Chapter 756: May My Path Ignite the Flames of the Stars from the Long Night

In Zixiao Palace, within the Zizhu Forest and the bamboo house.

The burly old Daoist and the young Daoist fell into silence once more.

Li Changshou waved his hand, dispersing the image before him, as if everything happening now had nothing to do with him.

Hongjun showed a faint smile and took the initiative to project behind him the scene Li Changshou had just pointed out:

The Qiankun Cauldron refining the Heavenly Way's will, the Zaohua Jade Disc absorbing the Heavenly Way's will, and the Dao Ancestor on the verge of devouring the Heavenly Way in some sense, thereby surpassing it.

This situation was like an hourglass; once the sand ran out, some terrifying event would unfold.

A contest.

The two were still locked in this contest.

Hongjun used this to pressure Li Changshou, but Li Changshou remained composed, sitting there as if unconcerned, merely lowering his head to watch the scene of the monkey on the table.

“Fellow Daoist… aren't you going to stop me?”

Hongjun asked with a touch of bewilderment.

Li Changshou nodded and replied calmly, “Fellow Daoist, feel free to act as you wish. Later, when I strike to eliminate you, it won't make much difference how strong you are.”

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, couldn't help but chuckle in exasperation.

“Before, I always thought you, Changshou, were exceptionally wise and steady-hearted, but I never expected you to have such a stubborn streak.”

“Fellow Daoist's Dao heart has already been disturbed by me,” Li Changshou said. “The purpose of my false body coming to Zixiao Palace ahead of time has been perfectly achieved.

Your layouts over these many years might see some discounts if you wrap them up early.

The Heavenly Way's will hasn't grown to the state you ideally envisioned, has it?”

“Indeed, it hasn't absorbed enough free will yet.”

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, was quite candid at this moment. “But it's close enough. To guard against your trump card, I can make this sacrifice and forgo pursuing perfection.”

Li Changshou laughed. “Actually, I could wait a bit longer, let you cultivate a perfect Heavenly Way before you devour it, and then strike against you.”

A hint of contemplation flashed in Hongjun's eyes as he carefully reviewed the words Li Changshou had spoken today, then said slowly:

“Are you trying to make living beings mistakenly believe the world is false, thereby smoothly restarting a realm?”

“How could that be?” Li Changshou sighed. “The most real thing in the world is the world itself; it exists objectively. Without you forcibly controlling it and scripting everything, it wouldn't shift according to the subjective will of living beings.

What living beings seek is freedom; all the Heavenly Way needs to do is set a boundary for that freedom.

But you, Fellow Daoist, have claimed the world as your own, treating living beings like tenants on your land—though that's not quite right.

I really have no need to target the world; on the contrary, after you, I will continue to protect it.”

Hongjun added, “If we go by the story you mentioned earlier, this world was originally created by us.”

“No, you're wrong. Senior Lang just added a definition to the world, embedding it into the underlying logic. The world could have other names.

You only named the Creator God as Pangu without actually creating the Pangu God.

The Pangu God is a product of the world's own evolution; all Senior Lang did was tell the world—you can go this way, and that's it.”

Li Changshou said calmly, “The evolution of the world is the result of countless true spirits gathering into a collective life, actively or passively opening it up, with individual true spirits—living beings—continuously striving to bring it to where it is today.

Senior Lang has no merits or major faults regarding this world.

But you, Fellow Daoist, after devouring Senior Lang, have become the greatest sinner in the world.”

—This refers to the active opening by the collective life, like Pangu God slaying the innate gods and demons; similarly, the passive opening is the innate gods and demons being slain by Pangu God.

Hongjun smiled without speaking and sighed lightly:

“Changshou, you are the being most similar to me throughout history, and the first to uncover my origins.

Won't you consider joining forces with me to create a world that never ends?”

“Living beings are real because of birth, aging, sickness, and death; the world exists because of its creation and eventual destruction,” Li Changshou said. “Fellow Daoist, no need for more words. Let's just watch Wukong.”

