After lecturing on the Dao for two days and one night, the Grand Master and several Saint disciples from the two schools dispersed the barrier at this place and went their separate ways.

One could see that the Visualization andSevering School immortals had a quite satisfactory “lecture” experience, with disciples from both schools seeming to show even more respect toward Grand Master Xuandu.

As they say, in the Dao there is no early or late – the higher one becomes father.

Ahem, in learning there is no early or late – the accomplished becomes the teacher!

The Grand Master’s Natural Carefree Dao, born from the Great Clarity Dao, was extraordinarily mysterious and ineffable.

Just the single line “Being carefree within square and circle leads to freedom and perfection” sent even someone of Guangcheng Zi’s profound realm into long contemplation…

The Grand Master didn’t directly return to Doulu Palace.

He only said for Li Changshou to handle the ceremony matters before meeting again, then went off to who knows where.

Setting aside the Three Schools matters for now…

The dragons were truly excited this time.

The instant the Dragon Clan’s karmic burden dispersed from Ao Yi’s body, the dragons sunken into an endless abyss and seemed to grasp a straw of hope, seeing a gleam of light…

That very day they sent many gifts, with several dragon princes present lining up to become familiar with the Sea God.

How could the Sea God’s forces have just one Commander?

Surely there should be several Deputy Commanders, Junior Generals, Squad Leaders, and such?

With Ao Yi’s successful ascension as an example, the Dragon Clan was stirred with excitement, truly wanting to firmly grab hold of the South Sea God’s thigh!

For the Dragon Clan, the South Sea God – no, the “South Sea” part should be removed.

For the Dragon Clan, the Sea God was no longer just a simple cooperative partner.

For this, the Dragon Clan immediately prepared large quantities of treasures and swiftly arranged everything in place. Those several hundred sea tribe beauties just selected and brought directly from the South Sea Dragon Palace were one of many gifts!

The Dragon Clan’s gift-giving method was also unique.

They knew that as an important figure of the Human Dao School and important minister of the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou definitely couldn’t directly accept several hundred beauties for the sake of reputation and face.

So they directly gave Li Changshou a…

Seaside! View! Estate!

This estate was located on an immortal island at the South Sea shore, surrounded by water on all sides, built entirely of crystal and jewels.

The estate consisted of one main hall and four side halls, with curtains and drapes inside, luxurious pools and hot springs, bright pearls, and jewel lamps… Every luxury item Li Changshou could think of in the primordial world was present, extremely extravagant!

And those several hundred sea tribe beauties were merely maids equipped with the estate, the kind that could be replaced every thousand years!

Li Changshou: …

Indeed, it was the “poor” character of Little Qiong Peak that had limited his pursuit of pleasure.

What was the point of making a cave-dwelling so large and luxurious?

He and his junior sister and master wouldn’t be able to live in it all, far less comfortable than a few thatched cottages by the lake.

If all these expensive things were exchanged for treasure materials, refined into a supreme protective grand formation, even if inside was just an earthen kang… Li Changshou might have accepted.

Of course, the estate would best have the function of being able to expand or shrink, able to be packed up and flee at critical moments…

Li Changshou tactfully declined this thank-you gift, keeping only the treasure materials and such.

Converting to cash was just a joke;

He was now a True Deity of the Heavenly Court, patrolling the Four Seas on Heaven’s behalf – he had to pay some attention to his image.

But with gifts not properly delivered, the Dragon Clan felt uneasy. They even asked Ao Yi to plead, wanting Li Changshou to accept more benefits…

Finally, Li Changshou could only promise that he would later choose a location among the Four Seas to build his Sea God cave dwelling and would notify the Dragon Palace in advance.

Only then did the Dragon Clan set their minds at ease.

However, before one wave settled another arose.

— Wave here is used as a noun.

Late at night before the Sea God ceremony was about to conclude, Li Changshou looked at the beautiful female fierce spirits in the Sea God Temple’s back courtyard – floating, lying, standing – and nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

The Dragon Clan’s actions were still within reason, but what chaos was the Netherworld stirring up?

Had someone been spreading his name as a lustful Sea God outside?

Several Netherworld officials of Wu tribe origins rubbed their large hands, giggling “hehe” before him.

These fierce spirits had also been carefully selected from countless unreincarnatable fierce spirits in the Netherworld;

Each one was beautiful as a flower, with hair covering the face and sleeves dancing in the wind, full of exotic charm!

Of course, the emphasis was still on pretty faces and curvaceous figures…

Li Changshou smiled wryly: “Everyone, what is this about?”

Ox Head, having removed his mask, rubbed his hands: “Lord Sea God, this is our first meeting, and we in the Netherworld don’t have many presentable local specialties.

What do you think… are these acceptable?”

“Do you all have some requests?”

Li Changshou said seriously, “Great Virtue Houtu created the Six Paths of Reincarnation – my master repeatedly mentioned this when I first began cultivation.

If the Netherworld has difficulties, please tell me directly. As long as it’s within my abilities, I will consider how to help.”

A Wu tribe expert couldn’t help muttering quietly:

“Um, doesn’t ‘as long as it’s within my abilities’ usually come with ‘I’ll do my utmost’?”

