Was this… was this Senior Brother’s world?

The Lord Laozi, a living legendary sage incarnate, just appeared right…

No, no, that’s not right.

She had jumped right in front of the living Lord Laozi!

On her way to the Palace of Gathered Clouds, Ling’E felt completely dazed. Walking on the white clouds condensed by Senior Brother, pinching the corner of his Daoist robe with two fingers, though she wanted to maintain a calm smile, any smile she managed came out stiff.

Rarely did Ling’E put on her ice-queen face, what she considered to be the properly aloof expression.

While Senior Brother, for the sake of appearances, had specifically transformed into the appearance of an elderly immortal, making her look like his granddaughter…

Hmph! She was his Junior Sister, and what’s more, the number one candidate to be Senior Brother’s Dao companion!

When the heart of Dao is empty of things, the world becomes empty of things.

If her Dao’s heart wasn’t nervous, then Ngo wouldn’t be nervous.

But along this path…

There were simply too many gazes gathering upon them…

The number of onlookers was more than ten times that of when Junior Nephew Golden Roc had carried Little Jade Peak into the Heavenly Court!

Not to mention the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals near the Palace of Lord Taibai;

Those who should have been “surrounding” and guarding the Palace of Lord Taibai had now formed an “honor guard,” each watching Senior Brother and herself with various burning gazes.

These looks weren’t crude, but rather the kind that wanted to show respect to Senior Brother yet didn’t know how, so they all put themselves in the role of “elders,” looking at Ngo as if watching an adorable child.

Ngo: …

After all, wasn’t Senior Brother just a working deity in the Heavenly Court?

How did she suddenly get the mistaken impression that she seemed more like a Heavenly Princess than Senior Brother’s first disciple, Dragon Princess?

Flying out of the Palace of Lord Taibai, the lined-up Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were replaced by another group.

Patrolling Heavenly Soldiers came to join the excitement, passing immortal maidens cast curious glances, and even the Heavenly Court immortals who weren’t originally passing by deliberately took thousand-mile cloud detours, crossing several layers of Heaven’s Gates, to “coincidentally” encounter them ahead.

Every five steps: “Star-Lord, taking your Junior Sister out for a stroll?”

Every ten steps: “Star-Lord, please visit this humble deity’s mansion when you have time. Does your Junior Sister have any particular preferences?”

It was as if all the proper deities of the Heavenly Court had nothing better to do.

Most memorable to Ling’E was the nominal second-in-command of the Heavenly Court, East Wood Lord, with his flowing white hair, appearing quite spirited but not at all like an otherworldly sage.

Just now, East Wood Lord, accompanied by two beautiful and dignified immortal ladies, had “happened to encounter” the senior-junior pair on the road.

While Senior Brother and East Wood Lord exchanged pleasantries about various interesting matters, the two ladies, who should be Wood Lord’s Dao companions, immediately showered her with care and concern.

The sister on the left asked if she needed any new bedding, while the sister on the right-handed her light, soft blankets made from gathered clouds and plucked sunset glow.

The sister on the right asked if she had any inconveniences in the Heavenly Court, while the other sister stuffed her arms with tea, wine, potted plants, and even palm-sized beds that could be enlarged at will.

Ling’E had intended to refuse everything, but the two immortal sisters were truly too enthusiastic, leaving her only able to repeatedly express her thanks…

Although after their enthusiasm, these two elder sisters harbored a hint of competition and comparison, as well as a touch of “rivalry.”

It gave her such a strong sense of déjà vu from childhood.

—Ling’E had been born into a secular noble family in one of the Three Thousand Worlds.

Walking and stopping along this path, Ling’E didn’t know how many Heavenly Court immortals she had met, how many praises she had heard, her small face inevitably turning somewhat red.

Finally, they arrived at the ordinary-looking Palace of Gathered Clouds, with no more immortals “coincidentally” encountering them in the surroundings.

Ling’E could understand this situation.

After she had arrived at the Palace of Lord Taibai earlier, the immortals of the Heavenly Court hadn’t dared to visit rashly.

