Immortal mists swirled around the island, with a dreamlike beauty accompanying them.

In a corner of the Three Immortal Islands, two people walked together among the trees. Li Changshou wore a light blue robe while Fairy Yunxiao was dressed in cyan and white garments. Just strolling and chatting about matters unrelated to the Three Realms, they had unknowingly passed one or two hours.

Dating in the Great Wilderness had one advantage – the long intervals between meetings led to a full sense of anticipation before each encounter and plenty of prepared topics.

Of course, Li Changshou felt that even without seeking topics, just sitting or walking together, their spirits could find a certain peace…

At this moment, he certainly couldn’t mention the five-hundred-year meeting rule that Fairy Yunxiao had set back then.

For Fairy Yunxiao at that time, five hundred years was neither long nor short, just enough for her to cultivate for a period and then travel outside;

But for the current Fairy Yunxiao, even fifty years seemed somewhat hard to wait through. Though only thirty-some years had passed since their last parting, this meeting felt as if separated by a great distance.

When the two conversed, there were also some forbidden zones.

For Li Changshou, he tried not to mention his affairs in the Heaven Palace, because he knew Yunxiao wasn’t interested in these things, though Yunxiao was happy to listen to him talk about them.

For Yunxiao, she wouldn’t allow herself to bring up matters concerning the great tribulation, worried that it would pressure Li Changshou.

Yunxiao had mentioned last time: ‘The great tribulation is a cultivator’s tribulation; if one cannot pass it themselves, there’s nothing worth forcing.’

The implication was naturally telling Li Changshou not to worry too much about her.

As they walked, Li Changshou unconsciously raised his palm, and a delicate hand reached out from the side, taking hold of it.

Hidden in the shadows mimicking the two of them, Bixiao and Qiongxiao also learned by example, reaching out and holding hands, then silently dissolving into laughter.

As they chatted, the two began discussing Zhao Gongming’s matter.

Li Changshou winked at Yunxiao, and waves of white mist rose around Yunxiao, blocking the two ‘little’ fairies’ observation from the shadows.

Li Changshou asked: “How are things lately with Brother Gongming and Senior Sister Jinling?”

“I don’t know the specifics,” Yunxiao said, “I sent a letter to my brother earlier, and he replied saying all was well, so I suppose nothing has gone wrong.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “I mean, do they have any intention of announcing this matter publicly?”

“About that…”

Yunxiao hummed softly, her expression slightly strange.

Li Changshou asked puzzled: “What’s wrong? Is there some inside story?”

“Brother probably wants to announce it, but Senior Sister Jinling is shy.”

Yunxiao glanced at their unconsciously intertwined fingers and said softly:

“Senior Sister Jinling feels this is a private matter between the two of them. If announced publicly, since they are teacher’s disciples and high-ranking figures of the Severing School, she fears it would invite much idle talk.

That would somewhat change its nature.”

“Let others say what they want,” Li Changshou calmly shook his head, “But this is their private matter. If they don’t want to announce it, then don’t. As time passes, everyone will guess anyway.”

“Then, what do others say about us?”

Li Changshou responded without hesitation: “A match made in heaven, a talented scholar and beautiful lady, perfectly suited, destined by fate.”

“Pah,” even a fairy has moments of light reproach, “Don’t you feel embarrassed saying such things?”

“Hahaha,” Li Changshou laughed a few times and said softly, “If I were to be shy and reserved before you, I fear we would need an eon to discuss feelings, an eon to speak of love before we could achieve success.”

Fairy Yunxiao looked elsewhere, a smile hidden at the corners of her mouth. After a moment she asked: “What counts as achieving success in a relationship?”

“There’s no fixed nature to this,” Li Changshou gestured for them to turn left, going under an ancient tree, taking two cushions and sitting close together, maintaining a one or two-inch gap.

Li Changshou said: “For mortals, the wedding night is a success, having children is a success, a growing old hand in hand is a success.

For immortals, I don’t know exactly what counts as success.

Roughly, it’s when you and I are free from disasters and calamities, tribulations, and difficulties, able to live together, normally comprehending the dao and cultivating, leaning on each other in leisure time.

Watching until heaven and earth grow old, walking through the Three Thousand Worlds, at the end of immortality, when heaven and earth perish, still able to hold hands together.

Perhaps, this is the success I yearn for.”

Looking down, their eyes met, but Yunxiao’s beautiful eyes were full of clarity, unmoved by these words.

Li Changshou: …

Used the wrong sweet talk?

But then he heard her say: “Remember these words, speak them to me again in a thousand years, don’t miss half a sentence.”

Li Changshou was first stunned, then suddenly understood something in his heart, smilingly agreed, and hurriedly engraved what he had just said onto his divine soul.

