Seeing Elder Zhao rushing over, Li Changshou calculated the days and had already roughly “guessed” what was happening.

If his deductions were correct, it must be about Golden Light Holy Mother, who had changed her style of dress and happened to faint near Luofu Cave, where she was fortunately discovered by Elder Zhao on his way home, who quickly brought her inside for treatment.

Then during their time alone, Elder Zhao had a moment of sudden enlightenment, as if struck by divine inspiration, when he caught sight of Golden Light Holy Mother’s feminine beauty…

When he came to his senses, Elder Zhao found these unfamiliar subtle emotions in his heart, and feeling somewhat confused, hurriedly sought someone to consult with…

These were just guesses!

All of the above were merely reasonable deductions Li Changshou made based on his understanding of Elder Zhao’s personality!

Not some clever stratagem!

After all, Li Changshou held such deep respect for Elder Zhao and was so “grateful” to the Severing Sect immortals, and he disliked meddling in others’ karma…

Zhao Gongming walked over hurriedly, pulled Li Changshou’s paper clone to sit down, and after furrowing his brows in hesitation, finally told Li Changshou the “truth”…

Indeed, it was exactly as Li Changshou had guessed.

“Changgeng! I thought Junior Sister Golden Light had been injured in battle, so I brought her back to the cave to heal her… but then…”

Zhao Gongming continued with a troubled expression: “Changgeng, what am I to do? I hadn’t felt anything before, but suddenly…” His handsome beard had become tangled with worry. “Right now, Golden Light is in my cave, and Niece Fire Spirit has gone to look after her. That’s why I rushed out here. If others ask about this, how should I explain?”

“Why not just tell the truth?” Li Changshou asked with a smile, as a spirit servant brought tea. Li Changshou levitated the teacup over with immortal energy and gestured for the servant to leave.

Zhao Gongming pondered in silence for a moment before sighing: “I hadn’t noticed before, but today when I suddenly saw Junior Sister Golden Light, she had merely changed her dress, yet she seemed like a completely different person… This feeling is truly, truly peculiar.”

Li Changshou took a sip of tea from his cup, thought briefly, and then said with a smile: “Elder Brother, what do you think about the concept of Dao companions among cultivators?”

Elder Zhao’s eyes crinkled with mirth as he cleared his throat and declared: “It’s nothing more than… One said ‘Immortal Sister, let me escort you back,’ and the other responded ‘Fellow Daoist, allow me to accompany you back,’ then their gazes meet, oblivious to all else, parting reluctantly… Tsk tsk tsk.”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but smile wryly as he said: “Immortal Sister Cloud Roam and I barely qualify as Dao companions, largely due to the incident in the Peach Blossom Forest. Elder Brother, since ancient times there has been the saying of ‘Method, Wealth, Companion, Location’ in cultivation, and back then the meaning of Dao companions was quite pure. By the end of high antiquity when the human race rose, human cultivators’ Dao companions were mostly husband and wife, hence taking on the meaning of mortal marriage. Even though Cloud Roam and I became Dao companions, we simply discuss the Dao together, chat and joke, and support each other.”

Zhao Gongming nodded continuously as he listened, then said: “But I keep feeling that Golden Light doesn’t want to be that kind of Dao companion with me… And those fellows who became Dao companions on Golden Turtle Island are always concerned about having offspring and such.”

Li Changshou: …

“Well, that makes this matter quite complicated.”

Zhao Gongming hurriedly asked: “Changgeng, how should I speak with Golden Light this time?”

Li Changshou set down his teacup and said seriously: “In matters of the heart, it’s best to let nature take its course. Moreover, such changes are hard to explain clearly. Last time you had no feelings for Golden Light Holy Mother at all, yet today you come to tell me… Sigh, Golden Light is quite nice. Elder Brother, you’ve put me in a difficult position. You need to first be clear about your intentions – whether to reject or accept, whether you’re interested or not. Only then can I help you, right?”

“What Changgeng says makes much sense.” Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and sighed deeply, thinking carefully before slowly shaking his head. “At this point, I’m quite confused myself! Changgeng, do you have any urgent matters to attend to? If not, perhaps you could accompany this elder brother for a walk to clear my mind and help me figure out my true feelings.”

