Although they had started poorly, immediately falling for Dragon Palace’s trick, the Du Xian Sect members had become more cautious as a result.

Li Changshou felt slightly relieved about this but hadn’t relaxed his vigilance one bit.

As more people gradually gathered around, Li Changshou felt somewhat uncomfortable in this environment, especially when strangers were positioned close by in several directions. He had to constantly pay attention to every movement around him.

He secretly cast the Wind Speech Spell;

Wherever the breeze passed, it would bring strands of information to Li Changshou, and he methodically processed these messages in his mind.

When using spiritual awareness to probe others, it was equivalent to watching them with one’s gaze – if the other person was alert, they would sense it.

This was “active probing.”

When using the Wind Speech Spell, besides being able to transmit sound to those locked onto by spiritual awareness, one could also passively receive surrounding information.

Li Changshou called this “passive probing.” Its advantage was that it didn’t consume soul force; its disadvantage was that all kinds of information flooded in at once, requiring constant mental analysis.

Very early on, Li Changshou had consciously trained his observation skills, willpower, and concentration;

In this state, most Returning Dao Qi Cultivators of his level would lose focus and relax their surveillance of their surroundings after several hours.

But when Li Changshou used the Wind Speech Spell to monitor their surroundings, he could continue for several hundred hours without rest!

Although…

Accidentally living one’s immortal cultivation life as a “human surveillance system” did feel somewhat tragic…

But at least it brought some peace of mind.

Because he used the Wind Speech Spell to monitor everywhere, Li Changshou could hear many Qi Cultivators’ laughing conversations and learn many interesting little matters from them.

The True Immortals present mostly discussed topics around this assembly and the main platform above where Celestial Immortals gathered.

The True Immortals were mostly concerned about what agreements would be reached with the Dragon Palace during this visit, how the East Sea boundaries would be divided, and whether human Qi Cultivators coming to the East Sea would face difficulties from the Dragon Race in the future.

But in young disciples’ discussions, the words “Heaven’s Tribulation” were always present.

Most Qi Cultivators feared Heaven’s Tribulation, naturally because it was extremely dangerous and an ordeal no one could escape.

—Of course, if one stopped cultivating, or got stuck at bottlenecks in Qi Condensation, Returning Spirit, Returning Void, or Returning Dao realms, unable to break through, then one wouldn’t have to face Heaven’s Tribulation.

The vast majority of Qi Cultivators in the Du Xian Sect had the chance to face Heaven’s Tribulation as long as they didn’t experience cultivation deviation;

This was because the Du Xian Sect was considered a famous immortal sect in the East Continent, where ordinary-talented humans could hardly enter, and it had complete dharma inheritance, advanced cultivation methods, and sound internal systems with excellent benefits.

Other immortal sects weren’t necessarily the same.

Looking at the Primordial World and Three Thousand Realms, 90% of humans didn’t have the aptitude to cultivate immortality, and 95% of humans were mortals;

Among Qi Cultivators, due to aptitude limitations and incomplete cultivation methods, about 90% couldn’t reach the Immortal Ascension Tribulation;

Of those who finally faced the Immortal Ascension Tribulation, only 10-20% could survive…

Calculating this way, it seemed human immortals weren’t numerous.

Not so – at this time, the number of human immortals had already far surpassed the combined total of immortals from both Beast and Demon races during their peak period!

No help for it, humans were too prolific… *cough*, the human population base was simply too large.

Having extensively read ancient texts, Li Changshou summarized three factors that allowed humans to rapidly rise in the later period of the Beast-Demon War and defeat both races:

First, the innate Dao body bestowed by Goddess Nu Wa;

Second, reproduction speed and super-strong adaptability to environments;

Third, the cohesion and centripetal force brought about by human ancestors.

Li Changshou didn’t believe in arguments like “Heaven’s Dao greatly prospers the human race.”

How could the impartial Heaven’s Dao favor any particular race?

Heaven’s Dao’s calculation of all things’ changes between heaven and earth, an early prediction of the human race’s prosperity, seemed more like a “prophecy” rather than setting any predetermined fate for humans.

Even more laughable was the saying that “humans prospered through the Three Schools of Dao.”

It was clearly after humans began rising that the three founding masters of Dao used human destiny to prove their Dao, establishing the Three Schools and thus gaining boundless merit.