No kiss today – Venus Star-Lord took note of this grudge, determined to repay it double in the future.

The two gazed at each other for a while, then returned to their previous topic.

Unconsciously, they began discussing the Sea Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhus, and Fairy Yunxiao said:

“When Teacher bestowed this set of treasures to brother back then, he also mentioned that the set was incomplete, but Teacher didn’t say where it was incomplete.

I suppose there should be thirty-six Heaven Pattern numbers.”

“Not necessarily.”

Li Changshou thought carefully, remembering that in the original Canonization story after Burning Lamp obtained the twenty-four Sea Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhus, they evolved into the Twenty-Four Heavens, and Burning Lamp’s power rose accordingly…

Now, the Sea Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhus definitely couldn’t fall into Burning Lamp’s hands. Li Changshou would personally guard Brother Zhao and wouldn’t let him face danger.

The opportunity of the Twenty-Four Heavens must fall to Brother Zhao…

This matter still needed careful planning. Burning Lamp Daoist was also his opponent, requiring careful handling.

If necessary, he would give Brother Zhao some ambiguous hints in advance, letting Brother Zhao work hard to comprehend the twenty-four Sea Stabilizing Divine Zhenzhus, perhaps gaining some insights.

“Yunxiao…”

“Mm?”

“Let me rest a while, handle some Dragon Race matters,” Li Changshou explained gently, “The teacher ordered me to give the Dragon Race some warnings, and my incarnation has already reached the Dragon Palace on the way.”

“Go ahead with your official business, I’ll keep you company here.”

Yunxiao responded tenderly, watching Li Changshou lean against the tree trunk with closed eyes in concentration, taking out a jade slip book from her sleeve, and reading quietly.

A gentle breeze passed by, light clouds like feathers.

The two figures under the tree were very close, yet always maintained a slight distance, never touching skin to skin.

The clouds isolating the two gradually dispersed as the immortal power maintaining them weakened, and several immortal consciousnesses floated by hesitantly, wanting to peek yet shy, seeing this scene and each showing disappointed expressions.

The male immortal seemingly dozing against the tree trunk, the female immortal sitting sideways reading a book beside him, interpreted the beauty of peaceful times, spoke of the harmony of yin and yang, unconsciously etching this scene in one’s heart.

…

In the Crystal Palace of the East Sea, in the Dragon King’s great hall.

Venus Star-Lord came personally, so the Crystal Palace naturally hung lanterns and decorations, inviting him to sit high, almost level with the Dragon King.

Dragon sons came forward offering wine, dragon daughters paying respects at the side.

Li Changshou responded with smiles, maintaining an elder immortal’s bearing, looking at these Dragon Race ‘juniors’ who were mostly older than himself, continuously giving encouraging smiles.

Not wanting to keep Yunxiao waiting long, Li Changshou found an opportunity to state his purpose:

“Dragon King, why I came today should have been explained in the jade talisman earlier.”

Calling him Dragon King earlier was a respectful title for the Dragon King;

Now calling him Dragon King was purely out of respect for Ao Guang as a Great Wilderness elder.

The East Sea Dragon King nodded with a smile and clapped his hands, and the dragon sons and daughters withdrew, the dancing sea maidens lowered their heads and left the scene, and several turtle prime ministers hurriedly approached carrying jade slips.

Ao Guang smiled and said: “Star-Lord, please review these, these are the duty reports from water deities placed in various locations by the Dragon Race.”

Li Changshou nodded slowly, streams of light flew out from his sleeve, and right in front of the Dragon King, he manifested sixteen incarnations, taking the jade slips and beginning to quickly review them.

Those turtle prime ministers looked at each other, but the Dragon King smiled and shook his head.

Half an hour later, the sixteen paper people flew back into Li Changshou’s sleeve as streams of light, and Li Changshou showed a solemn expression, humming several times.

The Dragon King asked: “Star-Lord, is there anything amiss?”

Li Changshou said: “These duty reports from deities of Dragon Race origin are all praising peace and prosperity, saying in their respective jurisdictions, water affairs are stable, without floods or droughts, mortals living in peace and contentment.

But Dragon King, have they misunderstood something?”

“Oh?” The Dragon King slightly frowned.

Li Changshou sighed and said: “The Heavenly Dao’s operation isn’t always smooth and as wished, the moon has its waxing and waning, and heaven has its droughts and floods. If there’s only favorable weather all the time, mortals gradually become lazy, losing their awe of heaven and earth’s nature, which isn’t good either.

Various water deities should take the Heavenly Dao’s operation as standard, with droughts and floods rotating, this is the correct principle of divine positions.”

The Dragon King stroked his beard and sighed long: “Star-Lord speaks correctly, this matter was this small deity’s oversight. This small deity will immediately summon water deities from all directions to come and uniformly comprehend Star Lord’s spirit!”

