‘Timing? What timing is Master waiting for?’

In front of the Palace of Satisfaction’s gates, the Grand Priest stood quietly on the steps, thinking about his brief exchange with Master at the Supreme Clarity Temple.

He had gone to seek the Master’s permission to formally accept Li Changshou as a disciple.

But Master had only said one thing…

The time was not yet right.

In other words, Master had already decided to take Changshou as a disciple but was waiting for the right timing.

What kind of timing could there be?

Wasn’t it just a matter of issuing a Holy One’s decree?

Why did it feel like there were rather complex calculations behind this?

The Grand Priest slightly furrowed his brow, pushed open the Palace of Satisfaction’s main gate, and returned to his regular spot—

Under that old tree, in the cool shaded grass.

As the Primordial Way’s senior disciple and the Way School’s Senior Brother, how could he not understand schemes and calculations? He just rarely applied his mind to it, too lazy to calculate.

The Grand Priest adjusted his sleeves, his eyes showing some interest.

Today, he would properly analyze and calculate what timing Master was waiting for, and when Changshou could smoothly step into the Palace of Satisfaction!

Thus, the Grand Priest sat under the tree, continuously counting on his fingers and thinking, occasionally nodding and shaking his head, his expression quite serious.

Until his brows were furrowed into a ‘river’ character, the Grand Priest slowly let out a breath…

And gave up.

He truly couldn’t fathom what his Master was calculating.

“Ah, let them be. It’s enough to know the Master intends to take a disciple. Best not to tell Changshou about this matter, lest it disturb his state of mind. Just wait for the Master’s degree, then congratulate Changshou.”

The Grand Priest yawned, just about to [return his form to nature and let his spirit merge with heaven and earth] when Little Gold and Little Silver came running over from afar with ‘pitter-patter’ steps.

“Grand Priest! Earlier Brother Changshou came by and brought some peaches of immortality!”

“Peaches of immortality?”

The Grand Priest raised an eyebrow, looking at the six peaches neatly arranged in the jade box that Little Gold and Little Silver opened, revealing a slight smile.

“Changshou is quite thoughtful, remembering to send some over after receiving good fortune.”

The Grand Priest sighed softly, “You two divide and eat them, don’t waste Changshou’s kind intentions.”

Little Gold and Little Silver quickly nodded, carrying the jade box back to the hall, hiccupping several times along the way.

“These two little fellows, not even wiping their mouths after stealing food.”

Peaches of immortality… Sea God…

The Grand Priest muttered: “Could it be that Master is waiting for Changshou to achieve some great merit? If so, there’s no need to rush, though I feel Master doesn’t care much about the Dragon Clan matter, there must be other considerations. These two words ‘timing’ are truly too vague.”

Enough.

Thinking so much was ultimately useless.

The Grand Priest stretched lazily, his form slowly leaning back as the shallow green grass on the ground grew rapidly and interwove, forming a comfortable grass bed.

Oh right, what was Changshou doing now?

The Grand Priest pillowed his left hand behind his head, lightly tapping in front of him with his right hand. The Taiji diagram slowly appeared, and as the yin-yang fish rotated, it formed a scroll painting.

Oh my, he’d gone to Three Immortal Island!

Seeing this, the Grand Priest immediately became energetic, the image slowly advancing until he quickly saw two figures strolling and chatting casually in the forest.

The Grand Priest secretly praised a few times, hurriedly waving to disperse the Taiji diagram’s phantom image.

But even though the Grand Priest’s movements were quick enough, Lady Yunxiao still sensed something and looked up at the sky…

The Grand Priest carefully calculated and found that his dao rhythm hadn’t been caught by Yunxiao, only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

‘You have something, little Changshou. Not letting such opportunities slip by, daring to go straight to Three Immortal Island with just some peaches of immortality. They’re not even from an immortal peach tree, aren’t you afraid Sister Yunxiao won’t be impressed?’

Then, turning to his side, he fell into deep sleep.

…

On Three Immortal Island.

Yunxiao slightly furrowed her brow, slowly withdrawing her gaze from the diagonal above.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “What’s wrong? Is someone spying on this place?”

Yunxiao couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Fellow Daoist also sensed that aura just now?”

“My cultivation is shallow, naturally I couldn’t sense it,” Li Changshou said, “I just read it from Immortal Lady’s expression.”

“It should be Senior Brother watching,” Yunxiao sighed softly, also somewhat helpless, “I’ve made Fellow Daoist laugh.”

—After sending Li Changshou to Three Immortal Island, Elder Duobao made an excuse about returning to offer peaches to Master and returned to the ethereal Blue Wandering Palace.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Elder Duobao is unrestrained and free-spirited, fond of play, and truly a rare character in heaven and earth. The Extinction School has many people of personality, with much more human feeling than other places in this primordial world. The path of cultivation is long and endless, having friends for company is the most fortunate thing.”

Yunxiao couldn’t help but stop her steps, slightly turning her form, saying with a soft smile: “How is it that everything becomes beneficial when it comes from your mouth, and yet happens to sound so reasonable?”

