On the day blood flowed among the Severing Sect immortals at Golden Tortoise Island, Li Changshou only watched from the shadows, never revealing himself.

After all, at such a moment, being a disciple of the Orthodox Unity Sect could easily make him a target of resentment for certain Severing Sect immortals.

He had taken an oath in the minor realm with the four senior disciples of the Severing Sect and Lady Shi Ji, had Master Duo BAo Yiase some of Shi Ji’s memories, and prevented today’s condemned from speaking – all to ensure the name ‘Changgen’ wouldn’t appear in this internal purge of the Severing Sect.

Navigating the primordial world requires both anticipating the worst from one’s enemies and not overestimating strangers’ goodwill.

By the way, Li Changshou had another major task to accomplish in secret!

When Master Duo Bao waved his hand and Golden Spirit Mother drew her sword to execute these hundred-plus Severing Sect immortals, Li Changshou’s dozen-plus paper clones stationed throughout the Celestial Court and around Golden Tortoise Island strained their immortal awareness and operated the Dao of Balance, eyes wide as bronze bells!

Diligence rewards the patient Shou!

When Golden Spirit Mother’s sword light fell, both Changshou and the powerful experts on Golden Tortoise Island sensed something peculiar in the Heavenly Dao’s power.

The Severing Sect crowd interpreted this power as indicating that some of today’s punished immortals had committed their grave errors under tribulation’s influence.

Even Master Duo Bao, Golden Spirit Mother, and Uncle Zhao didn’t think much of it.

But Li Changshou, simultaneously observing from the Crystal Palace and the Five Great Celestial Gates, keenly noticed several subtle primordial spirit disturbances drilling into the golden pillars before the Crystal Palace – pillars that had descended along with this great tribulation!

This…

Had the Investiture of the Gods list already been determined by the Heavenly Dao?

Or perhaps the Heavenly Dao saw that several Severing Sect immortals had the potential to become deities and collected them here early, securing their fates?

Li Changshou pondered carefully for half a day but reached no clear conclusion.

If the names on the Investiture of the Gods list had already been directly determined by the Heavenly Dao, where would that leave the several Sages?

It made no sense at all.

Just as Li Changshou settled his thoughts, he heard waves of bell chimes from Golden Tortoise Island…

He sighed softly, hid several paper clones on the seafloor, and withdrew his consciousness.

Earlier, he had already positioned one paper clone in the back hall of the Sea God Temple in Anshui City by the South Sea, knowing that several senior disciples of the Severing Sect would surely come seeking him.

He couldn’t be certain about others, but Zhao Gongming would almost definitely come to pour out his complaints.

This Great Assembly of Ten Thousand Immortals of the Severing Sect, besides killing one to warn a hundred and clearing out the malignancy, also directly nullified those registered disciples who had bought their positions with spirit stones.

Even without checking, the Severing Sect’s fortune must have improved somewhat.

The six personally taught disciples of the Sage executed today weren’t core disciples, and those ninety-plus Severing Sect immortals were mostly low in cultivation and excessive in greed.

That Severing Sect’s fierce immortal Ma Yuan who had deceived Lady Shi Ji was quite strong in magical powers and had reaped considerable benefits from this registered disciple business, but wasn’t directly punished.

This immortal carried the heavy karmic burden and was quite capable – he ranked high on that “Tribulation Scroll.”

Master Duo Bao probably intended to use this blade of violence to create more tribulation ash outside the sect when the tribulation descended, then arrange for this fierce immortal to face the tribulation…

This was why Li Changshou preferred to stay close to Uncle Zhao while maintaining some distance from Master Duo Bao.

Duo Bao was the Severing Sect’s senior brother – he had many considerations and concerns that Uncle Zhao didn’t have.

Uncle Zhao was much happier – high in cultivation, strong in treasures, vast in magical powers, a free and easy breeze between heaven and earth, laughing, swaying, drifting along. If something displeased him, he’d just cry “aiyah” and lie down spitting blood.

How joyful indeed.

Though Li Changshou… didn’t envy that at all.

Li Changshou could already imagine Uncle Zhao’s troubled, depressed expression when he’d come to the Sea God Temple a few days after the Great Assembly dispersed, and his first words would be:

“Changgen, about this matter…”

If Uncle Zhao didn’t say these six words, he’d eat his title as the Celestial Court’s Water God!

Live streaming on the bronze mirror: How to make a rabbit cry!

Just kidding, kidding.

