Climbing a mountain?

What a strange request.

Scholar Du’s first instinct was to refuse, but when a sword crackling with lightning power pressed against his spine, he found himself unable to dodge…

This person was a master!

Scholar Du’s demon heart constricted as his Celestial Demon true form completely retreated into the spirit of this Daoist vessel, making the spirit appear completely normal, desperately hiding any trace of his unusual nature.

“Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this?”

“Please,” Li Changshou made a welcoming gesture, the lightning-wrapped sword in his hand showing no sign of withdrawal.

Scholar Du’s brows furrowed deeply. “Do I have some sort of…”

Bzzt—

The sword tip effortlessly pierced through Scholar Du’s back clothing, creating a small hole in his Daoist vessel, and spurting out a thin jet of blood.

Scholar Du’s eyes widened. He turned his head, about to glare at Li Changshou, but sensed the ice-cold killing intent beneath the young Daoist cultivator’s smile.

Had he been exposed?

How was this possible?

He was different from ordinary Celestial Demons, having been created directly by Mother. By the standards of Primordial Realm beings, he was nobility among Celestial Demons.

This Daoist vessel had been cultivated by ‘Mother’ for many years, with cracks in its Dao’s heart planted since childhood. When he invaded its Dao’s heart, the process had been smooth as silk, completely unhindered—how could he have been exposed so directly?

“Please proceed.”

Li Changshou urged again, the sword trembling slightly.

Scholar Du turned his head to glare at Li Changshou, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness, but then he flicked his sleeve.

“How rude! If you invite this poor Daoist to climb a mountain, you should at least specify where.”

“East.”

Li Changshou replied calmly, keeping the sword pressed against Scholar Du’s back while privately muttering to himself.

Was this person possessed by an Outer Realm Celestial Demon?

He seemed somewhat different from those Outer Realm Celestial Demons he had encountered in the small world at the border of Xuandu City. There was a sense of incongruity, as if ‘this demon isn’t quite as cold.’

Speaking of which, why did the Heavenly Dao use the Black Panther to lead him here?

It seemed unlikely that he was specifically sent here just to eliminate a Celestial Demon. Something that could be accomplished with a single heavenly lightning bolt shouldn’t require the roundabout method of deploying the Black Panther, a great tribulation tool…

Before long, Li Changshou also sensed this being’s uniqueness.

It seemed this demon had many thoughts and an active mind. His eyes contained a lively gleam, very close to normal beings of the Primordial Realm.

What schemes and calculations would drive an Outer Realm Celestial Demon to travel millions of miles from the Chaos Sea to the Five Regions? What exactly was he trying to accomplish?

This Little Heavenly Dao…

‘Little’ Heavenly Dao was not a term of derision.

The will that had mobilized the Black Panther this time, causing it to engineer this ‘chance encounter’ between him and this Outer Realm Celestial Demon, was the Heavenly Dao’s own will, unrelated to the Dao Ancestor. It was the same will that had given him that dream about ‘the Red Lotus about to emerge, and River of Darkness Ancestor about to revive.’

Compared to the Dao Ancestor who could freely intervene in the Heavenly Dao without being affected by it, wasn’t this indeed the ‘Little’ Heavenly Dao?

Why hadn’t the Heavenly Dao simply given him a dream this time?

It probably feared he would deliberately ignore it.

Li Changshou pondered this internally while maintaining an expressionless exterior. Without warning, his sword thrust forward naturally, delivering a second stab.

Bzzt—

A second small fountain of blood spurted out, creating an artistic symmetry with the first.

Scholar Du stared wide-eyed and turned to look at Li Changshou. “Fellow Daoist, what… what now?”

This was indeed interesting… Instead of exploding in righteous fury or fighting to the death with someone who meant him harm, he chose the path of least resistance.

This Outer Realm Celestial Demon was unexpectedly timid.

“My hand slipped,” Li Changshou maintained his faint smile. “Fellow Daoists need not hurry. If you cooperate, perhaps I’ll show mercy and spare your life when my conscience strikes.

