At the edge of the sky, the all-encompassing black smoke dispersed before the golden light.

True Lord Taiji sighed, “Why do I feel this Heavenly Demon died with such reluctance?”

Several figures flew in from the distance. Elder Duobao held in his palm the youth who had been enveloped by the Heavenly Demon. With a gentle shake of his hand, the youth’s body transformed into scattered dust, drifting through the heavens and earth.

Zhao Gongming said, “That youth couldn’t be saved. His soul had already been completely devoured by the Heavenly Demon. It seems this Heavenly Demon didn’t just arrive here.”

Li Changshou nodded slowly, gazing somewhat absently at the dust particles shimmering with faint golden light.

Although the most deeply hidden Outer Realm Heavenly Demon had been forced to reveal itself, at Li Changshou’s insistence, the chanting of sutras continued for a while longer.

When the immortals gathered again, Elder Duobao spoke with uncertainty, muttering:

“This time, it should be over, right?”

All eyes turned to Li Changshou, who pondered for a moment: “Nothing is absolute in this world.”

True Lord Taiji laughed mockingly: “Are you planning to refine this small realm once more? We’ve already covered everything thoroughly, what gaps could remain?”

Li Changshou gave True Lord Taiji a slight smile.

Stability should know no bounds.

“Changgeng, you arrange the following matters,” Elder Duobao smiled and relinquished command, naturally giving Li Changshou a choice.

Now that things were resolved, the burden that should be lifted could be lifted, and the donkey that should be killed…

“Many thanks, Elder Brother Duobao,” Li Changshou cupped his hands, then turned to look at the Western Teaching’s visitors, both human and beast.

Dizang’s heart tightened, Dicheng tucked in his hind legs, and both stared at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou merely smiled and cupped his hands toward Dizang:

“In eliminating the hidden threat of the Heavenly Demon this time, Dicheng’s contributions cannot be overlooked.

As they say, those who are capable should do more. Why don’t we have Dicheng stay here to keep watch for a while longer?”

Dizang smiled faintly and said, “Water God’s words make sense.”

True Lord Taiji tucked his hands into his sleeves, looking at Dicheng, and said leisurely: “The main party hasn’t spoken yet, why are you making random agreements?”

Though Dizang had fully prepared for True Lord Taiji’s sarcasm, he still couldn’t help but darken in complexion and struggle to breathe. Nearby, Zhao Gongming and Elder Duobao’s eyes crinkled with amusement.

This time, it was Li Changshou who saved Dizang from embarrassment.

Li Changshou directly changed the subject: “Elder Brothers, should we go check on Xuandu City? Who knows if the battle situation there has stabilized?”

“No.”

Elder Duobao flatly refused, saying seriously: “If Elder Brother Xuandu doesn’t call for aid, we must not set foot there arbitrarily. This is a rule set since ancient times in Xuandu City.

The divine abilities of Outer Realm Heavenly Demons are unpredictable and mysterious. If we go there rashly, we might allow them to exploit.”

Hearing these words, Li Changshou couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Fairy Yunxiao spoke softly: “This has happened before. When powerful experts rushed to aid Xuandu City on their initiative, they were exploited by Heavenly Demons, triggering a great battle within the city that nearly caused the city’s defensive line to fall.

That’s why Xuandu City now mostly uses Dao Soldiers formed from divine abilities.”

Dao Soldiers? He had heard about this from the Grand Magus, but he hadn’t known these inside details.

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, abandoning the idea of having You Qin Xuanya come here to ‘gild’ herself, and asked Fairy Yunxiao a few more questions about this matter.

At present, Elder Duobao opened an earth tunnel, and the immortals flew in one after another, returning to the Five Continents.

After the earth tunnel closed, Dizang looked down at Dicheng beneath him, blue veins gradually bursting forth on his forehead.

Dicheng’s mighty form trembled, and he hurriedly transmitted mentally:

“Master, under Water God’s roof, we must bow our heads!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Dizang silently jumped down from Dicheng’s back, took out a demon-subduing pestle and a handkerchief from his sleeve, and gently wiped it.

