What’s going on?

Under a tree in Doulu Palace’s backyard, Grand Master Xuandu, who had been resting with closed eyes and cultivating in his dreams, slowly opened his eyes, revealing a trace of helplessness.

He had been assigned another task by his teacher.

Grand Master Xuandu carefully calculated and quickly understood what had happened.

“How rare, this time I don’t need to engage in combat, just help Changshou add some prestige to the occasion.”

Grand Master Xuandu gave a light laugh and closed his eyes again.

Since this matter was still three years away, there was no need to hurry over. He could sleep… ahem, cultivate a bit more.

Several months later;

Golden Turtle Island.

Ao Yi rode a cloud away from the cave-dwelling where he cultivated with Jiang Si’er, flew halfway around the outskirts of Golden Turtle Island, and landed at the edge of a peach blossom forest.

He made a Daoist bow toward the front, then straightened his back, his youthful face bearing a smile, and called out:

“Ao Yi seeks an audience with Aunt Master Golden Light!”

“Oh?”

Among the turning peach blossoms in the forest, two graceful figures emerged.

They were two young women, one wearing a light yellow short dress, the other a fire-red long dress. The former had a petite and delicate figure, with a lovely face and beaming smile, while the latter had skin that would put frost to shame, her dress collar like flames, accentuating her slender figure.

Ao Yi recalled in his heart and recognized who the latter was, quickly saying: “Ao Yi pays respects to Aunt Master Golden Light and greets Senior Sister Fire Spirit.”

Fire Spirit Holy Mother asked softly: “This is?”

Golden Light Holy Mother smiled and said: “This is Black Cloud Immortal’s disciple, East Sea Dragon Palace’s Second Prince Ao Yi.”

“Pardon my rudeness,” Fire Spirit Holy Mother smiled and nodded, making a Daoist bow to Ao Yi.

Ao Yi returned the bow, naturally not daring to make any mistakes in etiquette.

Golden Light Holy Mother asked: “What important matter brings Ao Yi here? You’ve never come to my place before.”

“It’s like this,” Ao Yi smiled and said, “Two years from now, on the ninth day of the mid-summer month, the South Sea God Temple will hold a grand ceremony. This disciple also receives incense offerings from the Sea God Temple. My Brother Sect Master wishes to invite Jie School immortals to witness the ceremony. He originally wanted to invite Uncle Master Zhao Gongming, but for such a minor matter of the Sea God Temple, troubling Uncle Master Zhao would be making too much of a small matter. Therefore, the Sect Master had me come invite Aunt Master Golden Light, to see if you have time to attend.”

Golden Light Holy Mother smiled and said: “Just this? Then I agree. Oh right, Sister Fire Spirit, would you like to come along? That Sea God is no ordinary figure. This would be a good chance to introduce you. He’s from the Human Teaching and is on good terms with several senior disciples of our Jie School. His insights are extraordinary, and his words are very pleasant to hear!”

Fire Spirit Holy Mother smiled gently and said softly: “I have nothing else to do, so I’ll accompany you, Aunt Master.”

“Call me little sister! Calling me Aunt Master makes me sound so old!”

“Alright, alright, little sister.”

Ao Yi blinked at the side, understanding that these two had a good relationship, and used their terms of address.

After confirming that both Holy Mothers would attend, Ao Yi gave the detailed date and location, then took his leave and departed on a cloud…

Ao Yi naturally knew that the Fire Spirit Holy Mother had joined the sect earlier and was even the personal disciple of the Jie School’s first disciple, Tripitaka. She should rightfully be considered the senior sister of the Jie School’s third generation.

In a sense, being a Sage’s personally taught grand disciple carried more weight than second-generation non-personal disciples like Golden Light Holy Mother.

With another Holy Mother coming to witness the ceremony, he needed to immediately inform his Brother’s Sect Master…

Ao Yi rode his cloud back to his cave dwelling on Golden Turtle Island, saw his wife Jiang Si’er was still sleeping, and sat cross-legged on the bed to communicate with the Sect Master through divine thought…

A moment later.

“Fire Spirit Holy Mother?”

In the underground secret chamber of Small Jade Peak, Li Changshou pondered for a moment, feeling there wasn’t much of an issue.

Among the Jie School’s Holy Mothers, Fire Spirit Holy Mother and Golden Light Holy Mother naturally ranked toward the back. Whether one or both came wouldn’t have too much impact.

The Jie School guests were confirmed, the Dragon Clan had sent their reply a few days ago, and Yellow Dragon True Immortal had been notified by himself…

The ‘witnessing group’ was largely set.

To reduce the possibility of Western interference, Li Changshou and Ao Yi had publicly announced it as a ‘Sea God Temple Ceremony’ rather than [Sea God Investiture Ceremony].

Using this pretext, the Sea God Temple could openly engage in major construction south of Anshui City on the South Seashore, building a huge venue…

When the time came, numerous mortals would gather there to witness this important moment.