Ah, I haven’t eaten anyone in several hundred years of closed-door cultivation. My taste has indeed grown bland.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou simulated some demon qi, dissolving a small amount of demon blood that his paper Daoist clone carried—originally prepared to deceive the Black Panther.

Scholar Du’s expression changed as he secretly thought things were going badly.

He had been targeted as prey!

Wasn’t this the Five Regions? The very core of the Primordial Realm! Hadn’t the Demon Tribe suffered great losses? Why was he so unlucky to encounter such a fierce demon master?

Scholar Du quickly sought countermeasures and soon regained his composure.

Why not… wait to be devoured?

That way he could imperceptibly attack the other’s Dao heart, turning him to his use, then proceed to East Victory Divine Continent to handle ‘Mother’s’ assigned task.

Although walking through the Primordial Realm in a demon vessel would bring many inconveniences at this time, it was better than being pathetically eliminated. That would be most unbefitting of his status…

Stab! Bzzt—

“Fellow Daoist, how could you!”

“These blood fountains are quite pretty,” Li Changshou said with a smile. “Where are you from, Fellow Daoist?”

The Celestial Demon replied: “Why does Fellow Daoist ask this?”

“This poor Daoist is particular about the origin of his food,” Li Changshou said seriously. “Those beings from near the edge of heaven and earth lack spiritual energy and don’t taste good. This point needs to be considered.”

“This poor Daoist is indeed from an edge world,” Scholar Du hurriedly said. “This poor Daoist lost both parents in childhood and followed a master in cultivation, enduring countless hardships to finally achieve today’s cultivation level.

Please show mercy, Fellow Daoist. I am willing to offer all my treasures.”

“Well said, well said.”

As they spoke, Li Changshou had already led the Outer Realm Celestial Demon to a desolate island, walking slowly upward along the island’s edge with the demon, occasionally stabbing him to test the limits of his tolerance.

Meanwhile, he also tried to think of a way to get him talking before forcing out the Outer Realm Celestial Demon’s true form.

“What is Fellow Daoist’s religious title?”

“This poor Daoist has no religious title, my name is Du Shuren.”

“Oh?” Li Changshou casually remarked, “Among the humans of this world, the surname Du is not common.”

“The surname is indeed obscure, but since this poor Daoist comes from an edge world, some obscurity is normal,” Scholar Du’s mouth twitched frantically. “This poor Daoist’s vessel is full of impurities, completely impure…”

“No matter,” Li Changshou smiled. “This poor Daoist isn’t particular about such things.”

Scholar Du’s legs trembled as he turned to look at the person behind him, just in time to see him calmly deliver another sword stab to his back, immortal blood spraying out with a hiss…

What kind of fierce demon was this?

How could he, a Celestial Demon, feel so powerless to respond?

“What brings Fellow Daoists to the Five Regions of the Primordial Realm this time?” Li Changshou asked again.

“This poor Daoist is going to East Victory Divine Continent to visit an old friend, actually seeking to join them…”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow and continued chatting with Scholar Du, trying various ways to get information from him.

This fellow was quite vigilant, only appearing somewhat timid while consistently sticking to the same ‘story script’ without revealing many flaws.

Regarding this, Li Changshou decided to employ a small trick.

As the two chatted pleasantly, Li Changshou suddenly turned around, standing halfway up the desolate mountain, looking at the boundless East Sea, and smiled:

“Fellow Daoist, see how magnificent this heaven and earth is.”

Scholar Du shuddered and immediately nodded: “Indeed quite magnificent.”

“Why doesn’t Fellow Daoist compose a poem? If it pleases me, then today…”

Com-compose a poem?

Scholar Du immediately hummed several times, continuously pondering in his heart. His eyes gradually lit up as he opened his mouth, gathering qi throughout his body, about to recite poetry.

Li Changshou: “Fellow Daoist seems quite different from ordinary Outer Realm Celestial Demons.”

“Naturally, this poor Daoist was directly split from Mother. Ordinary Celestial Demons split on their own, their connection to Mother having long since become neg…”

Scholar Du’s words halted. He who had been bragging suddenly turned around, staring at Li Changshou beside him.

