“I was wrong, truly wrong.”

Li Changshou looked at the elder before him with a mix of amusement and resignation.

He had long anticipated that Elder Zhao Gongming would overcome all obstacles to join the festivities, yet he had still clung to that sliver of hope, thinking that without an invitation, Elder Zhao might consider his reputation and refrain…

Li Changshou had even calculated a bit.

When dozens ofSevering Sect (Jie School) immortals said they wanted to join the celebration, Li Changshou had thought the news might reach Elder Zhao’s ears. His deliberate lack of invitation was partly intended to cool down their “iron brotherhood.”

Unexpectedly, Elder Zhao valued their friendship so deeply that he came uninvited!

“Elder… ahem, Senior, please sit.”

Li Changshou sighed: “It’s not that I specifically excluded you, Senior. It’s mainly because this isn’t a major event. As an outer disciple of the Jie School, how could I trouble someone of your status for such a simple celebration? Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to you?”

“Oh?” Zhao Gongming blinked, stroking his beard as he asked with a smile, “Is that so?”

“Of course,” Li Changshou smiled. “To this junior, Senior’s presence carries great weight!”

Zhao Gongming shook his head with a laugh, “That silver tongue of yours has certainly been well cultivated!”

Fortunately, he wasn’t described as being “blessed”…

After speaking, Zhao Gongming was invited by Li Changshou to sit in a circular chair to the side.

Immediately, a sturdy man came running over to serve tea, which was a characteristic of their Sea God Temple.

“Brother, what is this celebration for?”

Zhao Gongming asked while holding his teacup, his divine sense sweeping across the South Sea shore, observing the gathered crowds. “A celebration that requires the presence of immortals from the Three Schools must be no simple matter.”

Li Changshou felt slightly wary in his heart…

Why was Elder Zhao acting somewhat unusual today?

This level of insight wasn’t like the War God of Wealth’s usual character.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Please allow this junior to keep it a mystery for now. Today indeed involves some matters related to what I’ve been planning. I invited immortals from the Three Schools to witness it, hoping to add weight to this matter and have a deeper impact on the Dragon Clan.”

Changing his tone, Li Changshou shook his head with a wry smile.

“With your arrival, Senior, I’m afraid the Dragon Clan will be quite startled.”

“Ah, well…” Zhao Gongming became hesitant and whispered, “Should I quietly leave then?”

“How can one leave after already appearing?” Li Changshou quickly said, “With Senior here today, my heart is much more at ease, and I need not worry about any troublemakers.”

Hearing this, Zhao Gongming straightened his back, “Rest assured, I’d like to see who dares to cause trouble today!”

But changing his tone, Zhao Gongming said seriously: “Brother, you keep calling me ‘Senior,’ isn’t that too formal?”

“Senior, this… very well, this junior will be bold enough to call you Elder Brother Zhao.”

“Hahaha!”

Zhao Gongming clapped and laughed heartily, “Brother Sea God! Among all the immortals of the Three Schools, you’re the one I like best!”

Li Changshou: …

If this continued, wouldn’t they end up becoming sworn brothers?

Fortunately, one of Li Changshou’s greatest skills was changing the subject.

He asked about Zhao Gongming’s recent situation, and whether Western powers had troubled him, and then steered the conversation to calligraphy.

Zhao Gongming immediately became interested, agreeing with Li Changshou to compare their calligraphy skills. They set up a table, spread out the fabric, and began writing – one style magnificent and powerful, the other flowing like clouds and water.

For a time, joyful laughter echoed through the back hall of the Sea God Temple, truly carrying the flavor of friends who had forgotten their age difference.

Zhao Gongming suddenly smiled and said: “Even Senior Brother Yellow Dragon has come?”

Just as his words fell, an earthen yellow light streaked across the night sky, and a tall, thin figure landed at the door. Wearing a light yellow robe with a Daoist hairpin, though elderly, his face showed no wrinkles – truly child-faced with crane-white hair.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Since this concerns the Dragon Clan, naturally I had to inform Senior Yellow Dragon.”

“Indeed, your consideration is appropriate,” Zhao Gongming replied with a smile, stepping forward to welcome him, acting more like the host than Li Changshou.

Li Changshou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Elder Zhao hadn’t laid down and questioned him: ‘You invited him but not me, do you look down on me, Zhao so-and-so!’…

That scene would have given him a headache just imagining it.

With True Immortal Yellow Dragon’s arrival, the back hall became even livelier.

However, after just a moment, a white cloud approached from the southeast, crowded with dozens of people – counting carefully, there were sixty or seventy!

