“Senior, junior is a disciple of the Human Dao, currently serving as Sea God in the Heavenly Court, here by the Jade Emperor’s command to visit the human ancestors in Fire Cloud Cave.”

“Human Dao disciple, Heavenly Court Sea God? Ahem!”

The strong man who had been rather casual moments ago immediately sat up straight upon hearing this.

Even wearing just a straw rain cape, he still emanated dignity without anger, his square face showing traces of majesty.

As Li Changshou watched this strong man, a towering mountain seemed to slowly rise before his eyes, standing tall above the marsh, commanding authority between heaven and earth!

Which retired human sovereign was this?

Then this person spoke in a deep voice: “Do you have a Heavenly Court token?”

“Indeed I do,” Li Changshou immediately produced His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s letter, holding it forth. Upon it, a golden-scaled dragon shadow slowly swam, a strand of mysterious Dao rhythm flowing outward.

The square-faced strong man slowly nodded, saying: “Indeed from the Heaven-mandated ruler of the Three Realms.”

Changing his tone, he continued: “Since you claim to be a Human Dao disciple, you should be of human origin. Why come with an incarnation?”

“I dare not deceive Senior,” Li Changshou sighed, “This disciple’s true form dares not move about in the primordial chaos, and now only serves the Heavenly Court through incarnations.”

“Then how do you prove your identity? This place isn’t somewhere you can just casually enter with a picked-up letter,” the strong man frowned, “I don’t mind, but if you disturb the seniors’ peaceful cultivation, how will you take responsibility?”

The seniors…

This strong man’s appearance, he seemed to have vaguely seen it on an ancient sheepskin scroll…

A flash of inspiration crossed Li Changshou’s mind, roughly guessing this strong man’s identity. He smiled: “Could Senior be Emperor Yu, who opened mountains and managed waters to benefit all living beings, then established the Nine Provinces and advanced human civilization to great prosperity?”

The strong man’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly nodded, saying: “Here I am the youngest in seniority and shallowest in merit, don’t carelessly call me Emperor.

I am no longer a human sovereign now, just an old man in a straw cape among the mountains.”

Li Changshou smiled and cupped his hands, “Junior spoke wrongly. Senior can verify junior’s Heavenly Court divine power.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou’s sleeve gently fluttered, and ripples appeared on the marsh below his feet, followed by schools of fish gathering from all directions.

Most fish here were spirit fish, their scales brilliantly colorful, swimming beneath the surface, dazzling to the eye.

The strong man’s eyes lit up as he casually picked up his fishing rod.

Li Changshou smiled and pointed, directing streams of spirit fish toward the wooden boat, surrounding the big man.

“Hahaha! You’re a Sea God who can even control lake fish… ahem!”

The strong man’s mood greatly improved, his accent slipping out again, but he quickly coughed and said calmly while holding his fishing rod:

“You’re quite capable as a Sea God.

However, this is lake and marsh territory, yet you can still exercise divine power – how is this explained?”

This retired human sovereign’s true nature was quite approachable.

Li Changshou pondered briefly upon hearing this, his mind quickly realizing this might be Emperor Yu testing him.

So he said gently:

“Rivers gather dew drops, all streams return to the sea.

Though Junior’s divine power can only be freely exercised in the sea, most waterways in the world connect to the sea, allowing divine power to be reflected here.”

“Well said – rivers gather dew drops, all streams return to the sea!”

The strong man praised, seeing his fishing rod sink, quickly pulled it up as a spirit fish broke the surface, which he swiftly caught and put in his nearby fish basket.

Then the strong man let out a comfortable sigh, looking at the schools of spirit fish in the lake, slightly waving his hand.

Li Changshou’s divine power dissipated, and the spirit fish each flicked their tails, quickly disappearing beneath the surface…

The strong man’s eyes crinkled in a smile: “Worthy of being a proper Heavenly Court deity, currently most valued by the Jade Emperor in Linxiao Hall. That single line about all streams returning to the sea perfectly matches my nature, showing your wisdom.

Come sit, I hereby order you to wait for you, with three questions.”

Li Changshou immediately became cautious.

There was a “professional” master of divination and prophecy in Fire Cloud Cave – that would be Fu Xi, who could know things before they happened.

According to legend, Fu Xi was the reincarnated elder brother of Goddess Nüwa, succeeding Suiren Shi’s position to gradually lead humanity toward stability and prosperity.

Suiren Shi spent his whole life leading humanity in a struggle against heaven and earth, fighting for survival between shamans and demons;

Fu Xi put part of his energy into consolidating humanity’s own fortune, bringing civilization to humanity, and perfecting human cultivation methods…

Among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the primordial chaos, each led humanity step by step toward prosperity in the ancient end times, with each human sovereign “specializing” in different directions and making different contributions.