Dicheng took half a step back.

“Master, don’t you think it’s because of our outstanding performance this time that Water God let us off…”

Hum! The demon-subduing pestle vibrated gently.

“Are you perhaps questioning my sincere loyalty to you? In the Beast Chart made by Senior Baize, I am the symbol of loyalty! Master, let’s talk this through!”

“If you’re loyal, then stand still!”

“Master, put away your staff and then we can talk!”

“You wretch, how did I ever end up accepting you!”

“Master, you can’t just deny your beast like this!”

“Stand still!”

“Master, you just can’t beat Water God, there’s no point in forcing it, hahaha!”

In the morning sunlight, a green-furred great dog raced through the air, with a young Daoist in loose robes and delicate features chasing fiercely behind, wielding a demon-subduing pestle.

Among the human tribes that had just experienced the Heavenly Demon chaos, many figures gazed at this scene from afar, showing slight smiles.

Outside Xuandu City’s grand formation, Grand Magus Xuandu stood among piles of black mud, watching the black shadows scattering in the Chaos Sea ahead, and let out a slight sigh of relief.

“Changshou’s side should have handled things well, right?”

The Grand Magus pondered for a moment, feeling somewhat worried, after all, the Heavenly Demons were quite cunning, and although his junior brother was thorough in his work, he was still relatively simple.

Yes, simple.

…

In the mortal world of the Southern Continent, in that great city that had recently become extraordinarily lively due to a certain ‘great sage’.

In front of the academy, seven young men and women had been standing for an hour, since sunrise.

Initially, they had some complaints, thinking Master Mu had broken his promise.

But when Hua Youming said: “This must be the master’s test for us!”

The group of young men and women immediately became alert, standing quietly at the gate. Soon, the three young women who weren’t wearing veils today had sweat on their pretty faces.

Hua Youming suddenly realized:

‘This annoying Xia Ningshuang is quite pretty.’

Though still with a maiden’s appearance, unlike Yingying who plays music, or Tingting and Shuangshuang from the flower house who have alluring figures that make one’s imagination run wild at first glance, her face delicate and lovely, the more he looked…

“What are you looking at!”

Xia Ningshuang raised her willow eyebrows and snorted: “If the master hadn’t forbidden wearing veils, I wouldn’t want such a frivolous philanderer to see my appearance!”

The corner of Hua Youming’s mouth twitched slightly.

What was he thinking? She’s just a fierce woman! Whoever marries her will be bullied for life!

Better not provoke her, better just focus on learning from the master.

Creak—

The wooden door of the academy was pulled open, and Li Changshou, disguised as a middle-aged scholar, appeared before them, yawning:

“Come in.”

Hua Youming stared and asked: “Master, did you just wake up?”

“Last night’s fierce wind and rain, I went out to slay demons and eliminate evil,” Li Changshou said calmly. “After returning, I was a bit tired so I took a short rest.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Youming and the other three young men’s eyes instantly lit up, and the three young women also showed some curiosity.

Hua Youming hurriedly asked: “Were there demons?”

“Hahaha!”

Li Changshou laughed heartily, and after the seven of them entered, he closed the courtyard’s wooden door, walked on the stone path with his hands behind his back, and spoke warmly:

“In this world, humans are the main body, but when all things develop spiritual awareness, they are called the myriad spirits.

As they say, humans, spirits, immortals, demons, monsters, and ghosts, none are lacking in this world; it’s just that here in the Southern Continent, in our human gathering places, the others are relatively rare.

As for demons and evil spirits, those with spiritual hearts but improper methods become monsters, and humans who lose all conscience become demons, that’s all.”

Hua Youming blinked, carefully pondering these words, and a strange feeling arose in his heart again. He recorded all these words.

Entering the bamboo house, Li Changshou yawned, “You seven discuss first which specific courses to choose, I’ll rest a while longer, and teach you in the afternoon.”

After speaking, Li Changshou lay in the rocking chair, and soon closed his eyes and began to snore.

This was just for show, his spiritual consciousness had moved to his true body, taking a walk and having a heart-to-heart talk with Fairy Yunxiao on Three Immortals Island, drinking tea, only bidding farewell at noon.

