Chapter 32

"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Changsheng has replaced our master and become the new avatar of the Heavenly Dao?"

Primordial Heavenly Lord was equally horrified. He stared at the staff in Lu Changsheng's hand, where the might of the Heavenly Dao surged, his heart filled with shock.

After all, their master was the foremost Saint in the Great Desolation World, the strongest existence beneath the Heavenly Dao.

And Lu Changsheng? He had not even entered the Saint Realm.

As the saying went, beneath the Saints, all were ants.

If not for his boundless merit, profound fortune, and the protection of the Heavenly Dao, he would have been nothing more than one of the countless ants among all living beings.

Yet now, this seemingly ordinary "ant"

had suddenly become the avatar of the Heavenly Dao?

It was like an ant suddenly becoming the leader of the Human Race—absurd to the extreme.

Unlike the secret guesses of Primordial and Laozi, Tongtian had a much more straightforward personality.

He stepped forward and directly asked Lu Changsheng, "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, you have returned holding the Heavenly Dao Divine Staff. Could it be that you have replaced the Dao Ancestor and become the new avatar of the Heavenly Dao?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the minds of the countless living beings present were shaken.

They knew all too well what the avatar of the Heavenly Dao represented—it was the supreme existence in the Great Desolation World, second only to the Supreme Heaven.

After Tongtian asked the question, the other Five Sages also focused their attention and waited quietly for Lu Changsheng's answer.

Lu Changsheng did not conceal anything. He merely replied calmly:

"Initially, the Heavenly Dao did indeed have this intention.

It wanted me to become its avatar, and even handed this Heavenly Dao Divine Staff to me.

However, I refused.

If I really became the avatar of the Heavenly Dao, the seniority would become completely messed up!"

Upon hearing Lu Changsheng's answer, everyone present stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

What was going on?

He had actually refused the position of the Heavenly Dao's avatar?

That was the avatar of the Heavenly Dao—

the supreme existence beneath the Heavenly Dao!

And what was the reason for his refusal?

Because he was afraid of disrupting the seniority?

Wasn't that basically definitive proof?

The Heavenly Dao was definitely your own eldest son!!!

The various Saints looked at the Heavenly Dao Divine Staff in Lu Changsheng's hand, unable to hide the envy in their eyes.

Their hearts itched with longing.

But what could they do?

Even if Lu Changsheng was not the avatar of the Heavenly Dao, so long as the staff had been bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, they would not dare snatch it.

The moment they entertained such a thought, a bolt of heavenly lightning might strike down!

What was more, Lu Changsheng was someone protected by the Heavenly Dao.

If they truly dared to seize it by force, the Eye of Heavenly Punishment would lock onto them in an instant.

By then, it would not matter whether they were Saints—

they would be annihilated outright.

"As expected of Immortal Venerable Changsheng!"

After recovering from their shock, the Two Sages of the West gazed at Lu Changsheng and sighed repeatedly.

Lu Changsheng, who now held the Heavenly Dao Divine Staff, was indeed worthy of these Heavenly Dao Saints respectfully addressing him as "Immortal Venerable."

The other four Saints also looked at Lu Changsheng differently.

Lu Changsheng paid no attention to the change in how the Two Sages of the West addressed him.

His gaze swept across the countless living beings who had gathered outside Wuji Heaven at some point. He smiled faintly and spoke:

"Everyone, please quiet down for a moment!"

As soon as Lu Changsheng finished speaking, the previously clamorous crowd quickly fell silent.

Everyone was curious. After Immortal Venerable Changsheng's conversation with the Heavenly Dao, what conclusion had they reached?

Once the entire area had fallen silent, Lu Changsheng continued his announcement:

"This Venerable has reached an agreement with Brother Heavenly Dao. From this day onward,

once you have finished creating a world, you only need to ask the Heavenly Dao to bear witness, and merit will be bestowed."

The living beings erupted in an uproar.

"Really? Immortal Venerable Changsheng actually got the supreme Heavenly Dao to work for free?"

"That's truly astonishing... As expected, Immortal Venerable Changsheng is still the most capable!"

While the living beings discussed among themselves,

the Six Sages were likewise shocked beyond words.

