The Grand Master floated back before keeping Wenjing Daoist waiting long.

Remarkably, today’s Grand Master hadn’t actively obscured himself, exposing his true appearance to the… mosquito on Li Changshou’s shoulder.

However, the Grand Master was still the Grand Master – even though Wenjing Daoist had previously concealed herself with the utmost effort, and the Grand Master hadn’t guarded against Li Changshou, he immediately sensed Wenjing Daoist’s presence…

“Why is she also here?”

“She came earlier to deliver news to this disciple,” Li Changshou hurriedly said. “This disciple will send her back now.”

With these words, Samadhi True Flame surged from his palm, directly burning away the blood mosquito.

In a certain cave dwelling, a fierce person in a red gauze skirt had already jumped into a treasure pool at the side, splashing about…

Unfortunately, no one could see this.

Back at the Sea God Temple, the Grand Master smiled and asked Li Changshou if his true body should now return to ‘hide’ in Duxian Gate.

Li Changshou was somewhat embarrassed but nodded heavily in agreement.

Necessary!

Coming had been nerve-wracking, but returning with the Grand Master personally escorting him, Li Changshou’s heart was suddenly filled with happiness.

This soldier Changshou is willing to… ahem, shed limited blood for the Human Dao School!

This time the Grand Master didn’t use space-manipulation Dao techniques, but instead rode clouds carrying Li Changshou through the night sky at a neither fast nor slow pace, seeming to have something on his mind.

Li Changshou was also wondering inside – could the Grand Master have guessed about the Saint Lord arranging him for matchmaking?

Then, wanting his junior disciple to take the blame?

This… he couldn’t handle that – that was the famous Mosquito Daoist!

“Changshou, there’s something I still need to remind you about.”

Here it comes!

Li Changshou thought disaster was coming and hurriedly made a Daoist salute, saying: “This disciple is listening.”

“No need to be so formal,” the Grand Master smiled. “Within the Human Dao School, you best help relieve the teacher’s worries, and you and I are closest.

Well, it’s like this – earlier I went to Three Immortals Island.”

Li Changshou: …

This script seemed to be heading in quite a different direction from what he’d imagined.

“You went to Three Immortals Island… for what?”

The Grand Master raised his hand and patted this paper doll of Li Changshou on the shoulder. “Naturally I made this trip for you. I’ve investigated clearly for you – Junior Sister Yunxiao has never had thoughts of love.

Though this also means she currently has no such thoughts toward you either, at least there won’t be others competing with you!”

Com… peting?

Li Changshou couldn’t help tilting his head, several question marks slowly appearing on his forehead.

What was this about?

Li Changshou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, hurriedly saying: “Grand Master, you don’t think this disciple has improper thoughts about Senior Yunxiao?”

“Oh?”

Grand Master Xuandu’s eyes immediately squinted in a smile, seemingly reflecting stars as he smiled and said:

“Ask your true heart if you’re aware or not.

I saw during the lecture – you and Junior Sister Yunxiao roaming the South Sea, one with smiling eyes, one with concentrated brow angle – these things can’t deceive people.”

Li Changshou couldn’t help frowning, lowering his head to cough once, smiling wryly:

“Speaking of good feelings, naturally there are some, but Grand Master, this disciple has good feelings toward more than one person. Toward Senior Yunxiao this disciple absolutely wouldn’t dare have such presumptuous thoughts.”

The key point was that the karma involved behind this was too great.

Seeing the Grand Master smile without speaking, Li Changshou hurriedly continued: “Grand Master, this disciple feels that matters between men and women should be divided into stages.”

“Oh? How to divide the stages?”

The Grand Master immediately showed interest.

Li Changshou said: “First comes good feelings, then heart movement. If there’s mutual attraction and conditions are suitable, they can naturally become a good match.”

The Grand Master asked again: “How do you explain the words ‘good feelings’?”

