After being delayed for two hours on the mountain, Emperor Great Yu hurried over.

Having temporarily resolved the domestic disharmony, Great Yu was refreshed and energetic, walking with a spring in his step. He led Li Changshou to pay respects at several celestial mountains, visiting the retired Human Sovereigns in Fire Cloud Cave and delivering the small gifts from the Heavenly Court.

True care comes from the younger generation’s thoughtfulness.

However, Li Changshou felt quite regretful about not being able to visit Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan’s home.

—Master Xuanyuan was already waiting in Master Fuxi’s cave dwelling. Li Changshou’s next stop would allow him to meet three human ancestors at once: Fuxi, Divine Farmer, and Xuanyuan.

A great deal!

Along the way, Great Yu couldn’t stop praising Li Changshou, telling each elder Human Sovereign they met that Li Changshou possessed ‘great wisdom’ and introducing him as ‘the most intelligent and talented person in the Heavenly Court.’

Li Changshou felt quite embarrassed by all the praise…

But he could see that Emperor Great Yu was truly excited. If not for their vast difference in status and the great karmic weight of being a Human Sovereign, Great Yu would probably have thrown an arm around his shoulders and said:

‘Sea God, you are my brother!’

Thinking carefully, Li Changshou realized that Elder Great Yu’s only trouble now was his post-retirement relationship issues, a daily puzzle that Great Yu needed to solve.

With Li Changshou’s help this time, Great Yu’s life should be harmonious for quite a long period ahead…

And as long as one could thoroughly study the ‘Sea God Scripture,’ future domestic harmony and marital bliss wouldn’t be a distant dream!

From this perspective, Li Changshou felt Great Yu’s enthusiasm toward him was quite reasonable.

On the way, Li Changshou asked Great Yu why he didn’t seek advice from Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan.

Great Yu smiled bitterly:

“How could it be the same?

Elder Xuanyuan’s situation is completely different from mine.

I heard that among those three thousand-plus elders, aside from a small portion with profound cultivation who can remain aloof, most have divided into several major factions, spending each day contemplating how to curry favor with Elder Xuanyuan.

That level, I truly can’t learn to match.”

Li Changshou: …

Good thing he hadn’t gone there, otherwise with just one gift set and three Peaches of Immortality, wouldn’t it have turned into a bloodbath!

Approaching Fuxi’s cave dwelling, Great Yu took the initiative to transmit a reminder:

“Elder Fuxi knows the numbers of Heaven and understands divination, his way of calculation is incomparably profound. Later, don’t speak empty or boastful words before the Elder, everything must be told truthfully.”

“I wouldn’t dare deceive the Elders in the slightest.”

Li Changshou showed a solemn expression and cupped his hands in thanks.

Great Yu rode the clouds, bringing Li Changshou down before Fuxi’s cave.

The cave entrance was wide open, with laughter coming from inside, seemingly from immortals playing chess.

Walking forward, there was a somewhat winding stone cave passage;

The floor slabs were carved with complex hexagrams, the cave ceiling above flickered with celestial constellations, and the walls were hung with landscape paintings, occasionally showing some unique compositions.

The spiritual energy within the cave dwelling carried a faint fresh fragrance, giving an indescribable sense of comfort.

Li Changshou didn’t release his immortal awareness to probe.

With masters like Fuxi and Divine Farmer, releasing his immortal awareness might be detected and would be discourteous.

After turning another bend, the view suddenly opened up.

Before them was a rather tall circular stone hall, with artificial mountains, stone steps, and a pavilion to the left, and a treasure pond with brocaded carp and a lazy small spirit turtle to the right.

A stream circled the edge of the circular stone hall, the overall arrangement converging into the form of Yin-Yang Taiji.

In the pavilion were two elderly men and one middle-aged man.

Most eye-catching was the elder wearing a red robe.

This senior elder had a clean-shaven face that, though showing signs of age, had not a single wrinkle, his cheeks even emitting a faint moist luster…

This red-robed elder was playing Go with the middle-aged man wearing a light yellow robe.

Looking at this middle-aged man again, his appearance seemed ordinary at first glance, but looking closer revealed his steady bearing and a second look showed his righteous features and brows containing integrity. Sitting upright before the chess board, his straight posture gave a sense of hidden sharpness.

