In the Wangqing Residence, under the watchful eyes of over thirty Immortal cultivators, young Jiu Yushi knelt before Senior Wangqing.

Three kowtows before the Immortal, from this day forth leaving the mortal realm behind.

Subsequently, Senior Wangqing raised his right hand, his palm emanating streams of immortal light, and lightly tapped Jiu Yushi’s head three times, awakening her spiritual root and enhancing her enlightenment potential.

Maintaining a solemn expression, Senior Wangqing spoke:

“From this day forward, you shall be my tenth disciple.

May you focus on your cultivation, attain immortality and enlightenment swiftly, and find peace on the immortal path, seeking longevity.

Henceforth, you must follow the sect rules, know your place as a disciple of the Human Teaching Immortal Sect, and never bring shame to our sect’s reputation.”

Having rehearsed several times before, Jiu Yushi kowtowed again and responded in a clear voice, “Disciple will diligently follow Master’s teachings!”

“Good.”

Senior Wangqing gently beckoned, and Jiu Yiyi immediately stepped forward.

Jiu Yiyi carried an immortal garment, two immortal short swords, and three storage pouches, and atop the garment lay the foundational cultivation techniques for Immortal Sect disciples, along with a jade token inscribed with the sect rules.

After Jiu Yushi received the entrance package, her nine senior martial siblings came forward to greet her, each bearing gifts.

Li Changshou observed this and felt quite emotional.

Having more senior martial siblings meant receiving quite a sum in welcome gifts!

Feeling Ling’e’s meaningful gaze from beside him, Li Changshou’s lips twitched as he turned to observe his Master’s expression.

Master now…

Was moved, purely moved;

Master stood in another corner behind Jiang Lin’er, and when no one was watching, raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye, then smiled as he watched the lively scene.

Li Changshou pondered briefly but felt it wasn’t his place to make decisions for Master in such matters.

As he had advised Master before, the matter between Master and Senior Uncle’s reincarnation could only take its natural course…

By now, for Master, there weren’t many regrets left.

Earth Immortal…

Li Changshou mused internally, suddenly missing the taste of “Ground Three Delicacies,” and transmitted his order to Ling’e.

— After everything here concluded, the Ten Jiu Immortals would still need to celebrate at Small Qiong Peak, with today’s head chefs being Ling’e and Xiong Lingli.

With Jiu Yushi’s discipleship ceremony complete, the Sect Leader led the various elders forward to congratulate Senior Wangqing.

Li Changshou, still busy with Heaven Court and Dragon Clan expedition matters, gave Ling’e a few instructions before quietly leaving Wangqing Residence…

However, just as he flew out of Breaking Heaven Peak on his cloud, Jiu Wu caught up from behind.

“Changshou! Please wait!”

Li Changshou stopped his cloud, turned and bowed, then smiled, “Senior Uncle comes in such haste, could it be…

Run out of pills again?”

“The pills are sufficient, sufficient!”

Jiu Wu laughed somewhat embarrassedly, jumped onto Li Changshou’s cloud, and said softly, “There’s something I need to discuss with you.

Do you remember? I and… ahem, I and your Master caught a fox demon from the mortal realm, the one who caused us quite some trouble with her charm techniques.”

“Of course, I remember,” Li Changshou said, “Isn’t she still imprisoned below the earth’s veins?”

Jiu Wu continued, “Then do you remember that she had some merit power on her?”

Li Changshou nodded honestly, this time not interrupting Jiu Wu, gesturing for him to finish speaking.

Jiu Wu pondered for a moment before saying, “In recent months, throughout East Victory Divine Continent and Central Divine Continent, there has been a demon faction searching for this fox demon.

According to the news brought back by several traveling executives, the fox demon this faction seeks, her appearance, and the location of her disappearance…

Perfectly match the one we caught.”

Hearing this, Li Changshou slightly furrowed his brows and asked, “Is this faction Senior Uncle speaks of very powerful?”

“It’s not about strength,” Jiu Wu smiled bitterly, “This faction’s background is intricate and complex, with some renown in the Central Divine Continent.

