What could Senior Brother be busy with again?

He was either in the lakeside cottage or the pill-refining chamber, never venturing out. It had been quite some time since anyone had seen him, making one rather wistful.

Wasn’t it said that the Western Sect could no longer cause trouble…

Just yesterday, Dragon Princess Ji mentioned that in the current world, there was nothing the Celestial Court couldn’t accomplish. Senior Brother could change countless beings’ fates with a mere wave of his finger.

He had truly become a rightful Authority of the Celestial Court!

At the card room in Little Jade Peak.

Ling E gazed absent-mindedly out the window, these scattered thoughts crossing her mind as the clinking sounds of jade tiles reached her ears.

This wasn’t the sound of flowing water, but rather the clear, crisp noise of jade tiles being shuffled by delicate hands…

Dragon Princess Ji had nothing to do lately and was feeling somewhat restless. To prevent being affected by the Tribulation’s influence, she had taken up temporary residence at Little Jade Peak, becoming an official regular member of the card room.

Though Xiong Lingli held a position in the Celestial Court, she was the guardian commander of Little Jade Peak. The Hall of Clarity didn’t dare issue her real transfer orders, so she still spent her days playing at Little Jade Peak.

As for the lowest-ranking member…

She manifested in spirit form, wearing a fire-red dress with a slit up to her thigh, unabashedly displaying her attractive figure without any reservations.

After all, it was just spiritual energy condensed into form – let them look if they wanted. Her true form sat right there beside them, with smooth curves, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. A single ring could kill a Golden Immortal, and a slight collision could severely wound a Daluo Immortal.

This was naturally the Primordial Treasure, the Chaos Bell.

And joining these three in their card game was the Celestial Court’s female war goddess in an ice-blue dress, You Qin Xuanya.

After being forcefully brought to Little Jade Peak by Li Changshou last time, You Qin Xuanya no longer resisted.

Whenever Xiong Lingli called for her at the old Water God Manor, she would come to play with them as long as she didn’t have to go out to fight monsters.

Bang!

Bell Spirit frowned as she slammed a jade tile on the table, calling out with furrowed brows:

“E, come help your sister look at these tiles! How am I supposed to win like this?

Stop staring longingly at your Senior Brother. He’s at his busiest in these recent decades, surely already beginning to preside over the Great Tribulation of Canonization.”

“How exactly does one preside over the Tribulation?” Ling E asked softly as she gracefully jumped over, continuing in a gentle voice:

“Could it be they set up an arena and have people come to compete, whoever loses becomes an official in the Celestial Court?”

Bell Spirit immediately chuckled, “How could it be that peaceful?”

However, Xiong Lingli said: “You Qin must have seen it. Right outside the Middle Heaven Gate, a strange person is setting up a platform every day. Perhaps that’s the arena.”

You Qin Xuanya immediately nodded, staring at her tiles with complete seriousness.

It didn’t feel like she could win.

Bell Spirit calmly said: “It’s no use explaining such complex matters to you small fry. This situation is extremely complicated – it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s a matter of life and death for the Dao School.

The Sages move their chess pieces, each playing their own game. Someone like your Senior Brother, who can jump out of the chess game and still reach in with half a hand, is truly rare in this world.

I dare call him a fierce warrior.

Of course, this is mainly because he has the support of the strongest Sage behind him – that’s the foundation of everything.

Let’s start the game!”

By now, Ling E had helped Bell Spirit arrange her tiles and sat quietly to the side thinking.

Two immortal maidens, one half-witch, and one treasure spirit began another bloody storm.

You Qin Xuanya asked: “In such a great tribulation, is Senior Brother Changshou in any danger?”

“That depends on what exactly he wants to do,” Bell Spirit chuckled. “This fellow is quite interesting. He talks about being cautious and acts very thoroughly, but who knows when he might do something impulsive.

Though people like him are rare, I’ve seen them before. It’s just that his predecessors didn’t climb as high or move as fast.”

“What Senior Brother Changshou wants to do…” You Qin Xuanya hummed thoughtfully, turning to look at Ling E beside her. “Sister Ling E should understand best.”

