Fortunately, things didn’t develop in an unspeakable direction.

After wiping away the blood, Elder Qi Yuan quickly regained his composure, stood up, and actively maintained his distance. Otherwise, Li Changshou would have had to throw over a basic version of the “Beauty of the Elderly” scroll.

“Elder,” Fox Spirit Lan called out nervously.

Qi Yuan hastily replied, “Fellow Daoist, please maintain this distance! This poor monk was somewhat improper, and I hope you won’t take offense. But this is the Pure Clarity Mystic Sect, a gateway to profound Dao techniques… Fellow Daoist, please put on your clothes to avoid any improper thoughts.”

“Yes, Elder,” Fox Spirit Lan responded softly, taking out a long robe from her bracelet.

She had intended to carefully fold and store away that gauze dress, but as soon as she moved to do so, ice-blue flames suddenly erupted from the bloodstains upon it. With a whooshing sound, the dress turned to ashes in an instant. Fox Spirit Lan remained completely unharmed, unable to feel even a hint of heat from the flames, leaving her somewhat at a loss.

Having received Li Changshou’s message, Elder Qi Yuan spoke up: “Fellow Daoist, why don’t you come with me? I’ve had my disciple prepare tea, and we can discuss everything.”

With that said, Qi Yuan turned and walked ahead. The interconnected maze formation in the forest partially opened, allowing both to reach the open-air tea room without hindrance. When Li Changshou had previously renovated Little Qiong Peak, he had deliberately preserved these arrangements that outsiders had used.

Afterward, Li Changshou arranged for a paper puppet to take his form and serve some spirit tea to calm the nerves.

After the earlier finger touch with the Elder in her dream, the fox spirit had become notably shy. When conversing with Elder Qi Yuan across the wooden table, her eyes were full of tender affection, and her words were generous with praise.

Fortunately, when Li Changshou had previously impersonated his master, he had not only mimicked the form but also the spirit, and had promptly informed his master of what had transpired. As long as Qi Yuan wasn’t drunk, there wouldn’t be any major slip-ups—at least Fox Spirit Lan couldn’t tell the difference.

After putting on the long robe, Little Lan had wrapped away most of her alluring charm. Sitting there quietly with her aura contained, one could hardly tell she was a demon race woman.

Outside the formation, the spectators had gone to a nearby stream, setting up a simple wine-floating game, drinking wine and tea while chatting and laughing.

Jiu Wu said: “What do you think—will Junior Brother Qi Yuan and this fox spirit friend eventually end up together? I’ll go first… I don’t have high hopes for this match.”

“I don’t have much hope either,” Ling E responded. “Let’s not discuss the fox spirit herself or demon-kind in general. Just considering the matter itself, knowing my master as I do, even if he truly developed feelings, he would never agree.”

“I think this is quite nice,” Jiu Jiu said, looking confused. “Doesn’t the Wuwei Scripture say that one should neither force nor resist matters? Didn’t that whatever water god from the Heavenly Court praise the Qingqiu Clan, saying their lineage is considered proper?”

Li Changshou thought: Since when did he start helping demon races establish proper lineages?

Jiu Yushi, breaking her usually quiet demeanor, softly said: “Why should lineage matter when it comes to matters of the heart?”

Jiu Shi said: “But ultimately, our Spirit Transcendence Gate just suffered an attack from the demon race, and the demon race harbors a deep hatred for the Human Dao. If this matter gets out, it really wouldn’t be appropriate.”

As everyone expressed their views, Li Changshou quietly listened. When they were about to start arguing, he smiled and changed the subject. No one understood redirecting attention better than Shou.

“In my opinion, Master might not last three hours. Regardless, this fellow Daoist is a guest of our Spirit Transcendence Gate. Later, we should invite her out and host her properly, showing some hospitality.”

Everyone agreed this was good.

