Immortal Father
Chapter 1117: 390: Isn't It Reasonable to Call for a Little Help?_2

Chapter 1117: Chapter 390: Isn’t It Reasonable to Call for a Little Help?_2

“Actually, there’s no need to worry too much. Ran Deng shouldn’t harm Li Ping’an, and the Coffin Spirit has no motive to do evil.”

Taiqing said, “That is only for now.”

“Oh? Why do you say so?”

“Teacher, you should know what the Coffin Spirit desires. To achieve his goal, this world must return to silence.”

Taiqing’s gaze turned slightly cold:

“I do not know what plans you hold with the Coffin Spirit.

“Yet, this world, created by Pangu himself, must be protected to its end. As long as there is hope, heaven and earth can transform into perfection.

“The two were destined to conflict.

“Teacher, can you honestly confirm that the Coffin Spirit will not stir chaos?”

Hongjun furrowed his brows, his face shadowed in seriousness.

Crack.

The light column restraining Taiqing developed a faint fracture, and Taiqing Laozu’s phantom grew more solid.

Taiqing casually waved his hand, and a faint Cloud Mirror appeared before him.

“Alas,” Hongjun chuckled bitterly, “you’re just far too restless. But you’re not wrong; matters like these are truly worth your concern.”

…

Li Ping’an honestly didn’t intend to call so many great figures along.

Ran Deng Daoist had a special role—if he had earned the favor of Yuanshi Tianzun and acquired the title of Vice Sect Hierarch, wasn’t it reasonable to invite two prominent Chan Teaching figures?

With the Chan Teaching invited, ignoring the Jie Sect’s experts would seem disrespectful. Naturally, inviting two Jie Sect masters was equally justified.

Thus, with both Chan and Jie sects included, and Houtu having emerged from the Sea of Blood after gaining enlightenment over half a month, inviting the Great Mage along with Houtu Ancestral Witch appeared quite proper as well.

And so, bit by bit, eight masters assembled around Li Ping’an.

Among them were senior disciples of the Three Teachings, Xuan Du Da Fa Shi, Guang Chengzi, and Taoist Duobao; Jie Sect experts Zhao Gongming and Jinling Saint Mother; Chan Teaching masters Immortal Yuding and Immortal Taiyi, as well as Houtu Ancestral Witch.

Adding Guilingling, who jumped out from Li Ping’an’s sleeve, a team of nine great masters was formed.

Ran Deng Daoist:…

Li Ping’an himself felt slightly embarrassed.

He truly hadn’t expected the Three Teachings’ top figures to be so partial to the Eight Trigrams Path.

Li Ping’an said, “Vice Sect Hierarch, look, everyone is here.”

“Please,” Ran Deng Daoist sighed lightly, “luckily, they are all key figures of the Great Sects.”

Guang Chengzi cupped his hands and asked, “Vice Sect Hierarch, you haven’t concerned yourself with worldly affairs for a long time. May I ask what brings you here today?”

“Failing to communicate with the Jade Void Palace was my error,” Ran Deng said, flicking his horsetail whisk.

“The reasoning shall soon be clear. For now, follow me to Mount Lingjiu.”

Li Ping’an declared aloud, “Heavenly Fury Guards, listen! Follow from afar later. Do not approach within a thousand-mile radius of Mount Lingjiu!”

“Yes!”

Three hundred Heavenly Fury Guards appeared from various directions, tailing the immortals from a distance behind the clouds.

Among the clouds, Xuan Du Da Fa Shi spoke first, teasing, “It seems our emperor is growing ever more dignified.”

Li Ping’an smiled wryly, “After reaping the fruits of the Inner Heavenly Dao and benefiting from the Western Sect’s misfortune, my sudden fortune is unremarkable.”

The immortals chuckled among themselves.

Houtu began, “The matter His Majesty entrusted to me earlier—I have gained some insight. Fenghou has already entered a certain place in the East Continent. When the fruit ripens and the divine child descends, heavenly phenomena shall appear, and protection can then be arranged.”

“I appreciate your efforts, Daoist Friend,” Li Ping’an responded with a bow. “Daoist Friend, having secluded yourself in the Sea of Blood for ten days, have you gained enlightenment?”

“Not much,” Houtu replied, “It’s akin to seeing flowers through mist or the moon in water.”

Her face showed a hint of compassion:

“However, I have realized that this Great Dao should have emerged long ago. It benefits both living beings and the heavens and earth—it could be a great boon for my Witch Clan as well.”

Li Ping’an silently agreed, “Indeed.”

If the Netherworld were established, it would be a vast institution directly under the Heavenly Court. Imagine the countless positions and celestial career paths it could produce;

If Houtu merges with the Dao to craft the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc, it would only be proper for the Witch Clan to receive these opportunities.

However, since the Heavenly Court has yet to ascend above the Nine Heavens, establishing the Netherworld should still take some time.

Li Ping’an said no more, only remarking, “Daoist Friend, if you need my assistance, do not hesitate to ask.”

