“Hahaha… This worked?

Being forcefully established as a Sea God by a village of shamans?

Those shamans, relying on their bloodline power, each as strong as an ox, became divine envoys collecting wealth… and in the end, the Dragon Clan got involved too?

Marvelous, truly marvelous are the affairs of the world!”

By the river valley stream, Xuandu held the roasted fish and burst into laughter.

Li Changshou maintained his smile beside him, taking out two snakeheads he had originally planned to give to the sect elders and continued roasting them.

The first element of seeking patronage was sincerity;

Then sincerely… catering to their preferences.

After laughing for a while, Xuandu asked: “What happened next? Continue.

I won’t listen to your story for nothing. Later you can choose one divine ability, as long as I know it, you can learn it, and I will teach it to you.”

Li Changshou didn’t show much joy at these words, sighing slightly as he explained his approach to handling the South Sea God Religion;

In passing, he also answered Great Master Xuandu about why he had become entangled with the Dragon Clan.

When Xuandu heard how Li Changshou, lacking powerful backing, had deliberately maintained mystery and intentionally left things half-said, letting the Dragon Clan’s imagination run wild…

The Great Master broke into laughter again, and quite admired Li Changshou’s “clever strategy,” praising:

“You’re truly clever enough, no wonder Teacher intervened to conceal your heavenly fate!”

Hearing these words, Li Changshou was immediately moved.

The Sage Lord truly… had noticed him?

Subsequently, Li Changshou immediately understood the karmic connections involved.

Dragons entering the Heaven Court should be a key step in strengthening the Heaven Court’s prestige and authority;

His own Sage Lord wanted to support the Heaven Court, with his Benevolent Corpse transformed into the Supreme Elder Lord to support the Jade Emperor;

When the Supreme Pure Sage discovered that the matter of dragons entering heaven could be facilitated through the South Sea God Religion, he intervened to conceal his heavenly fate, preventing the Dragon Clan and Western Religion from investigating the details…

This made sense.

Li Changshou’s thoughts turned, feeling that the most likely time the Sage had intervened to conceal his heavenly fate was when he had encountered the Jade Emperor…

However, he couldn’t draw firm conclusions and dared not speculate too much about the Sage’s intentions.

At least his incense hadn’t been burned in vain!

“Changshou,” Xuandu smiled, “Now Teacher has given a task, which is to guide the Dragon Clan under the Heaven Court’s banner.

What are your thoughts?”

Li Changshou said seriously: “This disciple will follow all of the Great Master’s arrangements.”

“Earlier I heard you say that when elders have needs, disciples serve their labor.”

Xuandu smiled with narrowed eyes, “Since you’ve already started this matter, continue with it.

However, the Dragon Clan has always been arrogant, naturally looking down on the Heaven Court;

Back when the Demon Emperor established the Demon Court, even at the peak of demon power, they could only make the Dragon Clan ‘guest ministers.’

Now though the Dragon Clan lacks merit and opportunities, their power gradually declining, without some tribulations, it may be difficult to break their pride.”

The implication seemed to be wanting Li Changshou to think of ways to temper the Dragon Clan.

Li Changshou: …

Wasn’t this too heavy a burden for a small Crossing Immortal Gate disciple’s shoulders?

The Great Master didn’t hesitate to use juniors.

“Great Master…”

Li Changshou showed a difficult expression, saying:

“This disciple originally borrowed the Dragon Clan’s power to protect the South Sea God Religion, already feeling uneasy.

Now to have this disciple deliberately scheme against the Dragon Clan…”

“Wait a moment, let me calculate.”

Xuandu calculated with his fingers, rarely dropping his smile to show a serious expression.

“This matter isn’t so simple;

Currently, the two Sages of the Western Religion want to bring the Dragon Clan under their command and have begun taking action, seemingly putting pressure on the Dragon Clan in secret, forcing them to submit…

Tsk, after so many years, still using the same approach.”

Li Changshou said softly: “Great Master, is it appropriate for us to discuss this matter?”

“Don’t worry,” Xuandu said, “Within ten zhang around me, you can speak freely.”

Li Changshou inwardly marveled.

Meanwhile, Xuandu sat there, holding the roasted fish, picking out bones while sending the meat into his mouth, thinking about how to arrange this matter.

Li Changshou had already started thinking about what divine ability to request later.

Preferably a movement technique, or a method to conceal one’s energy, or perhaps like the Great Master’s ability to be undetectable by immortal consciousness…

Hmm?

Li Changshou suddenly realized something and hurriedly asked: “Does the Great Master mean that those two Lords in the West have already moved against the Dragon Clan?”

