Chapter 158: Exorcising the Karmic Obstacles of the Demon, A Discussion Between Gods and Immortals...

Xiao finally arrived, completely bewildered, carrying a bowl of hot porridge that had just been cooked at Wangshu Inn.

Why was the first task the Emperor gave me after his abdication not to suppress demons or cleanse the filth, but to deliver mortal food to him?

"Your Majesty, Lord Zhongli, why did you suddenly... Ah."

Before he could even ask, he saw Mainkuhn curled up on the bed and asleep again, and he understood everything.

"So it was for him."

The existence that saved the Dragon King, the person the Emperor helped, the mixed-blood with mottled bloodlines, and... the 'Yaksha' who once appeared at Wuwang Slope.

“...Mainkuhn.”

"I have temporarily blocked his hearing. Next time, you can call him En."

Zhongli lowered his eyes and looked gently at the last remaining bird among the yakshas.

"He is unaware of our plan, nor does he know that his true identity has been revealed."

"yes."

Xiao respectfully agreed, but he was still puzzled. His gaze swept over the quiet but undeniably weak figure on the bed.

"Lord Zhongli, please forgive my overstepping my bounds. While this child certainly possesses extraordinary and respectable qualities, he still falls short of your esteemed status. Why should I personally take care of him? You can rest assured to entrust him to me or other immortals..."

Zhongli knew that Xiao didn't have any opinion about Mainkun, but his old habit of being self-centered had taken over again, so he smiled helplessly.

“If he were merely physically weak, I would be happy to see you make a new friend because of it, but what he needs more than physical comfort is mental calm.”

Zhongli glanced at the young immortal's figure, then recalled the scene of the big cat rubbing against his waist for comfort. If Xiao wanted to share his burdens... well, he was a bit too small.

"Lord Zhongli? Your eyes suddenly look so... affectionate?"

"You can't handle it."

"?"

Some things can only be done by elders.

"Ahem, no need to worry about it. I summoned you here for another important matter." Slightly suppressing his smile, the god turned his gaze to his retinue.

"How have you been lately? Have you been taking the Lianli Zhenxin San (a traditional Chinese medicine) on time every day? Or have you been dragged to exhaustion by karmic obstacles?"

No matter how many times, Xiao wasn't used to this kind of direct care, so he turned his head slightly and said that everything was fine.

"Yeah."

Surprisingly, Zhongli did not delve into the details as usual. He simply raised his hand slightly, and golden light flashed in the room, with complex runes appearing on the floor and walls.

"The Emperor?"

Xiao recognized, puzzled, that this was an array used to seal away the remnants of a demon god:

"My karmic burdens have been intertwined with me for thousands of years. If you truly wish to seal this harmful thing, I fear I too will be imprisoned... Of course, if sealing me is your very purpose, I will have no objection."

“Foolish child, how could I possibly resort to such a drastic measure?”

Without saying another word, Zhongli reached out and pressed Xiao's shoulder, gently pushing him toward Mainkun.

"Lord Zhongli? Wait! I can't get too close to the patient!"

He instinctively resisted, bracing himself with the soles of his feet.

"His karmic burdens will erode his body!"

"Trust me, everything will be alright. Carefully perceive the karmic obstacles within your body."

No matter how much Xiao resisted, he couldn't overcome Rock King's determination. He could only watch in horror as he got closer and closer to Mainkun's sleeping face, so close that he could count the tiger stripes on his ears.

"Your Majesty? This is too dangerous!"

Just as he was about to escape, a sudden change occurred. The filth and black mist that had accumulated for thousands of years surged out from the pores of his body. The shrill wails and venomous murmurs suddenly filled the room. The viscous, tangible karmic obstacles seemed to have a mind of their own, transforming into countless hideous ghost hands that greedily pounced on Mainkuen, who was sleeping on the bed.

"careful!"

The instinct to protect the spirit instantly overwhelmed everything. Without thinking, before the relief from the karmic burden leaving his body could even fully register, he forcefully twisted his body, his fingers like spears, his fingertips imbued with pure wind elemental power, stabbing out swiftly, attempting to intercept the torrent of filth rushing towards the youth with his own body—

Bang!

