During his conversation with Scholar Gongming, Li Longshou had already sorted out his subsequent thoughts.

The art of adaptation must never focus solely on immediate effects;

Even when time is pressing, one must think through all possible future developments and choose the path that poses the least danger to oneself.

Beyond this, several principles were of utmost importance—

One must maintain one’s identity as a disciple of the Dao School, unwavering in standing with the Dao Ancestor and the Three Pure Ones;

One must uphold the principle that the Dao Schools are one family and the Three Schools share the same origin;

One must protect the interests of the School of Humanity, preserve face for any Sage master and first-rate master, and avoid bringing trouble upon oneself;

Besides these three “musts,” there were also five “necessary preparations” and “nine action guidelines.”

Finally, and most importantly…

No showing off.

The two words “showing off” were the greatest taboo of the Way of Stability.

In Li Longshou’s previous life, his deepest memory was the historical tale of “Yang Xiu’s Execution”;

This was actively showing off, known as “death by arrogance.”

After coming to the Primordial Era, what affected him most deeply was the parable of “The Divine Turtle’s Dismemberment.”

The turtle was innocent, but its body was too large, so its legs were cut off to support the heavens.

This was the best illustration of passive “showing off”!

If the Divine Turtle had hidden away, or earlier retreated to the Chaos Sea or the Void, the Sage masters would likely have just refined other great mountains into heavenly pillars, and wouldn’t have conveniently dismembered this poor turtle.

Therefore…

If one could avoid exposure, then avoid it.

If one could prevent others from knowing one’s background, then absolutely avoid giving any clues about one’s background!

Early-stage self-preservation meant finding reliable backing and completely concealing one’s traces, best if the Three Realms knew not one’s name;

Mid-stage self-preservation meant having a Merit Golden Body plus backing, with the Three Realms unaware of one’s existence…

Otherwise, wouldn’t that waste his own Sage master’s efforts to conceal his heavenly secrets?

Besides the alias Changeng Daoist, Li Longshou decided to create titles like “Little Master of Xuandu” and “Young Lord of Xuandu” to avoid karmic connections.

Of course, these matters would need careful planning later.

Right now, he needed to resolve the current crisis—

[Scholar Gongming’s violent beating of a Western Paradise Sage’s disciple, with the Sea God Sect involved, risking future retribution]

This matter had three main difficulties:

This Sage’s disciple couldn’t be killed;

They might later take revenge on the South Sea God Sect out of anger, and would raise the banner of the Sage’s face;

He had only just met Scholar Gongming and didn’t know his exact temperament, things might get more complicated, and he needed to preserve face for both sides…

Thus, Li Longshou, addressing these difficulties according to his principles, persistence, preparations, and action guidelines, selected the most stable solution and used undetectable immortal consciousness transmission to tell Scholar Gongming…

Like this and that, this way and that way.

When hearing the immortal consciousness transmission, Scholar Gongming initially frowned;

But after Li Longshou cleverly mentioned what Scholar Gongming cared about most – ‘the life and death of fellow brothers and sisters in the sect’ – Scholar Gongming quickly nodded in agreement.

By the time Li Longshou finished his elaborate explanation, Scholar Gongming even felt that although this approach was troublesome and perhaps slightly cunning…

If it could truly achieve the effect the Sea God described, it was indeed much more sophisticated than simply beating someone to death!

Scholar Gongming privately thought:

‘This South Sea God seems to be from the same school as the School of Humanity…

What a pity, if we could recruit him to our Sect of Humanity, we could both earn merit and get advice.

Much more reliable than those fellows of the Ten Celestial Lords.’

…

Thus, in this small Sea God Temple.

Li Longshou’s paper avatar hid deeper underground, prepared to “self-detonate” at any moment.

Through divine consciousness, he watched these two masters in the courtyard, while mentally communicating with Ao Yi, who had been watching from the side, giving hundreds of instructions.

Half an hour later, Li Longshou transmitted: “Everything is prepared, I trouble senior.”

In the courtyard…

Scholar Gongming nodded, waved his wide sleeve to withdraw the twenty-four Stabilizing Sea Divine Zhenzhus, looked down at the hunchbacked Daoist, and said through gritted teeth:

“Get up, come with me to your Spirit Mountain!”

The hunchbacked Daoist lying on the ground frowned and opened his eyes to glare at Scholar Gongming.

This Daoist said coldly: “You dare to come with me to Spirit Mountain!”

“What do I have to fear?”

Scholar Gongming cursed, “Today you bullied our Dao School first, I must go ask my two senior uncle-masters what this is all about!”

Li Longshou considered briefly in his heart, feeling that Uncle Zhao’s emotion still wasn’t quite right.

There should be a touch of grief and indignation.

This was the first step—[Forcefully define this matter as a conflict between the Dao School and the Western Paradise].

