Was this truly the first peacock between heaven and earth?

Li Changshou’s paper avatar stood on the clouds, watching the direction where Kong Xuan had disappeared with that young woman, waves of thoughts surging in his heart.

First, he needed to sincerely apologize to Great Master here;

He had just briefly used Great Master as a shield.

But the nature of it wasn’t particularly malicious!

Moreover, he hadn’t promised anything on the Great Master’s behalf, only emphasizing the Great Master’s current living state… delicately mentioning the old Pure Yang’s relationship status.

From their brief conversation, it was clear that Kong Xuan held some reverence for the Great Master.

What he had read in the classics was probably just an abbreviated version; the circumstances back then must have been a billion times more complex…

As an unofficial disciple of a sage, he really shouldn’t say much about this matter.

During their conversation, Li Changshou hadn’t been able to obtain more information about Kong Xuan’s true nature, only confirming that Kong Xuan was of Phoenix Clan origin.

—He couldn’t very well directly ask about someone’s background.

Judging from Kong Xuan’s appearance this time, this Phoenix Clan expert held no malice toward humans, though also no particular goodwill.

This was a typical innate being, viewing humans from an outsider’s perspective, considering humanity entirely unimportant, dispensable even.

Earlier, You Qin Xuanya’s indignation, wanting to punish the man-eating peacock demon, wasn’t wrong either.

It was just a different perspective on the matter.

“Ah…”

Li Changshou let out a long sigh, turning to descend.

If Kong Xuan truly held some reverence for the Great Master, why didn’t the Great Master sacrifice his interests to recruit such a powerful fighter for the Human Dao?

Hmph, Great Master was always scheming, asking him to entice Fairy Yun Xiao back, while keeping himself thousands of miles away from such powerful experts…

Leading by example was what a true senior brother should do!

Besides, if one didn’t want to pursue romantic feelings, they could develop brotherly friendship.

Whether Xuan or Xuan, either way, would work for that person…

Li Changshou smiled inwardly, suddenly imagining a future Primordial Chaos news headline:

[Shocking! Breaking! Heaven and Earth’s Strange News!

At the Fourth Lecture at Purple Void Palace, Mosquito Daoist, and Kong Xuan, two Primordial Chaos tough characters, fought over seats beside Xuandu Great Master!]

Just joking, joking.

When Li Changshou considered problems, he generally tried to think comprehensively, and thus often arrived at some interesting perspectives.

Like that peacock maiden from before.

Kong Xuan’s yin-yang was undetermined, and they were the first peacocks between heaven and earth, so this peacock maiden… how did she come to be?

Tsk, this question also had quite the Primordial Chaos philosophical aspect.

White clouds descended, and moonlight scattered.

Li Changshou looked at You Qin Xuanya, who was silently lowering her head beside him, his thoughts turning lightly, considering how to make her understand how dangerous today had been…

By the way, when he had transmitted his voice to You Qin Xuanya earlier, he had already sensed that Kong Xuan had no intention of killing these human cultivators, so he hadn’t planned to reveal himself;

To keep You Qin Xuanya quiet, he had used his voice.

But unexpectedly, his divine consciousness transmission had been intercepted by Kong Xuan. In that extremely brief moment, Li Changshou could only choose with minimal losses—

Step forward with the Minor Master identity, and afterward have You Qin keep the secret.

Several Immortal-Guiding Sect elders stepped forward to bow to Li Changshou, saying: “Immortal-Guiding Sect cultivators pay respects to Senior, thank you for your saving grace!”

“First go settle these mortals.”

Li Changshou glanced at the figures in the iron cages, instructing: “Remember to explain to the mortal officials that they’ve experienced trauma and need rest.”

The several elders answered in unison: “Yes!”

They weren’t fools; from Li Changshou’s conversation with Kong Xuan earlier, they had already understood his identity as a Human Dao expert.

With Li Changshou’s instructions, these elders would naturally do their utmost and handle things carefully.

“Xuanya,” Li Changshou deliberately put on airs and continued, “Come with me, I shall teach you a technique.”

