Although Wen Jing Daoist had been steadily persuaded, Li Changshou himself was now truly in crisis.

The Western Religion had now developed killing intent toward the South Sea God, and the South Sea God’s identity set up as simply a [Human Religion member] was becoming somewhat unstable…

Fortunately, he had always kept his true identity hidden.

Looking at it now, his efforts to keep his three identities—Human Religion’s Little Law Master, South Sea God, and Degree Immortal Sect disciple—separate from each other had indeed not been wasted.

Though not entirely without hidden dangers now, still have to consider possibilities like [Ao Yi’s soul being searched], [Ao Yi’s spirit being controlled], [Ao Yi being thrown into a pot of oil], and other such emergencies.

But this was still much better than Li Changshou being directly exposed to the view of the Western Religion’s many experts…

Being caught in this whirlpool of great sects, how could he better protect himself?

Li Changshou also knew that his current slight passivity ultimately stemmed from his shallow years of cultivation, and insufficient accumulation, leading to his inability to fully deploy and optimize in such grand affairs.

He couldn’t help falling into thought.

To protect oneself well naturally requires ‘hiding deep’, ‘running fast’, ‘understanding the greater situation’, and ‘clinging to strong support’.

Merely avoiding wasn’t stable enough; only by proving one’s value could one truly secure strong support, so he must still walk along the edge of this whirlpool…

This was like a vicious cycle.

The Western Religion brings out a God-Locking Butterfly today, tomorrow they might create a Life-Locking Bug…

Who could endure this?

What method could he think of to shift their attention away from himself?

Wen Jing Daoist must now be reporting back to the Western Religion;

To protect this future-useful teammate on their side, Li Changshou hadn’t let Wen Jing Daoist destroy that God-Locking Butterfly, but instead had her return to describe in detail to the Western Religion’s Vice Sect Leader how she searched for the South Sea God and failed eighteen times.

Although the other party wouldn’t truly ‘give up in the face of difficulty’, at least they wouldn’t ‘charge forward despite difficulty’, and might change their approach…

Honestly, as long as they didn’t threaten Li Changshou’s true body, they could destroy as many paper avatars as they wanted.

At worst, he would develop some bean… immortals…

Hm?

Rumble—

“Heavenly Dao power?”

In the secret chamber, Li Changshou was startled by this muffled thunder.

His immortal consciousness swept out, discovering over ten figures floating around an unnamed peak—the tribulation ground outside the sect gate.

A fellow disciple was undergoing tribulation.

Li Changshou’s eyes brightened, temporarily setting aside his worries, immediately leaving the underground chamber and using voice transmission to summon Spirit Maiden.

At worst, if the Western Religion moved again, he would directly request the Great Law Master to appear and help him put on a grand show.

He only needed to make the Western Religion wary enough not to easily move against the South Sea God.

—When everyone’s competing on the same stage, directly unplugging the opponent’s network cable would be too much.

Soon after, Li Changshou rode clouds carrying Spirit Maiden and Bear Lingli toward the edge of the mountain-protecting formation, watching through a thin transparent light barrier as that disciple underwent tribulation.

Meanwhile, many disciples within the sect had also come to this location to watch the heavenly tribulation and increase their own confidence for facing tribulation…

Today’s tribulation-facer was also an acquaintance.

Liu Sizhe, a disciple of Capital Forest Peak of the Degree Immortal Sect, who had once competed for love with Junior Brother Wang Qi at Little Jade Peak, the one involved in the emotional confusion between ‘Senior Sister Yanr’ and ‘Qiqi Junior Brother’.

The top ten, top twenty immortal seedlings of the Degree Immortal Sect had all been preparing for heavenly tribulation these past few years, and who went first wouldn’t follow the sect’s ranking order…

Heavenly tribulation wouldn’t look at anyone’s face or listen to anyone’s arrangements.

Outside the formation on the unnamed peak, wind and clouds changed, fierce winds arose, and spiritual energy rolled in, forming tribulation clouds.

The might of those tribulation clouds, in Li Changshou’s view…

Wasn’t too strong, somewhat sparse even, which indirectly proved that Liu Sizhe had truly cultivated diligently, his natural talent only being above average.

Li Changshou observed his junior sister’s expression for a few glances.

At this moment, facing such heavenly might, Spirit Maiden’s pretty face had turned somewhat pale, and she couldn’t help but gently purse her lips…

“Junior Sister, how’s this heavenly tribulation?”

Half a zhang away, Li Changshou transmitted: “You’ll inevitably have to walk this path too in the future. Under heavenly tribulation, if one’s dao isn’t solid enough, it will be scattered ash and flying smoke.”

Spirit Maiden bit her lip, looking pitifully at Li Changshou, then worriedly watching the person undergoing tribulation.

Tsk…

Without giving this little girl some pressure, playing around with Senior Sister Jiujiu all day, how could she achieve greatness?

“Senior Brother…”

“Mm?”

“This… never mind.”

