Perhaps the Great Law Master was simply too thin-skinned.

Li Chang Shou had prepared several sets of excuses for himself, but the Great Law Master didn’t say a word, quietly returning to Xuan Du City.

Instead, Kong Xuan left Li Chang Shou a message jade talisman, its contents quite simple—merely expressing gratitude to Li Chang Shou.

Several days passed before Li Chang Shou realized this.

He had helped Kong Xuan fulfill her wish, and Kong Xuan had helped shield him from the Great Law Master’s displeasure, counting as partial repayment.

Otherwise, after Elder Qi Yuan’s passing, Li Chang Shou might have had to experience once again the tender care of a whisk upon his posterior muscles…

Li Chang Shou could only smile bitterly at this.

It was all done at his Master’s behest; for immediate results, he had no choice but to resort to such tactics. Fortunately, the Great Law Master hadn’t discovered that the Seven Emotions Avatar of Desire had also been secretly fanning the flames that day…

Let that beautiful secret remain forever sealed.

The Great Law Master’s absence from tormenting him saved him considerable effort.

At this stage, Li Chang Shou needed to gradually accelerate his preparations for the Investiture, avoiding the Heavenly Dao’s arrangements while placing his pieces as much as possible.

The rules of this chess game were set by the Heavenly Dao, who held the authority to change the rules at any time. Fighting directly within the game would certainly yield no chance of victory…

Li Chang Shou returned to his secret study, using his immortal consciousness to check Ling E’s condition and calculate the timing of her Golden Immortal tribulation. With his current understanding of the Heavenly Dao, he could pinpoint it to the hour.

With only half an hour’s margin of error.

Activating the inner and outer triple Heaven-Covering Great Formation, Li Chang Shou raised his hand, summoning the written escape plans for the Investiture. Over a hundred scrolls slowly rotated around him.

In his spirit platform and primordial spirit, within his void-clear dao heart, streams of light circled Li Chang Shou’s primordial spirit.

Using memory as text, turning memory fragments into encrypted marks—these contained his true arrangements.

Though the actual plans differed little from the external set of plans, just these “minor” differences were enough for the Heavenly Dao to crush him ten times over.

Li Chang Shou hummed thoughtfully, focusing on his calculations.

Setting aside the Flower Fruit Mountain matter for now, as it had no connection to the current tribulation.

The Three Spirits of Xuan Yuan Tomb taking their positions could only be considered a harbinger; the great curtain of the Investiture tribulation would not rise because of this.

There were possibly three points where the curtain might rise.

First, his own Master’s reincarnation as Jiang Zi Ya;

Second, Di Xin’s birth or ascension to the throne;

Third, Di Xin’s visit to Goddess Nu Wa’s temple.

The so-called “curtain rising” meant that after such an event occurred, the Six Sages would sense something, the Heavenly Dao would show anomalies, and the Six Sages would consequently conclude that the Investiture tribulation would manifest between the Shang and Zhou nations, thus beginning their multi-sided power struggle.

The “curtain rising” would inevitably occur, and most likely would fall upon his own Master.

Qi Yuan’s death became the fuse for the Investiture tribulation’s descent;

Qi Yuan’s reincarnation as Jiang Zi Ya would likely be the sign of the Investiture’s killing tribulation beginning.

‘What else can I reasonably do?’

Li Chang Shou’s gaze swept across the current planned steps. After brief contemplation and another review of the plan’s sequence, confirming there were no risks, he began mobilizing his paper avatars again.

In the Conferring Immortality Sect, Li Chang Shou quietly appeared to seek out Li Jing, directly revealing himself as the ‘black-robed man’ to test Li Jing’s cultivation and teach him divine abilities and spells.

This was essentially a final assessment.

When Li Jing entered the Conferring Immortality Sect, Li Chang Shou arranged for him to be adopted by an elderly immortal couple within the sect, who gave Li Jing tremendous warmth, as his personality had originally been somewhat isolated and proud.

Regarding Ne Zha’s original story, Li Chang Shou had major reservations—Li Jing had undoubtedly failed somewhat as a father.

To fundamentally prevent tragedy from occurring, Li Chang Shou used the strategy of an “immortal family” to subtly influence and cultivate Li Jing into a positive, optimistic, kind-hearted person with a warm smile…

A Heaven Immortal-level great warmhearted man!

Let Li Jing be a good father, while he himself would secretly guide Ne Zha’s reincarnated form, preventing the little one from making mistakes.

This was his care as a grand-uncle toward the Spirit Zhenzhu.

Li Chang Shou’s plan had undoubtedly succeeded.

