What was going on with Yang Jian?

Li Changshou waited in that Greater World for six days. His paper avatar watched Mount Yuquan daily, but there was never any movement from the mountain’s grand formation.

To arrange this trial for Yang Jian, nearly half of the Lingtian Palace’s upper echelon had been mobilized. Li Changshou’s true form was accompanied by Tower Lord and Ruler Chi as escorts, with the Taiji Diagram’s protection available at any moment. From stage managers to caretakers, from extras to antagonists, even the demons meant for Yang Jian to fight were all in position. Yet Yang Jian, the main character, was holding everything up…

How could this be?

True Lord Yuding wasn’t normally such an unreliable person. They had previously agreed upon detailed plans. Now that True Lord Yuding still hadn’t left Mount Yuquan, he must have encountered some trouble.

After waiting anxiously and considering all possibilities, Li Changshou couldn’t help but worry. He dispatched a “True Form” paper avatar to Mount Yuquan.

A professional True Form paper avatar needed to be equipped with Golden Immortal cultivation, giving off the sense of abundant vital energy, along with sufficient disguise methods and spare paper avatars ready to emerge from its sleeves at any moment.

Li Changshou originally didn’t want his paper avatar to appear before Yang Jian, since paper avatars were already his trademark in the Primordial World. If Yang Jian later figured it out and saw through this matter, it would be… extremely awkward.

For this reason, Li Changshou took extra precautions. He not only dispatched a “True Form” paper avatar but also transformed it to look like Elder Zhao without his beard. He sent a message talisman to Zhao Gongming informing him of this matter to avoid any future inconsistencies.

Upon reaching Mount Yuquan, True Lord Yuding naturally saw through Li Changshou’s paper avatar’s true nature. The outer formation opened automatically, quietly letting Li Changshou enter.

As soon as Li Changshou entered Mount Yuquan, he saw True Lord Yuding sitting cross-legged on a cloud with a somewhat helpless expression, and beside him was the Great Yin-Yang Master Taiyi… yawning continuously.

What was going on? Hadn’t everything been fine?

After scanning various parts of Mount Yuquan with his immortal consciousness, Li Changshou, this ordinary minor deity of the Heavenly Court, gradually developed more and more black lines on his forehead.

“Brother, why can’t you take me with you? I’m so scared.”

“Little Chan, this is meant to be a training journey to improve understanding and insight into the Dao. Your cultivation is insufficient, and even my cultivation isn’t particularly high. If I took you along, there would be too many dangers.”

“Waaah… Brother, don’t leave me alone in the cave…”

“Don’t cry, don’t cry! Sigh, let me think of something else.”

Li Changshou: …

True Lord Taiyi transmitted teasingly: “Oh, the great nemesis couldn’t resist coming to take a look?”

True Lord Yuding showed an embarrassed expression and actively helped conceal Li Changshou’s paper avatar’s aura.

“Has it been delayed all this time because of this?”

Li Changshou asked with a bitter smile, and True Lord Yuding honestly nodded.

True Lord Taiyi sighed: “This poor one suggested taking Little Chan along, but Junior Brother Yuding said it would interfere with Nephew Yang Jian’s cultivation. Nephew Yang Jian is usually quite decisive, yet he’s completely helpless when it comes to his little sister.”

Li Changshou said: “Then, why not just use a spell to make her sleep peacefully for a few months?”

Yuding and Taiyi were stunned for a moment, their smiles becoming rather awkward.

Rubbing his brow, Li Changshou steadied himself and thought of a foolproof solution, asking:

“The Spirit Zhenzhu child and Yang Jian, they’ve had interactions over these years, right?”

“Those two are quite familiar,” True Lord Taiyi complained. “They usually spar with each other. Especially in the last twenty years, when the Spirit Zhenzhu isn’t in the Heavenly Court, he runs to Mount Yuquan and doesn’t even return to this poor one’s cave.”

Li Changshou acknowledged with a sound and immediately began making arrangements.

Thus, two hours later, Spirit Zhenzhu hurriedly arrived on a cloud.

After hearing Li Changshou’s instructions along the way and receiving permission from his master and uncle-master, Spirit Zhenzhu first transmitted a message to Yang Jian, then sneak-attacked from behind, easily immobilizing Yang Chan and making her spirit become confused and fall asleep.

