In the forest, under an isolating formation;

An orange-red bonfire shot skyward, the corpses of those six great demons rapidly dissolving in the flames;

These flames leaped up over ten zhang high, radiating waves of heat, spewing streams of spiritual energy, also illuminating… Li Changshou’s somewhat vacant eyes.

He lifted his hands as if feeling the temperature of these true flames.

His heart, however, was ice cold.

Three paper avatars transformed into elderly, middle-aged, and young figures, standing in a triangle formation outside the bonfire, chanting scriptures;

They still chanted the往生 (Rebirth) Mantra, 度人 (Salvation) Sutra, and Disaster-Dispelling Blessing Mantra, their wooden fish and clappers beating rhythmically, soul-settling bells swaying back and forth.

This place was seven hundred li northwest of An Shui City, deep within a desolate valley.

He had intercepted the six great demons, fought a ‘bloody battle’, wasted some poison pills, and poisoned them to death here.

Li Changshou’s paper avatar hidden beneath An Shui City spread its divine sense to observe the scenes unfolding there.

The Bear Village people being descendants of Wu-Humans had already given Li Changshou quite a headache;

But this matter wasn’t unsolvable.

However, the Dragon Tribe’s sudden appearance, looking ready for a fight, especially with Ao Yi present…

This made Li Changshou more or less want to disregard everything and eliminate these karmic connections.

Impulse is demonic interference, one must not lose one’s head.

Silently reciting the Scripture of Stability in his heart, Li Changshou quickly contemplated countermeasures.

The most troublesome problem now was that Ao Yi knew him – the South Sea God and the mediocre immortal seedling Li Changshou from the Path to Immortality Gate would be connected by Ao Yi.

The simplest method would be to kill them all, ending everything at once;

But this was also the crudest, most unstable method with the most karmic consequences, and handled too roughly.

The more urgent the current situation, the more one couldn’t rush – he had to promptly think of a relatively complete response method.

Sitting and awaiting death had never been Li Changshou’s nature;

Winning through recklessness was his Wine Immortal Junior Uncle’s approach, she also had the ‘Might Makes Right’ halo’s protection;

Having insufficient strength yet deliberately scheming was like walking a tightrope over mountains of knives and seas of fire…

Li Changshou had always insisted on the principle of ‘seeking longevity through stability, pursuing wealth through stability’, which had formed a tight band of thought – he didn’t want to take any risks.

The problem now was that he wasn’t taking these risks himself;

He just stood there, and risks like rings of fire were layering onto him one by one.

Li Changshou was somewhat grateful that he had discovered the problems here in time.

The Dragon Palace group should have been attracted by the Sea God ceremony, unrelated to whether Li Changshou came here or not.

If Li Changshou hadn’t come here, feared…

He wouldn’t even know how he had died!

“When fixing formations for Junior Uncle earlier, I suddenly had a premonition that something would happen – now it matches up.”

Li Changshou gradually developed countermeasures in his heart, his spirit beginning to operate on three lines simultaneously—

His main body flew out of the pill room, heading toward the lakeside;

The Shen character paper avatar here continued handling the corpses;

The Tian character paper avatar hiding beneath An Shui City, ready to use sleeping drugs to knock out the Dragon Palace group at any time.

An Shui City hadn’t yet broken into full battle, but both sides were already at drawn bows and strung arrows.

When the Dragon Palace group first appeared, the Bear Village Chief showed weakness, having been frightened by them.

But the old Chief saw over ten dragon soldiers charging down to smash their Sea God’s statue…

For many mortals, cutting off one’s livelihood was like killing their parents;

The Bear Village Chief instantly became anxious, shouting: “Pin them all down for me!”

Over twenty tribespeople beside him opened their huge mouths, spewing forth earthen-colored light that transformed into arms, legs, and fierce deity heads, each displaying divine abilities, stunning those dragon soldiers…

Several dragon soldiers were knocked to the ground, and seven or eight were beaten back, each suffering injuries.

A group of large men swarmed forward, pinning down those few remaining dragon soldiers, exchanging fists and feet, instantly engaging in frenzied friction.

The Wu had the strength to capture dragons and fight phoenixes, and it was their innate divine ability.

There were still over a hundred thousand mortals here, Sea God Religion followers covering the mountains and plains. Seeing the divine envoys displaying godly might, each became spiritually inspired.

For a time, the scene was extremely chaotic, with many adults covering children’s eyes, telling them not to look…

Fortunately, no large-scale panic occurred, and no trampling accidents happened yet.

