Watching his deity statue being destroyed “right before his eyes,” Li Changshou remained calm inside, without any excess emotions.

He just felt a bit sorry for Ao Yi…

Because Ao Yi’s statue was made of expensive materials, it was dismantled into parts by the mortals on the spot, a truly pitiful sight.

This situation was exactly why Li Changshou had previously considered destroying the religion himself.

At this moment, the Dragon Clan’s ambush had been set, all units were in position, and Li Changshou had made all the arrangements he could…

But his heart still hung in midair, unable to find peace.

Ideas like “sitting on Qiong Peak observing ten thousand li, commanding killing formations with the divine seal in hand” were not what Li Changshou wanted.

What use was impressive?

Staying alive was the hard truth, and pursuing longevity was the great matter of a lifetime!

Therefore, just as troubles began appearing in the Sea God Religion before the great battle between both sides had erupted, Li Changshou was already considering post-war matters…

For every step taken, he had to look several… dozen steps ahead.

If this incident grew too large and hurt the Western Religion too badly, the South Sea God Religion would attract more attention from the Western Religion.

Although the probability of a Sage investigating the South Sea God Religion’s background because of this matter was low, it was still a situation that had to be considered…

The Western Religion didn’t just have two Sages; the two Sage Lords had quite a few disciples as well.

These Sage disciples’ reputations naturally couldn’t compare to the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Enlightenment School or the Eight Great Disciples of the Severing School, but their strength might not be much inferior.

Especially with someone like Monk Mosquito…

Thinking carefully, Li Changshou hadn’t even cultivated to become a Long Life Golden Immortal yet, but he was already having to secretly contend with these “seniors” and engage in battles across shores.

Doing too much of this, Li Changshou estimated, would truly leave him with some psychological trauma.

His divine consciousness observed various locations through the paper avatars’ eyes:

The Dragon Clan army was lying in ambush underground, while Ao Yi and several Dragon Clan experts led three thousand divine dragon soldiers gathering in the South Sea.

Dozens of Dragon Clan experts were converging on the location where the deity statue was destroyed, and would arrive at the temple in a moment;

If he wasn’t mistaken, they should be ambushed by the Western Religion.

These Dragon Clan experts had already received advance orders from Ao Yi about how to break through and protect themselves if attacked.

On the art of being bait.

When Ao Yi’s three thousand troops moved, that would be when the opponent’s black hand would be exposed…

After that, it would depend on how his “young” Second Sect Master performed. Li Changshou had already given Ao Yi the corresponding strategy and detailed battle tactics for each step.

The Bear Village Shaman Divine Envoy had gathered over three hundred people at this time;

Li Changshou’s two paper avatars disguised as strong men were mixed among the divine envoys, hiding in a valley where the Dragon Clan had set their ambush.

They would also join the battle later but would retreat immediately after one wave of attack.

Although enemy traces hadn’t appeared yet, Li Changshou already had a general judgment about how this battle would develop.

Currently, what Li Changshou worried about most was still the Western Religion thoroughly investigating his South Sea God Religion…

After pondering for a moment, Li Changshou rode the clouds toward the Hundred Mortals Hall at Breaking Heaven Peak.

Just as he flew to the front of the Hundred Mortals Hall, a flash of insight arose in his heart:

It had begun.

Li Changshou’s feet made a turn, and he stood with his hands behind his back before the statue of the “Three Righteous Heroes,” his divine consciousness focusing on several paper avatars, as scene after scene appeared in his mind…

Watching the battle:

The Sea God temple was destroyed, and the Dragon Clan protectors arrived. Several azure dragons revealed their true forms, roaring angrily in the sky.

The mortal believers from the neighboring Lima God Religion were immediately panic-stricken, quickly scattering like birds and beasts, with a small portion kneeling…

Converting to the Sea God Religion on the spot…

This process didn’t accumulate any karmic burden.

After the crowd dispersed, sudden changes occurred!

Several black shadows mixed among the Lima Religion believers shot into the sky, launching a surprise attack on this group of Dragon Clan protectors!

Just as Li Changshou turned his “gaze” to this location, he saw dragon claws waving everywhere in the sky, with hundreds of treasure lights flashing…

The Dragon Clan protectors of the Sea God Religion, averaging over ten treasure lights per dragon, smashed down in one powerful wave, instantly tearing those black shadows to pieces!

Li Changshou: …

As expected of the wealthy dragons of the primordial world, truly doing whatever they wanted.

But following this, a trace of suspicion arose in Li Changshou’s heart.

What was the point of those few black shadows – two True Immortals and three Heavenly Immortal realm cultivators – charging out directly?

Something wasn’t right, this situation seemed… familiar to Li Changshou…

Blood mosquitoes!

