Chapter 747: Receiving the Summons

Each step was a cautious search, a constant dodging and hiding. Li Changshou naturally understood that as soon as Xu Bodhi entered the Five Continents, the Heavenly Dao would undoubtedly begin to observe him. However, there was only a slim chance that the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor would directly eliminate Xu Bodhi. This was due to the Dao Ancestor's inherent arrogance, which saw all living beings as mere ants.

The Dao Ancestor had reigned at the apex of the Three Realms for an exceedingly long time. So long, in fact, that the Dao Ancestor had grown accustomed to absolute control, thereby losing the caution that fear and dread might otherwise instill. Li Changshou understood that this very caution, this meticulous planning, was his most crucial trump card in his gambit against the Dao Ancestor. His trump card: prudence.

Xu Bodhi secretly looped from the South Sea to the West Sea, and upon entering Xi Niu He Zhou, completely concealed himself, quietly drawing closer to Mount Spirit. His face always held a lingering worry, and he frequently felt a sense of hesitation. Looking at Mount Spirit, now a shadow of its former self, he couldn't help but feel a touch of helplessness and resentment. The acting was remarkably natural.

Li Changshou was uncertain if this performance would be effective; its success hinged on whether the Heavenly Dao continued to observe him. Adhering to the principle of "better safe than sorry," he consistently maintained the act and persevered. After navigating for the better part of a day, Li Changshou had 'Xu Bodhi' halt in a mountain valley. The location wasn't far from Mount Spirit, yet at that moment, he appeared hesitant, unsure how to proceed or even if he should enter at all. After all, when Buddhism seized power, Xu Bodhi had chosen to flee rather than steadfastly support Saint Jieyin. Now, having no other recourse but to seek Saint Jieyin to undo his Heavenly Dao shackles, he inevitably felt a degree of guilt.

In fact, Li Changshou had withdrawn a portion of his consciousness and shifted it to monitor his other two false bodies. The karmic sin demon, his second false body, continued to observe the activity on Mount Huaguo. The Seven Great Sages had raised their banners, their titles already considered taboo, and they were now engaged in open warfare with the Heavenly Court. Though the words 'rebel against Heaven' weren't explicitly shouted, the sentiment was clear on their faces. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals led by Li Jing were finally poised for a major confrontation with the demons of Mount Huaguo. The dark clouds in the sky had largely dispersed, revealing layers upon layers of figures.

Li Changshou carefully sensed the situation for a moment, letting out a faint sigh in his heart. No immortal bean soldiers were present. The upcoming battle would require the Heavenly Soldiers to risk their lives against the demon forces. What war doesn't involve casualties? Li Changshou's prior strategy had always been to minimize friendly casualties while ensuring victory. However, the current Heavenly Court was no longer so meticulous; they had either overlooked or forgotten the considerable impact of immortal bean soldiers in large-scale engagements. This was likely related to the Dao Ancestor's manipulation of living beings' memories, which left Li Changshou feeling quite helpless.

On Mount Huaguo, the demon soldiers' morale was exceptionally high. Because other monkey-kin demons continuously arrived to reinforce them, the monkey soldiers of Mount Huaguo were now several times more numerous than before. However, these monkey troops were not considered the primary force of Mount Huaguo's demon army. The demon figures spread across the mountains and plains had amassed nearly sixty percent of the demon race's combat strength. A million strong had gathered, igniting a heaven-shaking fire! Though the demon race had been orchestrated by the Heavenly Dao all along, at this moment, their fervor represented a faint, albeit passionate, resistance of living beings against the Heavenly Dao.

Li Changshou, however, felt little emotion regarding this grand spectacle. The human race was the protagonist of this world, and the current Heavenly Court represented human interests. Humans were the race protected by the Heavenly Dao and the one that aligned with its will. This wasn't to say that humanity had abandoned its spirit of striving against Heaven and Earth; quite the opposite. It was precisely because humanity possessed the strength to contend with both Heaven and Earth that they were drawn in by the Heavenly Dao as a major race under its protection. Although the three Human Sovereigns were now missing the Fire Sovereign, the profound legacy of Huoyun Cave still persisted. The Heavenly Dao sought to eliminate the demon race, and Mount Huaguo represented their final counterattack. The demon race actually had one remaining path: to humble themselves before humanity, seek peace at Huoyun Cave, and appeal to the principle of interdependence against the Heavenly Dao. However, the demon race harbored such animosity towards humanity, wishing to exterminate them all, that they were incapable of such an act. Furthermore, most of the demon leaders who possessed such foresight had already been eliminated by Li Changshou. What awaited these demons now was merely a desolate end. The Battle of Mount Huaguo — the demon race's final, desperate revelry.

