At Jade Spring Mountain, Li Changshou, taking the form of a Human Teaching Little Law Master, discussed insights on cultivating the Eight-Nine Mystic Art with the two Orthodox Teaching immortals.

In the rear hall of the Sea God Temple, Li Changshou sat beneath the virtual image of the Taiji Diagram, looking at the somewhat faint figure before him.

The familiar blood-red dress, unchanged alluring figure, slightly curled long hair, and naturally charming expression, made Li Changshou…

Slightly furrowed his brows.

Compared to almost-elder-sister Kong Xuan, Mosquito was at quite a disadvantage.

Although both Kong Xuan and Daoist Wenjing were fierce beings, Kong Xuan was born of the Phoenix tribe and now had some responsibility, worthy of being called a ‘hero.’

As for Daoist Wenjing…

This queen was ruthless, originally a primordial fierce beast. Her previous restraint from killing humans was purely to avoid karmic burden—to her, the lives of all beings were like worthless grass.

If not for Daoist Wenjing’s ability to damage the Twelve Golden Lotus Petals, and this matter being calculated by Master Taiqing, she should have met the same fate as Golden Cicada by now…

“Water God, my lord,” Daoist Wenjing made a graceful curtsy, seeing the divine light flickering in Li Changshou’s eyes, she inexplicably became somewhat nervous.

Daoist Wenjing hurriedly said: “Please don’t blame me, my lord. This servant only dared to come to see you after finding the right opportunity, absolutely undetected by anyone. This servant will immediately make a Great Dao oath to prove my unwavering loyalty, complete…”

“Haven’t seen you for many years, how did your tongue become so glib?”

Li Changshou said with a smile, and Daoist Wenjing relaxed slightly.

Daoist Wenjing’s smile deliberately carried a trace of melancholy as she said softly: “Times are different now. Water God, my lord, your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. This servant previously had some thoughts of underestimation, but how would I dare now?”

“When did my cultivation advance by leaps and bounds?”

Li Changshou said calmly: “It’s just that the Human Teaching treasures I can borrow at any time increased by one or two.”

Daoist Wenjing: …

Water God had always had an iron grip on his bearing.

Li Changshou raised his hand to point at the chair beside him, gesturing for Wenjing to sit and talk, actively inquiring: “You’ve risked coming here today, do you have some urgent matter?”

“Look at what you’re saying,” Daoist Wenjing sat gracefully to the side, covering her mouth as she laughed lightly, “Even one day without seeing you feels like three autumns to this servant, I’ve missed you so.”

Li Changshou slightly furrowed his brows and said in a low voice: “Wenjing, do you know your current position?”

Position?

Daoist Wenjing’s heart jumped—she heard warning and displeasure in Li Changshou’s words.

Somehow, Daoist Wenjing’s Dao heart couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

These years, she had been quietly observing and knew of those major events Li Changshou had accomplished.

Especially in the battle of the Northern Continent, when Li Changshou revealed his own Dao, single-handedly killing over ten ancient giant demons and the demon tribe prince Lu Ya…

What made Daoist Wenjing most fearful that day wasn’t Li Changshou’s suddenly revealed strength, but rather the scene that had been erased from the primordial world’s rumors.

For Water God’s sake, a Sovereign had briefly fought—Sovereign Taiqing’s single shout of ‘get lost’ drove away the Western Teaching’s two leaders.

At that time, even Nüwa took action and Houtu appeared!

Since then, Daoist Wenjing understood that this Heavenly Court Water God who had early on grasped her vital point couldn’t even be joked with anymore.

In a sense, the scheming Water God was more dangerous than that man and more impossible to counter.

Unfortunately, this was pure powerlessness and despair—Daoist Wenjing had not the slightest thought of conquest.

Daoist Wenjing hurriedly stood up and bowed, explaining:

“Please don’t blame me, my lord. This servant was also forced with no alternative, before…

Before becoming their Sixth Protector, taking the position of Fierce Beast Commander!

This servant’s heart is naturally with you, my lord, naturally with the Human Teaching, please understand, my lord!”

Li Changshou nodded imperceptibly, his heart couldn’t help but mutter.

Wenjing had already become Western Teaching ‘high level’?

