Chapter 759: Actually, Someone Told a Lie

The Grand Dao of Balance vanished.

In the instant the golden light bloomed, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had no time to react; everything was already set in motion.

Li Changshou had not lied. His words to the Dao Ancestor, "Your eradication has nothing to do with you," were the plain truth.

He sacrificed the Grand Dao of Balance, performed the "One Qi Transforms to Three Pure Ones" with four instances of balance, forcefully activated the Three Thousand Grand Daos, and constructed the Court of Grand Daos. Using the Grand Dao of Balance to blur the lines between life and death, Dao and spirit, and with the Illusory Spirit Nails as a foundation, he condensed the 'Spirits of the Grand Daos.'

The entire sequence of operations had been rehearsed countless times, without a single error, achieving success on the first attempt.

The beings who had traveled furthest along these Grand Daos left behind projections of pure Dao-nature, representing the voices of sentient beings within their respective Daos.

Among these, deceased beings only left behind a fragment of 'Dao-natured thought,' preserving their ability to think without personal desires.

Existing beings could perceive everything happening within the Court of Grand Daos and make choices supported by 'Dao-natured thought.'

As the one who created the Court of All Daos, Li Changshou became its first guardian.

He wasted no time, immediately presenting the first proposal: if there was no more than seventy percent opposition, it would be passed directly using his guardian authority.

The shadows of the Three Thousand Grand Daos...

There was no movement!

Li Changshou pressed his palm downwards, and the Three Thousand Grand Daos trembled in unison.

The powerful beings whose consciousness had been drawn into this place finally understood what was happening!

Reconstructing the Heavenly Dao!

Bypassing the Dao Ancestor, directly reconstructing the Heavenly Dao!

Most of the powerful beings were so shocked that their Dao hearts became unbalanced; they felt a surge of adrenaline but didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Li Changshou's voice was full of solemn authority:

"All Daos, instantly reconstruct the Heavenly Dao, stripping the Dao Ancestor of his control over the primordial essence of heaven and earth!"

"Release the restraints on Saint Taiqing and Saint Tongtian."

"All Daos, protect the primordial essence of heaven and earth as it returns to the Sea of Dao Principles!"

"Execute immediately!"

Li Changshou's firm command echoed, and within the grand hall, countless figures simultaneously raised their right hands.

An instant!

Whether it was the instant within the Chaotic Bell's shroud, or the instant experienced by the Dao Ancestor and the Heaven-defying multitude!

A fundamental change occurred in the Primordial World!

The Three Thousand Grand Daos vibrated, and the Sea of Dao Principles manifested in the Primordial World. From the Five Continents to the Three Thousand Worlds, and even the vast void in between, various colored lights continuously flashed!

The Dao was visible!

Countless grids of varying shapes appeared throughout heaven and earth, then shattered, reformed, and vanished.

The Five Continents glowed with the densest light, and boundless spiritual energy fluctuated between wild surges and gentle flows. Countless chaotic anomalies appeared between heaven and earth.

These colorful anomalies then vanished in a very short time!

At this moment, the most fundamental Dao principles of the Primordial World remained unchanged. Heaven and earth were incredibly stable, and there was no alteration to the world or its living beings.

What was affected was only the Heavenly Dao, such as the changes of seasons, the movement of stars, the enforcement of heavenly rules, and the operation of the Heavenly Court.

The Heavenly Dao plunged into chaos for an instant, then order was restored in the very next moment.

Simply put, the Three Thousand Grand Daos abolished the original Heavenly Dao and, through resonance with the Court of All Daos, reconstructed an entirely new Heavenly Dao!

The Court of Grand Daos.

Li Changshou's body trembled slightly, and a hint of fatigue crossed his eyes, but his gaze immediately regained its brightness.

Returning freedom to all beings;

Returning freedom to heaven and earth!

This was the true meaning of the Grand Dao of Balance!

Under the gaze of Yun Xiao, Ling'e, the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, Zhao Gongming, Great Immortal Zhenyuan, several Saints, Holy Mother Jinling...

Under the watchful eyes of these powerful beings who were able to stand here!

Under the observation of all the ancient powerhouses who had come from the Primordial World!

Li Changshou once again grasped the jade brush and began writing in the air.