Ao Mou in the clouds was also frightened back by the Bear Village Wu-Humans’ ferocity, unconsciously standing behind Ao Yi…

Fortunately, this old village chief still had some sense, shouting again: “Don’t take their lives!”

This finally saved those few dragon soldiers who were nearly torn apart alive.

In the forest, Li Changshou continued roasting by the fire- ahem, continued handling these six great demon corpses.

When the scripture chanting was mostly complete, the flames had weakened;

At the side, a paper avatar transformed into a strong man who took out a suona horn, raising his head to blow out a mournful tune.

Another paper avatar transformed into a woman reciting poetry there, taking the opportunity to burn some yellow paper to comfort lonely wilderness spirits…

Looking at the funeral service he had meticulously designed, Li Changshou smiled bitterly in his heart.

What use was settling these small karmic debts?

He had now provoked an enormous karmic connection; if not handled well, he feared he ultimately couldn’t avoid bodily death and destruction.

But he still wasn’t forced into a desperate situation.

The great dao has fifty, heaven’s calculations forty-nine, leaving one thread of life opportunity, allowing him to continue seeking stability…

And he still had the possibility of stabilizing the situation now.

Li Changshou’s eyes narrowed slightly as he raised his hand to blow away the pile of ashes before him, feeling a slight comfort in his heart.

Because of this comfort, his thoughts also increased.

Hands clasped behind his back, dividing attention…

Divine sense watching the situation there, dragon soldiers above were about to charge down, but were stopped by Ao Yi’s shout of “Hold!”

The Bear Village Chief also shouted: “Let them return!”

Only then did the group of Bear Village strongmen throw them back. Those few dragon soldiers who had been pinned down and beaten returned to the clouds with bruised faces…

Ao Yi seemed to discover something, riding clouds to fly to the front of the deity statue, carefully examining it;

His delicate face soon showed slight shock.

The time left for Li Changshou wasn’t much…

“Then, let’s take the initiative.”

Li Changshou softly exhaled, only determination remaining in his gaze, dividing attention, three lines moving together!

In the deep forest of the desolate valley, this paper avatar burrowed underground, heading toward An Shui City.

The paper avatar beneath An Shui City had already secretly reached that deity statue, prepared to surge celestial power at any time.

Meanwhile, at Small Jade Peak of Path to Immortality Gate, by the lakeside grass house.

Li Changshou called his junior sister Lan Ling’e, woke his master who had unconsciously fallen asleep while cultivating.

Then, Li Changshou activated the grass house formation, lifted his Daoist robe’s hem, and knelt before his master, startling both Ling’e and Old Daoist Qi Yuan…

“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

Ling’e instantly became somewhat panicked.

She had never seen her senior brother show such a solemn expression, even when the sect previously suffered calamity, senior brother had always been calm and composed.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan frowned: “Changshou, just speak if you have something to say.”

“Master, your disciple is unworthy,” Li Changshou lowered his head, “Today I’ve provoked enormous karma that may implicate Master and Ling’e in the future.

If one day this matter comes to light and powerful people want to put me to death, please Master, and you too Ling’e…

Don’t manage my affairs.”

Qi Yuan hurriedly said: “Changshou don’t frighten your master, aren’t you perfectly fine?”

“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

Ling’e quickly came forward, kneeling beside Li Changshou, grabbing his arm, her eyes instantly reddening, “Don’t say such things, can’t we hide to the ends of the earth?”

“There’s nowhere to hide this time.”

Li Changshou shook his head, sighing: “Master, Junior Sister, time is short, please agree first.”

Qi Yuan gave a long sigh, his expression carrying a gentle smile.

This old Daoist smiled: “How can a master not care when his disciple has caused trouble?”

Li Changshou’s expression darkened: “If I handle this matter improperly, it may involve Great Luo Immortals, may involve great sects;

May involve countless causes and countless evil fruits.”

Qi Yuan smiled again: “What does your master, a mere turbid immortal, have to fear?”

“Master!”

Li Changshou’s heart warmed, light flickering in his eyes.

“Ah, disciple!”

Qi Yuan raised his hand, gently patting Li Changshou’s shoulder. At that moment, the grass house also became much warmer.

Beside them, Ling’e gently blinked her eyes.

If? Maybe?

Ling’e asked softly: “Senior Brother, this matter… have you not done it yet?”