Li Changshou’s heart stirred, and he said: “I was just about to visit the lands of the Shamanic Tribe in the North Continent. Why don’t you come north with me, Elder Brother?”

“Alright!” Zhao Gongming agreed readily – at this point, anywhere was fine as long as he didn’t have to return to Luofu Cave.

Li Changshou asked Zhao Gongming to wait briefly while he used earth traversal to go down to his paper clone storage and retrieved some spare paper clones as a backup. Only then did he set off with Zhao Gongming on their journey to the Northern Continent.

Li Changshou had to admit that he indeed harbored thoughts of getting Zhao Gongming to join the Heavenly Court as an immortal official early, which might help Elder Zhao avoid the great tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

But the chances of this plan succeeding were extremely low, and Li Changshou dared not calculate too much, only able to go with the flow and provide some guidance.

First, he needed to ensure Zhao Gongming developed enough positive impressions of the Heavenly Court, which would allow for more room to maneuver later…

There was no help for it – [The Death of Zhao Gongming] would be the complete turning point in the Dao Sect’s decline from prosperity.

The more Li Changshou analyzed the trends of the Investiture of the Gods, the more he felt that Elder Zhao would be difficult to save, even though he had already taken away the Treasure-Falling Copper Coin and helped Elder Zhao accumulate some merit – he still didn’t have much confidence.

After all, he still had to consider the converging forces of “fate,” “tribulation,” and “fortune”…

The greatest fatal weakness – the Seven Arrow Curse Book – was still in the hands of Master Lu Ya.

Speaking of Master Lu Ya…

Recently, the Black Panther couple didn’t dare worship randomly anymore and had removed Lu Ya’s tablet, but Li Changshou wondered about Master Lu Ya’s current situation.

On the cloud path, Li Changshou smiled and asked: “Elder Brother Zhao, how much do you know about the Holy Mother?”

Zhao Gongming, lost in thought, absently replied: “The Human Race Holy Mother, a listener of the Dao at Purple Void Palace… Changgeng, why do you suddenly ask this?”

“I just happened to think,” Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back, watching the mountain ranges rapidly receding in the distance, “if humans and demons were to wage war now, I wonder if the Holy Mother would care for humans or favor demons.”

Zhao Gongming said: “Changgeng, you worry too much. How would the Sages concern themselves with such minor matters?”

“You’re right,” Li Changshou responded with a smile, continuing to chat and joke with Zhao Gongming as they unhurriedly made their way to the North Continent.

Meanwhile…

At Mount Emei, Luofu Cave.

A white cloud hurriedly flew over, familiar with the outer formation, and arrived at the cave entrance, calling out: “Junior Brother Gongming, are you home?”

A light exclamation came from within the cave, accompanied by the tinkling of jade pendants, as Fire Spirit Holy Mother gracefully emerged from within.

She wore a long dress that seemed formed from flames, with a tall figure and slender neck, her face quite beautiful.

Fire Spirit Holy Mother looked up and saw an old Daoist in an earth-yellow robe standing on the cloud. Her slender fingers moved slightly within her sleeve as she quickly recalled who this was.

“Fire Spirit of the Severing Sect greets Uncle Master Yellow Dragon.”

— According to the order in which the disciples of the Three Schools took their masters, Fire Spirit Holy Mother’s master Many Treasures Daoist had become a disciple of the Three Pure Ones before Yellow Dragon.

Yellow Dragon cupped his hands and asked with furrowed brows: “Is Junior Brother Gongming in the cave?”

Fire Spirit Holy Mother smiled and said: “Uncle Zhao had urgent business to seek out the Sea God… no, the Water God, and asked me to watch over this place. Does Uncle Master Yellow Dragon have any guidance to offer?”

“Water God…” Yellow Dragon couldn’t help but furrow his brows deeply as he looked at the jade talisman in his hand and sighed dejectedly.

Everything had been fine before, so why did he need to go into closed cultivation?!

After so many years without cultivation insights, he just happened to have such an insight right before trouble arose in the East Sea, causing him to miss Water God’s message and be unable to assist the Four Seas…

He had come looking for Zhao Gongming to ask him to accompany him to Safe Waters City, to inquire about methods of ‘atonement.’

Going by himself, he truly didn’t have the face for it!

