Riding clouds for ten thousand miles,

The Dao’s heart finds much freedom.

Looking far at Kunlun Mountain,

Immortals come from Western lands.

Such poetic prowess, unmatched.

Li Changshou maintained a tense expression on his surface while humming a tune inside. His true self kept the Void-Bright Dao heart active, constantly vigilant for any will that might descend to control this vessel.

Approaching Kunlun Mountain, Li Changshou’s cloud travel slowed further.

He didn’t rush directly to the Jade Void Palace, but instead wandered around Western Kunlun, found a valley, muttered a few words toward it, and finally sighed, saying “All returns to emptiness.”

Below his feet, a strand of energy—neither spiritual qi, immortal energy, dao rhythm, nor any tangible force—silently bored into the depths of the earth.

This action left no trace in heaven and earth, nor did it provoke any response.

Li Changshou sighed softly, appreciated Western Kunlun’s naturally formed colorful scenery for a while, observed the Jade Void Palace with his immortal consciousness, and only then rode his cloud there.

Dong—

A bell rang in the distance.

Seeing two young cultivators fly out from the Jade Void Palace, Li Changshou rode his cloud forward, made a Daoist salute to them from afar, and said:

“This poor Daoist is False Putuo, coming from Spirit Mountain, especially visiting the Jade Void Palace.”

The two young cultivators unhurriedly returned the greeting, each stepping back half a step, turning to face each other, raising their hands in welcome, and saying in gentle voices:

“This way, Fellow Daoist.”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, inwardly unable to resist making a cynical comment.

When he came before, when was there a time the Twelve Golden Immortals didn’t personally come to welcome him, when didn’t immortal cranes herald auspicious signs and immortal light surround him, but now, just two junior disciples come out to receive him…

Tsk, things change, people change, and the world grows cold.

These subtle feelings of visiting the Jade Void Palace under different identities were quite interesting.

The jade pendant at his waist jingled, and his Daoist robe reflected the sun star’s light with quite good quality.

The two disciples led him to the Jade Void Great Hall, where several figures inside stood up;

Just as Li Changshou steadied his footing, he heard familiar voices, familiar tones, familiar yin-yang dao rhythms from inside…

“Well, if it isn’t Senior Brother Putuo from the Western Religion? What brings you to grace our Jade Void Palace with your presence?”

Looking toward the voice, he naturally saw that eye-catching red robe and True Lord Taiyi with his hands tucked in his sleeves.

Li Changshou felt a touch of warmth in his heart, but his expression remained stiff as he smiled and cupped his hands toward True Lord Taiyi without responding.

Best not to give this fellow any opening.

Looking inside the hall, True Lord Chijing, True Lord Huanglong, True Lord Taiyi, Cultivator Wenshu, True Lord Yuding, and Cultivator Puxian sat on either side, with Guangcheng Zi’s main seat naturally empty.

During the previous battle outside Chaoge City, after Li Changshou fought with Patriarch Jieyin and reunited with Yun Xiao, he conveniently threw the powerless Guangcheng Zi back before Original Heavenly Honored One Yuanshi.

At present, Guangcheng Zi naturally couldn’t move freely and was probably hiding somewhere rebuilding his cultivation.

Thus, Li Changshou now was the second-ranked Chijing.

This old Daoist smiled and said: “Fellow Daoist, please be seated. What brings you to the Jade Void Palace?”

Li Changshou maintained his slightly stiff smile and sat in the guest seat, saying:

“I heard that Fellow Daoist Guangcheng Zi met with disaster, and it weighed on my mind. My master ordered me to deliver medicine to stabilize his Dao foundation. Please accept it with grace.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou took out the medicine bestowed by Saint Jieyin, and a junior disciple came forward to solemnly receive it.

Just as True Lord Chijing was about to express thanks, True Lord Taiyi said with an ambiguous smile:

“Why does it sound to this poor Daoist like Fellow Daoist is mocking our Senior Brother?”

Li Changshou: …

Just had to start something!

“How is this mockery?”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Our Western Religion has always been on good terms with the Enlightenment Religion. When catastrophe fell, Fellow Daoist Guangcheng Zi suffered misfortune while covering the retreat of his fellow disciples, which fills me with admiration.