Compared to the demon race, Li Changshou was more concerned about Sun Wukong's current condition. However, the karmic sin demon he was 'piloting' couldn't overtly approach Sun Wukong, so he could only use his immortal sense to observe the unguarded Water Curtain Cave from a distance. Wukong was already drunk and asleep. What a carefree spirit.

"This monkey," Li Changshou chuckled softly to himself, leaving a sliver of his consciousness to monitor the upcoming 'great battle' on Mount Huaguo, while shifting his main attention to the third false body. The third false body was a Heavenly Immortal realm Qi refiner from a Central Divine Continent immortal sect. This false body had by now reached the vicinity of northern Beiju Luzhou. Its immortal sense spread outwards, revealing the distant settlements of the North Continent's Wu Clan. Surprisingly, this place had become a rare sanctuary within the Three Realms. Continuous pine forests shielded against the biting winds of the North Sea, and smoke could always be seen rising from the snow-covered areas. In the villages bordering several Wu Clan settlements, young children ran barefoot through the snow, while older elders prepared various blood-replenishing foods in front of their homes. The young and strong Wu Clan members hunted far and wide and fished the seas, while many Wu Clan women tilled the fields, cultivating cold-resistant crops. Overall, their lives were stable and prosperous.

Li Changshou merely observed from a distance for a few moments before quietly retreating, feeling a considerable sense of peace in his heart. The Wu Clan was a rather unique race within the Primordial World. Born from the bloodline of Pangu, the twelve Ancestor Witches inherently possessed dominion over the Dao of Heaven and Earth. The demon race, in turn, was formed to counter the Wu Clan, secretly guided by the Dao Ancestor and pieced together from the power of myriad spirits. In ancient times, at the peak of their power, the Wu Clan stood against all living beings in the Primordial World, overwhelming them to the point of exhaustion. Observing the history of the Wu Clan's rise and fall, one could discern a hidden trajectory: a trajectory revealing the Dao Ancestor's machinations to dismantle the Wu Clan. From the three great Wu-Demon calamities to the battle between Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor, the Wu Clan suffered repeated declines, ultimately toppling from its pedestal as the Primordial World's foremost race. Before Li Changshou's intervention, they were almost annihilated by the demon race's schemes. This exemplified the Dao Ancestor's capacity for long-term scheming. After the ancient wars, the surviving demon forces were, in fact, intentionally preserved by the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor to keep the Wu Clan suppressed.

Considering this, Li Changshou could only sigh softly in his heart. He then employed an escape art, quickly leaving the vicinity of the North Sea to collect some medicinal herbs in the eastern part of the North Continent. Although the third false body was an obscure Heavenly Immortal Qi refiner, the work of concealment still needed to be thorough. A glance at the Wu Clan brought a significant sense of ease to Li Changshou's heart. He wasn't intending to use the Wu Clan to oppose the Heavenly Dao; rather, he had come to observe the North Continent Wu Clan tribes he had once fought alongside, before his decisive confrontation with the Dao Ancestor. Confirming that Pangu's bloodline still existed in the world, showing signs of flourishing and continuous resurgence, truly provided Li Changshou with a sliver of reassurance.

Over the next half-month, the first false body, Xu Bodhi, remained hidden near Mount Spirit, seemingly perpetually hesitating and wandering, unable to find a suitable moment to reveal himself. In reality, Li Changshou was simply biding his time for the perfect moment; he could enter and exit Mount Spirit with ease. The second false body, the karmic sin demon, remained near Mount Huaguo, observing the fierce battles between Heavenly Soldiers and demon forces. The Seven Great Sages of the demon race repeatedly thwarted several Heavenly Court offensives. At this point, casualties on both sides were not yet extensive, but the demon race firmly held Mount Huaguo, and the banners of the Seven Great Sages remained standing, marking a clear victory for them in this skirmish. On the Heavenly Court's side, Li Jing had experienced his first defeat, yet he remained calm and unhurried, merely deploying his forces and continuously engaging the Mount Huaguo demons. Li Changshou surmised that this was likely the imposter Grand White Gold Star, secretly issuing orders to Li Jing. Li Changshou was acutely aware of the Heavenly Court's battle formation's true combat prowess; to eradicate the current demon forces of Mount Huaguo would take at most half an hour. They were merely toying with the demons.

