The Grand Master had Yue Lao deliver two divine abilities: “Summoning Soldiers from Beans” and “Condensing Cloud Warriors.” This made Li Changshou deeply aware of the direction in which he was being groomed.

Is one person becoming… a battle formation for the Primordial Human Sect’s grand army?

This…

However, modifying any original divine ability required substantial time, energy, inspiration, and strategic thinking.

Li Changshou hadn’t yet had the chance to open these two divine ability scrolls and wasn’t certain whether they would prove useful in the future.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t disappoint the Grand Master’s thoughtful intentions. He would need to study them carefully upon returning, at minimum mastering the original versions…

At the Sea God Temple, Li Changshou had already written the second memorial using his paper avatar disguised as an elderly immortal.

Subsequently, he summoned two divine envoys from Bear Village, bringing two half-shamanic bear men to a remote village.

Since the Heavenly Court’s decree had not yet been issued, Li Changshou couldn’t set up the Jade Emperor’s divine position within the Sea God Temple. Therefore, he chose a fishing village as a “pilot site,” where villagers would worship the Sea God while also offering incense to “the man behind the Sea God” – the Jade Emperor.

By now, this Jade Emperor shrine had received considerable divine essence from worship, which should allow His Majesty to sense a faint connection.

Li Changshou entered a secret chamber, set up barriers, offered three sticks of incense to the Jade Emperor’s “spirit tablet,” made a deep bow, and said:

“This minor deity has important matters to report to Your Majesty.”

The gold-plated jade tablet emanated slight ripples of divine energy, clearly responding to Li Changshou.

Within an hour, East Wood Lord hurriedly arrived from the Heavenly Court to meet Li Changshou at the Sea God Temple.

Li Changshou specifically observed East Wood Lord’s spirit and energy, finding that he had recovered to normal.

Although being scammed was a rather novel and frustrating experience for Primordial cultivators, East Wood Lord hadn’t lost anything before. He had merely been pranked, and once his anger subsided, everything was fine.

Ultimately, being scammed in the Primordial era simply meant one’s abilities were inferior to others.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Changshou handed the second memorial to East Wood Lord.

East Wood Lord didn’t dare delay and was about to return to report, but Li Changshou called out: “Wood Lord, please wait.”

“Oh? What is it?”

East Wood Lord turned back, looking seriously at the thin elderly figure before him with kind eyes and white hair.

At this moment, given East Wood Lord’s eyesight and cultivation level, he could barely distinguish whether this was the Sea God’s avatar or true form…

East Wood Lord said solemnly: “What instructions does the Sea God have?”

“How well do you know Yue Lao from the Marriage Hall?”

“Naturally,” East Wood Lord smiled, “Previously, it was thanks to Yue Lao’s help that this poor Daoist achieved a happy marriage. Now I live in harmony with my wife, getting along splendidly.”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment before saying: “When His Majesty issues orders to Yue Lao later, please convey four points to him on my behalf. I wanted to write these in the memorial, but thought such minor matters, being merely our duty as officials, might seem like showing off if presented to His Majesty.”

“Oh?” East Wood Lord said, “Please tell me, fellow Daoist.”

Li Changshou advised: “When Yue Lao represents the Heavenly Court in external affairs, he must always remember—

Do not judge status by cultivation level, nor determine seniority by lifespan;

One’s words and actions represent His Majesty’s dignity, make no promises, and act with prudence.”

East Wood Lord contemplated these words briefly, understanding their meaning. He bowed to Li Changshou and sighed:

“The Sea God’s advice isn’t just meant for Yue Lao to hear; this poor Daoist has learned from it as well.”

Li Changshou simply smiled without saying more;

There was no harm in not clearing up this subtle misunderstanding that could earn Wood Lord’s goodwill.

Though the content of this memorial was simple, it was much harder to write than the previous one.

Firstly, Li Changshou worried that the Jade Emperor might feel such a grand gesture seemed like the Heavenly Court was trying too hard to curry favor with the Dragon Clan, leading to subtle displeasure.

Secondly, he feared the Jade Emperor might use too much force, showing excessive goodwill toward the Dragon Clan, making it difficult for them to develop proper reverence for the Heavenly Court afterward.

Besides this, he couldn’t directly tell the Jade Emperor what to do, only submit suggestions, with all decisions ultimately being up to the Jade Emperor…

Therefore, Li Changshou carefully considered every word and phrase, revising it dozens of times before feeling satisfied…

As for the effect, he could only observe what happened next, and wait for Wood Lord’s next visit to get user feedback.