“This disciple dares to speak some personal thoughts,” Li Changshou said. “So-called good feelings means thinking this person is good – it can arise from appearance, or can be influenced by personality.

This disciple’s good feelings toward Senior Yunxiao come from the latter – Senior Yunxiao’s temperament is very attractive.

However, like in Duxian Gate, this disciple has some good feelings toward a senior aunt and also has good feelings toward his junior sister, but these don’t involve feelings between men and women.”

Grand Master Xuandu also frowned slightly, asking: “Since you have good feelings, why don’t they involve feelings between men and women?”

“First, this disciple focuses single-mindedly on cultivating the Dao. Second, I feel the timing isn’t right. Third, regarding matters of marriage fate, this disciple must be cautious.”

Li Changshou said seriously:

“The karma between Dao companions is too great. Becoming Dao companions with someone means accepting all karma that person brings.

Moreover, Grand Master, you once taught this disciple that having no fixed mind in matters leads to having no fixed nature.”

The Grand Master pondered for a while. “Your fear of karma going against your heart’s wishes is detrimental to cultivation.”

Li Changshou considered carefully and smiled:

“This disciple feels that good feelings can accumulate.

If good feelings accumulate to a certain degree, enough to make this disciple disregard karma to stay together – that’s heart movement.

If this disciple’s heart has moved, I wouldn’t go against my true heart or suppress my state of mind, otherwise it would contradict your teachings.”

“Good,” Grand Master Xuandu nodded with satisfaction. “You only needed to tell me one thing – whether or not you have good feelings toward Junior Sister Yunxiao. No need to explain so much.

What, can’t be straightforward about it?”

“But Grand Master, good feelings aren’t equivalent to heart movement…”

The Grand Master continued: “Junior Sister Yunxiao also thinks your temperament is good.”

“This?”

“She also said you’re a good person.”

“Ahem!” Li Changshou lowered his head and coughed twice, again not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

What kind of situation was this?

Forced matching was most fatal!

Then he heard the Grand Master say: “One can see Junior Sister Yunxiao has no dislike for you, and even has some appreciation – this is already quite rare.

But for someone like Junior Sister Yunxiao who focuses single-mindedly on admiring the Great Dao, she won’t be distracted by such things at all. To move her heart, you have a long and winding road ahead.

However, since you say your heart hasn’t moved yet, I won’t interfere much in this matter.

Let nature take its course and see what happens.”

Then, the Grand Master earnestly continued:

“If it’s this matter, I’ll help with whatever I can;

If you could help our Human Dao School add a powerful assistant, that would also be an excellent thing.”

Li Changshou: …

Why did it feel like he was being used in a honeypot scheme to poach from the Visualization School?

Fortunately, the Grand Master didn’t mention this matter further. Grand Master Xuandu chatted casually with Li Changshou for a few more sentences, then escorted him back near Duxian Gate.

The Sea God ceremony had entered the stage of dispersing people. Li Changshou had already arranged all tasks beforehand, with paper dolls on standby for emergencies, so nothing should go wrong.

Approaching Duxian Gate, the Grand Master spoke again:

“Now that you’re a True Deity of the Heavenly Court, protected by Heaven’s Dao and enjoying Heavenly Court merit, can your Dao heart and state of mind remain steady through this?”

“Thank you for Grand Master’s concern – this disciple should be fine.”

Li Changshou smiled: “The one who became Sea God is South Sea God Li Changgeng – what does that have to do with Duxian Gate’s Element Immortal realm disciple Li Changshou?”

Grand Master Xuandu blinked, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, repeatedly calling it ‘wonderful’.

Then, the Grand Master clasped his hands behind his back, took one step forward, and his figure instantly vanished.

Li Changshou relaxed slightly, immediately descending toward the forest below, checking the sensing stones on his body, and circling outside the mountain gate several times.

Only when dawn was approaching did Li Changshou use earth travel to reach Duxian Gate’s mountain gate, calling Ling’e to come and let him in.