The sound of clashing swords arose, but it did not come from Xiao's fingertips. Runes lit up, and the karmic obstacles that had plagued Xiao for thousands of years were instantly suppressed by the formation, wailing as they were petrified into a small black stone in the hands of the Rock King Emperor.

"Lord Zhongli, what is this?!"

Looking at the remnants of the demon god that had been peeled off Xiao's body, Zhongli was finally able to confirm his guess.

"Orobas".

Gone was the gentle voice he had when speaking to Xiao and Mainkun; his voice had become deep and authoritative.

"It seems you have a strong preference for this rare vessel."

"Aurobas!?"

Xiao recognized the name; he was an enemy of Liyue during the Demon God War. He immediately summoned his kite spear and stood guard protectively in front of Zhongli.

"Come out! Don't hide!"

[...]

"Morax..."

The form of the giant white serpent slowly appeared within the formation, carrying an ancient aura and the oppressive power of a demon god.

"Morax, I..."

"What? I want to kill you?" Xiao stared intently at the snake's vital point, his killing intent palpable. "Your Majesty, step back and let your subordinates wipe out the remaining foes!"

He was about to raise his gun when he saw the giant snake blink, its eyes filled with tears:

"Why are you still chasing me even though I'm dead?!"

"...?"

Orobas was truly devastated; he hadn't stopped since Morax appeared on the Dark Star.

He was devastated when he saw Zhongli catching the cat, he was devastated when he saw Zhongli comforting the cat, he was devastated when he saw the cat hugging and biting Zhongli, and he was devastated when he saw the cat grabbing Zhongli and crying loudly.

He was so devastated that he didn't want to say a word, nor did he dare to say a word.

What a joke! What if I accidentally triggered his boundless killing intent while speaking? What if I did? Hahaha, well, that moment still came.

"I was so stupid, really."

A mournful word slipped from the snake's tongue.

"I only knew that this half-blood might have some connection with Morax, but I thought he was at most an ordinary apprentice. I never expected that the connection would be so deep, like that of father and son... Morax! You killing god!"

He couldn't bear it any longer and cried out in anguish, screaming as if his worldview had collapsed: "How could you become so kind?!"

"..."

Xiao's serious expression cracked slightly, and his mind, which had just felt much lighter after being freed from karmic obstacles, stopped working.

"Aurobas... so this is his personality?"

"Morax...how could you be like this?"

"Kill me, I can't run anymore... Hai..."

Zhongli glanced at the dejected giant snake, then at the bewildered Xiao, and chuckled softly.

"It seems that the war has caused us to misunderstand each other."

"But it's good that we can change it now, it's not too late."

While Mainkuhn slept, fate changed without his knowledge.

A black snake named Little Ao was coiled around the traveler's neck; its scales resembled pieces of obsidian.

"It glitters in the sunlight, and although it's dark and glossy, it seems even more beautiful than Changsheng..."

"hiss."

"I was clearly praising you, so why do you seem so unhappy!?"

"Don't worry, Xiao Ao."

The traveler comforted it, "Although you are not as important as Paimon, you are still a guardian pet given to me by Zhongli, so you will be my second most important emergency food on my journey."

"Hello!!"

"Bai Shu wears a white snake around his neck, while I wear a black snake, so I can also be called Hei Shu."

"Then I'll paint Little Ao rainbow colors tomorrow."

"hiss!"

Xiao felt somewhat lost and disoriented with his new body.

"Really, there are no more karmic obstacles."

He didn't deliberately spread the word, but somehow the news leaked out, attracting many immortals to come and offer their congratulations, and they managed to fill a table.

"Yes, the aura of the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons is extremely pure and ethereal right now." The Qilin demigod even abandoned his official documents and skipped half a day of work just to see it with his own eyes.

"Now that the karmic obstacles have been removed, Great Sage, would you like me to arrange a house for you in Liyue Harbor, so that things will be more convenient?"

“Even if your karmic obstacles have been removed, it still can’t compare to your innate auspiciousness and gentle, rain-like blessings.” Xiao strongly resisted. “A yaksha who only knows how to kill should have some self-awareness and stay away from those mortals.”

“Great Sage, what you say is incorrect. What exactly constitutes an auspicious omen?”

Although the younger generation of immortals are often melancholy, they are also born with a keen mind.

“Your position at the Moonlit Pavilion, maintaining the operation of Liyue, is an auspicious omen,” Xiao answered without hesitation.

