Without his headpiece, Li Changshou couldn’t recognize him – this was the renowned Ox-Head of the Netherworld.

Who was this “Ox-Head”?

An ancient poem once praised:

*In the Netherworld sits Judge Yan, iron-faced and impartial between loyal and treacherous.

The Judge and his ghostly attendants assist him, with Ox-Head and Horse-Face standing at his side.*

The “Ox-Head” and “Horse-Face” mentioned in this poem were the soul-collecting envoys of the Netherworld that Li Changshou was deeply familiar with in his previous life, their fame matching that of the Black and White Impermanence.

In Li Changshou’s hazy memories, there was even a noodle shop near his childhood home called “Ox Head Horse,” and it served quite delicious food!

However, speaking of which…

The famous Ox-Head and Horse-Face were just two Wu Tribe experts wearing headpieces.

The Wu Tribe certainly had their ways.

While pondering this, Li Changshou remained focused on the current situation.

The matter had escalated to the point of flexing muscles and sharpening blades, partly due to the Netherworld ghost officer’s arrogance and provocative behavior, and partly due to Master Wangqing’s stubbornness.

With minor ghost officials like this one, speaking kindly and making them feel respected would usually prevent trouble.

Moreover, Li Changshou’s group had come to the Netherworld to pull strings and seek favors, which could be considered “interfering with the normal operation of the Six Paths of Reincarnation” – they weren’t exactly in the right.

Just as both sides were about to clash, the Netherworld’s lightweight expert “Ox-Head” appeared, causing Sect Leader Ji Wuyou to become more cautious…

Ji Wuyou immediately transmitted to the four behind him:

“Be careful, this creature is extraordinary. Avoid conflict if possible.”

You Qin Xuanya frowned slightly, feeling the Sect Leader was being inconsistent.

Li Changshou inwardly smiled, thinking it was for the best that the Sect Leader understood the art of being flexible.

Well, could the flexibility of a Humanity Dao disciple be called mere flexibility?

It was more like going with the flow of virtue.

Then Ox-Head spoke: “So you’re the ones causing trouble here?”

“Friend, this poor Daoist did not come to make trouble,” Ji Wuyou placed his sword behind his back and said calmly. “We merely wished to visit Fengdu, but were deliberately obstructed here by the Netherworld General behind you.”

Ox-Head adjusted his headpiece, making his head look more harmonious and natural, the expression on the headpiece quite vivid and rich.

Ox-Head turned to look at the wax-faced ghost officer behind him and frowned:

“Why are you blocking them for no reason?

Just let them offer some treasures and pass through.

If they don’t go through, how will our brothers further ahead collect gifts?”

The five from Du Xian Gate: …

The ghost officer hurriedly said: “Marshal, it wasn’t that subordinate deliberately blocked them. They spoke arrogantly and deliberately provoked us!”

Ji Wuyou immediately replied: “We deliberately provoked you? Then why do you let others pass freely, yet block only our path?”

Li Changshou secretly gave his Sect Leader a mental thumbs up.

Such skillful deflection and concept-switching techniques showed the Sect Leader was quite practiced at this, clearly having plenty of…

Ahem, having abundant life experience, making him exactly the errand-running talent the Doulu Palace urgently needed!

Once his position in the Humanity Dao was secure, he would recommend him to the Grand Magus.

The soul-collecting envoy Ox-Head looked at his subordinate, then at Ji Wuyou. Though slightly conflicted, he ultimately chose to stand with his people…

“Alright, you five head back the way you came.

I won’t question what happened today, nor will I hold it against you.

The Netherworld is a place of reincarnation for all beings, protected by the Heavenly Dao. Not just anyone can cause trouble here.”

Hearing Ox-Head’s words, Ji Wuyou frowned while Jiang Lin’er’s expression became urgent.

Li Changshou inwardly sighed, thinking it was inevitable that he would have to come out and persuade…

“Marshal!”

