At Duxian Gate, on Lesser Jade Peak.

Li Changshou stood in the forest with his hands behind his back, his mind racing with thoughts.

The Four Swords of Demon Slaying hung overhead, questioning how many spring and autumn dreams he had.

The Immortal Maiden was as wonderful as clouds, yet why borrow a sage’s name for matters of the heart?

Hmm, these emotional metaphors were a bit too subtle. If he were to express it more conventionally—

Li Changshou’s entire being was covered in black lines, his hands curled into claws with nowhere to rest, his whole body twitching as he ground his teeth.

Heavens above!

Is a Sage personally intervening to pull him into the Severing Sect Jie Sect?

The Great Tribulation of Investiture specifically targeted the Jie Sect. Their ranks suffered countless casualties – the Ten Ultimate Formation began to lose control, Zhao Gongming died tragically, the Three Shao Sisters died fighting a Sage at the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, and the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation resulted in death, betrayal, escape, and desertion of most of the Jie Sect’s immortals!

Among the Eight Great Disciples and Seven Attending Immortals, how many remained whole in the end?

Master Tongtian flew into a true rage, wanting to destroy and recreate the world of wind, fire, water, and earth in his anger until the Dao Ancestor himself had to confine him!

Aligning with the Jie Sect now would be forcibly sending himself onto the Investiture List, wouldn’t it?

Although he was already ahead of the Investiture List as a current Fourth-Rank True God of the Heavenly Court, and about to advance to Third-Rank, theoretically no longer affected by the Investiture’s karmic fate.

But!

This matter truly wasn’t secure.

Today, Li Changshou finally understood why Elder Zhao was so righteously loyal, why Qiongxiao and Bixiao were so playful, and why Master Duobao was so unrestrained…

Why was everyone in the Jie Sect so wayward? It all started from the top!

*Ahem*, stay steady.

What was this situation?

Li Changshou looked up and sighed deeply. The neighboring Sage Lord had assigned a task, and it seemed his own Sage Lord had already approved “lending out the tool-person.”

Calm down, calm down, this was exactly when one couldn’t panic!

Silently reciting the “Scripture of Stability” as the Hundred Beauties series gradually encircled him, Li Changshou’s divine spirit sat cross-legged in meditation, and his dao heart quickly calmed.

At this moment, what Li Changshou first thought of wasn’t how absurd this situation was, but rather his position.

He was a disciple of the Human Sect, a deity of the Heavenly Court, and now considered a hidden Golden Immortal unknown in the primitive world. But compared to Immortal Maiden Yunxiao, he was like a dim star next to the pure white moon.

From the five questions posed by the Jie Sect’s Sage Lord, Li Changshou discovered…

The Sage Lord might be a tiny bit “overly theoretical” regarding “matters between men and women,” interpreting this through the lens of the “Great Dao.”

But could matters of emotion be explained by reason?

Dao nature and human nature existed in an inverse relationship – as one waxed, the other waned.

So-called Dao nature was the degree of harmony between cultivators and the Great Dao.

People often said the longer one cultivated, the more they eliminated emotions and nature. This could be understood as [merging with the Dao, increasing Dao nature], to the point where one viewed people and matters from the perspective of [Dao].

So-called human nature could be understood as the spirit nature of the myriad beings, meaning the cultivator’s character and desires.

Li Changshou had read a classic text authored by the great Fu Xi which discussed the influence of ‘Dao nature’ and ‘human nature’ on cultivators, and Li Changshou revered it as a classic.

It stated:

Innate beings were predominantly of Dao nature, while acquired beings were mainly of human nature (spirit nature).

Therefore, making Immortal Maiden Yunxiao, an innate being, develop human nature-dominated “feelings between men and women” was itself an extremely difficult matter.

Li Changshou could detect that Immortal Maiden Yunxiao was experiencing a process of “declining Dao nature, increasing human nature,” but this process was very slow, and the magnitude wasn’t very large…

So from any angle, his current relationship with Immortal Maiden Yunxiao could be simply described as mutual admiration, barely qualifying as kindred spirits.

Of course, Li Changshou had to admit that because Immortal Maiden Yunxiao carried too much karma, and the Great Tribulation of Investiture lay ahead, he had been deliberately suppressing and avoiding his fondness for her.

But to say that Immortal Maiden Yunxiao currently had feelings for him was impossible.

