“Will this be sufficient?”

At the Guest Pavilion on Three Immortals Island.

Several immortal maidens of the island peeked from the corners, while the three Enlightenment Sect immortals who had come seeking help remained rather stiff. Only Li Changshou, the Orthodox Unity Sect disciple who was half-guest half-host, sat comfortably in the main seat.

In Cloud’s home, there was no need for such formality.

In the center of the reception hall, the Primordial Golden Crucible emitted a gentle golden light. Standing beside it, Immortal Yun Xiao was asking her question.

After receiving Li Changshou’s affirmative response, she gently released a pearl and a divine spirit shadow from the golden crucible…

Yun Xiao knew how much Li Changshou cared for and valued Spirit Zhenzhu, so her movements were particularly gentle, fearing she might harm Spirit Zhenzhu’s already weakened soul.

True Person Taiyi hurriedly stepped forward, taking out the prepared Soul-Nurturing Zhenzhu and brocade box he had readied. He carefully stored Spirit Zhenzhu’s soul and the spirit stone, then examined them carefully before letting out a long sigh of relief.

Success at last!

The spirit stone was Spirit Zhenzhu’s original form, now containing his memories, magical power, and Dao realm attainment.

The soul still needed nurturing—Taiyi would need to provide it with sufficient benefits within a limited time before it could become a fetal spirit in the Tower of Reincarnation and be reborn as a human!

The most crucial step had just been completed—what Li Changshou called [Plasmolysis]!

Though it seemed simple, achieving this was quite difficult.

First, they needed Immortal Yun Xiao’s assistance, then Li Changshou’s detailed plan of steps, and finally the Primordial Golden Crucible, a one-of-a-kind supreme-grade Primordial treasure…

Of course, regarding the subsequent soul nurturing, Li Changshou had also provided a complete set of cultivation recommendations, which he had already given to True Person Taiyi.

Would Nezha, Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation, be too strong because of this?

As long as his heart of Dao remained intact, the stronger the better.

At most, he would be about as strong as Yang Jian, the kind that couldn’t be knocked down even if thrown into the clouds…

Yang Jian, Nezha—the young generals’ squad of the Enlightenment Sect’s Zhou Kingdom faction was taking shape.

Li Changshou recalled his plan outline.

Lei Zhenzi, Huang Tianhua, and others were already on the future schedule, while whether to reshape Tu Xingsun’s personality would depend on circumstances.

For others like Yang Ren, Jin Zha, and Mu Zha, Li Changshou’s arrangements were relatively more relaxed, since their upper limits were far below Yang Jian and Nezha’s.

Looking at the present situation.

True Person Taiyi put away the precious pearl and pouch, making a deep Daoist bow to Immortal Yun Xiao:

“Thank you, fellow Daoist! Thank you!”

Yun Xiao smiled and nodded, giving Li Changshou a slight wink, indicating he should respond.

“Senior Brother Taiyi is too polite.”

Li Changshou stood up and said gently: “It’s good that everything went smoothly. The preparations before reincarnation are also very important—we must not make any mistakes.”

“Ah,” Taiyi smiled bitterly, “For this precious disciple of mine, Changgeng, you’ve worried yourself sick…

Should I go look for a mortal family for his reincarnation in advance?

Or perhaps secretly nurture his future great-grandparents?”

Several snickers sounded as Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao tried to contain their laughter on the side. Yellow Dragon True Person and Yuding True Person, who had come with Taiyi, also revealed faint smiles.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment—he could hardly say he had already secretly arranged everything.

Even less could he point out that the Heavenly Dao already had a complete script.

He smiled and said: “Senior Brother, if you’re worried, I can write two letters, and you can make a trip to the Netherworld in advance to meet with King Qinguang and the Tower Master of Reincarnation, Ksitigarbha, to settle this matter.

As a great immortal of the Enlightenment Sect, with my divine authority’s permission, I’m sure Ksitigarbha won’t make things difficult.”

“That would be excellent!”

True Person Taiyi gave a thumbs up and laughed: “Changgeng, you really know how to abuse divine authority—no!

Mmph, mmph!”

True Person Yuding swiftly covered Taiyi’s mouth. The immortal maidens in the pavilion couldn’t help but laugh out loud, and the joyful sounds took a moment to subside.

Originally, Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation and recultivation had carried a hint of sadness, but this commotion had completely dispelled that mood.

The three Enlightenment Sect immortals continued expressing their gratitude to Yun Xiao, who just responded gently, saying little and seeking no reward.

After all, it was Li Changshou who had personally asked—she would never refuse in the slightest.

After Li Changshou finished writing the letters, True Person Taiyi dragged Yellow Dragon and Yuding off to the Netherworld.

Taiyi didn’t insist on Li Changshou accompanying them—his letters would be sufficient…

But Immortal Yun Xiao noticed something unusual in all this.

After they left, by the pristine beach of Three Immortals Island, as Li Changshou and Yun Xiao walked side by side, Yun Xiao voiced her puzzlement:

“Why didn’t you go to the Netherworld personally?

It seems your actions this time are somewhat less cautious than usual.”

Li Changshou’s eyes immediately crinkled in a smile as he said: “Want to guess why?”