“Hmm—” Ling E propped her chin up and thought for a moment, muttering softly: “Leave safely? Avoid all karma? That’s how Senior Brother has taught me since I was little.”

You Qin Xuanya immediately appeared contemplative.

“Why not just ask him?” Bell Spirit laughed. “You living beings, always beating around the bush, testing each other with your words. You’re all so close now, what’s there that can’t be said?”

“Senior, that’s different! Three of Bamboo.” Xiong Lingli said seriously: “We have an ancestral teaching in our tribe that goes – hearts are separated by flesh and skin, don’t treat enemies as brothers, and the reverse is also true.

If everyone were frank and direct, that would feel strange too.”

“Heh,” Bell Spirit’s eyes crinkled in laughter, “This Bell is being lectured by a witch.”

“Hehehe.” Xiong Lingli laughed sheepishly, her twin ponytails swaying gently. Her petite form, shrunk by transformation techniques, made her seem completely harmless.

Dragon Princess Ji smiled and said: “I’m also curious what Master is doing. Master previously said that the Celestial Court shouldn’t directly intervene in the Great Tribulation of Canonization, and also mentioned using the opportunity of the Tribulation to remove some hidden dangers to the Celestial Court.

Surely none of these are easy tasks.

Master truly labors too much for the Celestial Court.”

Ling E said: “Senior Brother should be able to handle it. Even if he can’t handle it, there’s nothing we can do to help.”

However, You Qin Xuanya said: “That’s not right. Even if it costs our lives to help Senior Brother Changshou relieve some pressure, that’s what we should do.”

“Aiya, enough, focus everyone, can’t you show some respect for the tiles in front of you!” Bell Spirit grumbled. “Still distracted during the game, Senior Brother this, Changshou Senior Brother that, ugh, you living beings are mushy.

This Bell must win all your spirit stones today!”

The immortal maidens laughed lightly, and Ling E gave You Qin Xuanya a slightly apologetic look. The latter shook her head slightly and lowered her head to continue pondering her tile-matching strategy.

The afternoon sunlight penetrated through the layers of clouds in the Celestial Court and the multiple formations of Little Jade Peak. Quite miraculously, it arrived without much loss, casting dappled shadows through the trees around the card room.

Inside, laughter and cheerful voices made the nearby spirit beast enclosure seem rather quiet in comparison.

At this moment, Li Changshou lay quietly on a lounge chair in front of the pill-refining chamber. The palm fan in his hand had stopped moving, the teapot he was holding had been set down, his eyes were gently closed, his breathing very steady, his immortal consciousness enveloping the surroundings of Taibai Palace.

This was his state when most of his consciousness had left his body, though his physical form still maintained ample vigilance.

He was about to do something big!

In the back courtyard of the vast and easily defensible Li Manor in Chen Tang Pass, Wang Chang’an – a special paper person and senior servant – stood straight and tall.

The satin short jacket he wore reflected slight gleams of light, and the golden chain around his neck displayed his distinctly different status among the manor’s servants.

Whether serving as an ordinary authority in the Celestial Court, a mortal minister, or a servant in a residence – it was all about dealing with people, all about working for others. There wasn’t much fundamental difference.

Perhaps this could be considered one of Li Changshou’s general skills.

He raised his hand, aligned his knuckles with the wooden door’s patterns, knocked twice with rhythm, then pushed open the half-closed door, stepping in first with his left foot, towards the…

Uh, why was Li Jing worshiping him?

At this moment, Li Jing was kneeling on a meditation cushion, hands clasped in prayer and head bowed, seemingly in a meditative state.

Behind the incense altar before Li Jing, the figure of Taibai Jinxing sat cross-legged in the painting, naturally appearing as that white-browed, white-haired immortal elder.

Li Changshou calmly ignored the painting and adjusted his voice, speaking in a clear, slightly excited, and magnetic tone:

“My Lord, the Lady has given birth. Both mother and child are safe.”

Li Jing’s tightly tensed back immediately relaxed, and he let out a light breath. But then, thinking of his current position in the jianghu, he quickly regained his composed demeanor.

The General rose from his meditation cushion and spoke in a voice trying to be calm but somewhat strained:

“Is it a boy-Zha or a girl-Zha?”