Such interactions with the Fairy were indeed quite comfortable.

A feast for the eyes, her soft voice pleasing to hear, her delicate fragrance wafting through the air, accompanied by the scenic views of sea and mountains – truly unparalleled in the primordial chaos.

Li Changshou’s true body slipped back to Little Jade Peak at the Immortal’s Gate, finding a comfortable corner to hide.

This time, he didn’t actively return the Pagoda Lord and the Heaven-Earth Ruler.

Spirit Maiden was still out gaining experience, so Li Changshou could keep these as precautions, sufficient to handle most unexpected situations.

Spirit Maiden had been quite steady, shopping in the town districts, drinking tea, buying things. Though she was still contemplating how to climb Mount Wanshou, overall she was quite leisurely.

On Black Pool Peak, Li Changshou’s paper clone opened his eyes, and Baize smiled and came closer.

“Have the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons been dealt with?”

“They have,” Li Changshou smiled, “Dicheng’s divine abilities were truly useful.”

“That’s the natural counter to Outer Realm Heavenly Demons,” Baize was about to make a comparison but suddenly thought of himself, seemingly also being restricted by the Water God before him. His smile gradually faded as he sat aside and sighed dejectedly.

Li Changshou was genuinely puzzled this time and asked, “What’s wrong, Senior Baize?”

“Ah— let this poor Daoist calm his heart for a moment.”

“Please feel free, Senior Baize,” Li Changshou carefully observed Baize for a while, and finding no abnormalities, only then began busying himself with other matters.

Leaving Dizang and Dicheng in that small realm was just part of Li Changshou’s calculations.

Why should only Western Teaching be able to divide the Three Schools of the Dao, while they couldn’t stir up some emotions within Western Teaching?

At the Heavenly Court’s Water God Palace, Li Changshou switched to another paper clone, holding a duster as he walked out of the palace toward Tongming Hall.

Half an hour later, the Heavenly Court issued a proclamation, which was delivered by celestial soldiers to the major town districts of Middle Spirit Continent, to Spirit Mountain in the Western Ox Continent, and scattered in the gathering places of monster troops in the Northern Continent.

This was a letter of commendation.

The letter stated that Outer Realm Heavenly Demons from beyond the sky had caused trouble, intruding into the Three Realms to harm living beings.

Fortunately, guided by the Heavenly Dao and permitted by the Sage Lords, experts from the Three Schools of the Dao, relying on Dizang’s noble righteousness and Dicheng’s divine abilities, had swept clean the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons that had infiltrated the Three Realms.

The Heavenly Court’s proclamation didn’t mention the words “Western Teaching” at all, but greatly praised Dizang’s noble righteousness and the mysteriousness of Dicheng’s divine abilities.

Although there were no substantial rewards, it gave Dizang quite high prestige.

Next was to wait for Dizang and Dicheng to return from afar; by then they should be especially moved. Dizang’s expression would probably be particularly amusing.

Unfortunately, Li Changshou couldn’t go to Spirit Mountain to witness it personally.

Would those old Daoists within the Western Teaching be jealous of Dizang because of this?

Impossible, they were all disciples or registered disciples of the Sage, they couldn’t possibly lack such tolerance, unable to bear seeing others excel…

Right?

Before noon had passed, in an academy in a great city of the mortal world in the Southern Continent, Li Changshou opened his eyes with a smile.

The seven young men and women had already had lunch and were now cleaning up their meal boxes.

Hua Youming hadn’t done such things before, clumsily wrapping up the wooden box, picking his teeth with a toothpick, his eyes occasionally glancing to the side.

Xia Ningshuang was drinking tea, her posture dignified, her movements elegant, exuding the demeanor of a young lady from a noble family in every way.

“Ahem!”

Li Changshou cleared his throat and called out: “Have you decided on your courses?”

The seven nodded, while Hua Youming asked with concern: “Master, aren’t you going to have lunch?”

“No need,” Li Changshou smiled, “I’m not ordinary, I don’t need to eat.”

