Chapter 760: The Weakest Golden Immortal (Also Known As Discussing the Dao of Hongjun · End)

When the Dao Ancestor was struck down by the Heaven-Opening Axe, Li Changshou felt a little conflicted. As he watched the Dao Ancestor's body disintegrate under the axe's power, a sense of loneliness, as if he had lost an old friend, inexplicably arose in his heart.

Although he was very weak and felt a bit helpless, what needed to be done still had to be done. Li Changshou turned to Yun Xiao and whispered a few words. Yun Xiao immediately conveyed the message to the Three Pure Ones. At Li Changshou's suggestion, the Three Pure Ones intervened, enveloping the space where the great battle took place and refining it with the Taiji Diagram, utterly destroying that void. The Grand Master of Heaven and the Primeval Lord of Heaven went together to search the world for any hidden contingencies left by Hongjun.

Everyone felt that although Hongjun, who had managed the heavens and earth for countless eons, had been outmaneuvered by Li Changshou, his defeat seemed almost too easy. In fact, upon reflection, this lingering doubt stemmed from the battle with the Dao Ancestor having concluded without significant cost.

Originally, this was a battle destined to cause immense suffering and loss of life. Even if Hongjun and the world's original essence were suppressed, the world would still suffer varying degrees of collapse due to the lack of primordial energy. Li Changshou provided a solution, pushed for its implementation, and ultimately achieved his goal. A decisive battle, seemingly without bloodshed, had thus concluded.

Yet, where had there been no bloodshed? The vengeful spirits of ancient myriad races filled the entire Sea of Blood, and dragons and phoenixes wailed endlessly in the ocean depths and volcanoes. The ancient spiritual races were bound to the Demon Court's chariots, ultimately perishing with a wave of the Dao Ancestor's sleeve. Since their creation, humanity had struggled relentlessly. The so-called trials imposed by the Heavenly Dao were merely to embed hatred within humanity's destiny, to complete the generational cycles of the Great Desolation, and to strip living beings of their agency in the world to the bare minimum. The living beings of the Great Desolation had already shed too much blood. The River of True Spirits flowed through the void, its essence drifting slowly. Many who had leaped into or projected themselves into this world had not found their purpose before returning once more.

The Daoist who had brought order to the Great Desolation had, paradoxically, made it incredibly treacherous. Li Changshou had tried to work within the path of the Heavenly Dao, helping the Heavenly Court reform, bringing his understanding of legal principles into its structure, and encouraging the Jade Emperor to follow his own path. Yet, the being in Zixiao Palace, driven by its own obsession, continued to delight in its predetermined script.

That's why he didn't want bloodshed at the very end. Li Changshou thought this, not wanting to consider himself too noble, as he originally had no desire to interfere in these matters. Regardless, his master's vengeance had finally been achieved.

"Brother," Ling'e whispered, her eyes swollen, as she gently leaned into Li Changshou's embrace, softly wrapping her arms around his waist. Li Changshou smiled, patting her back, a hint of emotion in his eyes. Li Changshou's eyelids twitched slightly as he looked at the spot where Hongjun had vanished, but he said nothing more. The end of the great battle was merely the beginning of a new world.

Only after the Heavenly Court completed its link with the new Heavenly Dao did Li Changshou finally relax. He returned to Tushita Palace with Lord Laozi, recovering from his injuries for five days, accompanied by Ling'e and Yun Xiao. Though he still lacked a Dao Realm, his spiritual energy was abundant, and his lifespan remained that of a Golden Immortal; only his face had aged slightly. Especially when contrasted with the radiant Ling'e and Yun Xiao, Li Changshou still felt a touch of weakness.

For several days, people had been gathered outside Tushita Palace. The Jade Emperor himself stayed outside the gates, neglecting to take charge of the new Heavenly Dao. Not only Heavenly Court immortals and gods but also many Daoist disciples came to visit Tushita Palace, though they were all kept back by its closed gates.