Yang Jian let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes full of gratitude, and cupped his hands to thank Spirit Zhenzhu:

“Many thanks, Senior Brother!”

“It’s what I should do,” Spirit Zhenzhu also cupped his hands in return, using immortal power to send Yang Chan to the bed in the inner cave, then turned back and said, “Junior Brother, please feel at ease to go out and train. I will take good care of Little Chan.”

Yang Jian looked at the sleeping Yang Chan and instructed Spirit Zhenzhu:

“Little Chan suffered trauma in her childhood, and after beginning cultivation, she has always had unresolved heart demons. Even Master’s intervention only temporarily sealed her heart demons. Senior Brother, please remember, if she wakes up and panics because she can’t find me, you should take this item…”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

Spirit Zhenzhu interrupted Yang Jian’s words, smiling and saying: “I will continuously maintain the sleep spell on her, letting her wait for your return in her dreams. Yang Jian Junior Brother, rest assured, your sister is my sister, I absolutely won’t be disrespectful to Little Chan.”

“I certainly trust Senior Brother.”

Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief, made another Daoist salute to Spirit Zhenzhu, retrieved the precious sword lying in the corner, lowered his head, and stepped into the light outside the cave… feeling much lighter all over.

True Lord Yuding appeared in the air and took Yang Jian up to the clouds.

By this time, Li Changshou had already returned his paper avatar to True Lord Taiyi’s sleeve. To be safe, he didn’t actively meet with Yang Jian.

“Master, Uncle-Master,” Yang Jian showed an ashamed expression, held his sword, and made a Daoist salute, “Disciple has kept you waiting long.”

True Lord Yuding smiled gently, saying it was no matter.

To the side, True Lord Taiyi’s lips twitched slightly, wanting to make a sarcastic remark but forcefully holding it back.

Not bringing calamity upon juniors and not speaking ill of the young – these were the principles of his, Taiyi’s, leadership.

— Except for particularly disliked juniors.

Soon after, True Lord Yuding drove the clouds carrying Yang Jian and True Lord Taiyi away from Mount Yuquan, pushing the white clouds to full speed as they flew toward the East Sea.

On Mount Yuquan, only Spirit Zhenzhu and the sleeping Yang Chan remained.

Spirit Zhenzhu walked to the cave entrance, thinking of Uncle Master Changsheng’s instructions, and what Master had explained to him about Yang Jian’s background over ten years ago. He also thought about how Yang Jian, this junior brother, had unconsciously revealed his hatred for the Heavenly Court…

“Ah!”

‘When Junior Brother Yang Jian learns the truth in the future, he will inevitably harbor some resentment toward Uncle Master Changsheng. Uncle Master Changsheng’s calculations are too thorough, and in the end, this will instead bring about Junior Brother Yang Jian’s hostility.’

Spirit Zhenzhu crossed his arms and thought seriously for a while.

“Could it be that Uncle Master doesn’t care about Junior Brother’s hostility?”

After muttering to himself, Spirit Zhenzhu stared blankly at the sky outside the cave for a while, then scratched his head.

Forget it, he couldn’t understand all these twists and turns.

While Yang Chan was asleep, he might as well… practice some boxing techniques.

Recently, Little Rabbit had been constantly seeking his opinion on dance moves, always dressed elaborately. Who knew if it was from eating too many rainbow carrots? This coming and going had delayed his training progress quite a bit.

Tsk, the peculiar troubles of Spirit Zhenzhu.

…

On the way to that Greater World, Li Changshou could sense True Lord Yuding’s concern for Yang Jian.

The entire journey was filled with warnings about the treachery of human hearts and sharing insights about cultivation.

Yang Jian sat cross-legged beside True Lord Yuding, carefully listening the whole way, not showing the slightest impatience over several days and nights.

Thinking carefully, I this Mount Yuquan was quite interesting.

True Lord Yuding, who valued his disciples immensely and even usually concealed his presence to avoid disturbing his disciples’ cultivation;

Yang Jian, was incredibly grateful to his master yet completely helpless when it came to his sister;

Yang Chan, who clung to her brother, terrified of her dear brother leaving her…

Fortunately, although Yang Jian deeply loved his sister, he didn’t feel compelled to keep her by his side at all times. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have so readily entrusted Yang Chan to Spirit Zhenzhu’s care.

Secretly using the method of observing fortune to look at Yang Jian’s destiny, he found it was still an astonishing deep red purple.

