Ah, what truly shows friendship in times of adversity?

The several hundred immortals of the Severing Sect watching the commotion on Golden Turtle Island cast grateful Divine Sense toward that white-haired, white-bearded elderly immortal who voluntarily approached the other end of the earthen tunnel.

Though everyone now knew that this ordinary ranked deity of Heaven’s Court wore false features, false form, false voice, and false beard…

Yet that courageous fearlessness shown in stepping forward during the crisis was genuine!

Water Deity Li Chenggeng of Heaven’s Court truly lived up to being a good brother to the Severing Sect!

Moments ago…

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao appeared at the other end of the earthen tunnel, wearing a cyan inner robe beneath a plain white dress, her graceful and delicate figure perfect without the need for alteration;

Three thousand cyan strands of hair bound flowing tender feelings, her beautiful eyes gentle yet containing Great Dao’s true meaning, along with that faint majesty that one dared only admire from afar but not approach…

Standing alone in the world without compare, through endless ages cherishing only you.

Originally not concerning herself with mortal affairs, yet how did emotion fall into this heart?

If not Yunxiao, who else would have such charm to cause Li Chengshou, whose dao heart was sealed by the “Iron Hundred Beautiful Elder Consorts Diagram,” to show obvious fluctuations in his mental state?

If not Yunxiao, how many could achieve this – as soon as she appeared, the earthen tunnel formed by Fellow Daoist Duobao’s divine abilities became so quiet one could hear a pin drop?

Almost all the Severing Sect immortals watching the drama here thought of the same question…

The last time they gathered like this was to watch the drama between Yunxiao and Water Deity Chenggeng!

Now that the main character has arrived…

Fellow Daoist Duobao shifted backward, hiding behind Sacred Mother Jinling;

Sacred Mother Jinling calmly moved her gaze away, beginning to study the profound patterns formed by the “soil particles” inside the earthen tunnel.

Sacred Mother Guiling pursed her small mouth, already preparing the technique she often used to deal with Master’s reproach…

Qiongjiao went straight to the point, already starting to cry pitifully while pinching her ears, casting a piteous glance at Li Chengshou’s paper avatar preparing for self-immolation nearby.

Li Chengshou inwardly sighed slightly – if he didn’t stand up at this moment, who else could?

“You’ve come too.”

A light laugh broke the silence in the earthen tunnel. Li Chengshou held his duster and stepped forward, his feet employing some kind of technique that made his form float forward like a gentle breeze to Immortal Maiden Yunxiao’s front.

The entire movement was smooth and flowing like water, quite comfortable to watch.

Li Chengshou made a show of shaking his duster, and with one sentence – “Since there’s a reason for this, it won’t count toward the five hundred years” – Yunxiao’s originally somewhat dissatisfied expression revealed a slight smile.

“Why is everyone here eavesdropping and peeping?”

Yunxiao said softly: “This is too discourteous to those two.”

Li Chengshou smiled: “Fellow Daoists are just too concerned about this matter, which is natural for living beings.

Rather, the Severing Sect’s relaxed and lively atmosphere, united from top to bottom, is quite rare in the eyes of this Human Sect disciple.

Oh right, let me change my appearance.”

As he spoke, Li Chengshou took out a paper figure from his sleeve, transformed into the appearance of a young Daoist, and put away the elderly immortal paper avatar.

The corners of Yunxiao’s mouth curved into a slight smile as she said: “Still not as pleasing to the eye as your original appearance.”

Li Chengshou showed some nervousness and said softly: “That’s a Human Sect secret that cannot be easily revealed.”

Then he made a welcoming gesture and walked back to his previous earthen tunnel together with Yunxiao.

This path was just a few dozen zhang, but as Yunxiao passed each “viewing tunnel,” her gaze swept past, and the immortals inside, regardless of gender or seniority, dared not meet her eyes, and all felt more or less…

Guilty.

Many immortals pretended to make casual conversation, changing topics to discuss magical treasures and cultivation:

“Nephew Yuan, that Blood-Transforming Divine Blade you recently refined seems quite powerful, shall we discuss it with your uncle another day?”

“Of course, of course.”

“Elder Brother Luoxuan, have you completed your Corpse Severance yet? Weren’t you in closed cultivation for tens of thousands of years but still couldn’t grasp the key?”

“It’s so difficult, really troublesome…”

Some immortals also discussed recent news:

“These demon tribes have truly run out of luck, still saying they want to go to war with Heaven’s Court, who knows where they got such confidence.”

