“Water God Fellow Daoist, after three days of contemplation, this humble one feels… your previous words were somewhat incorrect.

The Demon Race differs fundamentally from the Human Race – they cannot be judged by the same measure. The Demon Race exists as a coalition under the Ten Thousand Spirits Covenant, lacking both shared bloodlines and a common destiny. I too am a Primordial Spirit – how can one speak of betraying today’s Demon Race?

Indeed, under the Heavenly Dao, I still possess Demon Race roots. Regarding Master Lu Ya’s matter, what I did certainly went against fate, but there was no betrayal!

Three days ago, Fellow Daoist, your words seemed reasonable at first hearing and did break through my mental defenses. However, they were merely sophistry and hidden thoughts, encompassing far too much under the word ‘demon’ – truly an unfair victory!

Today, shall we discuss the affairs of the Demon Race from those years? Let us examine what makes a true gentleman of the Primordial Chaos.

This humble one assisted the Demon Emperor in unifying all races and then withdrew completely. Though the process wasn’t without schemes and bloodshed, it ultimately freed the myriad races from their fate as sustenance for the Shamanic Tribe.

I have conducted myself with integrity. Today, guiding the Demon Race outward serves the Heavenly Court, Lu Ya, and myself – my conscience remains clear.”

By the pond on Black Pool Peak, Li Changshou arrived carrying several treasure pouches, his eyes crinkling with amusement when Baize launched into this speech.

This Baize proved far more difficult to persuade than those old masters who could observe from afar…

Li Changshou naturally understood Baize’s reasoning today. When discussing these matters with Holy Mother Nuwa previously, they had explored even deeper levels.

But sophistry meant forcing reason where there was none. Now that Baize had turned to challenge him, Li Changshou wouldn’t show any weakness.

Who hadn’t prepared for three days?

While Baize had spent three days contemplating the flaws and sophistry in Li Changshou’s previous words, Li Changshou had been planning how to conduct today’s debate.

The art of winning hearts began with continuous exchange.

Dealing with someone of Baize’s caliber required sufficient intellectual collision. Spirit binding and Heavenly Dao oaths alone would only achieve surface-level compliance.

If they truly needed to employ Baize’s services in the future, his performing with less than full effort wouldn’t technically violate the Heavenly Dao oath…

Li Changshou removed a pile of precious materials from the treasure pouch and smiled, “Master Baize, why don’t you join me in constructing a residence and kitchen today? We can discuss the Demon Race matters at our leisure.”

“Excellent,” Baize smiled gracefully, not pressing further on this matter. Though he felt the satisfaction of having spoken his mind, he primarily anticipated Li Changshou’s arguments today.

Before long, the man and the auspicious beast began their work.

Baize rolled up his sleeves while Li Changshou summoned his paper avatars. They located suitable foundation ground, cleared away weeds, and began constructing a small tower.

Baize smiled, “Compared to dwellings created through divine abilities and spells, this method brings greater peace to one’s Dao heart.”

Li Changshou casually introduced today’s topic: “Master Baize, shall we discuss whether the Demon Race could have been saved when internal decay and corruption appeared?”

“This time this humble one won’t be overwhelmed by Fellow Daoist’s flurry of arguments without a chance for rebuttal.”

“We’re merely discussing matters,” Li Changshou smiled, “You should know the events of those years most clearly, Senior. Let Master Baize choose – do you believe the Demon Race could have been saved then, or not?”

Baize pondered briefly before stating, “They could have been saved.”

“Then I shall argue they could not,” Li Changshou pressed a round log into the ground while casually digging the next hole, “Please proceed, Master.”

“Hmph! The Demon Race’s ailment back then lay not in having too many species or internal discord, but rather in insufficient pressure from the Shamanic Tribe. The Shamanic Tribe merely hunted them, never viewing the Demon Race as true enemies… Though in the Shamanic Tribe’s eyes, food wasn’t worthy of being considered an opponent…”

Thus on Black Pool Peak, after a three-day interval, the man and the auspicious beast engaged in spirited discourse once more.

Li Changshou had naturally made thorough preparations before arriving.

To ensure success, he had prepared arguments for both sides, easily catching slight flaws in Baize’s words and countering immediately, gradually bringing Baize into his rhythm.