Behind this faction are attendants serving the Holy Lord in the Empress Nüwa Palace, and demon experts who kindly sheltered human bloodlines when the ancient human race was nearly extinct.

And… um…

Among our human ancestors, there was an Emperor Lord who enjoyed three thousand concubines, and behind this clan stand two beloved consorts of our human ancestors…

The fox demon we caught last time seems to have some familial connection to that ancestor.

Moreover, this faction has never participated in conflicts between demons and humans, always cultivating in seclusion, and most immortal sects give them some face.”

Ancestor… three thousand concubines…

Emperor Yellow?

After hearing Jiu Wu’s explanation, Li Changshou also felt somewhat overwhelmed.

Speaking of which, why was Emperor Yellow’s harem of three thousand so complexly composed?

Could collecting beauties from various races provide some cultivation bond bonus?

Unknown territory, unknown territory.

Li Changshou asked, “Why hasn’t anyone looked for her these past years?”

Jiu Wu said, “It seems their clan thought she was cultivating somewhere, and only recently discovered her disappearance, then deduced she was captured by cultivators.

Fortunately, we didn’t kill her outright back then, otherwise this matter would truly be a huge mess now.”

Li Changshou asked, “We didn’t know about this faction before?”

Jiu Wu sighed lightly and explained:

“Our Immortal Sect is quite far from the Central Divine Continent, we truly hadn’t considered this aspect before.

Several elders in the sect are now aware of this matter and find themselves in a dilemma.

If we simply release the fox demon, it would damage the face of our Human Teaching lineage, and make people think our Immortal Sect fears this demon faction.

But if we don’t release her, judging by their stance, it seems this fox demon holds no small position in their clan, and could likely trigger another calamity.

Changshou, you’ve always been resourceful, do you have any good solutions for this matter?”

Li Changshou nodded slowly, already having a plan in mind.

He smiled and said, “Senior Uncle, I do have a strategy that should help this matter pass smoothly.

Senior Uncle can present it to the sect elders, let them decide whether to proceed this way.”

“Oh! Please tell quickly!”

“Senior Uncle, lend me your ear…”

Thus and so, so and thus.

Li Changshou whispered in Jiu Wu’s ear for a while, and gradually, light began to shine in those large eyes under Jiu Wu’s thick eyebrows.

“Good, good, I’ll go report to the elders right away!”

“Don’t rush, Senior Uncle. As long as we’re in the right, there’s nothing else to worry about,” Li Changshou smiled, “Though their clan has complex backgrounds, we are still of the Human Teaching lineage.”

Jiu Wu nodded repeatedly and hurriedly headed toward the Reward and Punishment Hall.

Li Changshou flew on his cloud at a medium height, returning to Small Qiong Peak, mentally calculating his strategy several times.

There shouldn’t be any major problems, after all, they hadn’t done anything to the fox demon, just kept her confined…

Back then, to research the heart-fire burning immortal consciousness poison pill, Li Changshou had made the fox demon contribute somewhat, using her charm techniques several times.

Thinking carefully, this shouldn’t cause any problems.

Moreover, today’s Immortal Sect was no longer the same sect that could be bullied by Wen Jing Daoist’s puppets.

Not to mention other things, just the [Spirit Explosion] paper dolls that Li Changshou had been researching recently could already be used in actual combat.

He could infuse his Golden Immortal realm power into the latest semi-finished paper dolls, reaching just below the maximum threshold;

Then use ordinary paper dolls to carry the [Spirit Explosion] paper dolls, infiltrate enemy gatherings, use the ordinary paper dolls to continue infusing immortal power into the [Spirit Explosion] paper dolls, pushing them to the ‘Golden Immortal realm critical point,’ triggering an explosion no less powerful than a half-step Golden Immortal cultivator’s self-detonation…

This was the art of cultivation.

Li Changshou didn’t want to use this move, after all, these paper dolls were the painstaking products of the spirit trees on Small Qiong Peak.

Most of his preparations were just precautionary measures.