“Sigh, thinking back, my poor self’s neighbor’s cousin was on the best terms with the current Great Demon King of North Uttarakuru Continent, wonder if such karma will implicate us.”

“Heaven’s Court has the Human Sect backing them, whatever the demon tribes do is in vain, they might as well honestly…”

Hearing this, Yunxiao also looked concernedly at Li Chengshou and asked gently: “Earlier I divined that you were summoned to the Sacred Mother Palace due to demon tribe matters, was there any trouble?”

Hearing this, Li Chengshou immediately showed a somewhat complicated expression.

Sacred Mother Palace… That was also a not-so-pleasant memory…

Yunxiao hurriedly asked: “What’s wrong? Were you injured?”

“No, just got lectured by Holy Mother.”

Li Chengshou smiled bitterly and said, “Thinking about it now, under these robes I was all guts, daring to scheme even before a Sage, but was seen through by Holy Mother at a glance.

I was already confident there were no oversights, yet still had one flaw among a hundred precautions.

Alas…”

Hearing this, Yunxiao finally relaxed her beautiful brows. That slight urgency and bit of concern just now could not have been fake at all.

She said: “Between Sages and so-called Almost-Sages, though seemingly separated by one line, the difference is truly vast as heaven and earth.”

Li Chengshou immediately nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Such “warnings” about Sages’ abilities had become a mandatory topic every time they met.

Amid their jovial conversation, the two had already arrived at the pit where Li Chengshou was staying earlier.

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao bowed forward in greeting, addressing them as Elder Brother, Elder Sister, and Junior Sister, then frowned as she looked toward Qiongjiao at the side…

Just as she was about to speak, Li Chengshou raised his hand at the side and lightly pulled Yun Xiao’s sleeve, transmitting:

“It’s somewhat inappropriate to scold Qiongjiao in front of others.”

Yunxiao thus dispersed the momentum that was about to erupt and sighed:

“Later come back to the island with me to cultivate, don’t run around outside. With your cultivation realm, you’re almost being surpassed by your younger sister.”

“Yes, sister.”

Qiongjiao replied pitifully, secretly giving Li Chengshou a grateful salute.

At this moment, Yunxiao couldn’t help but look outside the earthen tunnel…

By the treasure pool, Zhao Gongming, having groomed his beautiful beard and changed into long robes, displayed his “dignified appearance and magnificent form” to the fullest;

Looking at Sacred Mother Jinguang today, her long hair was arranged to show mature charm, her delicate features, and her palm-sized face, her long dress fitting her figure’s curves…

This dress style naturally also came from a sachet, a pertinent suggestion given by a certain Water Deity of Heaven’s Court who wished to remain anonymous, after carefully studying Zhao Gongming’s preferences.

At this moment, Elder Zhao and Sacred Mother Jinguang were separated by nine chi, having just finished one topic and still building up emotions.

Elder Zhao went “eh” and “well” for a while, Sacred Mother Jinguang went “mm” and “okay” for a bit, never quite managing to continue the conversation.

So Elder Zhao said softly: “Junior Sister, pardon me.”

“Hm?”

Sacred Mother Jinguang was slightly startled, suddenly seeing a flash of water-blue light before her eyes as several Ocean-Calming Divine Zhenzhus appeared around her, sealing her Divine Sense and fixing her in place, temporarily losing awareness of the outside.

All the Severing Sect immortals in the earthen tunnel were stunned.

Qiongjiao couldn’t help but exclaim “Wa!” and praised: “Is Big Brother being so direct?”

Fellow Daoist Duobao frowned slightly: “Isn’t this somewhat inappropriate? After all, in broad daylight, under heaven’s bright eyes, with so many junior brothers and sisters watching…

Though Junior Sister Jinguang is willing, but this…”

“Now,” Sacred Mother Guiling raised her hand to cover her eyes, leaving a bit of vision through her fingers.

Then they saw Zhao Gongming step forward…

Yun xiao’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly, about to appear and stop this;

Many Severing Sect immortals held their breath, secretly exclaiming ‘who would have thought’ and ‘how thrilling.’

However, Elder Zhao skillfully glided forward, appearing behind Sacred Mother Jinguang, looked left and right, then took out a scroll, opened it, and carefully studied it, nodding continuously, once again full of confidence!

Then he turned around, appeared in his original position, retrieved the Ocean-Calming Divine Zhenzhus with lightning speed, and smiled slightly:

“Junior Sister, do you enjoy poetry and painting?”