…

When going out, Li Changshou used a small earth vein transfer formation he had previously secretly left in Duxian Gate’s earth veins.

That transfer formation was one-way and couldn’t be used to burrow back;

To enter the mountain-protecting grand formation without making a disturbance, Li Changshou still lacked several formation-breaking spiritual treasures.

Shortly after, Ling’e rode her cloud from Little Qiong Peak to Breaking Heaven Peak, obtained an exit jade tablet, and then hurriedly rushed to the mountain gate.

That gate-guarding old grandpa… ahem, old immortal still worriedly advised:

“A female disciple like you must be especially careful when going out. With such low cultivation, don’t be tricked by evil people.”

Ling’e hurriedly nodded and agreed, saying she was just walking nearby to find some herbs, going back to learn pill refining.

Flying out the gate, Ling’e rode her cloud toward the forest her senior brother had mentioned.

Li Changshou had been waiting here early, and couldn’t help being entranced seeing his junior sister’s figure riding clouds above the treetops.

Ling’e had hurriedly flown out after receiving the paper doll’s message, wearing no makeup, but her delicate face was exquisite and lovely, fair skin stirring protective feelings…

Most precious was her own fresh and lively feeling, almost overflowing in the morning sunlight…

The light green dress on Ling’e, matched with the waist belt inlaid with several yellow jades, revealed most of her beautiful figure.

Delicate beauty is enough to praise, rare to find jade without flaws.

Li Changshou sighed inside – still, the junior sister he watched grow up was reliable and stable.

Uh, he’d been influenced by the Grand Master and started thinking about these irrelevant things!

However, speaking of which, should he change his attitude toward his junior sister, not letting her be suspicious and doubtful, focusing on cultivation?

“Hmm?”

Ling’e suddenly stopped ten zhang away, her long eyelashes fluttering as she immediately discovered something.

Something was wrong!

Wrong!

“Hmph hmph, Senior Brother, you’re testing me again aren’t you?”

Ling’e’s mouth twisted as she snorted somewhat unhappily:

“Must have put a paper person there – I’ll fall into a trap if I go over!

I hurriedly ran out as soon as I heard you speak, didn’t even have time to fix my hair!”

Li Changshou: …

He just quietly watched;

Watched as Ling’e released two paper people approaching this paper doll carrying his true body, carefully exploring the surrounding fallen leaves and shallow grass, even carefully poking his cheek twice…

Forget it, continue teaching – she was far from ready.

Li Changshou shook his head, the paper doll directly transformed into paper person form, and the true body crawled out from behind the paper person, transforming into a small bug.

“Take me back.”

Ling’e blinked, asking softly: “Senior Brother, when did you go out?”

“Guess,” Li Changshou smiled calmly. “Don’t guess – copy the Stability Scripture three hundred times. Guess wrong – copy it five hundred times.”

Ling’e: …

Suddenly wanted to throw that stinky Senior Brother outside!

…

After the Sea God Temple ceremony, the pressure on Li Changshou’s shoulders suddenly decreased by more than half.

This feeling was very obvious.

Those Western School people who had been constantly investigating the South Sea God Temple had completely vanished;

He had been worried the Dragon Clan would resist the Heavenly Court, but now found the Dragon Clan full of yearning for the Heavenly Court, even willing to do anything to help a batch of dragon princes get some low-rank divine positions to help them escape their karmic burden…

Influenced by him, the Western School adjusted their dragon-taming strategy, also beginning to ease pressure on the Dragon Clan, making the Four Seas situation start to relax…

Next, Western School people would likely come seeking him for a friendly exchange.

Li Changshou would deliberately avoid meeting them then, refusing any communication with the Western School.

Otherwise, they might use this matter to create complications, making the Dragon Clan feel the Heavenly Court and Western School had put on a big show…

Li Changshou naturally wouldn’t fall for such calculations.

After returning to the mountain, Li Changshou gathered with his master and junior sister once, telling his master some things about the Heavenly Court, and urging his junior sister to cultivate diligently.