“Fox demon, demon faction with complex background…”

A title suddenly popped up in Li Changshou’s mind—

Daji?

To be precise, it should be the Nine-Tailed Fox, as Daji was merely a mortal woman possessed by the fox demon.

‘Daji should have no connection to the imprisoned fox demon, but this faction might be where Daji originated from.

After all, being chosen by the Holy Lord, the Nine-Tailed Fox couldn’t have been a simple demon.’

Never mind, thinking about this serves no purpose, he no longer had any connection to the God-Conferring matters.

Better to think more about tomorrow night’s battle, and meanwhile check for oversights, see if he had left any vulnerabilities that others might exploit.

Returning to the pill room, he lay down in the rocking chair, and two nights and one day swiftly passed.

When Li Changshou’s paper doll flew out of the South Heaven Gate with the magnificent heavenly army, he also divided his attention, using his immortal consciousness to glance at the scene by Small Qiong Peak’s spirit lake.

There, the Nine Jiu Immortals, Ling’e, Youqin, Lingli, Liu Yan’er, Wang Qi, and others were gathered together drinking and celebrating.

The newly accepted disciple Jiu Yushi was very shy, but under Jiu Jiu’s encouragement, she held her ceremonial sword with blushing cheeks, dancing to the music of Ling’e’s paper doll orchestra.

At the edge of the festivities, Elder Qi Yuan had returned to his usual demeanor, sitting cross-legged in meditation in the lakeside grass hut, surrounded by the rhythm of the Dao, a slight smile on his lips.

Li Changshou couldn’t help but smile, lying in the rocking chair focusing his spirit, wholly engaging in Heaven Court’s military affairs.

Thus, half a day later…

If one were to ask about the Jade Emperor’s current state of mind, it could probably only be described as… very regretful.

The Jade Emperor’s imagined military campaign:

Holding the Heaven Sword, wearing golden armor, mounted on a pure white celestial horse, facing countless demons surrounded by demonic qi, raising the Heaven Sword and shouting ‘For the Heaven Court!’, leading battalions of celestial soldiers charging into battle, fighting in bloody combat, promoting the righteous energy of Heaven and Earth!

However, the actual military campaign…

“Report— Reporting to Commander, all units have entered the ambush zones!”

“Report— Three thousand five hundred deep sea demons have been lured out, upon investigation, ninety percent bear karmic burdens!”

“Report~ Enemy forces have entered the ambush, Dragon Clan units are ready!

Awaiting Commander’s orders!”

High in the sky, where layers of white clouds gathered, several chairs were surrounded by thousands of celestial soldiers.

Heaven Court’s Demon-Vanquishing Commander Hua Ritian, along with Supervisor Dongmu Gong, Chief Coordinator Li Changshou, and a Dragon Clan elder with real authority, all sat together here.

Messenger soldiers continuously rushed over, shouting out the received messages.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Commander, time is of the essence, please give the order.”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar looked at Li Changshou, his eyes showing slight confusion as if saying:

‘Is this all a commander does?’

Li Changshou smiled and winked, giving the Jade Emperor’s avatar an affirmative signal.

The Jade Emperor’s avatar’s lips twitched, he coughed once and spoke:

“All units attack, annihilate the demons.”

It sounded somewhat lacking in energy.

“Yes!” The messenger soldier responded, turned, and jumped back ten zhang, taking out a treasure command flag and quickly waving it, the military order transforming into streams of light falling toward various parts of the South Sea.

Shortly after, spiritual power surged in the South Sea, the sea surface churning with waves!

The roars of demon beasts, the angry howls of azure dragons, and the battle cries of celestial soldiers and generals reached the clouds!

Dongmu Gong and Li Changshou, as well as that Dragon Clan elder, all remained composed, each waiting.

However, the Jade Emperor’s avatar, as the main commander, couldn’t help but stand up, gripping his sword, and declared:

“As the commander, one should fight alongside the soldiers, how can one cower here!”

“Commander,” Li Changshou advised, “generals and commanders have different roles, as the supreme commander of three armies, you need to oversee the overall situation. If you go charging into battle, the army will be headless, which could be dangerous.”

