Chapter 712: With Mosquito Calculating the Golden Lotus

"Shixiong, where did you go earlier? You seem so exhausted, and you didn't even say a few words to me."

On the way to the gaming room, Ling E hugged an empty jade tray, flying low on a cloud. Her slightly pouted lips showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

In the gaming room, Xiong Lingli was playing "Simulate Life" with the big sister of the Hunlun Zhong, and a large array of items for two-player games was laid out nearby.

As soon as Ling E approached, Zhong Ling let out a scoff.

"How did you get back so quickly?"

"Shixiong needs to rest, sigh..."

Ling E let out a soft sigh, then put away the tray and sat down listlessly at the low table, tucking her small hands under the tablecloth and resting her face on the warm jade surface.

A notification chimed: Your Shixiong value balance is insufficient.

Zhong Ling chuckled and shook the wooden box in her hand, saying casually, "Didn't I tell you to be more proactive? Like helping your Shixiong with a bath or something.

You really don't know how to coax a man."

"Hmph!"

Ling E rolled her eyes and turned her head away, her carefully styled bun shaking gently.

"I'm not like that with Shixiong."

Zhong Ling's eyes narrowed with amusement, while Xiong Lingli made a cheeky face, looking as if she understood everything.

Zhong Ling said, "E, your Shixiong is indeed tired. After all, he went out last time to fight a Sheng Ren, and I have no idea what he was doing before that."

"Sheng Ren?"

Ling E tensed up immediately.

"He and Zhao Gongming teamed up and killed one."

Ling E instantly relaxed and slumped back onto the low table.

Today, Ling E was completely lacking in energy.

"Why that reaction?" Zhong Ling asked, puzzled. "Even though I'm saying it casually, this is a huge event in the Honghuang! Now there are only five Sheng Ren left!"

Ling E: "Wow, that's impressive... As long as Shixiong is fine."

Zhong Ling rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You really should go out more. All you think about is Shixiong. The days ahead are long—don't you find it monotonous?"

"Hee hee hee."

Ling E squinted and chuckled softly, then suddenly glared at Zhong Ling. "But Zhong Jie, didn't Shixiong swear not to use you? Why did you go with him?"

"He didn't use me," Zhong Ling from the Hunlun Zhong huffed. "I went on my own, without touching a bit of your Shixiong's power.

What's wrong with going against the Western Cult Sheng Ren if I don't like them?

I just thought Zhao Gongming and Jin Ling were likable, so I casually hovered over their heads a few times, blocking some attacks and passing on some fire. What can Tian Dao do to me?

Hmph?"

Ling E: ...

Shixiong's various addendums to his Tian Dao oath were indeed well thought out and absolutely necessary.

Hmm, I should draft a wedding oath for him—maybe three thousand characters!

"However," Zhong Ling's expression turned more serious, "don't wander around later. Stay on Xiaoqiong Peak, so it's easier for me to take you and escape if needed.

Now that there are only five Sheng Ren, they've lost all restraint on the Tian Dao. Even though your Shixiong has some unfathomable trump cards, he still can't stand against the Tian Dao.

The Tian Dao is wary of him, but not afraid."

Ling E immediately straightened up, resting her chin in her hand as she pondered, then said softly, "Actually, I've always wondered about something. Can't the Tian Dao endlessly deduce everything? Why has it let Shixiong cultivate to this level without ever suppressing him or arranging some disasters in advance?"

"How would I know?"

Zhong Ling thought carefully, then thought some more, and glanced toward the pill room.

"This is something I actually investigated. When I was on Xiaoqiong Peak, I took a moment to look ahead, and I found...

Your Shixiong never even leaves his door!

What kind of disasters could he have? Would the Tian Dao just strike down the strongest Sheng Ren's youngest disciple out of nowhere?

Now, I can hardly tell which one is his true body and which is his Paper Daoist. If one day he suddenly flips the table and shouts for Xiaoqiong Peak to transform, I wouldn't be surprised at all."

Ling E's eyes widened. "Zhong Jie, you can see all that? The last time Shixiong remodeled Xiaoqiong Peak, he clearly shielded it from Tianji!"

"Hmm?"

Zhong Ling tilted her head.

Ling E furrowed her brows, feeling like she might have said too much, and guiltily pressed her forehead against the table, pretending to fall asleep.

In front of the pill room, Li Changshou's lips curved into a faint smile, but he didn't pay attention to the chatter between the female immortal and the female treasure.

At that moment, he didn't want to think about anything else. He just tried to let his mind wander as much as possible, immersing himself in the world and sensing the interplay of the Great Dao with the Great Dao.

Humming a light tune, Li Changshou attempted to relax and not get too tense.

It was all about balancing work and rest.

Although he was steadily approaching a life-or-death crisis, he still had some confidence.

That seventy percent referred to his chances of winning, not just survival.

If it were the latter reaching ninety-eight percent, he wouldn't have considered the matter of felling the heavens.

No matter what he wanted to accomplish, the first priority was to ensure he stayed alive—that was the essence of steady living.