The forest light was dappled, some light spots falling on her long dress, adding several points of liveliness and joy.

“Immortal Lady mustn’t mock me,” Li Changshou dared not look too much, only smiling and saying, “It’s just that when looking at the same thing, there can be different angles. Moreover, this human feeling in the Extinction School is both good and bad.”

Yunxiao asked: “Is it bad because of the two words ‘karma’?”

“Yes, it’s the two words ‘karma,'” Li Changshou’s eyes carried some deep meaning as he slowly said, “The more deep friendships one has, the harder it is to break free from such karma. Karma is like a net that has already wrapped around the entire Extinction School.”

Yunxiao seemed lost in thought.

To be safe, Li Changshou didn’t say more, making his point and stopping there, continuing to stroll here with Yunxiao.

Clouds rise and fall of their own accord, tides surge and ebb in their cycles.

The scenery on Three Immortal Island was quite nice, though Li Changshou couldn’t remember too much of it.

Yunxiao also asked him why he had come to Golden Turtle Island this time. Li Changshou spoke of the Dragon Clan matter and the letter he had already obtained on the road from Elder Duobao.

That letter had written two ancient characters: ‘Dragon’ and ‘Heaven’.

Next, after Li Changshou left Three Immortal Island, he would still visit the Jade Void Palace, hoping to find Guangcheng Zi and request the two characters ‘Trapped’ and ‘Rise’.

“Trapped Dragon Rising to Heaven?”

Yunxiao softly recited, “Such handwriting, what effect will it have on the Dragon Clan?”

“If it were just the two elders’ handwritten letters alone, it might have some countereffect, making them think the Way School is interfering in Dragon Clan matters.”

Li Changshou smiled and said:

“But if this matter is carefully managed, combined with His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s promises, it can form strong pressure. Though the primordial world is vast and the three thousand worlds are boundless, with the Three Schools of the Way taking a stance, the Dragon Clan will have nowhere to hide. Currently, His Majesty the Jade Emperor has lost patience with the Dragon Clan matter and wants quick results. At this time, we can’t let the Dragon Clan resolve their internal troubles first. We must first have them establish a nominal position, then coordinate internal and external efforts for gradual reorganization…”

In the forest, Li Changshou spoke at length.

Lady Yunxiao mostly listened quietly, occasionally nodding slightly or actively inquiring.

The conversation was pleasant, with leisure on all sides.

It seemed like just a momentary daze, but one or two hours had already passed on the island.

Li Changshou expressed his intention to leave, and Yunxiao personally saw him out of Three Immortal Island. Qiongxiao and Bixiao also ran out to join the excitement, their eyes carrying some teasing, though they didn’t voice any jokes.

Kneel warning.

“Let’s go,” Li Changshou called out to Princess Long Ji, who had somehow become rather reserved at his side.

Long Ji flew forward, following behind Li Changshou, holding the fly whisk, somewhat lost in thought.

Taking the route through South Jambudvipa Continent toward Mount Kunlun.

Halfway through the journey, Long Ji finally asked softly: “Sea God…”

“Hmm?”

“Was the peach delicious?”

“It was fine, why suddenly ask this?”

“Hehe,” Long Ji stuck out her tongue tip and laughed, then somewhat timidly said: “Sea God, may Long Ji ask you something… just based on you… um, why did you come to the Heavenly Court to assist my father?”

Li Changshou asked in return: “Then you tell me, why does Lord Lao want to assist His Majesty at the Heavenly Court?”

Long Ji couldn’t help but be stunned, vaguely feeling she had already gotten an answer, yet still felt as if in clouds and mist, not knowing exactly what she understood.

Li Changshou gave a light laugh, continuing to ride the cloud forward without further explanation.

Instead, Long Ji pondered for a while, took out her jade talisman, and wrote down with a lowered head:

[The Sea God’s visit to the Extinction School, his vast network of connections, and numerous friendships leave one dumbfounded, especially Elder Duobao taking the initiative to seek him out, calling him brother is not even the most precious thing…

The Sea God and Lady Yunxiao are the closest of friends, like kindred spirits, strolling through forests, laughing and spending time pleasantly…

Incredible, truly incredible.]

“Long Ji?”

“Here!” Long Ji quickly responded, putting the jade talisman back in her Daoist robe’s sleeve, “Sea God, your instructions!”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Don’t let what you’ve seen today spread in the Heavenly Court.”

“If Father and Mother ask…”

“That of course can be told.”

Li Changshou said: “Next we’ll go visit an elder, going to the Jade Void Palace. Remember, no matter what situation we encounter in the Jade Void Palace, don’t make a sound, just follow behind me.”

“Yes,” Long Ji answered seriously.

She naturally knew that because of different doctrines and ideologies, the Enlightenment and Extinction Schools often had conflicts between their immortal sects.

Long Ji had seen Li Changshou being so welcome in the Extinction School, even being the famous Lady Yunxiao’s ‘close friend’, so in the Enlightenment School…

Surely they wouldn’t be thrown out, right?

Long Ji still had a young girl’s mindset and had already begun to feel anxious.

However, what happened next left Long Ji somewhat overwhelmed.