Hearing this, the hunchbacked old Daoist immediately jumped up, grabbing his cane as if to strike…

Scholar Gongming stepped forward half a step, his eyes blazing with divine light, his beard floating forward;

The hunchbacked old Daoist involuntarily shuddered, retreating several steps, his gaze full of wariness.

The space here was still sealed by Scholar Gongming, and this hunchbacked old Daoist had just experienced the prowess of the Sect of Humanity’s senior outer disciple, knowing he couldn’t escape.

The hunchbacked old Daoist cursed: “Today your Dao School people schemed to harm me! How dare you turn this around!

Look how miserable I am now! I must go to your Azure Profundity Palace to have words!”

“You’re miserable?”

Scholar Gongming gave a cold laugh, remembering the method that South Sea God had transmitted earlier, and became somewhat interested.

Suddenly, without warning, Scholar Gongming wailed and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, clutching his chest and coughing violently…

At the same time, Scholar Gongming’s aura weakened, his dao patterns scattered, and his previous imposing manner instantly vanished like smoke, as if severely injured.

Scholar Gongming said through gritted teeth:

“I was wounded by your spiritual treasure when fighting with you earlier, you damaged my dao foundation, and it might not recover for tens of thousands of years!

Come, follow me to Spirit Mountain, today’s matter isn’t over!”

The hunchbacked old Daoist’s eyes bulged, and despite his strategic prowess, he had never encountered such a situation.

Li Longshou, observing through the divine statue, felt slightly relieved in his heart. This most difficult step had been taken smoothly.

It must be said that Uncle Zhao’s improvisational response was quite excellent, worthy of being an old hand who had survived in the Primordial Era until now…

The second step—[Switch concepts, use the flesh trick to seize the moral high ground]

The next third step had six situations, corresponding to six paths.

Scholar Gongming wiped the blood from his mouth and cursed again: “Who could be more miserable than fellow Daoist Sea God? His avatar was forced to perish directly by you!

An external avatar, how difficult it is to cultivate, how much dao foundation and cultivation he lost!

How will you account for this matter!”

The hunchbacked old Daoist shouted in indignation: “You’re twisting words and reason! Spewing false accusations!”

Scholar Gongming cursed: “I have my injuries as proof, you are the prime culprit! Come with me to Spirit Mountain for confrontation!”

“You, Scholar Gongming! Do you have any face left!”

The hunchbacked old Daoist cursed loudly when suddenly a plan came to mind. He raised his cane and struck his shoulder violently.

A thunderous sound echoed for hundreds of li!

One of the hunchbacked old Daoist’s arms went limp, his shoulder shattered. He gave a cold laugh and said: “You are the true culprit! Let’s go to Azure Profundity Palace!”

Seeing this, Scholar Gongming gritted his teeth, staggered back several steps, then suddenly threw his head back and sprayed blood mist…

The hunchbacked old Daoist hardened his heart and struck his chest several times as if the two were competing.

Suddenly, Scholar Gongming’s body shook, all the blood he had spat out instantly evaporated, his aura returned to normal, and he became spirited again, his beard still pristine.

He pulled out a recording pearl wrapped in layers of immortal power from his sleeve, leisurely summoned the twenty-four Stabilizing Sea Divine Zhenzhus, and opened the recording pearl.

Instantly, before Scholar Gongming, an illusory image appeared, showing the scene of the hunchbacked old Daoist striking and injuring himself…

The hunchbacked old Daoist instantly realized what had happened and immediately moved to attack;

But the twenty-four Stabilizing Sea Divine Zhenzhus exerted their power, once again fixing this already wounded old Daoist in place!

This was the third step in the fourth situation—[Counter mud-slinging, catch the opponent’s weakness]

Things proceeding this smoothly were beyond even Li Longshou’s expectations.

Scholar Gongming looked at this hunchbacked Daoist and said calmly:

“Fellow Daoist, why did you mutilate yourself in front of me? Were you trying to baselessly smear my reputation? To provoke conflict between the Dao School and Western Paradise with this matter?

It seems I can only take this item to show some friends.

If I remember correctly, fellow Daoist, you mentioned you were Western Paradise’s third disciple.

I know it wasn’t easy for my two senior uncle-masters to establish the Spirit Mountain lineage, but using such methods to extort treasures, tsk, is rather disgraceful.”

“You! You!”

The hunchbacked old Daoist was so angry his lips trembled continuously. Suddenly he lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his eyes full of grief and indignation.

“Scholar Gongming, everyone says you’re genuine and straightforward, today I have truly learned!

Truly learned!”

Scholar Gongming clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky, but inwardly gave a slight sigh.

He hadn’t expected that he would engage in such calculation…

However, this South Sea God was right, being righteous was for one’s brothers and sisters, for Dao School disciples, not for such outsiders.

A little cunning was also to prevent this matter from causing conflict between the Dao School and Western Paradise, thus protecting one’s fellow disciples.

Afterward, Scholar Gongming didn’t speak, quietly waiting for the hunchbacked old Daoist to speak.