Until that day, the gates of Tushita Palace slowly opened, and Li Changshou stepped out with Ling'e and Yun Xiao. His long hair was streaked with gray, his appearance aged, and even his smile seemed quite benevolent. A true elder immortal.

Lord Laozi had preserved Li Changshou's immortal Dao fruit, but he could not enable Li Changshou to cultivate again. This was due to the restrictions placed on the Guardian by the Court of Myriad Daos. Although the Grand Dao of Balance had transformed into the Court of Myriad Daos, it had not entirely left Li Changshou, instead expelling all the various Grand Daos he had cultivated. To use an inappropriate phrase to describe Li Changshou at this moment: the weakest Golden Immortal. He could only barely stir up a gust of wind with his spiritual energy, and his recovery rate was incredibly slow, worse even than a Turbid Immortal. Magic is born from the Dao; without the Dao, there is no magic.

At this moment, Li Changshou, though controlling the Hall of Myriad Daos and surpassing countless immortals, gods, and mighty figures, capable of changing the heavens of the Great Desolation at any time, found himself without the power to fight, his primordial spirit almost depleted. Balance exists among all things.

Fortunately, Li Changshou wasn't very afraid now; after all, his junior sister had grown up, and most of the formidable experts in the Great Desolation were on his side. From now on, he just needed to stay with his family. With the Primordial Golden Dipper, most opponents, aside from the original five Heavenly Dao Saints, could be challenged. He had strong backing.

Looking at the courtyard of Tushita Palace, Li Changshou felt a slight pang of emotion. His Senior Brother hadn't rushed back, fearing Lord Laozi's incessant nagging about having children. He was waiting with many friends in a scenic minor world; their reunion would come later. Now, however, it was time to officially bid farewell to the Heavenly Court. Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back as Yun Xiao gracefully approached, tidying the collar of his Daoist robe.

Ling'e whispered, "Brother, aren't we staying here a bit longer?"

"No, there are still some things to handle," Li Changshou said, winking at Ling'e. "Has the invitation to Guanghan Palace been sent?"

"Yes, our nephew Nezha sent it. Immortal Chang'e said you could go anytime." Ling'e pursed her lips, held it in for a moment, then mumbled: "Brother, you don't actually have feelings for Immortal Chang'e, do you? I don't mind having another sister, but you should also consider Sister Yun Xiao's feelings. Sister Yun Xiao has quietly stayed out of the limelight for you, and people are almost forgetting her reputation as the fearsome one of the Great Desolation."

Li Changshou narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Are you truly not bothered?"

"Well, just a little bit."

Yun Xiao smiled gently, linking arms with Ling'e, and softly said, "Don't overthink it. Immortal Chang'e is, after all, considered his fellow countryman's disciple."

"See?" Li Changshou chuckled. "Learn from Yun Xiao; don't always doubt your brother's character."

Yun Xiao whispered into Ling'e's ear, "He can't beat us now."

Ling'e blinked, then suddenly realizing something, she blushed and looked at Li Changshou. Li Changshou inwardly sighed. His family status was precarious, why? An immortal family, very real indeed.

"Outside, watch your expressions." With that, Li Changshou straightened his back, assumed the dignified bearing of a true man, and stepped out of Tushita Palace.

"Chang Geng!" The Jade Emperor quickly reached the top of the steps. Seeing Li Changshou's figure, he let out a slight sigh of relief, thousands of words stuck in his throat, leaving only one phrase: "As long as you're all right."

"Your Majesty, I value my life so much, how could I have fought desperately against the Dao Ancestor?" Li Changshou bowed. "From now on, please forgive this humble deity for being unable to serve Your Majesty any longer."

The Jade Emperor hastily replied, "Just rest assured and recuperate. Find the best place in the Heavenly Court to relax."

"Your Majesty, do not forget the Court of Myriad Daos," Li Changshou said solemnly. "The Court of Myriad Daos is now within my spiritual platform and cannot remain long in the Great Desolation; it must go beyond the heavens."

