Sigh…
Three months after Patriarch Zhao Gongming’s wedding at Little Jade Peak.
Spirit Maiden E’s mood seemed somewhat low as she walked aimlessly by the lake, her small hand holding a willow branch that gently swept the fallen leaves on the ground.
Sigh, ever since Senior Brother returned, he kept muttering something about ‘Big Brother’ – whether it meant danger, chest, or brother, she couldn’t tell the difference in her confusion.
Several spirit birds chirped away as the morning at Little Jade Peak was filled with the warmth of the sun star. Beneath the sparkling lake surface, the variety of spirit fish had grown more abundant.
Spirit Maiden E recalled last night when Senior Sister Youqin Xuanya returned from demon extermination. Senior Brother had called her, Lingli, and Senior Sister Youqin together, unable to contain his delighted smile.
“There’s one matter.
I’ve already arranged with the Chaos Bell. When necessary, it will protect Little Jade Peak as we fly out of the Primordial World and land in Xuandu City.
Youqin, Lingli, you two need to decide now whether you’ll leave with me then or continue serving in the Heavenly Court.
If you stay, there won’t be any problems. Coming with me might involve some risks, though they’re manageable.
Don’t rush to answer. I hope you’ll think it through carefully and plan for your future.
Spirit Maiden E, I won’t ask you.”
Hmph, Senior Brother just didn’t want her to leave.
Such a tsundere.
But then, Spirit Maiden E felt somewhat dejected.
How lively Little Jade Peak was back at the Path of Immortality! Several uncles and aunts of the Wine Generation would come to play every day, Little Ancestral Master and Ninth Uncle would stay regularly, and there were also Wine Rain Poetry Aunt and Senior Sister Liu Yan’er…
But there was nothing to be done about it.
Senior Brother carried too many burdens, and this was just his nature. This day would come sooner or later.
It was quite sad to think about.
Moreover, it seemed now that Senior Sister Youqin might stay in the Heavenly Court.
This was Spirit Maiden E’s intuition, as well as her judgment after analysis.
Senior Sister Youqin was different from her. While she was single-mindedly focused on Senior Brother, Senior Sister Youqin seemed to view Senior Brother more as a role model to chase after.
Of course, now Senior Brother was practically an insurmountable mountain before Senior Sister Youqin. Even if she caught up, she couldn’t climb over.
Although Senior Sister Youqin’s position in the Heavenly Court was arranged by Senior Brother himself, when chatting with her, she expressed an incredibly strong sense of belonging and recognition toward the Heavenly Court.
It was as if her immortal life had taken on a different value.
Such a Senior Sister Youqin was quite captivating, but Spirit Maiden E wouldn’t envy her.
Different choices, different pursuits.
‘What will Little Jade Peak become in the future?’
Spirit Maiden E tossed away the willow branch, folded her small hands in front of her, gathered her skirt, and knelt by the lake. She stared absent-mindedly at the water for a while, then scattered some fish food into the lake.
E lives for Senior Brother, after all.
…
Great danger, great danger.
Li Changshou sat on a rush cushion in the thatched cottage, his expression somewhat dazed.
Before him lay a Go board, black and white pieces intertwined, containing mysterious dao patterns within.
All signs indicated that Big Brother was heading for trouble.
He remembered when he touched the Heavenly Dao through the Purple Qi of Primal Chaos, he saw a ‘premonition’ of Zhao Gongming with a bloody hole in his chest, facing layer upon layer of figures.
This scene was quite problematic.
Why didn’t the Severing Sect immortals step in?
Given Big Brother Zhao’s status and reputation in the Severing Sect, they couldn’t possibly ignore it. While Master Uncle Tongtian might be blocked by the opposing Sage, it seemed unlikely that not even half a Severing Sect immortal could rush to his aid.
This scene was from the script calculated by the Heavenly Dao.
At this point, it could serve as a reference, but shouldn’t be trusted too much.
Under his interference, and with the Heavenly Dao and Ancestral Master of the Dao making their script changes, the specific circumstances must have changed.
But one thing was certain – the Heavenly Dao intended to move against Big Brother Zhao.
This time, Big Brother Zhao’s wedding increased his danger.
The logic was simple—
[The Heavenly Dao wants to trigger a great war between the Teaching Sect and Severing Sect, even a war between Sages, to quickly fill the Divine Investiture Roster vacancies. There must be a catalyst to spark a war between both sides.
The original Investiture of the Gods catastrophe had lost its reference value, but this was the path chosen by the Heavenly Dao.
On the Teaching Sect’s side, even if Guangchengzi was surrounded and killed by Severing Sect immortals, most immortals could maintain restraint.
