary minister of the Heavenly Court.

Deploying the Twenty-Four Heavens didn't require much from him personally. He just needed to guide them toward the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court's grand array would activate on its own, absorbing these twenty-four vast layers of sky.

After a spectacular display of immortal lights cascading for several hours, the Heavenly Court became even thicker and more expansive. Centered on the Jiǔchóng Heavenly Citadel, each level gained three additional zones, while the highest ninth level remained unchanged, known as Qīngjìng Tiān, the abode of the Tàiqīng Temple.

With the Thirty-Three Heavens in place, the Heavenly Way was nearly perfected, its effects rivaling only the full alignment of the orthodox gods of the heavens. This shift tipped the balance: the Heavenly Way now completely overshadowed the Five Saints. If it so desired, it could restrain four of them and establish the Heavenly Court as the sole foundation of order in the Three Realms.

Of course, based on Lǐ Chángshòu's deductions, Hóngjūn Dàozǔ was likely—nine chances out of ten—to avoid overly aggressive measures. Everything could change quietly and seamlessly, using the minimal effort for maximum gain.

Now, deep rifts existed among the saints, giving the Heavenly Way countless opportunities to maneuver.

As for Lǐ Chángshòu himself...

Gazing at the transformations across the eighth heaven, Lǐ Chángshòu rode his cloud slowly toward the Língxiāo Hall.

Before this, many immortals and gods had deliberately "happened to pass by," exchanging pleasantries and greetings to familiarize themselves with the Star Lord.

Up until today, the name Tàibái Jīnxīng had symbolized power and authority, the pinnacle of civil officials.

But starting today...

He was the Heavenly Court's strongest force at present!

The saint-slayer, Heavenly Court civil minister, favorite disciple of Tàiqīng, designated husband of Yúnxiāo Fairy, and elder brother of Ào—Lǐ Chánggēng!

Lǐ Chángshòu didn't feel much about it.

Killing a saint was nothing extraordinary.

It was merely a necessary step on the path to the final destination.

It had just happened earlier than expected, allowing the Heavenly Way to break free from the constraints of the Six Saints system ahead of time.

And then what?

Could the Heavenly Way or Hóngjūn Dàozǔ do much more?

They would still push forward the great calamity, following their predetermined script, step by step locking the clamor of living beings into the past.

Ahead, mist shrouded the way as heavenly soldiers and generals bowed their heads in reverence, their eyes filled with even greater awe.

Lǐ Chángshòu rode his cloud with hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He had to admit, earlier he had been caught up in the moment, borrowing from his elder brother Zhào Gōngmíng's emotions. His own anger, suppressed and resolved by the Kōngmíng Dào Heart, hadn't reached a breaking point.

This was a flaw in his character, which Lǐ Chángshòu had long recognized and devised ways to overcome.

Looking back at his elder brother's situation, everything had unfolded within his own plans.

One reason for killing Rán Dēng was to avenge Zhào Gōngmíng.

He had taken the weakened version of the Qiánkūn Ruler from Rán Dēng precisely to help Zhào Gōngmíng evolve the Twenty-Four Heavens.

Sometimes, people fall into a mental trap, thinking that every step forward faces immense resistance. In those moments, it's worth turning around—the resistance can become a driving force.

The matter of Zhào Gōngmíng and Jīnlíng was now settled.

Lǐ Chángshòu quietly reviewed this entire thread of events, pondering any shortcomings.

At the beginning, Lǐ Chángshòu believed that obtaining the Luòbǎo Money would spare Zhào Gōngmíng from his death tribulation. Back then, his thinking was not yet deep enough, limited by his perspective.

Later, as his understanding of the Heavenly Way deepened, Lǐ Chángshòu realized that Zhào Gōngmíng was in an almost inescapable dead end.

First, his connections were too vast; in Jiéjiào, he was known for his righteousness and loyalty.

Second, his sworn brotherhood with the Sānxiāo Sisters and their deep sibling bonds meant that any trouble for Zhào Gōngmíng would drag half of Jiéjiào's eight great disciples into the calamity.

Most crucially, Zhào Gōngmíng's Dīnghǎi Pearls were key items for completing the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Way.

Long ago, Zhào Gōngmíng had carried a mark of danger as he wandered the world.

Lǐ Chángshòu wanted to save Zhào Gōngmíng partly to prevent the Sānxiāo Sisters from entering the calamity and partly because he felt Zhào Gōngmíng was a good person, unworthy of dying and being listed on the Fēngshén Platform.

So, he had snatched the Luòbǎo Money from Rán Dēng's hands almost by force.

