What is the most convincing performance in the world?

That which is not a performance at all, but reality.

Right now, the scene unfolding at Yang Jian’s spirit platform was extraordinarily real.

Li Changshou had originally arranged a small play, using Spirit Zhenzhu as the vanguard to “lure” Yang Jian several hundred li away from Jade Spring Mountain, then get him drunk to lower his defenses, after which True Person Supreme Unity would pretend to be someone from the Western Teaching and use divine consciousness communication to guide Yang Jian out of this period of confusion…

He never expected this!

The stage was set, but before True Person Supreme Unity, who was supposed to play the bandit, could make any moves, a real bandit appeared!

Could Empty Bodhi not detect the three of them?

Well, with the Taiji Diagram’s power protecting them, it would have been strange if Empty Bodhi could detect them.

But taking a step back, this was just several hundred li from Jade Spring Mountain’s gate, like taking a casual stroll for mortals.

How little must the Western Teaching think of True Person Jade Tripod to be so blatant as to come to Jade Spring Mountain’s front door to deceive his only disciple?

Was the green cauldron above Yang Jian’s primordial spirit just for show?

The Western Teaching’s actions were truly too… reckless.

True Person Supreme Unity frowned and made a beheading gesture, and Li Changshou immediately looked toward Jade Tripod.

Jade Tripod pondered briefly and said: “Let’s watch for now. A real Western Teaching disciple appearing is more advantageous than us taking action.”

True Person Supreme Unity said from the side: “This poor dao will search for this person’s traces, and see if we can burn him later.”

But Li Changshou said: “There’s no rush for that. This Empty Bodhi is currently wanted throughout the Three Realms, and his true body must be well hidden. Senior Brother Supreme Unity should watch over Spirit Zhenzhu, lest someone strike in the shadows.”

“Good.”

“Very well.”

Jade Tripod and Supreme Unity each responded, unconsciously accepting Li Changshou’s proposal.

At this moment, True Person Supreme Unity’s divine consciousness was watching over Spirit Zhenzhu, who had passed out drunk and was mumbling something about “brothers for life, not brothers for a moment”…

True Person Jade Tripod could naturally strike through the green cauldron at any time, giving Empty Bodhi no chance to harm Yang Jian.

As the three listened to the conversation transmitted by Jade Tripod’s divine ability, Li Changshou’s expression became somewhat complex.

Although this was his script, personally witnessing others scheme against oneself, this feeling…

Was quite peculiar.

Speaking of Empty Bodhi’s phantom invading Yang Jian’s dao heart, saying “Have you considered,” revealed that he had approached Yang Jian before.

Regarding this, True Person Jade Tripod also frowned slightly, clearly having been careless before.

Yang Jian’s primordial spirit slowly opened its eyes, first showing some confusion, but he forcefully shook his “head,” successfully driving away the immortal wine’s mist surrounding his primordial spirit.

Seeing the old Daoist appear “before” him, Yang Jian frowned, his immortal consciousness immediately probing toward Spirit Zhenzhu, confirming that Spirit Zhenzhu hadn’t been corrupted by this person’s divine consciousness, before finally speaking:

“I haven’t.”

“Oh?” Empty Bodhi slowly paced, examining Yang Jian’s spirit platform, and smiled saying: “In the end, you’re intimidated by your enemy’s power, not daring to seek revenge.

Afraid of implicating your sister, or perhaps your master, worried that the Enlightenment Teaching might be blamed by the Heavenly Court because of this?”

Yang Jian was silent for a while, then said calmly: “I just don’t want to be used as a tool by your Western Teaching. Leave my spirit platform.”

“With such a precious treasure bestowed by your master, this poor dao couldn’t harm you even if I wanted to. Why don’t we chat a bit more?”

“Since that’s the case…”

Yang Jian’s gaze became somewhat sharp, and neither too heavily nor too lightly, neither too urgently nor too slowly, he slowly uttered a single word:

“Leave.”

Empty Bodhi was stunned, but instead of anger, he smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction, his voice like bewitching demon sounds.

“Yang Jian, you’re still afraid after all, afraid that this poor dao will stir up the anger you’ve suppressed for years, afraid that this poor dao will expose your current awkward situation?

Yang Jian, ah Yang Jian, you probably don’t even dare to speak in your heart the names of the enemies who killed your father and imprisoned your mother.

Shall this poor dao say it for you?”

“Shut up.”

“Why suppress yourself so?”

