When the young attendant first recited the entrance poem, Li Changshou initially thought it was from some great master…

But when it was revealed at the end that it was from Enlightened Ancient Buddha of Vulture Peak’s Yuanjue Cave, who would become famous in the future, Li Changshou immediately felt unburdened about dealing with the situation.

It wasn’t that Li Changshou had become arrogant enough to disregard Enlightened Buddha.

In fact, Li Changshou maintained deep respect for all the Dao sect seniors, and if he could use full effort in strategizing against someone, he would never use anything less.

At this moment, the young attendant was far too arrogant, and Enlightened Buddha, relying on his position as Vice Leader of the Chanzong Sect, directly demanded to see his true form…

Forcing him to reveal himself?

Such intentions were rather malicious.

If Grand Master hadn’t been present here, Li Changshou might have needed to expend more effort, using the recording sphere that had captured the young attendant’s words as evidence for later self-justification.

And a pleasant exchange would have been impossible.

But now, with Grand Master watching from above, Li Changshou couldn’t show weakness or back down.

Never mind this attendant – even if Enlightened Buddha himself came, if he showed an arrogant and dismissive attitude, Li Changshou could only maintain his distance while staying neither servile nor arrogant, calling him “Senior” out of respect and offering tea as a matter of courtesy.

His thinking had to remain clear, his principles unwavering.

[The core principle in handling this matter was to never let the Human Dao Sect lose face.]

Especially since…

When the other side had sent a young attendant to make such aggressive demands, showing some displeasure to express his dissatisfaction was actually the most stable option!

For a great being like Enlightened Buddha who had survived since ancient times, Li Changshou absolutely didn’t believe he was unaware of this attendant’s temperament.

Rather, it was precisely such an impetuous attendant who could both pressure him to see if his true form could be drawn out, and if things didn’t go as planned, Enlightened Buddha could simply reprimand the attendant a few times, shifting blame to the “temporary worker” without losing face himself…

These great beings’ thoughts, tsk, were quite meticulous.

These thoughts flashed by in just an instant;

After analyzing the possible developments of this matter, Li Changshou waved his whisking brush and said:

“Please leave, no need to see you out.”

The young attendant’s little eyes immediately widened round, as if thinking he had misheard.

The attendant called out in his childish voice: “Sea God, do you know who my master is!”

“Hmph!”

Li Changshou coldly snorted and said indifferently: “Just from your dismissive attitude alone, this poor Daoist can’t give you any face. Go back.

This poor Daoist’s true form roams the four seas and cannot conveniently meet.”

With that said he turned and left, leaving the little Daoist attendant staring dumbfounded atop the white crane.

“You- you really!”

The attendant immediately jumped down, his little face flushed red as he shouted: “Do you know my master is the Vice Leader of the Chanzong Sect!

Even the Twelve Golden Immortals must call him teacher!

How dare you be so bold!”

Li Changshou paid him no attention at all, as wisps of clouds floated around him and he vanished from sight.

He left?

That attendant was immediately stunned, while most of the divine envoys and mortal pilgrims broke into laughter.

Several divine envoys could be heard teasing:

“Want to see our Sea God with such an aggressive attitude? You’re too spoiled!”

“Our Sea God is very busy, not just anyone can see him!”

“You all!”

How could this attendant have suffered such grievance before? He immediately jumped up, wanting to charge into the Sea God Temple’s main hall!

Suddenly three to five burly men darted out from the side, one directly blocking this attendant’s path, using his robust true chest muscles to send the attendant flying back.

The other strong men immediately stepped forward, each wearing black leather armor, their muscles radiating dazzling light, and in unison they faced this attendant…

“Hehe!”

The attendant trembled a few times;

Although he had Late True Immortal realm cultivation, he was merely an enlightened being, and faced with such a situation, his face immediately turned pale as he fell into panic.

“What are you going to do! I-I’m just an attendant! My master is the Vice Leader of the Chanzong Sect!”

At this, these divine envoys’ “hehe” laughter grew even louder…

Moments later;

The attendant was bawling as he rode the white crane soaring into the sky, shooting northwest at extreme speed.

Li Changshou secretly raised an eyebrow – if this white crane hadn’t been a spirit beast from the Jade Void Palace, he would have secretly detained it…

This should be excellent spirit stock, best if he could get a breeding pair.

