How to plan against the Golden Cicada?

Naturally, first, lure the cicada from its mountain, entice it into formation, restrict its divine abilities, then show weakness to the cicada, strike when it’s unprepared, suddenly launch the attack, and scatter its ashes.

Li Changshou understood this was a crucial battle in his march toward Doushuai Palace!

But honestly speaking, if Li Changshou were to “accidentally encounter” Golden Cicada right now in confrontation, he wouldn’t be Golden Cicada’s match.

There was no other reason—the accumulation of cultivation in various aspects differed too greatly.

In terms of battle techniques and reaction speed, today’s Li Changshou had quite a significant gap compared to the Golden Cicada.

But Li Changshou deeply understood the importance of ‘flexibility’ and would not stubbornly maintain face by truly going head-to-head with the Six-Winged Golden Cicada.

If combat power wasn’t enough, make up for it with schemes.

Add some formations, plus a billion points of strategy.

With the Dao School’s Senior Brother as an escort and primordial treasure for protection, Li Changshou actually stood in an undefeatable position.

What he needed to consider was how to ‘trap the cicada’ and ‘break through its defense’.

The Great Master was also worried Li Changshou might carelessly get counter-killed by Golden Cicada, so this time he was quite generous.

When they went to the Western Sea to set up the ambush circle, the Great Master gave Li Changshou three aids to overcome Golden Cicada’s divine abilities:

[Water-Fire Return to Origin Formation]—used to seal space and time;

[Nine Spirits Mystic Qi Formation]—used to trap Golden Cicada and break his extreme speed;

And two Nine Transformations Golden Pills.

The Great Master himself didn’t have many spirit treasures, after all, he could borrow the Human School’s many important treasures anytime, like the Taiji Diagram, Primordial Yellow Tower, Wind Fire Reed Mat, Rising Ground Flame Banner, and others…

No help for it, Li Changshou wasn’t yet an official member, he could only use the trial card given by official members…

After the Great Master waved his sleeve in the air, personally setting up two great formations, and as per Li Changshou’s request, hiding these two formations in a desolate forest where the Western Sea meets Western Oxhead Continent…

“Changshou, catch the tower!”

Great Master Xuandu called out lightly, holding the Heaven Earth Intricate Primordial Yellow Tower in his palm, giving it a gentle push, sending the treasure tower above Li Changshou’s head.

The three-inch tall tower scattered primordial yellow qi around it, while also radiating seven-colored auspicious light, enveloping Li Changshou from head to toe.

Supreme defensive spirit treasure, one of the strongest treasures in heaven and earth, the Heaven Earth Intricate Primordial Yellow Tower!

Just like that, it landed above his head!

At this moment!

Li Changshou felt a kind of warmth, a sense of security, a kind of indescribable… emotion!

Disciple Changshou, willing to toil for the Human School, shed blood within limits!

The treasure tower lightly hummed, and some insights arose in Li Changshou’s heart.

It was as if the tower was conversing with him, encouraging and comforting him, telling him to stand tall, bravely face the future—

‘What are you thinking about? Hurry up! Open your divine mind and let this tower protect your primordial spirit too.’

Uh? Who’s speaking?

Li Changshou’s eyes widened as he looked up at the small treasure tower above his head.

The light around the treasure tower seemed to flash rhythmically, and threads of warm energy circulated inside Li Changshou’s body, making his immortal power slightly clearer.

Beside him, Great Master Xuandu stood with hands behind his back, smiling without speaking.

Then that voice, neither male nor female but somewhat rough, continued to sound in Li Changshou’s mind, chattering endlessly…

This voice even used a regional accent that Li Changshou was quite familiar with from his previous life.

‘Why’s your mental state fluctuating like this?

I’m just lent to you temporarily by the master, don’t think you can control me with just this bit of cultivation.

As a Human School disciple you should have some Human School disciple style, how can your mental state fluctuate like this? Where’d you come from anyway?

With this tower protecting you today, what could go wrong?