This poor Daoist came only to deliver this medicine, asking nothing, wanting nothing. It should be Fellow Daoist Taiyi who should not mock me.”

“Mockery?”

True Lord Taiyi seemed to have been holding back a fire that now burst forth with green flames.

He smiled and said: “Fellow Daoist was previously completely out of contact, hiding who knows where, and now that the catastrophe has passed and heaven and earth have changed, perhaps Fellow Daoist thinks he’s capable again?

Thinking back to those years, Fellow Daoist’s heroic bearing as you ranged across heaven and earth… makes this poor Daoist… deeply nostalgic.”

“False Putuo” frowned, stared at True Lord Taiyi, and said calmly:

“This poor Daoist doesn’t understand what Fellow Daoist means by such words.

If this is how the Enlightenment Religion treats guests, this poor Daoist will take his leave, and we can pretend I never came.”

“Ah,” True Lord Taiyi smiled, “Don’t be in such a hurry to leave.

Stay for a simple meal, chat about the interesting events of those years, talk about how Fellow Daoist cooperated with the Heavenly Court to trap the demon tribe of the Northern Continent—such a glorious deed.”

“False Putuo” rose with a sweep of his sleeves, glaring at True Lord Taiyi.

True Lord Taiyi smiled calmly, leaned toward True Lord Yuding beside him, and raised his eyebrows at “False Putuo.”

True Lord Yuding just sat in meditation with closed eyes, not even glancing this way.

Cultivator Wenshu beside them spoke up: “Fellow Daoist, please don’t take offense. Senior Brother Taiyi means no harm. Please be seated and rest.”

“No need,” “False Putuo” stood and made a Daoist salute, “This poor Daoist has paid respects to the Enlightenment Religion’s Saint Lord, and will now return to Spirit Mountain to report.

I hope Fellow Daoist Guangcheng Zi recovers soon.”

With that, False Putuo glanced at Taiyi, smiled stiffly, turned, and strode out of the hall, riding his cloud toward the southwest.

In the distance, True Lord Taiyi’s sigh could still be heard:

“Is that all?

This Void-Understanding Master that the Western Religion just promoted, is that all?

This poor Daoist wanted to properly discuss the Dao with him and spread our Enlightenment Religion’s essential principles a bit. What a pity, what a pity…”

Bah!

This Taiyi has never disappointed when it comes to annoying people!

Although knowing Taiyi was targeting False Putuo, and it seemed he hadn’t had his memories “altered” by the Dao Ancestor, Li Changshou had almost been unable to resist retorting and starting a battle of veiled barbs, challenging the position of grand master of passive-aggression.

In the end, he still gave his old friend a face.

All returns to emptiness.

Riding his cloud back to Spirit Mountain, this not particularly pleasant visit to the Jade Void Palace had still completed the mission.

Presumably, at this moment Wenshu and Puxian were planning how to return to the Western Religion, and it remained to be seen whether the Enlightenment Religion would obstruct them and whether Original Heavenly Honored One Yuanshi and Saint Jieyin would clash over this.

Li Changshou carefully calculated for a while and determined that the two Saints would likely show restraint.

What the Enlightenment Religion wanted was probably for this matter to pass quietly without causing too much impact; what the Western Religion wanted was for these disciples to return, seeking an opportunity for great prosperity.

Hmm, more disciples mean more labor when it’s time for large-scale construction.

This was naturally just a joke—Li Changshou had already foreseen a power shift within the Western Religion, and he could take this opportunity to distance himself from Spirit Mountain.

Before that, he could also take the chance to guide the Western Religion toward the “right path.”

Let righteous light shine upon Spirit Mountain’s Bodhi Platform.

At the Jade Void Palace.

After Li Changshou’s “False Putuo” left.

True Lord Taiyi stretched lazily and said calmly: “This False Putuo, just simply delivering medicine?”

“In the West, it’s said his current Dao realm is unfathomably profound,” Wenshu smiled, “but seeing him today, he’s nothing special.”

True Lord Huanglong said from the side: “It’s not good to evaluate others behind their backs like this.”

Wenshu raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Puxian, then imperceptibly shifted his gaze away.

True Lord Yuding opened his eyes and looked at these two senior brothers, seeming to sense something.

Hiding something?

However, Yuding didn’t speak up, only saying: “If there’s no other sect business, this poor Daoist wishes to return to the mountain to cultivate.”

