Immortal Father-Chapter 1711 - 622: No Truth (Part 2)

Daoist Ze Yun smiled at Li Ping’an and made a Daoist salute, then turned away with the Bronze Mirror, departing. Those figures who followed the Delusional Sun, whether they previously supported Pangu’s side or the Delusional Sun’s side, at this moment chose to leave with the Delusional Sun.

They seemed not to fear being cleansed by the Delusional Sun.

The world quickly fell silent.

Li Ping’an felt an inexplicable emptiness in his heart, standing there for a long time without returning to his senses.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?" Lao Jun called out from the side.

"Hmm," Li Ping’an pulled himself together, intending to smile, but it became a bitter smile, "Lao Jun, what is it?"

"Your Majesty," Lao Jun bowed his head in a Daoist salute, "to unite with the Dao for the protection of heaven and earth is truly the fortune of all beings."

All the immortals and deities below bowed in unison.

"Your Majesty," the Jade Pool looked at Li Ping’an with complex eyes and said softly, "You should have discussed with us... at least... given us a heads-up..."

"Is there any difference between me now and before?"

Li Ping’an spread his hands:

"Uniting with the Dao is not completely becoming the Heavenly Dao; it is merely binding oneself to the Heavenly Dao. My body is still here.

"The only opportunity severed is the chance of transcendence. If the world ceases, so do I... but that is something very far away. Now, he will not interfere with this world. We can proceed with the four plans I made."

As he spoke, Li Ping’an glanced down at Qing Su.

Qing Su smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.

A regret resonated in Li Ping’an’s heart, thinking that if Ningning were here, all the romances he had possessed in his life would be gathered together.

He laughed: "Why are you all looking so gloomy? Oh, right, many people have disappeared."

Li Ping’an looked down.

On the Chan Teaching side, a full three of the Twelve Golden Immortals were missing, namely Ju Liuyun, Manjushri, the Celestial Venerable of Boundless Dharma, and Immortal Puxian.

To Li Ping’an’s surprise, Vice Sect Leader Ran Deng and Taoist Compassionate Ferry were still present.

They were not mere chess pieces made by the Old Man Wangri from a tiny part of himself.

On the Jie Sect side, a total of thirty-seven or thirty-eight people were missing.

This left the Tongtian Sect Leader with an extremely complex expression.

Truly, the Tongtian Sect Leader never dreamed that in ancient times, when fighting, and in antiquity, when teaching, so many of these disciples were actually pieces planted by the Old Man Wangri.

Beside him, The Primeval Celestial Venerable watched the Tongtian Sect Leader with a smile, seemingly reproachful, yet also proud.

Proud of his foresight and the rule that Chan Teaching’s methods are not passed on lightly.

Li Ping’an stretched lazily and said with a laugh, "Everyone may continue to observe here. Later, I trouble the Patriarch to continue to safeguard this place. We’ve only just alleviated the pressure from the Transcenders; the true end of heaven and earth has yet to be effectively addressed."

The Tongtian Sect Leader inquired, "Where will Your Majesty go later? Why not spend some time at the Azure Wander Palace?"

"There are still many matters to attend to," Li Ping’an shook his head gravely, "I don’t wish to bear any pressure, but so many worlds have already perished, countless beings have been lost, and the overall cost has been incredibly immense. That sea of stars must be opened up."

All the immortals and deities displayed solemn expressions.

Li Ping’an opened his left hand, and the Chaos Bell shrank to the size of a fist, slowly descending.

He said, "From today, I will wield the Chaos Bell to cultivate in the Sea of Dao Principles. The heavens and the earth have only four Saints left, yet the foundations of this world must remain steadfast."

Lao Jun said, "As Taiqing foretold, in a hundred years, a Taoist Sect assembly will be held above the Nine Heavens; the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm should respond here."

The Primeval Celestial Venerable nodded slowly, expressing willingness: "My Disciple of Chan Sect may be inscribed into the Investiture of the Gods."

The Tongtian Sect Leader said slowly, "My Disciple of Jie Sect may also enter the list with their bodies."

The disciples of the Chanjie Dual Sects glanced at Li Ping’an but said nothing.

Compared to Li Ping’an’s union with the Dao before the end of days calamity, why should they hesitate to enter the Heavenly Court in body?

"Alas," Nüwa sighed deeply, "who would have thought, that the Transcender actually..."

"Holy Mother," Li Ping’an said with a smile, "soon I will visit the Holy Mother Palace. Although the matter of the Investiture of the Gods no longer needs to bind the Southern Continent, the affairs of the Southern Continent must still be pushed forward."

Nüwa asked, "How do you intend to push it forward?"

"I originally did not intend to meddle much, yet I am already amidst the Southern Continent."

Li Ping’an spoke solemnly:

"The major events of heaven and earth that I truly care about are actually only three.

"First is the end of the world, which has taken a positive turn. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Second is the threat of transcendence, which has been largely resolved.

"Third is the Southern Continent’s matter of absolute human sacrifice, which is not yet completely settled and must be further addressed."

Nüwa nodded slowly and said, "It’s rare for you to stay true to your original heart. Then, I shall await your visit at the Holy Mother Palace."

With those words, Nüwa made a Daoist salute to Li Ping’an and turned to disappear into a rainbow light.

Her departure set a precedent for the other immortals and deities, leading the Three Pure Ones to bid farewell, taking various masters with them and sealing this land once again.

This place was critical to the future of the world.

Li Ping’an gazed at the chaos everywhere and the perplexed Eastern Emperor Taiyi, unable to hold back a laugh: "Go drink, substitute."

The corner of Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

...

An hour later.

In the empty grand hall of the royal palace in Chaoge City.

Li Ping’an placed the wine flask down, sitting on the soft couch, staring at the white clouds outside without using Ji Dan’s avatar.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi hiccuped from the wine, puzzled, and asked, "How did you realize it?"

"Realize what?"

"That by uniting with the Dao, you can solve everything," Eastern Emperor Taiyi couldn’t help but murmur, "I thought both sides had to go to war and fight."

"There are many ways to solve problems; we can find the path with the least sacrifice and the greatest victory."

Li Ping’an slightly pouted:

"Do you think I want to unite with the Dao? To live and die with the world, striving to extend its life is essentially extending my own."