Just after seeing Wood Lord off, Li Changshou’s true form heard a hushed voice.

His divine sense had naturally detected You Qin Xuanya approaching his side earlier…

“Bear Senior Uncle, has Senior Brother Changshou been cultivating all this time?”

Outside the immortal barrier set up by Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, You Qin Xuanya asked softly.

Xiong Lingli’s delicate head, which looked like it was placed atop an oversized stone statue, nodded gently. She also kept her voice down, whispering:

“Cousin went out for a while earlier, helped me hunt some game to eat, then had many insights and has been cultivating since.”

You Qin Xuanya gazed at Li Changshou through the flickering barrier of light but only sighed softly before turning to leave.

Xiong Lingli suddenly called out quietly: “Big Sister…”

You Qin Xuanya’s footsteps halted. She turned her head and reminded: “Senior Uncle should address Xuanya as junior disciple, or simply call disciple by name.”

“I’m only a nominal disciple,” Xiong Lingli blinked and asked softly, “Do you… fancy my cousin?”

Instantly, ears perked up all around, and various immortal and spirit senses spread out.

The Human Sect possessed profound Yin-Yang methods and excelled in divination arts.

However, what surprised the enthusiastic observers from the Du Xian Gate and two nearby Daoist sects was that You Qin Xuanya maintained her composure, still maintaining her ice-cold beauty aura without showing any panic.

You Qin Xuanya said: “If Senior Uncle is asking about dao companions, Xuanya has not yet had such thoughts. Xuanya deeply respects and admires Senior Brother Changshou, taking his character as a model, wishing to seek the dao alongside Senior Brother Changshou.”

Li Changshou: …

Character?

Hiss—

How could their characters possibly be similar?

Xiong Lingli blinked, somewhat confused by this. Just as she was about to weakly nod, she heard the Sea God’s voice transmission in her mind…

So, Xiong Lingli said softly:

“But… Little Sister, acting this way might make people misunderstand your feelings toward my cousin.”

You Qin Xuanya said calmly: “Xuanya does not care about others’ views.”

Xiong Lingli shrank her neck and, following the words she heard in her heart, said softly:

“But my cousin might be slightly troubled by such matters…

Oh.”

You Qin Xuanya was slightly stunned, turning to look at Li Changshou’s meditating figure a few steps away.

Li Changshou continued transmitting secretly, and Xiong Lingli continued speaking weakly:

“My cous… uncle’s next-door Second Aunt used to say that when making friends, you should respect each other, understand each other, and consider each other’s circumstances to be true friends.

Little Sister, you’re very free-spirited and sincere, expressing your feelings honestly—that’s good.

But you should also consider whether your actions might negatively affect the person you’re expressing them to.

Only caring about expressing your thoughts freely, without considering whether others feel pressured because of it…

This, isn’t it somewhat too… self-centered…”

You Qin Xuanya stood completely still, her willow eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Many young cultivators around were confused;

Some young cultivators felt that for someone like You Qin Xuanya, who possessed both beauty and temperament with a smooth path of immortal cultivation, to actively show interest in a male disciple—that male disciple was already incredibly fortunate.

However, many cultivators who had practiced for over a thousand years fell into contemplation upon hearing this, feeling that the words from this tower-like young woman carried special meaning.

Several elders from the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect frowned, feeling that this bear girl had been deliberately acting while in their sect!

“Xuanya doesn’t quite understand…”

You Qin Xuanya said softly, bowing to Xiong Lingli, “Thank you for Senior Uncle’s teachings, Xuanya will carefully consider Senior Uncle’s words.”

Xiong Lingli quickly stood up.

Since her Sea God wasn’t continuing to transmit messages, she dared not say more, only making a mighty and imposing Daoist bow…

You Qin Xuanya turned around, returned to her cushion, placed her great sword across her front, and fell into contemplation.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou, pretending to cultivate, also let out a light sigh in his heart.

Fortunately, this time poisonous junior sister didn’t say that she understood…

Li Changshou’s divine sense swept over Senior Sister Jiu who was meditating there, feeling puzzled in his heart, wondering why Senior Uncle Jiu hadn’t come to find him for some time.

This left the pile of ‘special gadgets for Senior Uncle Jiu’ he had prepared completely unused.

Looking carefully, he discovered that Jiu Xu had fallen asleep.

She had set up a small immortal barrier around her mouth and nose, preventing her gentle snoring from being heard outside.

