Why did Elder Zhao and Yellow Dragon True Person suddenly sneak out of their hiding place?

Fortunately, Li Changshou hadn’t completely let his guard down with Zhao Gongming and Yellow Dragon True Person. Although most of his attention was focused on the battle in the South Sea, he still maintained a thread of awareness constantly monitoring these two trump card experts’ movements.

Just as Zhao Gongming and Yellow Dragon True Person crawled out of the cave on that desolate island, before they could use their divine powers to flee, one of Li Changshou’s paper avatars hidden in the seawater immediately darted out.

It appeared as an ordinary sea fish, tracing a parabolic arc through the air, trailing several crystalline water droplets…

The fish exploded with a “poof”, transforming into the appearance of a kindly old immortal, landing before the two Dao School experts.

“Seniors, why did you suddenly come out?”

Zhao Gongming and Yellow Dragon True Person exchanged glances. Just as the latter was about to speak, the former cleared his throat while stroking his beard and smiled: “It was a bit stuffy inside, came out for a walk…

However, Brother Sea God, your concealment technique is impressive, actually fooling both me and Senior Brother Yellow Dragon.”

Uh, you two simply didn’t check!

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Junior didn’t intentionally hide, this avatar arrived here months ago.

I’ve just been using transformation techniques to become a fish, swimming daily with the schools of fish, perhaps that’s how I inadvertently deceived the two seniors…

Do the seniors have some urgent matters? Or have you discovered something?”

“No, nothing, just came out for some air, ahem, you go about your business.”

Zhao Gongming waved his hand, pulling Yellow Dragon True Person back toward the cave, leaving Li Changshou quite puzzled.

Add one to the count of Three Schools experts’ confusing behaviors.

Nevertheless, Li Changshou’s paper avatar stopped hiding;

He made a Daoist salute toward the cave, holding his whisk, then sat cross-legged directly behind a reef, using the Turtle Breath Technique and illusion methods to minimize the possibility of being discovered.

Currently, his attention was divided among too many places, truly somewhat insufficient, unable to spare too much time cautioning Elder Zhao and Yellow Dragon True Person.

The battle in the South Sea had reached a boiling point;

Enemy traces had begun appearing near the East Sea, but the opponent was very cunning – the Dragon Clan’s scouts placed in various locations still had no findings.

Besides the South and East Seas, Li Changshou also had to keep some “baseline attention” for his Master and Junior Sister…

Eliminating all possibilities of a sneak attack!

Also worried about Western Teaching making big moves, he had to monitor several high-risk locations in both the East and South Seas…

Adding it all up, the places Li Changshou needed to monitor now were truly too many.

“Sigh…”

What commanding from the tent and deciding victory from a thousand li away? It was just throwing out paper avatar after paper avatar…

The East Sea was still peaceful on the surface, with the second wave of experts rushing to aid the South Sea Dragon Palace having already gone.

The atmosphere of the Dragon Clan wedding had naturally been somewhat affected.

The assembled guests were also puzzled, not knowing why the usually weak deep sea demons would be bold enough to sneak attack the Dragon Palace;

The Severing Sect immortals in the Dragon Palace had already prepared to help Ao Yi take action.

Their Severing Sect wasn’t afraid of things escalating – the more things escalated, the more of their experts would emerge.

Now less than two hours remained until the auspicious time for Ao Yi’s wedding.

After much consideration, Ao Yi still went to propose to the highest-ranking Dragon Clan elder that his wedding be postponed one day, so the Dragon Clan could focus fully on annihilating the enemies invading the South Sea Dragon Palace.

As a result, Ao Yi was scolded by that Dragon Clan elder and told to just focus on what he needed to do today.

Ao Yi wanted to find his Patriarch Brother to seek advice and strategy but was pulled away by his own brother Ao Jia to touch up his makeup…

Compared to the overflowing sense of responsibility of Ao Yi, the handsome eight-chi-tall East Sea Dragon Palace Crown Prince Ao Jia seemed somewhat carefree.

Ao Jia smiled: “Silly brother, don’t worry, our Dragon Clan has endured countless tribulations big and small since ancient times, always standing unshaken!

You and I haven’t yet fully cultivated our abilities, so don’t worry about this matter.”

Ao Yi: …

Indeed, he felt his Patriarch Brother was a hundred times more reliable than his brother.

No, ten thousand times!

…

In three hours, the South Sea Dragon Palace had suffered over a hundred thousand casualties.

When the great battle first erupted, three “mysterious” armies sneak attacked the South Sea Dragon Palace;

The prepared South Sea Dragon Palace immediately contracted their defensive formations, relying on several layers of grand formations at the seafloor to resist the enemy, while mobilizing armies to encircle the invading enemies on the outskirts.