They first went to the Two Immortal Mountains in the Middle Divine Continent, finding Hemp Maiden Cave and meeting a very kind elder with a clean face and no beard—

True Person Yellow Dragon.

Li Changshou didn’t hide anything, directly saying he came for the Dragon Clan matter, asking True Person Yellow Dragon to intervene and discuss Elder Guangcheng Zi’s letter, and taking out Elder Duobao’s letter.

True Person Yellow Dragon asked: “Just need Senior Brother Guangcheng Zi to write two characters?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “That’s right, best to leave Elder Guangcheng Zi’s trace of aura, thus representing the Enlightenment School’s stance.”

“That’s easy!”

True Person Yellow Dragon readily agreed, immediately taking Li Changshou and Long Ji to Mount Kunlun.

Finding the Jade Void Palace and paying respects to Guangcheng Zi, True Person Yellow Dragon didn’t mention Li Changshou’s purpose, directly taking the matter upon himself, presenting the two characters Elder Duobao had written to Guangcheng Zi.

Guangcheng Zi smiled and took up his brush, writing down the characters ‘Trapped’ and ‘Rise’.

“Is this sufficient?”

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“A small matter,” Guangcheng Zi folded the letter and used immortal power to send it back to Li Changshou’s hand, smiling and saying, “The Heavenly Court was established by the Dao Ancestor after all, lending some effort is only right.”

Li Changshou expressed thanks repeatedly, while Long Ji at the side no longer knew what to say.

Did the Enlightenment and Extinction Schools truly have such goodwill toward the Heavenly Court?

Long Ji naturally knew—all this was merely for the Sea God’s face.

When they left the Jade Void Palace without incident and took the route back to the East Sea, Long Ji took out her jade talisman and silently wrote down one sentence.

[Sea God handles all three schools, greatly shocking Ji.]

…

When Li Changshou brought Long Ji to the East Sea;

At West Ox-Treasure Continent, at the foot of Spirit Mountain, in a great formation within a deep valley.

Several figures stood beside a treasure pool, joining forces to slowly sink an as-yet-unmetamorphosed golden cicada into the bottom of the treasure pool.

These people all appeared as old Daoists, each wearing somewhat tattered long robes;

According to Spirit Mountain’s rules, the more tattered one’s robe, the higher their position in the religion—this was to guard against oneself, not forgetting the great matter of ‘Western Poverty’.

Not far behind these old Daoists, one or two figures stood in various corners.

Wen Jing Daoist was also here, watching the golden cicada in the treasure pool;

She, who felt deep sympathy, was just short of laughing out loud here…

Just heard those old Daoists say:

“Golden Cicada is finished.”

“That Sea God has the power to destroy Golden Cicada, let Wen Jing and the others be careful, don’t directly move against the Sea God, this person deeply conceals his true capabilities.”

“A Primordial Way disciple, hiding and not revealing, his intentions unknown.”

After several people spoke, they fell into silence.

Wen Jing Daoist was truly surprised.

Sea God?

Personally, severely wounded Golden Cicada, beating Golden Cicada to the point of basically reincarnating?

How was this possible? The Sea God’s cultivation should not have reached the Great Luo realm, while Golden Cicada was a fierce beast that had fought since ancient times, supposedly unbeatable in battles in the same realm…

How did Golden Cicada almost perish? Wen Jing Daoist couldn’t figure it out no matter how much she thought.

Moreover, speaking of which, Lord Sea God…

Wasn’t he a civil official?

Wen Jing Daoist immediately blinked repeatedly.

Just heard an old Daoist gnash his teeth and curse: “Are we just going to swallow this anger? Master said Golden Cicada was related to our Western prosperity, the Sea God has cut off our Western fortune!”

“Even if we want to move against the Sea God, we simply can’t find his true body. What use is there in killing his avatar made of paper?”

Another old Daoist spoke: “If we can’t touch the Sea God, can we not touch those around him?”

“Touch who?”

“The one who is closest friends with the Sea God, and has the most karma with our Western School, that…”

“Extinction School’s Zhao Gongming.”

Hearing this name, the old Daoists by the treasure pool fell into silence again.

This silence lasted for a full moment until one old Daoist looked up and sighed lightly:

“We’re no match for him, choose another.”

Wen Jing Daoist couldn’t help but roll her eyes, leaning obliquely against the stone wall, waiting for these disciples of the Holy One to reach a conclusion.

She heard them mumbling for a long time, yet unable to find a suitable target for revenge. Wen Jing Daoist couldn’t help but snort coldly in her heart…

‘Forget about you all, I, the Queen, as Lord Sea God’s right hand, don’t even know half of Lord Sea God’s close friends at this time.

Rather than grumbling here, why not dare to storm the Palace of Satisfaction and have it out with my Queen’s beloved consort?’

Thinking of the words ‘beloved consort’, Wen Jing Daoist’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curling into a slight smile…

These Western School disciples of the Holy One discussed for a long time before finally settling on their plan for revenge against the Sea God.

This plan was fully relayed to Li Changshou’s paper avatar by Wen Jing Daoist in just a moment, without missing a single word…