Li Changshou never imagined that the future Pure Yang Free Immortal, known for his romantic nature, would plant his seeds at this moment…

This time, Dongmu Gong came only to express his gratitude to Li Changshou.

As soon as they met in the landscape spirit painting, Dongmu Gong was breathless with excitement:

“His Majesty! His Majesty, he… he…

Smiled at me!”

Li Changshou’s heart skipped a beat, thinking something had happened to one of his future supporters.

Then, Dongmu Gong began sighing deeply, speaking of how difficult the past tens of thousands of years had been for him.

He was originally just an ordinary Long Life Immortal who, during the end of the Demon-God War and humanity’s rise, risked his life for humanity, establishing considerable merit and gaining much virtue. Only then was he chosen by the Sage to become the East King Lord of the newly established Heaven Court?

The Jade Emperor was the Dao Ancestor’s attendant, calling several Sages his senior brothers, and had never revealed his true cultivation level.

How would Dongmu Gong dare compete for power with the Jade Emperor?

All this time, Dongmu Gong had been cautious and diligent, treading on thin ice, never having a single day of peaceful rest…

Though he didn’t need to sleep.

A few days ago, Dongmu Gong hastily married a female immortal he had known for a long time, requesting the Jade Emperor to bestow a calligraphy piece.

“The Jade Emperor’s smile was so hearty, so transparent…”

Dongmu Gong exhaled deeply, stood up, and bowed deeply to Li Changshou, saying: “I dare not speak of this great kindness. If Friend Dao needs anything, this poor Daoist will spare no effort!”

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, but still concerned, inquired about the details of what Dongmu Gong had done previously.

It was fortunate he asked…

When he heard Dongmu Gong say “I want them all,” Li Changshou’s physical body was almost consumed by black lines.

“Friend Dao, the excess is as bad as a deficiency. A reputation for faithfulness is equally important.

Friend Dao, you married one immortal maiden today, so if another marriage fate comes tomorrow, will you accept it or not?”

Dongmu Gong smiled and said: “Naturally, I will accept them all. More is more stable.”

“Then wouldn’t the Jade Emperor’s bestowed calligraphy become a joke?”

Li Changshou sighed: “For Friend Dao, being romantic is better than being promiscuous and being faithful is better than being romantic…

What you fear most is His Majesty overthinking, so why do you add unnecessary complications, cutting yourself this way?”

“This, this…”

Dongmu Gong stood up and paced back and forth, showing a troubled expression. “This poor Daoist thought having more people would be more stable.”

“That’s not how stability works,” Li Changshou pondered for a moment. “Friend Dao, this matter can still be remedied.

But this time will be the last time I advise on this matter.

It’s also not appropriate for us to meet privately anymore, do you understand?”

“Naturally, I understand,” Dongmu Gong made a Daoist bow, and Li Changshou stood up to return it.

At this point, Li Changshou could only briefly plan out Dongmu Gong’s future actions.

—It was nothing more than establishing an image of faithfulness, preferably seeking a title for his wife, creating some romantic little stories to spread throughout the Heaven Court.

Dongmu Gong, who previously only cared about cultivation and assisting the Jade Emperor, now desperately absorbed the ‘knowledge’ from Li Changshou, his military advisor;

Gradually, Dongmu Gong started to show signs of… enlightenment…

Towards the end, when Li Changshou said one thing, Dongmu Gong could understand three.

Perhaps this was the talent of being the previous life of a certain Pure Yang Free Immortal… probably.

…

“I forgot to ask who Wood Lord married at this time.”

In the thatched cottage, Li Changshou lifted the front of his Daoist robe and stood up from the meditation mat, stretching slightly;

Then he continued his previous journey, heading to his master’s thatched cottage next door.

The word “love” entangles so much karma…

The mighty Dongmu Gong, a powerful immortal of the Heaven Court who had accumulated countless merits and was appointed by the Sage, was now anxious because of the word “love.”

Of course, most of Dongmu Gong’s anxiety came from having too much authority.

His own master, because of this word “love,” lost his foundation for immortality, and now was depressed, shutting himself in his thatched cottage, his will diminished.

Hm?

How did Master fall asleep… again…

Li Changshou disarmed the formation himself, cleared his throat, and called into the cottage: “Master, this disciple has important matters to discuss with Master.”

“Oh?”

Qi Yuan quickly pulled open the wooden door, and though his spirit seemed full, his expression and gaze still showed some depression.

“Come in, what important matters?”

“Master, do you know about the Three Teachings Origin Conference?”

