Lishan Old Mother looked at Nezha for a couple of moments. As Nuwa's corpse-cutting avatar, she possesses Nuwa's comprehension of the Great Dao but doesn't have Chaos Origin's Dao Fruit or the privileges of a Saint. Currently, she is still stronger than Nezha, but the qualitative difference has vanished.

At this moment, when looking at Nezha, she no longer feels that ant-like insignificance. The two are now standing on the same level, only differing in height. She holds no jealousy; instead, her heart is filled with joy.

This is a disciple I taught. No wonder it is me!

"Succeeded?"

"Succeeded."

Afterwards, Nezha brought some minor issues he encountered during the process up for discussion with the Old Mother. Lishan Old Mother provided some answers based on the experience of Saints.

After the discussion, Nezha gained much, and the next corpse-cutting should be smoother.

The next step is to consider cutting out the Second Corpse. The normal Three Corpses Cutting Method involves separately cutting the Good Corpse, Evil Corpse, and the Self Corpse. The order of cutting the three corpses is not required, and their functions are similar, but cutting out the Self Corpse is more difficult than the Good or Evil Corpse.

After all, the hardest thing to see clearly is oneself, and immortals are no different.

Nezha doesn't have this worry, but there are other issues, namely his lack of desire. Cultivators emphasize a clear heart and few desires. Nezha doesn't intentionally act that way, but his ambition and lustful desires are clearly less developed than his drive for self-improvement.

Forcibly cutting is not impossible, but it's not perfect and might also affect Nezha's personality.

The best approach is still intentional cultivation. How to cultivate ambition?

Just grasp greater power.

How to cultivate lustful desires?

By frequent contact with fairies one likes.

Nezha thought for a moment and had some ideas for the first one, but now is not the time, so he can wait. Nezha decided to go ahead with the second one first.

Having made up his mind, Nezha bid farewell to Lishan Old Mother and went to Lishan Academy to experience the enthusiasm of the schoolgirls!

...

Mortal World

At this moment, Li Shimin was very conflicted. After years of warfare, the Li Family finally controlled eighty percent of the Central Plains, seemingly restoring the former glory of the Li Royal Family.

It should have been a matter for celebration, but Li Shimin couldn't cheer up because the fruits of the final victory weren't his. He was only the second son of the Li Family.

Was he willing?

Definitely not willing; seventy percent of this world was conquered by him. How could he willingly hand it over?

Additionally, with the current pressure from his father and older brother Li Jiancheng, he knew what would happen if he didn't fight back.

But he needed a reason.

At this time, his main advisor, Du Ruhui, gave him a reason.

"King Qin, are you aware of the Li ancestor Qing's affairs?"

Although the Li Family had fallen before, as a powerful family for a thousand years, many famed individuals emerged from it. The Qing that Du Ruhui mentioned was once Li Qing.

The act of Li Qing patricide is not clearly recorded in history; it's only questionable. Even Du Ruhui didn't think of it that way, but as intellectuals disseminate knowledge, is it normal to infuse personal biases?

When I have needs, and you happen to align, isn't it from others' mouths that it spreads?

Li Shimin wasn't a simple man, quickly realizing the key point, though hesitating.

Is it not good to slander his ancestors with such dirt?

Du Ruhui didn't see it that way.

"Great King, it is recorded that the Xuan King's father was cruel, violating norms, forcefully taking heirs' wives against decency. While the Xuan King did patricide, it aligned with Heaven's Will and the people's hearts."

Li Shimin kept a thoughtful silence on the surface, but internally he exclaimed. Man, it's just questionable, and yet you placed such a high hat on them directly.

What are you doing? Are you asking me to imitate the ancestors' actions?

Li Shimin's heart wavered and struggled. Did he have feelings for his father and brother? Surely he did.

But as a ruler, emotions aren't the necessity; reputation is instead.

Du Ruhui's theory, was it coherent? Barely.

Li Shimin struggled for some time, ultimately making a choice between his brother's death and his own.

"Ruhui, if it doesn't succeed, let it be noble."

"Yes."

Li Shimin acted decisively. Two weeks later, at Xuanwu Gate, he launched a coup, personally killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng. Afterwards, Li Yuan established Li Shimin as Crown Prince, and two months later abdicated the throne.

