Today, the wind in the Palace of Doushuo was unusually clamorous.

Under the ancient tree, Grand Master Xuandu stretched lazily as he sat up. Just as he was about to lower his head and calculate what had disturbed his cultivation, two scenes floated up in his mind…

The first scene was set on a vast ocean.

Changshou’s avatar?

The Jade Emperor? East Wood Lord?

Grand Master Xuandu’s forehead sprouted several question marks as he scrutinized the scene…

Subsequently, the Grand Master witnessed a vortex appearing before Li Changshou and the other two. Within the vortex was a six-winged golden cicada.

This golden cicada fluttered its thin wings, unleashing six streams of golden light toward Li Changshou’s avatar, but they were deflected by the Jade Emperor’s intervention.

The first scene ended there, transitioning to the second…

In a wilderness, a mortal riding a white horse, wearing a kasaya robe and a monk’s hat, was slowly traveling from east to west across mountains and ridges.

This person seemed unable to endure the scorching heat and was about to faint, but behind him surged countless golden lights, with the shadowy figures of several great Buddhas standing there…

The Primordial Dao’s resonance trembled lightly, and the second scene vanished.

Grand Master Xuandu pondered for a few moments, falling into deep thought.

What did Master mean by this?

The first scene was very clear. Based on Grand Master Xuandu’s understanding of his master’s divine abilities, this was something that had already occurred.

As for the second scene, except for that young mortal riding the white horse with strange attire, everything else was very blurry. This was a glimpse of the future fate that Master had captured with his supreme divine abilities and presented to him.

‘Master’s divine abilities have become increasingly profound and unfathomable.

However, what does Master want me to do this time?’

Xuandu sat quietly under the old tree, embarking on a long and winding path of contemplation, finally reaching his conclusion.

‘Does Master want me to bring this person into the Human Dao’s lineage?’

Suddenly, a muffled thunder sounded, and that familiar Dao resonance appeared in Xuandu’s mind again, this time condensing into two characters:

[Test] [Eliminate]

Grand Master Xuandu couldn’t help but press his hand to his forehead, realizing he had guessed so wrongly.

It was truly rare for Master to ask him to ‘test’ if he could kill this spirit…

‘Tsk, the karmic ties surrounding this person can even make Master consider testing them. Though not unprecedented, it is indeed rather bewildering.’

It must be related to the lifeline of their sect.

“Very well, I shall first discuss this with Changshou.”

Grand Master Xuandu stood up and stepped out of the Palace of Doushuo, glancing toward the direction of the Sea God Palace before turning toward the East Heaven Gate.

After taking three to five steps, the Grand Master was already standing above the main protective formation of the Immortal-Conferring Gate.

This time, Grand Master Xuandu didn’t call for Li Changshou to come out and meet him. Instead, the thought of ‘seeing what Shou is doing’ arose in his mind, and following this thought, his figure vanished without a trace.

And so, Little Qiong Peak welcomed an honored guest today.

Grand Master Xuandu’s form was hidden beyond the cosmos as he strolled around Little Qiong Peak.

The scenes in his eyes all carried faint ripples, which were the barriers of the cosmos, the boundary between reality and illusion.

First, the Grand Master found a bean field enclosed by formations, discovering one of Li Changshou’s paper avatars tending to the bean seedlings.

Grand Master Xuandu laughed softly, initially wanting to appear and chide Li Changshou for not cultivating properly, but noticed this paper avatar’s movements were stiff, each action exceedingly ‘standard,’ and its eyes lacked spiritual light.

The Grand Master immediately understood—Li Changshou’s consciousness was not here.

Next, the Grand Master looked toward the nearby card room, seeing three women of varying builds sitting at a table, each holding papers and playing games.

The Grand Master couldn’t help but think of the “three stars surrounding the moon” arrangement of Li Changshou’s clay figures in the Marriage Palace…

One of these three was indeed one of the ‘three stars.’

The Grand Master flicked his finger, sending three streams of energy into the card room.

Xiong Lingli, Jiang Lin’er, and Jiu Jiu, who were playing Fight the Landlord, simultaneously shuddered their ‘delicate bodies’ and collapsed face-up on the table, surrounded by mysterious Dao resonance.

They were pulled into their respective dream realms, beginning their comprehension of their respective Daos.

Grand Master Xuandu was in no hurry and turned around to continue his casual stroll.

This time, following Li Changshou’s energy signature, he arrived at the lakeside cottage, discovering six paper avatars that Li Changshou had hidden there.

‘Changshou is so concerned about Master and Junior Sister’s safety…’

The Grand Master glanced at Ling’e, who was in the process of ascending, and his eyes lit up.

This time, Grand Master Xuandu put in extra effort, drawing out a pure Primordial Dao resonance that wrapped around Ling’e’s primordial spirit. After her ascension was complete, it would provide her with another great wave of insights.

After completing these tasks, the Grand Master looked at Old Daoist Qi Yuan in the Turbid Immortal Realm, then turned to leave.

Unmoveable, next one.

