What happened to the promised debate about the Peach Banquet? How did it suddenly turn into an execution?

Li Changshou struck quickly, but the Dragon Clan’s reaction was even quicker.

The Dragon Elder who had just spoken was still shocked by Li Changshou’s “lack of courtesy” and hadn’t recovered when the Western Sea Dragon King beside Li Changshou suddenly whirled around!

The old Dragon King’s face showed anger as his robes fluttered. His form leaped low into the air, directly pouncing toward that Dragon Elder.

The Elder’s expression changed dramatically!

He felt the killing intent hidden within his Dragon King’s demeanor and immediately rushed toward the six Daoists of the Western Religion, seeking their intervention for justice on behalf of the Dragon Clan.

—This was also part of their pre-arranged plan.

However, just as this Dragon Elder made his move, the Western Sea Dragon King’s form suddenly accelerated in mid-air, leaving behind several afterimages, arriving in nearly an instant!

The bloodline intimidation and the pressure of a powerful being left the Elder nearly unable to move when facing the Western Sea Dragon King, completely powerless to resist.

The Dragon King struck out with a palm, directly pressing it against the Elder’s neck, pushing this dragon skyward.

The Dragon Elder let out a low roar, his body erupting with waves of bloodline power. At the edge of life and death, he naturally wouldn’t submit to execution willingly and began struggling frantically.

But the Western Sea Dragon King’s hand was like an iron collar, his gaze seemed to devour dragons, as if he would directly snap the Elder’s neck!

Light surged around the Elder’s body, now holding nothing back, instantly transforming into a brown dragon hundreds of zhang long!

But…

Before this brown dragon could even stretch out its body, an enormous dragon head had materialized before it; just this black dragon head alone was several times larger than the brown dragon’s coiled body!

Behind the black dragon’s head, a ten-thousand-zhang-long pitch-black dragon body was concealed within Heaven’s ethereal clouds, with a dragon claw descending from the sky.

The Elder, now transformed into a brown dragon, hurriedly shouted:

“Your Majesty!”

Before his cry ended, the brown dragon’s body had already been pressed down by the black dragon’s claw, like swatting a fly, smashing straight down onto the sea of clouds, stirring up waves of wind…

The black dragon’s entire body descended from the misty clouds, standing in the cloud sea outside the Jade Pool. Its elongated dragon form exemplified the majesty of an ancient sovereign of the primordial world. It lowered its head and released an earth-shattering roar at the small brown dragon!

The cloud sea churned, and the Heavenly Court trembled!

At the Peach Banquet, the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Seas’ contingents, from Dragon Kings to Dragon Princes and Elders, simply stood with lowered heads, not turning to look.

This was Western Sea Dragon Palace’s business, and the Western Sea Dragon King could handle it himself without their interference.

Shortly after, the Western Sea Dragon King resumed his human form and returned to the Peach Banquet carrying the now bloodied and severely injured unconscious Dragon Elder.

The Western Sea Dragon King placed this Dragon Elder before Li Changshou, made a Daoist salute, and said in a deep voice:

“I request the Water God’s judgment. My apologies for the discourtesy, I hope the Heavenly Court will not take offense.”

Li Changshou calmly nodded and flicked his horsetail whisk.

He had many elegant words he could say, praising the Western Sea Dragon King’s righteousness, listing the Elder’s crimes of disrespecting the Dragon King and the Heavenly Court.

But Li Changshou didn’t say any of these things, only saying:

“Take him to the Heaven’s Punishment Palace!”

Immediately four Golden Immortal-realm Heavenly Generals stepped forward, bound the Dragon Elder with chains, and dragged him to the Heaven’s Punishment Palace.

Li Changshou’s voice drifted after them:

“Destroy his divine soul with heavenly lightning, and scatter his remaining ashes into the Celestial River.

This dragon is a disgrace to his kind, don’t let him leave even half a trace in the Heavenly Court!”

Those several Heavenly Generals responded in unison, and after flying out of the Peach Banquet, dozens more Heavenly Generals followed.

Although at this time the Heavenly Court’s Generals weren’t particularly strong, possibly not even as capable as some civil officials in combat;

But once in Heaven’s Punishment Palace, executing ‘Heaven’s Way Destruction’ with the power of the Heavenly Court, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would be reduced to ash in an instant.