The identity of a child of tribulation couldn’t be hidden from those who could read fortunes.

Choosing this moment to arrange Yang Jian’s training journey was the result of several discussions between Li Changshou and True Lord Yuding.

At this time, approaching the Purple Void Palace’s discussion of conferring godhood, the Western Teaching absolutely wouldn’t dare cause trouble, and all major forces were as quiet as chickens – the external environment was most peaceful.

Although Yang Jian would still face varying degrees of trials later, this first descent from the mountain after coming of age would have a rather far-reaching influence on his character and how he viewed things.

After several more days of travel, they finally reached the Greater World.

True Lord Yuding stood up.

“Yang Jian.”

“Disciple is here!”

Yang Jian immediately stood up and responded, the divine light in his eyes flashing before quickly being concealed – his patience was truly excellent.

True Lord Yuding said gently:

“There is an opportunity for you in this place. Though it seems peaceful, danger lurks beneath. For this first training journey, I have chosen this location for you. Your Uncle-Master Taiyi and I will go visit friends and come back for you after a hundred days. Remember, human hearts in the Primordial World are treacherous, and this is a time of great tribulation. Your current strength is insufficient, so don’t be reckless.”

“Disciple accepts the command.”

Yang Jian answered seriously, bowed in a Daoist salute, and then turned to ride the clouds, descending toward this Greater World under the watchful gaze of True Lord Yuding and True Lord Taiyi.

True Lord Taiyi smiled and said: “Let’s go, we shouldn’t keep our fellow Daoists waiting long.”

True Lord Yuding acknowledged with a sound, and they rode the clouds together toward the southwest.

These words were meant for Yang Jian to hear.

Yang Jian, who was flying forward on his cloud, showed a slightly bitter smile but didn’t turn back to look further. Instead, he temporarily chose a landing spot and descended toward a mortal town in this area.

Shortly after Yang Jian landed, three figures appeared in the distant sky, conjuring a cloud mirror technique to observe his every move.

True Lord Taiyi asked with interest: “How has Junior Brother Changsheng arranged what comes next? When will the people you arranged meet with Nephew Yang Jian?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Senior Brother needn’t hurry. First, let Yang Jian familiarize himself with mortal customs. If we deliberately arrange for people to actively contact him, it would be inferior, and with Yang Jian’s intelligence, he would immediately see that this is all an act put on for him. Right now, Yang Jian probably knows we’re watching from the shadows, he’s just not showing it.”

Taiyi asked puzzledly: “Then how do you plan to lead him into the situation?”

Li Changshou explained leisurely:

“More than ten years ago, rumors about ancient demon beasts began spreading in this Greater World, which attracted a group of Qi practitioners seeking treasures, though these practitioners found nothing. Of course, this was because I hadn’t yet placed out that demon beast and the Ancestral God’s blood essence.

Many people here know of these rumors, and Yang Jian need only make some basic inquiries to hear about them. Besides this, I’ve also arranged sixteen small tasks in this Greater World, in the places he’s most likely to visit. Each small task contains some hidden clues pointing toward the final trial ground.

In short, as long as he maintains even the most basic curiosity about that opportunity, he will be gradually led there.”

“Changsheng has put in much thought.”

True Lord Yuding nodded slowly, giving a fair evaluation.

True Lord Taiyi also gave a thumbs up: “Well done!”

Li Changshou’s lips twitched slightly, “Why do I feel somewhat offended hearing these words from Senior Brother Taiyi?”

“Haha, hahaha! Don’t overthink it, this poor one is sincerely saying you’ve done well, anyone can see everything’s been perfectly arranged.”

True Lord Taiyi burst into laughter, and Li Changshou carefully pondered… He felt this fellow was somehow mocking him.

Speaking of Yang Jian after entering this Greater World, his alertness was quite impressive.

Yang Jian first secretly observed the town with his immortal consciousness for half a day from the forest before putting away his precious sword, concealing his aura, changing his appearance, and heading into town to rest.

Though this nephew of the Jade Emperor was steady in character, being his first time descending the mountain, he couldn’t help looking left and right.

The colorful world entrances the eyes – this itself was a form of training.

Yet Yang Jian only walked and looked around, not truly immersing himself in it.

Seeing Yang Jian walk for half a day without attracting too much attention from others, Li Changshou praised:

“Truly excellent, he can be entrusted with great responsibilities.”

