Several figures slowly flew out from before Jade Void Palace on a white cloud, heading toward True Lord Taiyi’s Qianyuan Mountain.
Li Changshou’s visit to Jade Void Palace, aside from almost being hit by True Lord Taiyi’s golden brick, could be considered successful.
He had trapped Randeng, gained the Enlightenment Sect’s current support, and shown goodwill to Guangcheng and the other immortals.
However…
True Lord Huanglong, who had specially followed along, transmitted his voice to ask the group as soon as they left the Kunlun Mountain range:
“Changeng, why must you have Vice Sect Leader Randeng serve as Alliance Leader?
I’ve heard from others that Vice Sect Leader Randeng seems to have close ties with the Western Sect. If he secretly sabotages you, wouldn’t that…”
Master Yudding smiled and said: “Changeng has his plans, Senior Brother need not worry.”
“I don’t quite understand this matter either,” True Lord Taiyi tucked his hands in his sleeves, frowning at Li Changshou, “Although I helped you force out Randeng, and I know you have your plans, but thinking it through…
Junior Brother Changeng, aren’t you just creating trouble for yourself?”
Spirit Zhenzhu was a bit confused, unable to understand what the ‘elders’ were discussing.
Li Changshou sighed slowly: “This is also a forced move, I need to use Randeng to break the deadlock.
Initially, I didn’t want our Dao Sect’s Senior Brothers and Sisters involved in this matter, to avoid being caught in the tribulation.
But nothing is perfect. If I don’t leverage the power of Dao Sect experts, competing with the Western Sect would truly be difficult.”
Master Yudding nodded in understanding, but True Lord Taiyi’s smile carried a hint of playfulness.
Difficult?
As if!
True Lord Huanglong was quite puzzled: “How does this break the deadlock?”
“It’s somewhat complex. The original intention was to provide the Western Sect with more options.
The Immortal Alliance exists to oppose the Western Sect’s Karma-Fire Divine Nations – they are absolute enemies, irreconcilable. Originally, the Western Sect’s only option was to attack forcefully.
Now that I’ve elevated Randeng myself and invited Dao Sect experts to preside, and will soon promote Senior Brother Lvyue’s poison arts to pressure the Western Sect, they will have to weigh their options.
As long as everything goes smoothly, the Western Sect will likely choose not to use force, instead trying to use Vice Sect Leader Randeng to take a softer approach with the Heavenly Court.”
Li Changshou paused, his fingertip lightly tapping to draw out a long river in front of him, explaining:
“If a river’s downstream channel becomes narrower, its flow becomes more turbulent.
But if side channels are opened for diversion, then rejoined downstream, the pressure on the original channel will naturally decrease greatly.”
True Lord Huanglong thought carefully for a while, then smiled: “To think one could scheme like this? This truly opens my eyes.”
“The Western Sect has operated across the Three Thousand Worlds for tens of thousands of years. Without some surprising moves, victory would be difficult.”
Li Changshou continued: “This matter has several other considerations.
Vice Sect Leader Randeng and I have deep grievances. Currently, he’s nurturing his vitality, but if he were to move against me in the future, he would have the initiative. This time I can make him take the stage.
If he truly has good relations with the Western Sect, he will naturally attract their attention…”
The true calculations, Li Changshou didn’t speak aloud.
This was related to the Immortal Alliance’s positioning.
The Immortal Alliance was always merely temporary, used to attract the Western Sect’s attention and serve as a chess piece in the game against them. The real hidden piece was the Lintian Palace led by Baize.
The forces joining the Immortal Alliance were also targets that Lintian Palace needed to conquer in the future.
The Karma-Fire Divine Nations were like fierce tigers, the other scattered immortal forces like wolves. What Li Changshou was doing now was making tigers and wolves fight each other, then driving out the wolves to chase away the tigers.
The best outcome would be the Western Sect’s retreat from the Three Thousand Worlds, and the Immortal Alliance being completely absorbed by Lintian Palace.