Dongmu Gong also said: “Indeed, Commander Ritian, don’t be hasty!

Charging into battle is the task of the generals, the commander needs to keep the big picture in mind!”

Hua Ritian nodded upon hearing this, sat back in his position, and continued waiting quietly.

In other words, if he hadn’t appointed his avatar, he would now be exactly as he had imagined, leading a force of troops in the sea, engaging in fierce battle with those sea demons.

The Jade Emperor’s avatar looked at Li Changshou and transmitted: “Sea God, Sea God… Minister Changgeng!”

Li Changshou turned his head to look over and transmitted: “Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar said: “You take charge of the overall situation, I will go down to fight alongside the soldiers.

From troop deployment to ambush arrangements, it’s all been you and Wood Public doing it, is my role merely to give one command?”

Li Changshou transmitted: “Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the Three Realms…”

“Minister, do you know how monotonous my days have been since becoming Jade Emperor? I’ve finally waited for such a battle!”

Li Changshou: …

Seeing the Jade Emperor about to complain, Li Changshou pondered for a moment and transmitted:

“Your Majesty, when the South Sea battle calms down, when we go to sweep the demons in the West Sea, this minor deity will hold back Dongmu Gong, and you can personally lead the army to eliminate demons.

However, Your Majesty must still take care of yourself. When we move to the West Sea, the Western Teaching will have likely realized what’s happening and might try to interfere.”

“Excellent!”

The Jade Emperor’s avatar immediately became energized, sitting upright in his chair, waiting for reports of victory.

Soon after, on the sea surface below, more and more massive corpses covered in wounds appeared.

A great formation supported by tens of thousands of celestial soldiers covered a sea area of three thousand li in radius, preventing the disturbance here from affecting too many sea creatures.

Two hours later, the South Sea battle came to an end;

Heaven Court’s forces and Dragon Clan forces combined, pursuing and killing where the great sea demons had gathered.

According to the rules Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong had discussed before the battle, demons bearing karmic burden would have their demon souls destroyed directly, leaving no future troubles;

Demons without karmic burden would be confined in Heaven Court’s Demon Imprisonment Tower, waiting until their lifespans were exhausted to naturally reincarnate.

Fighting continued half the night until dawn approached.

Heaven Court and Dragon Clan forces gathered at the edge of the South Sea, majestically heading toward the West Sea, rushing without rest to the next great battlefield.

When the South Sea demons were being conquered, the deep sea demons of the West Sea prepared to withdraw overnight, leaving the Five Continents from the West Sea’s End of the World, but were intercepted midway by Dragon Clan forces, with most being trapped at the edge of the West Sea.

And this time, as Li Changshou had agreed with the Jade Emperor’s avatar, he held back Dongmu Gong and suggested that Heaven Court’s Demon-Vanquishing Commander Hua Ritian personally lead an army in a ten-thousand li raid against the demon group in the West Sea…

Watching Hua Ritian’s figure charging at the front, Dongmu Gong frowned and said:

“How can this young man be so impatient? Sigh, after returning, I really must submit a memorial to His Majesty about him!

Sea God, shall we submit a joint memorial?”

“That won’t be necessary, Wood Public can do it himself.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Since General Hua has already led the troops forward, Wood Public needs to control the overall situation.”

Dongmu Gong shook his head slightly, looking at Hua Ritian’s retreating figure with some disappointment at his lack of steadiness.

Just then, a white cloud rapidly approached from the depths of the West Sea, blocking the path of Heaven Court’s forces.

Li Changshou extended his immortal consciousness to investigate, but due to the distance, he could only vaguely see…

It was an old Daoist in brown robes carrying a large gourd on his back, standing alone blocking the cloud path of the Heaven Court and Dragon Clan’s great army, his body emanating intense pressure.

This old Daoist spoke coldly, taking down the purple-white large gourd from his back, holding it in his palm, his gaze fixed on the Heaven Court general at the very front — Hua Ritian.

“What is Heaven Court’s intention? Do you insist on completely exterminating the remnants of the Demon Court!”