As soon as he spoke, a fist the size of a clay pot flew over from the side, hitting squarely in his abdomen.

The speaker’s rough large face instantly turned purple, and a large hand covered his mouth from behind, preventing even half a cry of pain as he was dragged behind the group.

The other Wu tribe members hurriedly smiled along.

Li Changshou said calmly:

“I always handle matters pragmatically. If I can’t accomplish something but make empty promises, wouldn’t that just give others false hope?

That would truly be unwise.

Rather than empty words, it’s better to first hear the problem and carefully consider whether I can accomplish it – only that counts as being responsible to everyone.”

Hearing this, the Wu tribe experts were stunned, then suddenly enlightened, their gazes toward Li Changshou full of admiration.

The Wu tribe was, in primordial history, the race with the lowest average resistance to being deceived.

Ox Head, soulless without his mask, couldn’t help giving Li Changshou a thumbs up and smiled:

“Lord Sea God is truly extraordinary. We don’t have any requests, just saw the Dragon Clan giving beauties and wanted to show our goodwill too.”

Pausing his words, Ox Head’s eyes reddened, his lips trembling as he said sorrowfully:

“Lord Sea God, we who serve in the Netherworld… have it hard.”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed tightly as he hurriedly asked: “The Netherworld was established by Heaven’s Dao as the Yin Ministry, logically should enjoy Heaven’s Dao’s merit. Has something gone wrong?”

“So you know about this,” Ox Head’s expression immediately changed, giving an embarrassed smile. “I was just complaining randomly – serving in the Netherworld is manageable.”

Li Changshou: …

“Lord Sea God, it’s like this.”

A middle-aged man beside Ox Head who looked relatively wise spoke up:

“We want to ask Lord Sea God to give us some advice.

When we entered the Netherworld, we swore oaths to Heaven’s Dao to never interfere in matters of the Ancient War between the Wu tribe and Demons, treating the Wu tribe and Demon reincarnation soul essences fairly.

Because of this, we who followed Lady Houtu into the Netherworld quickly fell out with other Wu tribe members.”

Ox Head continued: “Later when the Ancient War ended, our Wu tribe and the Demon tribe were both losers. The Demon tribe had the Holy Mother Saint protecting them, leaving them a path to survive, but our Wu tribe…

Sigh, struggling in the bitter cold lands of the North Continent, seemingly better off than the Demon tribe but actually about the same.”

Li Changshou nodded slowly.

Then he heard Ox Head curse: “Moreover, who knows which loose-lipped fool gave the North Continent Wu tribe such rotten advice!

Still wanting to replace humans with Wu-humans, insisting on supporting that Chiyou!

As a result, when Emperor Yellow gained a great victory over Chiyou, the Wu tribe nearly lost everything we had left. Now the North Continent Wu tribe’s situation is probably even more difficult!”

Li Changshou cleared his throat and said: “I also come from human origins.”

“Uh, Sea God isn’t from the sea? This is kind of…”

“Oh my, how embarrassing…”

“Hahaha,” Li Changshou laughed heartily, having already made calculations in his mind.

To gain merit in the Netherworld, he would first need to help solve the North Continent Wu tribe’s survival problems.

Back then the Wu tribe and humans were originally allies, jointly resisting the Demon tribe. It was only later because of Chiyou’s battle with Xuanyuan that the Wu tribe and humans completely fell out.

On this matter, he had to consider human interests – this was a fundamental principle that couldn’t be forgotten.

Steady first, can’t casually agree.

Li Changshou said: “How about this – within a hundred years I’ll make a trip to the North Continent. Though I can’t help lift the Wu tribe’s restrictions or help them leave the North Continent, I can try to help improve their living environment.”

“Re-really?”

“Naturally.”

These Wu tribe experts immediately broke into grins, constantly speaking words of gratitude.

When Ox Head and the others were leaving, they deliberately played dumb, not taking away the five hundred female fierce spirits, but were directly stopped by Li Changshou.

Fierce spirits unable to reincarnate mostly had unresolved grudges;

Such fierce spirits would wander the Netherworld, gradually depleting their spiritual power until returning to the soul essence state, then entering the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Li Changshou also considered it a good deed, reciting the Dao School’s scripture for saving people and the Toward Life Incantation in front of Ox Head and others, dissolving these fierce spirits’ resentment.

When these fierce spirits transformed into normal souls, kneeling one by one before Li Changshou, he nodded and accepted their bow, counting it as settling karma.

This was indeed a trivial matter, merely expending a bit of immortal power, and not entangling any karma.

— Due to Heaven’s Dao’s restrictions, Netherworld officials couldn’t use such incantations.

After sending off the Netherworld group, Li Changshou felt a bit tired.

Before he could go check on the Sea God ceremony’s closing ceremony, a mosquito-like sound entered his ear as Wenjing Daoist, like a busy little bee, came to deliver news again…

This time, half was congratulations, and half was intelligence.

According to Wenjing Daoist, several Western School Saint disciples had seen the Sea God receive a divine position from the Heavenly Court’s rewards, and use a divine position to wash away Ao Yi’s karmic burden. They now understood the Heavenly Court wanted a share of the Dragon Clan.

