Li Changshou hardly hesitated before choosing—

The third option!

Make himself familiar without revealing the person’s identity, earning some goodwill for the Sea God Sect.

In that instant, Li Changshou analyzed the worst possible outcomes of actively creating karma.

He was completely unfamiliar with this white-robed person, unaware of his character or temperament.

Moreover, Li Changshou had to consider his background as a Human Teaching disciple – if he were too forward, would it displease the Human Teaching experts…

As these thoughts raced through his mind, this paper person of Li Changshou had already slowly transformed into that white-bearded, white-haired, kindly-browed elder.

This was the appearance he had first used when investigating the Sea God Sect.

The elder, holding a horsetail whisk, emerged from a grove, deliberately concealing part of his movements while exposing some energy disturbances.

In front of the Sea God Temple, half of the group about to tour the city immediately discovered the tracks of Li Changshou’s paper person.

The grey-robed elder stepped forward and whispered something behind the white-robed youth, who showed a slight smile and continued toward the town with his followers, pretending not to notice this suddenly appearing elder.

Li Changshou immediately understood something, holding his whisk while flying forward on a cloud, thinking about how to ‘make contact.’

He couldn’t just say “Fellow Daoist, please wait.”

Nor could he randomly approach with a brick and ask: “Fellow Daoist, did you drop this brick?”

That would probably get this avatar torn apart by the eight guards.

Li Changshou kept thinking as he drew closer to the group.

Soon, Li Changshou noticed a small detail:

Among these ten people, the eight guards and the elder all wrapped their shoes in immortal power, appearing to walk but not touching any earthly turbidity.

Only the white-robed youth had mud on his white boots.

The sect competition was currently in the twelfth preliminary round, and Li Changshou had already finished his battle today, steadily advancing to the top three hundred and sixty with ten wins and two losses…

Ling E also had eight wins and three losses, and regardless of her next match’s outcome, she would advance to the next round.

Though Li Changshou was splitting his attention, he naturally devoted most of his consciousness to this avatar.

This matter was indeed very important to him.

Li Changshou had long been planning to avoid the Investiture of the Gods calamity, and his most reliable plan so far was to arrange for himself, his master, and his junior sister to become minor officials in the Heavenly Court.

But this wasn’t completely safe.

If he couldn’t obtain a proper divine position before the Investiture of the Gods began, theoretically, he couldn’t completely avoid the calamity.

According to Li Changshou’s observations of heaven and earth’s trends, the Investiture of God’s calamity would likely be divided into two parts.

The main part would naturally be the Three Teachings immortals descending to the South Jambudvipa Continent, using King Wu’s campaign against King Zhou to select ‘proper deities’ for the Heavenly Court.

The secondary part would be a great purge and tribulation of the increasingly bloated Dao sects in Central Divine Continent, sending most sects’ experts to become heavenly soldiers and generals in the Heavenly Court.

Though Li Changshou’s cultivation wasn’t too high yet, he had been planning for this even before becoming immortal.

Under the great calamity, the Enlightenment Teaching’s Twelve Golden Immortals mostly had their three flowers above the crown cut off and their Dao cultivation weakened, while the Severing Teaching suffered even worse casualties and injuries…

He must take control of his destiny and jump out of the Investiture!

Li Changshou hadn’t expected the Sea God Sect to attract such an opportunity.

Moreover, hearing the conversation between their two main figures, they seemed to be ‘inspecting’ various wild god worship sites, planning to incorporate one or two wild gods to expand their influence.

This approach…

Made sense and indeed matched the current situation of the Heavenly Court.

But he had to consider everything carefully – the Human Teaching, Dao Sect, Heavenly Court, Dragon Clan, all aspects needed thorough consideration.

Today, he would first try making contact with an experimental attitude, hoping to form good karma, without scheming or calculating too much.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou secretly reminded himself:

[Though the opportunity is good, it cannot be forced, and one must not grovel, losing face for the Human Teaching]

“Fellow Daoist?”

At the city gate, the kindly-faced elder landed from his cloud, holding a Sea God Sect doctrine book, calling out to stop the white-robed youth.

“Did you drop this book?”

After much consideration, Li Changshou still used this approach to make contact.

“Book?”

The white-robed youth ahead turned to look, and Li Changshou finally got to ‘personally’ see his appearance.

Handsome… in a somewhat ordinary way, but with an indescribable bearing.

Especially those eyes, seeming to have experienced vast changes, polished brilliantly clear by mortal trials, as if naturally able to see through all worldly confusion.

Several guards immediately stepped forward, but Li Changshou had already stopped ten zhang away, making a Daoist bow while holding his whisk.

The grey-robed elder made a Daoist bow, returning the courtesy for the white-robed youth.

The white-robed youth smiled: “I haven’t seen this book before, how could I have dropped it?”

Li Changshou: …

Speaking in riddles?

He had nine years of compulsory education in his previous life, and had learned so many Human Teaching scriptures in this life – he was somewhat experienced in this.

At once, the paper person disguised as the elder smiled and said:

“If Fellow Daoist hasn’t seen this book, how would you know whether you dropped it or not?”