By then, the Alliance Leader would be the biggest scapegoat, so naturally, they couldn’t let their people take this position…
The above was merely the ordinary calculation of an ordinary authority deity of the Heavenly Court.
These past years, Li Changshou had been arranging this matter together with Ling’e, preparing nine backup plans alone.
Li Changshou provided the strategies, and Ling’e reviewed them several times, pointing out any unstable aspects, with a clear division of labor and high efficiency.
They pushed and calculated from all angles, determining that this plan’s worst outcome would merely be some loss of prestige for the Heavenly Court…
Li Changshou gritted his teeth and made up his mind, leading to this visit to Jade Void and inviting Randeng into the game.
Randeng was no easy person to deal with, but Li Changshou had opened his hand wide, already grasping Randeng in his palm.
If Randeng jumped too vigorously, they could at worst have Elder Zhao subdue him by force, then blame it on Western Sect experts’ sneak attack, ‘accidentally’ eliminating Randeng…
If Master Luya could die, why couldn’t Randeng?
These two ‘masters of undermining the Dao Sects’ from the original Investiture of the Gods tribulation – if not eliminated early, Li Changshou felt he wasn’t being thorough enough, failing Master Taiqing’s high expectations.
Tearing up the script was the way to break the deadlock.
Arriving at Qianyuan Mountain, True Lord Taiyi prepared a feast, and the three immortals continued chatting with Li Changshou about matters concerning the Immortal Alliance and Karma-Fire Divine Nations.
Li Changshou carefully considered each response, willing to honestly reveal any schemes as long as they didn’t expose Lintian Palace’s existence…
When True Lord Taiyi asked which other important figures from the Heavenly Court were involved, Li Changshou hesitated before transmitting to the group:
“A general, Qin Tianzhu, His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s avatar.
This matter absolutely cannot be revealed.
Otherwise, His Majesty will have to create another avatar to go there, which would be quite troublesome.”
The three ‘Twelve Golden Immortals’ couldn’t help but look at each other, all thinking ‘he knows how to play the game.’
Li Changshou smiled: “Let’s not discuss these vexing matters. There are schemes everywhere here, all sorts of things requiring attention.
By the way, Senior Brother Huanglong, have you visited the Dragon Clan recently?
I hear they’re holding a grand ceremony to trace their origins and pay respects to the Dragon Ancestor, hoping to gain some protection during the great tribulation.”
“They gave me an invitation, I’m still considering whether to go.”
True Lord Huanglong’s eyes were full of emotion, easily drawn into a mode of ‘remembering bitterness and contemplating sweetness.’
Half a day later, True Lord Huanglong bid farewell to return to Magu Cave for cultivation, while Master Yudding hurried back to Yuquan Mountain to instruct Yang Jian.
Before Master Yudding left, Li Changshou took out a jade token from his sleeve and smiled: “Senior Brother, these are some insights on cultivating the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art. See if they might be useful.”
Master Yudding smiled gently, and nodded to Li Changshou, without saying much more.
True Lord Taiyi asked curiously: “Changeng, have you perhaps also cultivated this kind of physical mystical art?”
Li Changshou smiled without speaking.
Neither denying nor confirming.
Spirit Zhenzhu was to stay at Qianyuan Mountain’s Golden Light Cave for some time, following his direct master True Lord Taiyi in cultivation.
Li Changshou specially instructed Spirit Zhenzhu several times not to focus too much on physical cultivation, that primordial spirit cultivation was fundamental. Spirit Zhenzhu naturally agreed.
As Li Changshou was leaving, Spirit Zhenzhu chased after him and said quietly:
“Uncle Master, remember to tell Little Rabbit that she said she’d come play with me again in a few days.”
“Very well,” Li Changshou waved his whisk, “Shall I carry any additional messages to her?”
Spirit Zhenzhu smiled and shook his head, accompanying his master in seeing Li Changshou off from Golden Light Cave, flying beyond the great formation.
From far away, Li Changshou could still sense True Lord Taiyi’s slowly igniting flames of gossip.
“Little Rabbit? Who? Could it be the Jade Rabbit from Vast Cold Palace? Disciple, have you become friends with her?”