After both sides went through the encirclement, counter-encirclement, flank harassment, counter-counter-encirclement… and other conventional operations—

In the several thousand li of sea area around the South Sea Dragon Palace, countless seafood casualties!

The wave-tossed sea surface was already piled with many rarely seen… delicious ingredients.

Things like hundred-zhang-long tentacled squid, three-zhang-long giant lobsters, tree-crown-sized giant crabs…

And due to the intense magical battles, clusters of true fire and spell fire would frequently appear – these flames that couldn’t be extinguished by ordinary seawater would continuously rise, either directly grilling or heating the seawater, slow-cooking…

The crab shells quickly turned red…

If Xiong Lingli saw this situation, with her sympathetic nature that buried fallen flowers, she would cry bitter tears, tears flowing straight into her stomach…

Li Changshou couldn’t help much with the South Sea battle situation.

Although casualties were heavy there, it was just a “side stage” – the true main stage was still at the East Sea Dragon Palace.

After observing the great battle in the South Sea for half a day through pre-placed paper avatars, Li Changshou gradually formed this thought:

[Western must have prepared several grand plans this time, choosing which to use based on the situation.]

No matter who was Western Teaching person in charge of this matter was, since they had already invested so many resources, there must be returns.

Western’s goal was to frighten the Dragon Clan into submission, and then subjugate them.

By now, Li Changshou could confirm that Western Teaching truly didn’t care about casualties, wanting to severely wound the South Sea Dragon Palace, then use the sea race rebel army to form pressure to force the East Sea Dragon King, the Dragon Clan patriarch, to bow his head.

‘If that’s the case…

Western’s Sage disciples must be near the East Sea, appearing at the East Sea Dragon Palace when necessary to display Western Sages’ dignity.’

Beside Great Master Xuandu, Li Changshou supported his forehead with his hand, carefully thinking.

The Great Master beside him could feel that Li Changshou’s mind was operating at full speed and didn’t disturb him, just smiling and waiting quietly.

Soon after, Li Changshou spoke: “Great Master…”

“Mm?”

“No, disciple’s considerations aren’t complete yet,” Li Changshou smiled apologetically, continuing to think.

The Great Master didn’t say much, just nodded with a smile, slightly divining with his fingers.

This time, the Great Master raised his eyebrows, pointing at the crystal mirror and saying: “Changshou, look here.”

Li Changshou looked up to see huge figures quickly sliding through the pitch-black seafloor – they seemed to be giant octopi.

The Great Master calmly said: “This place is less than a hundred thousand li from the East Sea Dragon Palace. The opponent’s timing is exceptionally precise, just when the wedding is about to begin.

How exactly is the South Sea now?”

“The South Sea is in deadlock. I don’t know what’s wrong with Western Teaching this time,” Li Changshou frowned and said, “Logically, the best method would be the lure-the-tiger-from-the-mountain strategy, withdrawing immediately after use, then repeatedly harassing.

But this time, these demon soldiers and fierce beasts Western Teaching brought have already lost thirty percent casualties and still won’t withdraw.

This truly puzzles disciple greatly.”

The Great Master pondered for a moment, then smiled: “It’s that Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus.”

“Disciple doesn’t understand.”

“Their Western Teaching’s Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus that suppresses their teaching’s destiny must be about to reach its limit, unable to shelter so many karma-burdened demons, beasts, and fierce ones.”

The Great Master patiently explained in detail: “That batch of Western Teaching subordinates sent to the South Sea should be intentionally meant to be sacrificed there.

If they can exchange these subordinates’ lives for the Dragon Clan’s allegiance, Western Teaching naturally wins big.

If they fail this time, they’ve only lost some disposable pieces while relieving pressure on the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus, so they won’t lose much overall.”

Li Changshou started, immediately standing to make a Daoist salute, saying: “Disciple hadn’t considered this aspect, thank you Great Master for the enlightenment.”

The Great Master waved his hand, smiling: “No need for self-blame, you’re currently limited by your cultivation level, unable to see some things, which is natural.

Those two from Western aren’t the type who like to lose.”

Li Changshou nodded repeatedly, immediately reorganizing his plans, considering factors like the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus.

The impact wasn’t large…

The Great Master continuously cast spells, revealing traces of enemy armies sneaking toward the East Sea Dragon Palace one by one in the crystal mirror…

Reaching twelve routes of armies!

True battle in the South Sea, pressure in the East Sea – Western Teaching truly had good calculations!

Li Changshou quietly waited for a moment. When these twelve routes of sea race rebel armies approached within thirty thousand li of the Dragon Palace, they were successively discovered by the Dragon Palace.

At once, war drums thundered throughout the East Sea, as shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and immortal dragon soldiers previously hidden in various places rushed out to intercept these enemy forces.

Almost simultaneously, great battles erupted in all directions around the East Sea Dragon Palace.