You Qin Xuanya, knowing her Senior Brother Changshou didn’t want his identity revealed, nodded slightly and said: “Thank you, Senior.”

Li Changshou mounted the clouds again, bringing You Qin Xuanya to a nearby cliff, took out two meditation cushions, and made a welcoming gesture.

You Qin Xuanya bowed slightly, sat cross-legged, looking down at her slender fingers, her eyes growing increasingly dim…

Li Changshou raised his hand to arrange a layer of immortal power barrier around them, then handed a blue-green jade talisman to You Qin Xuanya, instructing:

“Junior Sister You Qin, keep this close to your body to guard against mental probing.”

Calling her ‘Xuanya’ in public was to emphasize his ‘expert’ status as Minor Master, but it wasn’t necessary in private.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

She sighed softly, her expression full of dejection, murmuring: “Senior Brother Changshou… did I, make another mistake?”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou also sat cross-legged beside her, smiling: “What mistake did you make?”

“That was an existence we couldn’t oppose,” You Qin Xuanya looked to the side, some words wanting to burst forth, “but Xuanya felt… felt…”

She ultimately swallowed them back, her eyes full of gloom and self-reproach.

Li Changshou continued with a smile: “Felt that even if you were struck dead, died right there, you should still voice what needed to be voiced, still ensure that those who should be punished received punishment…

Is that right?”

[Treatment Step One: Induce Resonance]

You Qin Xuanya was slightly stunned, turning to look at the profile of Li Changshou’s paper avatar, murmuring: “Senior Brother…”

Li Changshou sighed softly, gazing at the edge of the night sky, his voice becoming increasingly distant.

“Junior Sister You Qin, you’re exactly like me when I was still inexperienced.”

You Qin Xuanya blinked, staring at this unfamiliar profile, listening carefully.

Li Changshou spoke slowly:

“But Junior Sister You Qin, you’re also different from me. Even when encountering setbacks and blows, you haven’t abandoned your perseverance.

I became like most people, encountering one or two hardships and actively tucking away my edges, making myself smooth, learning to consider my surroundings, and gradually being assimilated by the environment…”

As he said this, scenes from his previous life flashed through his mind, only to be dispersed with a flick of his finger.

“Junior Sister You Qin, actually I had already decided how to lecture you just now.

I should make you understand the dangers of the Primordial Chaos, make you understand that angering such a powerful being earlier was just futile death, that no matter how loudly you shouted it wouldn’t change anything, and might even implicate the lives of those several elders.

I wanted to remind you of the survival rules for the weak and remind you that actions need proper methods.

But as the words reached my lips, I suddenly realized…

I just didn’t want to admit that I had been defeated by the environment, and then go tell someone who dares to challenge the environment that she must surrender like I did, that’s all.

Sigh… don’t understand?”

You Qin Xuanya lowered her head to think for a moment, then quickly and honestly nodded, “Mm!”

“I’m praising you.”

You Qin Xuanya’s pretty face flushed slightly, saying softly: “Is Senior Brother saying I’m stubborn?”

“No, no, this isn’t stubbornness, you’re just a bit hard-headed.”

Li Changshou shook his head, “In this matter, I won’t interfere with your decisions, nor will I bear the karma you create.

But junior sister, while some things may be principally correct, you should indeed consider the surrounding environment.

I am but an avatar here, death means nothing to me, but those several elders, those generals, even the very existence of this Hong Lin Kingdom, all hung on that senior’s momentary whim!

Junior Sister You Qin, look here.”

[Treatment Step Two: Give an Example]

Li Changshou waved his hand backward, and a paper avatar performed an earth escape technique to emerge, bringing a basket of… eggs.

You Qin Xuanya frowned as she watched. Li Changshou drew over a large stone, placed it before them, and threw an egg at it.

Splat!

The egg instantly shattered, yolk and white splattering everywhere.

“See, this is what your earlier behavior could have led to.”

You Qin Xuanya murmured: “The egg shattered…”

“And completely shattered at that,” Li Changshou took another egg, held it in his hand, and gently pushed it forward, moving the large stone slightly, but the egg remained completely intact.