After all, the Gate of Degree Immortals had just suffered a catastrophe, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to be too celebratory.

Thus, so many immortals had appeared when Senior Brother took her out, exchanging pleasantries with him and completing their flattery of Senior Brother by praising her, his little Junior Sister.

The Heavenly Court was indeed more secular than the immortal sects and gates.

After all, the Heavenly Court was the official administration of the Three Realms. Since her Senior Brother wielded great power and held the Jade Emperor’s trust, it was quite reasonable for various immortals to curry favor with Senior Brother for their careers and peace of mind.

As Ling’E thought this, she suddenly heard the sound of “wind blowing through the wheat,” and turning her head to look, she saw an endless field of beans in the distance.

The Heavenly Court’s immortal bean cultivation base?

Indeed, it was a grand operation, countless times larger than the “test field” on Little Jade Peak!

Uh, in this situation…

Would anyone sacrifice themselves when the Heavenly Court went to war?

“When you meet Lord Laozi shortly, neither be discourteous nor too reserved.”

Senior Brother’s voice entered her ears, and Ling’E quickly gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath, released the corner of his robe she had been holding onto, and nodded firmly at Senior Brother.

Creeeeak—

The wooden doors of the Palace of Gathered Clouds opened wide, with Little Gold and Little Silver stepping out from within, today wearing matching green Daoist robes, distinguished only by gold and silver sashes and tassels respectively.

The two boy attendants made Daoist salutes together and said in unison:

“Senior Brother Changsheng, Junior Sister Ling’E, Lord Laozi summons you.”

“Much obliged to you both,” Li Changsheng cupped his hands, and Ling’E quickly bowed as well, stepping inside together with Senior Brother.

Moo~

A call came from the green box under the tree to the side, as the Gold and Silver boys closed the great doors of the Palace of Gathered Clouds, with various immortal consciousnesses lingering in the distance, not daring to approach.

At this moment, Ling’E’s mind was filled with ‘Don’t be discourteous, don’t be reserved, don’t be discourteous, don’t be reserved, don’t be discourteous…’

“Make your salutations,” Li Changsheng transmitted.

He took the lead, bowing his head in a Daoist salute, saying: “Disciple Changsheng pays respects to Lord Laozi.”

Ling’E held her breath and followed his example, catching a glimpse in her peripheral vision of the spirited elderly Daoist sitting before the Eight Trigrams Furnace, and quickly lowered her head in salute.

Oh no, for a female Daoist cultivator’s salute, was it the left hand or right hand that should be on… on top?!

She had suddenly forgotten!

No, she couldn’t focus on such minor details at this moment, as long as she didn’t make any major mistakes!

Senior Brother had just finished speaking, so it was the perfect timing for her to speak!

Head lowered, body bowed, breath must be even, the voice must be clear, showing the spiritual bearing of a registered disciple of the contemporary Human Teaching Saint, demonstrating the results of years of cultivation under Senior Brother’s guidance!

Taking a breath, speaking, she, little Ling’E would achieve a perfect score today!

“Disciple must not be discourteous! Paying respects to… to… Lord…”

Pfft!

Li Changsheng truly couldn’t hold back, turning his head to laugh; the Gold and Silver boys were desperately trying to suppress their laughter, and the ox in the courtyard kept headbutting the tree trunk, laughing at ox sounds.

Even Lord Laozi before the Eight Trigrams Furnace was squinting his eyes at this moment, stroking his beard to hide his smile.

Ling’E’s form wobbled unsteadily, nearly collapsing to the ground, her small mouth puckered in waves of embarrassment, fortunately, Li Changsheng moved quickly, raising his hand to support her arm, saying with a laugh:

“Please excuse her, Lord Laozi, Ling’E rarely leaves the mountain.”

Lord Laozi nodded with a smile and began bestowing treasures.