“I told you to shut up!”

Yang Jian’s primordial spirit stood up with an angry shout, his fists clenched, his whole body trembling, streams of blood-colored light surging from all over the spirit platform, wrapping his primordial spirit like a war god.

Empty Bodhi gave a light laugh, his form becoming faint as if departing.

Yang Jian vigilantly looked around the spirit platform, finally letting out a soft breath, looking down at his own palm, his expression eventually returning to peace as he sat cross-legged again.

The spirit platform seemed to have returned to calm, but suddenly an image appeared before Yang Jian, showing an immortal mountain in the Heavenly Court.

The immortal mountain imprisoning Immortal Cloud Flower.

Yang Jian’s eyes froze, sensing in the depths that his closest person was within the image.

Empty Bodhi’s voice drifted back, coming from far to near:

“Your cultivation years are so comfortable now, if it were me, I wouldn’t want to break this either.

Having a master’s care and love, having a little sister to look after, cultivation growing deeper day by day, and even obtaining the Dao School’s protective mystic achievement, with limitless prospects.

But Yang Jian…”

Empty Bodhi paused his words, and in the image shown to Yang Jian, that immortal mountain’s weather changed dramatically, being devoured by lightning dragons, with battalions of sneering celestial soldiers and generals in the distance.

“If you can endure the vengeance for your father’s murder, can you truly endure your mother’s endless screams under the Heavenly Court’s lightning punishment?”

“The human race respects parents and venerates ancestors, is this how it manifests in you?”

“But this isn’t your fault. The person who requested the Jade Emperor’s decree to capture your mother back then has already become a high-ranking official in the Heavenly Court because of this merit, deeply trusted by the Jade Emperor.

Never mind you, even this poor dao must feel some fear of him…”

As the bewitching voice continued, Yang Jian’s primordial spirit flickered with the blood-colored light of the Eight-Nine Mystic Art.

To the side, in the corner concealed by the Taiji Diagram’s power, True Person Jade Tripod and True Person Supreme Unity simultaneously looked toward Li Changshou.

True Person Jade Tripod asked: “Is it… really like this?”

Li Changshou snorted laughter, taking out a bronze mirror from his robes, making a hand seal, and an image appeared on the mirror.

It showed a scene inside a certain immortal mountain cave dwelling.

Pink curtains hung on all four stone walls, and within the mountain was a pavilion and a courtyard. Jade trees and red flowers bloomed brilliantly, with several low-cultivation minor immortal maidens playing in the flower beds.

The bronze mirror showed a fixed angle, and from this angle, one could just see a window, and through it, Immortal Cloud Flower sitting on a bed, bare-footed, holding a book and reading.

She wore several layers of gossamer robes, her hair done in a dignified style. At this moment she sighed, her face showing a trace of worry as she stood up, bent down, and rubbed her crystal-clear toes with her delicate fingers. As her fingers massaged her toes, she revealed a comfortable smile…

How pleasant.

Li Changshou: …

True Person Jade Tripod: …

The view selection was purely accidental, the scene entirely coincidental.

*Cough*, even an immortal maiden rubbing her feet could be elegant.

True Person Supreme Unity couldn’t help but curse: “This is what you call imprisonment in the Heavenly Court? It seems more comfortable than my Qianyuan Mountain!”

Li Changshou smiled bitterly and said: “Immortal Cloud Flower is the blood sister of His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s tribulation body. His Majesty must constantly maintain the orthodox position of the Three Realms and outwardly minimize showing personal feelings.

In reality, his care for Immortal Cloud Flower is no less than Yang Jian’s love for Yang Chan.”

True Person Jade Tripod said: “Let’s not let Jian know about this yet, or his dao heart might be crushed.”

“Don’t worry, Master Brother,” Li Changshou smiled, watching Yang Jian’s condition.

He was somewhat anxious, worried that Empty Bodhi might push too hard and completely ignite Yang Jian’s anger, truly causing him to fall into demonhood.

Fortunately, the green cauldron True Person Jade Tripod had placed over Yang Jian’s primordial spirit was extraordinary, seemingly an “avatar” of True Person Jade Tripod’s primordial spirit cauldron, able to suppress Yang Jian’s primordial spirit at any time.

After a moment, Yang Jian suddenly let out a low roar, smashing the image before him with a punch, his primordial spirit flashing like sword light, directly striking at Empty Bodhi’s divine consciousness.