He had only wanted to remind her to firmly remember her identity as Senior Brother Xuandu’s fangirl, and not to say such inflammatory words to him.

Master was watching from above!

Wenjing’s fate seemed to have changed quite a bit.

Looking at it now, he should give Wenjing some sweet benefits, lest she have any hesitation when it was time to act.

Li Changshou said calmly: “I already know of this matter, just giving you a small warning.

Recently, Senior Brother Xuandu has been guarding Xuandu City, resisting the outer realm demons, temporarily unable to divide his attention. When Senior Brother Xuandu returns to the Five Continents, I will naturally arrange for you to meet again.”

“Re-really?”

Daoist Wenjing didn’t know why her tongue trembled slightly, her eyes full of brightness.

Li Changshou calmly nodded and added: “Since you want to get close to my Senior Brother when speaking with me, you should maintain propriety and know your distance, without crossing boundaries in your words, do you understand?”

Daoist Wenjing carefully savored these words, couldn’t help but be overjoyed, repeatedly nodding in agreement, and even unconsciously raised her hand to wipe the corner of her mouth.

“This servant thanks my lord for the fulfillment!”

Li Changshou carefully pondered in his heart, deliberated his words for a while, then said: “Without Master’s permission, I wouldn’t dare to make such decisions on my own, you must grasp this opportunity well.”

Daoist Wenjing’s delicate body trembled, almost directly kneeling to make several great bows to the virtual Taiji Diagram above.

Li Changshou said calmly: “Let’s discuss business.”

“Yes,” Daoist Wenjing responded softly, couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing a few times before sitting back in her chair.

“My lord, there will be major movements in the West.”

“Oh?” Li Changshou’s eyebrow raised, but he didn’t interrupt, letting Daoist Wenjing report the matter in detail.

Before long, Li Changshou could hardly sit still.

Fortunately, he had never underestimated Western Teaching.

Just months ago, the Western Teaching’s Great Master Jieyin emerged from seclusion and opened an altar at Spirit Mountain to preach the Dao, transmitting Dao and methods to various Sovereign disciples, with all important figures of Spirit Mountain in attendance.

Daoist Wenjing had also been called to secretly listen to the sermon, without revealing herself.

After the sermon, over ten Sovereign disciples with authority in the Western Teaching, plus her as the Fierce Beast Commander, along with two other commanders from demon and sea tribes, together discussed matters of dealing with the Great Calamity.

In this discussion, Western Teaching determined two major matters.

[First, to withdraw their influence in the Five Continents, having all Western affiliates sink into silence, and actively eliminate a batch of great demons with heavy karma that they had previously sheltered, harvesting merit and increasing the teaching’s fortune.]

Li Changshou: …

When it came to ruthlessness, these people were still the most ruthless.

Back then, one phrase ‘you have a destiny with our Western Teaching’ had many ancient demon tribes old demons rushing eagerly to the Western Teaching;

Now with the Great Calamity descending, to reduce the burden on the Twelve Golden Lotus Petals suppressing the Western Teaching’s fortune, they would directly eliminate these fortune burdens.

Even cutting off a finger to protect their fortune from collapse.

Daoist Wenjing said in a low voice: “This servant will be responsible for this matter, there are truly many great demons to eliminate, mostly hidden in the Three Thousand Worlds.

The Western intention seems to be to have us primordial fierce beasts sacrifice some of our numbers in this as well.

My lord, should we secretly recruit…”

“Don’t think about such things,” Li Changshou said firmly, “Having you hidden in the West has its reasons from above, not for you to do these trivial matters!

Remember, you should focus on self-preservation now, even if you receive orders to kill me, you can freely kill my avatars, understand?”

Daoist Wenjing hurriedly lowered her head and responded: “Yes, this servant understands.”

Li Changshou then asked: “What is the second matter?”

“The West has designs on the Underworld. Their ambitions are not small, they seem to want to control part of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, or establish another type of reincarnation…”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Hold on, let me guess.

This scheme has been secretly arranged by the West for tens of thousands of years, involving many great worlds among the Three Thousand Worlds, gathering incense merit and intercepting human fortune, correct?”

Daoist Wenjing was stunned and asked softly:

“You have other eyes and ears?”

Li Changshou pointed to his left ear, then his right ear, smiling without speaking.