When the Conferring Immortality Sect faced tribulation years ago and the Sect Master went to his death, Li Jing had already shown his potential.

Though his cultivation wasn’t particularly deep, being able to step forward at crucial moments and face strong enemies was a rare quality.

Li Chang Shou’s prepared strategy guide for Li Jing’s departure from the mountain had been upgraded again, serving as a departure gift package.

That night, the ‘masked black-robed man’ night-raided the back mountain of Breaking Heaven Peak in the Conferring Immortality Sect, openly sparring with Li Jing while secretly guiding his sword techniques.

At dawn, the ‘black-robed man’ quietly departed, but arranged to fight again the next night.

Li Jing was not foolish—after careful consideration, he reported this to several Supreme Elders.

On the second night, the black-robed man appeared again, directly knocked out several Supreme Elders, calmly smiled at Li Jing, gave him some hard lessons, and continued guiding the beatings.

On the third night, the Conferring Immortality Sect actively set aside an area of the back mountain for the black-robed man’s exclusive use in ‘educating’ Li Jing, not daring to say another word.

On the fourth night, under the watch of over a thousand immortal consciousness streams from the Conferring Immortality Sect, the black-robed man arrived as promised…

After three months passed thus, the black-robed man engaged Li Jing in aerial sword combat, once again pinning him to a cliff face, and softly sighed:

“This is as far as I’ll teach you.

Li Jing, no need to come tomorrow night.”

Li Jing was stunned at these words. His form struggled free from the cliff, the wounds on his body blocked by immortal power, rapidly healing.

He made a Daoist salute forward, first hesitating to speak, but quickly made up his mind and said clearly:

“Junior thanks Senior for your recent guidance!

However, may I know Senior’s honored title, and why you chose to instruct Li Jing in sword techniques and divine abilities?

Also, why are all the sword techniques Senior uses recorded in our Conferring Immortality Sect’s collection?”

Li Chang Shou calmly removed his mask, revealing the appearance used by the Great White Star paper avatar, releasing his dao charm.

Seeing this, Li Jing first froze, then hurriedly bowed:

“Greetings to Star-Lord Great White!”

“No need,” Li Chang Shou waved his hand, “Just considering seniority within the Conferring Immortality Sect, I’m not even your equal.”

“Junior wouldn’t dare!”

Li Chang Shou continued: “Li Jing, do you know why I’ve been instructing you?”

“Please enlighten me, Star-Lord Great White,” Li Jing called out firmly.

Streams of light flew toward this location from within the sect. Li Chang Shou made a gesture, and the Conferring Immortality Sect’s immortals instantly stopped at a distance.

Many sect elders thought of how Li Chang Shou had previously promised Ji Wu You to select a responsible Sect Master for the Conferring Immortality Sect.

Could it be?

Surely!

Was this another registered disciple of their founding ancestor?

Today, their Conferring Immortality Sect finally…

Suddenly they heard Li Chang Shou calmly explain: “It was mainly to prepare you for leaving the mountain.”

Li Jing and the sect’s immortals were all stunned.

Li Chang Shou removed his black cloak, returning to white robes, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked to Li Jing’s front, speaking gently:

“Do you remember what you said when entering the Conferring Immortality Sect?”

“This disciple,” Li Jing paused, then showed shame on his face, saying softly: “This disciple once said he joined the immortal sect to protect his hometown.

Chen Tang Town has repeatedly suffered demon attacks. The town has an ancestral instruction that even if Chen Tang Town were to be completely devoured by demons, we must not yield a single step of human territory to the demon race!

This disciple…

This disciple has achieved some success in cultivation, yet coveted the mountain’s tranquility, vainly dreaming of the way of immortality, nearly forgetting such a mission. Please punish me, Star-Lord.”

Li Chang Shou tucked both hands in his sleeves and smiled: “If not for checking the Hall of Hundred Mortals’ records showing you returned to Chen Tang Town once every ten years, that punishment would have fallen long ago.

Cultivating for immortality is only human nature.

However, current heavenly dao operations indicate the Southern Continent will face tribulation, likely with demons causing chaos in the mortal realm. Prepare a bit more in the mountains, then go travel to the Southern Continent.

Of course, I won’t force any decisions on you. Your future path lies in your own hands.”

“Yes!”

Li Jing answered firmly, his eyes showing some shame.

Li Chang Shou raised his hand to pat Li Jing’s shoulder, taking out a brocade bag from his sleeve and handing it to Li Jing.

“Inside are some pills, some divine abilities, basic military strategy, and some miscellaneous books—consider it a gift.”