Li Changshou: …

“A boy… boy-Zha.”

Li Jing nodded with his hands behind his back, saying: “Well, boy-Zha or girl-Zha would both have been fine, I would have loved either.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “My Lord, you can go to the birthing room now. Go quickly to see the Lady.”

“Yes,” Li Jing nodded and stepped out of the small shrine dedicated to Taibai Jinxing. Though his steps appeared slow, each stride carried him dozens of zhang forward.

He had employed supernatural abilities beyond his cultivation realm.

Li Jing let out a slight breath of relief.

As a first-time father, hopefully, he hadn’t made any missteps.

Dignity – as a General who was like a parent to his subjects, he must maintain dignity. A new addition to the family was merely a private matter, it shouldn’t be celebrated too grandly.

Yes, stay composed.

After all, he was nominally the adopted son of Star-Lord Taibai. Jumping three zhang high wouldn’t look proper.

Li Changshou gave a light chuckle, closed the wooden door of the shrine, and jogged to catch up.

Speaking of which, what was happening with the Severing Sect?

Could it be they truly thought their position was secure? Why were they not being proactive anywhere?

Li Jing’s fate was already manifesting, and previously the matter of “recognizing a father” had caused ripples. By all rights, he should have caught the attention of both the Enlightenment Sect and Severing Sect, even the Western Sect.

Why was it that now, only the auras of two Golden Immortals from the Twelve of the Enlightenment Sect were lingering thousands of li away, without a trace of the Severing Sect?

He had been thinking of having Jin Zha and Mu Zha try joining the Severing Sect, to avoid them being persuaded by their original masters to become some kind of dharma protector for the future Buddhist path.

But now, there wasn’t a single Severing Sect immortal in sight.

Were they all using Pantene? Where did such confidence come from?

Li Changshou sighed inwardly and decided he should still remind the Severing Sect through the clouds later. Right now was the peak period of opportunities in the Great Tribulation – not actively stepping forward to seize life force truly failed to live up to the Severing Sect’s teachings.

Ahead, Li Jing suddenly came to his senses and muttered:

“Boy-Zha?”

Li Changshou almost laughed out loud but pretended not to notice, keeping his head down as he jogged forward, only to be stopped by Li Jing at a corridor corner.

“My Lord, why haven’t you gone yet?”

Li Jing raised his arm to wrap around his shoulder: “Ah, I suddenly thought of something. Wang Chang’an, you’re an educated and learned man. Help me consider, what do you think of this character ‘Zha’?”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “This character ‘Zha’ is wonderful – it rolls off the tongue and touches people’s hearts. I just don’t know its origins.”

“Hahaha,” Li Jing laughed heartily. Without a beard yet, he still had the appearance of a young man.

Li Jing said: “This character ‘Zha’ has quite the background. It took me a long time to come up with this name.

‘Zha’ was the first syllable uttered by the God Pangu before his death, when he was clearing the world of evil spirits.

The character ‘Zha’ carries the meaning of sweeping away demons and upholding the righteous path through the vicissitudes. Chen Tang Pass has suffered repeated demon attacks, and even now many civilians still live in unease.

I hope that my offspring will also take it upon themselves to protect this region and benefit the common people.”

“My Lord’s noble aspirations are admirable,” Li Changshou said softly. “Rest assured, My Lord, feel free to use the character ‘Zha’. By tomorrow, all of Chen Tang Pass will know its meaning.”

“Hahaha, you rascal.”

Li Jing gave Li Changshou’s paper person’s shoulder a hearty pat before floating away.

Li Changshou laughed inwardly.

This Li Jing did have one real flaw – he cared too much about appearances.

Next would be observing Li Jing’s parenting process. With the experiences gained from Jin Zha and Mu Zha, surely it couldn’t go too badly with the Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation.

Just wait.

Jin Zha, Mu Zha?

Surely Li Jing wasn’t planning to have children following the Five Elements sequence?

Come to think of it, Nezha, the Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation, really was of the Fire element.