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, saying: “Now the Heaven Palace is gradually getting on track, heavenly rules becoming increasingly strict.

Earlier, I used an incarnation to walk in the mortal realm for several months and saw that most Dragon Race descendants are conscientious in their duties, considering the Dragon Race’s fate, the stability of heaven and earth, and their merit, benefiting their regions, and doing good deeds.

But.”

The Dragon King listened carefully, showing a serious expression, now weighing the significance of this ‘but’.

Li Changshou said: “There are still about thirty percent of Dragon Race descendants who cannot change their extravagant and dissipated habits, building great palaces under rivers and lakes, gathering for pleasure, disregarding the lives of water-dwelling people.

Some Dragon Race descendants even take pleasure in toying with humans, and worse, some forcibly take mortal women.”

“Forcibly taking mortal women?”

The Dragon King frowned deeply, also shocked by this matter, and said firmly: “Could there be some misunderstanding about this? How could my Dragon Race descendants be attracted to mortal women?”

Li Changshou showed a bitter smile, took out an image sphere from his hand, and placed it in the Dragon King’s hand.

The Dragon King frowned as he watched the image sphere for a while, then erupted in anger:

“Guards!”

Four figures hurriedly came to the great hall’s entrance, kneeling on one knee, without saying a word.

“Go invite Elder Ao Qianhua here!

Send a troop of soldiers to capture Ao Qianhua’s eldest son!

If either father or son escapes, not a single member of Ao Qianhua’s clan will be spared!”

“Yes!”

These four figures answered in unison, turning into four streams of water and quickly departing.

The sea maiden musicians and dragon sons and daughters in the corner of the great hall were now as quiet as cicadas in winter, not having seen His Majesty this angry for who knows how long.

The East Sea Dragon King stood up, first pacing before the throne, then remembering something, made a Daoist salute to Li Changshou and sighed:

“Please punish us, Star-Lord. I failed to restrain clan members. Never did I imagine Dragon Race members would commit such absurd acts!”

Li Changshou stood up, returned the Dragon King’s salute, took out several image spheres from his sleeve, placed them on the low table beside the Dragon King, and said solemnly:

“Dragon King, in this matter, considering the friendship between the Dragon Race and myself, I didn’t directly report to His Majesty the Jade Emperor, but came to the Dragon Palace, fearing the Dragon Race would be too passive.

The Dragon Race’s internal affairs, Dragon King understands better than I do, and the Dragon Race’s concerns, Dragon King is also clearer about than I am.

Now I must make clear to the Dragon King… divine positions are not child’s play, and Heaven Palace positions are not internal Dragon Race positions.

These dragons, Dragon King should deal with these as you see fit, best to select one or two to send to the Heaven Palace, to request punishment before the Jade Emperor’s throne, and to also correct the atmosphere among Dragon Race deities.

The Dragon Race’s internal atmosphere is relatively relaxed, and the Heaven Palace has no intention to interfere in the Dragon Race’s internal affairs, but once one becomes a Heaven Palace deity, they are bound by heavenly rules. I hope Dragon King can understand this.”

“This small deity understands, this small deity understands!”

The Dragon King sighed softly and made a Daoist salute to Li Changshou.

Li Changshou returned the salute and smiled: “In that case, I’ll return to the Heaven Palace.”

“Why doesn’t Star-Lord stay for the banquet?”

“Not today, Dragon King should handle these matters first.”

Speaking thus, Li Changshou cupped his hands, holding his whisk while walking toward the hall doors. The East Sea Dragon King sent him off with a few steps, and several Dragon Race elders escorted Li Changshou out of the Crystal Palace.

As soon as Li Changshou left, the East Sea Dragon King sighed, looked at those image spheres, and swept his palm over them, crushing them all.

“Capture all these evil dragons! First, hang them on the Dragon Imprisoning Pillar and beat them for three days and nights! Then send them to the Heaven Palace to request the death penalty!”

Outside the Crystal Palace, though Li Changshou’s elder immortal paper person had left, several hidden paper people slightly extended their immortal consciousness, capturing several pairs of Dragon Race soldiers hurriedly heading toward the Southern Continent.

Warning the Dragon Race must be done step by step, couldn’t directly use extreme pressure tactics, as that would only cause the Dragon Race to become disheartened.

Uniting the Dragon King and Dragon Race experts, letting Dragon Race’s ambitious individuals stand out to confront the decadent parts of the Dragon Race, was the correct principle.

Riding clouds out of the East Sea, Li Changshou ostentatiously headed toward the East Heaven Gate, his gaze swept over the tassel at his white robe’s waist, that blue-green color had now become light purple.

A high-level expert’s immortal consciousness was investigating him.

Li Changshou pretended not to notice, having already calculated in his heart who was coming to find him, yet remained unhurried, continuing straight toward heaven.

