Why was the Jade Emperor moving so quickly this time?

This wasn’t like the Celestial Court at all. Usually, it took decades just to issue an edict, promotions for divine positions would drag on for fifteen to twenty years, and even common celestial generals needed two or three days of preparation just to pass through Heaven’s Gate!

Even if eliminating remnants of the previous dynasty was the highest priority, surely General Hua Ritian’s troop deployment should still follow some process.

The Solar Star orbited beyond the heavens, and with the sun now tilting westward, bringing troops from the Celestial Court would surely take some time. Not to mention, the Jade Emperor’s avatar would need to conceal his movements, wait for the right moment to strike, and prepare some trump cards to kill Lu Ya…

Why did His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s expression suggest he was about to act immediately?

Fortunately, judging by the Jade Emperor’s reaction, Li had managed to stop him at this critical moment…

In the Hall of Celestial Mist, Li Changshou waited quietly, his face written with “Who am I, where am I?”

Complete bewilderment.

The Jade Emperor closed his eyes in concentration, his divine consciousness falling upon General Hua Ritian, who had quietly withdrawn his troops from that incomparably magnificent Solar Star.

The Solar Star, formed from Pangu’s left eye, was the Yang Spring of Heaven and Earth.

Before the Heavenly Dao was complete, the Solar Star was drawn by the Sun-Driving Goddess Xihe in her chariot, traveling from east to west each day in an endless cycle.

In ancient times, the Golden Crow clan born from the Solar Star reached their peak, Xihe became the Demon Empress, and Demon Emperor Di Jun built the Golden Crow Palace as a residence for Xihe and the Ten Princes.

From that time, the Heavenly Dao took over the Solar Star’s rotation.

At the end of the ancient era, during the final stages of the war between Immortals and Demons, the human army struck down the Demon Court, and the Demon Emperor went to his death.

Then a million human immortals besieged the Golden Crow Palace. Xihe took her own life, and the palace was largely destroyed.

Now, standing outside the Solar Star and gazing inward, beyond that natural Grand Fire Formation, one could still see the stretches of ruins. Countless precious materials had been transformed into brilliant, hardened waste under the scorching of the true solar flames.

Originally, the troops General Hua Ritian led had already passed through the Solar Star’s outer Fire Formation.

Li Changshou’s timely memorial made the Jade Emperor change his mind. General Hua Ritian spread word that there might be an ambush, and they should temporarily withdraw.

The gathered celestial generals immediately became extremely vigilant but didn’t panic, retreating from the area in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, in the deepest part of these ruins, in a half-collapsed great hall…

An old Daoist sat cross-legged in a corner of the ruins, wrapped in layers of barriers.

His complexion was pale, his entire being trembling chaotically. His Daoist robes were covered in blood stains, and judging by their direction and shape, they seemed to be… spat out.

The great hall was quite cool, as if arrays were keeping out the waves of heat that pervaded the Solar Star.

Before the old Daoist, the spat-out blood had formed a small stream, surrounding him.

If others saw this, they would surely think he was practicing some demonic technique…

This old Daoist hadn’t noticed at all the group of celestial generals that had come and gone outside the Solar Star. His condition was now extremely poor.

‘Why is it like this? Why exactly is it like this?’

The old Daoist opened his somewhat lifeless eyes, his entire being inexplicably beginning to tremble again, forcing him to close his eyes once more to calm the turbulence in his heart.

His initial injury came from his precious treasure, the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.

When forging the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, its spirit suddenly awakened, and one strike nearly took half his life.

This forced the old Daoist to temporarily seal the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife before hurriedly treating his injuries…

But then…

Simple meditation would bring forth heart demons.

Cautiously comprehending his own Dao would trigger Dao tremors that occurred perhaps once in ten thousand or hundred thousand years, injuring his personal Dao…

When seeking medicine to treat his injuries, he somehow took the wrong storage treasure, and in a moment of confusion, swallowed a poison pill…

“Cough! Cough cough!”

The old Daoist forcefully held back another mouthful of blood and opened his eyes again.

This time, he very carefully took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom, checking three times that this was indeed his bottle containing healing treasure pills.

The old Daoist showed a slight smile, but after removing the bottle’s restrictions, his smile instantly froze.

He poured it out, and a pile of pill fragments fell into his hand, their last trace of medicinal power quietly dissipating…

The pills had… shattered?!

Though there were indeed such sayings that pills could shatter if their medicinal power went out of control, this…!

The old Daoist’s lips trembled, and two tears slowly rolled down his aged cheeks…

What exactly was happening?

When these situations first appeared, the old Daoist immediately became alert, and his first thought was—

[Could it be that I’ve lost my fortune?]

