Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han Become My Disciples

My name is Li Changgeng. I am Taibai Jinxing of the Heavenly Court,

and also a personal disciple of Lord Laozi, a mighty being at the peak of the quasi-sage realm.

On the eve of his ascension to sainthood, Master told me, "Changgeng, don't become a saint. If you do, you won't be yourself anymore."

Thirty thousand years have passed, and I still remember those words.

When the human realm was in danger, I went down and took four disciples.

Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Zhu Yuanzhang.

The day I took the First Emperor as my disciple, he knelt and kowtowed three times. The Xianyang Palace shook from end to end.

When I took the Martial Emperor, he brought me a bowl of hot soup and said, "Sir, my generals would give anything not to die. What do you want in return?"

When I took Taizong, he wrote a poem in a tavern, shattering the faith field of the angel race.

When I took the Ming founder, he squatted by the city wall for three days. In the end, he warmed his mother's flatbread and shared half with me.

The Three Realms all say I'm a fool for refusing to become a saint.

The day the Heavenly Dao sent down golden merit light to force my ascension, I reached into my chest and tore out my saintly status.

Beside the alchemy furnace in Doushuai Palace, Master smiled. For the first time in thirty thousand years.

The day the four imperial stars illuminated the Three Realms, the Gate of the Heavens' Gap split open.

Chi You called my name through the crack.

My four disciples stood behind me.

I would not become a saint.

But I would show the world that only by refusing sainthood could I protect the things I wanted to protect.