Li Changshou smiled and walked toward the dozen or so Western Sea dragons still standing at their seats.

He teased:

“Everyone, aren’t you going to follow your Dragon King? Or do you also have something to confess to the Heavenly Court?”

“No- nothing,” Western Sea Dragon Prince Ao Shi was the first to lower his head, and the other Western Sea dragons didn’t dare meet Li Changshou’s gaze, hurriedly rushing behind the Western Sea Dragon King.

Li Changshou saw the Western Sea Dragon King’s figure looking so desolate and bleak and sighed inwardly.

This couldn’t be blamed on others.

Without the Western Sea Dragon King’s initial indulgence and probing, how could the Western Sea Dragon Palace have become a den of traitors?

Later, discovering the irreversible situation, with the Western Sea Dragon Palace secretly controlled by the Western Religion, but the Dragon Clan as a whole turning toward the Heavenly Court too quickly, the Western Sea predicament became unsolvable. Today they could only cut off the diseased limb to avoid destroying the Dragon Clan’s destiny…

The Dragon Elder who just spoke up wasn’t acting foolishly but rather had been waiting a long time to make his move.

That Elder had also been influenced mentally, making considerations naturally from the Western perspective…

This Dragon Elder and the six Western religious Daoists had thought they would have a fierce debate with the former Water God.

—In the Western Religion’s judgment, this was what the former Water God Li Changgeng was most skilled at and his favorite way of handling problems.

However, they didn’t understand that Li Changshou was also the Human Teaching’s expert at spreading ashes, a pioneer of spiritual explosions.

Whenever it was time to act, Li Changshou never hesitated.

This led to the Western contingent preparing many backup plans and various arguments, even preparing to use the Western Sea Eye matter as a threat, openly and secretly pressuring the Dragon Clan to give up ascending to Heaven.

But they encountered the same problem…

Their thinking couldn’t keep up with the pace, completely unable to speak up.

The Peach Banquet fell into silence again, with many immortals and gods contemplating how they should face this ‘Beloved Official Changgeng’ in the future…

The pressure around the Jade Emperor grew heavier, while the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord remained as calm as still water.

Li Changshou acted as if nothing had happened, casually walking to his seat, giving those six Daoists an unstately back view.

This paper avatar of his only had Golden Immortal realm strength and couldn’t emit much pressure, but at this moment he was like a tall mountain, giving people a sense of being insurmountable.

The Western Religion’s six Daoists at this point had no way to advance or retreat.

They had been knocked empty-handed by Li Changshou’s quick strike, and could only sit there considering how to calculate future matters, just waiting for the Peach Banquet to end.

Li Changshou’s current position was making his attitude toward the Western Religion clear.

If they secretly instigated the Western Sea Dragon Clan to cause trouble again, one jumped out, he Li Changshou would cut down one. Today with the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord present and before the Heavenly Emperor, he wouldn’t allow them to secretly play their tricks.

Suddenly a desperate dragon’s roar came from afar, followed by a thunderous explosion.

The immortals, gods, and dragons looked toward the sound, seeing that brown dragon breaking through layers of clouds, seemingly wanting to pierce through the Heavenly Court!

But after it flew up just a thousand zhang, it was bound by lightning chains thicker than a dragon’s body, tied up like a dumpling.

More than ten Heavenly Generals shouted in unison:

“Execute!”

Lightning flashed, and that brown dragon was directly shredded by the chains…

Li Changshou quickly walked back before the Jade Emperor’s throne made a Daoist salute and announced:

“Your Majesty, the wicked dragon has been executed!”

“Beloved Official Changgeng,” the Jade Emperor frowned, “Could it be that the Dragon Clan cannot be united?”

Li Changshou smiled slightly and proclaimed: “Your Majesty, according to this minor god’s understanding of the Dragon Clan, the Dragon Clan has many worthies and talents.

Perhaps because the Four Seas have been peaceful for too long, the four Dragon Kings rarely show their authority, thus leading to dragons who don’t understand the times, don’t respect royal commands, challenge their superiors, and are ignorant and arrogant!

This minor god is willing to stake his position as Water God to guarantee that the Four Seas Dragon Clan as a whole is sound, and today they are truly sincere in their willingness to submit to the Heavenly Court and pledge loyalty to Your Majesty!”

