Chapter 752: The Return of the Equilibrium Dao

Chapter 753: Equilibrium Dao Returns! The Great Cup

“Li Changshou is back…”

“He never left. He has always been there, hanging in the dark corners of living beings’ Dao hearts through the method of Heavenly Demons, watching you and me, Daozu.”

“The spiritual core of the Heavenly Demon Venerable was buried before the Investiture of the Gods calamity; he prepared for this long ago, Daozu.”

“You misjudged this being, Daozu.”

“He didn’t evade, didn’t even think of seeking his homeland, Daozu.”

“He toyed with you and me, Daozu.”

“The variable never dispersed. The world always had a variable. The one who escaped has grown powerful. This is a sign of calamity, Daozu.”

“You have already lost, Hongjun.”

“Fellow Daoist, your mind is unsettled.”

In the purple bamboo forest of Zixiao Palace, Daozu stood with a somber expression before the chessboard. The shimmering Creation Jade Disc floated before him, surrounded by figures in gray robes.

The gray-robed figures spoke incessantly.

Their faces showed mockery, sarcasm, cunning, cold laughter, despair, loss, and wails, like an exhibition and collection of the world’s private desires.

Daozu’s towering form trembled slightly, his usually calm face now contorted.

“Find him. Drag him out from the corners of the living beings’ Dao hearts!”

The gray-robed figures spoke in unison, their voices gentle and uniform:

“As you wish, owner of the heavens and earth.”

In that instant, their expressions unified into faint mockery.

The gray-robed figures turned into streaks of light and dissipated, leaving only Daozu’s figure in the purple bamboo forest.

Hongjun stood before the Creation Jade Disc, his face shifting between anger and uncertainty, forgetting the art of concealing his emotions and openly showing his irritation.

How many years had it been? He had controlled the Great Desolation for so long, never facing such humiliation!

This Li Changshou dared to deceive the heavens, treating him like a fool!

What about watching from beyond the heavens? What about the Equilibrium Dao escaping the Great Desolation?

It was all just a grand performance!

What had Li Changshou done in his world?

Hongjun carefully sensed the Creation Jade Disc before him, feeling the three thousand Great Daos of the Great Desolation, his gaze sweeping rapidly over every corner of the three realms, the immense information posing no burden at all.

This individual must have done something.

Li Changshou never took risks. He voluntarily gave up the chance to fight the Heavenly Way during the Investiture of the Gods calamity, remained unmoved by Tongtian Jiaozhu’s imprisonment, and endured Taishang Laojun’s sealing. He must have a way to counter the Heavenly Way.

Allowing Heavenly Demons to enter the Dao hearts of living beings, rallying countless experts to rebel against the heavens?

Or perhaps, he hid countless paper effigies everywhere, planning to shatter the Great Desolation directly, using the Chaos Bell to carry away the seeds of life and restart a realm?

What had he done? Exactly what?

Hongjun narrowed his eyes slightly, a fierce glint in them, and instinctively looked up, as if a sharp sword hung overhead.

But the space above was empty.

Daozu suddenly chuckled lightly, slowly sitting down, brushing the dust from his robe, a hint of amusement in his eyes, followed by a burst of laughter.

His laughter carried delight, relief, and a touch of self-mockery.

Very well, this befits my opponent.

His thoughts far surpassed those of the original beings of the Great Desolation, from the same homeland as that fellow, with unexpected schemes—this is the being I truly fear.

But Changshou.

I’ve managed this world for such endless ages; even your greatest reliance, Taishang, is helpless. What more can you do?

‘Want to play a game of cat and mouse with me?’

Hongjun’s mouth twitched slightly as he pressed his palm slowly toward the Creation Jade Disc, his deep voice echoing through the heavens and earth.

“Heavenly Venerable decrees: Control all living beings.”

Streams of golden light fell from the sky across the Great Desolation’s five continents, entering the necks of living beings from angles unseen by them.