So, he had schemed for the Qiánkūn Ruler and slipped it to Zhào Gōngmíng through back channels.

So, Lǐ Chángshòu had prepared a strand of Hóngméng Purple Qi early on, using it to steal insights from the Heavenly Way before repurposing it as the key for Zhào Gōngmíng's enlightenment.

In this process, what changes had occurred in him?

Simply put, he had gradually abandoned all illusions about the Heavenly Way.

Taking the Luòbǎo Money and killing Rán Dēng had only negated a "form," not resolved the essence of the problem.

In recent years, Lǐ Chángshòu had been troubled by this, especially after Zhào Gōngmíng's wedding to Jīnlíng, which weighed even heavier on his mind.

The more important Zhào Gōngmíng became in Jiéjiào, the greater the risk he posed as a trigger for the Heavenly Way.

At that time, Lǐ Chángshòu pondered for a long time in his thatched hut.

Every path he mapped out led to the death tribulation.

Every step forward was fraught with resistance.

There were too many factors to consider, and overturning Hóngjūn Dàozǔ's game rules to achieve an ultimate reversal seemed impossible.

At that moment, no sudden inspiration struck; instead, following his own principles, after judging that all forward approaches were unviable, he switched to a second state.

He went against the grain.

On the Tàijí diagram of the chessboard, whether viewed from left or right, it seemed to divide into yin and yang, black and white—but what was the essential difference between them?

Black and white, yin and yang were merely human definitions. The Tàijí diagram essentially illustrated a principle: yin and yang mutually generate and restrain, capable of annihilating each other or giving rise to all things.

The Dao exists in one, manifests in two, and is hidden in three.

In that instant, Lǐ Chángshòu had an epiphany, and ideas flooded his mind, quickly forming a plan.

Previously, he had subconsciously placed the Heavenly Way as his adversary, constantly thinking about not benefiting it. But upon reflection, such persistence was meaningless.

Let Zhào Gōngmíng complete the Heavenly Way!

Let his elder brother become a high-ranking entity in the Heavenly Way's sequence, gaining a portion of its authority!

Let the Heavenly Way and Hóngjūn Dàozǔ reap direct benefits in exchange for Zhào Gōngmíng's survival. This wouldn't affect his own chances against the Heavenly Way; instead, it would plant a hidden bomb within it.

At that time, Lǐ Chángshòu set this direction without detailing a full plan, just preparing some contingency schemes.

The truly uncontrollable element was Yáng Jiàn sparing Jīn Guāng, forcing Jīn Guāng to commit suicide.

In that moment, Lǐ Chángshòu felt an impulse to slay a saint.

Zhào Gōngmíng evolving the Twenty-Four Heavens was part of the plan, but killing Zhǔntí was purely a delightful accident.

Lǐ Chángshòu chuckled lightly, then dispelled that joy.

He reactivated his Kōngmíng Dào Heart, maintaining a state of sage-like calm, and systematically analyzed the current situation and the impact of Zhǔntí's death on his subsequent plans.

Before stepping into the Língxiāo Hall, in the deepest part of his Dào Heart, the primordial spirit figure summoned that stone tablet, erasing the "five" and replacing it with a "seven."

His chances of prevailing against the heavens: seventy percent.

Still not enough, far from enough—it was even a somewhat dangerous position.

He had seen plenty of seven-to-three matches flip in his previous life.

The ongoing Fēngshén calamity had already deviated from its original course.

Soon, he would issue orders as a Heavenly Court authority to thoroughly investigate all qi-refining practitioners interfering in the mortal kingship changes in the Southern Continent.

The Shāng-Zhōu war in the Southern Continent was the stage for the Fēngshén calamity, a long-standing rumor and an unspoken "rule."

The Heavenly Court had never officially acknowledged it, and its heavenly regulations already forbade qi-refining practitioners from meddling in mortal affairs.

Lǐ Chángshòu had been holding onto this piece without using it, and now was the perfect time to divert the Heavenly Way's attention and navigate this dangerous period smoothly.

He would only order the investigation, not actually conduct it or target anyone specific—keeping full flexibility.

"Chánggēng! Ha ha ha! Splendid, absolutely splendid!"

Ahead, on the high platform, the white-clad Jade Emperor laughed heartily, sealing the Língxiāo Hall and bursting into laughter at Lǐ Chángshòu.

This Zhǔntí had truly "won the people's hearts."

"Ah, Chánggēng, how did it feel to fight a saint?"

"It was alright, just a bit tough. I nearly got knocked back; had to handle the recoil properly."