True Lord Yuding showed a faint smile, but True Lord Taiyi shook his head disapprovingly, still feeling his disciple was more likable.

The value lies in simplicity.

Yang Jian stayed in this town for several days, gradually understanding the condition of mortals and the ‘current situation’ of Qi practitioners here.

Next, he didn’t do as Li Changshou had expected by intentionally seeking out Qi practitioners to spar and communicate. Instead, he deliberately avoided these Qi practitioners, disguising himself as a mortal while searching for the ‘opportunity’ his master had mentioned.

Half a month later, Yang Jian decided to head toward a larger immortal city to investigate whether this Greater World had any dangerous places.

This was where the Lingtian Palace’s upper echelon was stationed.

As Yang Jian got closer and closer to this immortal city, the atmosphere in the small courtyard where Li Changshou’s true form was located began to gradually tense…

Bai Ze was heard asking questions one after another, while Jiang Lin’er, Jiu Jiu, and others held message talismans, continuously responding.

“How are the preparations in the Qianxuan Division?”

“All set.”

“Confirmed there’s no other interference at the location?”

“The location is fine, few people go there originally…”

Soon, Bai Ze nodded with satisfaction, turned to look at Li Changshou, and with a solemn expression, clasped his hands in respect.

“Please give the order, Water God! Everything is prepared!”

Li Changshou stood up, using his immortal consciousness to lock onto Yang Jian’s form from afar, calculating whether there were any holes in the script he had arranged, his eyes gradually becoming serious.

This was just a small step in tempering Yang Jian and polishing his successor, but it was a giant leap for the entire Lingtian Palace ‘production team’!

If they could successfully arrange for Yang Jian today, tomorrow they could successfully arrange for Nezha and the day after for Monkey!

*Cough*, forget about that last one, it’s still too far off.

Cultivating a trusted team and being able to comfortably delegate – this was the greatest purpose of this operation!

Taking a light breath, Li Changshou said slowly: “Begin.”

“Start!”

Bai Ze turned his head and gave a light shout, and several message talismans instantly shattered!

Shortly after, Li Changshou’s immortal consciousness captured this scene:

In a forest tens of miles away from Yang Jian, a blood-covered young man staggered into view, layers of ripples left in the void behind him – the fluctuations of a mid-level illusion formation’s walls.

The young man walked two steps before collapsing to the ground, his breath as thin as a thread, his eyes full of anxiety. He tried to stand up forcefully, but his injuries were too severe, his magical power nearly completely depleted.

Over thirty miles away, Yang Jian, who was passing by on his cloud, frowned slightly but didn’t meddle in others’ affairs, lowering his head and speeding away.

Although this young man was only in the Yuan Immortal realm, his good or evil nature was unknown, as was what lay hidden in that illusion formation. Choosing to ignore it and leave was also a wise decision.

In the Primordial World, one couldn’t afford to be indiscriminately kind.

Regarding this, True Lord Taiyi offered continuous praise from afar, while True Lord Yuding’s smile grew deeper.

However, Li Changshou’s arranged plot wasn’t just this simple.

Suddenly, an infant’s cry was heard…

The severely injured Yuan Immortal man was seen taking out a silver shuttle wrapped in layers of immortal light from his sleeve, protecting an infant inside, who was now crying loudly.

— This was a treasure similar to the Mustard Seed Universe, considered rare in this place.

The Yuan Immortal man showed an expression of grief, anger, and attachment, conveying emotions quite effectively. Gritting his teeth, he used his last bit of immortal power to throw the shuttle into the distance.

“Young Master, this subordinate is useless… ah, I’m dead…”

After speaking, his body convulsed once or twice, and he immediately fell to the ground, and closed his eyes, his life force slowly dissipating.

Li Changshou: …

The emotional expression was fine, but what was with that line delivery?

Later, make this fellow publicly perform this ‘ah, I’m dead’ scene three hundred times!

Looking at the trial grounds.

A gust of yin wind blew out from the forest, and three figures flew out of the illusion formation, all in the True Immortal realm, each emanating killing intent, directly pursuing the silver shuttle.

Although the silver shuttle was a magical treasure, it now had no immortal power supporting it, and after flying a dozen miles, it was caught up to by the three ‘True Immortals’.

A woman reached out to grab the silver shuttle, her lips showing a slight cold smile.

In that critical moment!