From this day forward, the Court of Grand Daos would stand above the Three Realms of the Primordial World, not entering them but overseeing them. Should living beings feel indignant at heaven and earth's injustice, or should heaven and earth be wantonly destroyed by living beings, it could manifest itself!

From this day forward, the Heavenly Court would remain the Heavenly Court, but the Heavenly Dao sequence would remove the Six Saints and add the positions of the Four Imperial Sovereigns of the Heavenly Court, who would mutually restrain the Heavenly Emperor.

From this day forward, heaven and earth would have no predetermined script, and the future would hold no fixed destiny!

Rumble—

The Court of Grand Daos suddenly trembled; it was the old Heavenly Dao struggling.

Li Changshou bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of heart-blood onto the jade brush. He instantly suppressed the tremor, writing down all the proposals he had prepared for years.

His plan was actually very simple; the key was the creation of the Court of Grand Daos.

Ever since the event of Tai Bai suppressing the Dragon Clan, the odds of success Li Changshou had been increasing were not based on gathering the strength of countless beings to rebel against heaven.

The reason the odds improved was that these 'beings' capable of representing Grand Daos and entering the Court of Grand Daos would be dissatisfied with the current Heavenly Dao.

Although they could only make judgments based on 'Dao-nature,' the foundation of these judgments still originated from living beings!

Therefore, the choices of living beings were of utmost importance.

Li Changshou's calculations were undoubtedly correct; at this moment, the Dragon and Phoenix clans held a significant proportion within the Court of All Daos.

Through the event of Tai Bai suppressing the Dragon Clan, Li Changshou confirmed the Dragon Clan's dissatisfaction with the Heavenly Dao, increasing his chances against the Dao Ancestor by far more than ten percent.

Li Changshou continuously explored, plotting time and again, until he finally reached this day.

To strip the primordial essence of heaven and earth from the Dao Ancestor, forcing the Dao Ancestor to reveal his "health bar"!

The ensuing battle would be left to his unconstrained master and martial uncles; he still had more work to do.

Having destroyed the old order, he had to establish a new one for heaven and earth.

The Three Thousand Grand Daos rejecting the old Heavenly Dao and evolving a new one under the intervention of the Grand Dao of Balance was just the first step. He himself had to provide the order and direction for the new Heavenly Dao.

Thirty-six spiritual treasures would monitor the Heavenly Dao;

The Heavenly Emperor, Human Sovereign, and Empress Houtu would govern the Three Realms of Heaven, Humanity, and Earth...

Even if it meant merely copying the divine positions of the old Heavenly Dao, this process was essential.

Li Changshou's brush moved swiftly, and the characters before him transformed into large words flying in all directions, as the Three Thousand Grand Daos continuously resonated.

The Grand Dao of Time trembled slightly, and the 'residual image of Empress Nuwa' standing upon it cast forth immortal light, bringing the entire Court of Grand Daos into a state of absolute stillness.

With the Chaotic Bell's blessing and the amplification of Saint Nuwa's Grand Dao, Li Changshou wrote the rules with even greater composure.

An unknown amount of time passed within the hall...

"Everyone, do not approach the Dao Ancestor later."

Li Changshou spoke softly, "Please protect the beings who dared to defy Heaven today. They are the sparks of life in the Primordial World. Prevent the Dao Ancestor from going mad and harming them in the end."

"As for the battle, leave it to my master and two martial uncles."

"The Dao Ancestor has lost the primordial essence of heaven and earth. No matter how strong he is, he is no longer a Hunyuan Wuji Saint. My Three Pure Ones masters can certainly eliminate him."

"Remember, don't get carried away. Your Majesty and Elder Brother, keep an eye on them."

"Don't let all my hard work be in vain."

With these words, Li Changshou stopped writing.

Done.

He looked up at the newly formed 'Monument of Grand Daos,' on which the new order of heaven and earth was now fully established. Li Changshou let out a soft breath.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he declared:

"Go forth, and enjoy this unprecedented battle."

The manifested illusory spirits of the Three Thousand Grand Daos bowed in unison to Li Changshou, then dispersed as faint specks of light.

The Court of All Daos instantly became incredibly vast and empty.

Li Changshou looked up, admiring his masterpiece, a slight smile gracing his lips. He then bowed towards the empty hall before him.