Trees, flowers, insects, birds;

Mortals, immortals, demons, ghosts.

Any being without a perfected Dao realm or the cultivation of a Daluo Jinxian was pierced by this golden light at the back of their neck, yet remained utterly unaware.

In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun slowly lifted his hand, the jade disc rotating slightly before shattering into floating squares suspended before Daozu.

At the same time, a great cauldron floated behind Hongjun, shadows of four divine beasts circling it.

An indescribable Dao rhythm spread from the cauldron, merging Zixiao Palace with countless radiant lights.

So what of the way of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons?

What can you achieve by secretly returning to the Great Desolation?

What are you hoping for, Changshou? What are you pinning your hopes on?

Ah, yes, the only chance to slightly disrupt the Heavenly Way lies in the Journey to the West, with Wukong causing chaos in heaven, the final resistance of living beings, their last yearning for freedom…

But even if you secretly participate, what can you do?

Sun Wukong can’t help you.

The Buddhist school?

Duobao?

He’s inherently timid as a mouse, just a treasure-seeking rat, never fit for great tasks. Out of old ties, I gave him the position of Buddha, but now he’s just another among the gods.

What exactly are you plotting?

Hongjun narrowed his eyes, his smile turning coldly sinister.

Very well, let me show you what this monkey can really do.

“Fellow Daoist.”

Another gray-robed figure appeared behind Hongjun.

“Under the pretext of the damaged Book of Life and Death at Huaguo Mountain, annihilate the monkey clan there, shatter their remnant souls, and prevent them from entering reincarnation.

Observe those monkey beings and see if any have anomalies in their Dao hearts.”

“Understood.”

The gray-robed figure dissipated into light.

Hongjun slowly closed his eyes, his previously turbulent mind now as still as an ancient well.

After such long ages and countless opponents, as the ultimate victor, what scenarios hasn’t he encountered?

This enemy was indeed unprecedented.

Why had his Dao heart become unbalanced?

Simple: the spiritual core of the Heavenly Demon Venerable proved one thing.

Li Changshou had prepared everything long ago.

Li Changshou had already accepted that the Investiture of the Gods calamity would end in Daozu’s victory, that as the escaped one, he would flee the world, and that the Heavenly Way would evolve to envelop the Great Desolation as it does now.

Yet, under these premises, Li Changshou still had the confidence to balance the Heavenly Way and turn the tide.

‘What is your trump card? Rallying living beings to pray together?’

Don’t joke about that.

Living beings are merely the nourishment of the Great Desolation.

It has begun.

Beside the lotus pool on Ling Mountain, Li Changshou, disguised as the false Bodhi, sat quietly.

Duobao Buddha had already left for the main hall, summoning the experts of Ling Mountain to sense the anomalies of the Heavenly Way.

Adapt as needed.

Li Changshou’s immortal sense swept over thousands of miles around Ling Mountain, seeing golden lights flashing in the sky, threads piercing into the necks of living beings.

From the deer bounding in the mountains to those below the Daluo realm on Ling Mountain;

From the fish swimming in the rivers to the woodcutters in distant forests, and even the golden cicada sleeping in the lotus pool before him.

All living beings, as long as their Dao was not perfected, were threaded with gold at their necks;

And they remained completely unaware.

No need to look, no need to search.

The same was happening in the secular world of South Jambudvipa, the poisonous mists of North Uttarakuru, the vast immortal mountains of East Purvavideha, the sparse resources of the endless mountains in West Aparagodaniya, and the grand immortal realm of Central God Continent.

The Heavenly Way was drawing power from living beings;

The Heavenly Way was controlling their fates;

And now, the Heavenly Way was directly monitoring the Dao hearts of all living beings in the world, searching for his trace.

What made Li Changshou find it somewhat amusing was that Daozu still hadn’t suspected the false Bodhi.

This was also a difference between him and Daozu.

In his way of thinking, since the variable in the world lay with Sun Wukong, he would first thoroughly investigate all beings related to Sun Wukong.

