As soon as Ling E heard these words, she immediately… perked up.

Over these many years, she had wracked her brains and schemed in countless ways to win over her Senior Brother, but she remained eternally perplexed by him, often feeling frustrated.

Ling E truly feared that her Senior Brother’s care for her would, as time passed, become purely… ‘looking after’ her…

She was, after all, the little junior sister who, when first experiencing love at sixteen or seventeen, influenced by the sect’s dao partner culture, had determined that she must become her Senior Brother’s dao partner in this life!

However, Ling E didn’t hold much hope in her heart.

She roughly knew what this lovely mermaid sister could offer…

The art of pursuing a brother had three main methods – medicine, clothing, and emotions, along with nine minor techniques including stirring emotions, setting scenes, feigning drunkenness and weakness, catering to preferences, playing hard to get, and showing hesitation before yielding.

Over these years, she had never failed to fail at these attempts – what strategy hadn’t she tried?

Until recently, she realized her Senior Brother might not be interested in finding a dao partner at this stage, so she focused on reinforcing her image as his junior sister while maintaining some distance, lest she… truly be treated as a real sister!

Thus, Ling E didn’t harbor much hope, only politely responding:

“To be honest with you, Sister, there is someone in my heart.”

Lady Jiu beside her let out a laugh, saying to Jiang Si’er: “This person, you just met him earlier, didn’t you?”

“Oh? Could it be Elder Brother Changshou?”

Ling E’s pretty face flushed red, and though somewhat embarrassed, she gave a slight nod in agreement.

“What?”

Bear Lingli’s little head popped over from the side.

Perhaps because her physique was too imposing, it made Jiang Si’er unconsciously hide a bit behind Ling E.

Bear Lingli asked in surprise: “Ling E, you fancy my Cousin?”

Ling E’s face reddened even more as she couldn’t help covering it with her hands.

Lady Jiu could barely contain herself, her crossed legs shaking with laughter as she nearly lost balance and fell over.

Jiang Si’er, however, smiled gently, a weight lifting from her heart.

‘Mutual attraction – this makes things even easier.’

To prevent certain questionable customs of the dragon race from affecting her dear Yi Yi, she had gone all out this time, planning to give Elder Brother Changshou a little help, allowing him to easily win his beauty…

Thus, Jiang Si’er whispered something in Ling E’s ear.

Whisper whisper, like this and that.

Ling E first froze, then asked: “Really?”

“Of course, how could I deceive Sister? This is a rare treasure in our tribe.”

Jiang Si’er smiled softly, taking out a brocade box from her bracelet and handing it to Ling E, “Consider this a meeting gift for Sister.”

Ling E hurriedly said: “This is too precious. We’ve just met; we shouldn’t be so formal.”

“Sister, you must truly understand my intentions,” Jiang Si’er sighed and said, “Yi and I have just become engaged. I’m merely an unremarkable princess of the mermaid tribe, while Yi is the son of the dragon race’s leader.

Yi trusted this elder brother most of all and instructed me to prepare a substantial gift.

After much thought, only this kind of gift seemed appropriate and unique for someone of the Human Dao lineage.

If Sister won’t accept it, I’ll smash it right here and return to ask Yi’s forgiveness.”

Ling E blinked gently and hurriedly said: “Don’t do that, I’ll accept it. Thank you, Sister.”

Meanwhile…

A certain Sea God Sect’s Great Leader, who was watching both scenes with his divine sense, transmitted to his Second Leader:

“Your dao partner is thoughtful and quite resourceful. If you’re ever unsure about something, you can discuss it with her.”

“Oh?” Ao Yi quickly asked through divine sense, “Brother, what makes you say this?”

Li Changshou smiled: “You can ask her later to understand. I heard them talking inside and suddenly had this insight.”

Ao Yi was immediately puzzled, but when Li Changshou said “Let’s continue watching the show,” he didn’t press further.

At this moment, the dragon race expert had landed in the Sea God Temple’s front courtyard, pacing back and forth without taking any other action.

But Li Changshou felt this dragon was waiting;

Waiting for mortals to gather and for high-ranking dragons stationed in the South Sea to notice him.

Li Changshou pondered briefly, placing most of his attention on An Shui City, temporarily ignoring the situation at the thatched cottage.

He activated his paper avatar to lurk quietly underground and transmitted to the ‘Bear Team’ composed of twenty-four Bear Village divine envoys in the city, ordering them to come immediately…

No matter how this uninvited guest made his move, Li Changshou was prepared to respond, ready to turn passive into active at any moment.

Ao Yi was right beside him now;

Moreover, through Ao Yi’s relay, the Four Sea Dragon Kings and those truly powerful old dragons of the dragon race already knew about the Western Teaching’s schemes;

Li Changshou had even prepared a memorial to His Majesty the Jade Emperor, explaining that the upcoming conflict between the South Sea Divine Sect and the dragon race was merely an act…

But Li Changshou still felt somewhat uneasy, worried he might have overlooked something.