"That's strange."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun elegantly picked up the fruit from the plate and swallowed it. In the noisy inn, no one knew that a small banquet of immortals was being held on the top floor of Wangshu.

"I am skilled in mechanical arts, which has benefited the people. I have also taken in many disciples. Can I be considered an auspicious person?"

"nature."

"Oh?" True Lords Li Shui and Xiao Yue objected. "Then our role in guarding the mountains and protecting the region doesn't count as auspiciousness?"

"Of course it counts."

"Then I definitely won't count."

Ruo Tuo Dragon King teased him with a light laugh, "Not only did I have a fierce battle with your beloved Emperor, but I also once turned against Li Yue. I suppose I'm considered a wicked creature?"

How can you say such a thing!?

Xiao almost immediately quickened his pace: "You once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, protecting Liyue in the war against the demons. Your merits are testified to by the mountains and rivers of Liyue. How can you be a cursed creature? You are an auspicious omen!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

He finished speaking hastily, only to find that countless people present, whether they were cranes, deer, gods, or dragons, all burst into laughter.

"Where did I go wrong? Disrespecting the immortals... tsk."

"Ahem, Great Sage, all the auspicious omens in the world are before you."

Grandma Ping suppressed a laugh and asked calmly:

"So now there is a young immortal guarding Dihua Island, eliminating demons and monsters, ensuring smooth trade routes, and allowing the people to live in peace. Can this be considered an auspicious omen?"

"Nonsense!"

Xiao immediately recognized his voice and looked slightly annoyed. "How can a Yaksha be considered an auspicious omen?"

"Hahaha!"

The laughter, which had just barely subsided, immediately rang out again. Ruo Tuo forcefully patted Zhong Li's shoulder, unable to straighten up.

"Look at your little old-fashioned brat, he's even more old-fashioned than me!"

"Dragon King! You—"

Xiao couldn't stand others complaining about him to the Emperor. He glared at people in shock and anger, but his momentum weakened when Zhongli looked over with a smile.

"They're all talking nonsense..."

The unconscious murmurs of mortals in their dreams, the curses of demons before their death, the agonizing howls of karma in the soul all night long—which one truly matches which two words?

But a divine finger struck, landing on the purple diamond on the Yaksha's forehead, and Zhongli sealed the deal in this debate.

"Guardian Yaksha General".

“Auspicious omen.”

...

"this,"

The young immortal looked surprised and was about to retort, but his colleague interrupted him with a laugh, preventing him from speaking his already wavering words.

"Very well, Your Majesty's words are law, I hereby declare that all of us present are auspicious omens!"

“Protecting is an auspicious sign, and serving the people is a meritorious deed.”

After offering a brief suggestion, Zhongli stopped looking at the bewildered Xiao and gently raised her cup to everyone:

"We gather here today for two reasons: first, to celebrate Xiao's liberation from karmic obstacles and rebirth; and secondly..."

"It's to save that kid Mainkuhn, isn't it!"

Liu Yun, quick to speak her mind, sighed with her long beak, "I have seen that child. He is a clear-headed person, but he was born unfortunate. If he had been born in my Liyue, alas, he would not have suffered so much!"

"Not born well? You mean that he's a half-demon?" Gan Yu thought back, feeling a sense of empathy. "As a half-immortal, I often feel lonely in the mortal world, and this Mr. Mainkuen..."

"Monsters don't have a good reputation anywhere."

Having spent a long time with Zhongli in the mortal realm, Ruo Tuo understands the horrors of prejudice better than ordinary immortals. "If rain is naturally seen as an auspicious omen, then Mayinkun, who is born a half-demon, will be regarded as a monstrous creature by many humans."

"How could this happen..."

"What kind of monstrosity is he?"

Before the immortals could even feel a hint of sorrow, Xiao let out a cold snort, his voice resolute.

“Auspicious omen.”

"?"

Seeing that all the immortals were looking at him, Xiao turned his face away somewhat uncomfortably, but his voice remained clear.

"Protecting is an auspicious sign, and serving the people is a meritorious deed. What, isn't that what His Majesty just said? What doesn't fit?"

"Hahaha, absolutely right! Absolutely right! For the words of the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons, we shall raise a great toast!"