Fat?

Veins bulged on Master Duobao’s forehead, his fingers trembling slightly, about to stand up and “flip the table.”

He had roamed the primordial world for so many years, watched the Dragon Ancestor battle the Phoenix Ancestor, seen the Primordial Gods confront the Demon Emperor, and witnessed the rise of the Six Saints!

Which corner of the primordial world hadn’t seen his plump figure swimming through piles of treasures?

Of course, none of that mattered!

Fat Daoist…

Was he really fat?

If it weren’t for wanting the most supreme enjoyment from every piece of spiritual treasure rubbing against his skin during each intimate contact with treasures, would he maintain this figure?

Did they understand that kind of joy—lying in a pile of treasures, letting precious pearls bounce back and forth on one’s belly?

Since the Dao School’s rise to prominence, even Master would only say:

“Treasure, how did you become a bit more well-rounded recently?”

When had anyone ever used the word ‘fat’?

Anger rose in Master Duobao’s heart, but remembering he was currently investigating the inside story of how the Severing Sect’s fortune was being dragged down, he endured without erupting.

Calling him ‘fat’ his face was like pointing at Grand Master Xuandu and saying ‘lazy,’ asking Guangcheng Zi “Senior Brother, how do you have another Senior Brother above you,” pointing at Yellow Dragon and saying ‘ornamental,’ pointing at True Lord Taiyi and saying ‘why are you being so sarcastic’?

Er, well, maybe that last one wasn’t so bad…

Having endured for half a month, Master Duobao almost exploded in rage!

Fortunately, Li Changshou stopped him in time, frantically transmitting with his immortal consciousness:

“Senior Brother, Senior Brother! Don’t be like this, Senior Brother!

Immortal Lady Stone Demon is saying you’re well-rounded like jade, endure it, endure it, we’re just two steps away!

Ah yes, ‘fat’ has another meaning, often used to describe immortal ladies’ beauty, like ‘the moon maiden isn’t half as beautiful as you,’ which can be understood as ‘you alone possess half the moon’s beauty’!

It’s elegant, absolutely elegant!

Small impatience ruins great affairs, we came today to investigate, not necessarily to take action.”

Hearing the stream of urgent calls transmitted by Li Changshou’s immortal consciousness, and remembering their previous three agreements, Master Duobao’s Dao heart quickly recovered.

“Changgen speaks truly. Small patience now means fewer people to eliminate later.”

Killing intent had already awakened.

Li Changshou silently sighed. The Severing Sect truly started fighting at the slightest disagreement, with combat being their first thought.

But what slightly surprised Li Changshou was that Master Duobao quickly revealed a gentle smile. With his disguised face, he looked up and smiled: “Senior, junior was just…”

Unexpectedly, Stone Demon spoke again: “Still trying to make excuses? Could it be you think you’re just here to seek status for yourself, to add to your background, and this poor Daoist’s teachings aren’t worth mentioning?”

Li Changshou: …

Although he knew Stone Demon might be feeling depressed at this time and looking for an outlet, this…

Never mind, she’s beyond saving, just wait for death.

He’d better bring out the second backup plan early, change the approach from following the vine to taking thunderous action, strike down this gang here, then afterward completely blow up the matter and mobilize the entire Severing Sect’s power to clean house.

What kind of person was Senior Brother Duobao?

The Severing Sect’s senior disciple, one of the Three Schools’ counted experts. Based on Li Changshou’s several observations, Duobao’s strength should be above Guangcheng Zi’s, firmly occupying the second seat among Dao School disciples.

If Duobao erupted now, directly revealing his identity and killing the four present Severing Sect immortals including Stone Demon right here, Li Changshou wouldn’t be surprised at all.

The Senior Brother had his pride too.

But what surprised Li Changshou was…

“Ah, well, Senior please forgive me.”

Master Duobao responded twice, showing an embarrassed expression as he stood up and made a deep Daoist bow to Stone Demon, hurriedly saying: “Junior just rushed here, traveling urgently by cloud has left my spirit unsettled. Please forgive me, forgive me.”

Li Changshou secretly raised an eyebrow, his wariness of Master Duobao increasing threefold.

“Sit down and listen well,” Stone Demon didn’t say more, speaking thus before beginning to lecture about her cultivation insights.

Those gazes watching Master Duobao all withdrew, each listening attentively, most treasuring this expensive lecture greatly.

Li Changshou transmitted praise to Master Duobao: “Senior Brother endures when needed, truly admirable.”