You Qin Xuanya suddenly spoke up firmly: “Would you make such a judgment without asking about the cause and reason of this matter?”

Ox-Head snorted, clasped his hands behind his back, and said:

“The Netherworld is not a place anyone can enter.”

As You Qin Xuanya was about to continue speaking, a large hand reached out from the side, making a blocking gesture in front of her.

She turned her head and met Li Changshou’s gaze.

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, transmitting:

“Junior Sister You Qin, when handling matters, we cannot only consider our own stance – we must consider the face of both sides.

Let me try handling this. Please put away your magical treasure.”

You Qin Xuanya fell silent, merely nodding slightly as the flying swords circling returned to their sheaths, forming into that great sword.

Li Changshou took two steps forward on the gray cloud and bowed, saying:

“Sect Leader, Grand Master, Great Grand Master, would you allow this disciple to try convincing this soul-collecting Marshal to grant us passage to Fengdu City?”

— Regardless of what happened, he had to first preserve face for their experts.

Ji Wuyou seemed to want to speak but held back, worried something might happen to Li Changshou.

After all, he was their Du Xian Gate’s treasure, the Humanity Dao Grand Magus’s private…

Uh, best not to speak of that…

Master Wangqing frowned as he watched Li Changshou, his gaze both concerned and stern, seeming worried Li Changshou might say something wrong and meet with misfortune.

But Jiang Lin’er had already spoken urgently: “Changshou, it’s all up to you.”

“Yes, Grand Master.”

Li Changshou made a standard Daoist bow, then smiled as he flew on his cloud toward Ox-Head and the ghost soldiers.

He flew slowly with a sincere smile;

But somehow, from the soul-collecting envoy Ox-Head to the other unimportant ghost attendants, they all inexplicably felt… an urge to immediately retreat.

Before Ox-Head could speak, Li Changshou made another Daoist bow.

“This junior Li Changshou of the Humanity Dao’s Du Xian Gate pays respects to Senior Ox-Head.”

“Oh?” Ox-Head blinked repeatedly, “You are… from the Humanity Dao? The Humanity Dao of the Sage Lord?”

“Senior jests. Under heaven, surely none would dare falsely claim the Sage’s lineage.”

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, releasing a bit of his Dao rhythm. Ox-Head’s eyes lit up again.

Though he didn’t recognize this Dao rhythm, it felt profound.

Li Changshou said: “There are many people and loose tongues here. May I have a private word with Senior?”

“What’s with the private talk?” Ox-Head seemed puzzled, “Just speak if you have something to say.”

Li Changshou reached into his sleeve and took out a dark red stone.

The soul-collecting envoy’s gaze instantly changed, becoming serious and sharp, with a hint of wariness. It was completely different from his previous casual demeanor – like two completely different oxen!

He cupped his hands and made a welcoming gesture:

“Please, come this way to speak.”

Li Changshou then walked together with Ox-Head, stepping about twenty zhang to the side, leaving both groups tilting their heads in confusion…

Under the complex gazes of confusion, shock, bewilderment, and incomprehension from the Netherworld ghosts and the four from Du Xian, Ox-Head took out a steel fork and lightly tapped it on the ground, creating a blood-red barrier that enveloped both their forms.

Even Ji Wuyou at the Golden Immortal realm could not hear what they were saying…

You Qin Xuanya blinked and couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

How… was one supposed to learn this?

After about half an incense stick’s time, Ox-Head dispersed the barrier, sighed lightly, and made a Daoist bow to Li Changshou, which Li Changshou hurriedly returned.

Ox-Head took out a wooden tablet carved with a simple ox head containing traces of qi and Dao rhythm.

Ox-Head said solemnly: “Friend, if you encounter any trouble in Fengdu City, just show this tablet. None would dare give you difficulty.”

“Many thanks for Senior’s care.”

“No no, I should be thanking you for your care.”