Just as these two words arose in Li Changshou’s mind, a golden-glowing azure dragon in the sky suddenly raised its head and roared in anger, its dragon eyes turning blood-red as it bared its fangs and brandished its claws, charging toward its fellow clan members!

Three azure dragons showed anomalous conditions in succession, throwing the Dragon Clan protectors into chaos.

At this moment, from among the “mortal believers” who had scattered earlier, over a hundred figures shot into the sky;

Among them were not a few mid to late-stage Heavenly Immortal realm cultivators, their auras mixed, comprising humans, demons, and spirits alike…

Witnessing this scene, Li Changshou, who was more than a hundred thousand li away, couldn’t help but show a slightly bitter smile.

What grudge, what enmity was this?

Was Monk Mosquito deliberately making things difficult for him?

This karmic entanglement – if he ever gained the power to protect himself in the primordial world, he would need to eliminate this Monk Mosquito.

Speaking of which, where did Monk Mosquito find these puppets’ “materials”?

If Li Changshou’s deduction wasn’t wrong, they should have been plundered from the Three Thousand Worlds for her use.

These Dragon Clan experts were burning with anger, but the Second Prince’s orders still rang in their ears. One Dragon Clan expert shouted:

“Retreat!”

Thus, these dozens of Dragon Clan experts didn’t persist in battle, immediately breaking through, leaving behind several dragon corpses and three dragons whose minds had been controlled, as they fled toward the southeast.

The group of blood mosquito puppets pursued relentlessly, but dragons were skilled at flight, and they quickly pulled ahead.

After the Dragon Clan protectors had flown for a short while, ambushers suddenly appeared in their path;

After being intercepted, the Dragon Clan protectors immediately turned northeast, fleeing in quite a sorry state.

These dozens of Dragon Clan protectors were truly憋屈 in their hearts at this time;

If not for the Second Prince’s strict orders that they had to follow, they would truly fight these fellows to the death, defending the Dragon Clan’s dignity!

A thousand li to the south, the Dragon Clan’s three thousand divine dragon soldiers were already advancing magnificently.

At the same time, shadow after shadow rose from a valley several hundred li away, numbering three to four thousand…

These dozens of Dragon Clan protectors had already become dual-sided bait.

…

“Everything is true as Elder Brother Changshou’s… that expert behind him predicted!”

Being carried by two Dragon Clan experts, flying swiftly through the sky, Ao Yi couldn’t help but feel emotional.

But thinking carefully, Ao Yi felt this statement wasn’t quite appropriate.

If one could predict the enemy’s moves in advance and point them out with a single word, that would truly count as divine prediction;

The Human Dao expert behind Li Changshou had merely listed out several possible situations and provided countermeasures for each.

Thus, Ao Yi changed his emotional sentiment to:

[Human Dao experts truly handle matters steadily!]

The battle’s development that followed matched one of the paths in those “twenty-six steps.”

The dozens of Dragon Clan protectors barely escaped to the continuous barren mountains where the Dragon Clan army was ambushed, with thousands of enemy shadows pursuing and killing;

Ao Yi led three thousand divine dragon soldiers and dozens of Dragon Clan experts to provide timely reinforcement, facing off against the opponent and erupting into a great battle.

When both sides engaged in close combat, their magical battle’s aftershocks shaking thousands of li in all directions, three thousand divine dragon soldiers suddenly rushed out from the mountains surrounding the battlefield, cutting off these thousands of enemy shadows’ retreat route.

In an instant, azure dragons filled the sky, divine dragons roaring in anger;

Six thousand divine dragon soldiers and over a hundred Dragon Clan experts surrounded these three to four thousand blood mosquito puppets and gave them a thorough beating, with figures falling from the sky like dumplings…

Before the great battle began, the Dragon Clan had already noticed the opponent’s ability to control minds.

Having mixed in the primordial world for so many years, how could they not have countermeasures?

The battle situation immediately became one-sided;

But a major characteristic of blood mosquito puppets was that they didn’t fear death, and at this moment they fought back desperately, also causing no small trouble for the Dragon Clan’s side.

Just then…

In a secret cave dwelling in the wilderness at the border between South Jambudvipa Continent and West Ox Continent.

Monk Wenjing was slightly frowning at this moment.

These Dragon Clan members, why did they seem… unlike the Dragon Clan?

“They even know how to set up ambushes now.”

Monk Wenjing sneered, naturally not feeling the slightest pain over the thousands of puppets’ deaths and injuries – as long as she was willing, she could control another batch at any time.

“But if this is all you’re capable of, you still won’t escape death today.

When it comes to having backup plans, how can you compare to me?”

Monk Wenjing’s lips curled into an enchanting smile as she raised her hand to take out a blood-colored jade plate.