Spirit Maiden sighed lightly in her heart. If there weren’t so many figures around, she might have asked:

[Since that’s the case, could you fulfill this junior sister’s small wish before tribulation?]

Then she would be punished with copying scriptures or something.

The immortalization tribulation wouldn’t dawdle too much. With the tribulation clouds ready and the person undergoing tribulation standing in the air, thunder patterns gathered under those tribulation clouds, and a bolt of lightning struck down from above!

“Goodness,” Bear Lingli asked softly, “This is striking?”

Li Changshou calmly transmitted to the two: “Of course, it’s striking, otherwise what would be the point of heavenly tribulation?”

Just then, the mountain-protecting formation temporarily opened, and vast heavenly might swept toward them!

The sect elders wanted to let the disciples more directly experience the tribulation…

Thunder patterns appeared again under the tribulation clouds, and another bolt of lightning struck down, Liu Sizhe’s form standing unmoved in the air.

Bear Lingli asked: “Cousin, how many bolts does one have to be struck by during tribulation?”

“Brother Liu’s lightning tribulation should be seven bolts,” Li Changshou spoke.

Looking at the slight phenomenon appearing above the tribulation clouds, he couldn’t call out this lightning tribulation’s designation.

Unfortunately, with no Severing Sect immortal present, the way of commentary remained imperfect.

Lightning fell bolt after bolt. By the fifth bolt, immortal light was flickering around Liu Sizhe’s body.

Li Changshou nodded slowly—Liu Sizhe should be ninety percent certain to pass this threshold.

When the sixth heavenly lightning fell, Liu Sizhe’s form was struck onto the mountaintop, shattering a patch of rocks, the collision between his law force and tribulation force bursting out intense shockwaves!

Spirit Maiden couldn’t help but feel nervous;

She was imagining what it would be like when she faced heavenly tribulation, whether she could withstand tribulation of such might.

Soon, Liu Sizhe jumped up again somewhat disheveledly, gathering all his law force before him, directly facing the final tribulation!

Thunder patterns flickered throughout the tribulation clouds, and the final tribulation force condensed into a pillar of lightning, directly swallowing Liu Sizhe’s figure, also illuminating the night as bright as day!

“Ah—”

Within the lightning pillar, Liu Sizhe roared to the heavens, his long hair dancing wildly!

Spirit Maiden watched with another frown…

As the lightning dissipated, melodious immortal music echoed through heaven and earth.

In the sky appeared phenomena of immortal cranes circling, immortal maidens dancing, old men carrying peaches, and other auspicious signs. A lingzhi mushroom-like auspicious cloud slowly carried Liu Sizhe up, while Liu Sizhe closed his eyes, feeling the completely new world he had stepped into, his face full of intoxication.

This tribulation didn’t result in ascension.

Spirit Maiden let out a gentle breath, “Senior Brother, is this becoming an immortal?”

“Mm,” Li Changshou smiled, “This is becoming an immortal, the first checkpoint on the path of cultivation.”

Spirit Maiden’s bright eyes immediately revealed traces of yearning.

Li Changshou felt relieved in his heart…

Finally, he had guided Spirit Maiden’s interest from Ye Gong’s dragon-loving style of concern to a bit of cultivation…

“Senior Brother, let’s go back,” Spirit Maiden said softly, “I will work hard at cultivation from now on, to face heavenly tribulation as soon as possible!”

Li Changshou smiled with satisfaction, just about to turn around when he suddenly turned his head to one side, transmitting:

“Wait a bit more, someone else is going to undergo tribulation. Watch another one and carefully comprehend.”

“Hm?”

Spirit Maiden blinked gently—could tribulation come in clusters like this?

Sure enough, just as Liu Sizhe’s heavenly phenomena were dissipating and he was savoring his tribulation experience, suddenly a disciple here laughed twice.

“My tribulation has also arrived!”

As soon as the words fell, the previously dispersed heavenly spiritual energy once again gathered toward the Degree Immortal Sect;

The speaking disciple immediately stepped out from the crowd, flying toward the unnamed peak where Liu Sizhe was, while the newly promoted Element Immortal Liu Sizhe quickly made their way, speaking some words of encouragement to this disciple.

Rumble—

Thunder rolled, heavenly might warn!

The second wave of tribulation performance officially began, this tribulation also being seven bolts, considered the average standard for sect immortal seedlings.

Spirit Maiden was less nervous this time, watching others undergo tribulation with interest, seeing them pass successfully, her heart gained even more confidence.

However, the Degree Immortal Sect disciples today seemed to be competing with heavenly tribulation.

After the second person completed the tribulation, another rushed out, continuing to trigger the tribulation…

Group tribulation had its basis.

Seeing one or two people successfully pass tribulation, other disciples who had reached this threshold gained confidence, feeling this wave was doable.

‘If they can do it, I can too!’

Thus, with their dao hearts slightly shaken, tribulation was directly triggered.

After the third person, two more fellow immortal seedlings flew out—Little Spirit Peak’s Wang Qi and his dao partner Capital Forest Peak’s Liu Yanr, both successfully passing tribulation.