Commanders continuously rushed out from the East Sea Dragon Palace, dispatching parts of the armies stationed near the Dragon Palace to aid places where battle pressure was greater.

In just half an hour, the East Sea Dragon Palace was vaguely surrounded by enemy armies, waves surging, and heaven and earth changing color throughout the East Sea!

Though the assembled guests in the Dragon Palace showed worried expressions;

The East Sea Dragon King remained steadily seated on his throne, the wedding still to proceed as normal.

The Dragon Clan now emphasized calmness, as if they still had endless backup plans.

But as true observers, Great Master Xuandu and Li Changshou could always discover the “dangers” appearing near the East Sea Dragon Palace one step ahead.

In that remote corner of the Crystal Palace, the Great Master cast another spell, and several blurry figures appeared on the mirror surface.

The Great Master snorted softly, as two green lights flashed through his eyes, dispersing the blurry disguises around those people in the mirror, revealing their true appearances.

Divine Power – True – Anti-Mosaic Technique!

These were four elders, each emanating shocking pressure;

Their position of appearance was less than five thousand li from the East Sea Dragon Palace, having just bypassed the outer battles!

A plump Daoist of wealthy build opened the bag on his back, from which flew streams of light, transforming into figure after figure, quickly arranging into battle formation;

Another tall and thin Daoist with tightly closed eyes threw forward the pagoda in his hand, from which also flew streams of light…

The four people each carried cosmic treasures, simultaneously activating their treasures, actually summoning several hundred thousand sea race and demon tribe troops – the elite portions of the sea race rebels and deep sea demon tribes!

Just then, space was suddenly torn open to the side, a six-winged golden cicada drilling out, followed by dozens of figures quickly flying out…

Among the six people at the front, Daoist Wen Jing was conspicuously present!

Now, their concealment methods were all seen through by Great Master Xuandu, displayed in the mirror…

Xuandu slightly furrowed his brows, saying softly: “Western Teaching actually nurtured so many fierce ones, these two Senior Masters truly use any means to raise up their Western Teaching.”

Seeing this, Li Changshou however revealed a slight smile.

“Why does Changshou smile?”

“Disciple is just somewhat relieved…”

Li Changshou gently exhaled, smiling: “This should be Western’s complete calculation.

Using the South Sea Dragon Palace as bait to draw away most of the Dragon Clan experts, then using twelve routes of outer armies in feint attacks to keep the Dragon Clan elites tied up.

Then using cosmic treasures and cosmic techniques to bypass the outer battlefield, directly launching a surprise attack on the Dragon Clan, suppressing them in a short time…”

Simply put, the opponent’s arrangements hadn’t exceeded his imagination.

But Li Changshou carefully weighed his words, not daring to show any arrogance, only saying:

“Though this approach is clever, it’s within normal logic, not an extraordinary strategy.

Disciple fears them not following the usual pattern – that would be hardest to deal with.”

Great Master Xuandu smiled: “Then tell me, how should we break this situation next?”

“Great Master is testing disciple again.”

Li Changshou watched those numerous figures quickly rushing toward the East Sea Dragon Palace in the mirror, swiftly answering:

“The key to this situation lies in defense, and delay.

The East Sea Dragon Palace must hold this formation;

Besides this, we must find a way to delay Western Teaching’s various Sage disciples who will fly over from the West to [rescue] the Dragon Clan.

They spent so much effort just for this final ‘rescue’ scene.

Disciple suggests we can pull the rug out from under them – if these Western Teaching Sage disciples can’t reach the East Sea Dragon Palace today, this situation will resolve itself.”

Great Master Xuandu divined with his fingers, quickly nodding with a smile.

“In that case, I’ll go meet these disciples taken by those two Senior Masters.”

“Great Master, you’d better not directly appear, the situation isn’t out of control yet.”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Could you divine the approximate location of Western Teaching’s various Sage disciples? I’ll ask an expert who specializes in countering Western Teaching’s Sage disciples to go over – delaying them for an hour or two shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Very well.”

The Great Master didn’t say more, as the Taiji Diagram’s phantom appeared in his palm as he closed his eyes to quietly divine.

Just then, Li Changshou also noticed that among the attacking enemies, that six-chi golden cicada that had torn through space earlier suddenly left the surprise attack army, heading toward deeper depths.

Indeed, the opponent didn’t want to miss the Dragon Clan’s fatal weakness…

“Found them.”

Great Master Xuandu quickly opened his eyes, “In the clouds above East Victory Divine Continent, six people total, slowly heading toward the East Sea.”

“Good,” Li Changshou immediately acknowledged, then closed his eyes, his consciousness falling to the paper avatar on that desolate island.

This immortal-skinned paper avatar immediately stood up, holding his whisk, hurriedly walking toward that cave.

This time, Elder Zhao came at the right time.

How could a hero have no place to use his valor?