Xuandu said: “Correct, the heavenly fate shows that the Dragon Clan faces some calamity today, though temporarily there’s no worry.”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh wryly, shaking his head.

Xuandu found this small disciple truly interesting, not just interesting, but quite to his liking, seeming to have many interesting aspects.

Xuandu asked: “What else is amusing?”

“This disciple earlier sensed the South Sea God Religion had a tribulation…”

Then, Li Changshou detailed the battle currently occurring in the southwest of South Jambudvipa Continent to Great Master Xuandu.

“So, what I used to deceive the Dragon Clan turned out to be the truth.

No wonder the Dragon Clan believed so deeply without doubt.”

“Hahaha…”

Xuandu laughed again beside him, giving Li Changshou the impression that this Great Master was optimistic and… joyful.

Soon, Great Master Xuandu raised his hand to pat Li Changshou’s shoulder, saying:

“This matter was handled beautifully!

I now understand the Teacher’s intention. You’ll oversee the matter of dragons entering heaven. If you encounter troubles you can’t resolve, then at your Crossing Immortal Gate…

No, wait, how can you calculate so much while being here?”

“This disciple has a crude divine ability called paper person creation.”

Li Changshou didn’t dare conceal, taking out a paper avatar from his sleeve, “This disciple modified it somewhat, changing it into an external body transformation method.”

Xuandu stared at the paper avatar for a moment, then looked at Li Changshou, before shaking his head.

Less than two hundred years of cultivation, yet external body transformation method…

“If Teacher hadn’t forbidden me from taking disciples, I would truly want to bring you back to Doushuai Palace.

But Changshou, there are several things I must still warn you about.”

Li Changshou immediately showed a serious expression, sitting properly on the rock, and listening carefully.

Xuandu’s gaze revealed some reminiscence as he slowly spoke, first saying:

“The primordial world is far less peaceful than it appears to you.”

Li Changshou: …

Thought the boss would say something profound, but he naturally understood this.

Hearing Great Master Xuandu sighing continuously beside him, Li Changshou also put on a solemn expression to cooperate…

Xuandu said:

“Let’s not talk about ancient times before my birth, just from high antiquity until now, how many heaven-gifted talents, how many experts who amazed heaven and earth, ultimately turned to ashes.

The primordial world is the fullest of schemes…”

Li Changshou: Why do these words sound so familiar?

“Do you know why Teacher taught me not to be entangled in karma?”

Xuandu sighed, “Only because these two words ‘karma’ can’t be pulled apart or cut through.

Perhaps you think it’s a small matter, but it might bring you lethal disaster after endless years.

Looking down the path from high antiquity, the best truth I can give you is —

The primordial world has too many dangers.”

Li Changshou nodded solemnly, at this moment suddenly feeling moved in his heart.

Finally finding his organization’s kind of moved!

Xuandu continued:

“Look at the Demon Master Kun Peng who once spread his wings soaring beyond the nine heavens, ultimately beaten and forced to flee to the Chaos Sea;

Look at the two Demon Emperors who stood proudly atop Mount Buzhou, ultimately meeting their death with their Dao destroyed, bodies and bones destroyed.

Then there were the Demon-Fighting Clan, the Ten Great Demon Saints, the Blood Sea Asuras, those great experts and divine ability users who swept across heaven and earth…

As numerous as stars, countless.

Changshou, there are no victors in this world.

Only the living, and the dead.”

Li Changshou nodded in deep agreement, saying: “Why doesn’t the Great Master pass these principles to the many Dao lineages of our sect?”

“These are just warnings, who can truly avoid karma?”

Xuandu smiled and said: “I say these things just to remind you.

Long Life Golden Immortal isn’t much, what about the Great Luo realm? Don’t be self-satisfied just because you achieved ascension, focusing on cultivation is the right path.”

Li Changshou rose to make a Daoist salute, feeling quite close to Great Master Xuandu.

A feeling of finally being recognized after persevering for over a hundred years arose spontaneously, making Li Changshou truly want to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xuandu.

But, he couldn’t.

Say too much and make too many mistakes, he must always remain vigilant;

Even facing the Great Master who was showing such care for him now, he could feel grateful, but couldn’t become dependent, and certainly couldn’t trust completely.

The Great Master couldn’t always watch over him;

Moreover, if someone suddenly attacked him, the Great Master could at most help collect his corpse, and if it was still warm, maybe give him a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill…

Thinking too much, thinking too much.

“Well then, handle the Dragon Clan matter as you see fit.”

Great Master Xuandu patted his knee, seeing the fire before they had burned down, and slowly stood up.

“Let’s talk until here today, what divine ability do you want to learn? I naturally can’t go back on my word.”