Unless the Demon-Slaying Sword Formation comes or the Pangu Banner activates, whoever could hurt you, this tower will write its name backward, believe it or not?

Look at you, already so favored by the master, almost becoming the master’s disciple, how come you still don’t have any Human School expert presence, you’ve completely lost face for the Human School!

Tell me, can you straighten your back or not?

…’

Li Changshou’s forehead was covered in black lines as he turned to look at the Great Master.

The Great Master turned away with shaking shoulders but didn’t laugh out loud.

The Great Master said: “Changshou, you must respect your seniors.”

“Yes,” Li Changshou respectfully answered, making a deep bow to the Heaven Earth Intricate Primordial Yellow Tower above his head, then relaxed his divine mind.

The small tower slowly sank from above Li Changshou’s head into his dao body.

At this time, the Primordial Yellow Tower was still frantically outputting:

‘That’s more like it, I am a spirit treasure, do you know what a spirit treasure is? Do you know what primordial yellow qi is?

You don’t, right? Come, let this tower explain slowly to you.

This starts from before heaven and earth were created…’

Li Changshou: …

The Great Master smiled: “When spirit treasures have sufficient spirituality, they can naturally communicate with their wielder.

These treasures of my teacher usually stay by the teacher’s side and get bored, and the teacher refuses to communicate with them, so they appear somewhat talkative.”

“Great Master,” Li Changshou was a bit panicked, “why did I hear some… strange accents?”

For this question, Li Changshou found the answer in his heart.

‘Still calling it strange accents, you think this tower can speak? Did this tower grow a mouth or what?

This is this tower converting spiritual thoughts into your primordial spirit, your primordial spirit interprets it and forms the voice.

You don’t even understand this, how did you cultivate to Golden Immortal?

How old are you, still so naive… uh, not even three hundred years old? Never mind then, you’re just a baby.

Don’t worry, Tower Grandpa’s got your back, do whatever you want!’

The voice suddenly became much more kindly caring, much gentler than before.

Li Changshou pursed his lips and frowned—today, he had certainly learned something new.

“Great Master,” Li Changshou said, “why don’t we rehearse the withdrawal a few times.”

The Great Master smiled: “Isn’t your strategy already complete?”

“No matter how much is written on paper, it’s not as good as trying it out a few times,” Li Changshou made a bow, “please help me, Great Master.”

“Good,” the Great Master shook his sleeve, “tell me, how shall we rehearse?”

Li Changshou took out several paper figures from his sleeve…

Thus, two days later.

…

At noon, the warm sun shone on the blue sea.

In the sky above the Western Sea near the Western Oxhead Continent, several figures rode clouds down from high above.

The first person had white hair and white robes, eyes containing a smile, holding a whisk in hand, his immortal body emanating a faint Golden Immortal realm pressure—naturally, this was Li Changshou’s [Sea God] paper dao figure.

Behind him were three silver-armored Heavenly Generals, their auras similar and subtly connected, seeming to also be in the Golden Immortal realm.

These four figures rode clouds above the Western Sea Dragon Palace, directly entered the sea, and headed toward the Dragon Palace.

Just as they entered the seawater, dragon roars could be heard continuously.

Azure dragons and flood dragons emerged from that magnificent crystal palace, transformed into human form before Li Changshou’s group, and bowed from afar.

An elder with a dragon head led the crowd out, calling: “Greetings to the Sea God, please come in quickly!”

Li Changshou knew this dragon-headed elder was the Western Sea Dragon King’s brother, who also held considerable power in the Western Sea Dragon Palace.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Li Changshou and the three ‘Heavenly Generals’ were led into the Western Sea Dragon Palace.

“Our Dragon King is already waiting in the hall, please follow me, Sea God.”

“Very well.”

Li Changshou kept his hands in his sleeves, whisk lying in his arms, smiling as he followed the dragon-headed elder to the main hall where the Western Sea Dragon King was.