In this situation, someone must have given hints to Yunxiao, who didn’t understand these matters, directing her vague feelings toward him into an inclination resembling romantic sentiment.

This person… was likely the Grand Magus.

But whether it was Master Tongtian or the Grand Magus, who had truly understood Immortal Maiden Yunxiao? And who would think that Immortal Maiden Yunxiao didn’t understand matters between men and women?

But Li Changshou knew, Li Changshou understood.

She truly didn’t understand very well.

Although Immortal Maiden Yunxiao was powerful and had cultivated for a long time, in this area, she was just an awkward newcomer.

The few times Immortal Maiden Yunxiao inadvertently showed him favor made his dao heart flutter, but each time she would laugh it off lightly, inadvertently revealing that a vast distance still existed between them…

Li Changshou summarized simply that if he truly followed Master Tongtian’s arrangement and answered these five questions today, three problems would lie before him:

First, Immortal Maiden Yunxiao would likely become trapped in her contradictions;

Second, he would be bound by the Jie Sect’s karma, forced to fully calculate the Great Tribulation of Investiture.

Third, once his relationship with Immortal Maiden Yunxiao reached a certain point, they would fall into an awkward situation with nothing to talk about, determined by Li Changshou’s understanding of the Great Dao being too shallow compared to Immortal Maiden Yunxiao.

How should he break through this situation, to maintain the Sage’s face, make Immortal Maiden Yunxiao happy, and not affect his current cultivation rhythm?

Difficult!

Li Changshou carefully pondered in his heart the five questions and standard answers relayed by Master Duobao. He could even imagine the scene at Biyou Palace at that time…

[Master Tongtian sat amidst swirling clouds and mist, his clear voice drifting ethereally, falling upon the worried Immortal Maiden Yunxiao’s ears.

‘Yunxiao, go find that person and just ask him five questions:

Where the Great Dao goes, what is yin and yang?

Between compliance and resistance, where does life originate?

Among myriad spirits of the same kind, what differs between the first and last?

When heaven and earth end, what never ceases?

Now that I’ve come, what are you thinking?

If he answers:

Where the Great Dao goes, all things are yin and yang.

Between compliance and resistance, the heart locks desires.

Among myriad spirits of the same kind, first and last are originally one.

When heaven and earth end, only will never cease.

Now that you’ve come, you answer my thoughts.

Then this person is your destined dao partner, who can pursue the Great Dao with you and enjoy the fruits of love.’]

From these five questions and answers, one could see that Master Tongtian’s cultivation was truly incomparably profound, able to directly interpret the Great Dao.

Should he give different answers?

Li Changshou suddenly imagined a formation diagram with four immortal swords chasing after him shouting and killing, and immediately shuddered several times.

At this moment, his paper avatar was still being held by Duobao, repeatedly instructed on these five answers, told to match them one by one, and not to merely memorize them mechanically, in case Immortal Maiden Yunxiao changed the order.

Li Changshou sighed softly, having already found a solution in his heart.

His true body directly left the mountain gate through the earth vein transportation formation below the pill room and Lesser Jade Peak, heading toward the East Seashore.

He calculated the direct path from Three Immortals Island to Duxian Gate, found a scenic coastal town, and stood in a peach blossom grove, quietly waiting for Immortal Maiden Yunxiao to come from the west.

—Going out proactively was to avoid directly exposing Duxian Gate’s location to Master Duobao.

As for using his true body…

The Sage Lord was watching!

If he tried to muddle through with paper avatars again, the Four Swords of Demon Slaying would do more than just warn him!

In the earthen tunnel, Master Duobao had already taken out that familiar precious mirror breathed on it, cast magical arts, and revealed Li Changshou’s true body’s location.

Master Duobao’s eyes lit up. He glanced at the white-haired old immortal beside him, then looked at the young cultivator over there, clicking his tongue and laughing nonstop.

At once, Master Duobao pulled Li Changshou’s paper avatar toward the East Sea and hid near Li Changshou’s location.

Li Changshou’s true body hadn’t yet waited for Immortal Maiden Yunxiao when on the paper avatar’s side…

“Senior Brother?”

A gentle call drifted from the far end of the earthen tunnel, and two streams of light shot over, transforming into two graceful figures.

The one on the left wore a golden gauze skirt and simple phoenix crown, with tinkling jade pendants accentuating her waist, graceful and slightly coquettish, tall and elegant, with an imposing presence. Several golden ribbons floated around her, naturally creating an otherworldly, stunning ambiance.

