The Saints Desire Peace Talks

Laozi saw Yuanshi still looking unconvinced and added, "Gu Changqing might have mastered a special divine ability."

"A special divine ability?" Yuanshi asked, surprised. "What kind?"

Laozi sighed slightly and replied, "The ability to Slaughter Saints!"

"Slaughter Saints?"

Yuanshi was dumbfounded.

"The Heavenly Dao does not perish, Saints do not die."

"That's what Master said!"

Yuanshi absolutely refused to believe that anyone in this world could slaughter a Saint!

Saints are destined by heaven; who would dare to slaughter one?

Seeing Yuanshi's agitated expression, Laozi continued, "Master also said that severing the Three Corpses can lead to enlightenment. Many in the Primordial World have severed their Three Corpses, but none have achieved enlightenment yet. Gu Changqing achieved enlightenment, but he didn't sever his Three Corpses."

"Senior Disciple Brother?" Yuanshi paused slightly, hearing something amiss. He then asked, "Senior Disciple Brother, what do you mean?"

Laozi gave a wry smile. "I don't mean anything in particular. My point is that if you see Gu Changqing in the future, you should try to avoid him. Even if Gu Changqing doesn't have the power to slaughter Saints, he can easily suppress us. The four of us Saints combined, and he could still easily suppress the Two Sages of the West. That's enough to prove Gu Changqing's strength."

"Then..." Yuanshi frowned. "What about the matter of demon extermination?"

Laozi replied, "We'll discuss the demon extermination when Master comes out of seclusion. Our immediate priority should be to seek a peace treaty with Gu Changqing."

"A peace treaty?" Yuanshi retorted angrily. "Gu Changqing and I are irreconcilable! If you want a peace treaty, you might as well suppress me instead!"

Laozi continued, "I know your Chan Sect has suffered significant casualties, and Xuandu also had his Three Flowers cut off, but what of it?"

"Do you want the Human and Chan Sects to be completely wiped out before you're satisfied?"

"Or do you have a way to deal with Gu Changqing?"

"I..." Yuanshi was rendered speechless by Laozi's rebuke.

"I'll listen to Senior Disciple Brother's arrangements."

Gu Changqing was a madman, daring to suppress even Saints.

At this point, Yuanshi had no choice but to humble himself.

If even the Chan Sect was gone, what was there left to fight for?

Laozi nodded and added, "Let's go, we'll see Nüwa."

A peace treaty always needed an intermediary.

Laozi knew clearly that whether it was him or Yuanshi who went to Gu Changqing for a peace treaty, they would surely be sent back empty-handed.

When Nüwa saw Laozi, she immediately said coldly, "Senior Disciple Brother is so busy with daily affairs, why do you have time to visit Nüwa today?"

"I've caused you much suffering, Junior Disciple Sister Nüwa," Laozi said gently. "After today, Junior Disciple Sister can return to Wa Palace."

"Oh?" Nüwa asked, surprised. "Aren't you afraid I'll side with Senior Disciple Brother Tong Tian and Fellow Daoist Gu Changqing? Aren't you afraid I'll expose your Demon Extermination Alliance's affairs?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," Laozi said with a wry smile. "We've failed, and we no longer have the power to exterminate demons. Whether Gu Changqing is a demon or not, only Master can decide."

Nüwa wasn't surprised at all by the failure of the Demon Extermination Alliance; she would have been surprised if it had succeeded.

In her opinion, Gu Changqing's strength was even greater than hers. If Gu Changqing and Tong Tian joined forces, the Saints would have no chance at all.

But what she never expected was that Gu Changqing alone could defeat the Saints!

Nüwa had just stepped out the door when Laozi called out to her again.

"Junior Disciple Sister Nüwa, please wait." Laozi followed her. "I have an impolite request. Is Junior Disciple Sister Nüwa at your convenience?"

"No, I'm not," Nüwa refused. "Since it's an impolite request, there's no need to say it."

Having been confined for so long, it was impossible for Nüwa not to be angry.

Laozi continued, "This concerns the rise and fall of the Human Race, and the stability of the Primordial World. Will Junior Disciple Sister Nüwa really stand by and do nothing?"

Among the Saints, Nüwa was the most indecisive.

Seeing Laozi say this, Nüwa indeed stopped. She turned and said coldly, "What is it?"

Laozi continued, "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is destined by heaven, but now the Tribulation has spiraled out of control. Only Junior Disciple Sister can mediate to some extent."

Nüwa sneered, "What virtue or ability do I possess to have such prestige? Senior Disciple Brother must have mistaken me for someone else."