As Li Changshou’s words fell, the Four Seas Dragon Kings behind him made Daoist salutes and said in unison:

“We of the Four Seas Dragon Clan sincerely submit to the Heavenly Court!”

Those Dragon Princes, Dragon Ladies, Elders, and commanders behind them also shouted in unison:

“We of the Four Seas Dragon Clan sincerely submit to the Heavenly Court!”

“Excellent!”

The Jade Emperor laughed lightly, standing up again and raising his hand in virtual support, “All beloved officials please rise.”

Li Changshou retreated to the side, standing quietly, as the Jade Emperor proclaimed:

“Transmit my decree, conferring upon the Four Seas Dragon Kings the title of Four Seas Sea Gods, governing the Four Seas and serving Heaven’s mandate, bestowing fourth-rank divine positions.

The Four Seas Dragon Palaces shall be led by the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, additionally conferring upon Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang a third-rank正神 divine position, overall commanding Four Seas maritime affairs!

The Four Seas Dragon Kings shall continue the Dragon Clan system within their Dragon Palaces.”

Just as the Jade Emperor’s voice fell, a golden light flew from the Hall of Clarity, within the golden light was wrapped an imperial decree, landing before the Eastern Sea Dragon King, transforming into a golden…

Three-pointed steel trident.

The Eastern Sea Dragon King’s expression was extremely solemn as he gripped the trident with both hands. Golden light flickered on it, streams of light drilling into the bodies of all the dragons present.

Those like Ao Yi who had already cleared their karmic obstacles received a portion of merit.

While the other dragons who came here today had black dragon souls emerge from above their heads, these black souls then directly dissipated in the golden light.

Karmic obstacles cleared!

The dragons were instantly extremely excited, though those dozen or so dragons from the Western Sea had slightly complex expressions…

From this point on, the Dragon Clan’s great righteousness belonged to the Heavenly Court, and the Four Seas Dragon Kings became Four Seas Sea Gods, jointly wielding the divine authority and treasures of Sea Gods.

Just then, the clouds around the Jade Pool churned, golden clouds spontaneously condensed one after another, quickly approaching the Peach Banquet, dropping a shower of golden light from the sky.

Heaven’s Way Merit!

Most of this golden light shower fell on the dragons’ bodies, with a small portion falling on the Heavenly Generals and soldiers of the Heavenly River Army.

Only Li Changshou stood there quietly, without a bit of merit touching his body.

Music played from various places as Li Changshou slowly closed his eyes.

Seeing this, the Jade Emperor smiled slightly but didn’t continue speaking, waiting for Li Changshou’s spirit to return.

In a river in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

Li Changshou poked his head out of the river water, looking at the golden clouds filling the sky, his mouth corners trembling slightly.

So much merit…

But why did he suddenly feel a bit uneasy?

He softly said: “Thank you Lord of Heaven’s Way for bestowing merit.”

The golden clouds above suddenly changed, actually instantly condensing into streaks of golden lightning, like the lightning pool of heavenly tribulation, pouring down toward Li Changshou!

Li Changshou: …

Fortunately, these lightning bolts had no killing power, directly drilling into Li Changshou’s body, giving him a false alarm and making him let out a long sigh of relief.

[Even merit takes the form of heavenly punishment!]

Li Changshou wanted to complain more inwardly, but then couldn’t help shuddering again.

Those lightning bolts entered his body and suddenly ‘expanded’, vast surging waves of merit power seemed about to burst his immortal body…

But merit isn’t immortal power, and wouldn’t explode, just filling every part of Li Changshou’s Dao body.

In this instant, Li Changshou felt like he was a sponge soaked with water, like a pufferfish being provoked, the merit he possessed rapidly multiplied several times, pushing years of accumulated incense fire merit into a corner.

His Primordial Spirit’s small figure opened its mouth and inhaled, streams of merit power returned to the Primordial Spirit, then manifested outside the Primordial Spirit, condensing into a set of brilliant golden armor.

Li Changshou roughly calculated that at this point, he could already condense half a Merit Golden Body!

The merit from the Dragon Clan ascending to Heaven was several times more abundant than he had imagined!

From this, it could be seen that the Dragon Clan was indeed extremely important to the Heavenly Court.

And Li Changshou, from his meeting with the Jade Emperor at the Sea God Temple until today, had schemed step by step, calculated step by step.