This was the leader of the Jie Sect’s female immortals, one of the Four Great Inner Disciples – Golden Spirit Sacred Mother.

The one on the right wore a grass-green long dress with a flowing cloud hairpin, two locks of hair hanging in front, her figure like a young maiden’s, her form delicate. She held a whisking brush, emanating a sense of plain indifference, seeming uninterested in worldly matters.

Li Changshou had seen this expert before – she was Turtle Spirit Sacred Mother, one of the Jie Sect’s Four Great Inner Disciples.

Well then, of the Four Inner Disciples, three had come here, all hiding in Master Duobao’s “void earthen tunnel.”

What was this?

A matchmaking session?

Li Changshou immediately felt immense pressure, truly wanting to invite Grand Magus Xuandu to bring Tower Lord over for a visit.

He waited and waited but still saw no sign of Yunxiao. Instead, Master Duobao brought another batch of… Jie Sect’s finest to the earthen tunnel.

First came a cry of “Master,” as Fire Spirit Sacred Mother and Golden Light Sacred Mother arrived with dozens of Jie Sect immortals from Golden Tortoise Island.

Then several calls of “Senior Brother” as people came from Penglai Island, Fire Dragon Island, and Nine Dragons Island.

Li Changshou tactfully expressed that Senior Yunxiao might not be pleased, but Master Duobao smiled calmly and…

Added several more layers to the earthen tunnel.

Subsequently, the gazes directed at Li Changshou from all around were filled with loving care.

Li Changshou could only sigh slightly, fortunately having prepared for this earlier by having his true body conceal his true appearance through “physical means” and cast several layers of illusions…

Most troublesome was that Li Changshou vaguely sensed that the Taiji Diagram’s dao rhythm seemed to be fluctuating again.

There was an eighty percent chance that Master Tongtian was also watching this place.

Surely it couldn’t be that his own Sage Lord was also…

Impossible, definitely impossible.

“She’s coming, she’s coming!” Golden Light Sacred Mother called in a hushed voice. “Senior Sister Qiongxiao sent word, Senior Sister Yunxiao has left!”

The crowd in the earthen tunnel immediately stirred with excitement. Several Jie Sect immortals who were familiar with Li Changshou sent encouraging messages to his paper avatar in the tunnel.

Some of the more enthusiastic Jie Sect immortals, whose names would appear in the Great Tribulation of Investiture, began discussing how to arrange the wedding decorations and couplets…

Li Changshou thought: Are they all this idle?

Since things had come to this point, if the Jie Sect made the first move, they couldn’t blame the Human Sect for making the next!

Li Changshou had made up his mind to later deploy ninety percent of his persuasion skills and give these Jie Sect immortals a “Human Sect Experience Report on Dao Partners”!

Whether this would lead to a surge in Jie Sect dao partnerships afterward was no concern of his, a mere Human Sect junior disciple.

Solutions were forced out by circumstances!

In the earthen tunnel, Li Changshou’s paper avatar said: “Fellow Daoists, I will now return my consciousness.”

After speaking, his paper avatar closed its eyes in meditation, and the dozens of immortals around all approved.

In the peach blossom grove, Li Changshou gathered his spirits and took out a jade flute, playing a melodious tune.

[Flying freely in your heart~]

A white cloud in the distance stopped in the high sky, and then quickly descended toward this place.

Yunxiao…

Had arrived.

…

The cloud descended, bearing a white-robed immortal maiden. Li Changshou turned to look, and the flute’s sound stopped.

No need to say her bright eyes and delicate lips were world-class beautiful, no need to praise her flawless jade-like bearing. She simply stood there, showing a gentle comfortable smile that could make one forget the flow of time’s river, willing only to freeze in this moment.

The sea breeze came, making her long hair and dress flutter gently toward him.

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao softly parted her lips and spoke: “How did your true self come here?”

Li Changshou was about to say ‘Isn’t it because the Sage Lord named me?’ when he felt two blades pressed against his paper avatar’s neck.

At this moment, those Jie Sect immortals in the earthen tunnel thought things would go wrong – Yunxiao was supremely intelligent, and just one detail was enough for her to deduce many circumstances.

However, Li Changshou smiled and sighed softly, saying:

“My heart was somewhat restless, so I thought to go out for a walk.

Only now do I know that this restlessness was to come here and chance upon Immortal Maiden.”