The white-robed youth smiled slightly, carefully savoring this statement which seemed profoundly mysterious, vaguely touching on fate and destiny.

“Good,” the white-robed youth extended his hand.

Li Changshou wrapped it in immortal power and passed it over through the air, thus avoiding those guards coming forward.

There were many travelers outside the city gate, all mortal people.

The white-robed youth group had used some divine ability, making surrounding mortals seem unable to see them. If someone occasionally glanced over, they would feel everything was normal and quickly look elsewhere.

Speaking plainly, Li Changshou wanted this divine ability too…

The white-robed youth took the “Sea God Sect Doctrine – Deluxe Edition,” carefully read a few pages, then slowly nodded and smiled:

“This book indeed has karma with me.

Fellow Daoists rushed to deliver this book, have you recognized who I am?”

Li Changshou pondered, not expecting the other… to enjoy this style of riddles.

Might as well cater to his preferences.

So, Li Changshou said: “My heart knows, but my eyes do not recognize.

Fellow Daoist should reside in the Nine Heavenly Palaces, yet appears here, presumably coming for my incense-fire sect.”

The white-robed youth raised an eyebrow at these words and said calmly:

“Since you’ve appeared to meet me, do you intend to join?

If so, why not come in true form, but instead send this paper to person?”

Paper person?

Those several Celestial Immortal guards slightly changed expression.

Li Changshou inwardly sighed – as expected of the Dao Ancestor’s attendant, the sages’ junior brother, seeing through his avatar’s nature at a glance.

Of course, it might also have been what the grey-robed elder behind said…

Li Changshou said: “I am not free to act as I wish, Your Majesty please be magnanimous.”

—Here, he wanted to directly confirm the other’s identity.

“Oh?”

The white-robed youth’s gaze immediately became playful. He glanced around and said: “It’s somewhat improper for us to chat here, why not go to a wonderful place?”

At once, the grey-robed elder took out a scroll painting from his sleeve, slowly opening it to reveal a landscape painting.

The white-robed youth took one step and disappeared before the landscape painting.

Li Changshou considered briefly, checking the self-destruct and self-immolation restrictions on his paper person, as well as the anti-divination items on his main body, before floating forward with his whisk.

Approaching the landscape painting, Li Changshou felt a pulling force…

Light and shadows flowed before his eyes, and in a moment, he had entered the painted world.

In a mountain pavilion, the white-robed youth and the grey-robed elder who should have been outside holding the painting were sitting and standing respectively.

Li Changshou pondered how to arouse the other’s curiosity and form good karma without entangling other karmic connections…

Flying closer, he already had a plan.

First, try some riddles, then see the effect…

…

Several hours later, in the deep of night.

Three streams of light flew out of the landscape painting, and the paper person transformed into the kindly elder made a Daoist bow, saying:

“This poor Daoist won’t further disturb Fellow Daoist’s interest.”

“Please,” the white-robed youth made a gesture of invitation, his eyes showing slight reluctance, and added, “About what I mentioned earlier, please consider it carefully.”

“Fellow Daoists should understand my difficulties.”

“Ah,” the white-robed youth’s eyes were full of emotion as he made a slight Daoist bow to the person before him.

Li Changshou calmly returned the courtesy, his Daoist bow naturally deeper, then bid farewell and left, floating on a cloud toward the nearby Sea God Temple.

As soon as he left, the obscure Dao rhythm concealing this group of ten’s movements and traces grew thicker.

The white-robed youth gazed for a while and sighed:

“Who would have thought that one who understands my heart’s intent would be just a wild god!

East Wood Duke, what do you think of this person?”

“Deeply hidden without revealing his depths, exceeding wisdom, and extraordinarily understanding of heaven and earth’s trends, analyzing penetratingly,”

The grey-robed elder, that is East Wood Duke, said softly from behind, “The twelve pieces of advice this Fellow Daoist offered Your Majesty are true, in this old minister’s view, pearls of wisdom everyone.”

“Indeed, most align perfectly with my thoughts.

Several pieces of advice I hadn’t even considered before.”

The white-robed youth carefully savored their hours-long discussion, feeling he had benefited greatly.

Yet he also felt many aspects were profoundly mysterious, beyond his comprehension.

His earlier words about “aligning perfectly” were just saving face.

From any angle of judgment, this South Sea God Sect Master was quite formidable, and his external avatar technique was no ordinary cultivation…

In the primordial world, there were indeed still many deeply hidden individuals.

Thinking of this, the white-robed youth said leisurely:

“With such a worthy by my side, the Heavenly Court’s troubles could be resolved within ten thousand years.”

“But Your Majesty…”

East Wood Duke seemed to hesitate, “This old minister carefully considers – we couldn’t grasp even half a clue about who this person is.

We only know he’s the South Sea God Sect Master, has some connection to the Dragon Clan, and some link to the Shamanic Clan.

Everything else… we know nothing.”

“I made some calculations earlier and found the primordial treasure Taiji Diagram’s suppressing aura on his fate – he should be from the Human Teaching.”