Buzz—

A faint buzzing sound drifted over the mostly demolished Ling Shan, stopping at a cave on the mid-mountain, which was shrouded in layers of glowing light. Wen Jing manifested her form.

The current Wen Jing Daoist wore a red skirt embroidered with golden threads, her already stunning face now even more ethereal due to the golden dot on her forehead.

She lightly waved her thin sleeves, and the two Hongmong Fierce Beasts that had transformed into human forms bowed before the cave entrance.

"Grand Commander, you're back..."

"What Grand Commander? Call me the First Deputy Cult Leader!"

Wen Jing frowned slightly, glanced at the two figures, and huffed before stepping inside.

"Have you completed the tasks I assigned?"

"Yes, yes," the two fierce beast experts replied respectfully, one with a fawning expression and the other with flattery.

Wen Jing nodded and said indifferently, "Go back to your caves and cultivate. I'll record your merits.

Remember, the Western Cult is in a period of hibernation now. Don't do anything extra or harm a single mortal unless I tell you to.

When the time comes, the Western Cult will rise again on its own."

The two fierce beasts bowed in unison and chanted, "Tian Dao cycles, Western Cult shall prosper greatly!"

"Go on."

"Yes!"

The two beasts turned into streaks of light and vanished down Ling Shan. Wen Jing huffed softly and entered the cave.

After sealing the layers of arrays, Wen Jing finally relaxed.

With a casual wave, her thin skirt flew toward the clothes rack. Seizing the moment when the air wasn't paying attention, she slipped into the spiritual spring pool and lay comfortably in the water.

Mosquito habits, mosquito habits.

"Sigh..."

Truly, she was just one obstacle away from being the leader of the Western Cult—the Sheng Ren Jiyin!

Had the Xing Jun forgotten about her?

Had she visited the Sea God Temple too infrequently, or was her waist not slim enough? Or was it because she had chosen the great consort back then, destined to be abandoned by the second consort?

At least give her some instructions!

Even if it meant sneaking an attack on a Sheng Ren, she needed some confirmation!

Once, Wen Jing thought her task was to relay information to the Sea God.

But she got scolded by the Sea God and hinted that she had a more important role.

Wen Jing felt thrilled, not only because she had joined Renjiao and clung to the strongest Sheng Ren's toe, but also because she felt "finally, someone recognizes my talent."

Later, Wen Jing believed her task was to backstab a certain Western Cult disciple at a critical moment.

But then the Water God tricked the Western Cult into ruin. Their mountain gate was smashed multiple times, shattering the myth of the Sheng Ren's dignity, and the Jiejiao immortals directly wiped out most of the Western Cult, leaving only ruins and the weak.

Wen Jing panicked then, because her only remaining task was to sneak attack a Sheng Ren at the critical moment.

But now, the Sheng Ren was dead!

What exactly did Renjiao want from this queen?

Could it be...

'Changgeng, plant a spy in the Western Cult for use at a critical moment.'

'Yes, Teacher, but what exactly is the critical moment?'

'That would be a very critical moment.'

"Pfft, cough, cough!"

Wen Jing clutched her chest and coughed.

Can't they just be straightforward?

Once it's done, she could escape and find her great consort, shyly asking:

'Xuan Du big brother, am I... coming at the wrong time?'

And wait for the reply: 'How could that be? You're coming at just the right time.'

"Heh," Wen Jing turned over in the pool, sitting with her eyes narrowed in laughter.

Still, she should think about the mission the Xing Jun had given her from the beginning.

Wen Jing had a vague premonition that she wasn't just a key piece in some event—the Xing Jun had been hiding her for a reason, possibly for a plan more terrifying than killing a Sheng Ren.

It might even be... be... be...

Forget it, she couldn't figure it out; it was beyond her understanding.

Better to just ask the Xing Jun directly.

The beheading of the two Western Cult Sheng Ren had turned the already gloomy Ling Shan into a place of utter despair.

The disciples of Ling Shan didn't even want to leave their cultivation spots. Those experts who fled back from the Three Thousand Worlds used excuses to go out for training, with no intention of returning.

What was once the fourth major force in the world, Ling Shan, remained the fourth major force.

But things were completely different now.

Especially after the great Sheng Ren returned and immediately summoned her for instructions, the weariness, helplessness, and sorrow in his eyes shocked her deeply.

The great Sheng Ren had entrusted her, as the First Deputy Cult Leader, with all the management and operations of Ling Shan.

If she manipulated things secretly, she could easily cause the Western Cult to collapse and scatter.

'It seems I need to have a good talk with the second consort.'

Wen Jing pondered carefully in her heart, then sat cross-legged in the pool, vigilantly sensing everything around her. Using her divine ability, she controlled a blood mosquito and sent it flying toward the Sea God Temple in Anshui City in the South Sea.

The real old spot.

The blood mosquito entered the area covered by the Taiji Tu's aura and transformed into a graceful young woman in a green robe, stepping inside.

A voice transmission from Li Changshou reached her ear, and his Paper Daoist emerged from beside the Saint's ink in the back hall, turning into a young Daoist who sat in the armchair.

"What is it?"