Li Changshou’s lips carried a slight smile, his eyes flashing with divine light.

Scholar Du immediately felt this vessel’s body and spirit no longer under his control, seemingly having lost all magical power and strength!

Just as he was about to counterattack, his vision suddenly blurred, his spirit falling into a dark corner. Streams of ice-cold thoughts pressed against his ‘true form’ like blade edges.

“You!”

Scholar Du’s eyes bulged as his Daoist vessel suddenly collapsed;

A black qi emerged from his seven facial orifices, about to pounce toward Li Changshou, but was instantly wrapped in azure lightning!

The lightning surrounded but did not kill. That ball of black qi trembled, condensing into a two-foot-tall black humanoid shadow, howling angrily at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou feigned delight, exclaiming: “Truly a premium grade Celestial Demon.”

As he spoke, several streams of light emerged from the ground, transforming into tables, chairs, a chopping board, a kitchen knife, and various seasonings.

Li Changshou reached back with his palm, channeling Heavenly Dao’s divine power, reached into the lightning and directly grabbed the black qi, stabilized its form, then sealed it to the chopping board, menacingly sharpening his knife.

The Celestial Demon cursed: “What… what are you going to do!”

“Premium ingredients often only need simple cooking,” Li Changshou closed his eyes and sighed softly. “Such a pure Outer Realm Celestial Demon is truly rare, worthy of being called an extraordinary delicacy.”

‘Du Shuren’ trembled all over, nearly crying, shrinking into a ball on the chopping board.

Quickly, Li Changshou wrapped the knife in Heavenly Dao power, without another word first cut off a small piece of demon black qi, professionally placed it on a plate, sprinkled some barbecue powder, and began mixing with elegant movements.

“Would you like to chat with this poor Daoist about your Mother? That way I might cut you fewer times, and might even consider keeping you as livestock.”

“Don’t… don’t even think about it!”

Li Changshou’s eyes curved in a smile, not touching the demon black qi on the plate as he picked up the knife again.

That day, the Celestial Demon’s screams echoed in the Dao hearts of beings within ten thousand miles, making many believe they were hearing things.

And so, half a day later…

Heart demons, simulated reality, quasi-spirit entities…

A Celestial Demon specially cultivated to imitate Primordial Realm cultivators, the Celestial Demons’ asexually reproducing ‘Mother’, the mysterious Celestial Demon Holy Land, the massive black shadow worshipped by the Celestial Demons…

Strict task arrangements, with the entire mission information divided by stages, triggering the next stage of mission information after certain intervals or when certain conditions were met…

This?

Li Changshou frowned deeply, standing with hands behind his back on a cloud, momentarily lost in confusion.

Those things he had said to frighten Master Bai when he returned from the Chaos Sea last time, could they have been true?

Had he stumbled onto Demon Teacher Kunpeng’s entire scheme like a blind cat catching a dead mouse?!

He glanced at his feet, at the middle-aged Daoist bound by lightning ropes.

Seemingly sensing Li Changshou’s gaze, the sleeping middle-aged Daoist trembled several times, murmuring hazily:

“I, Du Shuren, would rather die than submit. I won’t tell you anything…”

Such a timid Outer Realm Celestial Demon was truly rare to encounter.

Li Changshou pondered continuously in his heart as the cloud entered the territory of East Victory Divine Continent, still hesitating whether to uncover the Celestial Demons’ subsequent plans.

This might be a major matter.

The Little Heavenly Dao guided him to capture this heart demon, surely wanting him to extract some useful information from it…

“Find an evil cultivator with a heavy karmic burden and try it out.”

Li Changshou settled on a plan, spreading his immortal consciousness to search the southeastern East Victory Divine Continent for a while, quickly finding an old Daoist with a heavy karmic burden cultivating in seclusion in the mountains.

According to the ‘details’ Du Shuren had provided, the cowardly demon’s next task was to invade the Dao heart of a ‘high-level immortal sect expert’.