Now the Sea God Temple had over twenty thousand official temples, and countless believers, and could influence a large area of the southwestern South Jambu Continent.

The human and material resources that Li Changshou could mobilize with one order were not to be underestimated.

This time, Li Changshou hadn’t mobilized his followers as laborers but used the Sea God Temple’s reserved wealth to hire many mortal craftsmen.

Driven by profit, these craftsmen worked with great enthusiasm, and the project progressed very quickly.

In just half a year, the ceremony venue had taken initial shape.

The Sea God Temple’s incense “income” was quite considerable. After maintaining the Temple’s normal operations and rewards for the divine envoys and temple keepers, Li Changshou had arranged for most of the wealth to be distributed to poor mortals within the Sea God Temple’s territory.

He didn’t need this ‘wealth’ to support his cultivation, and this could also resolve some of the karmic ties of incense merit…

Most of the Bear Village divine envoys had come to Anshui City, each busy with tasks assigned by the Sea God.

The true dragon protectors stationed at the Sea God Temple weren’t idle either. They were responsible for clearing waterways, setting up water facilities, and ensuring Anshui City would have favorable weather for these three years…

Thus, timing, geography, and human factors were all in place.

This grand ceremony was being prepared in this busy yet orderly manner.

Li Changshou himself was especially busy.

Apart from regularly teaching Ling’e the Dao, occasionally answering questions for Youqin Xuanya, and sometimes teasing his little Uncle Master, he had suspended his pill refining and array base crafting, fully preparing for the investiture ceremony!

Becoming a proper deity of the Heavenly Court was a relatively crucial step in his immortal life.

Escaping the future Great Tribulation of Deity Investiture, earning more Heavenly Dao merit, getting closer to Doulu Palace, and gaining the protection of the Heavenly Dao Lord.

Moreover…

After becoming a proper deity of the Heavenly Court, he would indirectly become the Heavenly Dao’s subordinate, so wouldn’t it be reasonable for the Heavenly Dao to go easy on him during his Golden Immortal tribulation?

Just kidding, kidding.

The Heavenly Dao was impartial, neither a living being nor simply the will of heaven and earth—there were no backdoors to use.

To become a Golden Immortal still required personal effort;

To pluck the fruit of longevity still required experiencing hardships.

Li Changshou had long been mentally prepared for this.

…

Two months before the Sea God Ceremony, the South Seashore was like a festival.

Viewed from above, one could see many mortals walking on the roads, spontaneously heading south of Anshui City to offer incense to the Sea God.

The ceremony venue was ready;

A high platform stood on the South Sea coast, and a large piece of land had been divided into hundreds of areas, with railings and barriers added everywhere to prevent trampling incidents from too many mortals.

The Heavenly Court’s side was ready;

East Wood Lord had already received the edict and was waiting near the South Heaven Gate with tens of thousands of celestial soldiers, just waiting for noon on the ninth day of the fifth month to make a brilliant entrance.

This time, the celestial soldiers’ entrance style mainly focused on being ‘cool,’ for which Li Changshou had even designed several different light effect battle formations…

Additionally, there was the Heavenly Court’s congratulatory group led by the Old Man under the Moon, a group of old deities who would descend to offer congratulations.

The Dragon Clan’s side was generally stable;

The Four Seas Dragon Palace observation group was ready, led by the four princes of the Four Seas Dragon Palaces, gathering three hundred dragon clan elders, protectors, and other experts, as well as thousands of celestial dragon soldiers as honor guards.

Except for the Four Dragon Kings, all dragons were unaware of what would happen at this Sea God Ceremony.

And this time, it was mainly a performance for them to watch.

Other observing guests also had no problems.

Why say ‘basically’?

Li Changshou was somewhat helpless about this point.

When Ao Yi went to invite Golden Light Holy Mother that day, the Fire Spirit Holy Mother was also present and was invited along.

However, later, whether Golden Light Holy Mother actively invited others or Fire Spirit Holy Mother mentioned this matter to someone, dozens of immortals from the Jie School were expected to join the festivities.

Li Changshou had truly underestimated the two ‘Holy Mothers” influences in the Jie School.

Especially their influence on male immortals!

Regarding the security work for this ceremony, Li Changshou had also put in considerable thought.

The paper puppet army was already in position, each carrying large quantities of immortal beans.

The Bear Village divine envoys had also formed two special patrol teams, responsible for maintaining order in the surrounding area on that day. Under Li Changshou’s guidance, they had even set up a ‘pseudo-All Heaven Divine Killer Small Array,’ purely to intimidate.

It was the [I’ll Form the Head] series that Li Changshou had conceived before.

Everything that could be prepared for this ceremony, Li Changshou had prepared.

However, at this time, there were still two matters Li Changshou couldn’t decide on.