"Ha ha ha! That move where you hurled the Lùshén Spear and pinned Zhǔntí to the tree trunk was incredibly satisfying!"

Lǐ Chángshòu replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, I should first discuss the enhancements from the Twenty-Four Heavens to the Heavenly Court, as well as the arrangements for each level."

"That's not important! Tell me first, how did you take on Zhǔntí?

This Zhǔntí!

He really let the Heavenly Court vent its spleen!"

Lǐ Chángshòu: ...

Unable to hold back, Lǐ Chángshòu chuckled lightly as the Jade Emperor pulled him to sit on the steps, beginning to recount his intensely angry "inner journey"—a story he had just fabricated.

In the Yùxū Palace, in the Sānxiāo Courtyard.

It was rare for all twelve Golden Immortals to gather here, but each wore a gloomy expression, heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.

Yuánshǐ Tiānzūn sat on a meditation mat under the tree, eyes closed, seemingly brewing a wave of anger.

The matter of the Ten Absolutes Array was ambiguous for Chānjiao—neither a clear win nor loss.

They had indeed broken the Ten Absolutes Linked Array, sending Zhào Gōngmíng and Jīnlíng Shèngmǔ's physical bodies to the Fēngshén Platform, preventing them from further participating in the Fēngshén calamity.

In that sense, it was a win.

But as covert allies with Western Teachings, losing a major leg had erased Chānjiao's advantages against Jiéjiào, making it a pure loss.

Who could have anticipated that the Heavenly Court's minister had the power to slay a saint?

He had hidden it too well.

The false Fēngshén overseer:

Benevolent-faced, white-haired, wielding a fly-whisk, wandering around as a mediator, mainly soothing the emotions of immortals on the list and handling their training.

The true Fēngshén overseer:

Fling open the robe—who cares about anyone! Mystic arts for protection, saints as mere prey!

In the current world, it was still the era of the Six Saints.

But Lǐ Chángshòu, as a disciple of Tàiqīng, had strength, influence, and deterrence that fully surpassed the original sixth saint, perhaps even exceeding it.

Chìjīngzi said softly, "Teacher, I must ask presumptuously, what is Chánggēng Shīdì's cultivation level? Relying solely on the Balanced Great Dao, he contended directly with the sixth saint—this seems almost unbelievable."

Yuánshǐ Tiānzūn slowly exhaled and said calmly, "I cannot see through it.

Or rather, before today, I could, but when he acted today, I felt that what I had seen was merely another layer of his disguise.

Based on my observation during his last visit to the courtyard, he had four layers of disguise in his cultivation and Dao realm, each nested within the other, with the base layer still visible to me.

Today, I only saw three layers."

The Chānjiao immortals exchanged glances, all showing helplessness.

Yuánshǐ Tiānzūn continued, "Do not let this frighten you, my disciples. As I often say, cultivation refines the Dào Heart and Dao realm, not feats of brute strength.

If you align with the Heavenly Way's will and follow the natural flow, you will remain safe.

Even saints acting recklessly lead to ruin. Thus, cultivate your body, nature, and Dao equally, without favoring one over the others."

The Chānjiao disciples bowed in unison, vowing to heed their teacher's guidance.

Yuánshǐ Tiānzūn waved his hand and said indifferently, "Go back and cultivate. Guǎngchéng and Yùdǐng, stay behind."

Guǎngchéngzi and Yùdǐng Zhēnrén remained standing, while the others slowly left the courtyard, discussing the saint-slaying battle on their way back.

Among them, Tàiyī Zhēnrén was the most pleased.

He was Chánggēng's close friend.

In future group fights, his confidence had just increased by thirty percent!

Tàiyī Zhēnrén's eyes lit up as he looked at the ashen-faced Wénshū beside him. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and casually approached.

"What a pity, ah, what a pity. We lost big this time."

Wénshū frowned. "Shīxiōng, what do you mean by that?"

"Ah, nothing, just a sudden sigh," Tàiyī Zhēnrén said with a soft sigh. "To force the death of mere Shítiānjūn Jīn Guāng, we ended up costing the sixth saint his life.

Isn't that a huge loss?"

"Hmph!"

Wénshū snorted coldly, transformed into a red light, and shot away, vanishing in an instant.

Tàiyī Zhēnrén narrowed his eyes with a smile, about to return to Yùxū Palace for some rest, when he saw Huánglóng looking troubled as he rode his cloud toward the Central Divine Continent.

Tàiyī tilted his head, thought for a moment, and decided to follow.

After all, they were on good terms, and he roughly knew what was bothering Huánglóng—probably something about treasures.