Sacred Mother Jinguang blinked, though somewhat confused, but still showed a shy smile and nodded in agreement.

Li Chengshou: …

Severing Sect crowd: …

In a certain immortal palace that had jumped out of the Three Realms, wasn’t among the Five Elements, and was hidden within the Great Dao, a young Daoist wearing cloud-mist robes was about to rush outside with the Green Pine Sword, fortunately stopped by several attending immortals.

“Master, please don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”

“Elder Brother Gongming hasn’t been discourteous, Master, don’t be anxious.”

“This rebellious disciple! Am I angry because he wasn’t discourteous?

Did I bestow the Ocean-Calming Divine Zhenzhus on him for this? Pah! How infuriating!”

Naturally, this scene wouldn’t be witnessed by outsiders.

…

Half an hour later.

The gathering on Golden Turtle Island dispersed, and by the East Sea shore, two figures met again.

They rode clouds between blue sky and white clouds, found a quiet beach, walked and talked, finally settling in a shaded spot, covering white sand with a cloth mat.

The man clasped his hands, the woman bowed slightly, and both sat down, separated by more than six chi.

This was at Li Chengshou’s invitation, Yunxiao coming here to meet Li Chengshou’s ‘true form.’

Murder and arson could be done by paper avatars, and even helping scatter ashes and bury souls could be done by paper avatars;

But discussing poetry and romantic matters with Immortal Maiden Yunxiao was more appropriate for the true form.

This wasn’t far from the Cultivation Gate, if trouble came he could quickly hide back in Little Jade Peak…

Ahem, speaking of less serious matters.

Li Chengshou discovered that the longer he stayed in the Primordial World, the less resistance he had to floating immortal dresses.

Especially when Yunxiao sat down, her dress skirt like a blooming peony, each fold like the imprint of overlapping petals, never tiring to look at.

Naturally, they hadn’t reached the stage of mutual heart commitment, so the killing phrase ‘you look beautiful’ wouldn’t achieve the best effect if spoken…

They talked for a while about Zhao Gongming and Sacred Mother Jinguang’s matter, Yunxiao felt Elder Zhao’s marriage proposal was somewhat forced at this time, and Li Chengshou nodded in agreement.

At this moment Zhao Gongming and Sacred Mother Jinguang had agreed to travel beyond the heavens, agreeing to spend some time together, and if they felt unsuitable they would no longer speak of becoming Dao companions…

Yunxiao sighed softly and said: “How can such matters be negotiated? If there isn’t mutual attraction, it always seems forced.”

“That thinking is somewhat inappropriate too.”

Li Chengshou took out two jade cups from his sleeve, filled them with immortal wine, and used immortal power to push one in front of Yunxiao, saying:

“Not every deep feeling can receive a response, and not every relationship begins with mutual attraction. Sometimes one person’s persistence can indeed change another person.

But the prerequisite is that both people have common ground, can naturally get along, have common topics.”

Immortal Maiden Yunxiao considered carefully, took the jade cup, sniffed lightly, and smiled: “Were those words Big Brother spoke taught by you?”

“Well… hehe.”

“How do you know so many words to please women,” Yunxiao said with light reproach, but without any blame.

Li Chengshou laughed freely, he couldn’t very well say he had an ‘information advantage.’

So he said seriously:

“Being used to calculating everything, I probably just thought about these things more.

Matters of the heart shouldn’t actually have so many calculations. Just like now, being by your side, I can instead use our time together to put aside many worldly worries and feel quite at ease.

Oh right, how’s the wine?”

“Compared to my younger sister’s fruit wine, the texture is much smoother,” Yunxiao commented seriously, “and it has more of the essence of primordial spiritual items, making even the primordial spirit slightly intoxicated, it’s a rare fine product.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Li Chengshou smiled and took out two jade bottles, wrapped them in immortal power, and placed them beside Yunxiao.

“This is the Five Elements Fine Wine I’ve been working on lately, made by condensing the Five Elements spiritual energy in morning dew. The rest was taken by the wine immortals in the sect.

If you find it good, I’ll brew several more jars for you later.”

More smiles appeared in Yunxiao’s eyes as she drank a little from her cup, those spirit eyes gradually showing slight haziness…

“Being with you like this is also when my heart is most peaceful.”

“Hm?” Li Chengshou was slightly startled.

Looking up, he saw her arranging her hair by her ears, a slight blush crossing her cheeks as she turned to look at the quiet sea.