At that moment, Jiu Jiu, Bear Spirit Lingli, and Jiang Liner enthusiastically went to investigate which spirit beasts had fallen into depression today. Ling E used two old-version paper puppets to perform a duet with a zither and flute. Jiu Shi and Jiu Yushi made the wine-floating setup more elaborate, while Li Changshou and Jiu Wu chatted as they arranged low tables and prepared fine wine.

As the aroma of meat filled the forest and half a cup of immortal wine passed their lips, Elder Qi Yuan seemed drawn by the fragrance from the forest. Upon seeing such an arrangement, Fox Spirit Lan appeared slightly uneasy, partially hiding behind Elder Qi Yuan.

This fox spirit now showed less eagerness and boldness than before, replaced with more grace and tranquility.

With Jiang Liner—who had spent eight hundred years in the outside world as “Qi Yuan’s master”—present, the atmosphere couldn’t remain awkward. Soon, Qi Yuan shared a seat with Jiu Wu, while Fox Spirit Lan was hosted by the elegant and proper Jiu Shi. The highest-ranking person present, Jiang Liner, exchanged a few pleasantries, and gradually the music in the forest became light and joyful.

Beside them, the flowing water carried wine and delicacies, while around them, immortal figures engaged in learned discourse.

Someone—who knows who—invited Fox Spirit Lan to dance. Though her face turned red and she initially wanted to refuse, thinking of the three hours about to pass, she gave a slight nod of agreement…

Thus, accompanied by the evening’s remaining light, the charming fox spirit danced to the music, her graceful movements captivating most of the figures by the forest stream.

Ling E, while focused on controlling the paper puppets playing music, glanced up at her senior brother sitting beside her, then lowered her eyes with a slight smile.

Qi Yuan continuously stroked his beard in contemplation, his eyes showing slight helplessness and regret, occasionally glancing toward Jiu Yushi in the distance.

Jiu Yushi was leaning against the large gourd that Jiu Jiu had enlarged, holding a wine cup with flushed cheeks. She had just overestimated herself by challenging the wine immortal beside her, and before the latter had even started getting serious, she was already overcome by the wine.

Jiu Jiu was much more at ease, lying sideways on the gourd’s slim waist, imagining herself as a salted fish drying in the sun, enjoying the song and dance while holding two bottles of differently flavored immortal wine, taking sips from the left and right…

Li Changshou was even more impressive.

Taking advantage of this idle moment, he only had a strand of consciousness here, having long returned to his main body to routinely check his various stored paper puppet repositories.

Gazing at the Crystal Palace from the East Sea, it too was now filled with song and dance. Li Changshou didn’t need divine consciousness to imagine the boring scene of the Old Dragon King reclining on his coral throne, having his shoulders massaged by several gentle sea maidens with crossed legs.

His consciousness shifted to the West Sea to observe the reconstruction of the Western Sea Dragon Palace through a paper puppet.

Being a dragon palace, it would take at least a hundred years to restore it to its original state.

Li Changshou felt quite embarrassed about it. At that time, to better eliminate the rebel army, he had spared no expense in using a “Golden Immortal Realm Golden Pill” as the detonation core for the Earth Fiend Spirit Explosive Formation…

The effect was obvious—the dragon palace was instantly destroyed.

However, the more than a hundred loyal and honest dragons of the Western Sea Dragon Palace remained completely unharmed, so it could be considered an even trade-off.

The paper puppet hidden at the sea bottom turned its head to look toward the Western Ox-Treasure Continent.

Through the seawater, Li Changshou seemed to see that broken-winged golden cicada ball, the young Daoist riding on the back of a “green-furred big dog” with a depressed expression, and the thousands of zhang high Sage Law Body condensed from clouds and mist, and a mist like sunset clouds spreading across the sky.

Sage Jieyin.

Without this Sage showing himself, the Western Teachings couldn’t be said to have been fully understood.

This was truly a fierce character who had achieved sagehood through making great vows.

If the conflict between the Three Schools within the Dao sect became unavoidable, and the Enlightenment School and Severing School were bound to battle, with Sage Nu Wa staying home and not… ahem, under the premise that Sage Nu Wa wouldn’t interfere in the great sectarian dispute, the Western Teaching indeed had the power to shake the foundation of the Dao sect.