Hongjun laughed. “When do you plan to strike against me?”

“First, if you can't hold back and attack me, I'll strike directly;

Second, if you interfere with what's about to happen, I'll strike directly.”

Li Changshou glanced at Hongjun and said calmly, “As a half-fellow townsman, I'll give you enough dignity in the end.”

Hongjun laughed. “Then, as a half-fellow townsman, after you strike against me, I'll use my full power to eliminate you—that's a treatment even your teacher never received.”

“Is that something I should thank you for recognizing?”

Li Changshou cupped his hands in salute.

Hongjun made a gesture of invitation.

“Let's watch the show. I'd like to see how the Wukong you trained will challenge the Heavenly Court system you've established.

I've been looking forward to this play for a long time.”

Li Changshou: …

Ah, this old one's mind is truly twisted.

“It might disappoint you, Fellow Daoist.”

Li Changshou smiled and gazed at the scene below.

Hongjun also shifted his gaze toward Huaguo Mountain…

There, Sun Wukong leaped from the cliff, gripping the Ruyi Jingu Bang and charging into the sky, where over a dozen heavenly generals had formed the Twelve Heavens Battle Array, suppressing him.

The momentum was grand, as if overturning heaven and earth.

Hongjun said indifferently, “As long as Sun Wukong kills some heavenly soldiers and generals, you'd consider this round a loss, wouldn't you?”

“This has nothing to do with winning or losing,” Li Changshou sighed. “It just makes me feel a bit uneasy inside.

But, Fellow Daoist, you kept pushing Sun Wukong and the Heavenly Court to this point, so you can't blame Wukong.”

Hongjun laughed. “You say that, but you're definitely feeling depressed about it. That's your flaw—you care too much about the lives of irrelevant beings.

To us, it means nothing.”

“No, I attained the Dao in Honghuang, so all Honghuang beings are connected to me.

And how do you know I don't have a backup plan for this?”

Li Changshou countered with a smile, a hint of amusement suddenly appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Hongjun showed a thoughtful expression and stopped speaking, focusing on the situation above Huaguo Mountain.

The changes there directly reflected how much Li Changshou had schemed for this matter, indirectly proving whether Li Changshou had a trump card against him as the Dao Ancestor.

Uncertainty and unpredictability—that's what Hongjun feared most right now.

As for Li Changshou, he was truly relaxed and at ease at this moment.

On Huaguo Mountain, the stone monkey's roars made the heavenly soldiers and generals tremble deep in their hearts.

Over a dozen golden immortal realm heavenly generals had set up a great array, temporarily trapping Sun Wukong inside.

From outside, all that could be seen was a mass of dark red flames charging left and right, while the more than ten golden immortals were struggling to hold on, with a few being shaken by the array's backlash, spitting blood.

High in the sky, Li Jing watched this scene, the figure of 'Taibai Jinxing' having vanished from before him.

Why had Sun Wukong's strength suddenly increased so much?

Various thoughts flashed through Li Jing's mind, but he quickly set them aside and began deploying experts.

The battle array was the Heavenly Court's 'exclusive secret' for dealing with Honghuang cultivators, having suppressed Da Luo realm experts more than once.

Now, the thirty-six heavenly generals formed the Tian Gang Array, enveloping the struggling heavenly generals within.

At Li Jing's command, those heavenly generals retreated simultaneously, coordinating swiftly to exit the Tian Gang Array's range; the array then sealed shut, with the thirty-six heavenly generals channeling their power together to suppress Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong's eyes widened in fury, his Ruyi Jingu Bang nearly crushed in his grip as he charged relentlessly!

In a daze, he heard those shouts—

“Heavenly Court is deceitful! Using such vile schemes to destroy our demon race!”

“Great King, run! Great King… don't abandon us, Great King!”

“My Great King is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven!”