As his teacher, the one who influenced Sun Wukong most deeply and had the longest contact, he should be the prime suspect.

In fact, if roles were reversed, Li Changshou would directly eliminate the false Bodhi.

But Daozu wouldn’t.

Deep down, Daozu was quite self-assured; the false Bodhi was personally chosen by Daozu as the ‘monkey educator’ and had passed Daozu’s tests.

If Daozu suspected the false Bodhi, it would be a form of self-denial.

For someone accustomed to controlling everything, that was hard to accept.

As long as one maintains the mindset of a living being, there will be personality flaws—this is the basic definition of living beings.

Li Changshou sat quietly by the lotus pool, appearing calm, but his mind was fully tense, calculating every optimal moment to strike.

He had to make the most of this upcoming opportunity, wresting every possible advantage from Daozu.

The path had reached its end; ahead was a chasm.

Now that things had come to this, there was no way to retreat, no turning back.

Li Changshou controlled the false Bodhi to close his eyes, shifting his mind to the second false body, watching the bustling ‘demon clamor’ at Huaguo Mountain.

The third false body was ready to self-destruct at any moment to divert Daozu’s attention, buying a slim chance for his next move.

He vaguely sensed…

In the Chaos Sea, the Kunpeng ship was racing toward the Great Desolation at full speed.

Xuan Du Magus, Kong Xuan, Wen Jing Daoist, and the group of Human Teachings experts, along with a dozen vetted Jiejiao immortals, were their stable backup.

In the Fire Cloud Cave, several Human Emperors stood by the lake where Fuxi once rested, watching the bubbling water.

Behind them, war chariots were enveloped in blood light, the silent spirits of the human race.

In Anshui City of South Jambudvipa, threads pierced through the heavens and earth as the people calmly worshiped at the Sea God Temple, living their noisy lives, awaiting their fates.

The world was eerily silent.

At the borders of the five continents, hordes of great demons carrying karma, with threads on their backs and vacant eyes, burrowed into the earth veins, heading toward Huaguo Mountain in East Purvavideha.

This was one of Daozu’s major trump cards, the true face of the world revealed after tearing away the facade of benevolence.

Like a prison.

Li Changshou could roughly deduce Daozu’s plan; if he couldn’t find his trace, Daozu would force him to appear.

Both the second false body, the ‘karma-laden great demon,’ and the third false body, the ‘Heavenly Immortal realm cultivator,’ were under Heavenly Way surveillance, their minds influenced.

Li Changshou multitasked, striving to keep his three false bodies from exposing themselves, minimizing his inner thoughts.

By revealing such means, Daozu was warning Li Changshou.

Whatever Li Changshou planned, if it angered the Heavenly Way, it could wipe out all beings below the Daluo realm at any time.

Then, with living beings extinct, the so-called stance of living beings would be meaningless.

If anyone else faced this situation, they’d likely be helpless—Daozu’s control over the world was terrifyingly absolute, and threatening with the masses was the simplest and most direct method.

A true horror story of the Great Desolation.

How many more trump cards did Daozu have? Probably many, but that didn’t matter anymore.

Li Changshou sighed lightly in his heart, as mist appeared around him, the Dao rhythm of the Empty Sky surrounding him, his face showing three parts vigilance, three parts confusion, three parts tension, and one part bewilderment.

A perfect pie chart was ready.

The conflict point in the world was at Huaguo Mountain.

The demon race was just a sideshow; heavenly soldiers and generals were already on the way.

From the ‘small television’ provided by Duobao Shixiong earlier, he had seen that the Jade Emperor had ordered the subjugation of Huaguo Mountain’s demons but sparing the monkey race.

But now, Daozu was controlling these great demons to rush to Huaguo Mountain, aiming for indiscriminate slaughter, and if necessary, directly invoking heavenly punishment.

Based on his understanding of Daozu, Daozu already intended to eliminate Sun Wukong, that ‘working monkey.’