Laozi replied, "Not so. Among the Saints, only Junior Disciple Sister has remained neutral, and both sides trust Junior Disciple Sister more."

Nüwa sneered inwardly upon hearing this.

Heh!

If you trusted me, you wouldn't have kept me confined in Eight Scenery Palace.

Laozi continued, "Now, both sides are like fire and water. The Human and Chan Sects and the Intercepting Sect are evenly matched. If the conflict continues to escalate and gets out of control, it will lead to grave suffering for living beings at best, and the shattering of the Primordial World at worst."

"I don't think this is what Junior Disciple Sister wants to see either. A peace treaty has become an inevitable trend, at least to ensure that the war doesn't spiral out of control."

For a battle among Saints, shattering the Primordial World was not difficult.

As the leader of the Demon Race and the mother of the Human Race, Nüwa could not afford to ignore the plight of both races.

Rather than dwelling on the grudges between the Saints, if this war affects both races, the sin would be immense!

Thinking of this, Nüwa asked, "What should I do?"

Laozi replied, "Sister, you don't need to trouble yourself. Just act as a mediator and give everyone a chance to negotiate."

Nüwa nodded and said, "Alright."

Laozi continued, "Thank you, Sister. If my junior brother Tong Tian and Gu Changqing are willing to negotiate, we will meet at Wa Palace in three days."

"Alright."

If both sides could negotiate, it would be a blessing for the Primordial World.

Nüwa left Eight Scenery Palace, but instead of returning to Wa Palace, she went to Golden Turtle Island.

Seeing that Tong Tian wasn't on Golden Turtle Island and hearing he had gone to Chaoge, she immediately rushed to Chaoge and found Tong Tian in the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

Upon seeing Tong Tian, Nüwa immediately brought up the negotiation.

"Negotiate?"

Tong Tian instantly refused. "Impossible!"

He held an absolute advantage now and could easily wipe out the Human and Chan Sects. How could Tong Tian possibly negotiate at this time?

Nüwa added, "If the war spirals out of control, a Saint war will be unavoidable."

"So what?" Tong Tian scoffed. "Do you think I'm afraid of them?"

Nüwa gave a wry smile. "Senior Brother Tong Tian's combat power is unparalleled, and his disciple Gu Changqing's divine abilities are equally invincible, so naturally, you're not afraid. But what about the Intercepting Sect disciples? What about the Human Race?"

"If a Saint war breaks out, there will be widespread suffering and rivers of blood. Once the Human Race suffers too much damage, what would be the meaning of the Human Emperor?"

"Does Senior Brother Tong Tian wish to see his disciples' hard work come to naught?"

"Does Senior Brother prefer to see the benefits he's about to gain turn into a fleeting dream?"

Seeing Tong Tian remain silent, Nüwa continued, "If Senior Brother and the others are biased, I will definitely stand with Senior Brother Tong Tian."

"Alright!" Tong Tian, seeing Nüwa say this, replied, "This time, I'll give you face, Sister."

In Tong Tian's view, if he didn't give Nüwa face, Nüwa might very well side with the Human and Chan Sects, and the scales of victory would tip.

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Nüwa smiled. "In three days, we will gather at Wa Palace. I hope Senior Brother won't be late."

"Alright!"

Seeing Tong Tian agree, Nüwa then went to Chong City to see Gu Changqing.

When she mentioned the negotiation, Gu Changqing wasn't surprised.

Two of the four Saints were already gone; they didn't even have a chance to fight to the death.

If they didn't negotiate now, should they wait until they were completely desperate to surrender?

Gu Changqing didn't answer but asked, "What did Master say?"

Nüwa replied, "Senior Brother Tong Tian has already agreed and set a meeting in three days at Wa Palace for negotiations."

"Alright." Gu Changqing readily agreed, smiling. "I cannot disrespect Empress Nüwa's wishes, nor can I disobey Master's will."

"Excellent!" Nüwa smiled. "Fellow Daoist Changqing is righteous."

Before coming, she hadn't expected Gu Changqing to be so agreeable.

When a youth achieves success, who isn't a little arrogant?

Yet, Gu Changqing focused only on the bigger picture, on the common people, without personal grudges.

Nüwa's impression of Gu Changqing grew even stronger.

After seeing Nüwa off, Gu Changqing summoned Shi Ji and instructed, "Sister Shi Ji, please go southeast and have Wen Zhong tally the casualty list. I need it urgently."

"Alright!"

Shi Ji vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.

Negotiate?

Gu Changqing chuckled inwardly, Well, here's my chance!

During these negotiations, the Pangu Banner and Taiji Diagram are mine for the taking!