But on the Severing Sect’s side, even the death of someone like Stone Rooster could trigger a group frenzy.
If something happened to Big Brother Zhao, if he was schemed to death by the Teaching Sect, that scene…
Moreover now, if something happened to Big Brother Zhao, Golden Spirit Sacred Mother definitely wouldn’t let it go. Wouldn’t a great battle between Sage disciples easily break out?
At that time, the Two Sages of the Western Teaching could join the catastrophe in the name of revenge, Master Uncle Yuan Beginning Heaven would block Master Uncle Tongtian, and wouldn’t the Severing Sect disciples conveniently fill the divine position vacancies?]
Honestly, if positions were switched and he was the Ancestral Master of the Dao, he wouldn’t pass up such a useful chess piece either.
How to break this predicament?
Big Brother acted cheerful all day but had long sensed the tribulation ahead.
His feelings of emotion and satisfaction shown at the wedding banquet were probably self-consolation too.
Zhao Gongming.
Sigh…
Once entering the Primordial World deep as the sea, meeting Gongming dispelled loneliness.
Let’s analyze it one more time. Although he already had a method to break the predicament and confidence in succeeding, there were still too many things to consider.
The current situation surrounding Brother Zhao Gongming was the minor game, while the one surrounding living beings was the major game.
Not losing the major for the minor was a basic requirement. If both the minor and major games could be won without affecting his chances of winning the major game, that would be a passing grade.
An excellent grade would be if the solution to the minor game increased the chances of winning the major game.
To be honest, it was indeed very difficult to achieve.
The Two Sages of the Western Teaching, the Heavenly Dao, the Ancestral Master of the Dao, the power of the great catastrophe, the entire Teaching Sect…
This was the force he had to face to protect his brother. Relying solely on his own master was already insufficient – tactics were extremely important.
Well, let’s try setting up in advance and see if we can lure out Maitreya to eliminate him.
Li Changshou raised his hand to gently remove several black pieces from the Go board and fill in several white pieces. The situation immediately changed, faintly evolving into the state of yin and yang fish merging.
He closed his eyes in concentration, thoughts continuously flowing in his mind as if he merged with nature.
While continuously pondering, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the Go board before him, his form flashed to appear on the other side of the low table and looked down at the pattern on the Go board.
“The same… the same!”
Do the opposite!
Do the opposite!
Got it!
Li Changshou clenched both fists, his clear and bright dao heart barely able to suppress the surging of his dao heart.
A completely new and somewhat crazy yet actually more stable plan had slowly formed in his mind, completely disrupting the original conception, with extraordinary significance for the major game!
He could also make the Ancestral Master of the Dao believe that he was a man who would get carried away like Senior Lang!
Restarting his clear and bright dao heart, Li Changshou immediately sat cross-legged, quietly meditated, swiftly organizing the plan in his mind completely, and repeatedly checking whether he had been influenced by the Heavenly Dao.
After checking some eighty or ninety times, Li Changshou gently let out a breath.
This move was at least excellent – ninety-eight percent imperfect!
Thus, several days later.
Li Changshou left the thatched cottage with a ‘heavy’ heart, saw Spirit Maiden E had gone to play in the card room, shook his head, and walked to the pill room.
He needed to refine some pills to see if he could help Jiang Shang improve his cultivation.
At this juncture, if Jiang Shang underwent his immortalization tribulation, the Heavenly Dao had no reason not to be lenient, thus allowing Jiang Shang to successfully step into the immortal realm, making up for his previous life’s regret.
Although when Jiang Shang crosses the Bridge of Helplessness, he says “fill it up” several times to Old Mother Meng, he no longer has any substantial connection with himself.
But who could criticize showing concern for a fellow Dao sect member?
Speaking of which, wasn’t Jiang Shang going to Chaoge City?
Could it be that since he had seized the power of divine investiture, Jiang Shang’s role was gone, and the Heavenly Dao didn’t care much about him anymore?
That wasn’t right – it felt like Jiang Shang’s current cultivation failures were entirely Heavenly Dao’s fault.
The Heavenly Dao’s many plans for the mortal world should still be realized through Jiang Shang, and would certainly arrange for him to become a key minister of the Zhou Kingdom, the type who controlled both military and political affairs.
Speaking of the Zhou-Shang succession, Li Changshou felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.
If Zhou could naturally defeat Shang, he naturally wouldn’t feel there was any problem, but if it was the Heavenly Dao making the choice, lifting one while stepping on another, then it would truly be time for some ‘neutral observer,’ ‘speaking frankly,’ and ‘indeed’ comments.