The Jade Emperor's brow furrowed, his eyes full of reluctance. Li Changshou smiled, "I will naturally return often to visit Your Majesty. Moreover, Your Majesty, given my current state, I can hardly continue working in the Heavenly Court; it's time for me to rest."

The Jade Emperor sighed, "I apologize. It is I, this Heavenly Emperor, who is useless."

"Your Majesty, you are already outstanding." Li Changshou took two treasure pouches from his sleeve, filled with jade talismans. He said, "I hope Your Majesty will continue to uphold your current convictions. Here are some pieces of advice I've written, along with plans for the Thirty-Six Divine Artifacts. All of these must be realized by Your Majesty, step by step."

"Understood," the Jade Emperor took the pouches, his hands sinking unexpectedly, then nodded heavily. "Certainly." Li Changshou, accompanied by Yun Xiao and Ling'e, bowed to the Jade Emperor, then looked past him and walked forward.

"Master," Long Ji said softly, her eyes red-rimmed, "this disciple wishes to follow you."

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, saying, "Then I shall teach you a few more things." Ling'e stepped forward from the side, pulling Long Ji behind Li Changshou. Long Ji quickly greeted Ling'e and Yun Xiao, immediately addressing them as "Mistress."

Continuing forward, Zhao Gongming and the Holy Mother Jin Ling, accompanied by a group of Jie School immortals, surged forward. Zhao Gongming's expression immediately fell. He whispered, "You know, it would have been so much better if I had gone in your place, brother."

"I just lost the ability to fight," Li Changshou countered, trying to reassure him. "The cost was minimal, and now I'm the Guardian of the Court of Myriad Daos. There's a gain for every loss, right?"

The Holy Mother Jin Ling asked, "Can you no longer condense the Dao and cultivate? What about the Grand Dao of Dispelling Void?"

Li Changshou pondered for a few moments, then said solemnly: "The Guardian of the Court of Myriad Daos should not possess excessive power; there is a natural balance here. The rules between heaven and earth aren't just those I wrote; those are merely the most basic safeguards. This Great Desolation and its Three Realms have their own inherent balance."

"So that's how it is," Holy Mother Jin Ling nodded slowly, then tugged at the two exquisite boys behind her. "Come and greet your uncle." The two boys, dressed in small Daoist robes, immediately stepped forward, bowed to Li Changshou, and squeaked out: "Greetings, Uncle."

Their growth rate was truly astonishing, like years passing in a single day. "Ah, good, good," Li Changshou said gently. "Study well, and when I move the Kunpeng Secret Realm back near the Great Desolation, you can come play at my place. Uncle will prepare the most scriptures for you!" The two boys' eyes immediately lit up, and they cheered excitedly. Li Changshou looked at Zhao Gongming, who gave him a thumbs-up, indicating he had received the signal. They would gather later.

Moving further, they were met by the Heavenly Court's renowned young general. Nezha sniffled, meekly calling out, "Uncle Chang'an." Li Changshou raised his hand and patted his head, speaking gently, "Don't be like this; it's not like we're separating forever. I'm just moving to a slightly farther residence. When you get leave, just call Jinpeng and the others to come see me here. I'll go back and recuperate first."

Nezha chuckled, "Then I'll save up my leave and stay for a few years whenever I go!"

"I've left a place for you on Little Qiong Peak. When you have time, go to Guanghan Palace and interact more with the Jade Rabbit Immortal."

"She's too delicate," Nezha frowned, "and said I didn't know my own strength, even though she was the one who wanted to spar! But her mooncakes are delicious." Li Changshou was momentarily speechless. He patted Nezha's shoulder and continued walking.