Sages and great teachings;

Heaven, Earth, and great trends.

Li Changshou had now climbed halfway up the mountain, seeing some of the scenery, but looking upward, he still only saw clouds and mist.

The mountain was high, the water far, and the path long and difficult.

His consciousness quietly shifted again;

He went to observe the sea eye in the South Sea, listen to the music from the South Sea Dragon Palace, and quickly scan across the Sea God Sect’s territory.

As night approached, most of the Sea God temples had begun closing their doors, but the markets around them were mostly bustling, becoming especially lively when the lanterns were first lit.

Unlike many immortals, Li Changshou didn’t envy mortal life, after all, he had experienced it.

Most mortals were relatively weak, living at the mercy of seasons and fate, hurrying through several decades while enduring various hardships. Though their lives seemed especially fulfilling due to their limited power, since he had already walked out of that life, he wouldn’t stop to look back.

Northward, Li Changshou didn’t forget to check the North Sea eye, then shifted his consciousness to the area near the Northern Continent’s coast.

His immortal consciousness saw that not far from the coast, a group of the Witch tribe had gathered in the forest, dancing and shouting around a fire, celebrating the birth of several new Witch tribe members.

Looking at this setup, tonight there would be quite a few innocent male Witch tribe members suffering head injuries…

Such simple and pure customs.

However, due to the ten thousand years the Witch tribe had missed earlier, their population would certainly decrease in the coming times.

Ten thousand years…

This time scale that seemed unattainable in his previous life suddenly carried the meaning of morning and evening in this primordial world.

Li Changshou watched this group of Witch tribe from afar for a while, until he heard the music by his ears change, then withdrew his consciousness back to Little Qiong Peak.

After briefly checking the conditions within several tens of thousands of miles around Spirit Transcendence Gate, the routine inspection that occurred every three days came to an end.

It remained a peaceful day that put Shou’s mind at ease.

However, just as Li Changshou wanted to appreciate the fox spirit’s dance, a summons from the Heavenly Court’s Water God Palace suddenly rang in his heart.

A celestial general reported that the Jade Emperor was calling for him to go to the Lingxiao Treasure Palace.

…

Li Changshou was somewhat puzzled, carefully calculating recent events—the Heavenly Court should be steadily recruiting troops at this time, with no major events supposed to occur.

Was His Majesty just idle and wanting to target Daoist Lu Ya again?

That fellow Lu Ya had been wounded by the spirit explosion last time, and his whereabouts were now unknown. With the demon race’s remaining foundation, it wasn’t easy to find the traces of a demon prince who was intent on hiding.

Unless the Jade Emperor personally used the power of the Heavenly Dao to calculate.

Li Changshou also wanted to eliminate this trouble early, but Lu Ya had likely already been chosen by the Heavenly Dao to cause trouble during the great catastrophe, making it extremely difficult to eliminate him.

“No use thinking too much, better go see His Majesty first.”

By the way, Li Changshou was also a bit anticipating…

The Jade Emperor’s second avatar, Zhao Dezhu, had already revealed his traces in the battle at Monster Ascending Mountain, and obviously couldn’t be used anymore.

From Hua Ritian to Zhao Dezhu, Li Changshou had no idea what kind of name the Jade Emperor would come up with next.

Even if it was something like Qin Tianzhu, there was nothing worth making a fuss about.

Choosing a paper puppet of the Water God filled with immortal power, Li Changshou rode a cloud out of the Water God Palace, flying toward the Lingxiao Treasure Palace.

Along the way, all immortals he met made Daoist bows, while Heavenly Court soldiers saluted with clasped hands. Li Changshou mostly responded with smiling nods, neither getting too close to people nor showing any particular status.

Landing his cloud directly in front of the Lingxiao Palace, Li Changshou walked quickly.

Appearances still had to be maintained.

On the high platform throne, the white-robed youth who had been showing a troubled expression suddenly brightened upon seeing Li Changshou, putting down the ‘prop’ in his hand.