The white-robed youth smiled slightly, “This person’s identity isn’t simple, having reservations is inevitable.

Using an avatar to meet today was probably wanting to form good karma with me.

Dragon Clan, Shamanic Clan, Human Teaching… this Sea God Sect is truly interesting.

Let’s return, this trip has been quite fruitful.

Later remember to submit a memorial, proposing to bring the wild gods of the South Continent to heaven, then lead this matter to the Sea God Sect.

Other wild gods are just tools for major sects to harvest incense fire, but this Sea God Sect alone is truly excellent.”

East Wood Duke bowed: “This old minister obeys… Your Majesty, do you perhaps want to force him to appear with an imperial edict?”

“No, I won’t do such short-sighted things.”

The white-robed youth smiled and said:

“What he said was quite right – those who know me may not align with me, and those who align with me may not know me.

If he can offer good strategies in the future, solving my doubts, never mind the position of South Sea God, even the position of Four Seas God, I would give an avatar to him, what of it?

East Wood Duke, later waiting for me to think carefully, then you go meet him again at the South Sea God Sect.

What my Heavenly Court lacks least is heavenly merit, among all its shortages of people and immortals.”

“This old minister obeys.”

…

At the river valley slope below Breaking Sky Peak of the Virtue Realm Sect.

Li Changshou slowly exhaled, feeling his primordial spirit almost blow out with it.

Had he… boasted too much today?

Had he let anything slip, or expressed anything unclearly that might cause misunderstandings?

Li Changshou carefully considered, repeatedly checking.

Today, he hadn’t just been bluffing but had offered some substance – merely strategies for organizing the Heavenly Court’s internal troubles and easing external pressure.

Being able to roughly calculate the Heavenly Court’s rise, these strategies weren’t hard for Li Changshou to find. After starting the third one, he already had the remaining nine planned.

Judging by the other’s reactions, his goal of forming good karma should have been achieved, and he hadn’t sought anything beyond this.

What was the worst possible impact of this matter?

Li Changshou carefully pondered – at worst, Human Teaching experts would discover he was secretly advising the Jade Emperor.

But the Human Teaching itself supported the Heavenly Court, which was currently under the Supreme Pure Sage’s protection. As a Human Teaching disciple, advising the Jade Emperor was justifiable.

The benefits of this matter were numerous…

“Senior Brother?”

Ling E suddenly asked softly beside him, “What’s wrong? You’re covered in sweat.”

Li Changshou wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, discovering he was unconsciously drenched in cold sweat.

He smiled: “I encountered some bottlenecks in cultivation, it’s nothing, don’t worry.”

Ling E blinked, her eyes full of concern, but remembering their three rules didn’t say more.

Li Changshou inconspicuously dissolved the cold sweat, inwardly calculating several possible development paths for this matter’s aftermath.

Hazily, prosperously, Supreme Pure above…

He seemed to have… truly convinced this young Jade Emperor…

Appendix: [Twelve Strategies of Advice]

The latter nine strategies:

[Respect the Sages, Revere the Dao Sect, Promote the Human Teaching]

Establish celebrations for the Three Sages of the Dao Sect, with the Human Teaching Patriarch’s celebration being the grandest – securing this patron concerns the sages’ faces.

[Diligent in Internal Affairs, Release Border Authority, Don’t Compete for Merit]

Don’t hold all authority in hand, nor show ambition for heaven and earth’s great power. Be diligent in affairs the Heavenly Court can currently manage, release power in areas beyond control when appropriate, gradually taking it back later.

[Establish Heavenly Rules, Set Heavenly Punishments, Clarify Heavenly Principles]

Perfect various heavenly regulations, prepare to use Heavenly Court rules to constrain the Three Realms at any time.

[Define Good and Evil, Promote the Human Way, Advance Ritual Teaching]

Distinguish good and evil, teach people to be good, using the current protagonists of heaven and earth – humans – as the main body, promoting moral ritual matters.

[Establish Evil Opposition, Display Divine Traces, Raise Prestige]

First, establish some primordial evil forces, then eliminate them in the Heavenly Court’s name, initially promoting the court’s dignity; Li Changshou frantically hinted at those demon clans at the continents’ edges – they would be the best targets.

[Recruit the Virtuous and Talented, Recognize Character, Disregard Background]

Select the capable, regardless of background. The Heavenly Court has destiny and merit – anyone with loyal and good character plus ability can be heavily used.

[Establish Mortal World, Dream of Human Emperor, Respect the Heavenly Emperor]

Use dream communication, divine manifestations, or other arrangements to have the current human world sovereign conduct ceremonies worshiping the Heavenly Emperor, and increase the ‘Heavenly Court’s’ presence in the mortal world.

[Watch the Four Seas, Gather Old Clans, Operate the Netherworld]

Subjugate the Dragon Clan, strengthen the Heavenly Court’s power, strategize about the underworld, and influence the Six Paths of Reincarnation, thereby completing the power structure.

[Don’t Compete for Sagehood, Borrow Mediocre Appearance, Steadily Seek Peace]

This one was omitted.

…