Wen Jing Daoist stepped forward with elegant grace and said softly, "This humble one pays respects to the Xing Jun. I have no other major matters; I just came to congratulate you on your revenge and the establishment of your unparalleled reputation."

Li Changshou frowned slightly, seeming displeased, and said, "Is that all?

This is the time you must lie low. If you make even the slightest mistake, all your efforts will be for nothing, and you'll regret it endlessly!"

Wen Jing Daoist's heart trembled slightly, and she didn't dare say more, just bowed her head and explained, "Please don't be angry, my lord. It's just that this humble one is anxious and unsure how to proceed, so I came seeking your guidance.

My lord!

Please tell me clearly what I should do!

You've already slain the sixth Sheng Ren, and now I oversee the Western Cult's affairs inside and out. How can I continue to hide like this? Truly, I am lost."

Li Changshou: ...

Very well, it was about time.

In case the situation developed along the third to twelfth possibilities he had predicted, he really needed to tell Wen Jing Daoist in advance when and how to act.

Li Changshou said gently, "Wen Jing, you've worked hard all these years."

Wen Jing Daoist's body trembled slightly.

That sounded a bit like she was about to be dealt with.

Then she heard Li Changshou say warmly, "I know how much you've endured, but the time isn't right yet, and you are crucial."

Li Changshou summoned the Taiji Tu, enveloping Wen Jing Daoist within it.

"Wen Jing, my trust in you isn't based on your Tian Dao oath or any leverage I hold over you.

I don't see you as an outsider. You know that my teacher, the Taiding Sheng Ren, has allowed your matter with my Shixiong.

Of course, my Shixiong doesn't know the details yet, but that doesn't matter.

The task Renjiao needs you for is something of great importance and far-reaching impact. It's not as simple as killing a Sheng Ren; it's a contest of doctrines, ideals, and the Great Dao.

Do you know the ancient saying that the West is destined to prosper greatly?"

Wen Jing Daoist's eyes sparkled as she said softly, "Thank you for your trust, my lord. This humble one is aware."

In reality, she was screaming inside.

'Ha! The Western Cult is already in ruins, and I'm not stupid—I'll stick with Renjiao all the way. That's why you're telling me this now!

Renjiao, your hearts are black!

But, tsk tsk, so is this queen.'

Li Changshou laughed. "Don't mutter nonsense in your heart."

Wen Jing was startled and quickly lowered her head, closing her eyes and apologizing repeatedly.

Li Changshou smirked inwardly—he had just guessed right.

Wen Jing was always full of internal drama.

Li Changshou continued, "The Jiejiao's destruction of ninety percent of the Western Cult's strength actually aligned with the Tian Dao's expectations for tempering them. The Tian Dao follows rules, like 'before great responsibilities, one must endure hardships.'

The Western Cult still has a chance to revive, which is part of a scheme involving the Tian Dao and the West that began in ancient times.

I am tasked with breaking this scheme.

Wen Jing, what I need you to do is simple.

When you hear news that the human emperor has fallen in the South Jambudvipa and Jiejiao and Chan Jiao are in decisive battle, and the Western Cult's great Sheng Ren is about to go out, just ask him if he's going to assist Chan Jiao.

If the great Sheng Ren answers you or says yes, find a way to brush it off, wish him well on his journey, or whatever.

Then, at the right moment, when the great Sheng Ren is occupied and can't move, go find the Western Cult's treasure, the twelve-grade Golden Lotus..."

Wen Jing Daoist held her breath and listened as Li Changshou uttered those words:

"Destroy it."

Wen Jing Daoist stood there stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's it?"

"Yes, that's it."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier? It would have put my mind at ease," Wen Jing Daoist whispered. "I've been in charge of guarding the Golden Lotus all along, even wiping its petals and offering incense every day."

Li Changshou: ...

"Ahem, it's mainly about the timing. I always believed you had the ability to get close to it.

Timing is crucial. You must act when the great Sheng Ren goes out next time. I predict he'll use the Divine Banner in the great battle to bring in a large group of Jiejiao disciples into their cult.

That's the foundation for their great prosperity.

Strike at that key point and make their Golden Lotus collapse.

Then Jiejiao's past predicament will be fall the Western Cult again, and my teacher and I can proceed with our plans.

Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes!"

Wen Jing Daoist beamed with a smile. "If you'd said that earlier, this humble one would have been much more settled."

"This matter is extremely important; I'll ensure your safety then," Li Changshou said, "but keep this secret even if you perish before that.

If the great Sheng Ren wears the Golden Lotus, I'll have no choice but to find a way to slay another Sheng Ren."

Wen Jing Daoist's smile froze instantly, and she bowed in agreement before turning into a pile of blood sand and dissipating.

Li Changshou sat there, pondering for a while, then his figure merged into the earth.

Indeed, with strength comes leverage in words.

That Golden Lotus would be quite nice to seize... but no, better to destroy it for safety. Let the mosquito absorb more, turning it into a damaged four-grade innate spiritual treasure. Symmetry is more aesthetically pleasing.

How dare the Western Cult commit so many evils and deceive the human race, thinking they can rise after being suppressed?

Screw that!