Li Changshou nodded: “Correct, I’m just preparing to do it.”

“Cough, you!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan’s breath reversed, raising his whisk about to strike, “You haven’t done it! What are you yelling about!”

Li Changshou’s form flashed backward, revealing a slight smile.

“For stability’s sake, before doing this matter, the disciple came to tell Master and Junior Sister first.

If something goes wrong later, you needn’t manage my affairs. Master, you can directly expel disciple from the sect and sever relations.

Master, disciple will take that as your agreement. Now I’ll return first, can’t be distracted next.”

After speaking, Li Changshou turned to fly back to the pill room. Old Daoist Qi Yuan wanted to speak but stopped, while Ling’e hurriedly chased out of the grass house.

“Senior Brother! How certain are you this time!”

Li Changshou didn’t look back, but transmitted: “Not very.”

Ling’e hurriedly asked: “Specifically how much!”

“About eight and a half tenths, probably.”

Li Changshou slowly sighed, his form already disappearing in the forest.

Ling’e also frowned – eight and a half tenths certainty indeed wasn’t much…

“Hm?”

Ling’e gently blinked;

Feeling something was wrong with her thinking, but for the moment, couldn’t find where the problem lay.

…

Form returning to the pill room, Li Changshou activated various confusion formations, trapping formations, concealment formations, and warning formations, and hung the sensing stones.

Starting a fire in the pill furnace, placing paper avatars to watch the furnace, the situation in An Shui City floating in his mind.

The human-dragon battle there was ready to erupt;

Ao Yi had now completely recognized the Sea God statue, his expression somewhat hesitant, his gaze carrying deep disbelief.

Using the smoke transportation technique, Li Changshou burrowed underground, walking through the giant stone passage, pushing open that wooden door, and sitting in the circle chair behind his underground secret chamber desk.

Come then;

Decide victory or defeat!

In an instant, Li Changshou’s determination was set, his thoughts suddenly clear, fully analyzing various situations that might appear next.

His current crisis lay in the South Sea God’s identity about to be exposed;

Ao Yi couldn’t be directly killed, killing him would bring the Dragon Tribe’s mad revenge…

Besides this, the Sea God Religion’s divine envoys were Wu-Humans, and Western Religion experts were already planning to deal with the Sea God Religion…

Before Li Changshou, seemingly appeared swaying ropes – among these ropes only one was safe, grasping it would allow continued climbing of the longevity path;

Other ropes, pulled hard, would pull down swords and deadly poisons…

Rope after rope swaying, yet Li Changshou’s heart was completely peaceful, his mouth now revealing a slight smile.

As if he had already grasped one of them…

“Since previous thoughts, all don’t work, then start over, change perspective.”

Li Changshou’s heart actively sensed, following the incense fire, quickly sending a thread of spirit to descend upon that deity statue by the South Sea shore outside An Ding City, which was currently gathering large amounts of merit from incense offerings.

Meanwhile, outside An Shui City;

Ao Yi had been looking at the statue’s face, having already recognized his ‘Brother Changshou’ earlier. Beyond the shock in his heart, many chaotic thoughts arose.

Why had Brother Changshou become the South Sea God?

Was this… the Human Dao’s calculation?

But why would it be Brother Changshou, such a disciple who hadn’t even become immortal?

Though Brother Changshou was quite excellent and cultured, after all…

Suddenly, Ao Yi started again.

In Ao Yi’s perception, this deity statue seemed to come alive, gaining a thread of spirit.

Below, those Bear Village strong men had already made their plans, each glaring at the clouds above, determined to defend the Sea God’s honor.

While Ao Mou had now steeled his heart, about to have the dragon soldiers kill downward, to properly teach this South Sea Religion a lesson.

But, sudden changes occurred!

The ground transmitted slight tremoring sounds, and that two-zhang-tall stone statue swayed, then slowly rose into the air, celestial light coiling around it, divine light flashing on the statue’s forehead!

From within the statue also transmitted faint sutra-chanting sounds…

—These anomalies were naturally the underground paper avatar’s mischief.

In an instant, the Dragon Palace visitors above looked at each other;

The followers covering mountains and plains kowtowed together, from eighty-year-old grannies to teenage girls, all showing extremely excited expressions.

Just as Ao Yi was about to speak, a thread of transmitted sound first entered his ear…

“Brother Yi, how much do you understand about the Dragon Tribe’s current predicament?”

Ao Yi instantly froze in the clouds.