Li Changshou’s immortal awareness swept through various parts of the Crossing Immortality Gate, sensing the Golden Immortal realm Dao rhythm circulating on Immortal Rain Peak – Elder Wan Lingyun should be coming out of seclusion soon;

However, the older primordial world immortals grew, the less sensitive they became to time’s passage. Elder Wan probably wouldn’t come out for a stroll for another ten days to half a month…

Everything was normal on Little Jade Peak. Ling’e was cleaning Master’s thatched cottage, with three freshly lit sticks of incense before Master’s memorial tablet.

Xiong Lingli and Jiu Yushi were busy in the spirit beast enclosure.

Ever since the elite members of Little Jade Peak’s High-Level Gourmet Club – Jiu Jiu and Jiang Lin’er – went out with Baize to manage the Approaching Heaven Palace, Jiu Yushi’s cultivation speed had notably improved.

Probably because there were fewer distractions.

After checking on Li Jing, safely cultivating at Crossing Immortality Gate, Li Changshou withdrew his consciousness and meditated for half a day.

Recently, though he had been busy with Severing Sect matters, his main body hadn’t gone out.

Thus, Li Changshou had already sent Elder Tu, the Heaven-Earth Ruler, and the Ground Flame Light Banner back to the Supreme Clarity Temple, keeping only Tower Lord by his side, in case he needed to go out and would lack basic security.

Another half day later, Ling’e, carrying a bowl of refreshing soup, flew over from the lakeside on a cloud, sweetly calling out “Senior Brother.”

Li Changshou’s main body emerged from the pill room, stretched, and went to lounge on the wooden bridge outside.

Ling’e brought a meditation cushion and sat beside her senior brother, her jade feet swinging back and forth as she asked softly:

“Senior Brother, have there been any troublesome matters lately?

You’ve hardly looked at those communication jade talismans about the Immortal Alliance that your paper clones brought back these past few days.”

“Mm,” Li Changshou sipped the special ice powder his junior sister had made, using the soup spoon, and smiled: “If one tries to personally handle everything, even a hundred of me wouldn’t be enough.

The Immortal Alliance was only troublesome at the start when recruiting people and building the framework. Now with twelve vice-presidents jointly managing affairs, we only need to control the general direction.

Never mind if there’s collusion or corruption within – as long as it generally benefits the Celestial Court and does good deeds to resist the invasion of Incense Fire Divine Nations, that’s enough.”

Ling’e lowered her eyes in thought, then asked: “Then what’s been troubling Senior Brother lately?”

“The Severing Sect’s matters.”

Li Changshou set the jade bowl beside him and briefly explained about Severing Sect immortals amassing wealth through spirit stones, recklessly accepting disciples, and transmitting teachings, thereby dragging down the entire sect’s fortune.

Ling’e frowned as she listened, saying softly:

“How can the Severing Sect have such immortals? Having become disciples of a Sage, can they not restrain themselves? Are they not satisfied?”

Li Changshou smiled: “All beings have desires, hence private interests – whether for fame, security, wealth, or matters they care about – there are many kinds.

This isn’t derogatory, it’s simply a common principle.

Imagine if the Enlightenment Sect had such numbers of disciples – they’d likely face similar issues.

Supreme Clarity Master is truly far-sighted and understands the nature of beings, thus doesn’t accept too many disciples.”

Ling’e blinked and whispered: “Is Master listening?”

Li Changshou: …

His junior sister’s ideological awareness was still far from adequate!

Flattery isn’t something you only do in front of the Sage Lords! One must maintain consistency both publicly and privately, respecting them from the bottom of one’s heart!

After all, who knows if the Sages might actively probe and see through a qi cultivator’s Dao heart…

Better safe than sorry.

“Regarding your cousin, I used her slightly before,” Li Changshou said, “But I’ve already handled the aftermath, sent a letter a few days ago, along with some pills.”

“Hehe, my cousin is quite good-natured, just a bit showy.”

Li Changshou smiled without commenting.

Ling’e thought for a while, then her feet suddenly stopped swinging as she asked curiously: “Senior Brother, may I ask a question?”

“Go ahead,” Li Changshou leaned back, hands propped on the wooden bridge, gazing at the distant indigo mountains, watching clouds rise and fall.

Ling’e asked: “How could people do such things in secret without the Sage Lords knowing?

The Severing Sect’s Uncle Master should have known about these things too, why didn’t he manage them before?”

Li Changshou fell silent for a moment.

Ling’e asked softly: “Should I not have asked that…”

“There’s no such thing as what should or shouldn’t be asked,” Li Changshou sighed slowly. “Ling’e, think carefully about what they were doing by collecting spirit stones and accepting registered disciples – what was it essentially?

Indiscriminate transmission of cultivation methods.