"Star Lord!" Bian Zhuang, leading a large group of Heavenly Generals, bowed respectfully. Li Changshou looked at Bian Zhuang and chuckled: "From now on, manage yourself well. Though desire for food and pleasure is human nature, you must not indulge excessively. One should not consider lust as true character, nor promiscuity as one's nature. Now that there's no such thing as 'destiny' in the world, if you dare to violate heavenly rules, you'll have no escape route to save your life." Bian Zhuang immediately felt a bit guilty, scratching his head and stammering for a moment, unsure what to say, finally just nodding in solemn agreement.

"Foster Father." Li Jing stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting, a hint of guilt in his eyes. He sighed, "Li Jing is useless."

"Ah," Li Changshou patted Li Jing's shoulder, "Don't say such things, and don't call me 'Foster Father' anymore, lest people think you're trying to curry favor." Li Jing smiled sheepishly. Having specifically shaved his beard, he now, in front of the visibly aged Li Changshou, seemed rather like a son or grandson. Li Changshou wanted to say something, but realized Li Jing no longer needed his extra reminders.

"Assist His Majesty the Jade Emperor well," Li Changshou said gently. "Though the Three Realms are now peaceful, there are still hidden dangers; one must not be careless."

Li Jing said solemnly, "This disciple obeys."

"Good." Li Changshou uttered a profound "Good," then smiled as he walked past Li Jing toward the three smiling old immortals of the Heavenly Court: the Immortal of Longevity, the God of Marriage, and the Heavenly Court's old messenger.

The Immortal of Longevity took a treasure pouch from his sleeve and chuckled: "Junior Brother Chang Geng, here is a protective magic treasure from our Master. If you get a chance, do visit Jade Purity Palace; it might help with your injuries."

The Matchmaker asked puzzled, "Is Star Lord injured?"

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing serious."

"Chang Geng, *cough*." Duke Wood subconsciously found his voice a bit hoarse and sighed, looking down: "Ultimately, I wasn't able to help you much."

"Duke Wood is the pillar of the Heavenly Court," Li Changshou encouraged him. "It was my chosen path that was too unconventional, and I didn't discuss it with everyone in advance. Duke Wood, here are some standardized books and some proposals that you need to submit. Whether the Heavenly Court can proceed righteously and gain the trust of living beings in the future depends on its ability to combine benevolence with authority. The Heavenly Court I wish to see is one that reveres heaven and earth, and respects all living beings. This is where Duke Wood's constant supervision and reminders will be needed."

"Understood, Star Lord, rest assured!"

"Matchmaker," Li Changshou chuckled, "Thank you for your care."

"Oh, I wouldn't dare claim credit!" the Heavenly Court's foremost "Jade Emperor's verbal sparring partner" quickly waved his hand. "If not for your guidance all along, this old man would have been gone long ago."

Li Changshou bowed, and the three old immortals returned the gesture simultaneously. To his left and right, large numbers of immortals and gods bowed, and Li Changshou returned each greeting. With few words but endless reluctance, the immortals and gods who had originally been worried about Li Changshou's injuries now all noticed his peculiar state, turning their words of comfort into blessings. His Dao Fruit remained, but his Dao was gone. His Dao Realm was gone, yet he could live forever. There was also a sense of detachment, a profound clarity untainted by worldly concerns. Perhaps, this was a realm in itself.

Li Changshou's next stop was the Moon Palace. He wanted to visit Chang'e before leaving the Heavenly Court. His Majesty the Jade Emperor personally issued a Heavenly Court assignment to Zhao Gongming, instructing him to take Li Changshou to the Kunpeng Secret Realm and ensure he was settled before returning to report. The Holy Mother Jin Ling also wanted to join Li Changshou's small gathering of friends and family, but she couldn't, as she had to look after the two children. Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Gouchen, the two brothers, were currently at a crucial stage of their Dao attainment and should not travel carelessly. Nezha and Long Ji also followed behind, heading all the way to the Moon Palace.

Approaching the Moon Palace, they heard the words "Play music," and then melodious string music softly drifted from ahead. Beneath the laurel trees, hundreds of Chang'es danced in unison, displaying the grace and beauty of immortals.

Zhao Gongming remarked with emotion, "This place, too, holds many of your efforts, Chang Geng."