Not only that, but Jiu Xu had also used an immortal rope treasure to tie her hands, preventing the activation of her passive skill of ‘mysteriously losing intimate clothing while sound asleep’…

Two words—Professional!

Xiong Lingli sighed, sat back on her bed-sized meditation cushion, and stared blankly at You Qin Xuanya’s back for a while.

It seemed this beautiful big sister wasn’t the Sea God’s favored Sea Goddess candidate…

At the border between the South Sea and East Sea, a graceful figure rode the clouds through the sky, following the wind.

Sitting on the cloud was Han Zhi, a cultivator from Golden Turtle Island.

Moments ago, Han Zhi had accidentally overheard Ao Yi and several senior uncles and aunts returning to Golden Turtle Island discussing matters of new dao companions…

She, who had previously clearly rejected Ao Yi, felt inexplicably dejected in her heart and wanted to go out for a walk to restore her mood.

Senior Uncle Ao Yi finding a dao companion he cherished was a good thing…

But why…

“Sigh, don’t think too much.”

Han Zhi let out a soft breath, gazing at the boundless misty waves and looking toward the soft, fluffy white clouds on the horizon;

Just as she was thinking of finding an uninhabited sea island to meditate and rest, she suddenly heard a clear greeting…

“Fellow Daoist, are you from our Severing Sect?”

Han Zhi looked toward the voice and saw a white cloud in the high sky, with a figure whose face and form couldn’t be seen standing on it.

Han Zhi knew this was a senior from the sect, immediately rose from her cloud and bowed to the sky, “Disciple cultivates on Golden Turtle Island.”

“Ah, it’s you!”

Bell-like laughter came from the cloud. Before Han Zhi could react, light and shadows flowed around her, and she was already drawn up to the high sky.

At this time, Han Zhi also saw this senior’s face, and after careful recognition, called out softly:

“Ancestral Master Qiong Xiao!”

“Oh? You know me?”

Qiong Xiao blinked gently, “No matter, come with me.

I’m asking you to do something, and if you do it well, there will naturally be a reward.”

“Disciple obeys,” Han Zhi quickly lowered her head in response, gathering her spirits as Qiong Xiao quickly carried her flying westward.

Moments later, Qiong Xiao brought Han Zhi to a deserted island, meeting with… Zhao Gongming who was hiding in a corner…

Qiong Xiao called softly:

“Big Brother, I found help, one of our own, reliable!”

Han Zhi quickly said: “Disciple pays respects to Ancestral Master.”

“Shh!”

Zhao Gongming made a gesture for silence, and Han Zhi immediately pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes full of tension.

Qiong Xiao asked softly: “Has that woman left?”

“Still hiding there,” Zhao Gongming took out a treasure mirror, raised his hand, and pointed at the mirror. Within it gradually appeared the scene of a certain sea island thousands of miles away.

This island had a hidden barrier, but seeing through such a barrier was naturally no problem for Zhao Gongming’s abilities.

The mirror showed a voluptuous woman wearing a red gauze dress, meditating in a corner surrounded by several reefs…

Zhao Gongming frowned and said:

“I secretly calculated several more times, only determining that she’s related to the West, but knowing nothing of her background.

Third Sister, should we find someone else to bump into?”

Qiong Xiao’s mouth twitched as she snorted:

“It has to be her!

One look and you can tell she’s some ancient being who took form, yet she makes herself so alluring, what’s that about?

Big Brother, look at how she dresses, what kind of image is that?

Hmph, if you’re going to be vulgar then don’t go out, if you’re going for artistic then don’t cover up!”

Great Lord Zhao could only smile bitterly, while Qiong Xiao had already started explaining to Han Zhi what she needed to do later…

Like this and that, this way and that.

Han Zhi quickly understood, saying softly:

“So later, Ancestral Master Zhao will first bump into her a bit, then fall to the ground;

Then you, Ancestral Master Qiong Xiao, will go over, saying how seriously injured Ancestral Master Zhao is;

Then disciple will pretend to pass by and tell that person—’Fellow Daoist, I think it’s better to settle this privately, making it public won’t benefit anyone’?”

“Clever, you understand immediately.”

Qiong Xiao crossed her arms and smiled with narrowed eyes, “Remember to pay attention to your expression and tone, you must speak in a way that makes her believe you’re considering things for her benefit.”

Han Zhi’s face turned serious as she lowered her head and accepted the mission:

“Disciple will not disappoint the two Ancestral Masters!”