As the saying goes, when walking by the seaside, how can one not slip?

But Li Changshou hadn’t expected that right after bidding farewell to Immortal Lady Yunxiao, he would be captured by Bixiao and Qiongxiao and brought back to the desolate island where he had just been hiding…

At the edge of the desolate island, a swimming fish swished its tail, blending into a school of fish, slowly swimming away into the distance.

On the island, with two crisp “snips,” the gleaming Golden Dragon Scissors waved in front of the bound ‘maiden.’ This paper avatar gave a bitter smile, self-immolating into flames, from which flew out a wisp of green smoke, condensing into Li Changshou’s form.

As soon as he appeared, he was bound by that gleaming spiritual treasure rope.

Looking at these two Dao sect seniors and Secluded School experts on his left and right, Li Changshou was truly puzzled.

These two pit diggers…

Ahem, these two lovely immortal ladies, what were they up to?

Qiongxiao, wearing a silk dress, squinted and smiled lightly, her delicate fingers touching her smooth chin, seemingly calculating how to torment Li Changshou.

Bixiao, wearing a light blue short dress, crouched beside Li Changshou’s self-immolated paper avatar, looking at the remaining small pile of ashes with eyes full of curiosity…

Paper avatars within paper avatars, how numerous they were.

This scene, she had seen before!

Qiongxiao raised her hand to set up several layers of formation barriers. Li Changshou stood quietly on the beach, silently waiting for the two powerhouses to speak.

“You… ahem!”

Qiongxiao cleared her throat, walking around Li Changshou with her hands behind her back, circling him twice.

“Sea God, Li Changshou, Orthodox Unity School disciple, important official of the Heavenly Court… correct?”

Li Changshou slowly nodded, smiling gently: “Does Senior have any instructions?”

Qiongxiao lifted her chest and raised her head, saying indifferently: “Inviting you here today isn’t to make things difficult for you.”

Li Changshou: …

They had already tied him up and it wasn’t making things difficult!

If he wasn’t mistaken, this rope should be a Post-Heaven Spiritual Treasure, right? And a very high-grade one at that!

“I will ask you several dozen simple questions. If you answer truthfully, I will let you leave and even give you several treasures as congratulatory gifts for achieving your Golden Immortal Dao fruit.”

Qiongxiao humphed, extending her small hand to the side, and Bixiao immediately threw over a light green pearl.

Qiongxiao continued: “This is the Truth-Revealing Zhenzhu, which can distinguish truth from falsehood in your words.

If you dare speak falsely, beware of my merciless Golden Dragon Scissors!”

Li Changshou: …

Big sister, your deliberately fierce appearance might as well have ‘this pearl is just to scare people’ written on your face.

By normal logic, if such a pearl existed, shouldn’t it be kept hidden in one’s sleeve to secretly judge the truth of his words?

To directly announce it like this…

Li Changshou smiled lightly: “Senior, please ask away.”

“Are you male?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve cultivated for less than five hundred years?”

“Correct.”

“Did Senior Brother Xuandu order you to capture our elder sister?”

“Nonsense.”

Just as Qiongxiao was about to continue questioning, Li Changshou frowned while staring at her, quickly saying:

“Senior, such jokes go too far.

If this spreads, Junior’s reputation matters, but what of Senior Yunxiao’s reputation?

Who in the Primordial World doesn’t know that among the Secluded School’s Three Immortal Sisters, Immortal Lady Yunxiao is pure as ice and jade, Immortal Lady Qiongxiao is clever and refined, and Immortal Lady Bixiao is sharp and intelligent? Such words absolutely cannot be spread.”

Qiongxiao blinked lightly, humphing: “No matter how flowery your words are, you cannot confuse this senior’s Dao heart!”

Despite her words, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted slightly.

Beside them, Bixiao also came over, and together with Qiongxiao, one on the left and one on the right, the two sisters crossed their arms and began a new round of questioning.

Li Changshou’s heart was without guilt, answering each time without hesitation, that ‘Truth-Revealing Zhenzhu’ remained as decorative as ever, showing no reaction.

Before long, Li Changshou also understood why these two immortal ladies had bound him.