Qiqi Junior Brother and Yanr Senior Sister became true? Immortal couple.

For a time, the sect disciples were rubbing their palms together, the sixth person jumped out to face their tribulation, and then…

Died.

This disciple who died by tribulation was from Breaking Heaven Peak’s lineage, about the same age as Li Changshou.

Whether due to insufficient accumulation before the tribulation or an error during the tribulation, they couldn’t withstand the final lightning tribulation, leaving only a broken corpse on the mountain…

The disciples who had been getting hot-headed were immediately doused with cold water.

The master of this disciple struck down by tribulation could only let out a long sigh, coming forward to collect their beloved disciple’s corpse for separate burial.

Spirit Maiden’s little face changed from happy, excited, and confident to somewhat… pale.

Li Changshou said leisurely: “However much time you waste on play on ordinary days, during tribulation, you’ll have that much risk.”

“Senior Brother…”

Spirit Maiden’s small hand pulled at Li Changshou’s clothes, biting her lip, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Three rules…

Forget it, seeing Spirit Maiden was also shocked, Li Changshou was unusually gentle for once, saying softly:

“Tribulation is only a test, not completely a killing tribulation.

Today six underwent tribulation, five became immortals, and one perished to tribulation—that’s already a success rate.

However, tribulation is always one’s own matter, others can’t help much. You must focus on cultivation from now on, make your dao foundation solid, only then can you handle it smoothly.”

“Oh,” Spirit Maiden responded obediently, then turned to look at the unnamed peak that had been cut down by several dozen zhang by tribulation, feeling many mixed emotions.

‘Maybe I should fulfill my wishes first, then face tribulation.’

Spirit Maiden hummed softly, silently calculating in her heart how she should make her move…

Li Changshou floated back with Spirit Maiden and Bear Lingli.

Having his junior sister observe a wave of tribulation was a small episode that could give her more reverence for cultivation, which was always good.

It was just a pity about that Breaking Heaven Peak senior brother who died tragically under tribulation—if he had prepared for a few hundred more years, perhaps his chances of success would have been greater.

The next twenty years should be the peak period for this batch of Degree Immortal Sect disciples to undergo tribulation. He would also need to arrange to go out once and ‘accidentally’ undergo tribulation.

His true body wouldn’t need to go out directly, arranging a paper avatar to go out would be enough.

As long as he showed Element Immortal realm’s initial stage boundary when returning, he could perfectly cover it up…

Sigh, if he could delay until his Golden Immortal tribulation, that would be perfect.

If it could really be like that, he would go out once, and the sect would think he was going to face immortalization tribulation, but actually, he would request the Great Law Master to protect him while he found a hidden place to face his longevity tribulation.

When he returned and the sect inquired, he would just say he accidentally passed tribulation successfully—that wouldn’t count as lying.

Li Changshou laughed lightly, then gradually composed himself, sitting in the rocking chair in front of the dan-refining chamber, pondering how to respond to the Western Religion’s offensive.

Counter-attack?

Currently lacking the conditions, after all, he had dismantled the Western Religion’s platform first, now it was their turn to move.

As is well known, Hongmeng calculations were often turn-based.

Thinking this way, several more days passed, and Li Changshou had roughly thought of one or two response methods.

Just as he was about to begin implementing them, two groups of guests came to the South Sea God Temple one after another…

The first to arrive was the Dragon Palace gift-giving team.

A group of immortal flood dragon soldiers carrying six hundred boxes of treasures descended from the sky under everyone’s attention, piling the treasure boxes in Anshui City’s main temple.

This was a thank-you gift for the Sea God, with another portion also being sent to Heaven’s Court.

Also because of this, East Wood Lord hurriedly came to inquire about the Sea God’s opinion—should Heaven’s Court accept or refuse the Dragon Palace’s gifts?

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, asking Wood Lord in return:

Did Heaven’s Court lack or not lack?

If they lacked treasures then accept them, training heavenly soldiers didn’t just need merit force; if they didn’t lack, then show noble righteousness and refuse.

Their Heaven’s Court was the proper heavenly dao’s direct Hongmeng management organization!

Wood Lord immediately understood, hurrying back to Heaven’s Court to handle it.

And when Wood Lord left, as Li Changshou was finishing counting his gains and calculating how much progress his Little Jade Peak comprehensive defense system could make, a figure came riding clouds from the north.

Yellow Dragon True Person?

This old true person wearing an earth-yellow Daoist robe showed a worried expression, constantly sighing, apparently having encountered some difficulty.

Honestly, when did his Sea God Temple change its name to [Dao Path Wisdom House]?

How come when encountering difficulties, everyone had to come here to pour their hearts out to him, a Human Religion junior disciple? Was the Enlightenment Sect empty?

Li Changshou’s immortal consciousness carefully looked several times, not seeing Elder Zhao’s figure, his heart also feeling relieved.

Although Elder Zhao’s sister was beautiful, Elder Zhao himself was indeed an uncontrollable factor.