“Sea God Friend… sigh.”

Li Changshou looked at the tall, thin old Daoist wearing a light yellow robe before him. After their initial greetings, this old Daoist had already hesitated to speak several times, continuously sighing.

This feeling was as if Li Changshou was already beyond saving…

“What’s troubling Senior?” Li Changshou asked with concern. “Is it worries about the Dragon Clan matter?”

Yellow Dragon True Person sighed again, sitting to the side and remaining silent for a long while.

For a moment, Li Changshou was also thrown into uncertainty by this senior expert, not knowing what great matter had occurred.

Among the three sects of the dao path currently, his connection was weakest with the Enlightenment Sect.

In other words, he was most unfamiliar with the Enlightenment Sect.

“Sea God Friend…”

“Ah!”

Li Changshou sighed first, causing Yellow Dragon True Person to suddenly freeze.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “What’s troubling Senior? If there’s something, please speak directly.

If you have any instructions, this junior is here to listen.”

“To be honest with Sea God Friend, today I come with words that are difficult to speak.”

Li Changshou: …

Then don’t speak to them.

But Yellow Dragon True Person had already asked: “Friend, could you give me some insight?

The Western Religion—do they want to use the Dragon Clan for their purposes, or do they want the Dragon Clan to submit under the Western Two Sages?”

Hearing these words, doubt immediately rose in Li Changshou’s heart.

Who had said what to Yellow Dragon True Person? Why would he have such a question?

—Using the Dragon Clan for their purposes meant making them like Wen Jing Daoist, doing dirty and tiring work without getting much benefit, and being thrown out to take the blame at crucial moments.

While submitting under the Western Religion’s Two Sages represented joining their open forces, enjoying Sage protection, and receiving Sage opportunities.

Though these seemed like the same thing, they were worlds apart.

This question…

Li Changshou’s thoughts turned lightly, knowing he absolutely couldn’t answer directly.

It wasn’t because he felt guilty.

The [Dragon Clan ascending to Heaven] matter, he had done openly and righteously, with nothing to hide;

Facilitating the Dragon Clan’s ascension to Heaven’s Court was only beneficial for the Dragon Clan, essentially giving them a helping hand.

Otherwise, Li Changshou wouldn’t feel right continually accepting gifts from the Dragon Clan—counting from start to finish, there had been over a thousand boxes of treasure materials and spirit items.

Yellow Dragon True Person asking this now likely meant he had already heard others’ words and formed preconceptions—whatever Li Changshou answered wouldn’t be stable.

His thoughts turning lightly, Li Changshou already had a counter-strategy;

He still preferred to maintain the initiative.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Pardon this junior’s prying, but what brings Senior to ask this?”

Yellow Dragon True Person answered: “Just some concerns in my heart, hence this question.”

Li Changshou immediately shook his head, stood up, holding his whisk, and walked forward two steps, saying gently:

“Senior, if I’m not mistaken, someone must have told you how good the West is, how the Western Religion’s One Teaching Two Sages are destined to rise greatly, how the Dragon Clan following them could benefit from opportunities, how they might even revive…

Is it like this?”

“Well,” Yellow Dragon True Person smiled somewhat embarrassedly, honestly nodding.

“Mm, it is indeed like this.

But what was said also makes sense. This poor Daoist also thinks the Western Religion isn’t bad, after all, they also have two Sage Lords, and the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus stabilizing their sect’s fortune. If they could become the Dragon Clan’s destination…”

“Aiya! Senior, how confused!”

Yellow Dragon True Person couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Confused? Wasn’t this reasoning obvious? How was it confused?

Then he heard Li Changshou say: “Speaking thus is truly pushing the Dragon Clan into a fire pit. The person who said these words either doesn’t know the true situation or their heart is… ahem, they’re confused.”

Originally, Li Changshou wanted to use the phrase ‘their heart deserves death’;

But thinking again, whoever could influence Yellow Dragon True Person was likely a big shot from the Enlightenment Sect, and he shouldn’t directly curse them.

If he could avoid offending people, he naturally should.

Being cautious brings peace to the great dao.

“Oh?” Yellow Dragon True Person hurriedly asked, “Please enlighten me, friend.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Could a friend please use some divine abilities to prevent our conversation from being known by outsiders?”

“Right away, right away.”

Yellow Dragon True Person immediately set up over ten barriers, concealing the Sea God Temple’s back hall, then earnestly stared at Li Changshou’s old immortal paper avatar.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, then said:

“At Ao Yi’s grand wedding, the battle between South Sea and East Sea hasn’t yet concluded, the remnant souls of sea creatures haven’t completely dispersed, and the bones of Dragon Clan warriors aren’t yet cold.