“Your Majesty, this minor god comes late, please forgive me.”

“No matter, no matter, Changgeng, I know you have many duties,” the Jade Emperor went straight to the point. “It’s like this—recently while observing the stars at night, I had a feeling, suddenly realizing an opportunity to perfect my own Dao.

Beloved Official Changgeng is also from the Human Dao school, a highly cultivated practitioner—could you offer some advice?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Your Majesty, this minor god’s cultivation can’t compare to yours.

Your Majesty’s Dao is so profound that one glance could wound that golden cicada, while this minor god had to exhaust all calculations just to seriously wound that golden cicada.

Instead, I should ask Your Majesty to guide this minor god in matters of cultivation.”

“Haha,” the white-robed Jade Emperor waved repeatedly, laughing, “No need to mention previous matters. It’s like this…

Beloved Official Changgeng also knows that although I am the Heavenly Emperor governing the Three Realms, I entered the Heavenly Court right after leaving Purple Clarity Palace, and my understanding of Heaven and Earth isn’t particularly deep.

Previously, I’ve walked in the mortal realm in avatar form countless times, but it’s always been like viewing flowers from horseback—just watching the excitement.

Recently I feel that if I could borrow the Netherworld’s Reincarnation Disc, temporarily blocking my divine consciousness and memories, and go experience the mortal realm, feeling Heaven and Earth and getting close to living beings, it might be greatly beneficial.”

Eh?

Does your Majesty want to descend to experience mortal life?

Is he going to bring ‘Yang Jian’s mother’ to heaven?

The Canonization Catastrophe isn’t far off!

Li Changshou pondered repeatedly, continuously thinking.

At this moment, he could only pretend not to know about this matter, considering the problem from the perspective of an ordinary authority god in the Heavenly Court, while trying to see if he could interfere with the Heavenly Dao’s plot advancement.

So, Li Changshou looked up and said:

“Your Majesty, you are the pillar of the Heavenly Court, and the supreme ruler of the Three Realms—how can you so easily risk danger?

If the Heavenly Court were strong in troops and horses, that would be fine, but right now the Heavenly Court has just gotten on track. If something were to happen to you or the Heavenly Court while your divine consciousness and memories are blocked during reincarnation, what then?

Your Majesty, please think thrice before acting.”

“Well…”

The white-robed Jade Emperor pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and lightly pointed, immediately surrounding the Lingxiao Treasure Palace with golden light.

The Jade Emperor beckoned, and Li Changshou understood, stepping forward a few steps. The Jade Emperor also came out from behind his jade desk on the high platform, quickly descending and pulling Li Changshou by the arm to sit on the old steps.

“Changgeng, I’ve been worrying about this matter too, that’s why I called you for advice.

Look, is there any way I can avoid worrying about being secretly harmed while still being able to go down and move about?”

Li Changshou frowned and said: “Your Majesty if I help you with this and Lord Laozi later blames me…”

“How would Laozi blame you? If you don’t tell and I don’t tell, mortal lifespan is just several decades—it’ll pass in a blink.”

“You just want to go down there to play around? Ah, this minor god spoke out of turn.”

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine,” His Majesty the Jade Emperor sighed slowly and said, “Changgeng, this matter is crucial to me.

Do you know, day and night, for ages facing the same person, even if she is beautiful, it gradually becomes mundane.

I’m just afraid of affecting my feelings for Junior Sister, that’s why I want to go down to see more mortal women, and when I return, I will surely be more devoted to Junior Sister…”

Question marks immediately filled Li Changshou’s forehead.

Your Majesty’s logic has problems, how does it feel like…

[Sigh, married too long, growing weary at heart, wanting to experience strange scenes, injecting a different kind of freshness into one’s marriage.

Lord Heavenly Dao, you must believe me, these temporary emotional trials and mortal appearances are far inferior to what I have at home.]

Forget it, better give some stable advice to ensure His Majesty won’t have any safety issues.

Human Dao crude words.