Shaking his head with a laugh, Li Changshou’s paper person continued jogging to catch up, thinking about how to spread the meaning of ‘Zha’ throughout the city later, while his divine consciousness never stopped monitoring Li Jing’s situation.

The Li Family observation diary was officially…

‘Senior Uncle Changgeng, may your disciple enter?’

A distant call suddenly appeared in his mind. Li Changshou immediately divided his attention, moving half his consciousness to Chaoge City, where his paper person opened his eyes behind the desk, checking the condition of this [Official] paper person.

The one who had called him was Wen Zhong, presumably with some urgent matter or having encountered some difficulty.

At this moment, Wen Zhong should have been accompanying Zi Shou in the southwest, campaigning against the ‘barbarians.’

Some of these barbarians had systems that evolved from ancient times and were somewhat more advanced than the Shang state.

“Come in.”

Li Changshou spoke softly, and a barely perceptible formation expanded around the study.

A wisp of green smoke rose from the ground, instantly transforming into Wen Zhong’s figure, who made a deep Daoist bow to Li Changshou.

At this time, Wen Zhong had used magic to dye his hair salt-and-pepper to match his mortal status.

These years of worldly experience had made Wen Zhong much more steady and mature. Though there was still some sharpness in his features, most of it was now concealed edge.

“Wen Zhong pays respects to Senior Uncle Changgeng.”

“Mm, no need for formalities,” Li Changshou waved his hand, gesturing for Wen Zhong to sit.

But Wen Zhong said: “Senior Uncle, I came in haste and must return to the army immediately, so I’ll be brief.”

Li Changshou listened attentively as Wen Zhong explained the situation and asked for a solution.

The matter was quite simple.

The expedition army had won victories, breaking through dozens of cities, taking many prisoners of war, and obtaining gold and silver treasures. That nation had declared its surrender and allegiance.

Half of the Shang state’s eight hundred vassals were conquered this way.

The other half had submitted voluntarily.

“The problem lies with the prisoners of war,” Wen Zhong said heavily. “According to military regulations, prisoners of war count toward the commanding officers’ military achievements, and they carry considerable weight in those achievements.

Thus, the Shang army has already normalized this situation – whenever they capture a city, they forcibly classify some civilians as prisoners of war to increase their military merit.

But this time, somehow, Zi Shou strictly ordered that the army must not seize civilians as prisoners of war.

The generals were dissatisfied and agreed to defy the order. Zi Shou directly killed two of them with his sword, intimidating the rest into compliance.

Now, the army’s generals are outwardly submitting while harboring resentment, planning to make tearful appeals before the Great King upon returning to Chaoge City…”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “This prince is quite decisive and efficient.”

“Senior Uncle, how should this matter be handled properly?”

Wen Zhong sighed and said: “In Chaoge City, there are already many factions dissatisfied with Zi Shou, wanting the Great King to choose a new heir. Zi Shou was truly rash this time, and they will certainly seize upon this weakness.”

Li Changshou frowned slightly and said slowly: “This matter is indeed troublesome. Everyone is watching Zi Shou’s every move, and his actions this time were truly too dramatic.

However, there is also a positive side to this.

He can see where the problems lie in the Shang state and wants to make changes. That’s certainly better than his father who simply enjoys the benefits while feeling powerless and not making any effort to do anything.”

Wen Zhong nodded with a smile.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said: “This matter needs one word – stability.”

“May I ask Senior Uncle, what constitutes stability?”

“You can advise from the side, having Zi Shou first report to Chaoge City, directly charging those few men with disobeying military orders.

After returning to Chaoge City, don’t do much else. There’s no need for many explanations – just stay behind closed doors in his palace. He can claim illness, or say he’s studying military strategy – any excuse will do.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “If Prince Zi Shou doesn’t mind, he can come talk with me secretly.”

Wen Zhong’s spirits lifted, and he quickly made a Daoist bow, exclaiming: “Thank you, Senior Uncle!”

“However, Wen Zhong.”

Li Changshou changed his tone, his smile fading as he said gently: “You are still a disciple of the Severing Sect, not just an ordinary Shang minister.

Don’t become too entangled in the mortal realm, lest you bring unexpected calamity upon yourself.”

Wen Zhong was taken aback.