Li Chang Shou spoke gently: “Since I secretly arranged your entry into the Conferring Immortality Sect back then, I naturally wished to cultivate for the Human Immortal Teaching a successor who would be upright, daring in word and deed, responsible and resolute.

Remember this: cultivation level is not the determining factor of a being’s position in Heaven and Earth.

Character is.”

Speaking thus, Li Chang Shou chuckled lightly, mist rising around him as this paper avatar vanished without a trace.

Li Jing stood there holding the brocade bag, dazed for a while, feeling as if he were in a dream.

The Second Disciple of the Human Immortal Teaching’s Sage, the Celestial Court’s powerful minister and Second Heavenly Emperor, Cloud Void Immortal Maiden’s intended dao partner, Destroyer of the Demon Race, Western Teaching’s Coffin Bearer, Burning Lamp Daoist’s nemesis…

Was the black-robed man who had been instructing him in combat and divine abilities these three months?

The surrounding streams of light reappeared as the sect’s elders gathered around, first offering congratulations for a while, then all turning their gazes to the brocade bag in Li Jing’s hand.

An elder quietly asked: “Li Jing, does this contain texts authored by Star Lord Great White?”

“Perhaps we could copy what’s permissible to the Dao Scripture Hall, letting disciples broaden their horizons?”

Li Jing quickly agreed, being well aware of Li Chang Shou’s deep connection with the Conferring Immortality Sect.

However, upon opening the brocade bag and extending his immortal consciousness within, Li Jing’s forehead couldn’t help but fill with black lines…

This?

“What’s wrong?”

A female Heaven Immortal noticed Li Jing’s strange expression and quickly said: “If there’s any inconvenience, forget it—follow Star-Lord Great White’s instructions first.”

“It’s not that,” Li Jing hummed thoughtfully, taking out several bundles of jade slips and books, arranging them in a line with immortal power, revealing their titles.

The crowd of immortals focused their gaze, their expressions immediately becoming wonderfully varied, seeing the titles were all…

“Paternal Love Like a Mountain”;

“How to Be a Successful Father”;

“What Role Should Fathers Play in Children’s Growth”;

“Being a Patient Good Father”;

“What is Prenatal Education.”

That night, the back mountain of Breaking Heaven Peak in the Conferring Immortality Sect was quiet, with a group of elders and stewards doing nothing but pacing around Li Jing in the forest.

Finally, a relatively young elder clapped his hands and shouted: “This poor dao has figured it out!”

“What is it?”

“If you’ve figured it out, quickly explain Star Lord Great White’s profound meaning in this!”

“Star-Lord Great White is hinting!”

This elder’s eyebrows danced as he smiled, saying: “Hinting that he can already be an excellent father! That he can already write such scriptures and classics!

In other words, Li Jing! Your destined opportunity has arrived!”

Li Jing tilted his head, his forehead full of question marks.

The crowd suddenly understood, casting envious looks at Li Jing.

“Op-opportunity? What opportunity?”

“Fool!”

An old cultivator lightly tapped Li Jing with his whisk: “Next time you see Star-Lord Great White, just call him Father, and all will naturally become clear.”

The surrounding immortals each sighed at Li Jing’s deep fortune, while Li Jing remained somewhat dumbfounded.

Was this Star Lord Great White’s meaning?

In the Celestial Court, on Mount Small Jade.

Li Chang Shou watched this scene through his underground paper avatar, his forehead covered in black lines.

Never mind, no need to concern himself with these small details.

More pieces were waiting for him to give them a push.

…

Time passed without a trace as the killing tribulation drew ever closer.

Over thirty years after the Great Law Master’s romantic affair, Li Chang Shou continuously observed throughout Heaven and Earth, carefully taking action, and spending vast amounts of time laying down limited pieces.

For instance, he had found the tracks of Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, the original holders of the Treasure-Falling Copper Coins;

But after careful consideration, he didn’t move against these two scattered cultivators who had already become mere tribulation ash.

Now without Burning Lamp Daoist, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao were simply ordinary Golden Immortal cultivators with good fortune and decent cultivation, returning from the Three Thousand Worlds to the Five Regions seeking opportunities.

One couldn’t use a pot from another “dimension” to judge their crimes.

Moreover, in the Investiture tribulation, with immortals and deities mixing among mortals in warfare, what crimes could even be spoken of?

There were also some pieces that Li Chang Shou could see and influence but didn’t wish to move.

Such as Wen Zhong of the Severing Teachings, and the many third and fourth-generation disciples of the Severing Teachings who had now appeared around Wen Zhong and befriended him, many already bearing destiny upon them.

This destiny was equivalent to the Heavenly Dao’s mark—not a good thing.