When he opened his eyes, he stood stunned at the cliff's edge, staring at the scene before him like a purgatory.

His Huaguo Mountain! The shattered Huaguo Mountain!

His monkeys and kin! Their corpses scattered without a trace!

Heavenly Court, damned Heavenly Court!

“Ah!”

Blood tears seeped from the stone monkey's eyes, his body enveloped in seven-colored auspicious light as vast waves of power surged in all directions. Wherever the iron rod swept, the very fabric of space wrinkled layer upon layer.

Da Luo power!

He had lost much of his ability to think; no one could calm him now.

He had to charge into the heavenly palace, into the Lingxiao Hall!

To confront that Jade Emperor and demand an explanation!

What fairness, what living beings, what mastery!

By what right did they destroy his Huaguo Mountain? By what right did they decide the fate of his monkeys?

“Get out of my way!”

“Suppress!” The thirty-six heavenly generals roared in unison, unleashing a majestic heavenly might across the heavens.

Sun Wukong's form was forced downward, but only by a few yards; his body suddenly solidified, flames-like patterns appearing on his face as he rose again!

High in the sky, Li Jing's brows furrowed deeper; he raised his hand and lowered it, ordering another group of heavenly generals to set up the Lesser Zhou Heaven Array.

“Assemble a division of one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers into a formation, prepare to suppress Sun Wukong!”

“Yes, sir!”

A thunderous response came from the heavenly soldiers behind him.

Li Jing glanced toward the East Heaven Gate, a hint of irritation in his eyes; that fake Taibai had stirred up this mess and just left.

Sun Wukong was clearly acting strangely, and Li Jing's instincts from years of warfare told him that if mishandled today, their side might suffer heavy casualties.

At the same time, in the skies above Central Divine Continent, the figure streaking at high speed was also roaring.

Behind him was Jade Spring Mountain, the cave dwelling of his master, Yuding Zhenren.

In his ears lingered Yuding Zhenren's sighs and a few words of instruction.

“This jade talisman is genuine; follow what he said without asking why… If the last vestige of justice remains in this world, it must be in him.

The Daoist who gave you the jade talisman is a kind-hearted human being.

I cultivate the way of the heart, and I admire his heart the most.

He is a benefactor to you and your family, and the last hope for living beings. Go, help him with this.

His name? He is called Li Changshou, also known as Li Changgeng, the true Taibai Jinxing.”

Li…

“Yang Jian, do you know your crimes?”

He remembered! It was him!

Yang Jian clenched his fists, letting out a painful roar as fragments in his heart quickly reassembled into figures.

That young Daoist who liked to disguise himself as an old man!

That elderly immortal who smacked him onto the clouds with one palm!

The one who arranged his entire path, set his destiny, and in the end returned everything to him—that bastard.

The jade talisman contained a letter, densely written with over sixty possible scenarios, asking him to match them one by one to find the one fitting the current situation.

He actually found a matching combination: the second major category, the seventeenth item—

A figure rebelling against heaven has appeared in the world, charging toward the nine heavens and causing widespread alarm;

Demon race experts are wiped out at Huaguo Mountain, with the Heavenly Court pressuring the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong;

The solution following this possibility was:

Suppress Sun Wukong, play the role of the villain oppressing the free will of living beings, and seize the opportunity to say the following lines.

When Yang Jian went to Jade Spring Mountain, he glanced at the other possibilities; the solutions were mostly simple, broadly falling into three categories:

Play the villain to suppress Sun Wukong, assist Sun Wukong, or secretly go to the Holy Mother Palace for aid to save Sun Wukong's life.

There were more detailed subdivisions.

Incredibly, it seemed every possible scenario had been considered.

This is ridiculous!

Who leaves contingency plans like this? If there's no time to read the complex content inside, wouldn't you get tricked?

Yang Jian's mouth twitched slightly, and a sigh seemed to echo in his heart, with that familiar voice reading the two lines at the end of the jade talisman.