As he raised his head, a drop of blood suddenly slid down, landing in Li Changshou's palm.

He raised a hand to touch his nose, evaporating the bloodstain. Li Changshou exhaled softly, intending to step forward, but his legs faltered, and he weakly sat down cross-legged.

Never mind, he would rest for a while.

There was nothing more he needed to do.

Dong—

The second chime of the Chaotic Bell sounded outside Zixiao Palace, only an instant after the first.

The Dao Ancestor's raised finger was about to point forward when it suddenly froze. He stared down at his chest in astonishment.

There, in his Dao body, which was fused with the Heavenly Dao, a large hole had inexplicably appeared. The 'sphere' that had been continuously pulsing within was gone!

Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Dao...

Where was his Heavenly Dao?

No, it was still there. The Heavenly Dao was right at his fingertips, yet why couldn't he grasp it?

Hongjun abruptly looked up and gazed forward, but Li Changshou's figure had already been directly encompassed by the Chaotic Bell.

Behind Hongjun, Zixiao Palace in the distance was continuously crumbling, and the countless grey-robed old Daoist figures who had just appeared instantly disintegrated!

Streams of extremely pure spiritual energy returned to the Primordial World.

The brand new Heavenly Dao held no will of its own.

"Li Changshou! What have you done!"

Hum—

The void trembled, and the cosmos before Hongjun twisted slightly. The gaunt old Daoist sitting on the meditation cushion once again stood before Hongjun, his gaze colder than ever before.

Taiqing!

"Hongjun!"

A great shout, filled with suppressed rage, erupted from behind Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Several streaks of sword light crisscrossed for hundreds of thousands of miles, coming from between heaven and earth, severing the cosmos and shattering the remnants of the old Heavenly Dao's barriers!

After the sword light, a figure flickered and appeared behind Hongjun.

Holding a broken sword and standing on a tattered formation diagram, the young Daoist's hair stood on end, his eyes wide and teeth clenched.

Tongtian!

The Taiji Diagram returned to its place, casually lifted by the gaunt old Daoist, completely sealing off the cosmos around Hongjun.

Grandmaster Tongtian advanced, gritting his teeth, the fury in his eyes threatening to incinerate his former master!

Primordial Lord of Heaven appeared on Hongjun's other side, a banner unfurling behind him. He said calmly:

"Master, please forgive our discourtesy."

"Ha, hahaha! Hahahahaha!"

Hongjun suddenly threw back his head and laughed heartily, clapping his hands continuously as he looked at the Chaotic Bell:

"Three Thousand Grand Daos, the Court of Grand Daos, beings connected to the Grand Daos, reconstructing the Heavenly Dao."

"Changshou, for you to devise such a method, it is truly ingenious, utterly brilliant."

"You truly are different from that person. This time, I have lost to you; but ultimately, I am unwilling to withdraw like this."

"Come, let us decide victory and defeat in one battle."

Hongjun's imposing figure suddenly withered, and a figure stepped out from behind him.

This figure was wreathed in boundless malevolent aura, and various demonic treasures floated around him.

Demon Ancestor Rahu!

The Dao and Demon Ancestors simultaneously opened their eyes, their auras merging perfectly.

At this moment, Hongjun had reverted to his normal human form. He and Rahu spoke at the same time, their eerie and warm voices blending into a sinister laugh:

"Let us fight outside of Heaven, lest we destroy this world."

"There's no need for that."

Two streams of energy, one black and one white, erupted from Lord Laozi Taiqing's eyes. The Taiji Diagram reformed directly below him, severing the path to Heaven.

Grandmaster Tongtian's broken sword gleamed with multicolored light, and he lunged at Hongjun!

Primordial Lord of Heaven gripped the Pangu Banner, tossed out his jade scepter, and unleashed chaotic sword qi towards Rahu's body!

Lord Laozi Taiqing pointed a finger forward, his grey-white hair and Daoist robe fluttering, pressing down on the figures of the Dao and Demon Ancestors!

The Three Pure Ones against the Two Ancestors!

This was no ordinary battle, nor could it be explained by divine abilities or magic treasures. Even Grand Unity Golden Immortals could only perceive a few figures rapidly shifting positions within the Taiji Diagram's Dao resonance.