Li Chang Shou could already feel the increasing urgency of the approaching Investiture tribulation.

The more pressing such times became, the less he could panic, after all, since beginning his cultivation, he had made hundreds of large and small calculations for this period.

—Mainly because he hadn’t previously imagined he could reach his current position.

In recent years, Li Chang Shou had wanted to go see the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc, but his heart had been continuously avoiding this thought.

There was no other reason—he somewhat didn’t know how to face his Master and feared that whenever he went, it would become the turning point for his Master’s reincarnation.

After reincarnation, one was no longer the original—merely two different resonances of the same true spirit.

Li Chang Shou didn’t want to discuss the meaning of living beings, but he knew that the Jiang Zi Ya he would see in the future, even if his appearance and form were ever so close to his Master’s, would no longer be that frustrated mortal immortal of years past.

If the Ancestral Master Dao Lord had lied to him, and the Heavenly Dao hadn’t only discovered him during his immortal tribulation;

Then his Master finding him and taking him as a disciple was also under the Heavenly Dao’s arrangements.

Shaking his head, Li Chang Shou drove these thoughts from his heart, lest they affect his dao heart’s stability.

Better to think of some happy matters, such as the letter Yun Xiao had sent earlier, with its flowing words of love, quite bold for her.

Think of how in the Three Thousand Worlds, the Heaven-Reaching Palace advanced vigorously, rapidly expanding, its mature system also being tested, sufficient to assist the Celestial Court in managing beyond the Five Regions.

Think again of how when Mi Le had just appeared in the Three Thousand Worlds, he immediately suffered heavenly punishment, being struck by divine lightning until he hid his whereabouts again;

Virtual Bodhi, bearing the title of a wanted criminal immortal of the Celestial Court, was surrounded by Immortal Alliance experts in an incense fire divine nation, finally fleeing in disorder…

And those Four Seas Dragon Palaces, probably after the Dragon Kings had thought things through clearly, had released signals of “joining forces to make trouble” to him, and critical progress had been made regarding the internal rectification of the Dragon Race.

There was also Li Jing who kept thinking about calling “Father,” slaying demons and eliminating evil at the border of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, gaining great fame, and his dao realm rapidly advancing through combat.

For these “main character team members of the Great Tribulation,” breakthroughs in the dao realm were as simple as drinking water.

Li Chang Shou cast an envious gaze at this, after all, having reached his current realm, especially after “indirectly” comprehending the Purple Qi of Primal Chaos, his dao realm advancement had become turtle-slow.

It took almost two or three years for a single enlightenment!

This made Li Chang Shou can’t help but reflect on what exactly he lacked compared to these “heaven’s chosen ones.”

Why did they receive the Heavenly Dao’s destiny support, getting green lights at every bottleneck, yet still couldn’t match his cultivation speed back in the Conferring Immortality Sect…

Hmm? Something seemed off there.

Calculating the time, he should also take His Majesty the Jade Emperor around to look about, selecting candidates for the first batch of orthodox deities.

Stretching lazily, Li Chang Shou’s true body floated back from underground secret chamber number three to underground secret chamber number one, glancing at Ling E cultivating before calmly flying to the “surface” medicine room.

Just as he reached the medicine room, Li Chang Shou suddenly heard an immortal consciousness call:

“Elder Brother…”

“Hmm?”

He instinctively responded, looking down toward Ling E’s room underground, seeing a book appear behind Ling E, slowly turning its pages, naturally turning past the final page before slowly closing.

Afterward, this book slowly rose, transforming into a pink lotus flower above Ling E’s head, bursting forth with streams of profound meaning.

Within the lotus, blue and white fish patterns slowly rotated.

Using Supreme Clarity’s dao as a foundation, and the Steady Character Scripture as a guide, Ling E’s dao had matured.

This dao wasn’t some profound great dao, but Li Chang Shou momentarily couldn’t quite understand it.

Under his influence, Ling E’s dao was also related to balance, but it wasn’t his Great Dao of Balance, being closer to the principles of yin-yang equilibrium.

Never mind what Ling E’s dao specifically was, or how powerful it might be.

—If it came to her facing combat, even the strongest dao couldn’t reverse the situation then.

Li Chang Shou looked up at the sky, seeing dense clouds gathering outside Mount Small Jade.

Ling E’s sudden comprehension had caused her Golden Immortal tribulation to arrive early!

Too late to invite people to observe the ceremony now.

Li Chang Shou silently checked his tribulation preparation supplies, stuffed several Nine Revolutions Golden Pills in his mouth, and casually moved Ling E from underground to the back mountain.

Come on! Ancestral Master!

He was ready!