The three Heavenly Generals did not enter the palace.

Upon seeing the Western Sea Dragon King, Li Changshou directly stated his purpose:

“Dragon King, this minor god comes today to inquire about something.

That primordial fierce beast who tried to harm your dragon princes and attacked my avatar that day—has the Western Sea Dragon Palace found any trace of him?”

This was the first step of the cicada elimination plan—fishing at the Dragon Palace.

Hearing this question, the Western Sea Dragon King sighed: “To be honest with the Sea God, we found nothing.”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou frowned slightly, “At the very least, you should have found out when he infiltrated the Dragon Palace, and how he became acquainted with the princes, right?”

“Well…”

The Western Sea Dragon King stroked his beard and said:

“I did indeed have people investigate this matter, and personally questioned my son Ao Shi, but truly found nothing.

We only know this fierce beast is a six-winged golden cicada, with metal and water attributes, skilled in space-time divine abilities, who once caused havoc in remote antiquity before being driven out into the chaotic sea.

Moreover, this Six-Winged Golden Cicada has someone concealing his heavenly fate behind him…”

The implication was clear—pointing out Golden Cicada’s Western background.

Li Changshou asked again: “Truly not even a slight clue about this Golden Cicada’s whereabouts?”

The Western Sea Dragon King slowly shook his head and said: “I will order a full search immediately.”

“Never mind, no need to trouble yourself.”

Li Changshou stood up, cupped his hands to the Western Sea Dragon King, showed displeasure on his face, and turned to leave the hall.

The Western Sea Dragon King rose wanting to keep him, but couldn’t speak the words on his lips…

How could he, the Dragon King, not know the Western Sea’s situation? He simply lacked the power to act. If they stayed still now they could maintain the status quo and contend secretly, but if they moved, the Western Sea Dragon Palace would collapse from here…

Li Changshou walked outside the hall, seemingly having calmed somewhat, turned to make a Daoist bow to the Western Sea Dragon King, and said calmly:

“Dragon King, I will settle this account of Golden Cicada injuring my avatar myself.

I’ve troubled you much today, please don’t mind.

This minor god takes leave.”

After speaking he turned and left, with dissatisfaction written directly on his face.

“This…”

The Western Sea Dragon King could only sit on his throne sighing lightly, unable to do much more.

At the same time, in a corner of the Western Sea Dragon Palace, a dragon soldier watched Li Changshou’s departing figure, a flash of fierce light passing through his eyes…

Leaving the crystal palace, Li Changshou met up with the three Heavenly Generals, and one general stepped forward to ask:

“Sea God, did you find any trace of that fierce beast?”

“The Western Sea Dragon Palace couldn’t find anything,” Li Changshou sighed, “Sorry to have troubled you three to come along. I thought the Dragon Palace would take this matter quite seriously, didn’t expect such a result.”

Another general said: “Sea God, that day the Marshal wounded this fierce beast, now is a good time to seek revenge!”

“What kind of ability is it to bully our Sea God’s avatar? That day the Marshal wounded him severely with just a glance, today with us three brothers here, we must make this fierce beast submit!”

“Indeed, this fierce beast is cunning and deceptive, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, he truly deserves death!”

“Good,” Li Changshou said, “How about this—you three follow me to where we encountered that fierce beast before to look for clues.”

The three generals all agreed, and the four left the Western Sea Dragon Palace, riding clouds toward a location thousands of miles away.

Has he taken the bait?

In a dark corner, Li Changshou pondered as his divine sense observed all around.

Suddenly Tower Grandpa’s voice sounded in his mind:

‘Little one, you’re being watched, is that the fierce beast you’re looking for?

Has three pairs of wings, made himself all golden and shiny, following behind right now, looks quite handsome in human form.’

Li Changshou’s spirit jolted.

Though he couldn’t detect Golden Cicada’s traces, the words of the Sage Lord’s spirit treasure couldn’t be false.