From the overall plan’s perspective, he still needed to avoid interfering too much with the mortal world – this was no benefit to mortals.
Li Changshou’s complete plan would keep mortals under the protection of the ‘victors,’ which was also a consolation to Senior Suiren.
As for those who had stepped onto the path of cultivation…
Life has dreams, each splendid in its way;
Power is limited, care cannot extend everywhere.
Having stepped onto the path of cultivation, didn’t they have the resolution of [My fate is my own, not Heaven’s], the dominance of [What of Heaven? My heart is my own], the awareness of [At worst it’s just death]?
Opening the furnace, the flames leaped gently as Li Changshou drew several spirit herbs, transformed them into pure spiritual power in his palm, and slowly fed them into the furnace flames.
With his current pill refining skills, aside from the Nine Transformations Pills which he still couldn’t refine, everything else was manageable.
While refining pills, a paper human had already tunneled through the deep earth, quietly waiting near Mount Kunlun.
Whether Li Changshou had calculated well or it was truly coincidental was unknown.
Just as this paper human arrived near Mount Kunlun, it saw two figures slowly flying out on a white cloud.
Li Changshou looked closely – weren’t those precisely Shen Bao and Jiang Shang?
At this time, Shen Bao and Jiang Shang seemed quite harmonious. Shen Bao even took the initiative to wrap Jiang Shang in a layer of immortal power, preventing him from suffering wind and sun exposure, and showing deep brotherhood between fellow disciples.
With the Teaching Sect having lost the Divine Investiture Roster and the authority to manage it, Shen Bao and Jiang Shang seemed to have lost their conflict as well.
On the contrary, seeing Jiang Shang hadn’t become immortal and was incredibly awkward in the Jade Void Palace, only able to keep mentioning “This poor Daoist once had thirty-two wives and concubines,” the leopard felt quite sorry for Jiang Shang…
After flying for a while, Shen Bao asked, “Now that Master has ordered us down the mountain, what are Junior Brother’s plans?”
—Due to Li Changshou’s secret guidance, Shen Bao passed his Golden Immortal tribulation early, and after repeatedly courting death during the Golden Immortal tribulation, was protected by White Crane Boy sent by Yuan Beginning Heaven. Having entered the sect before Jiang Shang, he naturally became the senior brother.
The depth of Li Changshou’s interference in the divine investiture affairs could be seen from this.
Jiang Shang sighed, “Alas, I have no other thoughts.
That senior brother back then told me how good it was to cultivate in the mountains, how free and unfettered achieving immortality would be.
In the end, it was all just wasted time.”
Speaking thus, Jiang Shang looked back at the stretching palaces of the Jade Void Palace, only able to sigh softly.
He dared not curse. Wanting to say the Teaching Sect had fraudulent recruitment, he feared being torn to pieces. Reflecting on his experience along the way, people had indeed taught him carefully.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t very promising – what he should have comprehended, he could never grasp.
Shen Bao said gently, “Every living being has different opportunities and encounters. When we came down the mountain, didn’t Master say that Junior Brother’s opportunity lies in the mortal world of the Southern Continent?
You haven’t become an immortal yet, and as a Teaching Sect disciple who has studied the way of governing and pacifying the nation for so long, assisting the emperor in the mortal realm and benefiting mortals is also a great virtuous deed.”
Jiang Shang immediately forced a smile.
“Hehe.”
Shen Bao knew he shouldn’t advise too much – too much advice would seem like cold comfort. He cupped his hands to Jiang Shang and said no more.
They naturally couldn’t detect at all that there was a paper human closely following underground.
Jiang Shang asked, “Where are you going, Senior Brother?”
“This poor Daoist…”
Shen Bao’s eyes showed some confusion as he looked at his palm.
He didn’t quite understand why Master had given so many instructions to Jiang Shang, but only drew a leaf in his palm and told him to comprehend it himself.
A leaf…
Drifting and falling? Falling leaves return to their roots?
Shen Bao sighed, “Now that the great war between the Teaching and Severing Sects has begun, this poor Daoist wants to go to the Severing Sect’s side to look around and visit various places to think of solutions.
Using all the power in this poor Daoist’s life to help the Teaching and Severing Sects avoid war.
To let the Severing Sect safely pass through the great catastrophe.
To let the Dao sect continue to prosper!”
Jiang Shang looked up at Shen Bao, admiration in his eyes, and made a Daoist salute to him.
Underground, Li Changshou’s paper human almost jumped out to beat Shen Bao to death.
In the pill room of Little Jade Peak, Li Changshou’s mouth twitched.
Grass (a type of plant)!
This leopard had gone mad with killing!