But when the old Daoist carefully calculated, he found all his due fortune was still there, and the remnant fortune of the demon race had even transformed into a fortune of revival, gathering upon him.

[Or perhaps I lack merit?]

The old Daoist took out his second great treasure and looked at it carefully.

This was a curse book, forged by experts of the former Demon Court, with its overall concept proposed by Demon Teacher Kun Peng, used as a secret technique to punish rebellious demons.

The book was called the ‘Seven Arrow Curse Book,’ and it was claimed that it could curse someone to death just by knowing their spirit name and birth time.

In reality, that was just a facade—the Seven Arrow Curse method was extremely difficult to implement.

First, it required both a strand of the target’s primordial spirit and a trace of their essence, neither could be missing. Then these had to be infused into the book, and the curse caster needed to make offerings and shoot arrows at specific times each day.

The price for casting the Seven Arrow Curse was also incredibly huge, most importantly, it would either consume merit or fortune.

If the casting was interrupted halfway, and merit or fortune couldn’t sustain it, the caster would be backlashed by the curse and turn directly into blood water…

When the Demon Court was at its peak, they didn’t lack merit, and the Seven Arrow Curse Book was a hidden arrow hanging over all demons’ heads.

But now, for this old Daoist—that is, Daoist Lu Ya—this treasure was just…

A memento, nothing more.

For enemies he could defeat in battle, he naturally did not need this treasure; for those he couldn’t defeat, he didn’t have enough merit and fortune to curse such powerful beings to death—that would be mutual destruction.

After initially confirming it wasn’t this object causing his misfortune, Lu Ya fell into even greater confusion.

Until today, his injuries still showed no sign of improvement, his dao foundation is constantly on the verge of collapse, and his situation is increasingly tragic…

[Could it be that Heaven wants to destroy me?]

Lu Ya raised his head to look at the sky, only to see the broken hall ceiling and the sky woven from tongues of flame beyond.

He gave a bitter smile and shakily stood up, picking up a large gourd from beside him and strapping it to his back. Hunched over, he stumbled towards the depths of the great hall.

In just a few dozen zhang, he fell several times, spat blood several times, heart demons stirred restlessly, and all strength seemed to have been drained from his body.

This old Daoist went to a corner of the great hall, barely managed to point out a thread of immortal power to activate an array there, and tumbled into it.

The next instant, his form vanished from this place, appearing within the Solar Star’s core.

And that array suddenly operated with a deviation, in an instant…

It burned up.

Within the star core, a small palace was hidden among the prismatic true solar flames.

Lu Ya’s form collapsed before the palace, fire light surrounding his body as he transformed into a three-legged golden crow, then immediately changed into a young man wearing brocade robes with delicate features. Dragging that large gourd, he stumbled into the palace.

The palace was empty, with only a crystal coffin placed inside.

Outside was the hot spring of heaven and earth, where there was a thread of cold similar to the Moon Star’s core surrounding them.

This thread of cold wrapped around the crystal coffin, within which lay a beautiful woman in white robes. She seemed to be in deep sleep, still emanating a faint pressure.

The brocade-robed youth walked a few steps before this woman, his knees bent as he knelt. Taking a gentle breath, he said sorrowfully:

“Mother… please tell your child, what exactly has your child done wrong, that Heaven wishes to destroy me so…”

The woman was just a corpse, without the slightest spirit or divinity, naturally, there was no response.

Lu Ya smiled bitterly, feeling his injuries about to flare up again. He stood up and slowly walked beside the crystal coffin, sitting down next to his mother.

His eyes gradually closed, his whole being written with tragedy, as he hummed the ballad of years past…

“Emerging from Tang Valley, roaming the skies… Returning to Yu Abyss, bathing in sweet springs…”

“Sigh.”

Suddenly hearing a sigh from beside him, Lu Ya’s spirit jolted. He murmured “Your Majesty,” as a white shadow flashed past, and Lu Ya’s form had already vanished with it.

At the same time, at the border between South Jambudvipa and East Victory Divine Continent, in a certain valley…

The black panther who was leading his wife in “casual worship” suddenly gave a low roar, rolled his eyes, and his form slowly collapsed.

The wooden tablet carved with the name “Daoist Lu Ya” had its writing inexplicably vanish into thin air.

“Husband! Husband, what’s wrong with you!”

The water demon Miaomiao called out in panic.

With her weak cultivation, she naturally couldn’t see the black spiritual mushroom that appeared above the black panther’s head; this mushroom was now rapidly crumbling, streams of mysterious Heavenly Dao power returning to formlessness.