Great eras, how easily they came.

Li Changshou calmly rode his cloud forward, landing on the wooden boat and sitting at its stern.

Yu looked Li Changshou up and down several times, smiling: “If you can’t answer these three questions, leave your gifts and letter today and return on your own. The seniors probably won’t see you.”

The implication was that he was reminding Li Changshou.

As long as you answer the questions well, there might be opportunities to gain from those human sovereigns…

Li Changshou’s expression immediately became quite solemn as he cupped his hands and said seriously: “Please, Emperor, pose your questions.”

“First question: You are a greatly valued minister of the Heavenly Court’s Emperor and human origin. If the Heavenly Emperor were to bring disaster upon humanity, how would you persuade him to withdraw the command?”

Li Changshou pondered…

Starting with such a major question?

This question, no matter how one answers, would be difficult to perfect, just like the question of “how to achieve both loyalty and righteousness.”

Emperor Yu smiled with narrowed eyes, quietly waiting for Li Changshou’s answer without hurrying.

Li Changshou sat thinking for a long while, hundreds of thoughts crossing his mind.

After a moment, Li Changshou said somewhat cautiously:

“I wouldn’t persuade.”

Yu’s mouth twitched slightly as he laughed and scolded: “I asked you how to persuade, yet you say you wouldn’t – that’s not answering the question!”

Li Changshou inwardly praised – though retired, this human sovereign was not at all muddled, nor easily led astray by his rhythm.

“Senior, junior cannot and should not persuade. Please let Junior explain in detail.”

“Speak,” Yu smiled, “No matter how flowery your words are if you can’t explain the reasoning, you won’t pass this test today.

To be honest, as a human sovereign, I’ve seen plenty of eloquent speakers. Don’t harbor thoughts of sophistry.”

“Junior wouldn’t dare,” Li Changshou smiled and nodded, beginning his…

First argument.

The answer to this question lies outside the question itself.

The basic answer:

[The Heavenly Dao does not operate according to human will. Humans should learn to live in harmony with nature, as humans are part of heaven and earth.

Moreover, years of disaster and abundance are heaven’s numbers. Humans have birth, aging, sickness and death, fortune, and misfortune from dawn to dusk. The Heavenly Dao has its balance, which cannot be lightly broken.]

Then, he could extend slightly:

[Humans cannot decide whether natural disasters will strike, but humans can struggle against disasters, using human power to overcome calamities.]

Then dig deeper into the meaning:

[Humanity is currently the sole protagonist among heaven and earth, and should always remain vigilant, self-strengthening, and self-reliant, using natural disasters to temper themselves, avoiding being replaced as the protagonist by other races.]

Finally, conclude with a Human Dao concept:

“Humans follow heaven and earth, the Dao follows nature.

Nature is not merely gentle, but also has cruelty and violence.

Humanity must learn to revere heaven and earth to flourish eternally as the protagonist.”

A ‘perfect retirement imperial examination answer’ was thus produced.

It could even be made into a formula to apply to other content.

As Li Changshou finished speaking, Yu frowned deeply and sighed lightly.

Seeing this, Li Changshou couldn’t help feeling anxious and asked: “Senior, did Junior speak inappropriately?”

“Not at all, you answered very well, just a bit too standardized, as if you had prepared the answer beforehand, making it hard for me to evaluate.”

Yu pondered twice, “Consider you passed this test.

Second question: If one day the Heavenly Emperor wishes to descend to the mortal realm to experience human life, would you obstruct or assist?

Just answer obstruct or assist, no need for more words, my head is already spinning…”

Li Changshou was startled upon hearing this, then said: “Neither interfere, this is the Heavenly Emperor’s own wish, unrelated to me.”

“Very good, third question…

If your wife berated you harshly over some small matter, should you forgive her or counter-attack?”

Of course, choose to forgive her!

Li Changshou almost blurted out but then realized this question might not be so simple.

The first question seemed to ask about the Heavenly Emperor bringing disasters but asked about humans and nature.

The second question seemed to ask about the relationship between the Heavenly Emperor and humanity but had hidden implications, probably because Fu Xi had divined that His Majesty would descend to experience human life.

Otherwise, how could Yang Jian in the Investiture of the Gods war have the background of being the “Jade Emperor’s nephew”? The Jade Emperor must have reincarnated in the mortal realm, making it possible to bring back a sister when returning to the Heavenly Court.

Then this third question, though seemingly about a common domestic matter of “husband being scolded by wife,” actually asked about…

It should be about the conflicts between matriarchal and patriarchal groups within humanity!

Li Changshou pondered briefly and said: “Counter-attack, and must counter-attack.”

“Oh?!”

Emperor Yu’s spirit stirred, his accent unconsciously emerging again, but he asked in a lowered voice: “Why so firm?”