Borrowing the might of the Taiji Diagram and his escape techniques, Li Changshou quietly approached the Celestial Immortal realm old Daoist. Scattering some sleeping powder, the old Daoist who had been cultivating in meditation slowly lowered his head and began snoring.

Li Changshou threw Du Shuren to the ground, pointed at his brow with a finger, drew out the lightning-wrapped Celestial Demon, and tossed it beside the old Daoist.

The electric light flashed, and the Celestial Demon immediately shuddered several times, weakly groaning twice.

“Go in, but don’t harm anyone.”

Li Changshou spoke coldly. The demon formed a faint face in its true form black qi, glaring at Li Changshou with angry eyes.

Humiliation!

Disgrace!

This was the greatest insult possible to a Celestial Demon!

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed as electric arcs flashed from his fingertips, illuminating the old Daoist’s cave dwelling brilliantly!

‘Hmph! A spirit offered at my doorstep, it would be a waste not to corrupt it!’

The Celestial Demon snorted coldly and entered the old Daoist’s brow, but was pulled out by Li Changshou moments later, the old Daoist’s spirit… completely unharmed.

“Got the next step of the plan?”

Celestial Demon: …

“Hmph!”

Nodding in understanding, he stuffed the demon back into the middle-aged Daoist’s body. Li Changshou’s form quietly vanished, as if he had never appeared there.

But when Li Changshou asked about the demon’s next task steps, he felt quite unsettled.

[Befriend and secretly control a Celestial Immortal realm disciple from the Human Dao Immortal Sect’s Degree-Granting Gate.]

Li Changshou: …

What was this about?

Were Outer Realm Celestial Demons systematically placing spies around him? Using cultivators as stepping stones?

If so, Li Changshou might truly be unable to guard against it, especially now that he had moved to Taibai Palace and couldn’t monitor every Degree-Granting Gate immortal at all times.

What was the Outer Realm Celestial Demons’ purpose?

There was something behind this… absolutely something!

It was known that the Primordial Realm’s Heavenly Dao barrier separated it from the Chaos Sea. The test just now on that old Daoist had proved that this Outer Realm Celestial Demon wasn’t being remotely controlled by its ‘Mother’.

The other side shouldn’t be capable of such a thing.

The conditions for the demon to receive subsequent task information couldn’t be as complex as the demon had claimed.

Indeed, Li Changshou found several major demons with heavy karmic burdens, making these demons repeatedly invade them. Two subsequent task information messages appeared in succession, confirming that only two steps remained in the demon’s plan.

These karmic-burdened major demons were naturally incinerated without a trace by Li Changshou’s true fire.

But what Li Changshou never expected was to receive such two pieces of information…

The second-to-last step of the demon’s plan:

[After infiltrating the Degree-Granting Gate, wait for an opportunity to invade the spirit of any elder of the Degree-Granting Gate.]

By this point, Li Changshou could confirm they were targeting him!

Had the Heavenly Dao coincidentally helped him this time?

And when the demon coldly snorted out the final ‘task information’, Li Changshou felt a chill throughout his body, his Dao heart trembling, sharp divine light flashing through his eyes.

Kunpeng?!

Could the one worshipped by the Celestial Demons truly be Kunpeng?

Having already left the Primordial Realm and paid such a great price to fake his death and escape, why would he actively return and expose himself before him?

Li Changshou frowned as he looked at Du Shuren before him. A flash of lightning appeared in his palm, simultaneously destroying both the demon and this Daoist vessel. Three-Realm True Flame spread out, returning everything to dust.

This matter likely couldn’t be hidden from the Heavenly Dao.

Could Kunpeng be deliberately taking revenge, deliberately trying to frame him?

Standing on a desolate mountain by the sea, Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back as flames ignited around this paper Daoist clone’s body, turning it to ash in an instant.

Not only that, but the two paper Daoist clones coordinating underground and the one monitoring and following the Black Panther simultaneously turned to ash, self-immolated by Li Changshou.

Why such measures?

For no other reason than the Celestial Demon ‘Du Shuren’s’ final task was to find a way to meet with Star-Lord Taibai from the Degree-Granting Gate and ask him one question…

[Would you like to see what comes next?]