The Grand Master strolled around Little Qiong Peak as if taking a leisure walk, seeing the long-abandoned ‘Immortal Cat Divination Barrel’ and visiting the riverside grove designated as the barbecue area.

It was evident that life at this peak was carefree and comfortable.

After touring almost the entire Little Qiong Peak, the Grand Master finally walked toward Li Changshou’s alchemy room.

The layers of formations Li Changshou had arranged naturally couldn’t detect the Grand Master’s presence beyond the cosmos.

But when the Grand Master entered the alchemy room and was about to reveal himself, he discovered that Li Changshou who was refining pills…

Was still a paper avatar.

‘Where has this fellow hidden his true self?’

The Grand Master became slightly intrigued and slowly spread out his powerful immortal consciousness. This time, it didn’t take much effort to find that secret chamber within Little Qiong Peak’s mountain body.

Even by the Grand Master’s judgment, the design of this secret chamber was quite ingenious, existing in the gaps between dozens of formations, truly difficult to notice…

It wouldn’t be easy for ordinary beings to find this place.

The Grand Master’s form walked through the void, instantly arriving at the underground secret chamber.

Li Changshou was writing and drawing behind a desk, his expression quite serious.

What was he writing?

The Grand Master secretly peeked and saw that each paragraph on Li Changshou’s paper began with the character ‘Ao,’ appearing to be a roster of dragon race experts.

The Grand Master was about to chuckle and alert Li Changshou to his presence, but just as the breath reached his throat, he forcibly held it back.

Eh?

He hadn’t looked carefully earlier, but how was this fellow here still an avatar?!

The Grand Master couldn’t help but laugh.

Then he opened his left palm, within which condensed a virtual Taiji diagram, and fine ripples spread out beyond the cosmos, causing gentle breezes to blow across various parts of Little Qiong Peak…

Moments later, the Grand Master used his divine abilities to walk through the void, returning to the surface-level formation-covered alchemy room, stopping before a bookshelf in the corner, staring at a flat scroll.

The Grand Master stood with his hands behind his back, slowly leaning forward, easily seeing through the bamboo scroll’s outer layer to the small ‘room’ wrapped in restrictions.

This room was only three inches long and one inch in height and width, yet it was ‘complete with all five organs,’ furnished with all kinds of furniture.

On a tiny bed, there was a figure the size of an ant, lying with legs crossed, drinking fine wine and reading an ancient book with great interest…

The Grand Master almost laughed out loud.

Thinking of all the paper avatars and paper avatars and paper avatars he had seen along the way, the Grand Master finally revealed himself and expressed his heartfelt sentiment toward that scroll:

“You fellow, why are you hiding so thoroughly? Are you afraid some Sage will come to catch you?”

“Hmm?”

The ‘tiny person’ in the scroll suddenly froze and then became completely rigid on the bed.

It was only now that the Grand Master used his divine abilities to check, discovering this was still…

Just then, behind the Grand Master, the paper avatar guarding the pill furnace turned its head to look, hurriedly standing up.

“Grand Master, disciple is here! That one was for luring enemies!”

After speaking, this paper avatar quickly took out a porcelain bottle from its sleeve and poured out a jade-colored spirit pill, which burst with a pop and transformed into Li Changshou’s form.

Li Changshou hurriedly performed a ceremonial bow, carefully lifting his head to look at the slowly turning Grand Master.

Uh…

There’s killing intent!

…

A moment later, in the valley where Li Changshou and the Grand Master first met.

The Grand Master stood by the stream with a smile, in an excellent mood;

Li Changshou, sporting a bump on his forehead, was roasting some spirit fish just caught from the river, continuously letting out soft sighs…

What technique did the Grand Master use to flick him a ‘forehead snap’ that made it hurt and swell until now, yet without damaging his Dao body or primordial spirit?

Then he heard the Grand Master ask leisurely:

“Changshou, have you encountered any powerful enemies recently?”

As if what happened earlier never occurred.

Li Changshou’s thoughts turned, first thinking of the answer, then wondering why the Grand Master asked this question.

Speaking of powerful enemies encountered recently, Daoist Lu Ya should count as one, and Daoist Randeng also counts as one.

And Golden Cicada, who barely counts as one-third…

At present, Li Changshou said solemnly:

“Disciple recently encountered an old Daoist who has a gourd spiritual treasure called the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.

This old Daoist is named Lu Ya, and according to the disciple’s deductions, he should be the remaining crown prince of the ancient demon court.

His flying knife is quite formidable, and if he fully refines it, he will become quite a troublesome figure.”

“Lu Ya?”

The Grand Master calculated with his fingers and soon slightly furrowed his brows.

Red Embroidered Ball warning.

“The Holy Mother has obscured his fate,” the Grand Master pondered for a moment, opened his left hand, and the Taiji diagram appeared again as he continued calculating.

Soon, the Grand Master said: “This Lu Ya is hiding in the Golden Crow Palace on the Sun Star.

It seems the Holy Mother has intervened, consolidating for him the remaining fortune of the demon race, with the mandate of the demon race’s revival; but this remaining fortune is not deep, the mandate is uncertain, and his end is likely not to be good.