"Cough! Cough, cough!" Li Changshou almost fumbled his breath, glared at Zhao Gongming, and quickly corrected himself towards Yun Xiao and Ling'e: "I was the head instructor for a period, which essentially meant I sat by, drank tea, and offered guidance on their dance." Yun Xiao and Ling'e chuckled softly.

In front of Guanghan Palace, the palace gates were pushed open, and a nimble young girl bounded out, hastily saying to Li Changshou, "Star Lord, you've returned!" Li Changshou was momentarily exasperated. "Can you remove the character for 'returned'? Do you know how many ways there are to write 'return'? Why does it feel like the Heavenly Court is full of malice towards him now? What's wrong with this world? He's about to get married, and everyone wants to create a big sensation for him everywhere?!" Yet, he had to enter Guanghan Palace alone.

Li Changshou coughed twice and slowly said, "I'm going to visit an old friend. Wait for me here for a bit; I'll be out soon." Yun Xiao gently agreed, and Ling'e made a prompting gesture.

Pushing open the wooden doors of Guanghan Palace, Li Changshou inwardly examined himself, glancing at the Elder Diagram, Second Sister Bell, and Third Master Pagoda floating beside the miniature palace in his spiritual platform, then calmly stepped inside. A sense of security. The wooden doors slowly closed, but left a crack.

Chang'e stood before the pavilion, wearing light makeup, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, her ethereal dress also meticulously chosen. She bowed, called out "Star Lord," then cast a questioning gaze at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou chuckled, "Moon Star Lord, you don't need to concern yourself with me. I've come to see an old acquaintance, or rather, to bring this acquaintance to meet a fellow Daoist." Chang'e's fingertips trembled slightly, and she nodded in acknowledgment.

Li Changshou somewhat took the initiative, seeing two stone stools and a chessboard under a tree nearby, he walked over. He sat down on one side, observing the unfinished game on the chessboard. Chang'e beside him was a bit puzzled, but then Li Changshou said with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, how do you think this game can be resolved?"

On the other stone stool, rice-grain-sized specks of light appeared out of thin air. As the specks shimmered, they transformed into a middle-aged man with a pale, beardless face, not particularly handsome, dressed in a profound black Daoist robe, who then sat opposite Li Changshou. The newcomer looked at Chang'e, offering her a slightly apologetic smile. Chang'e lowered her head, silent, but her fingers gripped her sleeves tightly.

The newcomer looked at Li Changshou and sighed, "Thank you. With only one chance to meet, you still brought me to see this, my only disciple."

"Don't mention it," Li Changshou said. "I had promised the Moon Star Lord before, though I was a bit evasive then. Today, I've brought her to see who her true, forgotten master is."

"You won," the newcomer chuckled, his eyes filled with peace. He looked at Li Changshou, as if at a friend not seen for many years, then said with a touch of apology, "My apologies. I've caused this world a lot of trouble, and you a lot of trouble too."

Li Changshou waved his hand, saying, "No need to mention it; it's all in the past."

The newcomer asked, puzzled, "But I still don't quite understand. How did you know I could meet you one last time?"

Li Changshou said, "Senior Lang is you, but you are not Senior Lang. Hongjun and Senior Lang actually have no primary or secondary distinction. Other Demon Ancestors and the original form of Randeng also have no such distinction. They are all aspects of your personality amplified by endless loneliness, ultimately just parts of you. No one's personality is singular, so they appear different, each with their own emphasis in character. It's just that your true nature was closer to Lang, making Hongjun and Rahu think that Lang was the main entity. Whether Hongjun or Lang, they are actually all you, but you are not them. Only when everything returns to zero, and balance is restored in that zero state, can you become complete and reappear. Is that right?"

The newcomer gave a self-deprecating smile: "You really did know all along..."