Originally it would have been fine with just three or four magical treasures, but now a string of treasure light flew out from Lord Laozi’s sleeve, piling up more than ten items both large and small;

There was also the life-saving Nine Cycles Golden Pill specially for Ling’E, the Nine Cycles Heaven Appearance Pill specially supplied to female disciples of the Human Teaching for beauty and nourishment, and the Nine Cycles Spirit Enlightenment Pill that could enhance comprehension of one’s own Dao without any side effects.

Seeing this made Li Changsheng quite emotional…

These days, female disciples receive much better treatment than male disciples.

Ahem, no!

Lord Laozi was truly worthy of being Lord Laozi!

Only the limits of the pill dao and the rules set by the Heavenly Dao could restrict the power of Lord Laozi’s pills.

When the Heavenly Dao was incomplete, there were spiritual pills and wonderful medicines that could make people ascend in broad daylight and achieve immortality, absolutely not just empty talk.

As for Ling’E, her mind had crashed at this point, her whole person dizzy and confused, only knowing to lower her head and give thanks, thanks, as various treasures and pills crashed into her arms.

After returning, she should find a stone tablet and bang her head against it.

Mm, not to reduce the number of tools for copying the Stable Character Scripture!

The scene shifted to the Peach Banquet at the Jasper Pool.

Behind a low table formed of pure jade and carved with numerous patterns, Ling’E sat properly on her knees, her small face clearly written with nervousness, yet still trying hard to appear natural, harmonious, calm, dignified, and well-behaved.

Although she had stumbled in the Palace of Gathered Clouds, the doors had been closed at the time, so that embarrassment was known only to fewer immortals than could be counted on one hand, plus one ox!

At this Peach Banquet, Ling’E believed she had already passed through the previous stage of Dao heart trembling, on high alert – at worst she could just play mute, maintaining the very likable persona of an “easily shy” and “afraid to speak” little immortal maiden.

Hehe, it wasn’t that her tactics were sophisticated, it was just that Senior Brother had taught her well!

Senior Brother was the Star Lord of Great White, she absolutely couldn’t lose face for Senior Brother.

But to tell the truth…

Even with such constant mental reassurance, the pressure was truly enormous.

Ling’E kept warning herself not to speak, not to speak, looking at the jade nectar and precious delicacies before her, forgetting which hand should hold the jade chopsticks.

Yet even so, she was still gently asked by the Queen Mother, who looked so beautiful at first glance yet carried such dignity that Ngo dared not look directly at her:

“Perhaps the wine and dishes are not to your taste?”

Ling’E tensed her willow-slim waist, her small mouth opened, and more than ten responses instantly floated up in her heart, ranging from “This disciple has been discourteous” to “This disciple has never seen such delicacies and doesn’t know how to begin” to “Senior Brother save me,” hundreds of words rushing toward her throat at once, getting stuck at her lips, causing her slightly parted pink lips to emit a:

“Hiccup!”

The Queen Mother, who had been smiling at Ling’E, paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but reveal a slight smile, covering her mouth with her cloud sleeve.

His Majesty the Jade Emperor calmly looked up at the sky, visibly struggling to maintain composure.

Although Li Changsheng also wanted to enjoy his Junior Sister’s embarrassment a bit longer, he ultimately feared she might be overwhelmed with shame, and took the initiative to raise his wine cup.

“My Junior Sister hasn’t been out much, please excuse her discourtesy, Your Majesty.”

To the side, Ling’E’s small mouth drooped, her head tilted, only able to exhale, those star-holding luminous eyes gradually losing their shine.

This immortal life was too difficult.

…

Meanwhile, on the sixteenth day after the attack on the Gate of Degree Immortals, in a secret corner of the Three Thousand Worlds.

In a stone hall built of black mystic stone, several figures sat in stone chairs with backs three zhang tall, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive.

In the main seat, Forgetting Emotions Senior, the Master of the newly rising power in the immortal world, the Heaven-Reaching Palace, Wang Fugui, his eyes somewhat reddened, sat in silence.

There was no wind, yet Forgetting Emotions Senior’s graying temples continued to flutter;

His cultivation had recently advanced again, only two steps away from the eighth rank of Golden Immortal, and according to Master White, his cultivation progress was comparable to a child of karmic destiny.