—They worried he was deliberately approaching Immortal Lady Yunxiao, feared this was a scheme of the Orthodox Unity School, felt their elder sister had been in seclusion too long, was unworldly and too naive, and thus might fall for a scheme.

Their starting point was quite good, it’s just their method…

Well, very Three Xiao style.

Li Changshou felt somewhat helpless to criticize this. From his outsider’s perspective, Immortal Lady Yunxiao’s level of steadiness was several hundred times greater than her two sisters combined.

But since the Immortal Ladies Qiong and Bi had come to him, Li Changshou took the opportunity to scheme, getting these two to help keep the secret of his background.

During the questioning, Li Changshou fully displayed the art of language, imperceptibly taking control of the question-and-answer session, outwardly flattering while secretly guiding. In just a moment, he left Qiongxiao and Bixiao humming lightly, with nothing left to ask.

Qiongxiao’s fine brows furrowed slightly: “So you’re saying we misunderstood you?”

“This is also because Junior carelessly caused Senior’s misunderstanding,” Li Changshou sighed, “Senior, could you untie Junior now?”

“Untie you?”

Qiongxiao raised her eyebrows, holding up the pearl in her hand, “Sea God, oh Sea God, no matter how clever your schemes, you’ve still fallen into my trap.

Could it be you thought this pearl was just to scare you?”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, “Wasn’t it?”

“Hmph!”

Qiongxiao’s fingers lightly pinched, and brilliant white light emanated from the pearl, from which came the sound of a conversation.

It was Qiongxiao’s twenty-fourth question, ‘Do you have any improper thoughts about my sister?’

Li Changshou had answered very decisively, responding ‘No.’

The pearl then gently trembled, its light immediately brightening several degrees.

“You lied,” Qiongxiao smiled triumphantly, “This round counts as my win? I said before, if you speak even half a lie, then…”

As she spoke, Qiongxiao took out the Golden Dragon Scissors, waving them back and forth in front of Li Changshou, making snipping sounds.

“Well…”

Li Changshou remained unconcerned, only saying: “How else could Junior answer? Should I have said I have improper thoughts about Senior Yunxiao?

Junior dares to ask Senior one question: if Senior were male, would you not have such thoughts?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Eh?” Li Changshou was also somewhat caught off guard.

Bixiao and Qiongxiao shook their heads.

Qiongxiao clicked her tongue and smiled, sighing: “Our elder sister looks gentle, but she’s actually quite nagging, and always controlling what we do, always afraid of this and that.”

“Exactly,” Bixiao added from the side, “When elder sister gets angry, she’s terrifying! Haven’t you seen how scared our big brother is of her!”

“And elder sister is always in seclusion, so boring.”

“After coming out of seclusion she always tests us on cultivation principles, and if we can’t answer she grounds us, the kind where we can’t go out for tens of thousands of years!”

“And when elder sister gets drunk she likes to dance, her dancing style… eh, better not say.”

How did this…

Turn from an ‘interrogation session’ into a ‘complaint session’?

Li Changshou coughed, saying: “Both Seniors, these words are probably… better kept to yourselves, Senior Yunxiao is just concerned about you.”

Qiongxiao’s mouth twitched as she put away the Golden Dragon Scissors, walked a few steps with her hands behind her back, and said:

“To tell you the truth, binding you here today wasn’t for anything else, just to test your intentions.

You, well, your background is barely acceptable, and you’re also someone valued by Great Master Uncle, though unfortunately not yet a Saint’s disciple.”

Bixiao continued:

“But still, Lord Laozi teaching you pill dao, Senior Brother Xuandu protecting you during tribulation, that’s quite good indeed, you pass the background check!

It’s just, why did you go to that Heavenly Court? Being someone else’s official rather lowers one’s spirit.”

Qiongxiao added: “Moreover, of the forty-nine questions we just asked, you only spoke against your heart on the twenty-third question, answering truthfully for all others.

In my book, you barely pass.

Now your problem is that your cultivation is too weak!”

Bixiao shook her head looking at Li Changshou, “Mm, we’re not asking you to have one foot in the Saint realm, but at a minimum, you should quickly cultivate to Daluo.”