Li Changshou pondered for several sounds, thinking back and forth, but still said:

“Movement technique.”

Great Master Xuandu first froze, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, taking out two jade talismans from his sleeve.

“I had planned to give these to you as rewards in two parts, but I’ll give them both now.

I have one movement technique, but your current cultivation is too low to learn it;

This is an external body transformation method, you can comprehend it to perfect your paper person divine ability;

There’s also a scripture written by the Teacher that can give you some cultivation insights.

Just remember, don’t show off this scripture, comprehend it yourself.”

Li Changshou received the two jade talismans, appropriately showing a little joy, saying: “Thank you, Great Master.”

“In all these years, among these several Human Dao lineages, to produce you, a small disciple valued by Teacher, I will naturally take extra care of you.”

Xuandu patted Li Changshou’s shoulder, “Since I’ve come down this time, do you need me to make an appearance at that Sea God Religion?

Before you had no one backing you;

Now, you do.

However, it’s still best not to cause trouble everywhere. Teacher likes more stable disciples, if you attract too much karma, Teacher might take action himself and directly clean you up.”

Li Changshou: …

Was this giving him a sweet date, then striking him with divine thunder?

“Great Master please rest assured, this disciple will be extra careful in future actions.”

Li Changshou pondered briefly, saying: “In the South Sea territory, Dragon Clan experts are currently gathering. This disciple wanted to ask the Great Master to reveal his presence there.

But since the Ancestral Master has arranged the matter of dragons entering heaven, this disciple feels there’s no need to alarm the West…”

“Oh?” Xuandu slightly narrowed his eyes, “What good strategy do you have? Just say it, I dislike thinking about these things most.”

“Hmm…

This disciple will speak rashly, please forgive any inappropriate words, Great Master.”

Then, Li Changshou spoke softly for a few sentences.

Xuandu quickly nodded with a smile, saying: “It’s quite similar to what I was thinking.”

“This disciple wracked his brains and happened upon this thought, must have received the Great Master’s guidance.”

“Mm, mm, not bad, if you can speak well, say a few more words.”

Li Changshou: …

Great figures were indeed so uniquely characteristic.

Seeing the Great Master was about to leave, Li Changshou hesitated, then said: “Great Master, this disciple has something to say, but doesn’t know if it’s appropriate…”

“Just say it.”

“Promoting Dao companions within the lineage, this disciple understands you want to prosper the Human Dao…

But…”

Xuandu smiled and said: “What? Is this strategy not good?”

“It’s naturally good,” Li Changshou said softly, “but the problem is, they… don’t reproduce…”

Xuandu frowned, “Why is this? By reason, yin and yang joining should naturally produce spirit births.”

Li Changshou immediately understood something.

So after promoting this Dao companion trend for so many years, you…

“Could this matter be controlled?” Great Master Xuandu belatedly realized, somewhat between laughter and tears.

“Most likely so, this disciple doesn’t understand… this path is truly too complex.”

Li Changshou could only respond thus.

…

In the southwest of South Jambudvipa Continent, in those barren mountains where the Dragon Clan had ambushed.

Halfway up the mountain, Ao Yi stood amid swirling dust, waves of emotion flowing through his heart.

If not for the strategies given by Elder Brother Changshou’s backing expert, though the Dragon Clan could have won this time, casualties would certainly have increased severalfold.

Truly, they owed Elder Brother Changshou a great favor.

Those [Twenty-six Steps to Repel the Enemy], Ao Yi decided that after returning to Golden Turtle Island, he would organize them into a set of military principles, and if Elder Brother Changshou agreed, he would present these military principles to his father…

Just then, several old dragon elders walked over with worried expressions.

One old dragon said:

“Your Highness, the enemy discovered this time was the ancient fierce beast, Blood Wing Black Mosquito, extremely fierce…

Should we, perhaps, request a Human Dao expert to show themselves, to resolve this isolated and helpless predicament?”

Hearing this, Ao Yi pondered briefly, then slowly nodded, “This matter, I need to discuss with Brother Sect Master before deciding…”

“Oh?”

Suddenly a light laugh came from the sky.

Ao Yi’s words stopped, and all the dragons became alert, their gazes turning toward several hundred zhang high in the sky.

There, a figure in black robes stood with hands behind their back, origin unknown, appearance time unknown.

This person swept his gaze below, saying:

“Do not harm mortals.”

After speaking, this figure left a trace of Dao rhythm, lightly flashing before disappearing.

The dragons below looked at each other.

“That was…”

“The Great Master!

That Dao rhythm was from the Human Dao’s Great Master Xuandu!”

At this moment, Monk Wenjing, who had been observing this place and was burning with anger, suddenly shivered, instantly losing her anger…