“Yes, she’s quite lovely, and especially fun to be around.”
Spirit Zhenzhu smiled: “After visiting Vast Cold Palace last time, Little Rabbit came to the Water God Manor to bring Uncle Master some snacks. I was having a martial contest at the time, and she joined in.
Unexpectedly, she’s also skilled in magical combat, particularly powerful in leg techniques. One kick from her could leave a blood mark on me…”
True Lord Taiyi’s eyes lit up as he asked a series of questions, which Spirit Zhenzhu answered honestly.
The Qianyuan Mountain formation closed, cutting off Li Changshou’s immortal sense probe. Li Changshou focused on riding his cloud, his mind wandering elsewhere.
Next would be another busy year.
…
Three months later, news of Enlightenment Sect Vice Leader Randeng taking the position of Alliance Leader of the Three Thousand Worlds Immortal Alliance spread like wildfire throughout the primordial world.
The various forces preparing to join the anti-Western Immortal Alliance were greatly encouraged;
But those Western Sect disciples of the Sacred Ones who didn’t know Randeng was ‘their own man’ were on high alert.
The situation instantly became subtle and strange, the originally clear-cut two rivers now churning with hidden currents.
This day, Li Changshou sat in a rocking chair before the dan-refining room, holding a fan and gently waving it, trying to capture that ‘military advisor’ feeling.
Watching the winds of change across the Three Realms, observing among immortals and sacred ones.
However…
Ling’e passed by with a tray, muttering: “Why have I been losing so much hair lately?”
At such a young age, she was bearing pressure she shouldn’t have to bear.
Li Changshou pondered carefully, continuing to savor the various schemes while multitasking, his paper avatars active in the Heavenly Court and Netherworld.
He certainly hadn’t forgotten about the blood-colored lotus matter;
He just didn’t want to act rashly while the other side remained quiet.
Currently, all attention in Heaven and Earth is focused on the Immortal Alliance assembly. They had to guard against those who might cause trouble during the chaos, or use the Blood Sea matter to divert their attention.
The game between great sects was truly not easy.
“Hmm?”
Li Changshou felt a slight premonition in his heart, and his paper avatar in the Netherworld slowly opened its eyes.
This paper avatar was in a low wooden house, his usual cultivation spot as a minor judge who didn’t need to work.
A thread of voice transmission entered Li Changshou’s heart…
“Water God, Lord Water God, it’s me, Discerning Listener.”
Li Changshou was truly confused, not knowing why this fellow suddenly sought him out.
But Discerning Listener continued transmitting: “You should be careful! Just now, quite an arrogant fellow came to the Reincarnation Tower looking for my master, claiming to be the son of the Original Phoenix, the Golden-Winged Peng Bird, wanting to restore the Phoenix Clan’s prestige.
When you form thoughts in your heart, I can naturally hear them.”
Li Changshou nodded slowly, asking in his heart: “Why are you informing me?”
“Please don’t blame me, Water God. I don’t want my master to be drawn into the vortex of conflict between great sects again. My master is already in this state, yet the Western Sect still wants to continue exploiting him…”
“What did he come to see your master about?”
“He came to provoke,” Discerning Listener was both amused and exasperated, “This fellow even brought along a disciple of a minor Sacred One from the Western Sect, who kept stoking the flames.
This Golden-Winged Peng Bird said things like…
What my master couldn’t accomplish, he would do.
What my master didn’t dare manage, he would manage.
Born with extreme speed, roaming freely through the Three Realms, able to go anywhere in Heaven and Earth, nothing could block him… and then he left.”
Li Changshou: …
Come to think of it, was Senior Sister-in-law’s brother really this bold?
Just how many fewer beatings in the Three Realms had he received, to develop such an arrogant temperament, showing not even a hint of respect when meeting Earth Store? What a waste of all the fortune Earth Store had fought for on the Western Sect’s behalf!
“How is… your master?”
“He was almost angered to death,” Discerning Listener sighed, then continued transmitting, “This fellow said he was going to target you directly, Lord Water God. You should be very careful.”