What caused all this?

It came from the West recruiting the Dragon Clan, and the Dragon Clan’s unwillingness.

When the Dragon Clan was unwilling, the West used such methods, such tricks, not hesitating to bring down calamity, slaughtering so many living beings.

The West, lacking righteousness and virtue, inconsistent inside and out—how can they be called wise rulers? How can they be a destination?”

Yellow Dragon True Person nodded slightly, just about to speak when he heard this Sea God Friend continues:

“Senior’s earlier words about submitting to the West bringing opportunities for revival are even more mistaken!

The West’s great rise—how will they rise?

It’s nothing more than widely recruiting experts, accumulating merit, and gaining heavenly dao’s recognition.

If the Dragon Clan joins the Western Religion, the Western Religion would surely treat the Four Sea Dragon Kings and various Dragon Clan elders well, but what of the fate of other Dragon Clan members?

It would be nothing more than another version of today’s deep sea demon race and sea race rebels, being arbitrarily driven by the West, doing those acts that harm living beings.

Has Senior thought about it? Why does the West want to subdue the Dragon Clan?

Isn’t it because they covet the Dragon Clan’s accumulation, covet the Dragon Clan’s remaining strength?

Thus it won’t take too long, in several thousand years, the Dragon Clan’s karmic obstacles will surely increase greatly, the West can use the Dragon Clan to do many things, and those tiny benefits the West can give the Dragon Clan will be exchanged for the complete collapse of the Dragon Clan’s fortune!

Senior, have you considered these things?”

Li Changshou’s ‘heartfelt words’ were just stating advantages and disadvantages, without any exaggerated components.

Also because of this, they seemed quite credible;

Moreover, Li Changshou spoke earnestly, with full emotion and infectiousness, stirring Yellow Dragon True Person’s emotions…

Yellow Dragon True Person’s face now turned red then white, feeling both ashamed and regretful for believing others’ words and coming to question the South Sea God who had ‘a red heart for the Dragon Clan’.

The Sea God was truly a brother to the Dragon Clan!

Yellow Dragon True Person stood up, making a deep Daoist salute, sighing:

“This poor Daoist was momentarily confused, almost wrongly believing others’ words. Please don’t take offense, friend!”

Li Changshou pondered slightly in his heart, deciding to advance by retreating, sighing:

“It’s good that Senior can understand this matter.

To be honest, this junior also isn’t entirely without self-interest.

The Dragon Clan matter relates to whether this junior’s future position in Heaven’s Court will be stable, hence, this junior pays such attention and plans everything carefully.

Can Senior now tell this junior, who exactly told you such words about the West not being bad?”

Yellow Dragon True Person sighed: “Actually, this poor Daoist was feeling unsettled, so I went to find our Enlightenment Sect’s Vice Sect Leader Dipamkara, asking for some guidance.

Who would have thought that Vice Sect Leader Dipamkara would!”

Li Changshou: …

No wonder, so it was this ‘Ancient Buddha’ Dipamkara.

Li Changshou already had no good feelings toward Dipamkara.

In Li Changshou’s view, the early stages of the Canonization calamity didn’t have so many issues, the Enlightenment Sect used the strategy of ‘accepting disciples to block disaster’, the Severing Sect had many people and could randomly select a batch to face the tribulation, without harming their vital force.

But the Canonization battle grew increasingly larger, finally pulling down figures like Elder Zhao, triggering the full outbreak of the great calamity, causing the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation and Ten Thousand Immortals Formation…

In this process, besides Sage Gongbao’s ‘Friend Please Stay’ style great calamity child repeatedly jumping sides and frantically operating, Dipamkara and Lu Ya Daoist’s constant fanning of flames couldn’t escape responsibility!

And before the Canonization calamity ended, Dipamkara had already accomplished his goals and ‘withdrawn’, taking several of the Enlightenment Sect’s Twelve Golden Immortals with him to the Western Religion to continue being Vice Sect Leader…

Today, these words Dipamkara said to Yellow Dragon True Person faintly revealed some information…

‘Could it be that this Dipamkara has long been in cahoots with the West?’

Li Changshou pondered for a moment but dared not interfere too much.

Involving calculations at Dipamkara’s level was already truly Sage-level competition—he wasn’t even a Sage’s disciple, so how could he dare participate?

Li Changshou sighed, and to avoid trouble, even actively explained a few words for Dipamkara:

“This Vice Sect Leader’s view isn’t entirely wrong;

It’s just that this Vice Sect Leader’s perspective on issues is still like that of ancient and primordial times, somewhat mismatched with today’s great Hongmeng world.”

Yellow Dragon True Person pondered slightly, feeling these words made much sense; looking at the elderly avatar of this Sea God before him, he grew increasingly admiring.