This time Ling’e quite readily agreed, announcing on the spot she would enter closed cultivation for three years, almost making Li Changshou verify her true identity…

Ling’e’s willingness to enter closed cultivation was related to Little Senior Aunt Jiuyu.

Jiuyu regularly stayed in the card room, and recently Youqin Yanji also often came to Little Qiong Peak to play. If Senior Aunt Jiuyu felt bored, she could bring along Youqin Yanji and Xiong Lingli to play Fight the Landlord, Immortal Life Simulation, Three Realms Kill, and so on.

Moreover, recently Little Qiong Peak’s card room got another regular member – the extremely fierce Jiang Lin’er…

Wang Fugui – ahem, Forgetting Emotions Superior was in closed cultivation comprehending the Golden Immortal Dao. Jiang Lin’er worried about her Dao companion’s cultivation matters and didn’t dare enter long-term closed cultivation. Also wanting to pay more attention to the little tree spirit’s condition, she would often come play at Little Qiong Peak.

Thus, Ling’e didn’t need to worry about Little Senior Aunt getting bored and could focus on cultivating the Dao for a while…

Now when Ling’e cultivated, she could be said to be full of motivation.

Recently many female disciples in the sect had become immortals, with qualitative changes in both temperament and skin condition!

Because of this, Ling’e had also firmed her determination to become an immortal early!

If Li Changshou knew his constant ‘encouragement to study’ wasn’t as effective for this reason, who knows what he would think?

Probably would give a beating, the hanging kind.

Besides plotting and arranging in this half year, Li Changshou was also working hard on one small matter —

Researching divine power.

He had already discovered that he could exercise the divine power bestowed by Heaven’s Dao wherever his divine sense was covered.

Of course, on land this Sea God was like a fish without water, unable to jump around.

But if a paper doll was on the great sea, he could use the divine sense spread by the paper doll to exert up to fifty percent of divine power’s effects.

Things Sea God’s divine power could do included but weren’t limited to:

Raising tsunamis, guiding fish schools, helping sea creatures reproduce, improving survival rates of marine offspring…

At the current stage, it seemed of little use.

This Sea God ceremony also produced huge effects on the Sea God Temple itself, bringing another explosive period of temple growth.

The fame of the Sea God and Heavenly Emperor rapidly spread throughout the vast southwestern regions of the South Jambudvipa Continent.

This time, it was no longer limited to coastal areas.

However, Li Changshou had made development plans in advance – he could compete with wild gods for merit, but couldn’t steal Dao School’s incense.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed;

Li Changshou used divine thought to notify Ao Yi, telling him to meet his paper doll at the Sea God Temple in Anshui City.

It was time to officially tour the Heavenly Court, sign in at Tongming Hall, punch in at Lingxiao Palace, and officially become part of the Heavenly Court!

Of course, going this time would still be his true body… series of paper dolls.

…

‘Junior Sister Yunxiao, why don’t we make a bet?’

In a secluded cliff pavilion on Three Immortals Island, that graceful figure quietly sitting in meditation on a cushion slowly opened her bright eyes.

“Sigh, this Senior Brother Xuandu, needlessly disturbing my state of mind with such matters.”

Yunxiao’s delicate hand turned over, producing that scroll in her palm. She opened it and quietly looked, then shook her head slightly.

“Too much thinking will instead fall into mental disorder – this would mean falling for Senior Brother Xuandu’s calculations.

Better to let this matter follow its course unmanaged, determined by the heart, without needing to consider anything.

One must know true heart and nature, understand the birth of creation and transformation.”

After softly murmuring, Yunxiao raised her hand and lightly pointed, sending this scroll flying to a corner of the room, hanging itself behind a blue curtain.

Afterward, this great outer disciple of the Visualization School revealed a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, closed her eyes in concentration, quickly immersing herself in the Great Dao, with some obscure Dao rhythms circling around…