Li Changshou pondered for a while, his thoughts turning lightly, then smiled and said:
“No matter, the Immortal Alliance assembly is still half a year away. If he wants to cause trouble, I’ll have a contest with him.”
While speaking of a contest, in his heart he was already considering how to counter such ‘extreme speed.’
Under the premise that his true body wouldn’t appear.
Kong Xuan had previously said that if the Golden-Winged Peng Bird opposed him, it wouldn’t matter even if he was killed.
This statement seemed heartless, but it was merely the Phoenix Clan’s pride and Kong Xuan’s choice.
Now the Phoenix Clan’s fortune was weak, and Kong Xuan personally protected human tribes to help the Phoenix Clan’s fortune recover, planning for the Phoenix Clan’s reproduction and survival;
But this Golden-Winged Peng Bird had taken a different path, relying on the Western Sect, yet aiming to ‘boost the Phoenix Clan’s prestige.’
With no birds left, what prestige would there be?
The meaning behind Kong Xuan’s words that day was that if the Golden-Winged Peng Bird pushed things to death, there was no need to consider his background – let him push until death.
But how could Li Changshou do such an unstable thing?
If for no other reason, the Golden-Winged Peng Bird was Kong Xuan’s younger brother. Even if Li Changshou crippled him, he would still spare his life.
Harmony is precious, winning birds over with virtue.
However, just as Li Changshou’s thoughts settled, ripples rose in his heart again – it was Ao Yi calling Sect Leader Brother through divine thought.
What urgent matter could this be?
They had previously agreed that if there was any matter, they would contact directly at the Water God Manor, and only use divine thought communication for urgent matters.
Had the Western Sect started making trouble?
Li Changshou didn’t dare take it lightly, immediately using the main divine statue in Anshui City to construct a dream space, pulling Ao Yi into it.
“Sect Leader Brother!”
Ao Yi rushed forward, not bothering with formalities, immediately saying: “The Phoenix Clan’s Golden-Winged Peng Bird just appeared in a town in Middle God Prefecture, declaring he wants to compete with you, brother.
He also said that at noon tomorrow, he will enter the Heavenly Court through the South Heaven Gate, going all the way to Vast Cold Palace to sample Chang’e’s fragrant charm!”
Li Changshou: …
This foolish?
Li Changshou asked puzzledly: “Is this true?”
“To be honest with brother, although my Dragon Clan doesn’t wish to start another great war with the Phoenix Clan, we still keep a constant watch on them,” Ao Yi said, “This news just came from the Great Elder, it can’t be false.
The Golden-Winged Peng Bird’s extreme speed is probably second only to that of Demon Teacher Kun Peng of old. If he charges the Heavenly Court forcefully, it would truly be hard to stop him.”
Li Changshou frowned slightly, pacing back and forth at the foot of his divine statue.
What was this fellow trying to accomplish?
Thrill-seeking?
Li Changshou suddenly realized what Kong Xuan meant by ‘life or death doesn’t matter’…
Kong Xuan knew well what kind of bird the Golden-Winged Peng Bird was, so he had stated his position in advance.
Ao Yi asked: “Sect Leader Brother, should I immediately request Dragon Clan experts to help defend the Heavenly Court?”
“No hurry,” Li Changshou muttered, “If this fellow gets close to Vast Cold Palace, he’ll either be split by an axe or turned into Chang’e’s beauty bird…”
“Hm?”
“Ahem, nothing,” Li Changshou waved his hand, “Please have the Dragon Clan spread the news everywhere, making sure this fellow hears it.
Say that…
When the Heavenly Court’s Water God heard of this matter, he smiled slightly, and while discussing with Lord Wood said:
Everyone in the primordial world knows that in the Heavenly Court, only the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother can be called great powers. From South Heaven Gate to the Moon Palace, the path conveniently avoids the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Jade Pool, and Doulu Palace – any other great power could accomplish this, but it’s not worthy of being called heroic.
If one could rush from South Heaven Gate to Vast Cold Palace’s front gate without harming anyone, that would be true extreme speed.”