Then a light laugh was heard from outside the rear hall as Grand Master came floating in on a cloud…

Li Changshou bowed in greeting, and Grand Master very naturally sat in the rear hall’s main seat, smiling as he said:

“I don’t know what Enlightened Buddha’s intentions were, actually sending this attendant to test you.

Changshou, have you had any conflicts with people from the Chanzong Sect before?”

“The only two Chanzong seniors disciple knows are True Person Yellow Dragon and Senior Cloud-in-Sky, and disciple has always treated them with courtesy, not daring to show any negligence.”

“In that case, let me divine this matter.”

Grand Master calculated with his fingers, his expression quite serious;

Moments later, Grand Master let out a light “oh?”, his left hand slowly drawing a circle in front of him, within which appeared the intertwining Yin-Yang fish chasing each other, borrowing the power of the Taiji Diagram.

Grand Master seemed to have discovered something interesting, as the corners of his mouth gradually lifted…

Li Changshou quietly waited at the side.

When divine abilities were insufficient, strategic thinking would make up for it – in his heart he calculated various possibilities, figuring that today’s matter should have follow-up developments very soon…

“Ha… to think there would be such an absurd thing.”

Grand Master suddenly laughed a few times, immediately making Li Changshou puzzled.

Then Grand Master said:

“This time, Enlightened Buddha was actually requested by a Western Teaching Saint’s disciple to act as guarantor, wanting to bring you to the Western Teaching to discuss matters regarding the Dragon Clan.

It’s truly absurd.

Enlightened Buddha’s seniority is quite high and he has extensive connections, so knowing people from the Western Teaching is not strange.

But now that our Human Dao Sect stands behind the Heavenly Court to assist in its great prosperity, for Enlightened Buddha to not only disregard that the Heavenly Court was established by the Dao Sect, but to directly demand your true form appear, not even accepting an avatar…

This posturing is excessive, showing far too little regard for our Human Dao Sect.”

Li Changshou asked: “Grand Master, how should we handle this matter?”

“No need to pay it much attention, just do what you should do.”

Grand Master laughed lightly a few times, stood up and walked a few steps in the Sea God Temple’s rear hall, his left hand gently sending forth that Taiji Diagram’s phantom image which slowly floated up, hanging beneath the ceiling beam in the center of the rear hall, rotating twice before naturally concealing itself.

An indescribable dao charm spread throughout the rear hall, then gradually faded away with the wind.

Grand Master smiled and said: “This will do.”

“Many thanks for Grand Master’s protection!”

Li Changshou first made a Daoist salute to Grand Master, then made another towards outside the rear hall, declaring loudly: “Disciple sincerely thanks the Saint Lord for his protection!”

Grand Master’s eyes crinkled in a smile, and after a few more words of warm encouragement to Li Changshou, his form vanished without staying to watch the show further.

“Keep up the good work,” Grand Master said before leaving, punching Li Changshou’s shoulder once, “Some people’s hearts lie outside the Dao Sect, so there’s no need to leave them much face.”

Li Changshou immediately understood his leader’s attitude and solemnly nodded in agreement twice.

After seeing Grand Master off, Li Changshou looked up at the ceiling beam, also feeling quite emotional.

He finally had a trace of the Taiji Diagram’s power himself.

Should he hide his true form here?

Uh, never mind, that wasn’t really necessary.

The preciousness of this protection lay in its symbolic meaning, not in its power.

Li Changshou also felt quite warm inside.

For such a Human Dao Sect, how could his rushing about and laboring not be worthwhile?

“How should I respond next?”

Li Changshou pondered silently, slowly pacing in the rear hall, carefully considering.

…

That attendant rode the crane north, and calculating that white crane’s speed, it would take one or two hours to reach the Jade Void Palace;

Later Enlightened Buddha would likely take the opportunity to come, using his position as a Dao Sect senior to question why Li Changshou had struck his attendant and made him lose face.

This matter could be big or small, and on the surface, Enlightened Buddha had already seized the initiative.

According to Grand Master’s arrangement, he only needed to reveal the Taiji Diagram to make Enlightened Buddha retreat.

But, this wasn’t the most stable strategy.