Ox-Head sighed lightly but said nothing more. They both made welcoming gestures and returned to their respective sides.

The soul-collecting envoy called out:

“What are you standing around for? Make way!

These are honored guests of our Netherworld! Are you all itching for punishment?”

As he spoke, Ox-Head glared at the wax-faced ghost officer.

The latter’s expression changed as his legs began to tremble…

On Li Changshou’s side, he made a Daoist bow to the Sect Leader, Grand Master, and her husband, then calmly returned to You Qin Xuanya’s side.

Handled.

The Netherworld ghosts immediately cleared a wide path, and Ji Wuyou smiled as he led the four on their clouds past the checkpoint.

Although Ji Wuyou, like Jiang Lin’er, Master Wangqing, and You Qin Xuanya, felt as if lost in clouds and mist – completely bewildered, this Sect Leader understood very well in his heart and naturally wouldn’t ask anything about Li Changshou’s affairs.

After all, it was ‘that person’ – nothing would be too miraculous.

Just after the five had left, the soul-collecting envoy Ox-Head snorted white smoke from his nostrils, suddenly turned around without a word, and kicked that ghost officer to the ground!

This kick wasn’t too forceful, only knocking him down, before pouncing on him with a barrage of punches and kicks.

After a refined and harmonious string of Wu Tribe curses…

The soul-collecting envoy Ox-Head took off his headpiece, spat at the officer curled up on the ground, and scolded:

“You fool!

You dare use the Netherworld’s authority to make enemies! Things were going well for us brothers, but you just had to make trouble!

You ignorant wretch! Do you dare block people from the Humanity Dao?

How many dishes did you drink to get this drunk!”

The already black and blue ghost officer on the ground kept begging for mercy. Ox-Head snorted, stretched his muscles and bones, and put his headpiece back on by himself.

The headpiece was also a magical treasure, quickly merging with Ox-Head’s body. Apart from a slight skin tone difference, no flaws could be seen.

Ox-Head thought for a moment and said:

“Get some people who can write to write some nice words to hang on both sides as an apology when these five leave!”

“Marshal, what should we write?”

“Hmm… Just write something polite, like ‘Welcome to the Netherworld’ or ‘The Netherworld is Your Home’ – anything like that.”

The group of ghost attendants immediately understood something and began busying themselves.

Meanwhile;

On the cloud that had just flown away, Jiang Lin’er was staring at Li Changshou.

“Changshou, just now… how did you do that?”

Since Li Changshou dared to act, he naturally had thought of how to explain beforehand.

He had prepared three different explanations…

He took out the stone he had shown Ox-Head earlier and smiled:

“Grand Master, this was given to me by my cousin Lingli before coming here.

Lingli is of half-human half-Wu Tribe blood, a rare Wu-human bloodline in today’s world. This stone is called a Wu Blood Stone, considered a credential of the Wu Tribe.

On the way here, when the Sect Leader was talking about Netherworld legends, he mentioned that most Netherworld experts were of Wu Tribe origin.

Just now, this disciple tried showing this object with that in mind, along with some careful words…”

The stone wasn’t given by Bear Lingli, but one Li Changshou had found in a pile of stones used to weigh down tents in the Bear Village…

Jiang Lin’er frowned slightly: “Though you make it sound simple, this is not something easily accomplished!”

Ji Wuyou smiled: “Don’t question Changshou too much. Isn’t it good that we got through?”

Jiang Lin’er paused, then obediently lowered her head and agreed.

When she looked at Li Changshou again, she felt that the layers of mystery surrounding this enigmatic little grand-disciple of hers had grown even thicker.

[Where did Second Brother find such a disciple? Must be some great being’s reincarnation.]

What did Li Changshou say to Ox-Head?

Actually, not too much. He started by briefly mentioning his cousin’s relationship with Bear Lingli, then changed the subject…

“Has Senior heard of the South Sea God?”

Most of the conversation afterward was about Li Changshou talking about his “Sea God” friend.