Yet, as his Dao became more complete, his divine abilities more sharper…

“What use is it?”

Forgetting Emotions Senior raised his head and sighed lightly: “The Sect Master fell protecting the mountain gate, while we were here, unable to even provide reinforcement.

If this poor Daoist had been there, how could Master have…”

“Master,” Jiu Wu’s voice was somewhat hoarse as he said softly, “Please don’t blame yourself, it was all Western Teaching’s deliberate plot to provoke relations between the Three Schools.

Our strength is limited, far from being able to directly confront Western Teaching, and with their deliberate actions, we probably couldn’t have changed things even if we’d been at the mountain.”

“We could have at least reduced the casualties,” Wine Dependent said softly, her eyes showing slight helplessness.

On the edge of the stone chairs, Jiu Jiu, wearing a black gauze dress, held a jade cup, lowering her head to take a sip.

“Let’s do something,” Jiu Jiu said thus, her eyes carrying some contemplation, the sternness on her pretty face merely suppressing the anger wanting to be released from her heart.

She said: “Under the premise of not affecting Heaven-Reaching Palace’s secrecy.

Master’s and our connection to the Gate of Degree Immortals absolutely cannot be exposed, especially Fifth Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister, you went out many times while serving as stewards in the sect, and you must maintain your disguises at all times.

Master White, can we cause trouble for the Divine Countries of Incense?”

White Ze sighed: “Difficult, the area we initially chose to operate in deliberately avoided Western Teaching’s sphere of influence, and now we maintain a certain distance from both the Immortal Alliance and the various Divine Countries of Incense.”

White Ze pondered for a moment before continuing:

“Everyone, don’t be hasty, Water God must have already arranged schemes against Western Teaching.

I understand Water God fairly well, the Gate of Degree Immortals weighs heavily in Water God’s eyes, and this time Western Teaching even threatened Little Jade Peak.

Those who orchestrated this from Western Teaching were quite skillful in their methods and left no loose ends, but they were fundamentally wrong.

Before his paper-person method gained attention and before he became famous himself, when Water God killed, he would crush bones to dust, with a performance thrown in as a bonus, leaving no future troubles.

At his core, he’s not some kindhearted person with benevolent intentions.”

Jiu Jiu slightly furrowed her brow and said: “Master White, Changsheng is merely merciless against enemies, but how can you say he isn’t kindhearted and benevolent toward those around him, even toward unrelated people, toward all living beings under heaven, toward the mortal realm of humanity?”

“This…”

White Ze was immediately at a loss for words, hurriedly saying: “Please don’t be angry, Holy Maiden, this poor Daoist only meant to say that directly threatening Water God is the most foolish approach, Water God never shows mercy to enemies.”

Only then did Jiu Jiu nod in response, leaning sideways in the stone chair, staring somewhat blankly at the wine in her cup.

Behind Forgetting Emotions Senior, River Forest Child leaned against the chair back with folded arms, glumly saying: “Can we do nothing?”

“We cannot,” White Ze sighed, “I ask everyone to be patient for now and keep this account pending.

Heaven-Reaching Palace is crucial to the Heavenly Court’s development and an important cornerstone of order in the Three Realms. Although the Immortal Alliance appears peaceful on the surface, its internal corruption is just a matter of time, sooner or later, and ultimately Heaven-Reaching Palace must take over the order of the Three Thousand Worlds.

With the Divine Countries of Incense as such an obvious target, we can rise quickly now, every year, and every month at this stage is extremely important, we cannot have any mishaps.”

The immortals of the Gate of Degree Immortals fell silent.

A moment later, Jiu Jiu stood up, her gauze dress hem falling like flowing water, covering her delicate jade feet.

Dropping the words “closed cultivation for ten years,” her form flew into the shadows of the hall corner, where faintly could still be heard several Human Teaching curse words she couldn’t hold back.

And the same news reached the ears of another expert from the Gate of Degree Immortals who was similarly ‘residing’ abroad, this expert had no such concerns.