“Yang Jian, seeing this is like seeing me in person.

You might not remember who I am; the Heavenly Way should have erased memories of me from living beings, though your master might know.

By the time you see this, if your actions aren't restricted, go to Jade Spring Mountain and have your master, Yuding, verify this jade talisman—that's the most effective way.

Something's wrong with this world; on the surface, it might not seem like much, but it's already terminally ill.

A will has risen above all beings; the Heavenly Court is merely its tool. All beings are under its control, and the world must evolve in the direction it dictates. In a few thousand years, Honghuang might shatter into endless space.

This will is the combination of the Heavenly Way and Dao Ancestor.

You don't remember me, which means in some sense, we failed, but that's also part of my other plan. Don't worry too much; I'll return.

Do me a favor: act in accordance with the current state of the world.

This is a spark; though weak compared to the force living beings face, it will spark resonance and ignite the flame of resistance for living beings.

Doing this will be enough.”

After these words, another segment was squeezed into the corner of the jade talisman:

“If your actions are restricted, don't risk it; adapt as needed and prioritize self-preservation.

Leave the rest to me; you don't need to bear too much.

You and Sun Wukong are both immortals I like.”

This…

Yang Jian furrowed his brows, the memories in his heart now connecting into a chain, and the pain tearing at his divine soul had faded.

His third eye on his forehead suddenly opened; due to his speed, the immortal energy and spiritual aura around him rubbed into wisps of flame, making his long hair flutter like a god emerging from fire.

East Divine Continent! East Divine Continent!

Huaguo Mountain! Huaguo Mountain!

Yang Jian frowned, his third eye already seeing the current scene.

Sun Wukong was enveloped in seven-colored auspicious light, his form about a hundred feet tall, with layers of dark clouds overhead filled with densely packed heavenly soldiers and generals.

Hundreds of beams of immortal light formed chains wrapping around Sun Wukong; he struggled continuously, the chains on the verge of breaking, while the heavenly soldiers and generals above turned pale.

Li Jing was sacrificing the treasure pagoda in his hand to suppress Sun Wukong.

Such strong spiritual power…

It seemed this power had been forcibly added to Sun Wukong, and he couldn't fully control it yet.

Yang Jian instantly understood something.

In that case, in that case!

His three-pointed, double-edged spear let out a tremor; Yang Jian's figure pierced the sky, charging straight for Huaguo Mountain!

Right at that moment!

Sun Wukong roared downward, suddenly raising his hands as most of the chains binding him shattered in an instant!

A large number of heavenly soldiers and generals were shaken by the backlash, spitting blood and injured; even more fainted, and the endless dark clouds rapidly dispersed!

Sun Wukong threw his head back in a frenzied roar, grabbing the now-enlarged Ruyi Jingu Bang and soaring upward.

“Suppress!”

Li Jing roared, the ancient pagoda transforming into a thousand feet tall and bearing down on Sun Wukong, engulfing his form.

But in just one breath, the top of the pagoda was flipped over; Sun Wukong returned to his normal size and burst out, raising the Ruyi Jingu Bang and charging at Li Jing!

The sound of a pipa strings vibrating echoed; a transparent blade, hundreds of feet long, slashed down to suppress Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong narrowed his blood-red monkey eyes, suddenly changing his move and smashing the blade with his rod, though his momentum was halted.

From behind Li Jing, four imposing heavenly gods emerged, each burly and fierce: one holding a precious pipa, one with a wind-fire sword, one with a red snake coiled around their arm, and one raising a glass treasure umbrella!

The Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon Family Four Generals!

The immortals from the Investiture of the Gods, from the Jie Jiao tradition, were making their move!

“Demon monkey, face your doom!”

The Heavenly King Growth, Mo Lqing, bellowed as he brandished his sword, beams of light shooting out.

The pipa played discordant strings, filling the air with blades shooting toward Sun Wukong;

The red snake grew to hundreds of feet, hissing as it followed the blades, mouth open to bite the stone monkey.