“Since Goddess Nüwa created humans and the ancestors established marriage customs, men and women should be equal.

Men are physically strong and do more labor, providing clothing and food for the family; women nurture new life, are more detail-oriented, and also help men with labor.

Both jointly raise children, thus allowing humanity to multiply endlessly.

If either side becomes too dominant, it will cause an imbalance of yin and yang; when one family is unstable, all families become unstable, then tribes become unstable, endangering the clan.

Therefore, when faced with unfair treatment, one should reasonably counter-attack to maintain the balance of yin and yang!”

Yu’s large eyes immediately filled with bright light, “Friend, your words express great Dao principles!

Indeed, husband and wife should respect each other. I was once a human sovereign governing the Nine Provinces – how can I be constantly scolded by a woman after retirement!”

The expression on Li Changshou’s immortal paper incarnation immediately froze.

This Emperor…

What situation was this?

Yu stood up, his figure sturdy and strong, grabbing Li Changshou’s rather thin paper incarnation arm, smiling: “Come! Friend, follow me! Today, in front of you, I shall properly speak to her!”

The retired human sovereign’s words suddenly stopped, cold sweat appearing on his forehead;

The marsh for hundreds of li suddenly darkened, and Li Changshou instinctively looked up to see a graceful figure standing silently a hundred zhang high in the air, extending her right hand toward the two people on the small boat below.

Yu’s tiger-like body trembled as he shouted: “Wife, please don’t act, we have a guest!”

“Hmph!”

A cold snort was heard from the clouds, and Li Changshou felt the immortal power in his paper incarnation cease functioning, while Emperor Yu before him instantly took on a petrified color.

Before Li Changshou could react, they had both turned to stone statues, including their robes and treasure pouches.

The graceful figure in the clouds then vanished, and heaven and earth returned to clarity, leaving the two men below with tears of regret in their hearts…

A moment later, a fresh breeze passed by, creating slight ripples on the water’s surface.

Half an hour later, two pairs of birds passed by, each stopping briefly on Emperor Yu and Li Changshou’s foreheads before spreading their wings and flying away.

“Um…”

Yu’s voice sounded in Li Changshou’s mind.

“Sea God, I’m sorry for involving you in this.”

“Senior, that person…”

“My wife, I owed her during the water management period, so I can’t get angry at her,” Yu coughed twice, “Her divine ability will naturally resolve in three days. Sea God, are you in a hurry? If you’re hurrying, I’ll take action to free us both.”

“Not hurrying, not hurrying.”

Li Changshou’s heart twitched, fortunately, his consciousness was unrestrained, and after some awkward chat with Yu, he left part of his consciousness here.

At this moment, it was better not to communicate much with Emperor Yu, as this was probably one of Emperor Yu’s most embarrassing moments…

Thus, Li Changshou became even more admiring of Senior Xuanyuan.

However, speaking of that, according to legend, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan was the reincarnation of the Great Black Turtle of North Uttarakuru Continent, with the merit of supporting heaven, and all beings in the primordial chaos owed him karmic debt.

If it were anyone else, they couldn’t bear such fortune.

…

The second day of sharing hardship with Emperor Yu, sunny.

On Little Jade Peak, Li Changshou was watching over a pill furnace;

Earlier when his treasure-seeking paper incarnations were searching for the Treasure-Collecting Copper Coin in the Middle Divine Continent, though the main goal wasn’t achieved, other small targets were accomplished.

The “Records of Primordial Chaos Treasures” needn’t be mentioned, as it had no practical value.

Li Changshou had also collected some spirit herbs and medicinal herbs, and could now begin preparing to refine “enlightenment” pills to help Old Master Wan Linyun and Master break through their bottlenecks.

Because he needed to constantly monitor the Fire Cloud Cave situation, Li Changshou didn’t dare divide his attention much, only daring to ponder the Dao of pills here.

Just as he was feeling bored, he suddenly sensed a slight surge of spiritual energy from the chess and card room behind the mountain, as if someone was breaking through…

Li Changshou’s divine sense immediately penetrated layers of restrictions to see Ling E surrounded by spiritual light.

At this moment, semi-transparent eight-and-a-half-petaled lotus flowers floated around Ling E, her graceful figure appearing more enchanting, her cultivation just a thread away from Return to Dao Nine.

Li Changshou slightly frowned.

The timing was still insufficient, her Dao foundation was not stable enough, and her personal Dao was unclear. Even assuming she could properly use the tribulation gift package, her success rate for crossing tribulation was only about ninety-seven point five percent.

That gift package was much more powerful than what Li Changshou had prepared for himself back then.

“Looks like it’s still necessary to arrange a cultivation training camp.”

Not expecting you to ascend through tribulation…

But you must survive, Ling E.