Li Shimin obtained the world he desired. Subsequently, to justify himself, he repeatedly reviewed all records of the past. For some reason, the more he read, the more he felt that the Xuan King was right and that the father of the Xuan King deserved his fate.

Thus, spared no effort in promoting the Xuan King, smearing his father.

But would his conscience really be calm after killing his own brother?

Regardless, the Li Family reestablished the Great Tang in Jiuzhou, and to ensure the legitimacy of his rule, Li Shimin endeavored to proclaim himself as the direct descendant of the thousand-year-old Li Royal Family, with Laozi Li Er as the Li ancestor.

...

Over a decade later, Guanyin had already enlightened Zhu Wuneng and Sha Wujing. Now, at the foot of Five-finger Mountain, she saw Sun Wukong eating a peach with a young boy.

Five hundred years have passed. Now, Sun Wukong is no longer as brash as before, and his mindset is much more peaceful. He can joke with a mortal child, and the demonic qi on him has almost dissipated.

Although not completely rid of his wild nature, he can be considered a morally upright civilized monkey.

Guanyin quietly awaited the departure of the shepherd boy before slowly revealing herself.

Initially bored, upon seeing the auspicious light in the skies, he promptly raised his head with effort.

"Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, are you here to save me, Bodhisattva?"

Guanyin remained expressionless.

"Amitabha Buddha, how did the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, who caused havoc in the Heaven Palace five hundred years ago, end up so pitifully?"

Though trapped, Sun Wukong was still a bit embarrassed, scratching the mossy monkey fur with his barely movable hands this year.

"That Tathagata tricked me into his trap. Boddhisattva, so compassionate, please release me!"

Guanyin initially felt gratified seeing that Sun Wukong's nature was no longer as rash as before, but hearing these words, her face darkened. If people hadn't let things slide for him, would he still be able to speak well with her here?

Next to Guanyin, Mu Zha, serving as her assistant, recalled all the sad matters of his life to suppress laughter. He knew that his own father didn't go at that time, but his Third Brother did.

He didn't know how strong his Third Brother truly was, but this monkey merely thought of competing with him, truly overestimating.

Originally wanting to give the monkey a hint, Guanyin shook her head helplessly. The havoc in the Heaven Palace had given Sun Wukong enormous self-confidence. Although his rebellious nature had largely waned, much honing was still needed.

Upon seeing Guanyin shaking her head, Sun Wukong immediately pleaded, "Bodhisattva, show this Old Sun a path. This Old Sun knows his mistake."

Originally intending to leave, Guanyin couldn't resist Sun Wukong's plea and said, "The one to rescue you is not I but the one journeying for scriptures."

Upon saying this, she left with Mu Zha, disappearing before Sun Wukong's eyes.

Sun Wukong repeated it twice, finally having hope of escaping Five-finger Mountain.

Meanwhile, Guanyin arrived at Great Tang Chang'an, where a Water and Land Dharma Meeting was being held.

Back when Li Shimin killed his brother, there was nothing immediate, but as age increased, the fear and guilt amplified in the heart of this wise ruler.

Thus, Li Shimin turned to Buddhism, frequently holding Dharma meetings to transcend his brother's dead soul, which marked the flourishing of Buddhism in Chang'an.

Recently, another major event occurred. A dragon claimed to be the Jing River Dragon King, saying he erred, and the Jade Emperor dispatched Wei Zheng to behead him at the Dragon Slaying Platform.

He now sought the Great King to watch over Wei Zheng, promising favorable weather in the Jing River area in return, yet Wei Zheng slayed the dragon in his dreams despite his restraint, so the Jing River Dragon King could not escape his fate.

After the Jing River Dragon King's death, feeling that Li Shimin had broken his promise, he, with the power of the Dragon Soul, evaded entering the underworld, haunting Li Shimin daily. Li Shimin used all methods to eliminate the harassment of the Dragon Soul but succeeded in transcending it only with the help of a Great Master.

This person was Xuanzang.

Perhaps the act of Xuanzang transcending the Dragon Soul reminded him of the potential to clear his elder brother's resentment. Or perhaps it was his immediate sense of warmth upon seeing Xuanzang for the first time, leading him to directly decree Xuanzang's appointment as Imperial Brother.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.