Taiqing stably controlled the situation, leaving Hongjun no path of escape.

Grandmaster Tongtian and Primordial Lord of Heaven led the offense, but they could not gain an advantage immediately.

Most of the beings nearby stared blankly at the scene.

They couldn't understand it, but they felt profoundly shocked, their own Daos and Dao hearts trembling slightly.

They still didn't know exactly what had happened.

They didn't know why a hole had appeared in the Dao Ancestor's chest;

They didn't know why the grey-robed old Daoists, who had exerted boundless pressure on them, had directly dispersed;

Nor why Saint Taiqing and Grandmaster Tongtian, rumored to have been suppressed, had suddenly appeared.

They were also unaware why the Demon Ancestor had emerged from the Dao Ancestor's imposing figure, when rumors said the Demon Ancestor's corpse lay in the deepest part of the Nine Springs of Filth...

Most beings were bewildered.

They had come with fervent determination, but now could only watch the battle from afar.

Only a very small number of beings who had just entered the Court of All Daos understood the general cause and effect.

Taiqing's disciple Li Changshou, also known as Tai Bai Jin Xing Li Chang Geng, had accomplished an unprecedented feat!

This idea was truly peculiar: reconstructing the Heavenly Dao, establishing new Dao principles, directly... directly...

"Senior Brother..."

Ling'e, shielded behind Yun Xiao, was inexplicably stunned.

Ling'e's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and her Dao heart suddenly clenched several times.

Disregarding everything, she rushed out from behind Yun Xiao, heading straight for the Chaotic Bell while all other beings watched the Saint's battle.

Sacrifice my Grand Dao of Balance, sacrifice my Grand Dao of Balance!

Qi refiners often dabbled in many paths, cultivating multiple Daos and numerous spells. For instance, the most common Five Elements Dao Arts involved the Dao of Five Elements.

However, every being, upon achieving immortality and becoming a Dao cultivator, relied on a single Grand Dao.

Their inherent Dao.

This was the foundation of achieving Dao, the root of longevity, and the life-soul Dao of a Qi refiner.

The Grand Dao of Balance... that was her Senior Brother's Dao!

Her Senior Brother cultivated to become a Heavenly Immortal and a Golden Immortal through this Dao, relying on...

"Ling'e!"

Yun Xiao quickly moved to follow, but just as she took a step, her pretty face suddenly paled. She looked up at the Chaotic Bell.

No, it couldn't be.

When he created the Court of All Daos, it was still under the order of the old Heavenly Dao!

Without external assistance, it was only through the Grand Dao of Balance, which he actively employed, that he balanced the Dao realms of Saints, and then, using a false Dao realm, summoned the Three Thousand Grand Daos.

The backlash force, the resistance of creation, the absence of his own Dao...

Yun Xiao's pretty face turned deathly pale.

"Alas..."

The spiritual awareness of the Chaotic Bell resonated in the hearts of all beings. The great bell slowly rose half a zhang, revealing the cross-legged figure beneath it.

Strands of withered white hair lay scattered.

A nearly emaciated body sat still.

Like a mortal.

As if asleep, head bowed, eyes closed, one could almost hear his murmuring as if in a dream.

How, then, was he to balance the Heavenly Dao?

Indeed, how was he to balance the Heavenly Dao?

Changing the order was easy to say, and chanting slogans was quite inspiring, but how was it to be done?

On the beach of that immortal island, in the years after his master was incinerated by the Golden Crow flames, within the warm Hunyuan Golden Dou, Li Changshou sat quietly, contemplating, pondering, and reflecting.

He had diligently explored many ideas.

For instance, he could find the Chaotic Bell, use it to activate the Grand Dao of Time, and extend the fiftieth axe mark carved by Pangu from the creation of heaven and earth to the present day, shattering Zixiao Palace.

Or, he could research the 'Poison of the Grand Dao,' infecting the Heavenly Dao with a 'virus' to in turn affect Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Or again, he could figure out how to make the Six Saints act together against Hongjun...

And so on.

At that time, Li Changshou's understanding of the Heavenly Dao was limited, his thoughts were not comprehensive, he lacked sufficient information, and some of his ideas were rather fanciful.