Empty Bodhi merely sighed softly, his divine consciousness directly shattered by Yang Jian, leaving only these words:

“Only we can help you. You will eventually come to find us, Yang Jian.”

After that spiritual consciousness dispersed, Yang Jian’s spirit platform completely quieted down. Yang Jian’s primordial spirit stood at the edge of the spirit platform, breathing heavily, his eyes full of struggle.

Before him seemed to be an endless abyss.

But Yang Jian ultimately walked back, forcing himself to calm down, his primordial spirit sitting in meditation again.

Looking at Yang Jian’s physical body now, his face was pale and covered in cold sweat, wisps of alcohol being forced out of him. A moment later he opened his eyes, looking at the misty mountains and forests ahead, lost in thought.

Mother…

Yang Jian’s eyes seemed to grow moist. He raised his hand, quickly wiping them dry, letting out a soft breath, as if nothing had happened.

He sat there deep in thought, and unknowingly, that bottleneck quietly broke open, his internal qi surging as the Eight-Nine Mystic Art advanced to the next minor realm.

Li Changshou, Supreme Unity, and Jade Tripod exchanged glances, with True Person Jade Tripod’s eyes showing some worry.

True Person Supreme Unity smiled and said: “Looks like he has made his decision.”

“The current problem is how to arrange for Yang Chan,” Li Changshou pondered aloud. “This could be a good pretext to attract Yang Jian to visit the Heavenly Court at any time.”

“Junior Brother Long Geng,” True Person Jade Tripod suddenly turned and made a Daoist bow, which Li Changshou hastily returned.

“Why does Master Brother do this?”

Jade Tripod said solemnly: “If my disciple chooses to oppose the Heavenly Court in the future and speaks disrespectfully to you, Long Geng, please be sure to spare his life.”

“This whole situation is my scheme to begin with.”

Li Changshou cupped his hands, his expression very serious, “I am also quite fond of Nephew Yang Jian, and intend to cultivate him as a pillar of the Heavenly Court. I will later give him strict trials.”

“Thank you,” True Person Jade Tripod cupped his hands in return.

Just then, Yang Jian stood up, using immortal power to carry the sleeping Spirit Zhenzhu as he rode clouds back to Jade Spring Mountain.

Half an hour later, Yang Jian sat before the sleeping Yang Chan, raising his hand to gently brush her smooth forehead, his lips revealing a slight smile.

Then, Yang Jian took out a jade slip, carefully deliberating, writing and rewriting a letter, which he placed beside Yang Chan’s pillow. Then he closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and turned to leave.

Before leaving the cave-dwelling, Yang Jian turned his head to look at Yang Chan again, pointing out a stream of immortal power to help her sleep more peacefully.

Yang Jian went to the main cave where True Person Jade Tripod was cultivated. True Person Supreme Unity and Li Changshou had naturally hidden early, watching as Yang Jian knelt and kowtowed before Jade Tripod, speaking of his intention to leave.

True Person Jade Tripod didn’t try to stop him, showing an expression as if he had long known Yang Jian would make this decision, placing two rings in Yang Jian’s arms, saying:

“Don’t try to be too strong in everything, Master will always stand behind you.”

Yang Jian’s eyes reddened somewhat, but he didn’t say much, kowtowing three times to True Person Jade Tripod, carefully placing the rings in his robes.

“Master, disciple is going to gain experience.”

“Don’t go to places too dangerous.”

“Mm,” Yang Jian answered, bowing and backing up several steps, then kneeling and kowtowing again, only turning to leave the cave entrance after rising, his figure showing a slightly affected casualness.

Leaving Jade Spring Mountain, Yang Jian looked at the high sky, but then lowered his head and went southeast, running wildly through the mountains and forests, each leap covering a hundred li!

By the time Yang Chan woke up half a month later, Yang Jian was already in a Great Thousand World, wearing short clothes and carrying a long sword, traveling about like a wandering cultivator.

But unlike others, his travels were not for dharma, wealth, companions, or land, but to seek dangerous places and inquire about local demons and monsters, using them to temper his strength and comprehend the mystic arts through fierce battles.

At Jade Spring Mountain, in a side cave, Yang Chan looked at the jade slip in her hand, unable to help cover her mouth and nose as she broke into sobs.

[You’ve grown up too, Little Chan.

Brother knows you’ve always had an inescapable heart demon, afraid of being left behind, but there are some unfinished matters that you and I must eventually do.