“Ah,” Master Duobao’s expression remained normal, but he sighed inwardly, “I wanted to strike just now, but suddenly remembered that Stone Demon once listened to Master’s teachings, calling me Senior Brother…”

Li Changshou also sighed lightly, saying nothing more, just quietly waiting.

Speaking of Stone Demon’s lecture, some faint flower petals did float out;

This could prove that this Immortal Lady Stone Demon, who would die tragically under the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Formation in the original Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, did indeed have some cultivation achievement.

Li Changshou clearly remembered this Immortal Lady Stone Demon…

Had suffered terribly.

In little Nezha’s story, when Nezha shot an arrow at Chen Tang Pass that accidentally killed Stone Demon’s attendant Biyun, Stone Demon went to question Li Jing, who very readily handed over Nezha;

Stone Demon fought with Nezha, easily capturing his Universe Ring and Heaven Mixing Silk before chasing Nezha to Gold Light Cave on Mount Qianyuan.

Originally, when Stone Demon saw True Lord Taiyi she paid her respects, calling him ‘Fellow Daoist’ and reasonably discussing Nezha’s crimes, but was instead attacked by True Lord Taiyi, finally dying tragically under the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Formation.

In short, True Lord Taiyi was the star of catastrophe in Immortal Lady Stone Demon’s fate.

Based on Li Changshou’s understanding of True Lord Taiyi, if the story developed along its original track, the Orthodox and Severing Schools would inevitably battle, and Taiyi—who possessed outstanding initiative and could provoke opponents with a 100% success rate—would definitely strike first.

However, given the current situation before the Great Tribulation’s arrival…

Li Changshou thought of his series of subsequent plans. Whether Immortal Lady Stone Demon would appear in Nezha’s story was truly hard to say.

Moreover, whether Stone Demon could survive the current crisis was still unknown.

Immortal Lady Stone Demon’s lecture passed six hours in the blink of an eye.

As the sun set in the west, the Sun Star’s projection in this Great Thousand World descended behind distant mountains, and the valley’s mists gradually dispersed.

Stone Demon slowly rose from the thatched cottage, her black dress’s folds rippling like waves, the thin mist still not dispersing from her face.

Due to listening to Stone Demon’s lecture, twenty or so people were now in a state of enlightenment.

Master Duobao also made such an appearance at this time, with some ‘shallow’ Dao charm floating around him, seeming about to have a breakthrough.

Clouds formed under Stone Demon’s feet as she headed deep into the valley, disappearing in an instant.

At this time, the jade slice attached to Li Changshou brought more transmitted conversation from afar…

They heard Stone Demon say to someone:

“Alright, I’ve completed today’s matter. If there are such things again later, Junior Brother, don’t send messages seeking me out.”

“Senior Sister, don’t hurry, I have one thing to say, could Senior Sister listen before leaving?”

“Speak,” Stone Demon’s voice carried slight helplessness.

They heard Severing Sect immortal say: “Senior Sister, I know your character is noble and pure, unwilling to lecture for others just for spirit stones and treasures. But Senior Sister, consider this: when you set up a platform to lecture, you benefit these independent cultivators seeking reputation, we receive their offerings of respect, and it spreads our Severing Sect’s prestige. Our Severing Sect has ten thousand immortals attending court, we don’t mind having a few more registered disciples, this is only beneficial.”

“Hmph,” Stone Demon frowned slightly, speaking softly: “If those you brought today were all truly gifted and perceptive cultivators, and you hadn’t taken their offerings, I might believe such words. If the inner disciples’ senior brothers and sisters learned of this matter, how would they view it? Isn’t this putting a clear price tag on our Severing Sect’s third-generation registered disciple status, exchanging it for spirit stones? Our Severing Sect’s doctrine is indeed to seize a thread of life’s opportunity for living beings, but not like this!”

Hearing these words, Master Duobao secretly smiled, saying to Li Changshou: “It seems this Stone Demon isn’t completely corrupt.”

Li Changshou laughed twice and continued listening.

The male immortal spoke again: “Senior Sister, speaking like this is somewhat inappropriate. In this world, is cultivation only about comprehension? Wealth and status are also of paramount importance. Senior Sister, here are some things from your lecture today…”

“Take them back,” Stone Demon said firmly. “You’re insulting me!”

“Please just look at them first…”

Slap!

Boom—

Li Changshou’s wind-speaking spell finally caught some movement, as waves of clashing magical power emanated from deep in the valley.