Although it was somewhat wrong to evaluate this way as a Dao School disciple, Li Changshou had always felt that while the Three Sages of Dao benefited from humans, they hadn’t done much practical good for humanity.

The Human School used “human” in its name, yet Lord Tai Qing only accepted the first-generation human Grand Master Xuan Du as a disciple, and Du Xian Sect’s founder True Person Du’e had unclear origins, likely neither human nor Tai Qing’s direct disciple.

Moreover, Tai Qing Lao Zi had not yet gone to the human secular world to pass down the “Dao De Jing”;

This also made Li Changshou completely afraid to contemplate those classic passages of “Dao De Jing” he had memorized!

The Enlightenment School was better – Supreme Lord Yuan Shi accepted many first-generation humans as disciples, and these Enlightenment School disciples established sects in Central Divine Continent, spreading cultivation methods among human Qi Cultivators;

But the Severing School went too far…

Lord Tong Tian essentially used human destiny to subsidize other races, with barely any humans among his disciples – this could be considered quite improper.

The relationship between humans and the Three Schools of Dao – the former was the foundation for establishing the latter’s teachings, while the latter was merely “gilding the lily” for the former, adding an insurance policy for human prosperity.

The Primordial World was full of calculations.

The truly great ones who contributed to humanity’s rise were either living leisurely retired lives in the Fire Cloud Cave or had already re-entered reincarnation.

These thoughts would certainly be criticized as “heretical” if spoken aloud, so Li Changshou only pondered them privately, never speaking these theories to anyone.

For example, when educating Spirit Moth, Li Changshou only taught her how to avoid karma, how to escape in emergencies, and cultivated her excellent character of taking responsibility for her actions and not implicating her Senior Brother in trouble…

Spirit Moth’s aptitude was quite good, with the potential to become an immortal seedling, and she was personally diligent.

Li Changshou had always felt that cultivation physique might be some kind of recessive inheritance;

Even with eighty generations of mortal ancestors, one could still produce an amazing cultivation genius – Spirit Moth was such a case.

Li Changshou quietly waited for a while, then heard another very interesting topic…

The success rate of human Qi Cultivators passing tribulation.

This couldn’t be generalized – different dharma inheritances had vastly different probabilities of disciples successfully passing tribulation.

For the most numerous [Non-Three Schools Dharma] Qi Cultivators, without superior cultivation methods or Three Schools destiny protection, only one in ten facing tribulation could typically survive.

While for Three Schools dharma inheritors, as long as nothing went wrong, Enlightenment School and Human School Qi Cultivators could achieve 50% or even 60% survival rate under Heaven’s Tribulation.

Worth mentioning, the Three Schools’ average tribulation survival rate could barely reach 30%, because this value was greatly lowered by the Severing School.

The Enlightenment School practiced “selecting the elite,” with a high immortal ascension rate and moderate dharma inheritance numbers;

The Human School practiced “non-action and following fate,” with a moderate immortal ascension rate but extremely few dharma inheritances because Saint Tai Qing disliked accepting disciples;

The Severing School practiced “teaching without discrimination,” with disciples mixed between humans, demons, and spirits, survival rates following fate, immortal ascension depending entirely on luck, and dharma inheritances spread very widely across the Three Thousand Realms…

This meant that even with the Three Schools’ superior Dao methods and prosperous destiny, even with the Primordial Treasures of the Sage Lords suppressing destiny, they still couldn’t completely raise the immortal ascension rate.

Moreover, Lord Tong Tian, this Sage, didn’t have destiny-suppressing supreme treasures but controlled the Four Severing Immortal Swords – such great killing weapons.

Therefore, Li Changshou remained extremely grateful that his Master had brought him into the Human School lineage…

“Little Changshou, come over here.”

Junior Master Jiu Jiu suddenly transmitted sound, and Li Changshou immediately divided a strand of consciousness to look toward Master Jiu who was waving at him.

Li Changshou slightly shook his head at his Master, indicating he didn’t want to move.

Jiu Jiu glared at him, her gaze full of threat.

Li Changshou pretended not to see, continuing to fake meditation while maintaining the Wind Speech Spell.

Soon after, Jiu Jiu walked over with a smile and sat at Li Changshou’s low table.