“At least should have several powerful treasures, to properly protect our elder sister…”

“The betrothal gifts can’t be too few either…”

“Senior, both Seniors!”

Li Changshou truly had a headache, hurriedly saying: “Junior dares to ask, have both Seniors been away from Three Immortals Island for a while?”

“Correct.”

“Didn’t Senior Yunxiao want both of you to stay on the island and not wander about?”

Qiongxiao and Bixiao exchanged glances, suddenly realizing something, their expressions changing simultaneously.

Just then, strands of clouds came from all directions, giving Qiongxiao and Bixiao no chance to react, wrapping around their legs and feet.

“Sister…”

Qiongxiao’s small face turned somewhat pale, while Bixiao expertly pinched her earlobe, her eyes full of panic.

The Dragon-Binding Rope wrapped around Li Changshou quietly dissolved into golden light. He immediately made a Daoist bow to Qiongxiao and Bixiao, saying:

“Three Seniors, Junior shall take his leave first.”

After speaking, flames ignited all over his body, and shortly completely consumed him. Under Qiongxiao and Bixiao’s widened eyes, he turned to flying ashes, scattering in the wind.

An avatar?!

And Qiongxiao heard Li Changshou’s transmitted voice…

“This round, I’m afraid Junior won by luck.

Senior Yunxiao is soft-hearted, you know this better than Junior.

Senior need not worry, Junior only has respect for Senior Yunxiao, and won’t have any extraordinary thoughts.

Well, take care.”

Li Changshou’s voice quickly dissipated, and Yunxiao’s figure had already appeared in Qiongxiao’s vision…

This immortal lady who was usually as gentle as water now had an icy cold expression.

“Kneel!”

…

Almost simultaneously with Yun Xiao’s appearance;

On the East Sea shore, a swimming fish quietly emerged from the water, transforming into the form of a middle-aged strong man, landing on South Jambudvipa at a deserted beach.

His foot touched down, his form drawing a wisp of green smoke, instantly vanishing.

This truly was:

Demons rise three feet, but the Dao rises three and a half.

Though he very much wanted to watch the upcoming Three Immortals Island domestic violence scene, he ultimately couldn’t linger there, lest he bring trouble upon himself…

According to Li Changshou’s calculations, for at least the next few thousand years, he wouldn’t need to worry about these three powerhouses who knew his background wandering in the Primordial World.

Li Changshou’s heart settled somewhat, and his next task was naturally to return to hide in the Duc Immortal Sect.

By the way, Li Changshou took a detour with his steps, going to the mortal city where one of his paper avatars was located, seeing that young lady practicing swordplay in the general’s mansion’s back courtyard.

In a flash of twelve years, she had reached the age of thirteen;

Because previously when Jiang Lin’er came out of seclusion, she had come once with Jiuyu, already planted the immortal seed, and made the cultivation contract with her parents. In another year or two, they would formally bring her to the Duc Immortal Sect.

She would be Jiang Lin’er’s disciple, taken as a junior disciple.

A true little senior aunt.

Li Changshou didn’t need to manage this much, just protecting paper avatars according to Little Jade Peak’s per capita treatment.

Looking at this young lady’s aptitude, it was above average, and observing her martial arts and sword movements, her comprehension ability seemed quite good.

Just that, facing this ‘little junior sister’ who was six parts similar to Senior Aunt Wan Jiangyu, he wondered what thoughts Master would have.

The matter of Senior Aunt Wan Jiangyu from back then should let Master know…

Li Changshou turned and left this great city, using earth escape to quickly head towards the path he knew best.

In the blink of an eye, he passed a thousand mountains, leaving the mortal world’s red dust in the clouds.

After reaching the Golden Immortal realm, Li Changshou’s escape techniques made a huge leap. In just two hours, he had already arrived at the Duc Immortal Sect’s mountain gate.

—This was still with considerable restraint.

Returning to the mountain was simple; Li Changshou used paper avatars to go out while his main body returned to the mountain gate, leaving no flaws.