Among the six immortals at the front, Li Changshou only recognized three: Heavenly Lord Qin Wan, Golden Light Holy Mother whom he had met before, and White Ritual, one of the Ten Heavenly Lords whom he had met in the dragon palace.

There was also a female immortal with a slender figure wearing a fire-red dress who, if he wasn’t mistaken, should be the Fire Spirit Holy Mother that Ao Yi had mentioned…

Were the Jie School immortals really this free?

Or was it Golden Turtle Island’s custom to ‘crash parties en masse and decline to pay the bill’?

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly, but he immediately displayed a sincere smile, stepped forward two paces, and rode a cloud out to welcome them.

Zhao Gongming cleared his throat and also stepped to the front of the back hall, standing with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his lips.

Seeing this situation, True Immortal Yellow Dragon pondered briefly, then turned to a corner of the back hall, took out a jade talisman, and spoke something quietly into it.

Li Changshou had been paying attention to this side, but only faintly heard…

“Hmm, brother, call a few more people, quite a few have come from the Jie School… Yes, right, we can’t let our Jade Void Palace’s dignity be diminished… Good, good, hurry…”

Li Changshou: …

They’re competing even over this?

The Great Assembly of the Three Schools’ Origins was one thing – that was a grand event of the Three Schools, and it was natural for the Orthodox and Jie Schools to refuse to yield to each other, each wanting to overshadow the other.

Today was just a celebration by his incense-offering Temple, was it appropriate for both sides to bring such large waves of immortals?

— Ahem, here “wave” is used as a measure word.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, but at this point, he could only hurry to welcome the Jie School immortals into the Sea God Temple.

Upon seeing Zhao Gongming, the Jie School immortals’ spirits lifted, and they hurried forward to pay their respects, making the scene extremely lively.

Li Changshou specifically observed Golden Light Holy Mother and noticed that this lo- ahem, this young maiden immortal’s eyes were particularly bright when looking at Elder Zhao.

However, Golden Light Holy Mother didn’t show much else, only sweetly calling out “Senior Brother Zhao” before following her elder brother Qin Wan to take a seat at the side.

Li Changshou called out, and immediately a group of strong men brought chairs and served fragrant tea.

Although none of the Jie School immortals knew what today was about, upon seeing Li Changshou, they all offered congratulations.

Li Changshou had no choice but to respond with “same to you” several times.

Soon after, the Bear Village Chief and Sea God Temple Grand Elder, wearing a bearskin coat, hurried over and said quietly:

“My Lord, Third Brother just reported via messaging jade that a troop of soldiers went to the village, emanating a chilling aura. Their leaders seemed to have some connection to our village.”

“How strong are they?”

“Bear Third said they felt very strong.”

Li Changshou closed his eyes briefly, and the paper puppet hidden under Bear Village had already used divine sense to see that group of people.

He recognized the leader – it was just Ox-Head from the Netherworld without his mask.

“Those are people from the Netherworld, a branch of your ancestors,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “They indeed went to your village. As I instructed before, have Third Brother give them directions and quickly bring them to Anshui City. The ceremony will begin at sunrise in two hours.”

“Ah, good, I’ll go right away!”

The old village chief agreed and was about to rush off to deliver the message when Li Changshou called him back.

Li Changshou considered briefly and said: “There are quite a few distinguished guests today, so the ceremony should be more lively. Arrange all the songs and dances that were previously removed, from sunrise until noon.”

“Yes!”

As the bear-like old village chief hurried away, Li Changshou found no rest, continuing to attend to the guests.

This was different from Ao Yi’s dragon palace wedding – this was his home ground, and he couldn’t neglect these “distinguished guests.”

Even though many came uninvited… so to speak.

An hour later, another group of more than twenty Orthodox School immortals arrived on clouds from the northwest.

They must have traveled at lightning speed, as several Jade Void Palace disciples of the Heavenly Immortal realm with slightly lower cultivation had their long hair disheveled by the wind.

The two leaders were familiar to Li Changshou – one was the Fortune Virtue Golden Immortal Yunzhongzi, and the other was Chijingzi, ranked second among the Twelve Golden Immortals, both major figures in the Orthodox School.

Before Li Changshou could rise on his cloud, Zhao Gongming had already led several Jie School immortals up to welcome them.

Though they competed secretly, they still maintained a cordial surface appearance, echoing the saying “The Three Schools are one family.”

The Sea God Temple’s back hall was almost full of people;

The immortals from both schools exchanged greetings and then sat divided into their respective groups.