At this moment the hunchbacked old Daoist had understood something, suppressed his anger, and said coldly: “Fellow Daoist, what exactly do you intend to do?”

“What do I intend? Today I was insulted by you, what else can I do.”

Scholar Gongming said calmly: “Be quick about it, does fellow Daoist want to minimize this matter and settle it privately, or continue to make it bigger?”

The hunchbacked old Daoist trembled with anger, wanting to level hundreds of li with one stomp, yet unwilling to waste his merit needlessly…

—Though at this moment, being suppressed by the Stabilizing Sea Divine Zhenzhus, he couldn’t stomp freely anyway.

The hunchbacked old Daoist said coldly: “What about settling privately? And what about making it bigger?”

“If fellow Daoist wants to settle privately, today we’ll clarify this matter, fellow Daoist will make a great dao oath, and I’ll immediately crush this item.”

Scholar Gongming waved the recording pearl in his hand.

“If you want to make it bigger, then I’ll have to take this item to show my three sworn sisters for entertainment, then go to Golden Turtle Island and Penglai Island where my Sect of Humanity’s cultivators gather, to open everyone’s eyes and let them take warning.

These days, compared to the ancient and high ancient times, there are too many tricks.

Finally, if that’s not enough, I’ll visit the Jade Void Palace, tour the Heavenly Court, and walk through various places in the Central Divine Continent.”

Scholar Gongming paused in his speech, his heart echoing the Sea God’s earlier instructions…

Although he didn’t fully understand the meaning, this matter had already developed smoothly to this point, all according to this South Sea God’s calculations.

‘If not for considering my fellow Daoists in the sect, I would never do such things.’

But this feeling…

Was quite good.

Thus, Scholar Gongming spoke that sentence:

“I have no intention of managing your petty schemes in the Four Seas, I just came here to have a casual chat with the South Sea God.”

Hearing this, the hunchbacked old Daoist’s gaze flickered, having made a decision, and said softly: “In this matter, I… was in the wrong.

I will make the great dao oath now.”

“Wait, wait,” Scholar Gongming said with a smile, “Please wait a moment.”

The hunchbacked old Daoist was somewhat puzzled and was about to speak when suddenly a deep dragon’s roar came from the South Sea.

A dragon-headed elder came riding on clouds, made a Daoist salute in the air, and used immortal power to send a piece of cloth to Scholar Gongming’s hand;

This dragon-headed elder didn’t speak, directly leaving on his cloud.

This was Li Longshou’s own calculated fifth step—[Redirect the opponent’s attention, bind their hatred to the Dragon Clan and Sect of Humanity]

How could the hunchbacked old Daoist not understand now?

Today, it turned out the Sect of Humanity and Dragon Clan had set up a trap for him!

The Dragon Clan indeed wouldn’t submit tamely!

Scholar Gongming threw the cloth over, and when the hunchbacked old Daoist opened the immortal power-wrapped cloth, he saw it was densely covered in small characters.

It began with the oath of clear consciousness…

Its contents were that he would never trouble the Sect of Humanity, Dragon Clan, or Sea God Sect in the future, and today’s events would be as if they never happened.

Otherwise, he would be abandoned by the great dao, his merit would return to zero, and his luck would cease to exist!

How ruthless…

And how detailed the oath’s contents are!

Scholar Gongming waved the recording treasure in his hand and smiled: “Why is fellow Daoist still hesitating? Is even a simple great dao oath so troublesome?”

At this moment, this senior outer disciple of the Sect of Humanity’s dignified face appeared so malicious in the hunchbacked old Daoist’s eyes.

The hunchbacked old Daoist gritted his teeth. This oath’s contents only restricted himself, that he would withdraw from matters concerning calculating against the Dragon Clan in the future, never come to this place again, and never mention this matter to others.

It wouldn’t interfere with his Western Paradise’s greater calculations…

Even without making this great dao oath, this hunchbacked old Daoist couldn’t possibly mention this matter to others.

He was a dignified Sage’s disciple, did he not need a face?

However, the master of the paper avatar, now hidden who knows how deep, probably almost reaching the “sky vault” of the netherworld, only trusted in this thing.

Li Longshou had Ao Yi use the format of Ao Yi’s previous oath, added six layers of conditional settings, and considered every possible situation that could be considered, before forming this oath, which was quickly delivered here by a South Sea Dragon Palace expert.

Soon, the hunchbacked old Daoist sat cross-legged, first reading the oath of clear consciousness before reciting the oath contents;

As such a master made the oath, the heavenly dao immediately responded, and waves of heavenly authority descended, as the heavenly dao recorded the hunchbacked old Daoist’s oath.

To the side, Scholar Gongming couldn’t help but blink, listening to such oath contents and using his divine powers to look at the dense text on the cloth, his mouth twitched immediately.

This South Sea God…

It would be better to remain friends with him, and never become his enemy.