Daoist Wenjing seemed thoughtful and said softly:

“This servant was happy for months about discovering this matter, not knowing you already…”

Li Changshou smiled and opened his left hand, and a cluster of clouds surged from his palm.

These clouds condensed into the rough shape of the Five Continents, shrunk to palm size; then ‘islands’ condensed around the Five Continents, these islands shrinking into starlight, slowly spreading outward.

Among the starlight, many flickered with red light.

Li Changshou intentionally warned Daoist Wenjing, calmly explaining:

“These are the Three Thousand Worlds directly or indirectly controlled by the Western Teaching now.

Their thinking is indeed good, establishing divine kingdoms of incense outside the Five Continents, then using incense merit to resist calamity and nurture immortal soldiers.

Unfortunately, they have always underestimated the Dao Sect, and treated humans as puppet dolls, while wanting to use control over reincarnation to consolidate these divine kingdoms of incense, promoting their teachings…

Both laughable and lamentable.”

Daoist Wenjing smiled: “Since everything is within your grasp, Water God my lord, this servant is at ease.”

Li Changshou said: “Continue telling what you know, let me see if there are any omissions.”

“Yes,” Daoist Wenjing made a graceful curtsy and continued her previous narration.

Half an hour later, Daoist Wenjing’s avatar dispersed into blood mist;

Li Changshou stood up and paced back and forth, his eyes full of contemplation.

Goodness, was the Western Teaching really this ruthless?

They had stockpiled countless souls of normally deceased mortals in the Three Thousand Worlds, wanting to establish another Reincarnation Palace above the Blood Sea.

If they wanted to use souls to attack the Underworld, that would be easy to resolve—the Heavenly Court could send troops for timely rescue.

The trouble was, they were using large numbers of souls to threaten the Underworld. Mother Houtu being so gentle would never let so many souls disperse innocently, and would certainly allow new reincarnation to appear, or give up part of the control over the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

What could the Heavenly Court do?

Directly send troops to eliminate these souls?

That would be no different from slaughtering mortals!

At the root, the biggest trouble now was still the many great worlds that had become trump cards in the Western Teaching’s hands;

And the West was now intentionally wanting to use this power, hoping to survive the Great Calamity through this.

Mustn’t be chaotic, thoughts must be clear.

Divine kingdoms of incense…

Right, must fundamentally label the divine kingdoms of incense with ‘disaster,’ thereby borrowing Heaven’s Dao momentum to dismantle the West’s layout.

After sending off Daoist Wenjing, Li Changshou’s paper person at Jade Spring Mountain also quickly bid farewell.

Having confirmed that Yang Jian’s path of growth would develop as he expected, Li Changshou temporarily set this matter aside.

Though saying temporarily set aside, he had actually made some preparations, leaving over ten specialized communication jade tablets with True Lord Yuding, and burying several paper people near Jade Spring Mountain.

Afterward, Li Changshou shut himself in Little Qiong Peak’s secret chamber, summoned over ten blank scrolls, and began careful consideration.

The Western Teaching had many capable people up and down its ranks.

The Western Teaching naturally knew that when going to Purple Void Palace to discuss the Investiture of the Gods, they would certainly face targeting from the Dao Sect’s Sovereigns and Sovereign disciples, and certainly wouldn’t get many benefits, so they had advanced placed their attention on other aspects…

Gathering merit, gathering the power of mortal thoughts, could this help survive the Great Calamity?

Li Changshou carefully pondered, picked up his brush to draw a slingshot, and began repeated deductions.

This time’s assumptions, he was also somewhat bolder, after all, he was now an undisclosed disciple of a Sovereign who had studied at Taiqing Temple.

Uh, why did this feel a bit like being an illegitimate child…

[If I were a Western Sovereign, how would I break this situation?]

…

Youqin Xuanya recuperated in the Water God Palace for half a month, and her injuries fully healed under Princess Longji’s care.

But Youqin Xuanya didn’t speak a word, maintaining silence throughout.

Only until the appointed time with Li Changshou, when Li Changshou came to visit, did she show a slight smile and speak:

“Water God.”

Princess Longji blinked beside them, catching a slight scent of something unusual.