A sea breeze blew past, faint spiritual energy surrounding them, and Li Chengshou’s heart imprinted this scene…

But then, Li Chengshou sighed softly.

He simply lay down on the mat, pillowing his head with both hands, watching the clouds above, his arm also pressing on Yunxiao’s dress hem.

“What’s wrong?”

Yunxiao asked softly, actively turning towards Li Chengshou, her surroundings emanating strands of mysterious Dao rhythms, concealing this place’s heavenly mechanisms.

She asked with concern: “Is there something troubling you? If you can tell me, I can also help you make decisions.”

“What I’m busy with now is assisting Heaven’s Court’s rise, and there aren’t many great difficulties with various affairs.

But recently, I’ve had some breakthroughs in my realm, and after hearing some things from Holy Mother in Sacred Mother Palace, there’s been a puzzle in my heart that I can’t solve.”

Yunxiao thought briefly and smiled: “Is it related to tribulations?”

“Tribulations?” Li Chengshou was slightly surprised.

“Yes, I divined some years ago that the Dao Sect has a great tribulation coming, but all heavenly mechanisms related to the tribulation were concealed,” Yunxiao said softly, “Therefore, I kept my two sisters confined on the island, not wanting them to wander outside.”

“I see…”

Li Chengshou had thought Yunxiao had divined the Investiture of the Gods, given her extraordinarily high cultivation realm, such premonitions were understandable.

Li Chengshou smiled: “What troubles me is the Heavenly Dao.”

“Heavenly Dao?”

“Yes, Heavenly Dao,” Li Chengshou said, “I’m now caught in a strange cycle.

Taking Heaven’s Court as an example, I’ve participated in great matters between heaven and earth, and the results of what I’ve done conform to the results of heavenly mechanism divination.

For instance, Heaven’s Court should receive the Dragon Tribe, and I became a chess piece in this, helping both sides greatly.

But thinking in reverse, now I’m thinking of going with the flow, but if one day I want to go against the flow for something, isn’t it that precisely such ‘contrary’ thoughts would instead promote the result revealed by heavenly mechanisms?

Under the Heavenly Dao, do living beings truly have room for choice?”

Hearing this, Yunxiao tilted her head slightly, also falling into contemplation.

Li Chengshou slowly closed his eyes and smiled with a sigh: “Don’t think too much about it, this is just some random thought that popped up, perhaps being born between heaven and earth, one can’t escape the Heavenly Dao’s control.”

“Have you forgotten about the one that escaped?” Yunxiao asked softly.

Li Chengshou said: “Of course I remember, but who can guarantee that they can become the variable that breaks through heavenly mechanism’s limits in every matter?”

Yunxiao smiled gracefully and said softly:

“I once witnessed the Heavenly Dao’s creation, countless great Daos converging between heaven and earth, intersecting, weaving, achieving heaven and earth’s will.

I also witnessed the Dao Ancestor merging with the Dao using the Creation Jade Plate, completing the incomplete parts of the Heavenly Dao.

You now feel bound by the Heavenly Dao, but, it should be that the Dao Ancestor is arranging for you to do some things, the Heavenly Dao itself has no will at all.

Thinking this way, isn’t it much more relaxing?”

“This perspective, I hadn’t thought of it before…”

More light appeared in Li Chengshou’s eyes.

Yunxiao continued: “Do you know our Severing Sect’s doctrine?”

Li Chengshou murmured: “To sever a lifeline of hope for all beings.”

“Yes,” Yunxiao smiled, “Your nature always likes to be cautious, to the extent that you find it hard to completely trust others.

But sometimes, this lifeline of hope won’t manifest in oneself.

Mutual help, facing difficulties together, these are the principles the teacher taught us, disciples.”

Li Chengshou’s brows furrowed slightly, carefully savoring these words in his heart. Though there wasn’t any sudden enlightenment, it felt like he had grasped a rope…

“Hahaha!”

Li Chengshou laughed twice, “Talking heart-to-heart with a senior expert truly greatly benefits one’s cultivation!”

“Now you know I’m a senior,” Yunxiao hummed lightly, but her brow corners carried slight smiles.

White clouds lingered, sea waves rolled gently, and the two stayed quietly in the seaside shade, occasionally discussing interesting matters, playing zither and flute, letting time turn into light and shadow, not noticing the setting sun in the western sky, as stars appeared late.

…

Meanwhile;

In a great world near the Five Continents, several figures had successfully met…