The glass treasure umbrella spun rapidly, ripples spreading to constantly assault Sun Wukong's divine soul.

Sun Wukong swung his right hand, and from behind him emerged his Indestructible Golden Soul, now pure gold, leaping into the air to face the Four Heavenly Kings' assault!

What have we done to deserve heaven's punishment?

What wrong have we committed to warrant heaven's execution?

“Ha!”

In a flash of lightning and sparks, the exchanges were instantaneous; the Four Heavenly Kings were all knocked flying, some spitting blood, others cursing in anger.

Sun Wukong bared his sharp fangs, his gaze fixed deadly on Li Jing as he leaped forward, smashing the Ruyi Jingu Bang toward Li Jing's head!

Li Jing snorted coldly, gripping the sword at his waist with his left hand and surging forward with the draw!

This was the Sword of Crossing Immortals!

But in just one clash, Li Jing's form was shaken away by the seven-colored auspicious light without mercy.

He wasn't skilled in close combat after all.

Sun Wukong pressed his advantage, his form flashing to catch up with Li Jing's retreating figure, raising the rod for another strike.

At the East Heaven Gate, Nezha on his wind-fire wheels saw this and couldn't help but grit his teeth and shout:

“You damned monkey, how dare you!”

In the Lingxiao Hall, the Jade Emperor clenched his fists, trembling slightly, flames flickering in his eyes.

Dao Ancestor, look at what you've done!

The fake Taibai stood beside him again, seemingly just smiling with eyes closed, but actually watching the Jade Emperor closely.

It happened in the blink of an eye!

Sun Wukong's iron rod was already descending toward Li Jing's forehead; his rage left no room for hesitation—he just wanted to kill this heavenly immortal to avenge his monkeys and kin!

Clang—

The sound of weapons clashing echoed across the East Sea coast.

Li Jing, with his eyes tightly shut, and Sun Wukong, blinded by anger, both turned to look at the long blade that had blocked the iron rod!

The greenish-golden spear shaft didn't budge an inch; a wisp of red plume from the helmet fluttered nearby.

What spear was it? The three-pointed, double-edged spear!

What general was it? The True Lord Erlang!

Yang Jian stood beside Li Jing, a trail of afterimages behind him; he gripped the three-pointed, double-edged spear with both hands, using nearly ninety percent of his strength, yet it seemed effortless.

The spear shook lightly, forcing Sun Wukong back half a step;

Yang Jian swept the spear horizontally, gently knocking Li Jing away.

Yang Jian's handsome face was full of sternness as he gazed at the stone monkey before him and said calmly:

“Your opponent today is me, Sun Wukong.”

Sun Wukong tightened his grip on the Ruyi Jingu Bang and growled, “Why? I've submitted to the Heavenly Court, yet they destroyed my Huaguo Mountain!”

“The way of heaven doesn't need to explain itself to you.”

Yang Jian's mind echoed the words from the jade talisman as he said indifferently:

“Living beings survive under heaven's shelter, and behind the Heavenly Court is heaven's will.”

Sun Wukong laughed in anger at these words, then threw his head back in laughter, blood tears sliding from the corners of his eyes.

“Heaven? What nonsense heaven! Ha ha ha!

They say I was born of heaven and earth; what does my life have to do with heaven?

Today, I'll smash this Heavenly Court and demand an explanation from heaven!”

With that roar, he charged forward with his rod, ready to battle Yang Jian, but another shadow plunged from the sky, smashing Sun Wukong down with a spear!

It was Nezha!

At that moment, Nezha was enveloped in killing intent, his long hair whipping behind him, his lotus armor ignited with black flames.

He shrugged his shoulders, manifesting his six-armed form;

He turned his head left and right, forming faces of anger, resentment, and tranquility.

The bracelets on his wrists glowed brightly, but he took them off and tucked them into his embrace.