In the primordial world, no enemy could be underestimated.

Moreover, the Western Teaching had two saints and would use any means necessary.

Li Changshou watched unblinkingly as this dragon who had transformed into a middle-aged man, sharp light flashing in his eyes as dozens of densely packed ‘storylines’ emerged in his mind.

Friend, make your move.

Whether you’ll be scattered like ash or beaten up depends on your choice.

…

At Xiao Qiong Peak, in the lakeside thatched cottage.

Jiang Si’er had opened the brocade box, and the four women, some standing and some sitting, all gathered around.

Inside the box was a light blue pearl shaped like a teardrop, flowing with rainbow light and wrapped in a mysterious dao rhythm. Staring at it for a while would cause a mournful yet beautiful chanting to appear in one’s heart…

Like grievance and pleading, like weeping and longing.

Jiang Si’er introduced it softly:

“This pearl is called [Past Life’s Tear].

Our mermaid tribe has an ancient teaching that one can only love and stay with one person in life.

Such Past Life’s Tears are formed when a tribe member who has someone in their heart but cannot be with their loved one grows old alone. Before their lifespan is exhausted, their mermaid pearl transforms into this Past Life’s Tear, given to other tribe members to prevent further regret.

As long as you think of your loved one in your heart, the Past Life’s Tear will record this person, and they will feel a touch of romantic feeling for you in their heart.”

Bear Lingli exclaimed: “There’s such a mysterious thing?”

Lady Jiu giggled, commenting: “If it were a Celestial Immortal, unrequited love for a hundred thousand years – that resentment would be enough to move the Heavenly Dao.”

Bear Lingli couldn’t help but mutter: “But isn’t this forcing someone?

Mutual love is what’s most important.”

Jiang Si’er blinked, wondering how her tribe’s beautiful story had become so… unsavory in their mouths…

Ling E pondered for a moment, saying softly: “Senior Brother must already have me in his heart, this pearl probably won’t be of much use to me, but… well, to be safe, it wouldn’t hurt to try it.

Sister Si’er, will this truly only make Senior Brother have me in his heart?”

“Of course,” Jiang Si’er smiled, “It works every time and won’t have any other effects.”

Ling E continued to ponder, her eyes showing some hesitation but still said: “Though I trust you, Sister, this concerns my Senior Brother, and I want to use it…

Sister Si’er, I have an unreasonable request – could you make a Great Dao oath, ensuring what you just said is true, and that this is indeed the Past Life’s Tear you described?”

Jiang Si’er was stunned…

Were all humans this rigorous?

Jiang Si’er hurriedly said: “Of course, I’ll make the Great Dao oath right now.”

“Please wait,” Ling E smiled apologetically, “Let me first write down the oath’s content on paper for you to read, Sister. This way you can be more at ease.”

Jiang Si’er blinked repeatedly, thinking this must be a human custom, and nodded in agreement.

Having grown up in the sea, she was truly somewhat bewildered.

Soon…

Jiang Si’er read the feeling-name oath and recited the Great Dao oath, causing muffled thunder to sound above Xiao Qiong Peak.

The oath stated that if she had spoken any falsehood earlier or if the item would cause any harm to Elder Brother Changshou beyond [arousing feelings], a small lightning bolt would gently strike.

—This was mainly to verify the truth of her words, not to punish through the Great Dao oath.

Though Jiang Si’er’s heart was clear, having truly not lied;

Just now, she had felt inexplicably guilty.

Fortunately, there was no abnormality after the oath, and Ling E finally believed Jiang Si’er’s words. She took the Past Life’s Tear pearl in hand, examining it carefully as the other three gathered around to watch intently.

Ling E: “Maybe we should forget about it…”

With several clangs, Jiang Si’er, Lady Jiu, and Bear Lingli all staggered.

Lady Jiu deliberately scared her: “Ling E, are you going to use it? If you don’t, I’ll take it!”

“I’ll use it, I’ll use it!

Sigh… I’m really afraid Senior Brother will scold me terribly.”

Ling E bit her lip, closed her eyes, and held the Past Life’s Tears, beginning to think about every little moment she had spent with her Senior Brother.

Gradually, wisps of smoke rose from the Past Life’s Tear in her hands, condensing into Li Changshou’s from within.

Lady Jiu remarked curiously from the side:

“Ling E, is this Little Changshou?

Though the nose is the same nose and the eyes are the same, why does it feel like two different people?

The Little Changshou in here is much more handsome!”

Jiang Si’er smiled lightly: “This is Sister Ling E’s impression of Elder Brother Changshou.”

Lady Jiu immediately understood.

And Ling E, knowing the correct answer, naturally couldn’t directly say that her Senior Brother usually wore a ‘disguise of ordinariness.’

Ling E asked softly: “What happens next?”

As soon as she spoke, the Past Life’s Tear transformed into a stream of water; this stream flew out of the thatched cottage and directly vanished.

The four looked at each other, all somewhat confused.

Jiang Si’er hurriedly said: “It’s done!