Now that the Great Tribulation has descended, with the Enlightenment Teaching responding to fate and the Heavenly Court leading it, you and I were fortunate to be taken in by the Master, taught immortal methods, and given increased longevity. We absolutely cannot use the Master’s reputation and the Enlightenment Teaching’s influence to force the Heavenly Court to release Mother.

Brother truly doesn’t wish it to be this way.

Brother goes now to temper me, to achieve a long life earlier, to quickly increase my strength and attract the Heavenly Court’s attention, then negotiate with them.

To be honest, Brother doesn’t know how to rescue Mother either but must try nonetheless.

Being able to bring Mother back to reunite with you has become an obsession in my heart, each day of delay brings another day of torment.

Little Chan, Brother’s departure without goodbye wasn’t a sudden decision, I’ve been thinking about this for years before finally deciding.

Don’t wander around, just wait here for my return. Senior Brother Spirit Zhenzhu is someone Brother trusts, if you have any difficulties you can mention them to him, I’ve already entrusted him to take extra care of you.

Don’t worry too much, Master said Brother has fate’s protection and won’t be harmed during tempering.

Brother: Yang Jian.]

“Brother… Brother!”

Yang Chan rose and rushed toward the cave entrance, but after just two steps, a wisp of pill fragrance drifted over, and her form collapsed softly by the window.

Outside the cave, Li Changshou and True Person Jade Tripod were troubled, not knowing how best to arrange for this young immortal maiden.

True Person Jade Tripod said: “Send her to Immortal Cloud Flower’s side?”

“What if Yang Jian suddenly returns?”

True Person Supreme Unity glanced at the sleeping Spirit Zhenzhu in the distance, couldn’t help but roll his eyes, and cursed: “This foolish boy just won’t open his eyes, otherwise he could temporarily fill in and divert Little Chan’s thoughts.”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said: “How about this, I’ll get more pills that enhance dao comprehension, and if necessary, let Yang Chan cultivate her dreams.”

“Never mind,” True Person Jade Tripod shook his head, “This poor dao will later take Little Chan to follow her brother, letting her see him every day.”

True Person Supreme Unity frowned and said: “Isn’t that a bit too cruel for Nephew Yang Jian? He’s already been arranged perfectly by Long Geng, determined to leave, and now will be watched the whole time by his master and little sister.

If he does anything untoward, won’t you all see it?”

“Jian isn’t that kind of person.”

True Person Jade Tripod said with absolute certainty.

…

“This Empty Bodhi.”

After arranging for paper puppets to hide near Jade Spring Mountain, Li Changshou’s figure appeared in the depths of Star-Lord White Gold Palace.

He needed to prepare to send the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear refined by the Lord of Lao to White Marsh, letting Master White handle the subsequent arrangements to increase Yang Jian’s chances and acquire some treasures.

“On How the Number One Hands-Off Manager Was Forged”

As Yang Jian said in his letter, he was indeed protected by great fortune, and it would be difficult for him to be harmed while gaining experience outside.

Moreover, Yang Jian’s personality could be considered “mature beyond his years,” quite steady. As long as he wasn’t too unrestrained, there wouldn’t be any problems, especially with True Person Jade Tripod protecting him in secret.

The Western Teaching was indeed watching Yang Jian closely.

This Empty Bodhi, who had previously attempted to disrupt the Immortal Alliance meeting and was rebuffed by Li Changshou using the Heavenly Court’s authority, had been lying low for many years.

It was also because the Heavenly Court’s firepower was now all drawn by Maitreya that Empty Bodhi felt he could act again!

In Li Changshou’s previous life, many “directors” disliked actors who ad-libbed their scenes, but Empty Bodhi had done even better, barging in himself and foolishly showing off in front of the camera.

If Empty Bodhi knew that his scene of deceiving the younger generation had been watched by others throughout and recorded entirely by Li Changshou, would he be so ashamed that he’d directly cut his own throat?

But since Empty Bodhi had entered on his own…

If not dealt with, he could easily disrupt progress later, and might even affect one’s overall schemes.

Unstable factors should be eliminated.

Li Changshou shook his sleeves, and calmly smiled, already having a plan.

This time, he must ensure a single strike would succeed, leaving Empty Bodhi nowhere to escape, unable to cause any ripples or raise any waves.

His true body went out, heading straight for the Nine Heavens Palace!

To be safe, he would directly request his master’s help to calculate Empty Bodhi’s whereabouts and mark Empty Bodhi!

Later he would call upon friends to beat him up together until he submitted.