“Senior Brother Changshou, you and I bear the team leader responsibilities today. We should work together to uphold our Dao Xian Sect’s reputation.”

“Yes, Junior Sister You Qin speaks correctly.”

“Senior Brother Changshou, the Elders instructed before departure that shortly after, several Celestial Immortal seniors from our sect will go to the main platform. We will go to the viewing platform, where disorder easily occurs during this time, so we must watch carefully.”

“Yes, Junior Sister You Qin speaks correctly.”

“Senior Brother Changshou, how has your cultivation been these past few years?”

“Yes, Junior Sister You Qin speaks very… cultivation has been acceptable, quite smooth.”

Li Changshou responded with a smile, silently adding in his heart:

‘Thanks largely to you, Poisonous Junior Sister, being constantly punished with closed-door reflection.’

You Qin Xuanya pursed her thin lips, momentarily unable to find new topics, yet striving to keep the conversation going…

Unfortunately, the vast majority of her life experience was cultivation, and she could hardly recite a Daoist scripture on the spot.

Perhaps seeing her thinking too laboriously, Li Changshou took the initiative: “Let’s conserve some energy. Later, Junior Sister You Qin, you’ll need to shoulder heavy responsibilities.”

“Mm,” You Qin Xuanya nodded in response, closing her eyes to rest as suggested. Her pursed lips relaxed, returning to her usual cool demeanor.

Additionally, because of Li Changshou’s words, those young disciples secretly observing the two of them also felt comfortable with Li Changshou’s ‘self-awareness’…

After flying for two hours, still quite far from the East Sea shore, the Dao Xian Sect group encountered seven or eight other ‘immortal sect delegations.’

To respond to the Dragon Palace’s grand meeting invitation, various immortal sects that received invitations had secretly agreed on many matters.

For instance, each sect’s delegation size would be around ten disciples, ten True Immortals, totaling about thirty people.

This would show that the human cultivators didn’t take this demon-sweeping gathering too seriously, merely giving the Dragon Palace some face by reluctantly participating.

Also, during the gathering’s competitions, they should stop before drawing blood, temporarily suppressing any grudges between sects, and not letting the Dragon race laugh at their expense.

There were many similar agreements.

The main purpose of these sects making such agreements was to prevent human cultivators from losing face before the Dragon race, demonstrating the dignity of the current protagonists of heaven and earth.

Among these was a slightly strange agreement – young disciples sent by each immortal sect must be under one hundred and fifty years old.

Why so?

While most young fellow disciples were puzzled but dared not ask, Li Changshou knew something about it.

Dragon eggs required at least one hundred and fifty years to hatch, with young dragons essentially cultivating within their eggs;

When Dragon Palace’s young dragons first hatched, they already possessed extraordinary strength, could achieve immortality after cultivating for a hundred years, and if of Dragon King bloodline, would even have formidable innate divine abilities.

Based on experience from previous similar gatherings, the Dragon Palace would always have young dragons show off their martial prowess, using this to mock human cultivators.

As long as each sect’s young disciples were under one hundred and fifty years old, when facing these young dragons, winning would show superior skill and bring joy to the sect while losing wouldn’t lose face…

The human race’s fortune gathered in South Jambudvipa Continent, while human cultivators’ experts gathered in Middle Deity State;

If East Victory Deity State’s immortal sects couldn’t hold their heads high before the Dragon Palace, they would face criticism from those great sects in Middle Deity State, which was why East Continent’s various immortal sects cared so much about face.

As they approached the East Sea shore, the sky was filled with clouds wreathed in immortal light.

Though countless immortal sects existed in East Victory Deity State, less than a hundred were qualified to receive the Dragon Palace’s invitation.

However, this time the Dragon Palace, to delineate the East Sea’s boundaries, not only invited well-established Three Schools immortal sects like the Dao Xian Sect but also invited various large and small immortal sects within the long, narrow area along the East Sea’s edge.

This resulted in, even with each immortal sect only sending thirty people, the number of attendees was still massive, and the sky near the gathering place was somewhat…

Cloud-congested.

Dao Xian Sect’s members and disciples had now stood up, with You Qin Xuanya returning to her original position, ready to follow instructions from the senior uncles and aunts ahead.

Li Changshou didn’t look much at the surroundings, just quietly standing in the corner, eyes on his nose, ears to his heart.