Meanwhile, in the Bìyóu Palace.

Duōbǎo Dàorén was fiddling with the "souvenirs" he had acquired at a high price, growing more delighted by the second, making the group of male immortals nearby green with envy.

What great stuff, even if they were just fragments.

Hey, look at this purple gold plate—it was probably part of a purple gold alms bowl; maybe the saint had drunk from it.

And these charred little wooden beads—holding them feels so smooth, with an irresistible urge to polish them.

Then there's half a meditation mat, a burned lotus seat, and a sword hilt with nothing left of the blade.

The saint's treasury wasn't as rich as his own, it seemed.

Western Teachings' two saints had always claimed their region was barren, and apparently, it was true...

No wonder their disciples were so lackluster—their teacher didn't even have a few decent treasures!

Fortunately, he had been clever back then. When Hóngjūn Dàozǔ was distributing treasures and only some minor items remained, he had a flash of inspiration.

"Hēi hēi, Shīzǔ, can I take this Fēnbǎo Cliff? It's a treasure, right? I just need a storage-type artifact."

He remembered Shīzǔ's face darkening, but he still handed it over.

Otherwise, it would have been embarrassing.

A group of male immortals mustered their courage and approached with flattering smiles. "Dàshī Xiōng, let us have a go at them?"

"Shoo, shoo! Don't cause trouble! I haven't had my fill yet!"

The male immortals left dejectedly.

Soon after, Guīlíng Shèngmǔ led a few female immortals over and asked softly, "What are these?"

"Ah, relics from Zhǔntí Saint—all good treasures, just not usable now," Duōbǎo Dàorén said with an honest and sincere smile. "Come, Shīmèi, let's all handle them and feel the essence."

The male immortals' foreheads were covered in black lines.

So, that's why Jiéjiào had so many female immortals.

"Cough!"

A light cough came from the high platform. The disciples, who had just returned from the Southern Continent and been summoned, quickly lined up, bowed their heads, and performed a Dao salute.

"We pay respects to Shīzūn."

"Mm."

Tōngtiān Jiàozhǔ stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the dozens of disciples he had personally trained, and said calmly:

"The Fēngshén calamity has reached this point, with Jiéjiào and Chānjiao each suffering losses.

Now, thanks to Gōngmíng sacrificing himself to complete the Heavenly Way's deficiencies, and Chánggēng joining forces with Gōngmíng to strike down that dishonorable saint... we need not mention his name anymore.

The great calamity is no longer a fight to the death between Chānjiao and Jiéjiào; the situation doesn't have to be as tense as before.

I announce three matters.

First, from today, in the Southern Jànbù Continent, all Jiéjiào disciples should act low-key. Those who have joined the Shāng army should serve it faithfully, avoid futile battles, and not be overly rigid.

Second, you immortals need not confine yourselves to the overseas immortal islands. Go explore the Central Divine Continent more. If you encounter issues, don't shy away from them—Jiéjiào must remain united.

Third, from this moment, establish the Execution Platform.

Within Jiéjiào, any disciples or followers with wicked intentions, heavy karmic burdens, or those inciting fights among our immortals shall have their physical bodies executed, and their souls sent for reincarnation.

Those who wish to enter the Fēngshén Platform or serve the Heavenly Court may go directly to seek out Chánggēng.

This is no longer ancient times, and the Heavenly Court is not the demon court. Joining it offers a fair chance of survival—nothing to be ashamed of—but it depends on whether they accept you.

I will take no more disciples, and none of you may take disciples for the next millennium.

That is all."

Tōngtiān Jiàozhǔ waved his hand and vanished with the wind. The Jiéjiào immortals bowed their heads in acknowledgment, each lost in thought.

Their shīzūn...

Had become proactive.

Back in the Heavenly Court, on Xiǎoqióng Peak.

Upon returning from the Língxiāo Hall, Lǐ Chángshòu sat back in his rocking chair outside the pill room, closed his eyes to rest, and let out a soft breath.

What opportunities could still boost his chances?

There were some, right ahead on the path.

He erased the options in his heart and inscribed a new line.

"Analysis of the Common Origins of Chānjiao and Jiéjiào Doctrines and Proposals for Their Differences."

His thinking remained exceptionally clear. The direction he needed to strive for now was a fresh outline, freed from previous mental constraints.

Downgrade the Dao Gate to the Hónghuāng Daoism, preserve the final destiny, and have the doctrines of humanity, Chānjiao, and Jiéjiào coexist, differing only in schools and sects.

This was the merger of Chānjiao and Jiéjiào.