Great Yu transmitted:

“Sea God, don’t mistake them – the one in red is Elder Divine Farmer, the one in yellow is Elder Xuanyuan, and the one in blue is Elder Fuxi.”

Li Changshou acknowledged via transmission and looked toward the blue-robed elder wearing a grass crown, his heart full of respect for these three retired Human Sovereigns.

At this moment, the three in the pavilion each paused their actions.

As the host, Fuxi stepped forward first, standing before the pavilion stroking his beard with a smile. Though his voice was soft, it gave a sense of warmth.

“Young friend, you’ve had a tiring journey, come rest here.”

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan stood up behind him, casually tossing his chess piece onto the board, and smiled: “Is this the Sea God that Friend Fuxi has mentioned these past few days?”

Divine Farmer frowned at this: “How can you cheat again!”

“Ah haha, hahaha!”

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan immediately threw back his head in laughter, “Friend, though you haven’t won, I haven’t lost either. Let’s call it a draw, a draw, hahaha!”

Divine Farmer’s face showed helplessness, but then he smiled with a sigh, turning his gaze outside the pavilion toward Li Changshou.

Putting aside everything else, Li Changshou was already quite satisfied today.

Meeting so many figures who lived in human legends, for someone accustomed to reading ancient texts like him, truly gave a sense of ‘characters jumping out of books.’

Led by Emperor Great Yu, Li Changshou walked to the pavilion and made a deep Daoist bow.

“Heavenly Court’s Sea God, Human Teaching disciple, pays respects to the Elders.”

“Good.”

“Not bad.”

“Come in quickly.”

Fuxi, Divine Farmer, and Xuanyuan each responded, calmly accepting the greeting in the pavilion, smiling as they watched Li Changshou.

However, at this time and place, Li Changshou’s Sea God paper clone appeared the most elderly…

His status was truly the lowest.

Entering the pavilion, he presented the gifts;

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan waved his palm, and a stone stool appeared nearby, inviting Li Changshou to sit.

Then, including Great Yu, the four retired Human Sovereigns looked at Li Changshou with great interest.

Li Changshou: …

Look any longer, and he’d have to start charging!

Fuxi stroked his beard and smiled:

“This avatar is quite cleverly conceived, actually using the method of paper-cutting to form a person, laminating multiple paper figures, and using refining restrictions, mixed with pill-refining tempering techniques…

There seem to be Shamanic tribe secret records too. It should also reference profound primordial spirit avatar methods.

Tsk, young friend, having such ingenious ideas is truly not easy.”

Hearing Elder Fuxi speak thus, Li Changshou felt somewhat bitter in his heart.

It felt like his divine ability was just a ‘cobbled-together’ low-grade external avatar…

Which it was.

When he didn’t have external avatar methods, to keep his true body from appearing, he did piece together this paper Daoist avatar!

After the Grand Master bestowed the external avatar method, the paper avatar’s advantages of being cheap, harmless to oneself, not requiring part of the primordial spirit, allowing multi-line operation without mental splitting, and other benefits made Li Changshou determined to continue modifying the paper avatar path.

Until today, the paper avatar method and the tree of Small Jade Peak have helped him tremendously.

Though the latter was destroyed in batches… that’s not important.

Being able to see through his paper avatar’s details at a glance, Elder Fuxi’s cultivation and knowledge were truly…

Awe-inspiring!

Perhaps this was what it meant to be a master.

After the elders commented on Li Changshou’s paper figure for a while, Fuxi brought the topic to the ‘main business.’

Fuxi said: “Young friend’s visit this time should be about humanity’s worship of Heaven and Earth, which shows thoughtfulness.”

Li Changshou said slowly: “The Jade Emperor has always had great respect for the elders in Fire Cloud Cave.

By reason and emotion, we should ask the elders’ opinions before confidently promoting the Heavenly Court’s dignity in the South Jambudvipa Continent.”

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan smiled: “In that case, let’s go through the motions and agree.”

“Ah, friend, we mustn’t be casual with the Jade Emperor!”

Fuxi showed a serious expression as he spoke, and Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan obediently nodded in agreement, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Young friend, how about this?”

Fuxi pondered for a moment, taking out a jade disc from his sleeve and gently pushing it before Li Changshou.

“These are the human ceremonial rites. If one wishes to worship Heaven and Earth, it should be promoted according to these rites.”