He indirectly pointed out the South Sea God’s relationships with the Humanity Dao, Heaven, and Dragon Clan, then explained how the Sea God formed ties with the Wu-human tribe and provided them benefits…

Li Changshou spoke with hidden meanings, saying this Sea God intended to help improve the Wu Tribe’s living conditions, and subtly indicated that he, Li Changshou, was willing to persuade the South Sea God to visit the Netherworld…

After these simple tricks were used, Ox-Head had already begun treating Li Changshou as an honored guest, and was quite looking forward to the South Sea God’s future “visit.”

This was a plan to achieve multiple goals with one stone.

It not only eased the tension between Du Xian Gate’s group and the other side, but resolved the conflict, and opened the path to Fengdu.

The five of them could also receive some care from the Netherworld forces, making it easier to search for Master Wan Jiangyu’s whereabouts later.

More importantly, today’s conversation with Ox-Head laid sufficient groundwork for Li Changshou to seek merit in the Netherworld after establishing himself in Heaven…

Now only two branches of the Wu Tribe remained. One branch eternally guarded the Netherworld, having cut ties with the Wu Tribe and each swearing oaths before entering the Netherworld to no longer interfere in Wu Tribe affairs.

The other was the pure Wu Tribe, banished to the bitter cold lands of the Northern Uttarakuru Continent, struggling to survive and unable to step half a step out of the Northern Continent.

The Netherworld Wu Tribe wanted to help the Northern Wu Tribe – this was the important clue Li Changshou obtained during his conversation with Ox-Head, and he decided to go with the flow and prescribe the right medicine…

After flying for a while longer, Li Changshou remembered something and looked at You Qin Xuanya beside him who was staring absently into the outer heavens, transmitting:

“Junior Sister You Qin, whenever possible, it’s more stable to use your mouth rather than your hands.”

“Mm, Senior Brother, I’ll remember that.”

You Qin Xuanya smiled gently, though there was some helplessness in her smile.

Senior Brother Changshou was like a thick book;

Every time she thought she had seen some of his content, she discovered that was merely the preface, with countless unreadable pages still to follow…

…

With the soul-collecting envoy’s tablet, finding Wan Jiangyu’s soul became much simpler.

The grandeur and prosperity of Fengdu City need not be described in detail. The five followed Jiang Lin’er’s lead, heading straight to a Netherworld government office after entering the city to find that clerk.

The clerk naturally recognized Jiang Lin’er. Upon meeting, he took out more than ten treasure pouches, saying he couldn’t accomplish the task – Wan Jiangyu’s reincarnated tree spirit truly couldn’t be found.

Jiang Lin’er’s eyes reddened as she repeatedly begged the clerk to try again, but he just kept shaking his head.

Seeing this, Li Changshou directly took out Ox-Head’s tablet. The clerk shuddered, hurriedly invited the five inside to rest, and called out his ‘superior’ to conduct a serious investigation.

The result was still the same…

The person was truly gone.

Just as Jiang Lin’er was about to fall into despair, Li Changshou frowned and asked:

“Trouble the Great One to tell us where this soul reincarnated.

Since it was a tree spirit, it couldn’t have strayed too far from its place of birth.”

This sharp-looking Netherworld clerk with two whiskers hesitated…

“This… might not be according to the rules…”

Li Changshou rarely took initiative, but he took Grand Master’s ten-plus treasure pouches, added two of his own, brought them before the clerk, and smiled:

“We certainly wouldn’t want to trouble Great One. It’s just that we happened to inadvertently glimpse Great One’s records – certainly not that Great One intentionally revealed anything.”

“Well…”

The clerk pondered for a few moments. Li Changshou had already slipped the dozen or so treasure pouches into his sleeve and withdrew his hand without leaving a trace.

The clerk nodded and sighed:

“That being the case… it’s not entirely impossible. Follow me, and the others please wait here for a moment.”