Exhausting his mind in the sect for years of contemplation;

Traveling throughout the Four Seas, widely spreading paper avatars…

Fighting the Western Religion, subduing blood mosquitoes, dealing with rebels, destroying Golden Cicada…

Finally, another twelve years successfully concluded, letting his previous efforts not be wasted, achieving complete success.

With no time to feel too excited, Li Changshou’s form transformed into a swimming fish and disappeared using the water escape technique.

Having received the merit, his true body naturally had to return to hide in the sect.

After the earlier disturbance from the Severance Sect, his current safety and concealment coefficients had dropped sharply, he needed to quickly think of a countermeasure.

…

At the Jade Pool in the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou immediately returned his attention after receiving the merit.

He heard the Jade Emperor laugh and say:

“Now, with Beloved Official Changgeng investigating the Southern Continent’s waterways, rivers, lakes and seas need various water gods to govern, waterways and seas interconnect, the various water gods shall be proposed for enfeoffment by Eastern Sea Dragon King and Beloved Official Changgeng.

Where is Beloved Official Changgeng?”

Li Changshou quickly stepped forward, “This minor god is here.”

The Jade Emperor said: “In the Dragon Clan matter, your merit is very great, but having just promoted your divine position today, it’s not appropriate to increase it again. Wait until you establish more merit in the future, and reward it all together.”

“This minor god thanks Your Majesty for the great kindness!”

Li Changshou made a salute in thanks and then returned with the dragons to their seats.

Most of the Dragon Clan were smiling happily, completely losing their previous depressed and stifled feeling, while the Western Sea Dragon Palace’s seating area was the quietest, but they also all behaved properly, not daring to cause trouble.

Li Changshou sat back in his position, and the East Wood Lord beside him welcomed him with a wine cup, speaking a few congratulatory words.

Zhao Gongming also pulled Li Changshou’s arm and transmitted his voice with a laugh:

“Brother Changshou, knowing you for so many years, I didn’t expect you to have such a swift and decisive side, saying you’d execute an old dragon and doing it.”

“Circumstances demanded it, circumstances demanded it,” Li Changshou laughed twice in response, but his paper avatar’s form suddenly froze, turning his head to glare at Zhao Gongming.

Li Changshou frowned tightly, grabbing Zhao Gongming’s arm in return.

Zhao Gongming couldn’t help but blink, wondering what was wrong.

Li Changshou’s eyes gleamed with divine light, “Brother, what did you just call me?”

Zhao Gongming pondered for a moment, “Did I say it wrong?

Since the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord is here, I wanted to be more familiar with you, so I used your given name…

Was that, improper?”

“No, not at all,” Li Changshou just frowned and asked softly: “It’s just this name ‘Changshou’, where did brother hear it from?”

“Two years ago, I went to Three Immortals Island and heard Third Sister and Fourth Sister mention it by chance…”

At this point, Zhao Gongming understood something, and also frowned while looking at Li Changshou, “Is there something harmful about this matter?”

“It’s nothing, I was just a bit surprised and not quite used to it,” Li Changshou had already regained his composure and smiled, “I haven’t used this name when walking about for a long time. Brother, have you told anyone else about this?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s good then, please help keep it secret, brother,” Li Changshou said softly, “I’ve been competing with the Western Religion to gain the dragons’ allegiance, and now have achieved most of the success, but there will definitely be another round of competition afterward.

If this name gets out, it would be easily exploited by the Western Religion.

My cultivation is far inferior to yours, brother. If there were some evil curse method, I fear my life would be in danger.”

Hearing this, Zhao Gongming nodded with great solemnity, even saying he would go to Three Immortals Island shortly to remind his two sisters to not mention the two characters ‘Changshou’ to others again.

Li Changshou could trust Zhao Gongming;

But at this moment, Li Changshou had realized…

His current ‘security system’ must undergo a major upgrade, and the Small Jade Peak wandering plan was imminent, absolutely could not continue waiting any longer.

As Li Changshou was calculating this, he suddenly heard an immortal maiden report from the side: “Your Majesty, the peaches are ripe and are already being brought over.”

This Peach Banquet was finally about to officially begin!

…

Meanwhile, at the Crossing Immortal Gate sect, on Small Jade Peak.

Faint immortal light flashed within the lakeside grass hut, a graceful figure floated up from the bed, hovering in mid-air, her immortal dress gently fluttering as gentle breezes blew toward her from all directions…