Li Changshou quickly cleared his thoughts…

Enlightened Buddha was speaking up for the Western Teaching, using his Chanzong Sect identity to come pressure him, a junior of the Dao Sect. If he forcefully pushed back, it would be disrespecting the Chanzong Sect and would likely lead to bad blood with them.

He could completely use other strategies to avoid antagonizing the Chanzong Sect, keeping [the Taiji Diagram’s protection] as his trump card when facing Enlightened Buddha.

This matter…

“Got it.”

Li Changshou stopped walking, and this paper avatar immediately used earth movement to return to the underground paper avatar repository;

As his consciousness flowed, Li Changshou had already activated a paper avatar that was hiding in a seafloor crevice near the East Sea Dragon Palace…

This paper avatar transformed into the elderly immortal appearance commonly used by the Sea God, using water movement to hurry to the East Sea Dragon Palace, traveling completely unimpeded.

Half an hour later, Li Changshou appeared once again at the dragon palace’s banquet.

This time Li Changshou didn’t delay, going straight to find True Person Yellow Dragon.

Li Changshou stepped forward, bowing to the various Dao sect seniors at the table, and smiled saying: “Senior Yellow Dragon, Junior has a matter to request.”

“Oh?”

True Person Yellow Dragon immediately perked up upon hearing this, hurriedly saying: “What matter? Feel free to speak, Fellow Daoist Sea God.”

At that moment, Li Changshou used sound transmission techniques in person, explaining to True Person Yellow Dragon in detail about the Enlightened Buddha sending a discourteous attendant.

True Person Yellow Dragon’s brows furrowed deeper as he listened;

After Li Changshou finished speaking, True Person Yellow Dragon stood up and made a Daoist salute to the various Jiejiao friends at the table, smiling as he said:

“Fellow Daoists, please allow this poor Daoist to take leave first for a matter.”

Then, leaving slight puzzlement among the seated guests, he departed the main hall with Li Changshou…

Asking True Person Yellow Dragon to intervene was the most expedient method Li Changshou could think of at this moment.

This way, today’s matter could be defined as a conflict between himself and Enlightened Buddha, rather than him disrespecting the Chanzong Sect.

“Sect Master Brother!”

Ao Yi ran over from the side, hurriedly asking: “Is there some trouble?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Be at ease, it’s just some minor matters.”

Ao Yi immediately relaxed, firmly saying: “If Brother has any use for Ao Yi, or needs Dragon People to assist, please let me know immediately.”

“Very well.”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, and under Ao Yi’s escort, left the Dragon Palace together with True Person Yellow Dragon, flying towards the sea surface.

When they were riding clouds above the sea surface, True Person Yellow Dragon asked again:

“That attendant, was he truly so unreasonable, directly demanding that you, Fellow Daoist, reveal your true form and go to Jade Void Palace?”

“Once True Person arrives at my Sea God Temple, you need only look at the recording pearl to understand the cause and effect.”

Li Changshou sighed and said: “The reason Junior has always found it difficult to move about in true form is that I am currently assisting the Dragon Palace and Heavenly Court, opposing the Western faction.

If experts were to ambush Junior, the consequences would truly be unthinkable, so I really cannot agree to this matter.”

True Person Yellow Dragon sighed, “To have made Fellow Daoist suffer such grievance, this Vice Leader… ah, always has some puzzling actions, who knows what he intends this time.”

“Hearing Senior’s words, it seems this Vice Leader Enlightened Buddha… doesn’t have much prestige within the Chanzong Sect?”

“His seniority is high, and this poor Daoist along with various senior and junior brothers all respectfully call him teacher or uncle-teacher.”

True Person Yellow Dragon honestly explained: “However, it was just that the teacher, considering their friendship from ancient times, gave him a Vice Leader position, from which he regularly issues orders to us.

And some matters, this poor Daoist shouldn’t say too much…”

Li Changshou immediately understood something.

As they spoke, the old and the young, the dragon and the human, had already reached the edge of Nanshan Buzhou.

—To arrive before Enlightened Buddha came to demand an explanation, crossing Nanshan Buzhou directly was naturally the fastest.

Just as they flew past the East Sea’s boundary, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind, carrying a familiar dao charm:

“Oh? What a coincidence, how did we meet here?”