In the earthen tunnel, the male immortals showed shocked expressions, while many female immortals’ eyes lit up.

“Heh…”

Yunxiao laughed softly, floating over from the cloud. Li Changshou made a welcoming gesture, and the two rather naturally strolled together in this place.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “We both have personalities that dislike going out, yet today we’ve both come out. Perhaps something is meant to happen.”

“Maybe I affected you,” Yunxiao said somewhat apologetically. “Earlier I went to seek answers from Master, and Master divined your situation. That must be what made your heart unsettled.”

Li Changshou: …

Truly, Immortal Maiden Yunxiao’s frankness made him feel somewhat ashamed and guilty.

But Li Changshou could only smile and say: “Oh? The Sect Leader personally divined about me? This truly makes me feel overwhelmed by the honor.”

Yunxiao was amused by the repeated soft laughter of Li Changshou’s somewhat exaggerated tone. “I’ve already secretly used the Primordial Golden Dipper to obscure the heavenly omens of this place. Speaking like this, Master won’t be able to hear.”

Li Changshou: They’re right under our feet, right under our feet!

Speaking of which, Senior Duobao’s divine ability deserved to be called his specialty.

“Whether the Sage Lord hears or not, we must still show respect,” Li Changshou said seriously. “Before becoming a Sage one remains an insect, only after becoming a Sage can one transcend.

In this world, the six Sages are like six mountains, and you and I are all in their shadows.”

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao nodded gently, saying softly: “I’ve never heard about where your dao heart points.”

“We cultivators all seek to transcend heaven and earth, to find our true selves through the Great Dao,” Li Changshou said with hands behind his back, gently swaying the jade flute. “I naturally can’t avoid being this ‘common.'”

Yunxiao smiled and said: “If you put it that way, I’m also just a common person.”

Just then, another blade was pressed against the paper avatar’s neck, and a certain unnamed Jie Sect Senior Brother said sinisterly: “Don’t try to change the subject, quickly say that thing, and let us broaden our horizons too.”

All the male immortals in the earthen tunnel expressed their approval.

At the edge of the peach grove, Li Changshou blinked.

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao asked curiously: “What’s wrong?”

What else could be wrong? He was being held hostage!

“Immortal Maiden’s smile is truly beautiful,” Li Changshou sighed. “I’ve wracked my brains wanting to compose poetry to match the scene, but found that all the poems I know can’t match half your beauty, so I can only praise you with such a simple ‘beautiful.'”

In the earthen tunnel, many Jie Sect immortals silently took out jade recording tablets…

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao couldn’t help but look aside, the tenderness in her eyes undiminished. “Why do you have such words today?”

Li Changshou said: “Does Immortal Maiden know what peach blossoms represent among us humans?”

Yunxiao calculated briefly with her fingers, soon understanding with a smile, and then also clasped her hands behind her back, saying: “Since your heart is also stirred, then…

May I ask you several questions?”

“Please speak, Immortal Maiden.”

“Where the Great Dao goes, what is yin and yang? Between compliance and resistance, where does life originate? Among myriad spirits of the same kind, what differs between first and last?”

Li Changshou pondered for several moments, then gave the standard answers.

An open-book test, full marks.

But for the crucial last two questions, Yunxiao hesitated somewhat, her gaze fixed on Li Changshou as if thinking, yet also seeming to confide.

Li Changshou met her gaze calmly, his eyes carrying some tranquility, filled with gentleness.

Yunxiao appeared thoughtful and said: “Your answers were… quite good…”

“Does Immortal Maiden have other questions?”

Li Changshou prompted actively, but Yunxiao seemed not to catch this signal, shaking her head lightly.

Yunxiao said: “Actually, these were questions Master gave, and your answers match what Master said. I probably understand now that I’ve entered into fate’s tribulation.

In fact, after returning to the island, I decided to come find you, already knowing what the answer would be.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Immortal Maiden… may I call you Yunxiao a few times today?”

“Mm,” Yunxiao nodded gently, tenderness lingering in her eyes as she raised her hand to arrange a lock of black hair by her ear, saying softly, “Only allowed to call me that here. Before my brothers and sisters, you still need to be careful.”

Li Changshou made a welcoming gesture, and they continued strolling in the grove, but Li Changshou had now sounded the horn of counterattack against the Jie Sect.

“Yunxiao, why don’t we speak of how we see each other.”

First step: avoid the important and dwell on the trivial, take control of the initiative!