Thus, Li Changshou watched as Shen Bao escorted Jiang Shang to the edge of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, avoiding the patrolling celestial soldiers and generals.
Jiang Shang, his heart hanging on the glory and wealth of his previous half-life, bid farewell to Shen Bao and hurriedly rode clouds toward the great city where he had lived before. Shen Bao headed toward the various islands of the Eastern Sea, wanting to visit various places.
Although the Teaching Sect had saved him once, and the Sage Master had accepted him as a disciple.
But Shen Bao was a leopard who knew gratitude and sought to repay it, still had deep feelings for the Severing Sect, and most wanted to help the Severing Sect.
Underground, a paper human emerged from Li Changshou’s paper human’s sleeve, dividing into two routes to observe simultaneously.
He began to ponder how to further arrange for Shen Bao, preferably letting him buff Maitreya and the Western Teaching a few times, fully utilizing Shen Bao’s mouth.
This was a divine weapon blessed by the Heavenly Dao.
Shen Bao and Jiang Shang coming down the mountain meant they had fully entered the Divine Investiture catastrophe – these were two important chess pieces of the Heavenly Dao.
One chess piece was something he absolutely wouldn’t touch.
Let’s not mention how Jiang Shang returned to his old mansion to find things had changed while people were gone, his original wives and concubines had long moved away from this great city and had new lives.
Truly – each doing well on their own.
He became more lost, not knowing how to face this cold mortal world, only able to show off his magical power by publicly riding clouds, heading toward Chaoge City.
As for Shen Bao, he flew straight to the Eastern Sea.
Li Changshou drove his paper human speeding along, switching to water tunneling at the Eastern Sea, completely unnoticed by Shen Bao.
At this time, Shen Bao had already made up his mind that after reaching Severing Sect territory, he would assume the identity of a Teaching Sect disciple and use the karma from his previous life to become close with the Severing Sect immortals.
The first step was to let the Severing Sect immortals feel that not all Teaching Sect immortals were enemies, opening the first step toward reconciliation between the two sects.
‘As long as I try hard, I can help somehow!’
Determination filled Shen Bao’s eyes as he decided to fully utilize the ‘positions’ he had learned in the Teaching Sect, striving to become close with the Severing Sect immortals!
Flying along, Shen Bao had already reached near Nine Dragon Island. After adjusting his crown and robes, he was about to visit the qi cultivators on the island when he saw a fellow Daoist just flying out from Nine Dragon Island, heading toward Golden Tortoise Island.
Shen Bao found this fellow Daoist’s face quite familiar but couldn’t remember who it was. Seeing his cultivation was truly not lacking, he cupped his hands and called out:
“Fellow Daoist, please wait!”
Li Changshou frowned, discovering things weren’t quite simple.
Zhao Jiang of the Ten Heavenly Lords frowned, not knowing why he suddenly felt the urge to stop his cloud, and thus simply stopped, turning his head to shout:
“Who are you? What do you want?”
Shen Bao hurried forward, quickly remembering this ‘prestigious’ Golden Immortal from Golden Tortoise Island, a member of the Ten Heavenly Lords combination, and made a deep Daoist salute.
“Teaching Sect disciple Shen Bao greets Fellow Daoist?”
Teaching Sect?
Zhao Jiang suddenly became energetic, staring at Shen Bao, suddenly remembering something, the hostility gone from his eyes.
“It’s you. This poor Daoist has heard others speak of Fellow Daoist’s experiences. Fellow Daoists have indeed had it quite difficult… Where are you heading?”
Shen Bao brought out his prepared words, saying softly:
“With the great catastrophe before us, this poor Daoist shouldn’t be wandering about, but truly can’t set my mind at ease, wanting to come back for a look, visit old friends, and ponder methods to deal with the great catastrophe.
Alas, this poor Daoist’s words carry little weight, and I’m not a great being with great divine powers, only able to contribute my strength to opposing the great catastrophe.”
Zhao Jiang’s eyes were full of light: “Could Fellow Daoist be thinking of returning to join our Severing Sect?”
“Can’t quite say that, but can say that…”
“Hahaha! Good thing, good thing! Come, let’s first have a conversation on Nine Dragon Island. The banquet hasn’t dispersed yet, perfect for chatting with Fellow Daoists!”
Thus, Li Changshou lay in the soft sand at the sea bottom, watching those two figures walking arm in arm chatting as they entered Nine Dragon Island’s outer formation, unable to help but mockingly comment.
Does this work too?
Should he arrange for Brother Zhao to simply send this leopard to the Divine Investiture Platform first?
Li Changshou fell into deep contemplation, letting two starfish pass by beside him, chasing after a distant jellyfish.