“Friend,” Yellow Dragon True Person asked earnestly, “what should be done next, please teach me.

This poor Daoist has already decided to help my kinsmen, regardless of whether they accept this poor Daoist’s goodwill, this poor Daoist must certainly complete this matter well, without failing them.”

Li Changshou praised: “Senior is truly righteous!”

“It’s just blood ties pulling, karma unbreakable.”

“Senior,” Li Changshou’s thoughts turned lightly, hesitating slightly, but still decided to make use of this honest person once more.

He said seriously: “This junior also has a small matter, hoping to request Senior’s help.”

“Oh?” Yellow Dragon True Person immediately brightened, hurriedly asking: “What matter? This poor Daoist will do it right away.”

“Senior, it’s like this…”

Thus and so, this and that.

Li Changshou carefully explained what he needed Yellow Dragon True Person to do, which was just a small matter for Yellow Dragon True Person, but quite important for Li Changshou.

It could also be considered his small warning to the West.

…

Three or four days later, in Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun.

Among the three Sage dwelling places of the dao path, Jade Void Palace should be counted as the easiest to find.

Tongtian Teaching Master’s Azure Enjoyment Palace was hidden on immortal islands overseas, those without fate couldn’t see it;

Laozi’s Supreme Clarity Temple was hidden above the Nine Heavens, said to be within the Thirty-Three Heavens, where none but Great Law Master Xuandu could go;

While Jade Void Palace was right on Mount Kunlun, hidden within layers of clouds and mist—many cultivators on Mount Kunlun could look up and see Jade Void Palace’s flying eaves.

Naturally, Original Heavenly Honored One wasn’t in Jade Void Palace, this place only had the Sage’s jade statue, Original Heavenly Honored One regularly stayed in the Three Pure Ones’ former small courtyard…

And within Jade Void Palace, there weren’t many famous Enlightenment Sect experts either, like Red Essence Child, Yellow Dragon True Person, Supreme Unity True Person, Jade Tripod True Person, and others all had their own cave dwellings, only Broad Completion Child and several experts guarded this place, everyone only gathering here to discuss matters when needed.

In Jade Void Palace, there were over two hundred Enlightenment Sect cultivators, a small half had heard the Sage lecture on the dao, while the large half were just nominal cultivators here, counted as Enlightenment Sect disciples.

This day, Yellow Dragon True Person rode clouds to Jade Void Palace, finding seventeen or eighteen Enlightenment Sect disciples he had good relations with, discussing matters in a side hall…

Yellow Dragon True Person spoke directly: “Today, this poor Daoist has a request.”

These dozen-plus disciples hurriedly agreed, telling Yellow Dragon True Person to speak freely.

“It’s like this,” Yellow Dragon True Person smiled, “Recently, this poor Daoist has grown increasingly close with a friend, feeling this friend has a refined character, unlike ordinary people, it’s just a pity few know of him, and some even misunderstand him.

So, this poor Daoist thought to use our Enlightenment Sect’s name to help correct his reputation.”

An unimportant female cultivator smiled and said: “Such a small matter, Brother just give the word.”

“May I ask which great immortal this friend Yellow Dragon Uncle speaks of?”

Yellow Dragon True Person smiled and said: “Fellow disciples, have you heard of the South Sea God?”

Everyone shook their heads together.

“This is understandable,” Yellow Dragon True Person laughed lightly, taking out a stack of silk cloths from his sleeve, and distributing them to everyone, “Please speak according to what’s written here.”

Someone opened a silk cloth, reading softly:

“South Sea God truly a great one,

Doing good and accumulating virtue with a kind heart.

Purple Void lectures he didn’t attend,

In Demon-Immortal chaos had no name.

Now in the South Sea following sacred command,

Converting countless masses for all beings.

Heaven and earth are inconstant, dao is not peaceful,

In Sea God’s teaching lies true feeling!”

After reading, the Enlightenment Sect immortals laughed lightly, one couldn’t help but say with amusement:

“Didn’t even attend the Purple Void Palace lectures, how does it still sound so, so profound and mysterious?”

Yellow Dragon True Person said seriously: “Everyone please don’t ask too much, this matter is quite significant.

Starting today, everyone should visit all towns, famous mountains, and cave dwellings within a hundred thousand li radius of Mount Kunlun, spreading this doggerel verse…”

“Brother, just… spread it directly like this?”

“Everyone thinks of ways,” Yellow Dragon True Person smiled, “You can chat with friends you’re familiar with, then casually bring this matter up.”

The crowd thought briefly, mostly nodding in approval.

“Then I’ll trouble all fellow disciples with this.”