The wind-speaking spell also caught a somewhat weak rebuke:

“Put away your spirit stones, don’t sully this poor Daoist’s eyes. Farewell.”

The male immortal anxiously transmitted: “Senior Sister! Senior Sister, don’t be hasty, it was Junior’s brother’s words that were inappropriate, please don’t blame me… Senior Sister!”

Just then, a black shadow flashed through the deep valley.

Stone Demon rose on her cloud, face cold, heading toward the horizon, leaving behind one sentence:

“Don’t come looking for me again.”

Seeing this, Master Duobao felt deeply moved: “It seems, as the junior brother said, we can’t indiscriminately kill everyone involved in this matter—we need to handle them differently.”

Li Changshou was also deeply moved: the Heavenly Dao’s constraining power was indeed formidable. Stone Demon had been frantically testing the edges of death, yet in the end could turn danger into safety…

Keeping Stone Demon alive, to be killed by the right person at the right time and place, to achieve the outcome the Heavenly Dao desired.

Had the Heavenly Dao just influenced Stone Demon?

Li Changshou dared not be certain. He could only activate his void-clarity Dao heart to check if he was being driven by tribulation fate.

“Changgen, what should we do next?” Master Duobao asked.

Li Changshou considered carefully before answering: “The superior strategy would be to continue enduring. We’ve marked these few people here and recorded these scenes in the recording spheres, but the evidence is insufficient. The middle strategy would be to find a key to shorten the investigation period…”

Master Duobao transmitted with a laugh: “Then let’s choose this middle strategy. We’ll have to trouble Junior Sister Stone Demon.”

“What does Senior Brother plan to do?”

“Just use the previous excuse,” Master Duobao opened his eyes and stood up from the meditation cushion, walking with a lowered head toward the valley exit. “Changgen, first think of a way to keep Stone Demon from leaving, don’t let her go too far.”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment before transmitting some thoughts to Duobao.

Like this and that, Master Duobao’s eyes lit up after hearing just a few sentences.

Entry required a jade token, but exit had no obstacles.

Leaving the valley, Master Duobao rode his cloud toward the outer heavens, heading straight for Bu Zhongyao’s cloud ship.

When Master Duobao was just a thousand miles from the cloud ship, Bu Zhongyao and Caiyao were already waiting at the ship’s bow;

A certain young sect master revealed a faint smile, already imagining what praise he would receive from his sect master father for recruiting such an accomplished pill refiner.

Suddenly, a streak of light shot over from the side!

Before the ship’s many guards could respond, just as Caiyao and Bu Zhongyao turned around, they saw an elegant figure in black appear out of thin air ten zhang away.

Bu Zhongyao looked up and felt that this suddenly appearing female immortal had an enchanting figure and dense pressure, and his immortal consciousness had just seen her fly out from that valley…

A Severing Sect expert, Immortal Lady Stone Demon!

Caiyao reacted quite quickly, immediately bowing and crying out:

“Disciple pays respects to Teacher!”

Stone Demon was slightly startled, not remembering where she had seen this female immortal of mere True Immortal realm.

She nodded slightly, saying: “Please, find me a quiet room on the ship. When that fat Daoist returns, have him come to see me alone. When I saw him earlier he seemed familiar, and I suddenly recalled, I’m an old friend of his master.”

Caiyao quickly looked toward Bu Zhongyao beside her. He finally came to his senses, made a Daoist bow to Stone Demon, and hurriedly stepped aside with invitations flowing non-stop from his mouth.

Soon after, Immortal Lady Stone Demon chose a quiet private room, raised her hand to lay down layer upon layer of barriers, and sat quietly by the wooden window, her immortal consciousness locked onto the ‘fat Daoist’ floating slowly over.

Unconsciously, her delicate eyebrows furrowed as her heart echoed with the words she had heard moments ago…

Just as she was about to leave this realm, an immortal consciousness broke through the immortal power around her body, broke through her protective magical treasures, and drilled into her heart as a voice transmission.

It was that fat Daoist’s voice:

[Immortal Lady Stone Demon, this poor Daoist is a Heavenly General, now following orders from the Heavenly Court’s Water God and the Orthodox Teaching Saint’s disciple, secretly investigating whether a certain immortal alliance force has betrayed the alliance and turned toward the Western Teaching. Today I have obtained results but lack an escape method. Happening to pass by here, I wish to request Immortal Lady’s assistance. Once this poor Daoist successfully escapes, I will certainly report to Water God and reward Immortal Lady handsomely! This matter is of great importance and must not be revealed. Please go to the cloud ship of this force’s young sect master and request a refined chamber with your status. I will immediately come to join Immortal Lady. We can discuss details in person to know the truth from falsehood.]