After completing a simple pavilion, Li Changshou once again left Baize unable to refute, yet feeling something remained amiss…

Li Changshou departed with a smile, arranging to return in three days to visit the peak.

Baize paced by the pond for another three days. On the third day, his eyes suddenly brightened as he grasped the crucial point.

He then eagerly awaited Li Changshou’s arrival for another ‘battle’!

At Small Jade Peak, Li Changshou leisurely handled Heavenly Court matters, observed the Demon Race’s situation, checked on the black panther’s temperament changes, and monitored the elderly care home’s operations in An Shui City.

Subsequently, he prepared the next debate topic and arguments for both sides, then sought out Baize at the appointed time.

This must be the most difficult being to persuade that Li Changshou had encountered since stepping onto the great stage of the Primordial Chaos.

Admittedly, Li Changshou did harbor intentions of winning over Baize and gaining his genuine assistance.

He naturally didn’t intend to use Baize as his strategist, nor did he need such a strategist…

After all, wasn’t his Merit Golden Body nearly complete?

With the Great Tribulation of Investiture approaching, after saving those he wished to save during the tribulation, he would need to consider matters of retiring into seclusion.

Having Baize serve as the Jade Emperor’s shadow advisor while remaining constrained by the Orthodox Dao School, would be Li Changshou’s final contribution to His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

Though he somehow felt escaping the Heavenly Court wouldn’t prove easy.

Winning Baize’s heart early would give Li Changshou more confidence in facing the Great Tribulation of Investiture.

At a minimum, once mutual trust existed, Li Changshou could present scattered plans for Baize’s review, allowing Baize to identify weaknesses and imperfections, fully utilizing Baize’s divine ability to seek benefit and avoid harm.

The debates and heart-winning strategies needed to continue.

And so it went…

Once, twice, five or six times;

Eight times, ten times, a hundred and eighty times.

About a year and a half later, Baize finally came to his senses. After once again being confused by Li Changshou’s persuasion, as Li Changshou prepared to leave, Baize rose from among the scattered dishes and cups, calling out:

“Water God! Could you give me the next debate topic now rather than in three days? So I might prepare!”

Li Changshou: …

If I let you prepare, wouldn’t that make things harder for me next time?

However, the heart-winning process had reached about seventy percent completion, and an increase in difficulty fell within Li Changshou’s expectations.

Li Changshou smiled calmly and produced a scroll.

He not only provided the next topic but also included topics for the next hundred debates.

This truly shocked Baize, increasing his admiration for Li Changshou.

It was roughly that feeling of…

[Though knowing Water God to be black-hearted, cunning, and extremely crafty, he still felt this person was the only kindred spirit he had encountered since birth.]

In the quiet of the night, Baize sat in the pavilion, preparing two of his favorite dishes, bringing out the fine wine gifted by Li Changshou, holding a bamboo scroll, and carefully reading by spirit pearl light.

Before long, Baize raised his wine cup in a distant toast toward Small Jade Peak.

In a corner of the pill room at Small Jade Peak, Li Changshou smiled slightly while reading a scripture…

“Senior Brother~!”

Ling E floated in from outside the pill room carrying a bowl of soup porridge, “Thinking about debate topics with Master Baize again?”

Li Changshou tasted the porridge from the jade bowl and smiled, “You’ve observed dozens of times from the side, what are your thoughts?”

“Senior Brother is obsessed with Master Baize and can’t help himself.”

“Hmm?”

“Ahem, ahem! Master Baize truly deserves his reputation as an ancient wise being, able to debate with you so vigorously, Senior Brother, only falling slightly behind in so many exchanges. Such wise figures are truly rare!”

Li Changshou glared at Ling E before chuckling helplessly, saying, “These debates haven’t been truly serious, merely a mutual compromise between Master Baize and myself.”

Ling E blinked in confusion, asking, “What compromise?”

“He abandons thoughts of urging me to become a second Heavenly Emperor, I set aside my killing intent toward him, then we can become good friends, and I can let him offer strategies.”

Li Changshou took another sip of soup porridge and praised, “What did you add to this? There’s an interesting new flavor that’s quite good.”

“Hehe, it’s from a recipe Master Baize gave earlier,” Ling E smiled, “Do you like it, Senior Brother?”