However, every single idea, foreseeably, would result in countless casualties among living beings.

Li Changshou could only continuously reject these ideas.

To destroy the Dao Ancestor and the Heavenly Dao was his own thought, born from his own hatred, and should not be wagered with the lives of other beings.

He had to bear the consequences of his own actions.

Therefore, he essentially had only one path: to balance the Heavenly Dao, to understand the Heavenly Dao, and to reconstruct the Heavenly Dao.

How was he to balance the Heavenly Dao?

How to...

"Senior Brother!"

A call startled the drowsy Li Changshou awake.

He sensed Ling'e's rushing figure and felt the Chaotic Bell emit spiritual energy, keeping Ling'e at bay.

"Be gentle," the Spirit of the Bell appeared beside them and said softly, "He cannot withstand you bumping into him now."

Ling'e couldn't help but burst into tears. She knelt beside Li Changshou, pouring out bottles of elixirs from her treasure pouch. Cupping Li Changshou's white hair, she looked at his aged face, her small hands trembling incessantly.

"Senior Brother, don't scare me!"

"Didn't you have a hundred percent certainty that you would be fine?"

"Didn't you always play it safe? You're not..."

"Why are you crying? It's so ugly. I'll punish you by making you transcribe scriptures."

Li Changshou painstakingly raised his left hand, wanting to pat Ling'e's head, but found his palm withered like dead wood, covered in wrinkles.

"I'm fine, just exhausted."

He tried to lower his hand, but Ling'e quickly leaned forward, grasping his hand and placing it on her cheek.

Yun Xiao's figure flashed behind Li Changshou. She quietly knelt, supporting his shoulders with both hands, carefully channeling wisps of spiritual energy into his body, her eyes visibly reddening.

His Dao body was like a dry, cracked riverbed.

Streaks of light flickered...

"Chang Geng!"

"Lord Star Monarch!"

"Senior Brother!"

"Uncle Chang'an!"

"What's going on here!"

Zhao Gongming's lips trembled. He squatted before Li Changshou, wanting to help him up but not daring to move rashly. "Why go to such an extreme? Don't you always leave some leeway in everything you do?"

"Seriously, I won't die."

Li Changshou whispered, "I've just lost my cultivation. I can just re-cultivate."

Yun Xiao was about to speak, but Li Changshou patted her jade hand in time.

"Chang Geng," the Jade Emperor's voice was slightly choked.

Li Changshou immediately put on a helpless expression and sighed, "Your Majesty, I truly am just exhausted. I've temporarily lost my cultivation, that's all."

"Lord Laozi is here!"

"Quick! Make way for Lord Laozi!"

The surrounding immortals and gods quickly dispersed. Lord Laozi floated down from the ox's back, frowned, and grasped Li Changshou's wrist.

Soon, Lord Laozi declared:

"His life is not in danger."

All the immortals and gods immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Lord Laozi took out an elixir from his sleeve. After a moment's thought, he ground it into powder, then took a tiny bit of the powder and fed it into Li Changshou's mouth.

Li Changshou's complexion immediately improved, a hint of grey appeared in his withered white hair, and his face also looked younger.

"Many thanks, Lord Laozi."

His voice also gained a little strength.

"Mhm," Lord Laozi nodded, pondering for a few moments. "First, go to Doushuai Palace to recuperate."

"Let's wait until the battle here is over," Li Changshou said, looking towards the void ahead. Without his cultivation, he was currently sustaining himself purely by a thread of spiritual energy and could only see a few blurry light figures.

"Then wait a moment."

Lord Laozi replied softly, his figure transforming into a streak of white light and rushing towards the battleground.

A short while later, Grand Supreme Lord Laozi and Saint Taiqing merged into one. He chanted profound incantations, speaking without pause or effort, and with a wave of his hand, he conjured the Great Millstone of Heaven and Earth's Yin and Yang.

His aura was indescribably sharp and formidable.

Li Changshou gently exhaled...

He naturally knew his own condition. Choosing this path, he had naturally considered many scenarios and prepared a few contingencies.

No revolution comes without bloodshed.

He was already very satisfied to have achieved this much.

The battle to overthrow the Dao Ancestor lasted for a long time.

The Three Pure Ones unleashed their full power, and the Dao Ancestor revealed all his trump cards.