Princess Longji said softly: “Teacher, then I’ll head back first.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble, no trouble,” Princess Longji giggled, made a face at Li Changshou, and turned to slip away.

But a ‘wait’ chased after her from behind, and Princess Longji blinked, turning her head to look.

Li Changshou held a package in his hands and smiled:

“These are the strategic methods you need to study for the next half year, lessons cannot be missed for even a moment.”

Princess Longji’s little face immediately became like a bitter gourd, snatching the package and stomping her foot lightly in anger.

“I know already, just love bullying people!”

Watching Princess Longji slink away on her cloud, Li Changshou smiled and shook his head.

Youqin Xuanya sat on the bed, raising her head to gaze at Li Changshou, her long eyelashes blinking gently as she asked softly:

“Water God, is everything going smoothly?”

“Not bad,” Li Changshou turned around and smiled, “From now on just focus on cultivating in the Water God Palace, I have some reputation in the Heavenly Court, no one will disturb this place.

When I need you to stand out for publicity matters, I will notify you in advance.

You can also enter closed cultivation as you wish, cultivation is most fundamental, don’t forget there’s still the Golden Immortal tribulation ahead.”

“Mm!”

Youqin Xuanya stood up, now wearing a light white palace dress, her long hair falling like a waterfall, surrounded by some immortal light, beautiful enough to dazzle the eyes.

Li Changshou added: “The Jade Emperor is currently holding court in Lingxiao Hall. I’ll take you for a walk by the Heaven River, then we’ll go pay respects to His Majesty after court disperses.

Tidy yourself up a bit, don’t lose propriety.”

“Mas- Water God doesn’t need to attend court?” Youqin Xuanya asked curiously.

Li Changshou smiled: “The Jade Emperor has specially permitted that unless there are major matters, I need not appear.”

Youqin Xuanya blinked, though not understanding the specific meaning, but felt it seemed very impressive.

Li Changshou waited outside the room, sealing this wing room with immortal power.

Youqin Xuanya quickly got ready, changing into her favorite ice-blue dress, paired with gold-embroidered cloud pattern long boots, tying up a simple and capable ponytail.

The celestial soldiers and generals throughout the Water God Palace couldn’t help but turn to look once or twice…

Youqin Xuanya came forward and cupped her hands in salute to Li Changshou; Li Changshou summoned a cloud to carry her out of the Water God Palace, heading toward Heaven River.

Along this path, Youqin Xuanya somewhat understood what level of authority her Senior Brother Changshou truly possessed in the Heavenly Court.

Every celestial soldier and general they met on the way would stop their clouds far away, uniformly lowering their heads and saluting, while Senior Brother Changshou merely nodded in response.

Even when meeting one or two immortals and gods of extraordinary bearing, they would first make Daoist salutes, some even making big detours, deliberately pretending to chance upon them, coming forward to salute and exchange pleasantries.

Li Changshou was long accustomed to this, but seeing it with her own eyes, Youqin Xuanya’s thoughts were very complex.

If asked what in the world was most troublesome, it would be a woman’s thoughts.

Arriving beside Heaven River, having Youqin Xuanya wait far away, Li Changshou went directly to the celestial army training ground.

He summoned Bianzhuang and took him to a hidden corner, calmly setting up over ten layers of immortal power barriers.

Bianzhuang: …

The panic was real, but resistance was something he truly dared not do.

“Wa-Water God, my lord,” Bianzhuang’s Adam’s apple trembled, “That female immortal you brought back to the Heavenly Court, this commander hasn’t had half a thought!

This commander’s heart is all for Immortal Chang’e now, this commander is willing to make a Great Dao oath!”

Li Changshou smiled with kind eyes and brows, “Don’t be nervous, don’t I know your character?

Little Zhuang.”

“Ah, my lord, please speak.”

“I remember, your family has a Heaven’s Edge Pavilion, correct?”

Bianzhuang was completely puzzled, but still hurriedly nodded: “Yes, yes.”

Li Changshou smiled lightly: “Take me for a visit tomorrow?”

Bianzhuang was stunned for a moment, then thought of something, his legs trembled and he fell to his knees with a thud.

“Water God, please spare this commander! If people know I took you to Heaven’s Edge Pavilion, I fear all the immortal ladies will grind my bones to dust!”

What was this about ‘all’?