“It’s fine.”

“Then I’ll later…”

“Focus on cultivation, you’re far from achieving immortality, don’t get distracted.”

Li Changshou spoke calmly, “After you achieve the fruit of immortality, even if you spend all twelve hours daily cooking and washing clothes, your brother won’t stop you.”

Ling E’s cheeks reddened as she giggled and moved closer, wanting to massage her Senior Brother’s back and act coquettish.

Li Changshou asked, “Less than ten years remain before your training journey, are you fully prepared?”

“Oh!” Ling E seemed to suddenly remember something, calmly turned around, and quickly slipped toward the pill room door, “I heard Senior Sister You Qin just had a breakthrough, what gift should I prepare?”

Li Changshou shook his head and continued reading the scripture in hand.

This Junior Sister planned to default later!

Setting down the book and finishing the porridge, Li Changshou recalled something else, slowly closed his eyes, and shifted his consciousness to a paper avatar hiding somewhere in the central region of the South Jambudvipa Continent.

As soon as he arrived there, his Dao’s heart trembled!

A martial-looking middle-aged man was in the rear garden of his mansion, holding a young boy across his knee and forcefully spanking him…

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched.

Mortal General Hua, do you realize how precious the bottom you’re currently spanking is?

That’s the bottom destined for the high throne in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall!

What General Hua could do, even the Lord of the Dao couldn’t… Incredible, simply incredible!

This scene shows Jade Emperor’s mortal reincarnation, Hua Youming, getting punished by his “birth father” for causing trouble again.

Li Changshou considered it briefly, resisting the urge to take out a recording pearl and make a documentary for His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

—After completing his mortal tribulation, the Jade Emperor would regain his original memories, with these decades of mortal experiences preserved in his heart.

Then, Li Changshou shifted his consciousness to a paper avatar nearby, watching a young girl learning to dance with several maids in another mansion.

This girl indeed looked far more adorable than the troublemaker at the Hua residence, with her delicate rosy cheeks.

Li Changshou would need to expend some effort here, dealing with any men who tried approaching Queen Mother’s reincarnation before her predestined meeting with the Jade Emperor.

Otherwise, His Majesty the Jade Emperor might experience some “intermittent horn growth” issues…

Preventing problems before they arose and providing the highest quality reincarnation protection service for the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother was the unwavering pursuit of this ordinary Heavenly Court official.

Suddenly remembering Baize’s jokes about a “Second Heavenly Emperor,” Li Changshou almost laughed out loud underground.

Wasn’t this way more comfortable?

After observing the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother for a while, Li Changshou’s consciousness flowed back to An Shui City, checking on the retired demon soldiers in the elderly care home.

Recently, the two commanders had begun taking the demon soldiers out, either for street walks or seaside breezes, truly much better than the environment in Xuandu City.

Whether it was psychological or not, Li Changshou occasionally noticed what seemed to be faint traces of smiles on their long-rigid faces.

Aside from the Heavenly Court’s battles and the approaching Great Tribulation of Investiture, everything was developing in a positive direction…

This brought Li Changshou considerable satisfaction.

The Orthodox Dao School was gradually prospering…

The lazy Saint who stayed home doing who-knows-what, the Grand Magister who had lost all ambition except sleep, himself as the not-yet-public new Saint disciple managing Orthodox Dao School affairs, Old Lord’s Ox, Little Gold, Little Silver, and…

The freely given Baize.

Baize was quite an interesting character. After gradually accepting his fate, he developed many open-minded thoughts, spending his days studying recipes and cooking dishes…

Originally, Li Changshou had arranged a somewhat contrived script for sending Senior Sister You Qin to heaven.

The basic plot was Water God being saved by You Qin Xuanya when injured;

It felt contrived because nowadays in the Primordial Chaos, which cultivator paying attention to the Heavenly Court didn’t know his Water God form there was just an avatar.

And a cheap, self-destructible avatar at that!

Now with Baize the auspicious beast added, Li Changshou’s thoughts became more active.

He could first spread the word of Baize’s spiritual nature throughout the Primordial Chaos, establishing Baize as a divine beast concept representing “seeking benefit and avoiding harm,” “bringing good fortune upon sight,” and “pure sanctity.”