All of them had broken free from the Heavenly Dao's restraints and could not borrow the power of the new Heavenly Dao. They fought purely with their own magical power.

This battle was far more arduous than the one Taiqing fought against Hongjun in Zixiao Palace long ago.

Empress Nuwa stayed by Li Changshou's side for a while. Once she confirmed his life was not in danger, she went to support the Three Pure Ones in their battle.

However, Empress Nuwa had no opportunity to intervene and could only circle the perimeter.

The Dao Ancestor's full strength was revealed; after devouring the will of the old Heavenly Dao, he could only be described as terrifying.

Unfortunately, he was still a hair's breadth away from the Hunyuan Wuji realm.

It wasn't until the Chaotic Bell joined the fray, and the Three Pure Ones simultaneously activated their Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasures—with Saint Taiqing holding a phantom image of the Heaven-Opening Axe—that they finally suppressed Hongjun in his current state.

The Qiankun Cauldron possessed immense power, and the Jade Disc of Creation manifested infinite variations.

The Dao Ancestor and the Demon Ancestor were one entity, and it seemed there were even more clones ready to join the battle from outside.

But Hongjun's gaze was mostly fixed on Li Changshou, who was surrounded by numerous beings. He looked at Li Changshou's mottled white hair, a bitter smile on his lips.

Perhaps, he was rather envious.

The feeling of being cared for was now utterly unfamiliar.

In his vast memory, what predominated was endless grey, boundless loneliness and solitude.

At that time, memories from his previous life became the best antidote, allowing him to endlessly recall them.

Until these memories were gradually worn away, becoming harder to recall, and even names were forgotten.

What was ironic was that his main personality knew none of this.

Because these negative emotions and feelings were taken by him when his true spirit split.

When he came to his senses, he was already in the vibrant and colorful ancient world, where 'everyone' toiled and schemed for their ideal world, and every moment was incredibly fulfilling.

Then, he came to his senses again, standing before his 'last companion,' choking the other's throat, making them return to himself.

Why? Why was he merely a 'derivative' of that utterly mediocre man?

And why did his ultimate destiny have to be to return to that scoundrel, to complete the so-called main personality!

He had already stood at the pinnacle of all beings, sitting in Zixiao Palace, taking the Three Pure Ones as his disciples!

He was Hongjun!

The master of the Xuanmen, the origin of Daoism!

Ah... it was just reluctance, wasn't it?

During the battle, the Demon Ancestor's head was shattered by Grandmaster Tongtian's sword light, and the Demon Ancestor's body could no longer be sustained.

Hongjun waved his sleeve, and the Demon Ancestor's remnant body transformed into a streak of light, burrowing into Hongjun's body. Hongjun grasped the legs of the Qiankun Cauldron and fought the Three Pure Ones alone!

He remained silent throughout, merely channeling his vast, ocean-like magical power.

Although his figure was no longer as imposing, it was still full of majesty.

Taiqing's brow furrowed slightly, and the phantom image of the great axe in his hand blazed with intense light.

"Combine forces!"

With a soft cry from Saint Taiqing, Grandmaster Tongtian and Primordial Lord of Heaven appeared on his left and right, pushing their palms forward simultaneously.

The figure of that colossal giant appeared before the Three Pure Ones, its massive hand reaching for Hongjun.

Hongjun was stunned for a moment, and light flickered in his eyes.

"Elder Brother..."

Hongjun murmured, then frowned in confusion, looking down at his palm.

Why?

Why!

The giant hand grasped Hongjun's body without any resistance. Hongjun's eyes suddenly became incredibly complex, filled with bewilderment, apology, guilt, nostalgia, composure...

And a hint of excitement.

He even raised his movable right hand, unconsciously reaching towards the giant's face.

He paid no mind that the giant was merely an illusion;

He paid no mind to the Heaven-Opening Axe held aloft by the giant;

He paid no mind to the giant's indifferent and unperturbed expression.

"Elder Brother," Hongjun whispered, his lips trembling slightly. His face eerily transformed into a clean-shaven, pale countenance, bearing a mix of loss, a smile, and a plea.

"Can we not open up heaven and earth?"

"The Sea of Chaos is also quite free and comfortable."

The axe blade descended.