Li Changshou asked with a smile.

Qi Yuan finally showed a slight smile. Earlier, Ling’e had reported the good news about the sect’s internal competition. With both disciples doing so well, he was truly happy as their master.

Naturally, Qi Yuan also guessed that his young disciple’s six-level advancement probably meant exposing his true cultivation level…

“Of course, this master knows about this conference. Could it be that an elder recommended letting Ling’e participate as well?”

“Why would Ling’e need to go?”

Li Changshou explained: “Master, that Three Teachings Origin Conference brings no benefits, the cloud journey there and back is exhausting, and one could easily get entangled in trouble and karma. It’s truly not a good thing.”

Qi Yuan frowned and said:

“Disciple, you’re good in every way except for this—always only looking at our little palm-sized Little Qiong Peak.

This is going to earn glory for our sect, adding brilliance to the Degree Immortal Gate’s legacy!

Being able to go with the sect’s seniors to participate is a great honor, how can you talk about benefits!”

Li Changshou: …

Anyway, if a sect elder recommended Ling’e, he would just claim illness then, and have Ling’e stay behind to take care of him.

This conference was still far away, with no specific time set yet, probably thirty to fifty years away.

“Master, let’s not talk about this for now. This disciple has a request today.”

Li Changshou saw his master was about to start lecturing and quickly changed the subject, explaining to his master.

Whisper whisper, like this and that.

Half an hour later, the cottage door opened, and two figures stepped out.

Looking at the person on the left:

An ordinarily tall and slender figure, an ordinarily handsome face, and ordinarily flowing long hair—naturally, this was Li Changshou himself.

The person on the right was slightly shorter, with a middle-aged face, his gaze somewhat dejected, his brows bearing wrinkles that couldn’t be smoothed away…

Old Daoist Qi Yuan had restored his middle-aged appearance, wearing a light blue robe, and looking somewhat spirited.

Li Changshou’s ordinariness was disguised by five parts of magic;

Old Daoist Qi Yuan’s ordinariness, however, was carved into his marrow…

Li Changshou made a Daoist bow, said “Thank you, Master,” and Old Daoist Qi Yuan…

No, at this time he was already Daoist Qi Yuan!

Daoist Qi Yuan forced a smile and rode a cloud directly toward the mountain gate, going to handle the small matter his disciple had entrusted to him.

In his heart, the master was also recalling what Li Changshou had just said…

‘Master, previously this disciple used your appearance while eliminating demons outside with Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, which might have buried some hidden dangers.

Therefore, Master, when you go out, you cannot use your usual true appearance.

Why don’t you restore your middle-aged appearance, and carry this incense pouch that conceals Master’s aura? This way there will be no worries.’

Qi Yuan didn’t think much about it, habitually doing as his disciple said, riding a cloud out of the mountain gate, heading toward the nearest town [Coastal Town]…

Li Changshou inwardly chuckled.

Doing such things naturally couldn’t be done within the sect, as it could easily cause some trouble.

Li Changshou first transmitted a voice message to remind Ling’e that if there were outside visitors, she should handle them;

Then he hid in the underground secret chamber of the pill room, dividing his consciousness among three paper dolls.

One paper doll carried a paper doll army, tracking his master underground.

When the master went out, security work still needed to be done.

One paper doll watched Elder Wan Lin Yun’s side, as Li Changshou felt that Elder Wan Lin Yun might encounter some setbacks on this trip.

The other paper doll naturally hid in the incense pouch in the master’s sleeve, holding two pills there, waiting for the moment to appear.

Master riding the cloud…

‘So slow.’

Three days later, Daoist Qi Yuan slowly descended at the north gate of Coastal Town, queuing to enter the city.

The paper doll army stayed outside the Inverse Five Elements Formation. At this time, the master still had the “Person” character paper doll on him, so the paper doll army just served as backup.

As soon as the master entered the city, Li Changshou began secretly looking for candidates who could ‘encourage’ his master.

He wasn’t trying to get his master to attract a new romantic fate but simply wanted to let his master know…

[You are still very charming, and easily gain the favor of female Qi Practitioners]

Soon, Li Changshou discovered the Counter-Investigation Pill was triggered, immediately locating where that wisp of spirit mist was.

‘Why is it an old Daoist?’

Li Changshou shook his head, letting that wisp of spirit mist dissipate, using the paper doll to continue accompanying his master forward.

The pill’s effect was limited; it couldn’t be wasted casually.