Then, arrange for Baize to save You Qin Xuanya when she’s injured from fighting others, boldly bring her before the Heaven Gate, have Water God and Wood Duke meet Baize together, let Baize speak human words, telling Water God about this righteous and just woman who could aid the Heavenly Court, then have Baize depart on clouds…

This would both build You Qin Xuanya’s reputation for faster Heavenly Court acceptance and strike at demon morale.

One of the Ten Great Demon Commanders from ancient times sending a justice-filled young woman to serve the Heavenly Court would itself be a massive blow to the Demon Race.

‘The current question is whether Baize would agree to this.

After all, it would directly announce to the world that Baize now sides with the Orthodox Dao School and Heavenly Court, surely inviting criticism…’

Li Changshou pondered briefly, deciding to ask Baize directly about this matter during their next debate in a few days.

Just as he was about to withdraw his consciousness and meditate on the Eight-Nine Mysteries Technique, the Sea God Temple in An Shui City suddenly trembled slightly.

His divine sense immediately swept through the Sea God Temple, spotting the sneaking Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

The pair was peering around near the rear hall, not daring to force their way in.

Li Changshou’s avatar immediately appeared to meet them, asking if the Underworld had any troubles. Ox-Head and Horse-Face hurriedly shook their heads.

The two shamans had brought three jade tokens containing secret manuscripts written by Mother Earth herself, comprising upper, middle, and lower volumes.

Li Changshou’s eyebrows rose in delight as he repeatedly expressed thanks, while Ox-Head and Horse-Face dared not claim credit.

“Water God, when do you plan to start a war with the Demon Race?”

Ox-Head whispered: “The Underworld can mobilize two hundred thousand ghost officials and over a thousand ancient battle shamans.

The Ancestor said that since the Underworld now belongs to the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court currently lacks sufficient accumulation, when fighting the Demon Race, you can rely more on the Dragon Race and us from the Underworld…

Moo.”

“Please convey my thanks to the Mother for her concern,” Li Changshou smiled, “Before starting war, I will certainly send someone to trouble the Underworld.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Ox-Head immediately sighed in relief, “We’ve rehearsed our performance for so long, we must use it on the Demon Race.”

Li Changshou asked puzzled: “What performance did you rehearse?”

“It’s somewhat inauspicious,” Horse-Face hurriedly said beside him, “Water God will know when the time comes, it will certainly infuriate those demons to no end!”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, not asking further.

Soon after, Ox-Head and Horse-Face bid farewell and left, not daring to ask Li Changshou for seasonings, and Li Changshou hadn’t prepared extra this time.

After all, he’d been constantly debating with Baize lately…

After sending off Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Li Changshou returned his avatar to the underground paper avatar storage, honestly cultivated for a day, prepared another day’s debate topic, and when the time came, rode clouds to neighboring Black Pool Peak.

Today, before Li Changshou could land, Baize, wearing the apron Li Changshou had previously given him, rushed out from that magnificent kitchen holding an iron spatula and grabbed Li Changshou’s arm.

Li Changshou’s eyes widened – was this fellow rebelling?

Fortunately, he’d come with the [Original Body] paper avatar!

“You crafty Water God! Haha!”

Baize’s eyes emitted an almost blinding light as he scolded: “This humble one, until today, only today finally understood!

Why bother maintaining this humble one’s face, claiming that finding me in the Crossing Hardship Cave that day was just a lucky guess, with thirty percent confidence, blessed by your junior sister’s fortune!

You had calculated my death from the start!

This humble one’s innate ability is seeking benefit and avoiding harm, intimately connected with Heaven’s Way’s operation, and you at that time, just by firmly holding killing intent in your heart, could transform the possibility of not finding me into harm, and the possibility of finding me into benefit!

When thoughts arose in this humble one’s heart to go to that Crossing Hardship Cave, I had already stepped into your calculations!

Well done! Well done!

Ah, Water God, even then you attributed it to luck, preserving this humble one’s last bit of face.

I submit! Truly submit!

Water God above, please accept Baize’s bow! Henceforth Baize willingly serves at Water God’s command, without second thoughts!”

Li Changshou: …

Is that how it happened?

This completion rate of winning him over increased so rapidly, that even Shou was caught off guard.

Indeed worthy of being the freely given divine beast, he really… had something special.