In the Enlightenment Sect, according to their doctrine of not casually transmitting methods or teachings, they would merely expel such people from discipleship.

The Severing Sect had no restrictions on transmitting methods and teachings – their current ten thousand immortals paying court is Third Uncle’s achievement in spreading the Dao.

This matter only deserved admonishment, at most expulsion from the Severing Sect. Today’s direct execution of over a hundred immortals came against the background of the red lotus’s failure to suppress the sect’s fortune, magnifying their crimes many times over.

This incident was just Master Duo Bao finding a pretext to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, rectify conduct, and unite the Severing Sect to face the great tribulation.

After all, what truly breaks the camel’s back isn’t the final straw, but the weight already on its back.”

Ling’e held her chin and hummed softly, muttering: “There’s so much going on here.”

“Don’t always think yourself so clever,” Li Changshou smiled. “The three sects have countless experts, and the three senior brothers all far surpass me in wisdom and calculation.”

But Ling’e said: “Senior Brother, you’re being too modest. Sister Yun Xiao highly praises your strategic abilities.”

“In such matters, I’d rather be modest ten thousand times over than be overconfident even slightly.”

Li Changshou’s form flipped over, floating directly to the lounging chair by the door, dropping a “remember to wash the bowl” before closing his eyes as if falling asleep.

Ling’e made a face, picked up the jade bowl, summoned a tray, and humming a forest tune, flew away on her cloud through the layers of formations.

Truly leisurely indeed.

…

Moving his consciousness to the South Jambudvipa Continent, while the Severing Sect’s Great Assembly hadn’t yet concluded and before Uncle Zhao came to pour out his feelings, Li Changshou decided to handle several “important matters.”

Though called important matters, he was just checking on various situations.

A paper clone awakened within the Shang tribe’s territory. His immortal awareness swept across the area, discovering Shang banners now planted on city walls throughout ten thousand li.

This speed of expansion was truly praiseworthy.

Subsequently, Li Changshou’s immortal awareness found them – the Seven Emotions reincarnated body, perfectly integrated into mortal life, experiencing mortal joys and sorrows.

Under Kong Xuan’s secret protection, the Seven Emotions reincarnated body lived quite comfortably, becoming a “little tyrant having the time of her life” in a great city.

The seven emotions belonged to seven personalities, active according to the time of day, causing this young woman to become known as an “oddball” among mortals.

With extraordinary energy and constant vitality.

But in these times, as long as one’s appearance was pleasing, judgment followed the features.

The Seven Emotions reincarnated body was born beautiful, naturally attracting many suitors with ulterior motives, but without exception, they were all thoroughly toyed with by her.

Fortunately, they were just playing in the mortal realm, always retaining Lady Houtu’s gentleness, never truly harming mortals.

Seeing this, Li Changshou temporarily abandoned the idea of bringing them to the Celestial Court.

Letting them interact more with humans would ultimately be beneficial.

— Precisely because mortal life is so short, it bursts forth with more poetry and romance.

The Celestial Court’s Heaven Human Cities lacked that earthly flavor, missing that authentic feel.

Kong Xuan was still in seclusion. Though Li Changshou was curious, he dared not disturb him without cause, instead sending a paper clone to check on the demon tribe’s situation at the junction of the South, East, and Central continents.

During this trip, Li Changshou specifically visited Chen Tang Town.

After Ling’e’s training experience there and the elimination of a group of great demons, Chen Tang Town had become much more peaceful than before.

Human and demon forces maintained a temporary peace, but as the demon tribe gradually recovered their strength, conflicts would surely continue in the future.

Worth mentioning was Chen Tang Town’s rapidly increasing population;

The land was fertile, there was a group of strong protectors, and due to pressure from surrounding demons and the management of cultivation practitioners, theft and bullying had almost completely disappeared, attracting many wanderers to settle there.

Li Changshou didn’t disturb the peace, just passing through like a traveler, looking around before his paper clone quietly departed.

Speaking of monitoring with paper clones, there was one place Li Changshou had never neglected.

Naturally, this was Black Panther’s location.

Since losing his wife, Black Panther had been honestly cultivating in his cave dwelling, steadily improving his strength.

Whether due to the Heavenly Dao’s influence or the tribulation’s effect, Black Panther’s cultivation speed had not only increased significantly, but his thoughts were gradually becoming more extreme.

Li Changshou occasionally overheard Black Panther’s soliloquies change from “If others can do it, why can’t I?” to “It’s the Heavenly Dao’s unfairness that prevents me from succeeding.”

Regarding this, Li Changshou had no solution, not daring to forcefully intervene in this black panther’s growth path, lest he receive some comforting attention from a certain master who had become a big shot despite owing debts, wielding a small electric whip.