Later, when Sister Ling E meets Elder Brother Changshou, you’ll see what happens.”

“How magical?”

Lady Jiu praised softly from the side, and Ling E couldn’t help but feel some small anticipation.

At this moment, Li Changshou felt something strange in his heart.

This feeling was just like…

Like when the Old Man under the Moon had used the Love Tree on his fate clay figure before, making his mind wander.

But this time the appearing figure was his most familiar junior sister, Little Ling E…

Old Man under the Moon, old friend, stirring things up online?

Li Changshou divided some attention to briefly analyze the information his immortal consciousness had captured earlier.

Mermaid tribe legend, Past Life’s Tear, Little Ling E…

Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

Wasn’t this a waste?

With such a good item, they should have saved it for Master or Ancestral Master, helping Master find a romance or helping Ancestral Master win over the Forgotten Emotions Immortal – wouldn’t that have been wonderful?

Li Changshou shook his head secretly;

His true body, still hiding in the underground secret chamber, took out a scroll – his latest work in the “Hundred Beauties Aged” series — “Steel Elder Woman.”

However, just as Li Changshou prepared to carefully observe and study it, the stirring that had just appeared in his heart suddenly vanished, catching him off guard.

What was going on?

Was the mermaid tribe so unreliable?

Were there counterfeit Past Life’s Tears?

Could it be…

That the mermaid who condensed this Past Life’s Tear had some unknown stories in life, and deliberately set up this reputation for the sake of their posthumous name?

Li Changshou thought it uninteresting, to divide a strand of consciousness to prepare for ‘combat’ with the Past Life’s Tear at any time.

Most of his attention was currently on the An Shui City Sea God Temple, controlling three paper avatars while maintaining divine sense communication with Ao Yi…

Operating multiple points simultaneously on two lines had become a basic operation.

Li Changshou wouldn’t punish Ling E for this attempt.

Ling E just wanted to express her feelings, and though he was unwilling to accept them now, he didn’t need to make her too discouraged.

He had a conscience too.

On the contrary, his junior sister’s first consideration wasn’t whether her feelings could be successfully expressed, but concern for her Senior Brother’s safety, making Jiang Si’er take a Great Dao oath to prove herself…

Li Changshou was somewhat touched by this.

Well, for Ling E’s good, he’d still have her copy the Stability Scripture three thousand times later.

…

However, what Li Changshou didn’t know was;

Just moments ago, when Ling E used the Past Life’s Tear…

That stream of light had disappeared and appeared directly in the Old Man under the Moon’s temple, transforming into a water-like stream of light that wrapped around the Old Man under the Moon’s wrist.

The Old Man under the Moon, who was molding fate clay figures, paused his movements, thinking the Heavenly Dao Lord had given him work, but after careful sensing, he understood.

So someone had used a mermaid tribe’s Past Life’s Tear.

This was a small ‘contract’ within the rules of fate;

Using a Past Life’s Tear meant he had to facilitate a romance according to the information within it…

Though this wasn’t heavenly bestowed fate, it was permitted by the Heavenly Dao, and the Old Man under the Moon usually helped make connections.

“Let this poor Dao see who from the mermaid tribe it is this time…

Hmm?

The target is Du Xian Sect disciple Li… eh? Friend Changshou?”

The Old Man under the Moon frowned, then snorted coldly, directly crushing the water stream in his hand and even dusting off his sleeve.

“To scheme against Friend Changshou in such matters, truly such great audacity!

This poor Dao promised Friend Changshou not to interfere with his fate, how could I casually help you?

Hmph!”

The Old Man under the Moon shook his head, continuing to mold the fate clay figures before him.

Wanting to meddle with Friend Changshou’s fate – they’d have to get past this official deity of the Heavenly Court first!

Almost in an instant, the water stream was crushed by the Old Man under the Moon.

In the lakeside thatched cottage, Lady Jiu, who had been teasing Ling E, paused her words, Jiang Si’er, who had been feeling relieved, widened her almond eyes, and Bear Lingli’s cute head tilted to the side…

In the opened brocade box, streams of light circled and condensed back into the teardrop-shaped ‘Past Life’s Tear.’

Not only that, but a wisp of illusion flew out from the Past Life’s Tear as if forcefully stuffed back into Ling E’s heart.

Jiang Si’er cried out: “It- it came back?

How could this happen?”

Ling E immediately gave a bitter smile, raising her hand to rub her forehead, feeling somewhat tearful.

It’s over!

Senior Brother must have found out about this and used some method to break it!

After Jiang Si’er leaves, she would probably have plenty of Stability Scripture to copy…

The thatched cottage fell into silence, and Jiang Si’er raised her hand to support her forehead, already beginning to question her not-so-long fish life.

However, though Li Changshou had recorded this scene with his immortal consciousness, he currently had no time to pay attention to it.

At the An Shui City Sea God Temple’s main hall, that dragon, after pretending to hesitate and pacing for a long time, seemed to finally make up his mind and step toward the temple doors.

This was the real matter at hand.