Just as the woman’s fingertips were about to touch the silver shuttle, a golden immortal rope suddenly appeared, lassoing the shuttle and yanking it away, completed in one fluid motion without any pause.

The three True Immortals who had been pursuing couldn’t respond in time, watching helplessly as the silver shuttle slipped away, unable to even release their attacks.

The woman frowned and shouted: “Who dares meddle in the Tianxia Association’s affairs!”

A clear voice responded: “What wrong has an infant committed?”

As the words rang out, Yang Jian’s straight figure appeared on a hillside several hundred zhang away, raising his left hand in a pulling gesture.

The immortal rope flew back to Yang Jian’s wrist, binding his sleeve tight, the silver shuttle consequently falling into his hand.

Then, Yang Jian revealed seventy percent of his power, his entire Daoist robe billowing, a strand of blood qi rising to the heavens like a lone smoke in a vast desert, his right hand’s precious sword already unsheathed half an inch.

His fighting spirit was abundant, his imposing manner extraordinary!

The three True Immortals’ expressions changed, their eyes full of wariness, each retreating a hundred zhang to maintain a safe distance.

Seeing this, Li Changshou nodded with satisfaction.

These three fellows were quite good, worthy of focused cultivation;

Yang Jian’s response was also appropriate, both intimidating the enemy while reserving his true strength and not attacking rashly when the situation was unclear.

Bai Ze praised: “The Jade Emperor’s nephew indeed has some of the Jade Emperor’s bearing.”

Li Changshou said: “This trial tests both Yang Jian’s sense of righteousness and his ability to avoid karma. When the two cannot coexist, how should one balance and choose between them? White Sir…”

Hm?

Familiar Dao rhythms suddenly arose in his spirit platform, the Grand Clarity Dao seemed to be lightly stirred, condensing into a huge word in his Dao’s heart!

[Come].

Li Changshou’s spirit shook, and he immediately stood up, taking out a drop of Ancestral God Gonggong’s original blood essence from his sleeve and stuffing it into Bai Ze’s hand.

“Sir Bai, you’ll be in charge later, everything is according to plan. Be extremely careful and cautious, and don’t let any deaths or injuries occur, best not to let Yang Jian see through it, and even if he does see through it, don’t expose the Heavenly Court. If there’s any emergency, take out the paper avatar I stored earlier, and I’ll naturally sense it immediately.”

Bai Ze was somewhat confused and hurriedly asked what had happened.

Li Changshou was also puzzled in his heart, only saying that Master Grand Clarity had urgent matters to discuss, and he must go immediately.

At that moment, Li Changshou cupped his hands to the others in the tower, and gripped the Qiankun Escape with his left hand, blue light flashed under his feet, and his form vanished with a ‘swoosh’.

Before leaving, Li Changshou looked at Yang Jian’s situation one more time, seeing that Yang Jian’s performance was commendable, his heart was temporarily much more at ease.

After also using his paper avatar to instruct True Lord Yuding and True Lord Taiyi a few times, Li Changshou collected his thoughts, urged on the Qiankun Escape technique, and rushed back to the Five Continents with all his might!

Why had Master summoned him at this time?

There were still three years until the Purple Void Palace discussion. Could it be that Master felt his preparations were insufficient and called him over for guidance?

If that were the case, couldn’t he have just transmitted a message?

Carrying heavy doubts, Li Changshou hurriedly returned to the Five Continents, not sparing any immortal power along the way, using the Qiankun Ruler to perform the Qiankun Escape technique – ‘swift as wind and lightning’ could no longer describe it.

Whenever his immortal power consumption exceeded half a percent, Li Changshou would swallow a sixth-grade spirit pill, ensuring he was always in peak condition.

In less than half a day, Li Changshou reached the edge of the East Sea, switching to wind escape directly into the Nine Heavens’ outer clouds…

When he arrived at the Grand Clarity Temple, Li Changshou was truly quite tired, with fine sweat on his forehead.

Carefully pushing open the half-closed wooden door, walking in with a lowered head, paying respects to Master, then raising his head to look at the elder sitting in the small temple.

Master had summoned him three years early, surely…

Suddenly heard Grand Clarity Sage transmitting to Li Changshou face to face, saying slowly: “About to head to the Purple Void Palace.”

That’s… that’s it?

Li Changshou was first stunned, then some understanding arose in his heart.

Three years… about to…

No problem.