“Junior Brother Yuding,” True Lord Chijing said gently, “we haven’t concluded what we discussed earlier… Later at the Peach Banquet, would you like to join in the festivities with Junior Brother Taiyi and Junior Brother Huanglong?”

“You go ahead,” Yuding stood up, his expression somewhat gloomy, “What you find festive, I find only clamorous among those immortals and deities.”

With that, True Lord Yuding walked toward the palace gates, his figure carrying an indescribable loneliness.

“I’ll return with Junior Brother Yuding,” True Lord Taiyi also stood up, hands tucked in his sleeves, smiling as he said: “Rather than eating peaches at the Peach Banquet, Senior Brother should take Yin Hong and Yin Jiao instead.

They’ve both been pre-appointed divine positions, just waiting to complete their cultivation before reporting to the Heavenly Court. It would be good to let them get accustomed to it early.

I’m off.”

True Lord Chijing nodded, not insisting further.

Moments later, on the cloud floating toward Mount Qianyuan, True Lord Yuding let out a soft sigh.

True Lord Taiyi said beside him: “Don’t think too much about it, that fellow just ran away, it’s not like he perished.”

Boom—

Thunder in clear skies, as if some gaze was watching True Lord Taiyi.

True Lord Taiyi immediately shut up, making faces at True Lord Yuding.

Yuding smoothed his sleeves, forced two laughs, and said calmly: “Let’s return to cultivation. The world can remain peaceful for a while now.”

“Disciples are really the best,” Taiyi looked up toward the deepest part of the blue sky and white clouds, “Now the interior of the Heavenly Court is quite prosperous. It’s wonderful that they can be carefree immortals and deities, enjoying their blessings.”

“Mm,” True Lord Yuding responded, seemingly lost in thought, not saying more.

…

As for Li Changshou, after returning to Spirit Mountain to report, he mentioned to Saint Jieyin that he wanted to walk among the Three Thousand Worlds later to comprehend and observe the mortal world.

Saint Jieyin naturally agreed, as this was after all a disciple’s cultivation.

But Jieyin also gave another task in the process.

—Before leaving Spirit Mountain to walk the Three Thousand Worlds, first make a trip to the Netherworld to visit Ksitigarbha.

Ksitigarbha was still the Western Religion’s pillar of fortune, and this pillar became particularly important to the Western Religion after the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus was destroyed.

Li Changshou gladly accepted the mission, but couldn’t help pondering inside.

Would Kalavinka recognize him?

To be precise, Ksitigarbha likely hadn’t had his memories modified, after all, he was ranked in the top twenty of the Heavenly Dao sequence, but Kalavinka should have forgotten the existence of that “Li Changshou.”

If Kalavinka sensed something unusual in his thoughts, then all his previous efforts would be wasted.

Previously, Li Changshou had deliberately taken Kalavinka out for a walk, taking the opportunity to threaten and intimidate him, just to make him keep quiet.

Memories might be forgotten, but personality wouldn’t be affected; Li Changshou wanted Kalavinka to be timid and afraid to speak up, so he cast a shadow over Kalavinka’s Dao heart.

He would need to use Kalavinka’s divine abilities later—it could transmit heart voices to all beings, otherwise, Li Changshou wouldn’t have left such a hidden danger.

Better add several more layers of Void-Understanding Dao rhythm to his Dao’s heart, that’s all he could do.

Thus, several years later, Wenshu and the other immortals at the Jade Void Palace showed no movement, as if they hadn’t received the signal.

The Heavenly Court’s Peach Banquet arrived as scheduled, auspicious signs appeared frequently throughout the Three Realms, waves of rosy clouds filled heaven and earth, and peaceful energy was everywhere.

Li Changshou left his cave dwelling at Spirit Mountain, changed into grey robes, tied up his Daoist topknot, and quietly left Spirit Mountain, heading toward the edge of the Western Sea’s Heaven Pillar.

Although it was a bit lonely being alone, at least he could find some peace.

Moreover, it wasn’t as if he truly had no company.

Moving his consciousness back to his true body, Li Changshou looked toward the layers of curtains and gauze that had just been hung beside the great hall, where he could see Yun Xiao wearing a loose long dress, reclining on a soft couch.

