As Li Chang Shou controlled his paper person rushing to the Sea God Temple’s main hall, he thought of Sect Master’s kind—cough!

Thinking of Sect Master Wu You Dao Person’s departing figure, he felt deeply emotional.

Thinking carefully, his Sect Master’s way of not asking too much, not interfering too much, truly matched the Human Dao teachings of tranquil non-action…

While he, because of too many concerns and for the sake of preserving his life, constantly avoided and severed karma—compared to the Sect Master, he had taken the lower path.

But there was no choice. At an age and cultivation level where he shouldn’t have to bear these things, he was bearing the unbearable weights of “great sect struggles,” “great clan destinies,” “excessive martial prowess,” and more!

Without being a bit careful, adding a tiny bit of disguise, hiding a few cards—who knew when one might open their eyes from meditation to find some kind-faced bald elder standing before them…

[Young friend, hehe, I see you have a destiny with our Western Religion]

Just thinking about it was frightening!

The Western Religion dared to traffic even the Sage’s disciples from the Dao sects. He, Li Chang Shou, was only familiar to Sage’s eyes—they could eliminate him with a lift of their finger, so how would they not dare to move against him?

Better to wait until his strength was sufficient before speaking of non-action, before seeking tranquility and naturalness;

At that time, he would just hide in the shade of trees in Dou Shuai Palace’s backyard to sleep lazily, not caring about anything.

In reality, there was no true tranquil non-action—it was just that Tai Qing Sage was so powerful that no one dared to provoke him.

Mm, wait until passing the Golden Immortal…

Forget it, even a Golden Immortal could only curl up in the primordial world, still unable to stand tall.

At a minimum, one needed to achieve Tai Luo, obtain several Primordial Spirit Treasures combining killing, defense, critical strikes, and escape abilities, condense a Merit Golden Body, and tightly hold onto one’s own Sage’s thigh!

Only then could one sleep soundly.

Tsk, pointless to daydream about this—crawling up steadily was most important.

Before this paper person of Li Chang Shou even emerged from the underground, he hurriedly transmitted to Celestial Yun Xiao.

In the main temple hall, Celestial Yun Xiao, who had been continuously infusing immortal power into that paper person, immediately stopped her actions, her expression carrying a slight apology.

Yun Xiao had already put away the scroll. After Li Chang Shou’s second avatar flew over, she actively went to meet him near the hall entrance and said softly:

“I only meant to give Fellow Daoist a painting personally done by my teacher, unexpectedly destroying Fellow Daoist’s avatar.

I was somewhat careless and abrupt, please don’t blame me, I don’t know how to properly compensate Fellow Daoist.”

Li Chang Shou’s heart twitched…

Lady Yun Xiao was truly generous.

He had just nearly been… nearly been forcefully dragged to undergo the Golden Immortal tribulation by that Mixed Origin Limitless Great Dao rhythm!

Seeing Li Chang Shou not answer, Yun Xiao hurriedly asked: “Did Fellow Daoist’s cultivation suffer damage just now?”

Li Chang Shou smiled and said: “It was just an avatar, no matter, no matter.”

“How could it not matter? How could avatars be easily refined?”

Yun Xiao gave a soft sigh, then took out that scroll again, “Please, Fellow Daoist must accept this item, this item truly seems to have a destiny with Fellow Daoist.

Otherwise, my Dao heart truly cannot be at peace.”

As she spoke, Yun Xiao’s left hand gently turned over, several treasures flickering with light.

“These treasures as well, please…”

What?

Was she determined to pull him onto the [Sealing the Gods One-Click Rage Rush Against Sage Death Express Lane]?

“This cannot be, cannot be!”

Li Chang Shou hurriedly stepped back half a step, deliberately showing some restraint.

Yun Xiao was also amused by Li Chang Shou’s manner, stepping forward a small step and saying softly: “It can be, how could it not?”

“This, Your Excellency please don’t be like this.”