And then, Stone Demon believed it.

This made Master Duobao feel there was no challenge at all. He planned next time to change it to [I, the Heavenly Court’s Water God, will wait in the refined chamber].

It might unexpectedly work even better.

As soon as Master Duobao boarded the cloud ship, Bu Zhongyao and Caiyao came forward to welcome him, saying Immortal Lady Stone Demon was waiting for him.

At this time, the disguised Severing Sect Senior Brother showed some surprise, then perfectly revealed three parts joy and two parts nervousness, leaving no flaws.

“Why is Immortal Lady Stone Demon waiting here for this poor Daoist?”

“It seems related to your master,” Bu Zhongyao urged, “Friend should hurry in, don’t keep Immortal Lady Stone Demon waiting. She’s a Severing Sect expert, we must not offend her.”

“Young Sect Master need not worry,” Master Duobao earnestly cupped his hands, hearing Li Changshou’s laughter in his heart as he hurried to where Immortal Lady Stone Demon waited.

What followed went quite smoothly.

With Li Changshou’s help from the shadows, Master Duobao played the ‘Heavenly Court undercover agent’ without flaw.

After just a moment in the cabin, Immortal Lady Stone Demon left the cloud ship with the fat Daoist, using the excuse of visiting the fat Daoist’s master.

Before leaving, Master Duobao grabbed Bu Zhongyao’s arm and repeatedly reminded him that he would return later, telling him not to forget their previous arrangement.

This delighted Bu Zhongyao. While maintaining an outwardly graceful appearance, he secretly ground his back teeth and, from his already not abundant savings, took out a generous gift for Master Duobao’s master.

Though Master Duobao despised this, he still accepted it with ‘tears of gratitude.’

Behold the Senior Brother’s acting skills!

After Stone Demon left with Duobao, disappearing beyond this realm;

Standing at the ship’s bow, Bu Zhongyao and Caiyao exchanged glances. He revealed a calm smile, while she slightly furrowed her brows.

“Husband,” Caiyao said, “what if he doesn’t return? Wouldn’t we have wasted so many spirit stones?”

“Short-sighted!”

Bu Zhongyao smiled calmly, gazing in the direction Stone Demon had left, and said nonchalantly: “Today it’s just some spirit stones, in the future we might gain another powerful ally! Perhaps he might even bring his master along… it’s not impossible. Hahaha!”

Hearing this, Caiyao frowned slightly but thought of her cousin’s senior brother and inexplicably felt more at ease.

With such connections, and with Severing Sect’s Immortal Lady Stone Demon appearing in person, the other party couldn’t possibly be a fraud.

…

Speaking of Stone Demon leading Master Duobao on their swift flight, they gradually flew tens of thousands of miles, beyond the detection limit of ordinary Golden Immortals’ divine sense.

In the void, Stone Demon turned around and asked softly: “Friend, shall I send you this far?”

Duobao remained silent.

Stone Demon asked again: “If this location isn’t suitable, a friend can name a place. I have nothing pressing to attend to and can send you anywhere.”

“Nothing pressing to attend to?”

Master Duobao’s face showed stern authority as he coldly said: “So you went to help others set up lectures?”

Stone Demon’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly. At this moment she finally realized something was wrong with this ‘fat’ Daoist before her. She immediately became fully alert, drawing out a treasure sword and retreating dozens of zhang.

“No need to struggle.”

Master Duobao opened his left hand, his five fingers lightly flickering with colorful light. The void within a hundred li was completely sealed off as an indescribable authority slowly spread from Master Duobao’s body.

Stone Demon’s expression changed drastically. She was about to strike when she saw the fat Daoist’s face suddenly transform, changing into a face she had seen more than ten times before and knew extremely well!

“Se-Senior Brother…”

“Kneel!”

At Master Duobao’s great shout, Stone Demon’s slender legs bent and she knelt straight down in the void!

She could barely hold her treasure sword steady, and the concealment techniques around her face and body instantly withdrew, revealing a pitifully beautiful countenance.

Li Changshou had no interest in admiring the beautiful scene, only privately comparing.

Master Duobao’s version of “Kneel!” indeed had much less authority than Immortal Yunxiao’s “Kneel!”

Not very professional.