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun let me off too many times," Li Changshou sighed. "Whenever I was involved, Dao Ancestor Hongjun would become hesitant, even indecisive. Even when I exerted pressure back on Hongjun, he still spared the relatives and friends I cared about. That's just absurd."

"That was actually Hongjun's side of the personality," the newcomer chuckled. "It wasn't my influence; he was originally my hypocritical side. Sometimes hypocrisy can be self-hypnotizing, wanting to do gentle things. I'm not a gentle person. You can think of Lang and Hongjun as me at different ages, where my personality underwent some changes. I'm actually very contradictory, my heart filled with darkness, yet I have a desire to survive. I always think of just dying, but also want to continue clinging to life, even going to any lengths for it."

Li Changshou said, "'Hypocritical' sounds bad; let's say 'illusory benevolence'."

The man chuckled, "Actually, I originally thought you would rally the experts of the Three Realms for a grand war against heaven, pitting living beings against the Heavenly Dao. If I had died in such a war, I would truly have no regrets."

Li Changshou's brow furrowed slightly as he gazed at the newcomer and sighed: "Senior, you have been too deeply influenced by the Great Desolation; you regard the lives of living beings too lightly. The weak should not be mere supporting characters for the strong. Every living being should be respected. This is the principle my master taught me. Though it's idealistic, it is also a conviction."

The newcomer gave a dry laugh: "Perhaps. After all, even now, I don't know what I truly want or what I'm truly seeking."

"My master used to say," Li Changshou stated, "that one must learn respect and reverence."

"Alright, alright, being lectured again." The newcomer spread his hands: "There's absolutely no senior-junior dynamic between us, is there?"

Li Changshou chuckled, "Never mind, there's no point in saying any of this now."

"Alas," the man sighed, looking at Chang'e, and slowly said, "I long to go back and see, but alas, I cannot. I'm about to vanish."

Li Changshou said solemnly, "Is there anything else you wish to entrust?"

"No. When I could control my own thoughts, my final thought was how to vanish, and now I've finally done it. That... tsk. I'm sorry. I didn't know I'd mess up this world like this. At the time, I simply mistook this place for the Chaos Sea. I was just too bored and had a sudden whim. I truly didn't know that giving the world a push would birth so many avatars dominated by negative personalities, leading them to set the destiny for the entire world. The part of me that I couldn't control ended up harming so many people and doing so much evil. So despicable."

His form began to fade, specks of light constantly dispersing around him, and his voice trembled slightly. "Do you think, Old Brother Pangu will forgive me?"

Li Changshou showed a slight smile, nodded gently, and said: "When Pangu saw Hongjun in the Chaos Sea, he already foresaw everything that would happen today. Do you truly think the Dao Realm of a Primordial Wuji Saint is merely for show? Go. He's waiting for your apology."

"Will he? Will he really...?" The newcomer murmured, then transformed into wisps of flowing light, leaving no trace behind.

Li Changshou sat there lost in thought for a while. When he turned to look, Chang'e's figure was no longer there. In the end, he forgot to ask what this old fellow's name was. But still, thank you, Grandmaster.

At Flower Fruit Mountain, on the scorched, fractured mountain peak. Sun Wukong sat there blankly, gazing at the colorful clouds in the sky. A few dozen feet away, on a black rock, Yang Jian held a wine flask, looking into a bronze mirror, unsure why he had to accompany this monkey here.

A white cloud drifted from the horizon. Yang Jian looked up, instantly stood up. He grasped his Three-Pointed Two-Edged Lance, put on his golden battle helmet with a red tassel, and bowed to the dozen or so figures on the white cloud. "Disciple Yang Jian, greetings, Martial Uncle!"

Li Changshou smiled and nodded. Beside him, Zhao Gongming summoned a white cloud, slowly descending with Li Changshou. Zhao Gongming gestured for Li Changshou to proceed as he wished. Li Changshou walked directly to the seemingly petrified Sun Wukong, calling out with a smile, "Great Sage?"