Kill the monkey to warn the longevity seeker.

The lives of those monkeys had become the center of the vortex—ironically enough.

But there was no way around it; aside from his master and those long-lost seniors, what Sun Wukong cared about most was this group of monkeys that gave him a sense of belonging.

Moreover, Daozu had another card to threaten him.

His junior sister, Youqin Xuanya, who once sought justice and self-worth in this world.

However, Xuanya was probably quite safe right now.

This safety wasn’t because she was protected by Zhao Gongming and Jinling Shengmu; it was simply because Daozu knew how much he valued his loved ones, and without knowing his exact trump card, Daozu wouldn’t easily touch her.

Li Changshou felt that, in Daozu’s current perception, the key to the game was still on Sun Wukong.

But in reality, what Li Changshou was thinking wasn’t about gaming around Wukong, but how to protect him.

In the Heavenly Court, at the Great Sage Equaling Heaven’s residence.

Sun Wukong lay on the railing in front of the main hall, his monkey fur reeking of wine, with a dozen or so fifth-rank minor gods passed out nearby.

Sun Wukong squinted his eyes, enjoying the leisure, seemingly oblivious to the changes and anomalies in the world.

In truth, he had noticed.

He felt the sky seemed lower, a bit stifling and oppressive, not quite refreshing.

Great Sage Equaling Heaven…

“Heh,” the monkey grinned, but his smile faded into a sigh.

He didn’t know how his monkey kin were doing;

Didn’t know if Big Brother Niu and the others were still at Huaguo Mountain.

They should be; after all, those old demons planned to develop Huaguo Mountain into a sacred ground for the demon race, a springboard for demons to enter the Heavenly Court.

He, the accepted Beautiful Monkey King, was the beacon for the demon race’s future.

A beacon? More like a dim light.

Sun Wukong summoned a half-pot of wine from nearby and poured it into his mouth.

How could he not feel it? The Heavenly Court looked down on the demon race; most of its proper gods harbored pure hostility toward demons.

Because most of the Heavenly Court’s proper gods were not innate beings; they were human.

This was the Heavenly Court of the human race.

The grudges between the demon and human races, he had heard from his brothers, especially Big Brother Niu, who told him a lot and enlightened him.

When Huaguo Mountain was in dire straits before, his only thought was to fight the Heavenly Court to the death, falling before his monkeys.

His master named him Wukong, telling him to comprehend the principles of emptiness, but as Sun Wukong comprehended, he realized he couldn’t even figure out his own issues.

Where did he come from, and why?

What was the meaning of his existence in the world?

Did the heavens create him to give him a mission, or was it just a purposeless accident?

Later, Sun Wukong found he couldn’t figure it out.

But he remembered that rainy night, breaking out of the stone, curling up in the crevice with an empty heart, and upon waking, the first thing he saw was a group of monkeys like himself.

So…

To hell with the innate stone fetus; he was just a monkey, a monkey of Huaguo Mountain!

“What’s suddenly bothering me?”

Sun Wukong chuckled awkwardly, sat there with a wine burp, fantasizing about his residence filled with peach trees and monkeys everywhere.

That would be great.

It was also a major motivation for his future efforts.

“Great Sage, Great Sage.”

A tinkling bell rang.

Sun Wukong shuddered at the sudden call, looking up to the source.

In the pavilion in the courtyard, a child stood in the mist, holding a bell and shaking it gently.

Sun Wukong tilted his head, inexplicably stood up, and stumbled toward the pavilion, reaching it in a few steps, swallowed by the mist.

The child’s voice rang out again:

“Great Sage, there are treasures inside.”

Sun Wukong hazily looked ahead, saw a half-open gate, and slowly shifted his gaze upward, suddenly snapping alert.

Tushita Palace.

Wasn’t this Taishang Laojun’s residence?

Though his time in the Heavenly Court was short, Sun Wukong knew who Taishang Laojun was; he’d heard the name more than once from Big Brother Niu.