In the blink of an eye, the mushroom was only one-tenth its original size…

But Li Changshou’s paper avatar hiding hundreds of li away saw this scene.

The black panther had only suffered spirit shock and fainted on his own, he wasn’t injured.

What was the situation with this mushroom?

‘Backlash?’

In the Hall of Celestial Mist in the Celestial Court, Li Changshou slightly furrowed his brow, continuously deducing and calculating in his heart.

Could it be that Lord Heavenly Dao felt this fellow’s poison was too strong and forcefully weakened him?

Or was Lu Ya’s fortune too strong for the black panther to affect?

The scene of that black mushroom crumbling just now seemed to indicate the black panther’s poison had weakened…

Li Changshou pondered silently in his heart, directly burning the paper avatar that had appeared before the black panther, and supplemented another paper avatar to go “monitor.”

In any case, regardless of the situation, it had nothing to do with him, a minor Water God of the Celestial Court.

“Changgeng,” said the white-robed Jade Emperor from his throne in the Hall of Celestial Mist, opening his eyes with a smile. “I’ve already ordered them to return. I see in your memorial that you mentioned the Netherworld could be brought under the Celestial Court’s governance and the Three Realms system. How should we proceed with this matter?”

Li Changshou smiled and said, “The Dragon Clan has their Dragon Kings, and the Netherworld has their Judge Yama. When the time is right, Your Majesty can also bestow titles upon the great virtue of Houtu. Though the Netherworld doesn’t lack merit, their Yin officials also have matters they care about.”

“Oh?” The Jade Emperor instantly became interested. “It seems beloved official Changgeng has done thorough research. Tell me in detail—compared to dealing with those demon court remnants, this is truly the great matter of revitalizing the Celestial Court!”

Li Changshou made a Daoist salute and, after careful consideration, began speaking at length.

This had to start with a pinch of seasoning—ahem, had to start with the Immortal tribe in the North Uttarakuru Continent!

The final result of their discussion was exactly as I had expected—he became the executive director of the next great show, receiving the Jade Emperor’s commission.

Another great merit was beckoning to him from ahead, seemingly calling out “Come hither, Immortal”…

Fortunately, the Jade Emperor didn’t give him a deadline and even advised him to rest for a few years first, to avoid exhausting too much mental energy.

Li Changshou naturally accepted the command with gratitude, carefully agreeing to it.

…

Half a day later.

In the underground secret chamber of Small Jade Peak, Li Changshou slowly opened his eyes, showing a hint of fatigue.

During these past half day, he had been drinking and making merry with Zhao Gongming and True Person Yellow Dragon, discussing with the Jade Emperor how to bring the Netherworld under the Celestial Court’s rule, while also dividing his attention to observe the black panther’s condition and calculating in his heart exactly what had happened to the black panther.

After his [Water God] paper avatar returned to the Water God Manor, Elder Zhao, and True Person Yellow Dragon had their fill of wine and conversation before taking their leave. And the black panther, coincidentally woke up at this time…

Li Changshou suddenly found himself idle, only able to listen to the bedside story of the black panther and the water demon.

“Husband, what happened to you?”

“My dear wife, just now I seemed to see an embroidered ball before my eyes. That ball flashed and I lost consciousness, with only the words ‘do not worship anymore’ echoing in my heart.”

“Don’t scare me, the writing on the wooden tablet has already disappeared.”

“Oh? Could it be… my divine ability isn’t only activated by mouth?”

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed tightly.

Embroidered ball?

He listened for a while longer, but the conversation between the black panther and the water demon gradually lost substance and started becoming indescribable.

Li Changshou withdrew his attention and pondered carefully.

Could it be that Lu Ya was over-affected by the black panther’s power, nearly dying and having his dao dissipate, but was saved by the owner of the embroidered ball…

Then the owner of the embroidered ball intervened, warning the black panther, and even erased most of its ‘toxicity’?

If the black panther was a tool of the Heavenly Dao, especially serving the future great tribulation;

Then wouldn’t the owner of the embroidered ball’s intervention incur karmic debt with the Heavenly Dao, inevitably being drawn into the great tribulation in the future?

Li Changshou sensed the Taiji Pattern’s dao rhythm on his body, and only then slightly relaxed.

Unexpectedly, his small innovative design from back then would end up drawing out the Holy Maiden.

[How come I suddenly have the feeling again that I’ve been arranged by Lord Heavenly Dao…]

Li Changshou sat there deep in thought.

Matters concerning saints couldn’t be taken lightly, and this contemplation lasted for two days and three nights.

He went to his thatched cottage and spread out all the scrolls of paintings one by one, carefully modifying some details.