A disciple ahead praised:

“As expected of the Dragon Palace’s demon-sweeping gathering, truly ten thousand immortals gathering, very magnificent.”

“Each sect naturally must give the Dragon Palace such face, after all, they’re one of the three great ancient races.”

A male immortal turned and rebuked: “Mind your words, just observe!

Don’t count others’ backgrounds in their territory, it’s easy to offend!”

“Yes, disciple misspoke, please don’t blame me, Senior Uncle.”

Another female disciple suddenly said: “Is that the gathering place over there?”

Everyone looked in the direction she pointed, immediately letting out sounds of admiration.

Li Changshou also glanced toward the horizon, and couldn’t help raising his eyebrows.

How magnificent.

What a formation!

In the southeast direction, at an unknown distance from them on the sea surface, stood an enormous water spout;

This water spout was like a lotus flower’s stem, carrying vast amounts of seawater into the sky, spreading it into a huge water lotus platform.

The water spout was fixed by immortal power, standing firm and unmoving, with the water lotus platform above stable and broad, surrounded by clouds and mist, like a celestial realm above the sea.

That was the main venue for the demon-sweeping gathering.

A sect True Immortal joked with a smile: “When the Dragon Palace puts on such grand displays, they truly never disappoint.”

Li Changshou also smiled lightly upon hearing this, glancing at Senior Aunt Jiu Jiu standing among several female immortals…

During this journey, Senior Aunt Jiu Jiu seemed like a different person, extremely quiet, not only not touching the small gourd at her waist but barely daring to speak.

After all, her Master was right above.

It must be said, this version of the little Senior Aunt was quite obedient and lovable;

Having ‘cooperated’ with Senior Uncle Jiu these past few years in refining pills and arranging formations, the more he interacted with this Senior Uncle, the more he felt five words described her –

Pity she can talk.

Ahem, just joking, joking.

The closer they got to the water spout and lotus platform, the more directly they could feel its magnificence, with their companions continuously marveling at the Dragon Palace’s grand gesture.

On the sea surface stood a dense mass of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, these troops far superior to the small demons that Lan Ling’e had killed before, each with solid auras;

Even the weakest shrimp soldier had aura fluctuations comparable to Return to Dao realm cultivators, clearly showing these were elite troops of the Dragon Palace’s water army.

At this time, the Heavenly Court was poor and destitute, the Heavenly River still had no troops or generals, the position of Heavenly Court Water Army Marshal was empty in name, and the strongest water army force in heaven and earth was the Four Seas Dragon Palace.

As more white clouds approached this water lotus, dozens of dragons of various colors burst forth from the ten-mile-diameter water spout, flying up and down around it!

Layer upon layer of water curtains fell from the water lotus platform’s edges, and under the sunlight, rainbows hung everywhere in the sky…

Looking at the water lotus platform, figures broke through the void and rose, numbering three thousand;

These were dragon race celestial crocodile soldiers wearing bright silver armor, mostly in human form with dark skin and dragon horns.

Their original forms were celestial crocodiles with bloodlines close to the dragon race, also a main fighting force of the Dragon Palace, famous since ancient times;

These three thousand celestial crocodiles were evenly distributed around the water lotus platform, responsible for maintaining order at this demon-sweeping gathering;

After the celestial crocodile soldiers took their positions in the air, they each released their aura, showing uniform True Immortal realm cultivation, making the scene even more magnificent and creating quite an impact on the human cultivators.

In this dragon race, even a lean camel is larger than a horse…

Neither make enemies nor friends with them, best not to become entangled in karma with them…

Li Changshou pondered thus.

A senior sister ahead asked: “Does the Dragon Palace value this gathering so much?”

A female True Immortal from their sect laughed lightly, responding quietly: “The Dragon Palace just likes putting on these shows to flaunt their might, but who doesn’t know the dragon race’s current predicament?”

Hearing the word predicament, Li Changshou thought more deeply.

Judging from the dragon race’s current display, these former overlords of heaven and earth were still quite unwilling to fade into obscurity;

Looking at how strong they try to appear now, the still-flourishing dragon race…

Then thinking about after the Investiture of the Gods, how cautious the Heavenly Court’s rain-making tools became…

After the Heavenly Court grew strong, dragons would face execution for slightly violating heavenly law, making a few drops of rain wrong, while dragon liver and phoenix marrow became regular immortal dishes for the Jade Emperor…

What tragic events did this ancient powerhouse experience before and after the Investiture of the Gods?

