Before the mountain gate of Crossing Immortal Sect, immortal light swirled and auspicious clouds gathered. A beam of divine radiance descended from the heavens, bathing Ling E in its glow.

Ling E stood silently upon a lingzhi-shaped celebration cloud, her left hand holding her sword. Though immortal maidens danced and immortal elders offered congratulations around her, she gazed intently into the depths of the sky, lost in thought…

‘She must be comprehending the elevation of her realm of life,’ Li Changshou thought to himself. As various figures flew past him on clouds, his paper clone quietly withdrew.

The urgent matter at hand was to escort his true body back to Little Jade Peak.

Wandering outside while injured was far too dangerous.

‘So this is the realm of immortality?’ Ling E stared into the void, gazing at the great gate of the Dao that had opened before her. Yet her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

‘Now that I’m an immortal too if Master Brother and I were to have children in the future, would they also be immortals…’

Master Brother… children…

Oh my, what shameful thoughts!

Ling E’s delicate face flushed crimson. A soft murmur escaped her lips as a wisp of white steam rose from her head, drifting up through the immortal light.

After achieving immortality, her steam production had notably increased.

Right, where was Master Brother?

Hearing Ancestral Master Jiang Lin’er’s hearty laughter approaching from afar, Ling E temporarily set aside her inner revelations and turned around on her cloud to search.

Ling E instinctively stood on tiptoe, but could only see the figures approaching… These people, whether familiar or strange, close friends or mere acquaintances, were far less important than that one vanished figure.

‘Stupid Master Brother…’

Not even a word of congratulations!

Ling E pouted with disappointment, yet her heart warmed at the memory of Master Brother’s constant reminders before and during her tribulation. A sweet smile played across her lips.

Subsequently, waves of comprehension flooded her mind…

It was as if Ling E’s dao heart had gained a spiritual spring, continuously flowing with insights she had never experienced before.

The great Dao resonated clearly, like the harmony of qin and se.

A thoughtful look appeared in Ling E’s beautiful eyes. She bowed gracefully to the approaching friends and fellow disciples, then gathered her skirts and sat cross-legged, dense dao patterns manifesting around her.

At this moment, a question arose in Ling E’s mind.

‘What is my Dao?’

From the beginning of her cultivation until today, how she cultivated the path she walked, and the answers she received to any problems, all came from Master Brother.

Even the principles initially taught by Master were later modified by Master Brother.

So, was her own Dao merely an imitation of Master Brother’s Dao?

Not entirely.

Master Brother had said:

The great Dao arises naturally, moving without spirit, proceeding without mind.

One’s personal Dao comes from the heart, not born of heaven and earth, but as the right and the foundation.

Every living being has its own Dao, arising from within. Master Brother’s guidance and transmitted insights merely simplified the process of ‘comprehending the great Dao to crystallize one’s own Dao.’

Now, pushing open the gate of mysteries, the traces of the Dao lay before her eyes.

Ling E’s spirit became perfectly tranquil. As she accepted, comprehended, and felt, thinking of Master Brother’s form, she gradually sank into the great Dao…

Behind Ling E, seven-colored immortal light condensed into a book, which slowly turned a page, radiating waves of brilliant light.

Heavenly flowers gently descended as rainbow clouds drifted.

“Don’t approach, Ling E is ascending. Don’t disturb her.”

Jiang Lin’er’s voice carried to all directions. The phenomena surrounding Ling E caused the assembled immortals of Crossing Immortal Sect to halt, not daring to advance…

It was Sect Leader Ji Wuyou who personally took action, arranging a barrier of immortal power to directly transport Ling E back through the sect’s mountain gate to Little Jade Peak.

Li Changshou, having already retrieved his true body, departed from Little Jade Peak to carefully move Ling E, who had entered the ‘state of dao comprehension,’ back to the lakeside cottage. He activated multiple layers of restrictions to let her peacefully enter closed cultivation.

The Nine Heavenly Tribulations were no small matter.

The entire sect, high and low, had been completely stirred up. Many peak lords and elders brought their proud disciples to Little Jade Peak to offer congratulations.

Li Changshou followed behind Master Qi Yuan, who followed behind Ancestral Master Jiang Lin’er, constantly receiving and seeing off visitors. Little Jade Peak rarely saw such excitement…

But Li Changshou’s full attention was not there.

He divided his focus between healing himself and maintaining awareness through a Golden Immortal realm paper clone, secretly watching that demon couple.

Because of this, Li Changshou’s confusion and shock grew increasingly intense.

What was the background of this panther demon?

…

Perhaps due to experiencing heavenly punishment numerous times, or his current position as a proper deity of the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou had become particularly sensitive to certain special dao patterns related to the Heavenly Dao.

Especially since he frequently communicated with a certain enthusiastic Daoist friend surnamed Hua, often sensing the hidden ‘protective power of the Heavenly Dao’ on this friend…

When first seeing that black panther, Li Changshou only felt an inexplicable familiarity.

But after secretly following for a while, Li Changshou’s heart jolted!

He sensed a faint thread of the Heavenly Dao’s protective power on this panther!