Thinking of this, True Immortal Yellow Dragon sighed again and said: “Since that’s the case, this poor Daoist shall take his leave. Many thanks for your patience.”

With these words, True Immortal Yellow Dragon made a Daoist salute to the Fire Spirit Holy Mother and departed.

‘Strange…’

Fire Spirit Holy Mother blinked gently, shook her head slightly, and turned to return to Luofu Cave.

There, an immortal maiden was still pretending to be injured and dared not move about, waiting for her to return and discuss what they should do next.

Western Cattle Gift Continent, Spirit Mountain, beneath a shaded tree.

An extraordinary divine beast was lowering its head and recounting the brief conversation between Fire Spirit Holy Mother and True Immortal Yellow Dragon.

Setting aside its other features, this divine beast’s appearance alone was extraordinary – tiger’s head, dragon’s body, lion’s tail, dog’s ears, a single horn, and qilin’s feet, standing over thirty feet tall even while lying down.

At the divine beast’s feet, a young Daoist sat cross-legged, wearing tattered robes, slowly opening his eyes.

“Fire Spirit Holy Mother is in Luofu Cave?”

This Daoist smiled slightly, remarking that it was interesting, and took out a jade talisman, writing a few words upon it.

The divine beast behind him opened its mouth and asked: “Master, why use such underhanded methods to scheme?”

“Schemes are schemes, what difference does it make whether they’re above board or underhanded?”

The young Daoist gently pushed the jade talisman, which transformed into a streak of light and flew to another corner of Spirit Mountain.

His long fingers were like those of a woman, untainted by dust, extremely delicate.

“If it achieves the goal, then it’s a good scheme. If just a word or two can probe the rifts between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects, and potentially provoke more schemes, then why not do it?”

“Yes,” the divine beast responded, slowly lowering its head.

The young Daoist closed his eyes again, sitting quietly in meditation. Behind him, a light blue lotus flower revolved, threads of auspicious Dao rhythm spreading out in all directions.

…

North Continent, one of the primordial continents;

Bordering the North Sea to the north and supporting the Central Divine Continent to the south, it was covered in perpetual poisonous miasma, darkness reigning everywhere.

In ancient times after the great war, when the Shamanic and Demon races declined, the Shamanic Tribe took an oath to eternally reside in the North Continent to avoid tribal extinction.

Afterward, the remaining Shamanic Tribe members all entered the bitterly cold North Continent, continuing until today, their numbers unknown.

After humanity’s rise to prominence, the North Continent gradually became a ‘natural treasury’ for human cultivators. Though the place was full of poisonous insects, it was also rich in spirit herbs, and at the border between the North and Central Divine Continents, demons ran rampant, with demon countries established everywhere.

Though dangerous, opportunities coexisted with the dangers.

To help his master overcome tribulation, Li Changshou had once risked coming to the North Continent, but at that time he had only operated on the outskirts, his cultivation too low to venture deeper inside.

This time, Li Changshou didn’t need to prepare those talismans and pills.

Not to mention that he was only here as a paper clone;

Just considering the person beside him, the capable Severing Sect senior disciple…

What was there to fear?

Zhao Gongming calculated with his fingers, then actively spread out his pressure, driving the cloud to carry Li Changshou northward.

Along the way, poisonous insects fell silent, venomous beasts kept their heads down, and even the most arrogant fierce beast demon mountain kings could only pretend not to see the figures flying overhead.

The poisonous miasma grew thicker, then gradually thinned;

Before long, Li Changshou saw patches of Northern Origin Cold Pines and knew they were approaching the Shamanic Tribe’s dwelling place.

He recalled that previous Northern Continent journey when he and his poisonous Junior Sister had waited in a cave for support from sect members, and she had asked about the uses of burning Northern Origin Cold Pinewood.

Perhaps it was Great Deity Pangu’s hidden protection of the Shamanic Tribe – after they entered the North Continent, these Northern Origin Cold Pines that could block poisonous miasma were discovered by the Shamanic Tribe, becoming their screen against the noxious vapors.

Scanning the surroundings with immortal consciousness, Li Changshou discovered a long ‘Northern Origin Cold Pine protection belt’ stretching five to six thousand miles, several hundred miles wide.