Li Changshou felt that he could no longer control the situation…

But he couldn’t go invite the Grand Master now, could he?

Going to invite the Grand Master only after losing control of the situation would show his incompetence…

Just as he was thinking this, a whispered voice suddenly entered Li Changshou’s heart.

“Changshou, where has your true body gone? I’ve searched the Immortal-Crossing Gate twice but couldn’t find you anywhere?”

Li Changshou’s spirit lifted!

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives!

Family has arrived!

Li Changshou quickly pointed at his chest, looking around, not knowing how to reply.

“As expected of you! Hahaha! To hide within your avatar! Unexpected, truly unexpected!”

The Grand Master’s transmitted laughter continued, asking amid the laughter: “I see you’ve invited quite a few Dao experts, do you need me to appear today? If so, nod.”

Li Changshou immediately nodded heavily.

A light laugh spread through the Sea God Temple’s back hall, and the previously jovial hall instantly fell silent;

Zhao Gongming calculated with his fingers, being the first to stand up, saying joyfully: “Senior Brother Xuandu has arrived!”

As soon as Zhao Gongming’s words fell, slight clouds suddenly appeared in the Sea God Temple’s backyard, these clouds forming a faint Taiji image, and a figure wearing a long robe stepped out.

See his tall figure and loose hair, see his ordinary face that reveals endless meaning upon careful observation, creating a natural divine charm, rare free-spirited true intent!

“Fellow junior brothers and sisters, have you been well?”

When the Dao sect’s Senior Brother appeared, everyone present became junior brothers and sisters.

“Senior Brother Xuandu!”

“It’s Senior Brother Grand Master Xuandu!”

“How did Senior Brother come as well?”

Grand Master Xuandu showed a gentle smile, seemingly becoming a different person from when he was alone with Li Changshou, appearing more scholarly and easygoing.

Seeing Grand Master Xuandu about to speak, Li Changshou quickly transmitted: “Grand Master, this disciple’s alias as South Sea God is Changzhen.”

The Grand Master smiled and said: “Since it’s Changzhen’s important matter, I naturally had to come. I must also thank all junior brothers and sisters for coming to witness the ceremony. If there are any shortcomings in hospitality, please be understanding. Our Human Teaching has few people and isn’t prosperous, so I hope everyone will look after Changzhen in his future travels.”

Changzhen?

The crowd was first puzzled but then saw Li Changshou step forward and bow, suddenly realizing.

The Sea God’s background was this strong?

Grand Master Xuandu’s choice of words was very deliberate, that phrase “if there are any shortcomings in hospitality” directly established his position as the “host.”

This Sea God Temple was established by the Human Teaching!

This South Sea God Changzhen must have deep ties with Grand Master Xuandu, possibly even being a junior that the Supreme Lord of Primordial Beginning values!

Instantly, the Orthodox and Jie School immortals who had come to join the festivities developed thoughts of forming connections.

Grand Master Xuandu gave Li Changshou a meaningful look, as if asking “How’s that?”

Li Changshou gave Grand Master Xuandu a grateful and emotional look, as if saying “You’re amazing!”

Today, all the boasts made before have been fulfilled!

Now Li Changshou was thinking about how to make the Western Teaching clearly understand today’s events, preferably letting them see all the details…

At present, Li Changshou invited the Grand Master to take the main seat, then personally went to arrange the “Cloud-Mounting Platform” that would be needed later.

The so-called Cloud-Mounting Platform was the immortal viewing platform that Li Changshou had prepared beforehand.

It was a white cloud with wooden frames inside, inscribed with cloud-generating and levitation talismans; to prevent mishaps, there were dozens of layers of reinforcement measures.

Li Changshou had previously prepared two Cloud-Mounting Platforms, with four backups, thinking that would surely be enough.

But seeing Yellow Dragon True Immortal and Zhao Gongming take out their messaging jade talismans to start a second wave of invitations, Li Changshou smiled helplessly inside, activated several paper puppets, and began making new Cloud-Mounting Platforms.

Just as Li Changshou had settled these matters and was about to return to accompany the Grand Master, he suddenly heard dragon roars from the sky, and a clear shout came from beyond:

“Brother Sect Master!”

The first wave of guests from the dragon palace had arrived!

However, when Ao Yi excitedly landed in the backyard, holding up the hem of his long robe, his youthful face full of excitement, he leaped over with one energetic step!

“I’ve come… eh?”

Catching the sight of the hall full of guests in his peripheral vision, Ao Yi’s smile froze, his legs went weak, and he nearly fell flat in front of Li Changshou.