Li Changshou stood up to receive the jade disc and said solemnly: “This junior will certainly present this to His Majesty.”

“Good,” Fuxi nodded with satisfaction. With business concluded, he showed his previous peaceful smile and discussed avatar methods with Li Changshou for a while.

The so-called discussion was just Li Changshou listening while Master Fuxi pointed out some imperfections in the paper avatar method.

After listening for just a short while, Li Changshou felt sudden enlightenment!

Previously troubling questions about the paper avatar method’s limits now had brand new solutions!

The Fire Cloud Cave visit had been tremendously rewarding for Li Changshou.

He received the hydrological treasure map and Elder Great Yu’s ‘friendship’;

Moreover, he gained Elder Fuxi’s guidance, bringing a new dawn to his paper avatar’s modification path;

He also completed his report to the Jade Emperor, earning some merit…

Li Changshou felt almost embarrassed to ask about the Treasure-Falling Copper Coin’s whereabouts.

However, Li Changshou’s gains from this visit were far from over.

First, Fuxi smiled and said:

“Young friend rarely comes by, and I have no suitable treasures to give, so how about I divine a hexagram for you?”

Hearing this, Li Changshou quickly weighed the pros and cons in his heart, immediately stood up to make a Daoist bow, and expressed his thanks.

At that moment, Fuxi raised his hand and lightly pointed at the treasure pond, and that lazily floating small spirit turtle transformed into a stream of light, flying into Fuxi’s hand and becoming an old tortoise shell.

Li Changshou watched from the side, pressing his lips together.

A spiritual treasure taking form, appearing like a living thing – could this tortoiseshell be an innate spiritual treasure?!

An innate spiritual treasure for divination?!

Fuxi smiled: “The divination method I promoted among humans earlier involved fire-roasting tortoise shells and observing the shell patterns, but this method was easily interfered with by the Five Elements.

Today’s method is different.”

As he spoke, Fuxi took out stone strips of varying lengths from his sleeve, placed them in the tortoiseshell, and gently shook them a few times.

“Young friend, is there something you wish to know?” Fuxi asked thus.

Li Changshou’s thoughts stirred – could Elder Fuxi be intentionally giving him an opportunity?

“This junior’s cultivation is shallow, and I lack a suitable protective treasure,” Li Changshou cupped his hands and said, “Today I boldly request Elder to help divine the whereabouts of such a treasure.”

“Good,” hearing this, Fuxi showed a slight smile, gently shaking the tortoise shell, letting stone strips of varying lengths fall out.

Fuxi gazed at these stone strips, calculating with his fingers as strands of Dao rhythm circled him.

The three retired Human Sovereigns at his side watched with great interest, none speaking to disturb him.

After a moment, the Dao rhythm around Fuxi dispersed, and he smiled:

“According to the hexagram’s revelation, the treasure is in the Zhen position relative to your true body.

Your true body should travel south for sixty-six thousand li, then west for thirty-three thousand li, cross over a Headless Mountain, and wade across a river, and in a valley there, you can find what you seek.”

“Many thanks, Elder!”

“No matter,” Fuxi wiped the sweat from his brow, shaking his head, “Divining for you is truly exhausting. Even without calculating your true body’s location, the Taiji Diagram kept interfering.

A young friend is truly valued by Lord Supreme Clarity.”

Li Changshou gave an awkward smile, his heart also filled with surprise.

For Master Fuxi to divine for him, while withstanding the Taiji Diagram’s power, such divination skill was truly unmatched…

Then Divine Farmer spoke gently: “Friend Fuxi gave a divination, so this poor Daoist should also make a gesture.”

Speaking thus, Divine Farmer took out a brocade box from his sleeve, using immortal power to pass it to Li Changshou.

“This item is called the Hundred Woods Return to Origin Zhenzhu. Place it in a spiritual herb garden with abundant spiritual energy around, and it can make posterior woods mature overnight.”

Li Changshou’s spirits soared – with this treasure, the continued research and production of immortal beans would be fully guaranteed.

“Many thanks, Elder.”

At this moment, Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan also stood up…

“Both friends have given gifts, if I don’t make a gesture, wouldn’t that seem too stingy?”

Li Changshou secretly sighed – this trip had left him owing quite a few favors to Fire Cloud Cave.

Fortunately, Fire Cloud Cave was outside the Three Realms and Five Elements, itself untouched by karma, otherwise he would need to carefully consider accepting these gifts.

And Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan’s gift was unique.

It was a jade talisman containing a cultivation method. Li Changshou didn’t have time to look closely, only seeing the name—

‘Returning Qi to Origin Method.’

It shouldn’t possibly be some dual cultivation method between man and woman… right?

“Many thanks, Elder!”

“Well,” Great Yu, who hadn’t been able to get a word in from the side, also stood up, saying with a smile, “Since all the Elders have given gifts, I’ll give again!”

As he spoke, Great Yu took out from his sleeve that… familiar iron rod.

This time, Great Yu had specially wiped away the rust, and the rod gleamed with golden light up and down, covered in dense measurements, full of merit power, using immortal power to pass…

Li Changshou hurriedly stopped him, “Elder, absolutely not, absolutely not, this junior has already received Elder’s hydrological treasure map.”

Great Yu smiled: “Compared to how you helped me, Sea God, these are nothing, don’t be so polite!”

Li Changshou showed a troubled expression and said softly: “Lord Lao’s side…”

“How about this,” Great Yu casually wiped away the measurements on the iron rod, turning it into a smooth iron staff.

Great Yu smiled: “This counts as being refined by me anew, here!”

With that, regardless of anything else, he threw the iron rod directly into Li Changshou’s arms.

Li Changshou was almost sent flying…

Beside them, Fuxi calculated with his fingers and soon laughed several times, having glimpsed some heavenly secrets.

Fuxi said: “This treasure has a destiny with a young friend, bringing benefit without harm.”

In front of the other three Human Sovereigns, Li Changshou didn’t dare let Great Yu lose face, and hearing Fuxi’s words, his heart relaxed slightly.

He thus put away the iron staff.

It seemed this item’s destiny was indeed to pass through his hands into the East Sea Dragon Palace.

Perhaps there were other destinies, such as using its merit power to aid the Dragon Tribe…

Li Changshou again made a Daoist bow in thanks.

Fuxi asked if he knew how to play chess, and Li Changshou returned the favor after careful consideration by taking out his “Fighting Great Immortals” playing cards.

‘Fighting Great Immortals’ was Small Jade Peak’s reserved activity, not to be casually given away.

But when Li Changshou brought out this deck of cards, he had already sent paper avatars to secretly spread them in East Victory Divine Continent, Central Divine Continent, and the Heavenly Court.

Thus, none could trace his background through the source of ‘Fighting Great Immortals.’

Everything in Fire Cloud Cave was good, except that the years were long, and the great masters were bored…

Adding some entertainment for the Elders was also a way for Li Changshou to show respect to these human ancestors.

Soon, from Fuxi’s cave dwelling came laughter about ‘four celestial immortals’ and ‘five consecutive breakthroughs,’ notably louder than when they were playing chess earlier…

Thus, three days later.

Li Changshou bid farewell to the Human Sovereigns, with Great Yu personally escorting him to Fire Cloud Cave’s exit.

Before leaving, Li Changshou looked at the celestial mountain he hadn’t visited, which should have been Suiren’s cave dwelling.

Li Changshou asked: “Elder, should this junior pay respects to Elder Suiren?”

“No need,” Great Yu sighed, “Before leaving Fire Cloud Cave, just make a bow toward the Great Marsh.

Elder Suiren’s battle body is unwell, cultivating in seclusion at the bottom of the Great Marsh.

The Elder led humanity to struggle for survival between the Shamanic and Demonic tribes, fighting countless battles and enduring hardships.

According to Elder Fuxi, when Elder Suiren entered Fire Cloud Cave, his tightly wound primordial spirit relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief. If not for merit power wrapping around Elder Suiren then, the Elder’s battle body might have shattered directly.

Moreover, Elder Suiren sometimes goes berserk, unable to suppress the demonic qi within, so it’s unsuitable to receive visitors.”

Battle body…

Demonic qi…

Li Changshou rose in solemn respect. Reaching Fire Cloud Cave’s exit, he turned and made three Daoist bows toward the Great Marsh, saying:

“A child of humanity pays respects to Elder Suiren here.

May Elder’s precious body recover soon, may our human race prosper eternally, and may the four seas remain peaceful.”

Born human, this karma cannot be avoided.

The water’s surface rippled finely, a gentle breeze blowing past, seeming to respond to him.