The pillar of the Heavenly Court, a great expert of the Human Teaching, an existence absolutely not to be provoked.

How had he ended up dazedly at Tushita Palace? And why did he feel an irresistible urge to walk forward?

At that moment, Sun Wukong couldn’t see the golden thread trembling behind him, guiding him step by step into Tushita Palace.

In Zixiao Palace, in the purple bamboo forest, Daozu watched this scene, fiddling with the golden thread in his hand.

A gray-robed figure had just appeared nearby and asked, “Fellow Daoist, why are you increasing Sun Wukong’s power?”

“To lure the snake out of its hole,” Daozu said calmly. “We can’t find Li Changshou in the world, but his schemes must involve Sun Wukong.

Make Sun Wukong stronger, combined with shaking the Heavenly Way, to draw him out.”

The gray-robed figure nodded. “We’ve confirmed again: the Kunpeng secret realm is intact, and Li Changshou’s Great Dao is still there.”

His true body doesn’t dare return?

Daozu raised an eyebrow slightly and murmured, “Don’t let your guard down; he might have a chance to descend through the way of Heavenly Demons.

Can’t we modify the way of Heavenly Demons?”

“It can’t be modified,” the gray-robed figure said gravely. “This Great Dao wasn’t formed in the Great Desolation; it condensed in the Chaos Sea through the Heavenly Demon Venerable devouring true spirits and Dao fragments.”

Daozu said, “Forget it. Find a way to seal off Li Changshou’s connection to the world.”

“Fellow Daoist, isn’t this a bit of an overreaction?” the gray-robed figure said. “Perhaps that spiritual core was just one of Li Changshou’s backup plans…”

“Though possible, we absolutely can’t let our guard down.”

Hongjun’s eyes flashed with ferocity as he watched the scene under his palm.

Sun Wukong had already entered the empty alchemy room, taking down the hanging gourds and devouring their contents greedily, burping and laughing.

Vast medicinal power turned into spiritual energy, filling his limbs and seeping into his flesh, strengthening his body.

“Where is Yang Jian?”

Daozu suddenly asked. The gray-robed figure closed his eyes, and an image appeared on his chest, showing the Mount Mei scenery.

Yang Jian was lounging in a forest, with several fairies beside him—Yang Chan and her attendants.

Daozu narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly thinking, but eventually shook his head.

“No need for him. Let the Heavenly Court wage direct war with Sun Wukong.”

The gray-robed figure acknowledged and dissipated quickly, while a new one formed nearby.

The Heavenly Way’s incarnations had begun to bustle.

In Tushita Palace, Sun Wukong lay dazedly by the alchemy furnace, his fur glowing red from the flames; his Dao heart was muddled, his mind foggy.

‘What’s wrong with me, old Sun?’

The golden thread behind Sun Wukong quietly vanished, and mist appeared beneath him;

A trace of Heavenly Way power swept by, and Sun Wukong’s figure disappeared without a trace.

Three days later, at Huaguo Mountain in East Purvavideha.

Huaguo Mountain had been quite lively these past few days, more than the demon experts had anticipated.

They hadn’t heard of any discussions in the Heavenly Court’s Lingxiao Hall or any rumors; the liveliness was simply because large groups of demon experts had gathered from the five continents and four seas.

In just two or three days, thousands of demon experts had assembled at Huaguo Mountain.

Among them, over six hundred were at the Jinxian realm, mostly ancient demons who had hidden away until now, inexplicably converging here.

Additionally, over a dozen Daluo Jinxian had come to join the excitement, wanting to see where the demon race’s future lay.

It was as if Huaguo Mountain had truly become the sacred ground for the demon race’s revival.

In the eyes of the demons, it was indeed so.

The demon race, from top to bottom, firmly believed they would rise again and become the second greatest race in the world.

Some demons even relocated entire mountains, placing them near Huaguo Mountain to expand its influence.