Behind this protection belt was a wasteland. Li Changshou had expected to see several strong Shamanic Tribe settlements, but all he saw were ruins of abandoned stone houses and camps.

Zhao Gongming sighed softly: “The Shamanic Tribe has fallen on hard times.”

“Indeed,” Li Changshou sighed, “To think the bloodline of Great Deity Pangu would come to this.”

“There’s much history there,” Zhao Gongming shook his head, “The past is past, and now both the Shamanic and Demon races have declined. However, compared to the Shamanic Tribe, the Demon race has been truly fortunate.”

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said: “Not necessarily.”

“Oh?” Zhao Gongming said seriously: “Though the Demon race isn’t equal to humans now, they show signs of revival, with demon kings everywhere and many old-generation demon experts in hiding. Moreover, demons and spirits are hard to distinguish, and on our Severing Sect’s side, many fellow disciples are related to high-ranking demons. How is the Demon race not stable?”

Li Changshou smiled and asked: “Where lies the Demon race’s destiny?”

“Well…”

Li Changshou continued: “The Shamanic Tribe’s destiny is protected by the Six Paths Samsara Disc, and Great Virtue Houtu, who transformed into the six paths, left them a flame of hope. The Demon race’s destiny has long since shattered, like dying embers, now sustained only by their foundation. The Holy Mother is ultimately the Human Race Holy Mother, and she only looks after some demons. Moreover…”

Zhao Gongming blinked, “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

Li Changshou smiled calmly, “The Heavenly Court will soon recruit soldiers and train heavenly troops, and the first to be made an example of to establish the Heavenly Court’s authority will be the Demon race.”

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and smiled: “As expected of a Heavenly Court minister, truly domineering.”

“Elder Brother, the Heavenly Court will inevitably become the ruler of the Three Realms, this is the Heavenly Court’s destiny,” Li Changshou smiled, “Though the Heavenly Court is just starting, it has already gained the Dragon Tribe’s assistance. Later, it only needs to develop steadily, and it will transform every hundred or thousand years.”

Zhao Gongming nodded slowly, listening seriously to this, but…

Showed no signs of being moved.

Li Changshou: …

Can’t persuade him, next topic.

Let’s discuss the matter at hand.

As Li Changshou and Zhao Gongming chatted, they had already arrived at a relatively large Shamanic Tribe settlement;

Looking down, this Shamanic gathering place, which might not even compare to a small city in the mortal world of the South Continent, at least showed some signs of life.

Over a dozen children wrapped in beast skins, each carrying trees as thick as their waists, were laughing and running about joyfully, occasionally knocking away round stones half a zhang in diameter…

Zhao Gongming smiled: “Shall we go down and take a look?”

Li Changshou thought for a moment: “Elder Brother Zhao, why don’t we find a place to share a drink?”

Though Zhao Gongming didn’t understand why, he didn’t refuse.

Thereupon, Li Changshou landed the cloud in the forest, skillfully set up a grill, took out a large piece of frozen spirit beast meat, and began busying himself.

Before long, the enticing aroma of meat wafted through the forest, and those dozen or so children who had been playing with stone balls came following the scent, peering from the edge of the forest.

Li Changshou’s ears twitched as he heard Shamanic language through the Wind Speech Spell.

After a brief calculation, he understood the meaning of these words…

“Quick, go find our parents! Demons have come to poison us again!”

…

Kunlun Mountain, at a regularly held immortal banquet.

True Immortal Du’e, dressed meticulously, sat uneasily with over ten close friends, constantly thinking about how his drunken slip of the tongue last time had damaged the Human Dao Grand Master’s reputation.

Must not drink carelessly in the future…

“Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist?”

A call came from the side, and True Immortal Du’e hurriedly put on a smile and turned his head, seeing a friend he had known for thousands of years leaning over with a wine cup.

This person lowered his voice and smiled: “Big news, big news just came from Jade Void Palace, something True Immortal Yellow Dragon complained about to someone.”

“Oh?” True Immortal Du’e became interested, “What kind of big news?”

“This matter concerns the Severing Sect’s senior outer disciple and the Sage Lord’s grand disciple, we absolutely cannot spread it carelessly!”

“Rest assured, don’t you know me? I’ll keep it completely secret!”