Lu Changsheng had not only rejected the identity of the Heavenly Dao's avatar on the grounds that it would disrupt seniority, he had also obtained a Heavenly Dao Divine Staff for nothing and even demanded that the Heavenly Dao work for him without compensation?

Such means truly could only be used by Lu Changsheng.

Outside Wuji Heaven, while the living beings were in an uproar,

within the Primordial Chaos Zixiao Palace,

Hongjun, who had been watching Lu Changsheng all along, nearly spat flames of jealousy from his eyes.

He was the legitimate avatar of the Heavenly Dao,

yet even he did not possess a Heavenly Dao Divine Staff, while Lu Changsheng had obtained one with ease?

It made him seem like a mere backup choice.

He bore all the hard work and toil,

while all the benefits went to Lu Changsheng?

What he found even harder to accept was this:

the Heavenly Dao had actually intended for Lu Changsheng to replace him?

He, Hongjun, Dao Ancestor of the Xuanmen, teacher of the Saints—did he have no dignity?

At this thought, Hongjun grew increasingly unwilling to accept it.

He immediately tried to communicate with the Heavenly Dao:

"Supreme Heavenly Dao, as your avatar,

I maintain order in the Great Desolation World on your behalf.

Why does even Lu Changsheng, merely a quasi-Saint, possess a Heavenly Dao Divine Staff,

while I do not?"

After saying this, he was still unsatisfied and continued to complain:

"Since Lu Changsheng can have one, I should naturally be qualified as well.

The Heavenly Dao Void should also be opened to me!"

However, the Heavenly Dao did not approve his demands.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Dao, he was merely a puppet avatar.

Moreover, throughout the long years, this avatar's performance

had not fully satisfied the Heavenly Dao—

what the Heavenly Dao sought was the strengthening of the Great Desolation Heaven and Earth,

yet Hongjun had not truly accomplished that.

After a stretch of silence,

a ripple of response came from the Heavenly Dao.

Hongjun was initially overjoyed. He thought that, relying on his identity and years of hard work,

he would certainly receive treatment equal to Lu Changsheng's.

But when he heard the content of the Heavenly Dao's response,

his mentality collapsed in an instant—

the Heavenly Dao coldly transmitted only two words: "Get lost!"

Hongjun's face immediately turned livid, with a faint green tinge.

Still, he had not been entirely unprepared for such a result.

After all, he knew very well that

although he had merged with the Dao, he had never truly become one with the Heavenly Dao.

Thus, he was still plotting to make the two most powerful races in the Great Desolation—the Liches—fight one another.

Once both sides suffered heavy losses and the Heavenly Dao was weakened, he would be able to find an opportunity to merge with the Dao.

Yet Lu Changsheng's appearance had completely disrupted his plans.

Merge with the Dao?

Amid his disappointment, Hongjun could only watch helplessly as Lu Changsheng, a mere quasi-Saint, flaunted the Heavenly Dao Divine Staff he had dreamed of obtaining.

As he sighed helplessly, the Great Desolation Heaven and Earth continued to be swept up in a wave of world creation because of Lu Changsheng.

The years passed peacefully and silently.

Within the Great Thousand World, Zhen Yuanzi created a Middle Thousand World.

Seeing that its order was orderly and its vitality flourishing, he raised his head toward the sky and tentatively called out to the Heavenly Dao.

"I, Zhen Yuanzi, have created a Middle Thousand World today, naming it the Cangxuan Realm. I hope the Heavenly Dao will bear witness."

After his voice fell, he nervously gazed toward the horizon.

Although he knew that Lu Changsheng was extraordinary and could communicate with the Heavenly Dao, he was ultimately not Lu Changsheng.

With the slightest mistake, he might draw down heavenly lightning from the Heavenly Dao and be reduced to ashes.

Just as Zhen Yuanzi was anxiously waiting, ten thousand miles of auspicious clouds suddenly appeared in the sky.

Within the auspicious clouds, merit slowly emerged.

Brilliant golden light illuminated the entire Great Desolation Heaven and Earth.

Upon witnessing this scene, the countless living beings of the Great Desolation all raised their heads and gazed upward.

Zhen Yuanzi also excitedly looked toward the auspicious clouds.