As demons gathered, humans retreated; within tens of thousands of miles, no human cultivation sects or mortals remained.

With Sun Wukong becoming the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, the remaining Seven Great Sages became hot figures, attending endless banquets and attracting the admiration of many female demons.

Also, since the chaste Sun Wukong had gone to the Heavenly Court, the demon kings here finally relaxed a bit, indulging in their usual pleasures.

Feasting wildly, acting recklessly—it was all kinds of indulgence.

In this demon ‘sacred ground’ of song, dance, indulgence, and oblivion, near Sun Wukong’s Water Curtain Cave, at the cliff protected by natural formations where the mending stone once lay.

The monkey lay quietly there, clad in mighty armor, still smelling of wine, his face alternating between golden and green glows.

A shocking spiritual energy surged within him.

‘Wukong… Wukong?’

Master?!

Sun Wukong hazily opened his eyes, but drowsiness overtook him, and he fell back asleep.

As his monkey eyes closed, he saw dark clouds suddenly flying in from all directions, but no thoughts arose in his heart.

A misty rain began to fall on Huaguo Mountain, as if washing away the demon aura.

The rain lasted only a moment before the clouds thickened and pressed down on Huaguo Mountain.

Soon after, a thunderclap exploded!

Thunder dragons roared in the distance, heavenly might descending abruptly!

On Huaguo Mountain and the nearby dozen peaks, the countless beings were stunned, looking up at the sky in confusion.

What was happening?

Why this sudden commotion?

“Heavenly Court—could they be going back on their word?!”

“Don’t panic, everyone! The Great Sage just joined the Heavenly Court; breaking their promise now would damage their reputation!”

“Quick, leave! This isn’t a place to stay!”

In an instant, hundreds of streams of light flew from the peaks—the quickest and most powerful old demons fleeing in all directions.

But as these streams of light took off, thunder filled the heavens, pillars of light piercing the clouds like an iron cage, completely enclosing the thousand miles around Huaguo Mountain!

They had arrived!

Chanting voices rose, war drums drowning out the thunder!

The three hundred and sixty pillars shook together, solidifying the thousands of miles of space!

From the pillars, countless heavenly soldiers and generals poured out, in neat ranks, forming the Heaven’s Net array in the world.

The heavenly soldiers raised their spears, streams of immortal light connecting left and right, up and down, creating a second layer of enclosure behind the three hundred and sixty pillars.

The ten directions were sealed, the heavens and earth flawless!

Above Huaguo Mountain, streaks of light like comets descended, transforming into hundreds of generals in mid-air, each releasing the might enhanced by the Heavenly Way.

Li Jing, holding the pagoda, stepped forward, his gaze calm. After a moment of silence, he spoke:

“By His Majesty’s command, exterminate the karma-laden demons of Huaguo Mountain.

Those who resist will have their souls destroyed; those who surrender will have their remnant souls sent to the eighteen levels of hell to suffer.

Division gods, hear my order!

Purify this karma, protect these monkey spirits!”

The gods roared in response, each gripping immortal treasures and divine artifacts, diving from the air.

Behind the gods, the clouds parted, and war arrays formed by hundreds of heavenly soldiers and generals pressed down, transforming into shapes of dragons, tigers, phoenixes, and ancient divine weapons, bombarding Huaguo Mountain!

The Heavenly Court gave the demons of Huaguo Mountain no chance to fight back;

Nor any chance to beg for mercy.

Only the monkeys from the Water Curtain Cave lineage were marked by the Heavenly Way; in the air, thousands of heavenly soldiers formed protective arrays, casting beams of immortal light upon them.

In no time, the dozen peaks around Huaguo Mountain crumbled!

Most demons scattered in flight, and a one-sided massacre unfolded in the world.

The might of the Heavenly Court was on full display!

But amid the battle, many demon experts went mad, charging at the bewildered monkey soldiers.

“Sun Wukong has betrayed us! Completely sided with the Heavenly Court!”