This Golden Cicada was truly fearless, and had almost zero immunity to the ‘provocative method’…

Li Changshou wasn’t rushed, following the plan.

He and the three Heavenly Generals soon arrived at the sea area where they had encountered Golden Cicada before, and carefully searched…

This search was naturally fruitless.

As Li Changshou had predicted, Golden Cicada didn’t directly appear but continued hiding in the dark, seeming to hesitate.

Then, add more fuel to the fire.

Li Changshou said: “You three, searching like this is truly like finding a needle in the sea.

He spat quite a bit of blood here before, but now, it’s difficult to search for his aura.”

A general asked: “Sea God, then what should we do?”

“I plan to go to Spirit Mountain in Western Oxhead Continent and directly question the Western School about this matter,” Li Changshou said, “The West contends with our Heaven Court for the dragon tribe’s fate, yet this Golden Cicada directly attacks me, too overbearing.

I still have the identity of a Human School disciple, I truly must ask the Western people, does their pet fierce beast have any rules!”

Pet fierce beast?

At the seafloor, in a space-time crack, that handsome young Daoist’s hand veins bulged and his mouth corner twitched constantly, the fierce light in his eyes growing more severe!

On the sea surface, Li Changshou and the three Heavenly Generals rode clouds directly toward the Western Oxhead Continent.

In the space-time crack, Golden Cicada’s expression changed several times, and though angered, he still weighed his options.

—What impact would it have on himself if he let the Sea God and his group cause trouble at Spirit Mountain?

But while pondering, Golden Cicada unconsciously followed in secret, not worried at all about being exposed.

Golden Cicada could naturally see that this Sea God was still an avatar, not the Sea God’s true body, otherwise, he wouldn’t need to hesitate so much and would have struck to kill long ago…

He didn’t regard those three Heavenly Generals at all.

Soon after, Golden Cicada made his decision.

‘Can’t let them go to Spirit Mountain. Even if it doesn’t affect me, the vice principals might blame me for handling things poorly, affecting my discipleship.’

Fierce light blazed in Golden Cicada’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou was somewhat troubled…

Tower Grandpa hiding in his dao body was currently displaying the Human School spirit treasures’ traditional skill…

[Nagging].

‘What are you hiding for? Fight back! With this tower here what are you afraid of?

This is just a Daluo realm fierce beast, not even a quasi-sage, how could he hurt a hair on your head?

Think about it, even the former Demon Emperor was somebody, when I protected the Great Master, didn’t we still make the Demon Emperor lose his temper several times?

You’re Human School, understand?

That…’

In the darkness, Li Changshou struggled to maintain his smile, trying his best not to be affected by the Primordial Yellow Tower.

After all, being lectured by the Primordial Yellow Tower like this was something others could only envy…

And Li Changshou couldn’t help but imagine such a scene:

[During the ancient battle, Great Master Xuandu with the Primordial Yellow Tower above his head, backed by the Taiji Diagram, wielding the Heaven Earth Ruler, standing on the Wind Fire Reed Mat, battling the Demon Monarch in heaven and earth, fighting spectacularly as the world trembled.

But in reality, in the Great Master’s mind…

Primordial Yellow Tower: ‘Kill him! Kill him! Yin-yang rotation! Quick, use your ultimate! Ultimate! Great Disciple, can you do it or not!’

Taiji Diagram: ‘Don’t give this diagram face! Crash into his Eastern Emperor Bell! This little broken bell, not hanging out with his big and second brothers, what good can come from helping a demon monarch?’

Heaven Earth Ruler: ‘What’s he showing off for, we might not be supreme treasures, but we can still hurt him, eh?’

Wind-Fire Reed Mat: ‘Following the big brothers around, comfortable, mighty comfortable.’]

Li Changshou’s throat bobbed as he momentarily couldn’t bear to look, quickly erasing these images from his mind to avoid any demonic obstacles.

Suddenly he heard Tower Grandpa shout again:

‘Here he comes, he’s about to strike, turn around and get him!’