After flying just a thousand li, a white cloud carrying a beautiful female immortal came directly toward him.

An incarnation?

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, secretly sighing in his heart, his main body continuing to hold position motionless at the Three Immortal Islands.

Then he heard a call:

“Are you Venus Star-Lord from heaven?”

This voice was truly like an oriole, graceful and lingering. Carefully savoring it, it also contained several parts excitement, several parts shyness, and several parts suppressed emotional stirring.

Li Changshou turned with a smile, and stopped on his cloud, looking at the fairy flying from afar, examining her up and down several times.

Perhaps because Li Changshou’s gaze was too unrestrained, this fairy’s pretty face blushed red, yet she gracefully came forward and gave Li Changshou a graceful curtsy.

Just as she was about to speak, Li Changshou said:

“Didn’t expect a friend to be so lifelike when impersonating a woman, truly worthy of being the Western Teaching’s First Senior Brother.”

The ‘fairy’ first frowned, then quickly showed a ‘stunned’ expression.

He wanted to continue acting, but seeing Li Changshou’s gaze carried a smile, looking like he was watching a show, immediately snorted coldly and swept his sleeve.

“The way of incarnation truly can’t deceive Venus Star-Lord.”

“Well said, well said,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “It’s just that friend was too easy to guess. A friend is coming this time, what important business do you have?

Why don’t you show your main body and this poor Daoist can spar with you a bit, settling our karma.”

This ‘fairy’ said coldly: “Doesn’t Star-Lord feel you’ve gone too far?

Our schemes were each for our great schools, this poor Daoist merely killed one Golden Immortal of your Human Teaching’s Immortal Sect, yet friend has taken revenge for decades without end.

Even pinning such a great evil as Kun Peng on this poor Daoist! What connection does this poor Daoist have with Kun Peng?”

Li Changshou smiled calmly, his eyes revealing a little amusement.

Did they think he was a greenhorn? That he would say everything outward?

Li Changshou said: “If a friend has no guilty conscience, why not come to the Heaven Palace to prove your innocence?”

“Why should this poor Daoist need to prove innocence at the Heaven Palace?”

“Why doesn’t a friend produce evidence that you’re not Kun Peng’s second divine soul? If you can convince this poor Daoist, this poor Daoist naturally won’t mention this matter again.

To be honest, though we are enemies, this poor Daoist wouldn’t stoop to such slander, it was only after having certain evidence that there was reasonable suspicion.

Friend, do you feel that in your life you’ve had shallow interactions with Kun Peng, just a few chance meetings in ancient times, so there’s no connection?

Alas, Kun Peng acted quite cleverly, to avoid leaving traces, specifically when splitting out the second divine soul, didn’t leave any memories, and then performed the act of a cuckoo taking over a magpie’s nest…”

“Nonsense!”

“Friend, please look at this.”

Li Changshou took out an image sphere from his sleeve, showing the details of Kun Peng fighting him in the Chaos Sea within.

With a snap, Li Changshou crushed the image sphere.

“Kun Peng’s fake body actively died in battle, covering for the new body, and you friend… never mind, there’s no conclusion yet, just wanting to invite you to the Heaven Palace to cooperate with the investigation.”

After speaking, Li Changshou waved his sleeve, turning his head to fly toward high heaven, but before leaving turned his head to look at Maitreya again.

“Kun Peng’s scheme originated in ancient times.

The grudge between us must be settled in the future, but in this matter, this poor Daoist wouldn’t go so far as to slander.”

Then snorted coldly and rode away on his cloud, leaving only Maitreya’s incarnation dazed on the cloud.

And Li Changshou’s voice came flying from the misty clouds, saying:

“Mortals, immortals, living beings, great powers.

Who am I?

And who are you?

A Daoist title is just a symbol, you can be called Maitreya, others can be called Maitreya, Kun Peng’s second divine soul can also be called Maitreya, when the second divine soul believes it’s called Maitreya, what can that represent?

Where did you come from in life, and where will you go in death? Your appearance in these Three Realms, what does it mean for the Three Realms?

Did you choose Maitreya, or did Maitreya choose you?

Friend, you are lost, such as you are, not even worthy to be this poor Daoist’s opponent.”

Not worthy to be this poor Daoist’s opponent… worthy to be this poor Daoist’s opponent… be this poor Daoist’s opponent… opponent… ent…

That ‘fairy’ was dazed for a while, and before long, she took out an image sphere from her sleeve, repeatedly watching its contents, naturally the just-concluded conversation with Li Changshou…

His scheme this time to clear himself had naturally failed.

But in his heart, he couldn’t help but have various thoughts arise, and for a time was troubled and confused.

“Did I choose Maitreya, or did Maitreya…

Choose me?”