[Human Teaching’s Gate of Degree Immortals fell victim to Western Teaching’s scheme, Sect Master died in battle, hundreds of disciples dead and wounded, Star-Lord of Great White angrily smashed Western Teaching’s mountain gate!]

In the most remote corner of the Horizon Secret Realm, in a quiet residence.

Elder Wan, who had been striving to comprehend the Poison Scripture of Lu Yue, stood up with a whoosh upon seeing the jade slip message in his hand, the anger in his eyes completely unconcealed.

“These inhuman Western Teaching bastards!”

Grabbing his copper-skinned staff, Elder Wan Linjun’s first reaction was to return to the Gate of Degree Immortals, but he immediately realized that even if he went back, he couldn’t make trouble for Western Teaching.

The Gate of Degree Immortals was just a medium-sized immortal gate, while Western Teaching was a Saint’s great teaching, and Spirit Mountain was a Saint’s domain;

And he was merely the Gate of Degree Immortals’ ‘Old Poison’ who had just stepped into the Golden Immortal realm.

The confrontation would only cause trouble for little Changsheng.

But in the Three Thousand Worlds, there were countless subordinate forces of Western Teaching!

“Hmph!”

Old Master Wan Linjun coldly snorted, quickly suppressing his anger, his Dao heart already calculating how he should act.

A moment later, he found the immortal soldiers guarding his courtyard, saying he sought an audience with Horizon Chamber Master and Immortal Alliance Vice Leader Madam Bian and naturally received quick permission.

On the cloud path rushing to the treasure hall of the Horizon Secret Realm, Elder Wan Linjun constantly pondered in his heart, the veins bulging on his hand gripping the copper-skinned staff.

After some hesitation, he did not disturb Senior Lu Yue.

Lu Yue was a Severing Teaching immortal, though he held a position in the Immortal Alliance, it was merely nominal, and moreover…

‘Ah, every family has its difficult scripture to recite.

Senior Lu Yue, because of researching poison pills, had evil qi invade his primordial spirit, forcing him to dual cultivate with women daily, exhausting himself to dispel the evil qi, he is already quite pitiful.’

Thinking of this, Elder Wan looked at Lu Yue’s exclusive tower, recalling the scene from his first time drinking with Senior Lu Yue.

At that time, it was fortunate he left decisively, otherwise he would have truly been corrupted by those women who seemed as if they were poisoned!

‘You have suffered, Senior Lu Yue.’

Elder Wan Linjun sighed, withdrawing his gaze, his immortal consciousness taking inventory of the various poison pills in his chest, his eyes revealing a faint killing intent.

The Gate of Degree Immortals cannot be lightly offended!

The Sect Master of the Gate of Degree Immortals shall not have died in vain!

Elder Wan Linjun’s cold smile was somehow so warm at this moment…

Thus, three months later.

A jade slip flew to the Heaven Gate, delivered by the guard to the Palace of Great White.

Li Changsheng, still pondering how to improve the paper-person method, also paused when he saw the contents of the jade slip…

[Gate of Degree Immortals’ Elder Wan Linjun has been constantly moving through the Three Thousand Worlds over the past three months, poisoning several thousand Western Teaching immortals guarding the Divine Countries of Incense, including many Heavenly Immortals and Golden Immortals, and has been marked for death by the Divine Countries of Incense, with several Great Luo Immortals tracking his movements.]

This…

Li Changsheng raised his head and sighed lightly, his eyes revealing some emotion.

But then, he closed his eyes, his spirit shifting to the Immortal Alliance grounds.

Originally, the retribution operations organized by Li Changsheng had always been quite restrained, focusing on pressuring Western Teaching, letting them experience what it means to struggle at every step, thereby making wrong judgments in their overall direction.

But since Old Master Wan Linjun wanted revenge, what harm was there in using the full power of the Immortal Alliance to ignite full-scale war?

An ordinary authority deity acting for private ends?

Well, just going with the flow.

With a wave of his great sleeve, a full-scale war beyond the Five Continents!