By this time, the third false body, bearing minor poison injuries and a large quantity of spiritual herbs, had already left North Continent and entered East Sheng Divine Continent, heading towards Du Xian Sect. Upon reaching within a few thousand miles of Du Xian Sect, Li Changshou immediately felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. His paper effigies had once permeated the very depths of this land; his footprints had covered every mountain peak, meticulously scouring all spiritual roots and herbs until nothing remained; his figure had appeared in numerous dense forests, seeking out old trees brimming with spiritual energy, leaving behind countless tormented tree spirits. It was here that he earned the moniker 'Master of Paper-Cutting'; it was also here that he established his identity as a 'Human Sect disciple'.

Li Changshou controlled the third false body, concealing it on a mountaintop a thousand miles from Du Xian Sect. He activated several layers of formations and set up a few immortal power barriers, then openly began to heal his injuries. The area within two thousand miles of the immortal sect was considered their 'private domain,' yet the arrival of this Heavenly Immortal Qi refiner did not draw any attention from Du Xian Sect. This familiar vigilance was still as lax as he remembered. His immortal sense spread outwards, and Li Changshou effortlessly penetrated Du Xian Sect's thin, smooth mountain protection array, 'observing' the situation within. Potian Peak still stood firm, adorned with numerous immortal figures and once again emanating the aura of the Golden Immortal realm. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that a Grand Elder had achieved a breakthrough, ascending to the power level of a standard Golden Immortal. Jiu Yushi, however, was still only in the late True Immortal realm. The strength of this newly promoted Golden Immortal Elder was probably only about 0.9 of Ji Wuyou's. The number of disciples on each peak remained consistent, still at the level it had been when he departed. The original site of Xiaoqiong Peak had become a mountain-ringed lake, surrounded by lush small forests, now a 'sacred ground' within the sect for young Qi refiners to cultivate romantic relationships. He looked at Dandǐng Peak, then Xianlín Peak; and probing Baifan Hall, he saw that familiar group of old faces. Not bad at all, truly not bad. Li Changshou nodded with a degree of satisfaction, instructing the third false body to heal there, constantly monitoring the situation at Du Xian Sect to prevent the Dao Ancestor from resorting to desperate measures at the last moment. This was truly something he had to guard against.

All that remained now was to wait. Waiting for Wukong to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace, for the Kunpeng, secretly acting on his instructions, to draw near the Primordial World, and for the Dao Ancestor and Heavenly Dao to reveal a tiny 'flaw'. At this moment, his chances of success were 97.5%.

Just a little more, Your Majesty Jade Emperor.

Thus, three months later.

Li Changshou hadn't anticipated Li Jing's patience would be so profound. The Eight Legions of Heavenly Soldiers began rotating onto the battlefield, each deploying two hundred thousand troops. They treated Mount Huaguo as a training ground, staging a major battle every day or two. For both the demon race and the Heavenly Soldiers, the tactic of attrition was almost ineffective. The demon race grew increasingly excitable, while the Heavenly Soldiers' temper gradually frayed. Both sides were now fighting with true intensity. Li Jing's military strategy left Li Changshou feeling humbled. He couldn't fathom how Li Jing achieved this: in every battle, the Heavenly Soldiers suffered minimal casualties while inflicting greater losses on the demons. Moreover, each time, he managed to make the Heavenly Soldiers appear to be defeated, prompting a strategic retreat that further fueled the demon side's eagerness for battle. If this happened only once or twice, it would be unremarkable. The issue was that Li Jing had been luring the demon race for three months, engaging in dozens of battles of all sizes, yet consistently maintained this precise outcome. This was quite alarming. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals inevitably harbored some discontent, but Li Jing firmly kept it in check. However, the ever-increasing number of demons on Mount Huaguo could no longer restrain themselves. One by one, they began shouting slogans to 'fight to the South Heavenly Gate' and 'assault the East Heavenly Gate'. Their arrogance surged, becoming quite rampant for a time, as if the ancient Demon Court was on the verge of restoration, and the demon race would suddenly produce thousands of Grand Luo Golden Immortals overnight. Emotions had already overwhelmed the demons' minds, and even many ancient demons were swept up in this fervor, becoming a solid backing for the Seven Great Sages.