First, whether to invite people from the Netherworld to witness the ceremony, using this opportunity to let the Netherworld feel the magnificent heavenly might.

Second, whether his true body should go to accept the investiture.

The first question wasn’t difficult to resolve.

He had previously laid groundwork with Ox-Head in the Netherworld, and would likely be able to invite Netherworld guests with just an invitation letter and a paper puppet.

Li Changshou hesitated because he didn’t want to make the already somewhat chaotic Dragon Clan matters even more confused.

After thorough consideration and careful deliberation, Li Changshou still decided to invite people from the Netherworld to witness the ceremony.

After all, in the South Sea God Temple’s background, the ‘shamanic’ was also an important component, and having Netherworld people appear could give the Dragon Clan more to think about.

Along the way, it could also open the door to gaining Netherworld merit.

But the second question concerned his own life and safety, and Li Changshou had been struggling with it for two years, unable to make up his mind.

Having his true body go out without the Grand Master’s protection, without that small pagoda’s cover…

He felt completely insecure!

But Li Changshou already had a premonition that when the Heavenly Court divine position descended, his true body would necessarily be locked onto by the Heavenly Dao.

At that time, it would be extremely easy to expose his background!

Moreover, using an avatar to receive the Heavenly Court’s investiture would seem disrespectful to the Heavenly Court, which would contradict the original intent of this ceremony.

Furthermore, the Jade Emperor was someone who could secretly monitor all celestial generals through his avatar…

He might have already made a note of it!

Not going in person was indeed inappropriate;

Going out carried risks.

Li Changshou constantly pondered solutions as time slipped through his fingers day by day.

Finally, half a month before the ceremony was to be held, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind to let his true body personally receive this divine position!

For the rise of the Heavenly Court, for the beings of the Three Realms, this time, he could truly be said to be…

Taking an extraordinary risk!

Mm, Li Changshou almost moved himself to tears.

Breaking out of his original thinking pattern and changing perspective, Li Changshou suddenly saw clearly, and a fairly good strategy appeared in his mind.

[Using truth to confuse falsehood!]

Let his true body pretend to be his paper puppet.

Li Changshou immediately began making arrangements, activating his masterpiece of the [True Body] series paper puppets—True Body No. 1!

Only to see Li Changshou wave his hand over the desk, and a two-foot-long paper puppet appeared on the desktop.

This paper figure was half a foot thick, covered in dense restrictions and talismans, with surging Heavenly Immortal power flowing within.

There was a small ‘window’ on the back of this paper puppet;

Li Changshou made hand seals, and the window slowly opened, revealing a hollow space wrapped in restrictions inside.

Using transformation arts to become a flying insect, he dropped into this window;

Then used ‘negative distance’ control to make this paper puppet stand up, transforming into the fixed old immortal appearance of the South Sea God…

True body hiding within the avatar, true and false mixed among immortals.

Then, the paper puppet reverted to paper form, and Li Changshou’s true body flew out from behind the paper figure, returning to true form.

He first used bone-shrinking techniques to make his form the same size as the ‘South Sea God paper puppet,’ then put on a white wide-sleeved long robe.

After doing all this, Li Changshou sat behind the desk, took out a bronze mirror, and began carefully… disguising himself.

Magic could be seen through, but this kind of ‘physical’ disguise wasn’t afraid of that…

The final appearance of his true body was the look of this old immortal’s ‘younger’ days.

Afterward, Li Changshou put on a half-mask, used eye-deceiving techniques, and only then used transformation arts to become a small insect and crawl back into the paper puppet.

Soon after, this paper puppet of Li Changshou containing his true body left Small Jade Peak underground;

Without disturbing anyone, it quietly mixed out of the Immortal-Crossing Gate’s mountain-protecting grand array and headed toward the South Sea…

The night before the Sea God Investiture Ceremony began, Li Changshou’s true body had secretly arrived at the South Sea God Temple’s back hall, hiding within the paper puppet, guarding under the Supreme Lord of the Way’s painting.

His divine sense swept over the ceremony grounds where hundreds of bonfires were lit, with countless mortals singing and dancing.

In a few hours, guests from all directions would arrive…

‘Ah, at such an important moment, I’m lacking a good friend to share this mood with.’

Li Changshou sighed slightly in his heart but didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this.

Just endure some loneliness for now, there will be plenty of time in the future to be free…

“You, Sea God!”

Without warning, a reproachful laugh came from outside the back hall.

Li Changshou was startled, not having time to stand up;

A burly man with a beard jumped directly into the back hall, striding forward with great vigor, standing imposingly with hands on his hips, and laughed while scolding:

“Tell me!

Sea God, do you not consider me, Zhao Gongming, a friend! You invited so many immortals from my Jie School to witness the ceremony, yet specifically left me out!

Do you believe I’ll lie down in your Sea God Temple today and not get up!”