Li Changshou felt deeply moved and strengthened his resolve not to venture out until reaching the Great Luo realm!

Though the Investiture of the Gods catastrophe was still far off, he must start preparing early now.

Li Changshou stood quietly thinking on the cloud as Dao Xian Sect’s white cloud, along with dozens of others, was among the first to float near the water lotus platform…

Immediately, a golden beetle shining with golden light flew up from the water lotus platform.

Two ‘Turtle Prime Ministers’ stood on the golden beetle’s back, both wearing bright red brocade robes with turtle shells on their bodies, their neck ends being small heads, looking quite comical.

The turtle-man on the left cleared his throat, waving the small folding fan in his hand, speaking in a warm, mellow, masculine middle-low voice:

“Would the Celestial Immortals and Elders from each immortal sect please proceed to the upper immortal-tasting platform?”

So this was the legendary… Dragon Palace’s good voice?

Then, the turtle-man on the right shouted in a sharp and piercing voice:

“Would the members and disciples of each immortal sect please enter the venue?

Tables, chairs, fruits, delicacies, and fine wine are prepared on the surrounding viewing platforms, with plaques for higher-ranked East Deity State immortal sects – look carefully!

If you can’t read, ask those serving maidens!

Lower-ranked immortal sects without plaques, just find places to sit in the back yourselves!”

Just like workers of the same surname in human world brothels.

“Pfft…”

Jiu Jiu, who had been quiet the whole journey, couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing, and all of Dao Xian Sect’s people were amused by these two turtle immortals.

So many turtle tricks.

Dao Xian Sect’s people naturally didn’t need to worry about having any seats; moreover, their seats were in the front-most ring.

At present, Master Wangqing and several Celestial Immortal elders flew to the high platform;

The sect’s sixteen True Immortals positioned themselves around the disciples, abandoning the white cloud and flying toward the Dao Xian Sect’s seating area.

There was completely nothing for Li Changshou and You Qin Xuanya, these two team leaders, to do…

The various immortal sects had previously agreed to each send thirty people; the Dragon Palace knew about this, yet in each sect’s seating area, they had only prepared twenty-five cushions and twenty-five low tables.

Fruits, tea, and snacks were also only prepared in sets of twenty-five.

But this was just a small matter; several female disciples took out cushions, gathered at two tables, and managed to get by.

However, those small immortal sects received quite poor treatment, with only rows of stone cushions, no tables, let alone fine wine and fresh fruits.

Li Changshou sat at the corner position in the Dao Xian Sect’s seating area, with one of several clam maidens serving the Dao Xian Sect’s people standing beside him.

His gaze swept over the fruits and fine wine before him, and he quietly made a surprised sound, picked up a crystal grape, examined it for two glances, and then casually tossed it into his mouth.

The pretty clam maiden beside him immediately covered her mouth and giggled, but didn’t say anything more, secretly observing Li Changshou.

Soon, Li Changshou burped, his heart already confirming what this was.

This Dragon Palace, even their pranks were so extravagant, directly giving everyone from the Dao Xian Sect a portion of Ice-Condensed Immortal Grapes, known as ‘Minor Spirit Root of the Posterior Heaven.’

Looking carefully at other sects’ areas, they had a different variety of immortal grapes.

Ice-Condensed Immortal was indeed good stuff, consuming small amounts could nourish cultivators’ primordial spirits, regulate cultivators’ qi, have good therapeutic effects for the injured, and have an excellent taste, quite valuable.

But it had one drawback – eating too much easily led to… urgent bathroom needs… that is, losing control of the back door, with qi surging outward.

Moreover, the aftereffects were continuous, and hard to endure, even immortals couldn’t prevent it.

Li Changshou thought for a moment, still decided to warn You Qin Xuanya…

“Junior Sister You Qin, before eating these things, go ask several senior uncles and aunts if there’s any problem.

I see several fellow sect members have already started eating.

Don’t say I warned you, just say you felt something wasn’t quite right.”

You Qin Xuanya blinked and turned her head to look at Li Changshou, her snow-white immortal fingers already holding a peeled round grape to her mouth, and she even tilted her head slightly.

Li Changshou: …

Fine then, pretend I never mentioned this matter.