A black-skinned panther demon…

Protected by the Heavenly Dao…

Could it be that he had accidentally discovered that remarkable rider of the great tribulation?

But if this was Shen Gong Gong, the ‘child of tribulation’ from the Investiture of the Gods, why would he appear here and now, running and playing in the fields with a female demon?

And where did that initial sense of familiarity come from?

What to do…

Li Changshou began careful deliberation.

He had already stepped out of the Investiture of the Gods; that great tribulation no longer concerned him. Even if this black panther truly was Shen Gong Bao, there was no need to scheme against him.

There was nothing worth scheming about.

It would be better to avoid such major karmic ties.

To play it safe, he should pretend he hadn’t seen the black panther.

Li Changshou’s paper clone stopped its earth movement technique underground and used his immortal perception to take a few more looks at this black panther before turning to leave.

Suddenly, it was as if a string in Li Changshou’s heart had been gently plucked.

In the ethereal realm of the Dao, the truth of non-action manifested.

This familiar obscure dao pattern, this familiar way of transmitting thoughts, this familiar frequency of great Dao resonance…

【Go】.

A single word crystallized in Li Changshou’s mind.

Li Changshou’s spirit surged. He emerged from the earth, made a Daoist salute toward the sky, then turned and unhesitatingly pursued that black panther.

The Sacred Lord had issued another command!

This long-absent Sacred dao pattern, this long-awaited Sacred decree!

Finally, Li Changshou confirmed that the Highest Clarity Sacred Lord was watching over this humble law master. His personal safety rating skyrocketed!

However, his family’s Sacred Lord had only given this single word ‘go,’ so what exactly did it mean?

Li Changshou carefully pondered and quickly gained some insight.

The Sacred Lord must be telling him to carry out what he had previously wanted to do or to follow this black panther and help him overcome some disasters…

What had he wanted to do before?

Nothing more than confirming this black panther’s true identity.

But now, with the Sacred Lord personally issuing orders, it corroborated this black panther’s identity.

This fellow must be Shen Bao, Shen Gong Bao of the Investiture of the Gods – the one who exhausted himself scheming, went to great lengths, and repeatedly switched sides to ensure the Heavenly Court would have more genuine Daoist experts in its divine positions!

After thinking back and forth and carefully considering for several hours, Li Changshou finally decided to follow the spirit of that 【Go】 command and complete what he had wanted to do after discovering the black panther had the Heavenly Dao’s protection…

It was now deep night, with a bright moon and sparse stars, thin mist, and smoke-like clouds.

Li Changshou calculated which path this demon couple would choose. This Golden Immortal realm paper clone went ahead first, leaving an old version paper clone on the road.

When the black panther carried the young woman to this spot, Li Changshou’s paper clone took the form of a slightly plump elder, emerging from a large tree. Holding a fly whisk, he appeared in the black panther’s line of sight and said with a smile:

“Fellow Daoist, please wait.”

—This was the first thing!

To call out “Fellow Daoist, please wait” to Shen Gong Bao!

The black panther hurriedly halted his swift stride, nearly causing his wife to tumble from his back.

The demon couple tensed as if facing a great enemy. The young woman lithely jumped down from the black panther’s back, gripping two daggers behind her, her delicate face turning cold.

The black panther rose to stand upright, smoothly transforming into the appearance of a middle-aged man. He shielded the young woman behind him, watching Li Changshou with intense wariness.

At this moment, Li Changshou’s paper clone rode forward on a cloud, lightly laughing as he swished his fly whisk, saying:

“Why have you two fellow Daoists appeared here, and where are you heading?”

The couple exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

This elder of unfathomable cultivation… wasn’t going to kill them?

“Fe-fellow Daoist.” The panther demon stepped forward with cupped hands and said, “My wife and I are merely passing through. We have neither harmed anyone nor coveted treasures. We only wish to go south… to visit family.”

Visit family?

Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes and asked: “Then where do you come from? Do you have names?”

“We are spirits from the mountains who achieved human form,” the panther glanced at his wife, tenderness in his eyes.

“I am called A Bao, and she is Miao Miao.

Senior, could you please let us pass this once?

We truly aren’t going to South Jambudvipa to harm anyone, we just want to hurry there to visit family.”

The female demon stepped forward to hold the panther demon’s arm, nestling against his side as if no one else was present.

Li Changshou: …

He was being shown public displays of affection by Shen Gong Bao?!

A Bao…

Was this truly the future Sacred One’s chess piece that would stir up storms among the Three Schools?

Why did his family’s Sacred Lord want him to meet this person?

Regardless, he should first establish good karma with him.

“Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to be nervous. Neither of you bears karmic burdens, and I have no intention of eliminating demons.

The reason I appeared to meet with Fellow Daoist is simply because I feel we’ve met somewhere before, giving me a sense of familiarity.

Here, take this.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou produced two storage treasure items, each containing two middle-grade immortal treasures and some spirit stones, using immortal power to float them toward the panther couple.

“This…”

A Bao and his wife looked at each other in confusion, staring at the treasures floating before their eyes, unsure whether to accept them.