Only then did Sun Wukong turn his head, gazing at Li Changshou for a moment, recognizing him as the white-haired old man from before. He quickly stood up and cupped his fists in salute. He wanted to speak but didn't know how to address the person in front of him. He could only scratch his head and say: "Old hero, please don't tease this old Monkey. What 'Great Sage'?"

Li Changshou almost burst out laughing and said: "Wukong, I was too busy before and never had a chance to come here. Also, having lost my inherent Great Dao and the assistance of the Heavenly Demon Dao, I couldn't remotely control my avatar, so you've waited a long time."

Sun Wukong was a little bewildered. Li Changshou calmly raised his hand, pointing to a nearby spot. Nothing happened. He had forgotten he could no longer cast spells. "Yang Jian, use your divine eye to look there and undo the seal."

"Yes!" Yang Jian firmly agreed, his divine eye on his forehead wide open, illuminating the location of a Mustard Seed Universe, and then casually tearing open its portal. One after another, monkey spirits leaped out from within, looking around: "Great King! It's the Great King!"

Sun Wukong's body stiffened. He turned around in disbelief, seeing the multitude of monkeys leaping and rushing towards him. Zhao Gongming stepped half a pace forward, shielding Li Changshou behind him. Li Changshou merely smiled, unwilling to disturb Sun Wukong's reunion with his monkeys. He said to Yang Jian, "Go have a few drinks. Your master and the others are already waiting ahead."

"Well," Yang Jian said, "Senior Uncle and Martial Uncle, please go first. This disciple will follow shortly." Zhao Gongming chuckled, then led Li Changshou and Yun Xiao to rejoin their group, and subsequently headed towards the horizon. The chaotic Flower Fruit Mountain suddenly became lively with the appearance of the monkeys. Sun Wukong grinned, already at a loss for words.

After the white cloud flew far away, Sun Wukong pushed aside the monkey crowd and rushed up to Yang Jian. "That old hero..."

"He's gone," Yang Jian said calmly. "However, if you wish to express your gratitude, this True Lord can certainly take you there."

"I want to, I want to!"

"It's good you know your place," Yang Jian said, putting away his Three-Pointed Two-Edged Lance. "Now, clean yourself up; don't be so messy. If your monkey offspring have no place to go, you can send them to my Mount Mei. Also, stop calling him 'old hero' or 'old hero'. This is my Martial Uncle, and also: the Lord of the Dao Court, a mighty figure of the Human School, one of the Dao's hidden ones, the savior of sentient beings, the Heavenly Court's lifelong honorary Second Heavenly Emperor, the Jade Emperor's close friend, the spokesperson of the Dao Sect, the most trusted disciple of the Three Pure Ones Saints, the head instructor of the Heavenly Court's three hundred Chang'es, Taibai Jinxing, the God of Water, the God of the Sea, 98% of the former Dao Ancestor, the destroyer of the Demon Race, the human junior whom the Holy Mother publicly admitted to liking the most, the inheritor of the Grand Dao of Spark, the Grand Leader of the Stable Teachings, and the Dao Companion of Immortal Yun Xiao and Immortal Ling'e. However, I heard that previously, to secretly counter the Heavenly Dao's self-serving desires, he traveled the Great Desolation under a pseudonym using an avatar, adopting the false identity of Patriarch Bodhi."

"Patriarch... Master?" Sun Wukong suddenly turned around, looking at the cloud that had already vanished into the horizon. Yang Jian, standing beside him, smiled without a word, feeling a sudden surge of secret delight. Sun Wukong was about to do a somersault but was pulled back by Yang Jian. Yang Jian chuckled, "What's the hurry? First, settle your monkey offspring, then I'll take you to find him."

"Alright! Okay! No problem! Didn't expect you, the three-eyed freak, to have such a conscience!" Yang Jian's face darkened, and he immediately kicked out. Sun Wukong deftly dodged, repeatedly bowing and pleading for mercy; after all, he was asking for a favor, so he couldn't be too arrogant.