Yun Xiao comforted: “Don’t be afraid, that Dao rhythm has already been comprehended by Fellow Daoist, it definitely won’t harm your avatar again.”

Li Chang Shou was immediately somewhat between laughing and crying—this dialogue, how did it sound…

Like a big sister coaxing a child?

“Your Excellency, this painting made by the Sage Lord, this junior truly dares not casually accept.”

Yun Xiao explained: “This was just my teacher casually wielding the brush, not some Primordial Spirit Treasure.”

“The meaning is different,” Li Chang Shou showed a serious expression, “The Sage Lord’s items are truly too extraordinary, please Your Excellency take back this treasure.”

Celestial Yun Xiao said again: “Then… how should Fellow Daoist’s avatar be compensated?”

“Just a mere avatar,” Li Chang Shou’s gaze was quite sincere, but Yun Xiao’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed.

Not right…

Li Chang Shou suddenly awakened inside.

He was now clearly expressing he didn’t want to accept Yun Xiao’s gifts, but Lady Yun Xiao’s focus was already on the value of an avatar…

According to primordial world common sense—external avatars were quite precious.

External avatars were either refined from precious materials or condensed from one’s great magical power. The loss of an avatar was usually no small loss for a cultivator.

His paper people were made too cheaply;

Like Li Chang Shou’s modified paper-cutting-becomes-person divine ability, improved several times through the external avatar divine ability bestowed by the Great Priest, the resulting paper-person method only cost… some wood pulp.

Li Chang Shou smiled and said: “Does Your Excellency think this avatar of mine required much effort?”

Yun Xiao gently nodded, those eyes pure and flawless, “Is it not so?”

“Hahaha!”

Li Chang Shou laughed very heartily, his old immortal skin laughing until his beard shook wildly, and said:

“I have a marvelous method, avatars like paper cuttings.

If Your Excellency’s heart is uneasy, I will accept this painting, but the several treasures are unnecessary.

Otherwise, Your Excellency would be underestimating this junior too much.”

Taking the treasures would risk exposure, not daring to use them with his true body, only able to give them to paper people for protection—not much significant meaning.

That batch of small spirit trees had already grown!

At present, Li Chang Shou accepted the scroll, planning to hang it later in the Sea God Temple’s back hall, slightly elevating his Sea God main temple’s style.

Only then did Yun Xiao show a faint smile, putting down one worry.

She put away the other treasures, made a slight Daoist salute to Li Chang Shou, and said softly:

“Much disturbance tonight, also adding many troubles for Fellow Daoists.

Originally wanting to come here to return the favor, unexpectedly damaged Fellow Daoist’s avatar instead.

If Fellow Daoist has time later, please come sit at my Three Immortal Island, allowing me to compensate somewhat.”

Li Chang Shou repeatedly said… next time for sure.

After exchanging Daoist salutes with Yun Xiao, she bid farewell and left.

She rode clouds into the night sky, transforming into a faint cloud of mist, as if merging into the night curtain painting, thus following the wind…

‘What a fine celestial.’

Li Chang Shou gave a soft sigh inside.

‘Unfortunately, burdened with three siblings as attachments, and too devoted to emotion and righteousness herself.’

Li Chang Shou naturally didn’t wish to have any more interactions with the Three Xiao Sisters and Old Man Zhao, to avoid being entangled by tribulation destiny during the Sealing God’s Great Tribulation.

But in his heart, there was a small, subtle expectation…

“Tonight really had many events,” Li Chang Shou stretched his muscles and bones, looking at the scroll in his hand while strolling toward the back hall.

Junior Sister You Qin had seen his paper person’s true cultivation level just now.

This was somewhat difficult to handle.

Li Chang Shou pondered deeply, thinking about how to fool… cough, thinking about how to explain, to get You Qin Xuan Ya to keep this secret for him, and not overthink things.

Just then, Ling E had already flown on clouds outside the pill room, while Xiong Ling Li also carried that Thunder God Hammer surrounded by purple light, huffing, and puffing as she ran outside the formation.