“Husband,” the water demon Miao Miao gently tugged the panther demon’s arm, “that person is gone.”

The panther looked up to find no one remained ahead.

After some hesitation, the panther demon still picked up the two bracelets. Seeing the treasures and spirit stones inside, he became instantly excited.

“Wife, we have magical treasures to use now!”

“Yes, is this also good karma from husband’s previous life?”

Previous life?

Hiding in the shadows, Li Changshou’s eyes lit up, quickly catching this key phrase.

“Well, I can’t remember that. I can only recall a few memories from my previous life now,” the panther demon sighed softly, his eyes full of emotion. “But for this senior expert to treat me this way, and say I look familiar…

Ah, enough of that, may he live peacefully all his life!”

“Husband!”

The water demon Miao Miao hurriedly covered the panther’s mouth, exclaiming urgently: “You just now!”

The panther froze, only then realizing belatedly, and violently slapped his face.

“Oh, this mouth of mine! How do I keep forgetting about this!”

Underground, Li Changshou’s paper clone slowly developed a question mark on his forehead.

What was going on?

At this moment, Li Changshou’s true body, healing in the underground chamber of Little Jade Peak, suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staring in bewilderment at his suddenly wayward immortal power, completely stunned.

Why did he suddenly spit blood?

How many years had it been? He was a Teachings School disciple who had stability carved into his marrow, never having the slightest error in his circulation of the heavenly cycle. He was even a Golden Immortal now, so why would such a basic problem suddenly appear?!

Following this, Li Changshou’s paper clone heard the female demon’s scolding…

“Husband, oh husband, you really mustn’t speak carelessly!

You said you would stay with me forever, but the very next day a female demon showed up, claiming to be your former lover.

You said we would surely be safe and sound, but within three days a great demon appeared and forcibly occupied our cave-dwelling…

Ah, you might as well have cursed that senior just now.”

The panther sighed: “Wife, this mouth divine ability of mine has no effect when used deliberately. It only works when spoken unintentionally.”

Hearing this, Li Changshou roughly understood some things.

Truly worthy of being a child of the great tribulation.

That phrase “Fellow Daoist, please wait” wasn’t something just anyone could say casually and have it work like Master Panther…

But Li Changshou didn’t fully believe it and immediately began several “tests.”

He staged two small scenes ahead.

The first scene showed two human cultivators fighting with equal strength, but in the final moment, both were gravely wounded and unable to move.

The panther couple witnessed this scene firsthand, but they simply avoided it themselves, showing no greed to deliver finishing blows, instead choosing to take a detour.

Seeing this, Li Changshou immediately had these two paper clones fake their deaths, deliberately revealing some treasures.

The panther couple discussed briefly and, though extremely reluctant, quickly left…

Just this regard for life earned high praise from Li Changshou.

In the second scene, Li Changshou arranged for paper clones disguised as human cultivators to ambush the panther couple, capturing them directly. The panther cursed repeatedly in anger.

And Li Changshou’s true body’s injuries from heavenly punishment began healing faster during these curses!

Did it work?

Subsequently, a masked expert emanating demon qi appeared to drive away the human cultivators and rescue the panther couple, giving them some medicinal pills.

The panther was deeply grateful and was about to speak words of blessing when the water demon promptly reminded him, interrupting his “spell-casting.”

This time, Li Changshou keenly caught a trace of dao patterns flowing…

The panther’s gift could be pretty much confirmed now.

Heavenly Dao’s Curse of Reverse Fortune!

Absolute Heavenly Dao’s Curse of Reverse Fortune!

Li Changshou carefully considered that from any angle, he must maintain distance from this panther.

Such bizarrely unpredictable divine abilities were impossible to guard against. It was best not to let him know one’s name and stay as far away as possible.

With the Sacred Lord’s command, Li Changshou didn’t dare leave easily and secretly followed them.

The panther-led water demon Miao Miao was in hiding here and there, experiencing close calls but no real danger as they passed through the territories of many immortal sects in East Victory Divine Continent. After half a month, they reached their destination.

—A certain forest at the borders of South Jambudvipa, East Victory Divine Continent, and Central Divine Continent.

By now Li Changshou also knew that the panther was here to seek treasure, looking for some “inheritance” left from his previous life.

The treasure-hunting process went smoothly. In the valley at the center of the forest, the panther found a stone wall. After some searching on the wall, he opened a hidden stone door and led the water demon Miao Miao inside…

Li Changshou heard the panther exclaim happily after finding large quantities of spirit stones and magical treasures:

“Wife! We can cultivate peacefully here from now on!

These spirit stones are enough for us both to cultivate to Celestial Immortal realm!”

However, as soon as the panther’s words fell, Li Changshou’s immortal perception detected several demon experts flying over from the direction of South Jambudvipa, chatting and laughing as they flew back to this valley…

In the underground chamber of Little Jade Peak, Li Changshou couldn’t help but hold his forehead in his hand, secretly expressing admiration in his heart.

Then a flash of inspiration struck him as he suddenly thought of something—perhaps he really could make use of Master Panther’s golden mouth…

Heaven’s Court, Demon Vanquishing.