White papers flew out from Li Changshou’s sleeve, floating before the seven, “Write down what subjects you wish to learn.”

The seven people wearing identical long robes quickly took out brush and ink, and carefully wrote a few characters. Li Changshou retrieved the papers, holding them in his hand, and read softly:

“Poetry, prose, immortal techniques, mathematics, military strategy?”

Li Changshou paused and looked at these crooked characters, smiling: “Why does Youming want to learn military strategy?”

Hua Youming stood up, and cupped his hands toward Li Changshou, his face showing slight pride as he declared:

“Student thought about it all night after returning home and now understands what I lack.

Martial arts, Dao techniques, and immortal arts, there are people at home who can teach me these, but in the art of military strategy, there aren’t many capable people in the mansion.

Master is a great sage of talent, surely knowing everything, I must grasp these.”

Li Changshou smiled: “Do you know how much difference there is between the immortal techniques taught by those cultivators in your mansion, who barely differ from mortals and my immortal techniques?”

Hua Youming was stunned, asking quietly: “Is there a big difference?”

“Hahaha,” Li Changshou threw back his head and laughed, while Hua Youming scratched his head awkwardly.

Xia Ningshuang, sitting next to him, cursed softly: “Fool, didn’t the master say yesterday that he would teach all the subjects we proposed? What are you regretting?”

Hua Youming glared at Xia Ningshuang, but when she swept her gaze over him, the young general shrank his neck timidly.

Li Changshou said: “Then let’s temporarily set these five subjects. This afternoon we’ll start with prose and immortal techniques.

Remember, I won’t teach you techniques to increase longevity, as that would disturb the fate of birth, aging, sickness, and death. I’ll only teach you some simple methods to restrain enemies.

For example, like this, the art of rope manipulation.”

Li Changshou flicked his finger, and Hua Youming’s belt suddenly transformed into a rope, binding him tightly;

As Hua Youming’s feet stumbled, unable to control his balance, he cried out as he fell toward Xia Ningshuang.

Xia Ningshuang was but a weak girl, how could she dodge at this moment?

Two cries of “Ah!” were heard, followed by the clatter of the low table. Xia Ningshuang closed her eyes with a light cry, and when she opened them again, she saw Hua Youming’s somewhat dazed face right before her.

Their eyes met, and they unconsciously heard the thumping of heartbeats.

The bamboo house suddenly fell silent, the pairs of young men and women in front turned to look, each showing some concern.

In the corner, a certain youth who was there to make up the numbers lowered his head silently, feeling that being chosen by the great sage might not be such a good thing.

In the rocking chair, Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes, completely at ease.

Although the two great ones’ incarnations for experiencing tribulation were only now experiencing their first stirrings of love, their feelings could be established and then cultivated slowly. To be on the safe side, it was good to create more shared memories.

At this moment, Xia Ningshuang had come to her senses, her face reddening as she glared at Hua Youming, “You- you get up right now!”

The rope binding Hua Youming instantly untied, and he tried to maintain his composure, quickly jumping up and clearing his throat while clenching his fists: “Sorry for bumping into you, don’t- don’t be angry…”

“Hmph!” Xia Ningshuang snorted coldly, sitting down again and adjusting her hair ornaments, pretending nothing had happened.

Then they heard Hua Youming muttering beside her: “Quite pretty too… ah, don’t misunderstand, I mean those two hairs in your nostrils.”

The entire bamboo house fell silent again.

Li Changshou, who had been smiling, now felt his vision darken, almost causing this paper clone to self-combust.

“Hua! You! Ming!”

With an angry shout, Xia Ningshuang grabbed a brush and charged at him. Hua Youming got up and ran, the two chasing and playing around in the bamboo house.

The two pairs of young men and women, some already betrothed, some destined to be together, watched with smiles, and Li Changshou didn’t stop them either, remembering the shadows of his youth.

In the corner, a certain ‘number-maker’ who seemed uninvolved even in the chase and play, silently laid his head on the table.

It’s all fate…

No, we can’t believe in fate!

He, Yang Tianyou, would rise above his circumstances in the future!