They had also been startled by the heavenly might just now but were now trapped outside the formation, unable to approach this place.

Li Chang Shou thought briefly and transmitted some instructions to Ling E, and Ling E immediately nodded in agreement.

Ling E had already become familiar with Xiong Ling Li, explained a few words to Xiong Ling Li, saying her Senior Brother was just practicing cultivation, then led Xiong Ling Li back to the lakeside grass house.

Li Chang Shou carefully constructed some explanations in his mind, trying to analyze You Qin Xuan Ya’s thought processes;

After everything was stable, Li Chang Shou finally opened his eyes and looked toward You Qin Xuan Ya meditating in the moonlight.

…

Seeming to feel Li Chang Shou’s gaze, You Qin Xuan Ya opened her eyes, eyelashes curved, dimples shallow;

What Li Chang Shou didn’t understand was…

At this moment her eyes were more than a hundred times brighter than when she came.

“Junior Sister You Qin…”

“Senior Brother Chang Shou, you need not say more, I understand!”

Li Chang Shou couldn’t catch his breath, almost falling over on his meditation mat.

Understand what?

What did she understand again?

“No, Junior Sister You Qin, you don’t understand…”

“Senior Brother, I understand.”

“You truly might not understand,” Li Chang Shou hurriedly said, “Junior Sister You Qin, actually there’s something I’ve always wanted to say out loud, but have been unable to say in my heart.”

You Qin Xuan Ya gently pressed her lips, her pretty face full of seriousness, saying: “Senior Brother Chang Shou, you just speak, I will keep it all in my heart.”

Li Chang Shou earnestly educated:

“Some things, some words, need to be spoken directly, communicating frankly with each other, only then can we truly understand what’s in each other’s hearts.

Don’t guess too much, must ask more.”

Hearing Li Chang Shou’s words, You Qin Xuan Ya thought seriously and soon nodded again.

“Xuan Ya understands Senior Brother’s words, today will be frank with Senior Brother.”

Li Chang Shou slowly nodded, this was right…

Just be frank, don’t “meet,” too easily to be misunderstood.

He was about to speak, but You Qin Xuan Ya had already spoken first:

“Senior Brother, after returning, I pondered for a long time, continuously questioning my heart, breaking the fantasies in my heart.

Now, my Dao’s heart is firm, understanding what my heart wants.

Since Senior Brother says we should be frank with each other, then Senior Brother, Xuan Ya will speak—”

Could this be…

Should he let her speak and then reject her, or just not let her speak it out?

Li Chang Shou’s thoughts turned rapidly, quickly having a stable choice.

At present, You Qin Xuan Ya gently took a breath, almost speaking simultaneously with Li Chang Shou:

“Senior Brother, I will work hard to catch up to you in cultivation!”

—”Please allow me to refuse, I wholeheartedly admire the Great Dao, having not half a thought about Dao companions…”

“Hmm?”

The two looked at each other, Li Chang Shou’s mouth corner twitching, unable to help covering his eyes with one hand.

Why did you have to dramatically pause while speaking for no reason?

You Qin Xuan Ya blinked, that pretty face suddenly somewhat flushed, unconsciously averting her gaze to look at the moonlight beside them, squeezing out a trace of complaint between her thin lips:

“What was Senior Brother thinking…”

“This, misunderstanding, misunderstanding.”

Li Chang Shou swept his sleeve, his expression returning to normal, and calmly said: “Junior Sister You Qin don’t take it to heart, I thought it was that kind of thing, mm, I was somewhat too confident.”

“It’s not like that, Senior Brother you haven’t misunderstood.”

You Qin Xuan Ya looked at Li Chang Shou again, saying:

“Xuan Ya quite admires Senior Brother.

However… what I saw tonight made Xuan Ya understand the gap with Senior Brother.

Senior Brother, the immortal power your paper person displayed just now was more than a hundred times superior to Xuan Ya’s current immortal power!