You Qin Xuanya appeared lost in thought.

Li Changshou suddenly felt that he had inadvertently become like one of those ‘masters’ from the jokes in his previous life.

But he was conducting serious teaching, and professional treatment, and must use today’s incident to stop You Qin Xuanya’s hard-headed behavior.

“What have you realized?”

“One must use proper methods…”

Li Changshou smiled and handed two eggs to You Qin Xuanya, saying: “Here’s a test for you.

Still, in the same situation from earlier, you choose to stand up, insist on punishing that peacock maiden, and maintain the justice in your heart—how should you express it so that the egg doesn’t break while the stone moves?”

You Qin Xuanya pressed her lips together, her delicate hands each holding an egg, slowly closing her eyes.

Li Changshou cast the Heart Imprint Spell, his ethereal voice resonating beside her ear, imprinting into her sea of consciousness:

“Junior Sister You Qin, your chivalrous heart is more precious than the fruit of immortality, but remember, you must use it in appropriate places, let the power protecting it grow strong enough, only then can it bloom with more brilliant radiance.

Therefore, don’t let others use you, learn to judge situations, don’t act rashly for temporary courage, and understand when to advance and when to retreat.

Simple right and wrong, correct and incorrect, are only suitable for peaceful environments like mountain cultivation. In the Primordial Chaos, right and wrong, correct and incorrect are interwoven repeatedly, there is no absolute right or wrong…

Your senior brother hopes you can learn how to protect yourself and those around you, while also maintaining this precious and noble heart.

Your senior brother has already been polluted by the environment and fears that one day he will lose his original sense of right and wrong, good and evil. Having someone like you, junior sister can constantly remind me, illuminate me…”

[Treatment Step Three: Give Recognition, Bestow Mission.]

Gradually, You Qin Xuanya, holding those two eggs, entered a state of enlightenment…

Li Changshou discreetly returned the jade talisman he had prepared for years from his left hand to his treasure pouch, feeling the gentle night breeze.

This time, it should be effective, right?

If not, he would really have no choice but to keep You Qin in the sect for cultivation, not letting her run about outside.

Two hours later…

“Senior Brother Changshou, I will first establish the Human Dao lineage, then speak of today’s matter to maintain reason…”

You Qin Xuanya opened her eyes, her voice trailing off.

The barrier around them was still there, the jade talisman hanging from her waist ring gleaming softly, but the meditation cushion beside her was empty, that figure had departed at some unknown time.

Just then, a strand of voice transmission entered her sea of consciousness.

“Remember, the Human Dao Minor Master is a Human Dao expert, with no connection to the Immortal-Guiding Sect.”

You Qin Xuanya let out a soft breath, nodding firmly in agreement, her ponytail swaying gently.

She stood up and made a Daoist salute toward the east where the sun would rise.

When she straightened, her pretty face no longer showed the previous confusion, having gained some confidence, her eyes carrying more thoughtfulness, standing quietly at the cliff’s edge, her silhouette so otherworldly.

The surrounding barrier dispersed, and several elders walked forward, hearing You Qin Xuanya say:

“Xuanya thanks Senior for pointing the way.”

Immediately, the several Immortal-Guiding Sect elders showed knowing smiles.

You Qin Xuanya glanced at the basket of eggs, picked it up, and turned to meet the elders.

“Xuanya, let’s go meet up with your master.”

“Earlier, Xuanya was rash and nearly placed the elders in danger, please punish me!”

“Uh…”

The several elders exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment, immediately transmitting voices to each other.

“What happened to this child?”

“Possessed? Listen, does this sound like something Xuanya would say?”

“What should we do? Should we restrain her and send her back to the sect for the Sect Leader to check her primordial spirit?”

“Let’s observe for now, quick, respond!”

You Qin Xuanya tilted her head slightly, and the several elders hurriedly said it was nothing, suddenly becoming somewhat flustered.

Underground somewhere, Li Changshou’s paper avatar smiled slightly.

Continue observing secretly to see how effective the treatment is.

…

When the sun star rose in the east, the Water God Palace had already become lively.