“Why should these monkeys be protected by the Heavenly Court? They deserve to die most!”

“Kill them!”

In the high air, Li Jing frowned, tossing his pagoda downward to summon the monkey soldiers into it for protection.

Li Jing muttered, “End this quickly.”

Just then!

A wisp of Heavenly Way power suddenly appeared behind Li Jing, condensing into the form of a white-robed elder—the Jade Emperor’s messenger, Taibai Jinxing.

“Marshal Li, His Majesty’s orders have changed.

The monkeys of Huaguo Mountain, due to the destroyed Book of Life and Death, have become anomalies of the Heavenly Way. His Majesty intends to use this opportunity to extinguish their souls.

Do not hesitate, Marshal; such calamities were provoked by Sun Wukong.”

Li Jing’s brows furrowed deeply as he turned to stare at the white-robed elder.

In the Heavenly Court’s Lingxiao Hall, the Jade Emperor clenched his fists, hiding them in his sleeves.

In a corner of the battlefield, in a valley near Huaguo Mountain, that karma-laden great demon who had been hiding, now with slightly less fear on his face, looked toward the chaos at Huaguo Mountain, his mouth twitched slightly.

It was Li Changshou’s false body.

As expected, the esteemed Daozu was personally dealing with a group of monkeys.

‘In that case, let’s do this.’

Li Changshou’s true body exhaled lightly, controlling the third false body, the ‘Heavenly Immortal realm cultivator,’ to fly out tens of thousands of miles near Duxian Sect.

The third false body reached back with his left hand, as if touching a string, and casually snapped it.

Immediately, the Dao rhythm on the Heavenly Immortal realm elder began to change layers, transforming into the intent of equilibrium, into infinite variations. He looked up at the Heavenly Palace and the Zixiao Palace beyond, cupping his hands slightly.

The Equilibrium Dao returned once more!

In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun Daozu narrowed his eyes slightly, locking eyes with the Heavenly Immortal realm elder from afar.

Almost simultaneously, the second false body, the ‘karma-laden great demon,’ burrowed into the nearby mountain and rushed toward the monkey soldiers at Huaguo Mountain.

It was just a diversion.

“Xuanya, what are you thinking about?”

In the palace of Doumu Yuanjun, under the dazzling starry sky, the increasingly gentle Jinling Shengmu reclined on the soft couch, her hand on her swollen abdomen, softly asking the distracted Youqin Xuanya beside her.

The latter just shook her head slightly, bowed to Jinling Shengmu, and said, “This subordinate’s mind is unsettled; please don’t blame me, my lord.”

“Sit and talk.”

Jinling Shengmu called again, but Youqin Xuanya only shook her head, saying she dared not.

“This is my order.”

“Yes,” Youqin Xuanya responded simply, sitting beside the soft couch and stowing the great sword on her back.

She clearly remembered her mission here—to intimidate the unborn sons of the God of Wealth and Doumu Yuanjun, keeping them from mischief.

Though Youqin Xuanya found the task absurd, with orders given, she wouldn’t refuse.

At that moment, Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth, stood outside the hall, discussing something with a group of Jiejiao immortals;

The hall was enveloped in arrays, isolating inside from outside, so she couldn’t hear the details.

Jinling Shengmu gazed at Youqin Xuanya’s slender, fair neck, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

After a moment of silence, Jinling Shengmu asked, “Have you forgotten everything?”

Youqin Xuanya said, “My lord means…?”

“A human,” Jinling Shengmu’s voice echoed in Youqin Xuanya’s heart, their sleeves touching, connecting them.

Jinling Shengmu continued, “Someone extremely important to you; have you forgotten him?”

Youqin Xuanya’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. As she was about to speak, the golden thread on her back trembled, and a faint figure surfaced in her heart.

It was just a back view, hands clasped behind, standing on a white cloud.

The cloud flew at a moderate height and speed, between the mountains, utterly unassuming.

That was…

“Shixiong?”