At this moment the Western School had already changed strategies, deciding to “split the dragon” with the Heavenly Court.

Hearing this news, Li Changshou truly had a headache…

The situation he was most worried about had still occurred.

The Western School was unwilling to be used as a pawn, timely adjusting their strategic direction to choose slowly negotiating with the Heavenly Court and Human Dao School later, dividing up the Dragon Clan dish…

This way, it both prevented the Western School’s early investment from being a complete loss and avoided directly falling out with the Human Dao School-supported, Dao Ancestor-protected Heavenly Court.

One could only say, that great schools had no mediocre talents.

But it was fine – Li Changshou’s many years of mental effort weren’t wasted, as the other side’s strategy was also within his expectations.

Just that the pressure would be greater later, and their side would also need to make some adjustments…

After discussing business, Wenjing Daoist added one more thing:

“Congratulations to my lord on officially becoming God of the Four Seas, from now on protected by Heaven’s Dao – it truly makes this subordinate extremely envious.”

Li Changshou lightly changed the subject: “Wenjing, do you still want to see the Grand Master again now?”

Wenjing Daoist’s “buzz” suddenly trembled, “Actually… seeing or not seeing doesn’t matter…”

“Then forget it.”

“No! Don’t forget it!”

Hearing this, Li Changshou immediately revealed a slight smile. Wenjing Daoist’s true body gnashed her teeth in anger, yet only said coquettishly:

“My lord please don’t tease your subordinate, I’ll come right over…”

“Ah, your true body shouldn’t move rashly to avoid others’ attention. This strand of divine ability can stay here for now – the Grand Master will come find me, so you can see him then.”

Li Changshou said earnestly: “After you leave the West in the future, I will formally introduce you.”

“Thank you, my lord!”

In that cave dwelling at the foot of Spirit Mountain, Wenjing Daoist immediately sat up, her breathing somewhat rapid, expression yearning, yet only patiently continuing to wait.

Speaking of which, the Grand Master had been gone most of the day – what had he gone to do?

Li Changshou felt a bit puzzled inside, but with the Grand Master showing his head but not his tail like a divine dragon, his random guesses definitely wouldn’t yield any results.

Looking at the blood mosquito on his shoulder, Li Changshou couldn’t help clicking his tongue and smiling inside – this was a date appointed by the Saint Lord himself.

But the Grand Master and Wenjing Daoist definitely wouldn’t work out – the two were just too mismatched.

…

In the depths of the East Sea, Three Immortals Island, in a pavilion.

Two young women sneakily hid in the distance, making listening poses, with Qiongxiao holding a conch shell-shaped treasure in hand.

Inside the pavilion, Grand Master Xuandu kept smiling with squinted eyes, constantly speaking of Three Schools matters from the past.

Yunxiao quietly listened beside him, yet didn’t know why this eldest brother of the Dao School had suddenly visited.

“Senior Brother Xuandu,” Yunxiao said softly, “You are a busy important person – if you have something to say, please speak directly.”

“Well, haha, ahem,” Grand Master Xuandu raised his hand and coughed twice, “Junior Sister Yunxiao, you have cultivated since ancient times – I wonder, have you ever had thoughts of a Dao companion?”

Hearing this, Yunxiao couldn’t help laughing lightly and said: “Aren’t those two little sisters currently eavesdropping on our conversation my Dao companions?”

“The Dao companion I speak of is not that kind of Dao companion, but the other kind,” Grand Master Xuandu said seriously. “I cultivate the Natural Dao method and understand natural principles.

Junior Sister Yunxiao was born in a woman’s body, so naturally has the opportunity for this kind of Dao companion.”

But Yunxiao’s expression remained unchanged, still that gentle manner yet seemingly keeping people thousands of li away.

She said softly: “I naturally have never had a Dao companion, nor ever had such thoughts.

Did Senior Brother come today to investigate this matter?”

The Grand Master smiled: “Can’t say investigate, just inquiring a bit – no is fine, no is fine.

Also, junior sister please don’t misunderstand – this matter isn’t me inquiring.”

Speaking thus, the Grand Master took out a scroll from his sleeve. “Junior sister please look, do you recognize the person in this painting?”

“Person in the painting?”

Yunxiao was somewhat puzzled as she took the scroll and slowly opened it. She saw within it a painting of a handsome man with sword-like eyebrows, star-bright eyes, and a smiling expression.

Moreover, this wasn’t a painting, but rather the product of a divine ability that imprinted a mental image.

“Though I don’t recognize him, he somehow looks familiar, as if I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“You indeed just saw him these past few days.”

“This is…”

Yunxiao’s eyes brightened as she couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing lightly, her usually cool expression gaining several points of animation.

“So it’s him? Playing an old man’s appearance every day, truly as he said, afraid that revealing his original appearance would make people think he’s unreliable.

The difference is too great.”

Eh?

The Grand Master’s spirit stirred as he keenly noticed Yunxiao’s usually tranquil state of mind showing slight changes.

Could it be there’s real hope?