Li Changshou’s paper avatar stationed in the Heavenly Court changed into a pure white Daoist robe, combing his white hair and beard before the mirror.

Should he go tell Great Master about the matter of ‘Senior Kong Xuan’?

Better not, it hadn’t been long since he parted from Great Master, and going to find him again would be too frequent.

Besides, how would he ask about it?

‘Hehe, Great Master, your disciple earlier met a maiden named Xuanxuan.’

He’d probably get beaten by Great Master.

As for Kong Xuan’s mention of ‘forming a good karmic bond,’ Li Changshou hadn’t taken it to heart, after all, he had no real interaction with this great power.

Although he still couldn’t understand why Kong Xuan would participate in the Great Calamity of the Gods’ Investiture, Kong Xuan had little interaction with the Dao School, appearing only as a ‘merchant general.’

Putting aside these trivial matters, Li Changshou shook his whisk, mounted his cloud, and flew out of the Water God Palace, heading toward the Jade Pure Palace.

He had barely flown two steps when he suddenly heard a clear shout:

“Lord Water God~”

Li Changshou turned to look and saw Princess Longji in a light pink short dress riding a cloud toward him;

She had her hands behind her back, with two colored ribbons wrapped around her wrists, carrying the freshness and beauty of early lotus buds, lightly jumping onto this old immortal’s cloud.

Dangerous cloud riding, deduct merit points!

“Lord Water God, do you have any errands to run outside? You promised if it wasn’t dangerous, you’d take Longji along!”

One could see that after the Peach Banquet, Longji’s temperament had become much brighter, much more lively than before.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Could it be Your Highness has been lying in ambush nearby?”

“Well, hehe, not all the time…”

“There might be matters, or there might not be,” Li Changshou smiled, “You wait at the Water God Palace, I’ll go see His Majesty, if we need to go out and there’s no danger, I’ll certainly call for you.”

Longji immediately happily agreed, making a proper fist salute to Li Changshou, then rode her cloud toward the Water God Palace.

Li Changshou went straight to the Jade Pure Palace to pay respects to the Jade Emperor and discuss one or two matters.

After a brief discussion, the Heavenly Emperor Zhengde Monument would later be taken by heavenly generals outside the Middle Heaven Gate, to be placed directly below the Middle Heaven Gate.

As for the matter of the Northern Continent’s Wu Clan’s infertility…

“The heavenly mechanism shows that the Heavenly Dao has not imposed such punishment.”

The Jade Emperor gave such an answer, and Li Changshou immediately understood where the problem lay.

It was either the influence of the Northern Continent’s poisonous miasma, or the Wu Clan’s mortal enemies secretly causing trouble.

However, to be safe, and for the smooth progress of the next step of his plan, he still needed to go to the Netherworld’s Yin Ministry in his capacity as Water God to obtain firsthand information about the Wu Clan’s reincarnation.

The Jade Emperor smiled and asked: “Changgeng, do you need any assistance for this trip to the Netherworld?”

Li Changshou: …

Could you make your hint any more obvious?

Were both the Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Emperor’s daughter bored?

As for the Queen Mother… cough, mustn’t speak or think carelessly.

“Yes!”

Li Changshou decisively nodded, “Especially in need of pillars of the Heavenly Court like General Zhao Dezhu who are good at both strategy and combat, planning and escape!”

The Jade Emperor’s eyes immediately crinkled with laughter, and he issued an edict summoning number two tech… technical avatar Zhao Dezhu, opening his mouth to command Zhao Dezhu to protect the Water God’s flanks.

After the Jade Emperor finished speaking, Li Changshou smiled and said: “Your Majesty, before coming here this humble god promised Princess Longji that if it wasn’t dangerous, I would let her come along.

Your Majesty, should this humble god break his word to Princess Longji?”

The White-Robed Jade Emperor immediately frowned, glaring at Li Changshou;

Li Changshou smiled calmly, “Then this humble god will break his word…”

“Take her along!”

The Jade Emperor glared at Li Changshou, “Minister, watch her closely, don’t let her behave improperly!”

“Yes, following Your Majesty’s command.”