It wasn’t fear, just… well, it would be undignified!

The real Lu Ya had already been jinxed to death by Black Panther, and he had no urgent desires.

Next time Ling’e needed to face tribulation, he’d come here to draw a divination stick predicting “she will certainly struggle to pass the tribulation,” adding a bit of mysterious success rate.

With nothing else to do, while waiting for Zhao Gongming to come to complain, and unable to cultivate peacefully, Li Changshou began finding things to occupy himself.

Visiting the Netherworld, playing chess with Ksitigarbha at the Samsara Tower, enjoying Dicting’s shoulder massage service;

Walking along the South Sea shore, chatting with the demon soldiers who had chosen to follow him, asking about their requests;

Then running to the Dragon Palace to mooch some formation materials, experiencing the Dragon King’s boring life along the way.

Then unexpectedly discover that the three brothers Ao Yi, Bian Zhuang, and Lingzhu had left the Netherworld, wandering who knows where;

The demon soldiers had recently fallen in love with the mortal world, experiencing various walks of life, working different trades, some even planning to marry;

The East Sea Dragon King was also somewhat depressed lately, worried about the dragon tribe’s record low egg-laying rates…

Waiting and waiting, four or five days passed quickly, the Severing Sect’s Great Assembly had dispersed, yet Uncle Zhao hadn’t come to the Sea God Temple.

Li Changshou wondered inwardly if he had predicted wrongly.

This… made no sense…

‘Changgen, Changgen!’

A familiar call arose in his mind, coming from outside the study in the Celestial Court’s Water God Manor.

Li Changshou hurriedly moved his consciousness there, checked his paper clone’s appearance in the mirror, and hurried out holding his duster.

East Minister Wood stood energetically outside the door, breaking into loud laughter upon seeing Li Changshou:

“Haha! Congratulations, Changgen! Felicitations, Changgen!”

Li Changshou smiled: “What’s the occasion?”

“The Taibai Palace has been completed,” Minister Wood praised. “Yesterday, the immortals and deities overseeing its construction reported to the Crystal Clarity Hall, and today they sent people to inspect it. If you’re willing, you could move in today!”

Li Changshou thought for a moment, then said: “Thank you for Minister Wood’s concern, but His Majesty’s decree hasn’t been finalized. Moving in early might be inappropriate.”

“Ah,” Minister Wood gently persuaded, “Who in the Celestial Court doesn’t know? Who hasn’t heard?”

“It’s not about that,” Li Changshou said seriously. “Better to be prudent – wait for His Majesty’s decree and the advancement of my divine position before moving. After all, these are just honorary titles; serving the Celestial Court and His Majesty is what’s truly important.”

Minister Wood made a Daoist salute and smiled: “Then we’ll follow Changgen’s wishes. I’ll go urge the Crystal Clarity Hall to hold off on unnecessary decrees.”

“Much appreciated, Minister Wood!”

“A small matter, a small matter.”

Though the Celestial Court now issued decrees faster than before, there were also many more decrees needed simultaneously;

Modifying Celestial Court positions, and promoting Star Lord ranks required several times more Heavenly Dao power than other decrees, naturally taking longer.

“These things, one should take them as they come.”

Li Changshou waved his duster, inviting Minister Wood in for tea.

But Minister Wood remembered Li Changshou’s earlier advice — they should maintain some distance, not become too familiar, lest it affect the Jade Emperor’s authority.

So Minister Wood took his leave, and Li Changshou saw him out of the Water God Manor.

Before Li Changshou could turn around, another paper clone finally heard that familiar sigh.

“Alas—”

Uncle Zhao had come to the Sea God Temple!

Well, nothing to get excited about.

After settling the paper clone at the Water God Manor, Li Changshou moved his consciousness to the Sea God Temple, successfully met with Zhao Gongming, and ordered divine servants to serve tea.

Uncle Zhao indeed appeared deeply troubled.

Li Changshou took a sip from his teacup, observing Zhao Gongming’s complex, helpless, and slightly tired expression, internally sighing.

Next would be the entrance of those six words “Changgen, about this matter.”

“Changgen,” Zhao Gongming called softly, brows furrowed and beard trembling.

Here it comes!

Li Changshou took another sip of tea, preparing for the upcoming lengthy discourse.

Zhao Gongming took a breath, then quickly deflated, asking in a low voice: “If yin and yang unite, having intimate relations like mortals in the bridal chamber… would there be offspring?”

Li Changshou was genuinely stunned, quickly swallowing his tea, question marks hanging over his head.

Something’s wrong, Uncle Zhao is acting very strange today!