True Person Yellow Dragon quickly halted his white cloud, and Li Changshou turned his head to look, seeing a middle-aged Daoist wearing golden chain mail armor with an imposing and dignified countenance riding a cloud towards them.

It was none other than Lord Zhao who had been watching the show with the Grand Master in the Dragon Palace earlier – Zhao Gongming!

If not for the lingering dao charm of the Heaven and Earth Movement Technique around Lord Zhao’s body, Li Changshou would have truly believed they had ‘coincidentally met’ rather than Lord Zhao rushing to catch up.

“Paying respects to Senior Gongming!”

“Haha, little brother, you forgot again?”

“Uh, paying respects to Elder Brother Gongming!”

“Good! Seeing you both in such a hurry, is there some entertainment? Why not take elder brother along!”

Li Changshou: …

Indeed, being righteous and gallant comes from having too much free time!

Zhao Gongming used his Sea Calming Zhenzhu to perform movement techniques, directly bringing True Person Yellow Dragon and Li Changshou to the Sea God Temple’s rear courtyard.

Li Changshou went to the front hall to retrieve several recording pearls, displaying the attendant’s words and actions.

Zhao Gongming immediately burst into cursing:

“What does this Vice Leader Enlightened Buddha mean?

Demanding your true form appear right away? Could it be he wants to make a target for those who wish to harm your life?

Come, let’s go to Jade Void Palace to reason with him!”

“Elder Brother don’t be hasty, Elder Brother don’t be hasty.”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “I predict Vice Leader Enlightened Buddha will certainly come to demand an explanation.

Later, Elder Brother and Senior Yellow Dragon need only hide in secret, each taking a recording pearl to record all words spoken between him and me.

Thus, if matters escalate, I will have reason to speak, avoiding this Vice Leader pinning labels of disrespect toward teachers on me.

If nothing happens later, we can treat this matter as if it never occurred, as the disciple doesn’t wish to become enemies with such a senior expert.”

True Person Yellow Dragon smiled and nodded upon hearing this, his eyes carrying some admiration, “Fellow Daoist’s mind is truly broad.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “It’s just that enemies are better resolved than made.”

At that moment, Zhao Gongming activated the Sea Calming Zhenzhu, hiding with True Person Yellow Dragon in a corner of the rear hall, each great master holding a recording pearl given by Li Changshou, beginning to record the scene from this moment.

Meanwhile, beneath that great tree in Doushuai Palace.

Grand Master Xuandu reclined against the tree trunk, a cloud of mist floating before him clearly showing the scene in the Sea God Temple’s rear hall.

Looking at the ‘filming’ angle, it should be observing from secret through the Taiji Diagram’s phantom…

When the Grand Master saw Zhao Gongming and True Person Yellow Dragon arrive and heard Li Changshou’s method, he also clapped and laughed a few times.

Leisurely waiting for what would follow.

Li Changshou sat in the rear hall for about half an hour before a white cloud floated over from the northwest, upon which sat an elder wrapped in golden light, with that attendant who had come calling earlier kneeling beside him.

This elder, from afar seemed to have a thin face, but up close had a square countenance, quite peculiar indeed.

He wore a brown Daoist robe, sat upon the white cloud with hands tucked in wide sleeves, a bronze lamp floating at his shoulder, eyes half-open with thick compelling brows, also having sideburns and large drooping ears.

Between movement and stillness, he naturally carried a dignified sacred countenance;

His dao charm flowed, naturally embodying the manner of a great expert.

Li Changshou’s knowledge of Enlightened Buddha was not much.

He only knew that Enlightened Buddha was skilled at adding fuel to the fire during the Great Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, singing in harmony with the mysterious Lord Luya, making the Investiture catastrophe grow ever larger;

Then before the Investiture catastrophe had even concluded, Enlightened Buddha had removed the two characters for ‘Daoist’ from his name, added the suffix ‘Ancient Buddha’, and led several of the Twelve Golden Immortals in betraying the Dao Sect.

But regarding Enlightened Buddha’s specific background, cultivation, and divine abilities, Li Changshou had never heard…

Li Changshou stood up, this time taking the initiative to fly above the rear hall courtyard, even this detail containing calculation.