“Sun! Wu! Kong!”

Nezha looked down at the equally furious monkey below and dove again.

“How dare you harm my father!”

Sun Wukong said nothing, clashing head-on with Nezha, igniting a fierce battle that stirred the air for thousands of miles, boiling spiritual energy and striking fear into living beings.

Yang Jian frowned slightly, seeing Nezha fighting with all his might, trading injuries for injuries, yet only holding Sun Wukong at bay, while Sun Wukong's wounds healed rapidly.

It was the spiritual power within Sun Wukong, that power rivaling the late Da Luo Golden Immortal stage.

Fine, though fighting two against one was improper, those lines hadn't been fully said yet.

Whoosh—

Yang Jian joined the fray with his spear; though Nezha scolded him in annoyance, they steadily suppressed Sun Wukong.

And the words Li Changshou had instructed Yang Jian to say to Sun Wukong were spoken just like that;

From this battle, they spread throughout the Three Realms, reaching the ears of living beings watching the events in the nine heavens.

“Sun Wukong, heaven wants to destroy your Huaguo Mountain, yet you dare to resist.”

“If it doesn't follow heaven's will, heaven will naturally destroy it.”

“This is the way of heaven.”

The way of heaven?

In the Holy Mother Palace, the Holy Mother reclining on her throne gradually had flames ignite in her eyes.

In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun looked at Li Changshou with a half-smile, his expression seeming to ask—Is this your scheme?

Li Changshou smiled calmly.

His action was merely to have Yang Jian say these words while suppressing Sun Wukong, stirring discontent among living beings toward the Heavenly Way and Court, and keeping alive their will to struggle against heaven.

Eradicating the Dao Ancestor was important;

But after eradicating the Dao Ancestor, building a stable, free, and rule-bound world was even more crucial.

However, Li Changshou's brows twitched slightly; he suddenly sensed that something seemed to be changing.

Hongjun also furrowed his brows and looked at Li Changshou.

“What have you done?”

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, asked coldly.

“This isn't part of my scheme,” Li Changshou stared at Hongjun. “To deal with you, I alone am enough.”

No sooner had he spoken than ripples appeared on the cloud mirror on the table, and a strange Dao rhythm unfolded across the world.

In the underworld, at the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower.

The young monk, now with shaved hair, smiled while holding a flower, sitting quietly on the cushion in the tower's top chamber.

Beside him, the green-furred big dog trembled and asked, “Master, are you really going to do this?”

“Do it.”

Dizang said calmly, “Though I have many disagreements with him, he's fighting for living beings now. I can't let him fight alone.”

“But, people might not need your help!”

The green-furred big dog shouted anxiously, “Aren't you just stirring up trouble for nothing?”

“Hmm?”

Dizang silently set down the flower petal in his hand and pulled an iron pot from his sleeve.

Diting shuddered, bared its teeth at Dizang for a moment, then grumbled in frustration, “Well… fine. I thought Taibai Jinxing would use me as a treasure and say some comforting words to living beings after the great battle.

I never expected the one to use this move in the end would be my foolish master.”

Dizang laughed. “I don't need to check anyone's face for what I do. The world has come to this point; I should take some action.”

“Alright, alright!”

Diting walked behind Dizang and lay down, closing its eyes; its six small ears trembled slightly, and its green fur glowed brightly!

“Divine ability: Listen to all hearts!

Reverse divine ability: Speak to all hearts.”

Dizang took a deep breath, and his warm voice spread to the hearts of living beings throughout the Three Realms:

“Heaven has selfish desires, bringing disaster to living beings.

I, Dizang, disciple of the Western Jieyin Saint, master of the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower, guardian of the six paths of reincarnation;

Today, I cannot bear the suffering of living beings and will war against heaven and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

May my humble life ignite the unyielding will of living beings;

May my Dao light a flame of stars in the long night.

Living beings should stand on their own; the Heavenly Way should restrain itself.”