Beyond the Five Continents. Just as the white cloud flew out of the ends of the earth, Li Changshou suddenly called a halt. The accompanying immortals were full of questions. Li Changshou glanced towards the ends of the earth, signaled Zhao Gongming to activate an immortal energy barrier, and took out two small items, placing them on his waist: an anti-detection sensor stone and a sensor bead.

Zhao Gongming asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, brother? In this world, can't we still walk freely? Why are you so cautious?" Li Changshou smiled without answering, directly sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

He took a golden cicada from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Gongming, saying, "This is Jin Chanzi. Brother, when you have time, please return him to Saint Jieyin. He's considered half a disciple of Jieyin. I originally planned to use him to threaten the Dao Ancestor. At the time, my thought was, if the Dao Ancestor tried to kill Sun Wukong by force, I would kill Tang Sanzang by force. But it wasn't needed later."

"By the way, what happened with the Dao Ancestor?"

"The situation is complex," Li Changshou said. "The Dao Ancestor's Dao heart was affected. He ultimately chose not to flee but to face his destiny calmly, which can be seen as a form of self-reconciliation." The immortals nodded slowly. They didn't understand.

"I'll be busy for a moment; don't let everyone wait too long." As he spoke, Li Changshou took a brocade box from his sleeve, slowly opening it to reveal a dazzling golden light within.

"Brother, what's this?" Ling'e whispered.

"A Golden Elixir," Li Changshou calmly picked up the elixir and slowly said, "A small, hidden card."

"Huh?"

Li Changshou said, "Well, the Grand Dao of Balance has been sacrificed, and the Court of Myriad Daos prevents me from cultivating other Daos. But I still need some combat ability; otherwise, I won't be able to survive in the Chaos Sea. Don't underestimate this Golden Elixir; it contains a Dao, the Dao Master Taiqing taught me. The Dao resides within the Golden Elixir, and the Golden Elixir resides within my body. Doesn't that mean I'll have the Dao again and be able to cast spells?" With that, Li Changshou placed the Golden Elixir into his mouth, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.

This was precisely it! A single Golden Elixir swallowed, my destiny is mine, not heaven's.

A moment later, Daoist charm reconverged around Li Changshou. Black and white profound light appeared around him, and the Great Dao carried by the Taiqing Water Virtue Scripture began to circulate once more. It wasn't too late. The Court of Myriad Daos had caused significant damage to his Dao body and primordial spirit, essentially harming his fundamental energy. There was also a small, hidden card for this aspect.

Li Changshou formed hand seals, and his mind instantly connected with the first few batches of paper Daoists he had personally created and buried throughout the world. Instantly, specks of starlight flew up from various parts of the Five Continents of the Great Desolation. Paper figures soared into the air, saluted in Li Changshou's direction, and then self-immolated. The wisps of primordial spirit energy contained within them transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the sky, carried by the Grand Dao of Qiankun to the ends of the earth.

They were back, all of them! Li Changshou took out two pills and swallowed them. With a gentle inhale, his graying hair slowly turned black again, and his wrinkles visibly receded. Before long, the young Daoist stood up and winked at the astonished immortals behind him.

"Don't be surprised, it's just to let my strength recover a little," Li Changshou explained patiently. He then remembered the treasure pouch the Immortal of Longevity had given him and took out the protective magic treasure from within. Uh, a rather ordinary Pangu Banner. The three Heaven-Opening artifacts guarding the Court of Myriad Daos, that must have been arranged by Master. With a sigh, Li Changshou put the Pangu Banner into his body, making Elder Pagoda instantly become Fourth Master Pagoda. The weakest Golden Immortal.

Li Changshou glanced in the direction of the Heavenly Court, then looked at Yun Xiao and Ling'e, smiling: "Successfully retired from the Heavenly Court. Reporting for duty to the two of you."

"Brother!" Ling'e cheered, disregarding the onlookers, and leaped to embrace Li Changshou, bouncing excitedly. The cloud immediately filled with joyful laughter.