The Investiture of the Gods tribulation, the calculations of the Six Saints…

He absolutely couldn’t harbor thoughts of gaming the system, and could only bind himself together with the Celestial Court, intervening in the Investiture tribulation to a small extent, limitedly altering some of the Dao School’s tragedies.

The Treasure-Collecting Copper Coin was already in hand, and Lu Ya would soon face the Jade Emperor’s calculations.

If they could intercept and kill Lu Ya in advance, then keep a close watch on Burning Lamp, that “ultimate turncoat,” there would be much room for maneuvering in the Investiture matter.

Without the Sea-Calming Zhenzhu, what could Burning Lamp use to open the Twenty-Four Heavens?

Li Changshou sat in the thatched cottage calculating carefully.

After reaching the Golden Immortal realm, he was no longer sensitive to the passage of time. Just one systematic contemplation took five or six years to pass swiftly by.

During these five or six years, Li Changshou naturally had to divide his attention to move about outside.

Helping the Celestial Court, assisting the Dragon Clan, establishing divine positions—he had to participate in many matters. The vacation the Jade Emperor promised him seemed increasingly distant.

The Small Jade Peak wandering plan was also proceeding “vigorously.”

Ling’e had organized all the “details” of Small Jade Peak, and Li Changshou had also selected a “body double peak” among mountains in South Jambudvipa, beginning the comprehensive renovation.

Matters had their order of importance and urgency. Li Changshou planned to start specifically researching the Netherworld matter after completing the Small Jade Peak wandering plan.

The sooner they moved next to Lord Lao, the sooner they could safely calculate other matters.

“Senior Brother~”

In the bright sunlight, Ling’e floated over from outside the thatched cottage carrying tea and snacks.

Li Changshou put down the brush in his hand, stretched lazily, and covered up the painting scroll in front of him to prevent Ling’e from seeing it and getting involved in this karma.

He hadn’t gone into closed cultivation these past few years, and the thatched cottage was open to Ling’e’s comings and goings.

Previously, Master Uncle Jiou had also come by for a visit, and seeing Li Changshou seemed to be “writing and establishing histories,” didn’t dare disturb him much.

Ling’e knelt at the side of the low table, offering tea, and said softly, “Senior Brother, don’t worry too much.”

“Mm, it’s nothing,” Li Changshou took a sip of tea. “Human ability has its limits, I will also have times of improper consideration. I can only try to consider things as thoroughly as possible, repeatedly checking for any holes.”

Ling’e pressed her small lips together, not knowing how to help share her Senior Brother’s worries.

Li Changshou smiled and said, “So many youths have already come to the mountain gate seeking to become disciples…”

“Mm,” Ling’e responded, speaking of interesting things she had heard within the sect lately.

Which elder had found good seedlings and taken disciples in advance, which disciple had discovered thousand-year-old distant relations with immortals in the sect?

Li Changshou listened with a smile, his immortal consciousness carefully watching the youths gathered outside the mountain gate, looking to see if there were any world-shaking good seedlings.

Suddenly inspiration struck, giving him a premonition.

Li Changshou stared for a while at a youth with thick eyebrows and big eyes wearing coarse cloth clothes.

This youth’s face was bruised and swollen, with some wounds on his body, as if he had rolled down a large section of the steps before the mountain gate.

At this moment he was holding a piece of dry food and gnawing on it, his eyes showing determination and steadiness, mature beyond his years in a way that made one’s heartache…

Who was this?

To give him such a premonition, could it be someone destined for the Investiture of the God tribulation?

Li Changshou instantly became interested, sending a thread of voice transmission into this youth’s ear.

“You, who are you?”

The youth was startled and looked around.

Li Changshou transmitted again: “Don’t look around, I’m in the mountain, using magic to speak with you.”

The youth was instantly shocked, hurriedly stood up, and prostrated himself toward the mountain gate, shouting:

“I… disciple is called Li Jing! From the human race of South Jambudvipa!

Disciple’s homeland is repeatedly invaded by demons and monsters, I beg immortals to teach me the Dao methods and pass on to me immortal techniques, so I can protect my homeland’s peace!”

Li Jing?

Hmm, this child hasn’t had it easy, holes in his cloth shoes, several pairs of cloth shoes in his bundle worn through the soles, with Qi Refinement realm cultivation, he must have run directly here from the Southern Continent.

Unfortunately, his aptitude isn’t particularly good, probably the sect won’t… accept…

Wait a minute, what did this fellow say his name was?

Li!

Li Changshou, who was drinking tea, turned his head and sprayed out a mist of water. Ling’e was caught off guard and could only tightly close her eyes, enduring this sudden attack from the Water God.