Outside the hall on Little Qiong Peak, immortal shadows gathered inside and outside the chess and card room;

The immortals who had been calling for Dao comprehension and cultivation earlier, because there were no complete Dao principles for them to comprehend in the Chaos Sea, had all become idle, playing cards and chess in the card room, creating quite a joyful scene.

In the Chaos Sea, even with a stable source of spiritual energy, they could only maintain the state of qi refiners, unable to provide for qi refiners to comprehend the Dao.

However, having spiritual energy was already quite good, compared to those “seniors” who fled into the Chaos Sea in desperation, their situation was more than ten thousand times better.

“False Putuo” slowly descended into the Netherworld, riding his cloud floating above the Santu River.

Li Changshou withdrew some consciousness to his true body, rose, and strolled through the layers of curtains, stepping through several barriers, to sit beside the soft couch.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her bright eyes slowly opened; her already crystal-clear white skin gained the compliment of her eye-light as if everything had gained spirit.

“Did I wake you?”

Li Changshou said softly, his fingertip trailing across her cheek, feeling its slight smoothness.

Yun Xiao shook her head slightly, her delicate hand supporting her body as she slowly sat up, her black hair falling like a waterfall, partially concealing her gracefully proportioned figure.

Their eyes met, and their breaths connected.

“Not busy anymore?” she asked softly.

“No, just taking a break,” Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes, “I need to stay completely focused to avoid revealing any flaws. Once I complete my arrangements, I can concentrate on accompanying you.”

“Important matters come first,” Yun Xiao advised concernedly.

Li Changshou started to speak but stopped, facing such an otherworldly immortal maiden, he ultimately couldn’t say any playful words.

“Alright, I’ll go attend to business now…”

Just as he was about to stand up after speaking, Yun Xiao suddenly leaned forward, her forehead gently touching his.

In that instant, their spirits merged, each feeling the other’s “tribulation of love” in their hearts, yet making each other’s hearts completely peaceful, as if at that moment they completely understood each other, their primordial spirits nestling together.

Yun Xiao’s cheeks gained a slight blush, and she closed her eyes and turned her head.

Li Changshou said dizzily: “Then I’ll go attend to business first.”

Then he turned and returned to the meditation mat in the center of the great hall, sat cross-legged, and couldn’t regain his composure for a long time.

This feeling was light and soft, their Dao resonating, their hearts vibrating together.

It was just—just very sophisticated.

Is this how Innate Beings shows intimacy when dating?

Then could they take care of him, a Posterior Being, in the future, making things a bit less sophisticated, more vulgar?

Ah well…

It felt quite nice.

Li Changshou smiled, most of his consciousness returning to “False Putuo,” riding his cloud above the Santu River, appreciating the Netherworld scenery.

Suddenly he heard flute music coming from a distant hill.

Li Changshou looked up and saw a young woman sitting on the branch of an old tree, gently swaying her jade feet, playing her short flute.

The Seven Emotions Avatar’s reincarnated form.

Li Changshou didn’t dare look long, also fearing this mysteriously powerful Seven Emotions Avatar might see through his disguise. He continued riding his cloud forward without showing any unusual movement.

He observed for a while with his immortal consciousness and found that the Seven Emotions maiden was just playing the flute to comfort wandering souls. His passing had no effect on her, which finally put him at ease.

Li Changshou didn’t want Holy Mother to be drawn into his game with the Dao Ancestor, just as he didn’t want Lady Houtu to be implicated in this matter.

Closing his eyes to sense the “form of existence” of the Three Thousand Great Daos in the Netherworld, he unconsciously had already circled the “busy” Fengdu City and arrived before the Reincarnation Tower.

He displayed his Dao rhythm, made a Daoist salute toward the window at the top of the Reincarnation Tower, and called out “Junior Brother Ksitigarbha.”

Ksitigarbha walked to the window, returned Putuo’s salute, and called out “Senior Brother Putuo.”

Then Ksitigarbha turned and gestured welcome, and “False Putuo” calmly flew in through the window.

Kalavinka was sprawled beneath the windowsill on the other side, lazily squinting his eyes. After seeing False Putuo, he just glanced once, then turned his proud head toward the other side.

No interest didn’t want to see.

Hmph, nothing but that man’s defeated opponent.