Before long, the light of merit descended from the heavens, arousing the envy of countless cultivators.

Next, Ming He also announced to the Heavenly Dao:

"I, Ming He, have created a Middle Thousand World today, naming it the Xuesha Realm. I hope the Heavenly Dao will bear witness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another stretch of auspicious clouds covered the sky.

Immediately afterward, golden rain of merit poured down.

The living beings were astonished once more.

After Ming He, Di Jun, Houtu, and the other mighty figures of the Great Desolation also successively attracted rains of merit.

For a time, endless golden rains of merit fell continuously across every part of the Great Desolation.

Countless living beings were dazzled by the sight.

The million guards of Wuji Heaven gazed at the boundless rain of merit on the horizon, all of them wearing proud expressions.

After all, such a grand scene had been brought about by their Great Master of Wuji Heaven.

Lu Changsheng also saw the golden rain filling the sky and was quite satisfied.

"As expected, when it comes to handing out merit, we still have to rely on Brother Heavenly Dao for it to be satisfying!"

Lu Changsheng looked up and saw the guards of Wuji Heaven, each one spirited and vigorous.

His thoughts stirred, and he sensed that these guards had been stationed in Wuji Heaven for several thousand years,

which happened to fulfill the system's conditions for issuing rewards.

Thus, he casually waved his hand. A million units of merit appeared, and he spoke in a resonant voice:

"You have guarded Wuji Heaven for several thousand years, diligently fulfilling your duties. This Venerable has seen it all.

This million units of merit shall be your reward!"

The merit scattered down and was divided among the million guards.

A wave of impassioned responses immediately rang out within Wuji Heaven:

"Thank you, Great Master!"

The current Lu Changsheng no longer cared about spending a million units of merit.

Even the smallest amount of merit was still an accumulation.

"Not bad. I've spent another batch."

The three people of East King Duke, who had always followed at Lu Changsheng's side, had long since grown accustomed to this.

After all, they had already done things like launching world creation for everyone and showering the Heavenly Dao with merit.

This amount was simply insignificant.

A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

Every day, Lu Changsheng wandered around, seemingly idle and doing nothing.

Yet because his origins were extraordinary, his cultivation continued to rise.

This left the three people of East King Duke, who "idled around" with him, envious beyond measure.

They could never figure out what kind of background the Great Master truly possessed.

How could he advance without cultivating, with merit increasing on its own?

At this moment, atop an immortal mountain,

the Six Sages had gathered together to discuss the gains they had made from creating worlds over the years.

Although world creation consumed a great deal of origin energy, with merit replenishing them, it did not cause any serious problems.

Amid the continued creation of new worlds,

Laozi's cultivation had already reached the eighth layer of Primordial Grand Unity,

Nuwa had also reached the seventh layer,

while Primordial and Tongtian kept pace with each other, both reaching the sixth layer,

and even the Two Sages of the West, whose cultivation had originally been somewhat weaker, had now both stepped into the fifth layer.

"Mm—the merit gained from creating the heavens is abundant, but it really is exhausting."

Primordial Heavenly Lord took a sip of immortal tea and spoke leisurely.

It had been a long time since they had enjoyed tea so comfortably.

Just as he was immersed in this leisurely moment,

Lu Changsheng suddenly descended upon the immortal peak with East King Duke and the other two.

Looking at the group of Sages leisurely savoring their tea, Lu Changsheng called out encouragingly:

"Fellow Sages, stop slacking off!

"We're still a long way from our goal of ten million Great Thousand Worlds!"

The Sages leisurely drinking tea felt their heads ache the moment they saw Lu Changsheng appear.

Lu Changsheng's few urging remarks rang in their ears, making their heads buzz even louder.

Boss, even if we're going to hang ourselves, can't we catch our breath first?

Primordial Heavenly Lord barely swallowed the immortal tea in his mouth and sighed:

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, you've urged us no fewer than five times over the past thousand years."

"We've done our utmost and created several hundred Great Thousand Worlds already."

One had to understand that, in the past, creating a single Great Thousand World had taken them quite a while.

Their strength had increased, and so had their speed.

But Lu Changsheng had also begun urging them more frequently.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng merely looked unconcerned:

"What do several hundred Great Thousand Worlds amount to?"