The Great Sage of Heaven-Pacifying, Bull Demon King, dragged his feet for two months but eventually arrived with a group of bull demons for reinforcement. However, the old bull did not exert himself, always prioritizing self-preservation in every battle and refraining from killing Heavenly Soldiers. Li Changshou noted an interesting detail: apart from the monkey-kin demons, no other demon race could enter the Water Curtain Cave. Sun Wukong had moved his 'throne' to the mountainside, spending his days drinking, brawling, eating bananas, boasting with his brothers, and exchanging pleasantries with various ancient demons, all with considerable merriment. He must have understood many things by now. Li Changshou sighed inwardly, feeling that he was a rather inadequate master, unable to treat the monkey with the same care and guidance his own teacher had shown him. But there was no other way; his gambit against the Dao Ancestor was the most crucial confrontation between living beings and the Heavenly Dao, allowing no room for error. He could only temporarily allow the monkey to endure hardship, considering it a tribulation arranged specifically for him. According to the Dao Ancestor's script, the monkey's life was not in danger, so there was no need to worry unduly about his safety.

When should Xu Bodhi proceed to Mount Spirit? Li Changshou carefully analyzed the situation, concluding that he should wait until the monkey was pacified by the Heavenly Court before wandering around Mount Spirit himself to find an opportunity to deal with Golden Cicada. Even waiting an additional three to five years would be insignificant.

However, no sooner had this thought settled in Li Changshou's mind than he suddenly felt a Dao rhyme drift through his spiritual platform. A sigh escaped his heart, followed by a voice incredibly familiar to Xu Bodhi.

Saint Jieyin.

"Bodhi, when did you arrive? Come here."

Li Changshou's heart gave a slight jolt. He had previously considered that Saint Jieyin might discover his whereabouts, given that he had been loitering near Mount Spirit. He had also thought that Saint Jieyin might proactively summon him. But he hadn't expected Jieyin to be so overtly proactive! Was Saint Jieyin feeling troubled, perhaps, and seeking a disciple to confide in?

Li Changshou dared not delay. 'Xu Bodhi' appeared from the valley and offered a Daoist salute towards Mount Spirit. Golden light flickered ahead, and a golden portal opened within the Qiankun. Li Changshou focused his full attention, guiding 'Xu Bodhi' inside. With a single step, he entered the dense Dao rhyme of the Saint, arriving at Saint Jieyin's dwelling. His Dao heart settled into tranquility, all distracting thoughts vanishing from his mind.

It was a thatched hut. From the window, the scenery indicated they were on Mount Spirit's rear mountain. Saint Jieyin, dressed in white robes, sat cross-legged on a futon, gazing at 'Xu Bodhi' with a gentle smile. Heavenly Dao power? Li Changshou keenly sensed something, but chose not to reveal it at that moment.

"Disciple greets Teacher."

'Xu Bodhi' bowed his head, offered a Daoist salute, and sighed softly, unsure what to say. Saint Jieyin raised his hand and conjured a futon, placing it before Li Changshou. He spoke slowly, "Sit. There's no need to worry. Although this place is monitored by the Heavenly Dao, I can still offer you some protection."

"Yes." Li Changshou responded, adopting Xu Bodhi's various mannerisms. He sat cross-legged before Saint Jieyin, with eyes cast down submissively, not daring to meet his gaze. Saint Jieyin chuckled lightly again, then asked, "Are you perhaps still unable to let go of your own Dao realm?"

"Teacher, this disciple has endured so many hardships, it was not easy..."

"Do not overthink it," Saint Jieyin said gently. "The Heavenly Dao is like this, and so is the Dao Ancestor. The higher your Dao realm, the more perilous it becomes. If you cross that line and provoke their apprehension, your misfortune will not be far off. Your current situation is actually quite favorable; at least it won't arouse their suspicion."

Li Changshou was speechless.

"But Teacher, alas, this disciple doesn't know how to express it."

Saint Jieyin slowly closed his eyes, the smile on his lips gradually fading until he simply let out a soft sigh.

"You, do you truly wish to unlock your Dao realm?"