Her fingertip glided gently across it, and a buzzing sound came from within the jade plate.

Monk Wenjing slowly spoke:

“My children, go eliminate this batch of little dragons.”

The buzzing sound from the jade plate immediately became louder…

Above the Dragon Clan army’s ambush formation in the southwest of South Jambudvipa Continent, over half of those thousands of blood mosquito puppets had been killed or injured.

Over a thousand li away, on a desolate mountain, black “giant mosquitoes” flew out one after another from the mountain forest, surging high in the sky.

The mosquitoes flew into the sky and transformed into human figures with similar faces wearing black armor.

In the blink of an eye, the figures numbered over ten thousand;

They formed arrays in the sky, a dense black mass, yet completely silent.

Ancient fierce beasts — Blood Wing Black Mosquito swarm!

In terms of individual cultivation, a single Blood Wing Black Mosquito was comparable to a human True Immortal realm cultivator, and there were quite a few experts among them!

And their most terrifying aspect was their ability to fight as one!

At once, this black cloud emanating overwhelming blood qi swarmed toward the Dragon Clan’s battlefield.

The Dragon Clan was about to achieve “complete victory” when strong enemies suddenly appeared again, but the Dragon Clan didn’t lose their formation.

Ao Yi made a prompt decision, ordering all units to attack with full force, first killing off the enemies before them clean, then immediately arranging formations to meet the new battle.

As the ten thousand mosquitoes advanced magnificently to kill, over five thousand divine dragon soldiers formed protective formations, while Ao Yi secretly wiped away cold sweat…

In just a moment, the ten-thousand mosquito army swept over, and the two armies were about to engage;

Suddenly, countless immortal lights burst forth from the forest below, a great formation like an overturned sea bowl directly covering the barren wilderness for a hundred li around!

Then came the rumbling of drums from deep underground as group after group of divine dragon soldiers flew out from below, shooting into the sky!

From all four directions, eight directions!

Nine heavens, ten earths!

The five thousand divine dragon soldiers in the front suddenly changed from their previous defensive stance, revealing fierce dragon claws and attacking fiercely.

All having survived since ancient times, the Dragon Clan was still the overlord from ancient times – how could they fear these stinking mosquitoes?

A total of twenty thousand divine dragon soldiers and over three hundred Dragon Clan experts began the second wave of encirclement…

During the great battle in the sky, another three hundred strong men rushed out from a forest to the side;

Half of their arms transformed to normal thickness, with light flowing on them, condensing into longbows and arrows, drawing and shooting at mosquitoes!

Half were shouting and yelling nonstop;

Moreover, two strong men carried two spirit beast bags, scattering jade-green little frogs everywhere…

Adding a touch of healthy color to this great battle.

The overall situation was decided!

Standing under the commander’s flag and observing the battle situation, Ao Yi suddenly thought of something else.

He took out a bamboo slip from his bosom, on which was written:

[Twenty-six Steps to Repel the Enemy, Step Twenty-seven: Chapter on Raising Dust].

It was time to open this volume…

…

At the Hundred Mortals Hall of Breaking Heaven Peak in the Crossing Immortal Gate of East Victory Divine Continent.

[Why are there so many mosquitoes?]

Li Changshou rubbed his brow, pondering slightly in his heart.

If Monk Mosquito wanted to destroy his South Sea God Religion, she only needed to launch a surprise attack – thousands of blood mosquito puppets would have been enough…

Why did over ten thousand black-robed Daoists suddenly rush out afterward?

Fortunately, he had previously acted cautiously and had the Dragon Clan secure things once…

Although there were some things he couldn’t figure out in his heart, seeing that the battle situation was already stable and the Dragon Clan’s great victory was certain, Li Changshou stopped paying attention.

Stepping into the Hundred Mortals Hall, he walked toward the corner;

After greeting several familiar elders and presenting fine wine and spirit fish, receiving the elders’ permission, he then went toward the Sage painting at the front of the Hundred Mortals Hall.

Li Changshou fumbled in his sleeve for a moment, pulling out three “great incense sticks” as thick as thumbs and three chi long, lighting them at a nearby candlestick, then respectfully inserting them into the incense burner.

The several External Affairs Elders nearby: …

Li Changshou retreated three steps, lifted the hem of his Daoist robe, and honestly knelt.

‘Human Dao Sect Leader above, disciple Li Changshou sincerely… seeks protection.’

Originally, Li Changshou’s visit this time was just to set his mind at ease.

He neither recited prayer texts nor cultivated any particular feelings, just following custom to offer incense here.

But what Li Changshou hadn’t expected was…

Today…

A corner of that painting swayed slightly, and a trace of the Dao’s rhythm flowed out, falling upon him.