Houtu nodded gently with a smile, “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

“Hey! Disciple-Nephew Emperor!”

Taoist Duobao strolled over, raising his brows at Li Ping’an:

“I heard you nabbed Minghe’s Yuan Tu Sword. Could you let this uncle have a look?”

Li Ping’an flicked his finger, and in a flash of dim celestial light, the Yuan Tu Sword appeared in his hand, which he handed to Taoist Duobao.

Immortal Taiyi clicked his tongue softly, “You really dare to lend it?”

Duobao glared at Taiyi, scolding him, “What do you mean by that? Do you think I won’t return it? My treasures come by proper means!”

Taiyi muttered, “Hmm, proper means from the ‘underground.'”

“Why you!”

Taoist Duobao unsheathed the sword, ready to strike.

Immortal Yuding acted swiftly, using a large cauldron to trap Taiyi, while smiling awkwardly at Duobao.

“Apologies, Senior Brother.”

“Hmph!”

Taoist Duobao sheathed the Yuan Tu Sword and handed it back to Li Ping’an, grumbling, “My mood for admiring treasures is ruined now!”

Li Ping’an quickly changed the subject, “Uncle, is the Calamity Lord currently circulating through the smaller realms?”

“Indeed.”

Taoist Duobao replied casually:

“They’re like autumn grasshoppers—won’t last long. Later, I’ll mark out those micro-realms hidden by the Western Sect’s grand formations. You only need to leave them a bit of merit as acknowledgment.

“This Western Continent War has already pushed the Western Sect to their limits. They’ve gathered old ministers of the Ancient Heavenly Court, experts from the Hundred Clans hiding beyond the heavens all these years, as well as vicious demons and most of their elite forces, yet they were still severely defeated by the relentless Human Race.

“Though the Human Race paid a price as well, as long as East Continent’s cultivation community remains, the Human Race’s vitality will quickly recover.

“It’s clear that the Western Sect no longer has the capacity to organize a battle of this scale.”

Li Ping’an nodded slowly.

Duobao said curiously, “I stayed observing from the sidelines, limited by the many Hundred Clans disciples in our sect, preventing me from intervening. What puzzled me most was why Daoist Lu Ya and his loyalists left so early.”

Li Ping’an merely smiled without speaking.

Such matters were not to be revealed so easily.

He said, “A small scheme, that’s all. At its core, this victory was fought and earned by the Human Race.”

The Jinling Saint Mother, silent until now, suddenly said, “There cannot be two emperors between heaven and earth. Could conflicts arise between the Heavenly Court and the Human Race in the future? Perhaps preparations should be made early.”

“He’s already prepared!”

Guilingling planted her hands on her hips, exclaiming indignantly, “He’s even formed a Daoist union with Lady Ba! He’s now the Human Emperor’s son-in-law!”

Li Ping’an could only laugh awkwardly.

Duobao muttered under his breath, “Well now, Junior Sister, your tone sounds a bit sour.”

Guilingling retorted unhappily, “Great Senior Brother, stop talking nonsense! Between me and our disciple-nephew Ping’an, we are sworn siblings!”

Li Ping’an wholeheartedly agreed.

As they spoke, Ran Deng Daoist, who had been guiding ahead, began to slow his pace.

Mount Lingjiu lay in the central region between the continents.

This area had once been greatly prosperous in ancient times but had been reduced to barren wasteland after the ancient wars—lifeless and uninhabitable. The few remaining blessed caverns were heavily shielded by grand formations, difficult to find.

Ripples spread shallowly as Ran Deng Daoist’s abode, Mount Lingjiu, appeared before the immortals.

A lonely gray-stone mountain stood tall on ash-covered ground. The flattened peak bore the two characters “Lingjiu.”

The mountain’s front was desolate and harsh, with only ghost-like black branches stretching outward from dead trees, emitting an eerie vitality.

“A shroud of death energy surrounds this place.”

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi presented the Tai Chi Diagram and transmitted his warning to the group:

“Do not let your guard down. I know this place’s eerie nature, but I’m unsure if Ran Deng Daoist intends to address this matter today.”

The immortals held their breaths while their curiosity intensified.

Li Ping’an felt a twinge of regret.

He regretted not inviting his father—his father had clever ideas, quick thinking, and could help strategize.

Ran Deng’s mount, a plum-blossom deer, transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into his sleeve. The Daoist’s auspicious clouds also silently faded.

He landed upon the gray earth, stood at the entrance of a faint, whitened path, and pointed to a cave dwelling perched on the cliff ahead, softly saying:

“Friends, follow me. Do not get too close; lest you disturb the eerie nature of this place and invite trouble.”

The Great Mage led the way, while the immortals guarded Li Ping’an as they proceeded.

Li Ping’an felt deeply reassured…

The overwhelming sense of security.

Alas, Ran Deng Daoist only uttered three sentences—and Li Ping’an’s sense of security instantly plummeted into the negatives.