Changshou, I didn’t come today for this Daoist Lu Ya.

Have you seen a six-winged golden cicada?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “That’s a fierce beast raised by the Western Faith, disciple has crossed paths with him several times.”

“Take a look.”

The Grand Master flicked his finger, and a strand of Dao resonance entered Li Changshou’s brow, and the same scene appeared in Li Changshou’s mind.

With just one glance, Li Changshou recognized what this referred to.

Tang Monk riding a white horse, wearing a kasaya robe, and setting off on the westward journey!

Unconsciously, Li Changshou even matched this scene with background music of [Come come, come come come come, come come come come].

Whether the pitch was accurate is another matter.

Golden light surged behind Tang Monk, which was the fortune of the human race, and also the merit of the human race.

Such a scene verified that the ‘scripture retrieval’ was indeed the Western Faith’s scheme to use human fortune and merit for their great prosperity.

Li Changshou pondered for a few moments and asked: “Grand Master, what are the Sage’s instructions?”

The Grand Master said calmly: “One character for ‘test,’ one character for ‘kill.'”

Hmm?

Li Changshou was truly surprised, and his first reaction was…

This is not like the Human Dao at all!

Then, Li Changshou became somewhat puzzled.

If their own Sage’s scheme of ‘transforming barbarians into Buddhism’ after the Investiture of the Gods was successful, then the future Buddha of the Buddhist faith would be today’s Treasure Master of the Severing Teaching…

Could it be that there are still some variables in this scheme?

Or perhaps, Treasure Master failed to outmaneuver the West, and instead was countered by the two Western Sages?

The relationships within were complex and intricate, and Li Changshou couldn’t sort them out for a moment.

The Sage’s order to the Grand Master was to try they kill this Golden Cicada and ruin the West’s future great fortune.

A flash of inspiration struck in his heart, and Li Changshou immediately laughed.

The Grand Master asked curiously: “Why does Changshou laugh?”

“The Sage’s character for ‘test’ is truly profound,” Li Changshou lifted the roasted fish and respectfully offered it, feeling a sudden enlightenment in his heart.

Even Sages actively seek ways to break through!

What the fate mechanism presented should be one of the most likely futures, and when the Sage saw such a possibility, if dissatisfied with it, even their own Sage of Supreme Clarity and Non-Action would intervene!

In other words—

Nothing is predetermined, future events are not unbreakable!

Li Changshou’s Dao heart trembled, insights arose in abundance, and the few knots in his heart from before were gently pierced by this character for ‘test’!

After collecting all these insights, Li Changshou did not enter a state of enlightenment in front of the Grand Master.

The Sage had already given orders for him and the Grand Master to try targeting Golden Cicada; if they could eliminate Golden Cicada and change the scripture retrieval matter to some extent, it would naturally be a win-win situation.

If the attempt proved fruitless, they would retreat in time, and there would be no losses.

The Grand Master smiled and said: “Seeing the divine light constantly in your eyes, do you already have an idea?”

“Disciple has an immature thought, please correct me, Grand Master.”

“Just speak.”

The Grand Master sat back on the blue stone and began slowly savoring the roasted fish.

“Yes,” Li Changshou pondered for a few moments, pacing slowly nearby as several schemes for eliminating Golden Cicada flowed smoothly from his mouth.

It just so happened that recently, he had directly confronted Golden Cicada and had a conflict.

That day, Golden Cicada had struck hard at Li Changshou’s avatar, intending to destroy it.

For this reason, Li Changshou invited the Grand Master to ‘uphold justice,’ and in turn, hunt down Golden Cicada—it was reasonable and well-founded.

This hook was already sufficient.

The current problem was that neither Li Changshou nor Grand Master Xuandu could be certain whether the two Sages of the Western Faith knew of Golden Cicada’s ‘importance.’

“…therefore, disciple feels we must strike down this Golden Cicada in an instant, not giving the other side any chance for rescue.”

“This is somewhat troublesome,” the Grand Master said, “A Sage can turn impossibility into possibility, and no Sage can be underestimated.

Moreover, Changshou, you don’t have much certainty in dealing with Golden Cicada, so how can you achieve a killing blow?”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but weakly ask: “Grand Master… isn’t disciple just responsible for strategizing?”

The Grand Master immediately smiled, his eyes narrowing, as his right hand reached out, slowly condensing a small pagoda wrapped in primordial yellow energy in his palm.

“This time, it’s not as simple as just one power, rest assured.”

Li Changshou’s heart relaxed slightly, and he couldn’t help but ponder for a few moments, beginning to rethink countermeasures.

Just then, his divine sense slightly stirred, sensing that Ao Yi had arrived at Anshui City with a large contingent of dragon troops.

Ao Yi had come from the Western Sea Dragon Palace, having presumably been kept there for a banquet earlier, only managing to return today.

Li Changshou said: “Grand Master, could you take disciple to Anshui City?

It happens that a disciple has a scripture to gift to Ao Yi, and it would be more dignified if the true body went. We can also carefully deliberate this matter there.”

“Very well.”