Jiu Jiu asked softly: “Nephew Changshou, did you bring any of those fun things?”

“No,” Li Changshou transmitted back, “those are Small Qiong Peak’s reserved items, meaning they can’t be taken off Small Qiong Peak.”

Jiu Jiu’s small face immediately fell, but she still maintained a dignified sitting posture, transmitting complaints:

“So boring, this kind of task is most tiresome, and we have to wait two or three days before the assembly officially begins…

What’s more, Master is up there, so I can’t even slip away.”

Li Changshou smiled slightly, thinking about how to get Little Junior Master to quickly return to her seat.

Drawing so much attention was truly not good.

Taking out a wooden carved six-color magic cube from his sleeve, Li Changshou held it and gently slid it, the finely polished blocks sliding with quite good tactile feedback, quickly attracting Jiu Jiu’s attention…

“What’s this?”

Li Changshou paused his movement, showing the cube’s current jumbled colors, and then his hands flew, restoring the cube in just two breaths’ time.

Jiu Jiu’s eyes immediately lit up.

Li Changshou scrambled the cube again, placed it beside him, and transmitted: “Don’t give it to others.”

“Mm, don’t worry, this Master understands your rules!”

Jiu Jiu immediately agreed, picked up the magic cube, and began trying it with a lowered head, soon becoming absorbed in it, slowly standing up and walking back to her own low table.

Finally, things became peaceful again.

Li Changshou continued transforming into an unnoticed human surveillance device, waiting for this Demon Vanquishing Assembly to end.

Half a day later, most of the immortal sects invited to the banquet had arrived, the Water Lotus Platform was filled with handsome men and beautiful women in all areas – if one had nothing to do and swept a few glances around, it was quite pleasing to the eye.

Suddenly drums and gongs sounded, and a white cloud floated over with dozens of “sea people” wearing purple and red robes sitting upon it – it was the large marine orchestra sent by the Dragon Palace.

One could see:

Clam maidens skillfully play zithers while holding pearls, and mermen sing lightly moving guests’ hearts.

Water dragons play flutes while shrimp beat drums, turtle immortals blow horns and crabs strike gongs.

Below, more graceful sea women wearing light thin skirts came dancing elegantly in the spacious venue.

Their dance moves were graceful, their sleeves scattering fragrance.

The two-day Grand Dragon Palace cultural performance officially began…

Li Changshou didn’t divert his attention to this, but the surrounding idle chat decreased by more than half, with most people watching the songs and dances in the venue, so the information he needed to process in his mind also reduced greatly.

In the coming days, it would be good if everything remained this peaceful and uneventful.

Li Changshou prayed thus in his heart, while also analyzing some troubles he might encounter.

The competition probably wouldn’t involve him – in others’ eyes, he was still only at the Returning Void second stage, not qualified to appear in such occasions.

So there shouldn’t be anything related to young disciples.

Except…

Hmm? Poison Sister stood up, carrying her meditation cushion and wearing her great sword, walking toward his direction.

This…

We have no grudges, why be so aggressive?

You Qin Xianya had just walked two steps when Li Changshou’s slightly helpless sound transmission entered her ears.

“Sorry, Junior Sister You Qin, I’d like to rest alone.”

Better reject her, don’t let her have any ideas.

Standing two zhang away, You Qin Xianya paused slightly and looked up at Li Changshou, but had already placed her meditation cushion beside a female True Immortal.

That female True Immortal smiled and said: “Come Little Ya, see how this Master’s recently written song rhythm is?”

“Yes, Master…

Senior Brother Changshou, are you feeling unwell?”

You Qin Xianya asked softly, her beautiful eyes full of concern.

Li Changshou calmly shook his head, made a “please” gesture, and closed his eyes to rest with a smile.

It was a bit awkward…

But this Junior Sister not coming over to help him attract others’ attention was good;

Li Changshou had already sensed that when Poison Sister stood up, many gazes from around gathered toward Du Xian Sect’s location.

Although everyone was a Qi Cultivator, You Qin Xianya’s temperament, appearance, and figure were too outstanding, making it hard not to attract others’ attention.

If someone wanted to marry her home, it would be more reassuring to fatten her up a bit.

—A sincere suggestion from her fellow disciple Li Changshou.