Ao Yi carefully savored this, his eyes brightening as he smiled: “Sect Leader Brother, will that fellow fall for it?”
“Unknown, depends on whether he’s truly wild.”
Li Changshou sighed, “Go, for now, I’ll wait at the Water God Manor. Once the news spreads, His Majesty will summon me.”
Ao Yi agreed, and they both withdrew their divine thoughts, each busy with their tasks.
The fierce words released by the Golden-Winged Peng Bird, pushed by the Western Sect behind the scenes, spread rapidly throughout the Three Realms.
Qin Tianzhu was furious, and the Heavenly Court’s celestial soldiers and generals were all enraged, rushing to Tongming Hall to request orders, wanting to help defend South Heaven Gate tomorrow.
Li Changshou was soon also called to Lingxiao Treasure Hall, to offer strategies together with Lord Wood and other proper deities.
The Jade Emperor’s expression was naturally very unpleasant.
The primordial world had many schemes, but rarely such arrogant people could live so long.
This Golden-Winged Peng Bird had no respect for anyone, treating the Heavenly Court as a stepping stone to fame. If he burst into Vast Cold Palace, the Heavenly Court would suffer great loss of face.
Lord Wood said: “Your Majesty, this old minister feels this might be his strategy of making a feint! We should deploy heavy forces at all five Heaven Gates, we cannot be careless.”
“Indeed,” the Jade Emperor contained his anger and cursed, “This Golden-Winged Peng Bird seeks death, I shall grant his wish!”
After a pause, His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s expression softened slightly as he looked at Li Changshou, saying gently: “Don’t worry, Changeng, I definitely won’t let him get half a step near Chang’e.”
Li Changshou: …
What did he mean?
Lord Wood also said: “Water God can rest assured, our Heavenly Court is no longer what it was before, we’ll make sure this son of the Original Phoenix has no way back!”
Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly – it had been nine years, and they still remembered this rumor?
Just then, an ox’s bellow came from outside Lingxiao Treasure Hall. A blue ox came strolling up, transforming at the hall’s entrance into a middle-aged sturdy man with an honest face, bull horns on his head, and a nose ring.
Blue Ox grinned, not entering the great hall, and shouted in front of all the celestial soldiers and generals:
“Senior Brother Changeng, the Lord of Lao sent me to help you catch a bird!”
Li Changshou couldn’t help but cover his face with one hand.
The enemy had only released one piece of news, how had it thrown their whole formation into chaos?
These countless immortals and deities, except for the Lord of Lao, all needed some training.
…
Meanwhile, by Spirit Mountain’s Spirit Pool.
A handsome young Daoist was showing off his newly acquired treasure – a golden cloak, pride written all over his face.
To the side, the various old Daoists didn’t spare their praise, and while flattering him, also advised him not to clash so hard with the Heavenly Court.
But this young Daoist waved his hand dismissively, saying calmly: “The Heavenly Court’s Water God has many schemes. If we compete with him in scheming, we’d be asking for trouble, falling to a disadvantage.
Why not attack his weakness with our strength?
Tomorrow, I shall let him know that even curled up in the Heavenly Court, he won’t find peace – that Heavenly Court, I’ll come and go as if nothing’s there!”
The old Daoists immediately nodded with smiles, saying ‘as expected of you’ while who knows what they were muttering in their hearts.
In the corner originally exclusive to Earth Store and Discerning Listener, Daoist Wenjing stood in the shadows, while the silver-haired girl sat nearby hugging her treasure sword, quietly observing the scene.
The silver-haired girl transmitted: “Is the son of the Original Phoenix very powerful?”
Daoist Wenjing shook her head, inwardly thinking how boring.
This matter, she couldn’t even be bothered to report to Lord Water God to curry favor – if Lord Water God spared even a proper glance at this fellow, that would count as Lord Water God losing half a move.
“Fool.”
The silver-haired girl holding the Yuan Tu sword tilted her head slightly – was Aunt Wen talking about her? Light red pupils showed slight confusion.