He first made a trip to Breaking Heaven Peak, kneeling before the Saint’s portrait, quietly paying respects for… half a day…

When night fell, Li Changshou returned to Little Jade Peak, greeted Ling’e and Xiong Lingli, then returned to the pill room.

Previously in the Mixed Origin Golden Dipper, he had only fully accepted his insights but hadn’t completely digested them; he would need at least several decades of seclusion ahead to completely consolidate his current realm.

After Li Changshou entered the Golden Immortal realm, the Little Jade Peak wandering plan could be greatly advanced.

Before becoming a Golden Immortal, Li Changshou’s thinking only stayed at formations and restrictions;

Now having obtained the longevity Dao fruit, his cultivation realm wasn’t low anymore, he could completely start from divine abilities, combining with the formation foundations he had already laid down, slowly refining Little Jade Peak as a large-scale magical treasure!

Li Changshou had also determined the first destination for the ‘Little Jade Peak Wandering Plan.’

Doushuai Palace’s backyard!

That naturally wasn’t something he dared to think much about…

Near Doushuai Palace, that place for planting beans would be an excellent place to settle.

However, this required his foundation in the Heavenly Court to be more stable, waiting until he had achieved great merit before requesting this from the Jade Emperor.

There was another matter—Old Daoist Qiyuan was still concerned about when to go to the Heavenly Court to become a minor official, to pave the way for his two disciples’ future ascension to heaven.

Li Changshou carefully considered and decided to still let Master walk down this path, otherwise Master truly would have nothing to look forward to…

In the future, Sea God Li Changgeng would naturally be Sea God Li Changgeng, unrelated to Li Changshou and junior sister Ling’e going to the Heavenly Court as minor officials.

This would also add another layer of… cover…

Wait!

Li Changgeng?!

Li Changshou’s heart suddenly flashed with a small lightning bolt, as some information suddenly emerged from his previous life’s memories which had become clearer after the Golden Immortal tribulation.

He calculated with his fingers, thinking left and right, finally couldn’t help standing up, pacing back and forth in the underground secret chamber.

Lord Laozi above!

What had he done before?

A thin old immortal in white robes, with white hair, holding a horsetail whisk, being the Jade Emperor’s strategist, while also carrying a layer of mysterious aura…

Wasn’t this that messenger of the Jade Emperor during the Journey to the West tribulations, who called out “Great Sage, Great Sage,” tricked Sun Wukong into going to heaven as a stable boy, and was the errand-running old immortal in “Quick, go invite Buddha”…

The Gold Star of Venus!?

Gold Star of Venus Li Changgeng!?

Li Changshou’s legs went weak, and he plopped down into the circular chair, couldn’t help scratching his head and ears, thinking about how he might appear in the story after the Investiture of the Gods, then grinned;

But thinking again, he might just be a coincidence, and the karma of being the Gold Star of Venus was a bit too great…

What was this?

Had he dug himself a big pit and jumped into it himself?

Orthodox Unity School profanity.

…

“Burp!”

At the border of the North Uttarakuru Continent, in some mountain forest, several figures sat in the woods, drinking large gulps of wine and eating large pieces of meat, each with a blood-bowl-sized mouth.

Yet among these figures, there was instead a middle-aged man with elegant bearing, with a pile of tree bark arranged before him, eating with relish, even unable to hold back a burp.

No help for it, since eating tree bark for three years, he just couldn’t give up this taste.

“Brother Leopard, you should also try this good wine and meat the brothers got!”

“Hehehe,” this recently transformed leopard demon smiled proudly, “No need, eating this is quite satisfying, makes my heart steady.

Everyone eat quickly, we can’t delay the task the Great King gave us.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Leopard, as long as you don’t say things like ‘this time we’ll succeed,’ we’ll have no problems!”

The black leopard demon’s mouth twitched, he just refused to believe in this superstition.

He thought to himself:

‘This time we’ll succeed, expanding territory for Great King Rhinoceros, occupying that mountain!’

Thus, half a month later…

[Primordial World Quick News]: At the border between North Uttarakuru Continent and East Victory Divine Continent, a Heavenly Immortal realm old rhinoceros demon was jointly eliminated by three demon faction forces, his territory completely divided up.