Daoist Qi Yuan didn’t think much about it, heading directly toward the street where spirit herbs and medicinal herbs were sold.

After the master walked about thirty zhang, finally, Li Changshou finally discovered the first person using divine sense to investigate his master—a female Yuan Immortal who appeared to be twenty-four or twenty-five years of flourishing beauty.

‘It’s you, big sister.’

In the incense pouch, that paper doll used its thin little paper hand to release the seal on the Heart-Burning Pill.

Daoist Qi Yuan walked no more than fifteen steps…

“Fellow Daoist… may I have a moment?”

“Hm?”

Daoist Qi Yuan turned his head to look, frowning at the female Yuan Immortal who had called out to him, clasping his hands in greeting: “Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?”

“You,” the female Yuan Immortal’s face turned red with embarrassment, covering her cheeks with a handkerchief, saying softly: “Could you find a quiet place with me? I have something I wish to tell you.”

Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, alert rising in his heart, “I have nothing to discuss with Fellow Daoist.”

With these words, he strode quickly forward.

“Fellow Daoist…”

That female Yuan Immortal chased a few steps, but her mind suddenly cleared as she broke free from her previous state;

She secretly thought it strange, then seeing those scenes in her mind again, hurriedly covered her face and left.

Just now Li Changshou had only exposed the Heart-Burning Pill for an instant before sealing it again.

Qi Yuan had just walked a few steps when he heard another gentle greeting from the side:

“Fellow Daoist…”

Qi Yuan turned his head to look and saw a valiant female Qi Practitioner holding a long sword, making a fist-and-palm salute to him.

She also said softly: “Would you like to sit with me at the nearby teahouse?”

“Well, I have urgent matters to attend to, my disciple at home is severely injured and needs herbs. My apologies, apologies.”

Qi Yuan made a Daoist bow and continued walking quickly forward, but doubt arose in his heart.

With his appearance like this, and this dejected and melancholic aura at this time…

How was he so popular?

However, refusing two female Qi Practitioners’ invitations had already attracted quite a bit of attention.

In the next hundred zhang of the street, one beautiful figure after another came from the sides, front, and back.

“Daoist Master, where do you come from? Where are you going?”

“Fellow Daoist, please wait for me.”

“Fellow Daoist, why don’t you dare to open your eyes and look at me?”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was completely confused, could only keep refusing, and eventually even covered his face, hurrying forward with his head down.

What was wrong with this town?

He hadn’t been out for a long time, had Eastern Victory Divine Continent’s customs become so open-minded?

In secret, Li Changshou’s consciousness in that paper doll also wiped away some ‘sweat’.

“Hey! Fellow Daoist!”

Suddenly hearing a rough greeting, a tower of iron appeared in front of Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan looked up to see a zhang-tall ‘woman’ before him, seemingly someone who cultivated the physical body, with arms thicker than his waist, now staring at him with eyes as big as brass bells.

“Let’s be frank, I fancy you, come back to my cave dwelling to be my Dao companion!”

Qi Yuan frowned and hurriedly said: “Fellow Daoist, haven’t you got the wrong person?”

Li Changshou also frowned, he hadn’t ‘burned’ this female Daoist friend…

Hm?

Li Changshou’s consciousness fell on the paper doll in the incense pouch, his mouth suddenly twitched, seeing that the Heart-Burning Pill in the paper doll’s hand had now…

Shattered!

What situation was this? It was perfectly fine just a moment ago!

Had he opened and closed the seal too many times, making the pill’s medicinal properties unstable, and causing it to shatter directly?

What were the consequences of a shattered pill?

Generally speaking, it seemed the medicinal properties would surge slightly…

Li Changshou’s divine sense spread out, his expression suddenly changing slightly as he transmitted:

“Master, run quickly! Put the incense pouch in your storage treasure quickly!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment before reacting, hurriedly storing the incense pouch from his sleeve in his storage treasure.

At this moment, sweet calls could be heard within a hundred-zhang radius, and dozens of figures looked toward Qi Yuan simultaneously.

“Daoist Master…”

“Fellow Daoist…”

“Fellow Daoist!”

At a street corner, a righteous-looking old Daoist suddenly took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, “Fellow Daoist, would you mind if we cultivate together as Dao companions? Just pure cultivation, that kind.”

Qi Yuan’s legs trembled…

“You, you all stay back!”

Rumble rumble—

Suddenly, muffled sounds came from the ground, and someone shouted:

“Fellow Daoists be careful! The spirit beasts on Spirit Beast Street have gone berserk!”