Though Xuan Ya doesn’t know Senior Brother’s specific cultivation realm, being right beside Senior Brother’s destroyed paper person then, the only feeling in my heart was insignificance and helplessness.

At that moment, Xuan Ya suddenly understood, that Senior Brother is truly a great person.”

Li Chang Shou said: “This matter, is also what I wanted…”

“May Senior Brother hear me finish.”

“Good, sorry, shouldn’t have interrupted you.”

You Qin Xuan Ya’s smile gained several parts gentleness, continuing: “Senior Brother, next I will enter closed cultivation for ten years, stabilizing my Dao heart, my heart is somewhat chaotic now.

I roughly understood some of Senior Brother and Ancestral Master Sect Master’s words just now;

Thinking back from first meeting Senior Brother in the Northern Continent until today, Xuan Ya has received too much care from Senior Brother.

Senior Brother is unwilling to let those in the sect know about your hidden cultivation, Xuan Ya here makes a Great Dao oath, if this matter is exposed to others’ knowledge, definitely suffer Heaven’s punishment and isolation!”

A muffled thunder crashed outside the clouds, this oath thus counting as established.

You Qin Xuan Ya gently exhaled, standing up.

Li Chang Shou inexplicably felt somewhat guilty inside, also standing up accordingly.

“Senior Brother,” You Qin Xuan Ya said, “may Xuan Ya ask Senior Brother two questions.”

“Junior Sister please ask.”

You Qin Xuan Ya asked: “That day when Du Xian Sect was attacked, were the three righteous people who saved Du Xian Sect from danger Senior Brother’s paper people?”

Li Chang Shou slowly nodded, “Yes.”

“Senior Brother rest assured, I will keep this secret…

Also, that day after the earth vein moving formation, when a Celestial Immortal attacked, did Senior Brother deliberately make us several faint, then face the enemy alone?”

Li Chang Shou nodded again, saying: “Yes.”

You Qin Xuan Ya immediately made a Daoist salute, saying firmly: “Xuan Ya thanks Senior Brother for saving us on behalf of all disciples in the sect!”

Li Chang Shou raised his hand to virtually support her, smiling and saying: “I am also a Du Xian Sect disciple, just because of some reasons I cannot tell you about now, I cannot reveal my true cultivation…”

“I understand,” You Qin Xuan Ya said softly, those eyes affectionate, mouth corners faintly smiling, long hair floating slightly.

She just stood in the moonlight, like a flawless goddess jade statue, also transcendent and unworldly, untainted by half a speck of mortal dust and filth.

You Qin Xuan Ya gave a soft sigh, saying to Li Chang Shou:

“After Xuan Ya achieved immortality and ascended, still thought could wait for Senior Brother on the path ahead, yet unexpectedly, it was always Senior Brother ahead, I never truly saw Senior Brother’s silhouette.

From now on, Senior Brother remains Xuan Ya’s guiding light, an example urging Xuan Ya to cultivate diligently.

Xuan Ya has said what was in her heart, if Senior Brother has no other matters, Xuan Ya will now bid farewell to return and enter closed cultivation.”

Li Chang Shou smiled and nodded, saying: “If you have cultivation difficulties, you can come to find me, I will wholeheartedly help explain.”

“Mm,” You Qin Xuan Ya nodded with a smile but said: “But I would rather rely on myself to glimpse Senior Brother’s silhouette.

Senior Brother, then, I’ll take my leave first.”

Li Chang Shou made a Daoist salute, and You Qin Xuan Ya returned the salute in response.

Afterward, she turned around and stepped lightly, riding clouds away from the pill room area.

Li Chang Shou walked leisurely with hands behind his back to the pill room entrance, watching You Qin Xuan Ya’s departing figure for a while.

“She’s quite clever after all.”

No need for him to deceive her, she had already made the Great Dao oath herself.

The Sect Master’s lineage was indeed formidable, however…

“Junior Sister, could you come back for a moment, let’s discuss a small detail about the Great Dao oath?”