“I’ve never been as clever as you,” Yun Xiao said softly, though her eyes carried a hint of reproach.

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “I just have some minor cleverness—you’re the one with true wisdom… I don’t need to manage too much of this matter. I’ve already helped Spirit Zhenzhu as much as I could.”

Yun Xiao’s beautiful eyes showed signs of contemplation. Her delicate finger wrote the character of ‘heaven’ on her sleeve. Li Changshou nodded with a smile, and Yun Xiao immediately understood.

The Heavenly Dao was pushing this matter from behind.

Li Changshou had merely played an appropriate role in an appropriate position while trying his best to benefit Spirit Zhenzhu.

“You…”

Yun Xiao raised her hand to hold Li Changshou’s arm, the movement now quite natural, her eyes carrying concern and care.

She worried that Li Changshou calculated too much, and thought too much, always fearing his heart was too burdened yet unwilling to speak to others about it.

Yun Xiao asked: “After the Great Tribulation passes, can we live in peace?”

“Peace isn’t so easily obtained,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “My personality is still a bit peculiar.

If peace came too easily, I would surely be suspicious, thinking it might be some kind of trap.

Only if I obtain a peaceful corner to hide in after great effort would I feel it’s truly real, able to relax and spend eternity with you.”

Perhaps his words were too gentle—Yun Xiao unconsciously shifted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes, fearing her heart Dao would melt in his gaze.

They walked for a while before resting in the shade of the trees by the beach.

Writing poetry and painting, playing zither, and making music;

Water vapor turned to clouds and spiritual energy played as a breeze, turning their distance from a foot to an inch until their clothes touched and skin drew close.

Without realizing it, Li Changshou was resting his head on Yun Xiao’s leg, closing his eyes with a soft sigh.

Yun Xiao’s delicate fingers threaded through his long hair, braiding it in a feminine phoenix tail style, her smile growing deeper.

“Did Ling’e’s tribulation go smoothly?”

She asked softly.

Though she already knew the process, she just wanted to express her care and concern for Ling’e.

“Of course, it went smoothly,” Li Changshou said, “With the Ancestral Master personally appearing to escort her, how could it not be smooth… Though speaking of this makes me somewhat worried.”

“Oh? What worries you?”

“I’m afraid Ling’e might get carried away,” Li Changshou smiled. “I plan to take her out more often now since she’s safe with the Dao Ancestor’s protection.”

Yun Xiao said softly: “Remember to bring her to stay on the island for a while. We should spend more time together after all.”

Li Changshou agreed, then fell into silence, seemingly lost in thought.

Yun Xiao quietly waited for him to speak, never one to press with questions.

A moment later…

“Cloud, if after the Great Tribulation, I must leave the Primordial World, would you be willing to leave everything here and come with me?”

“Of course, I would,” Yun Xiao answered softly.

“Then… let’s kiss!”

“You!”

Yun Xiao tapped Li Changshou’s forehead, her cheeks turning slightly red, unable to handle her beloved’s sudden playfulness.

When she came back to her senses, she saw Li Changshou staring absently at the waves again, his eyes somewhat dim.

Soon, Li Changshou fell asleep, his many worries dispersing like smoke and clouds.

A moment of leisure stolen from busy times, a brief indulgence in joy.

…

Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation was progressing smoothly.

During the three Enlightenment Sect elders’ visit to the Netherworld, even with True Person Taiyi’s mouth sealed and Yellow Dragon True Person speaking on his behalf, Taiyi’s past illustrious achievements carried considerable deterrent force.

One word could challenge the West, as the strength of Sages differs between East and West.

With Li Changshou’s letters as a guarantee, King Yama naturally wouldn’t make things difficult. The Netherworld granted special permission, allowing Spirit Zhenzhu to directly enter the Tower of Reincarnation to become a fetal spirit and choose his reincarnation family.

When the time came, the Netherworld’s judge would mark the Book of Life and Death, and the chosen couple would be arranged by the Heavenly Dao to prepare for childbirth, receiving the blessing of Spirit Zhenzhu’s fortune and merit.

At the Tower of Reincarnation, Ksitigarbha hesitated only briefly before agreeing.

The Enlightenment Sect was still the Western Teaching’s sought-after ‘alliance target’;

Even if Ksitigarbha wanted to raise his head high against Li Changshou and say “I refuse,” he had to consider the impact on the Western Teaching and Enlightenment Sect.

In this move, Li Changshou had calculated everything perfectly, neither over-participating nor failing to ensure Spirit Zhenzhu’s safe reincarnation.

Li Changshou had originally planned to take True Person Taiyi to the Holy Mother’s Palace to seek an audience with Goddess Nüwa, to mold a perfect Dao body for Spirit Zhenzhu.

But firstly, it wasn’t appropriate for Li Changshou to visit the Holy Mother’s Palace again now.

He clearly understood the probing from last time and felt that Goddess Nüwa had deliberately obscured things, giving him an easy questionnaire.

Secondly…

He shouldn’t struggle too deeply with the Heavenly Dao over Nezha’s matter. Nezha would most likely still need the Precious Lotus to create a lotus immortal body—a perfect human Dao body would be wasted on him.

As always—’The great trend cannot be changed, but small details can be controlled.’

What the Heavenly Dao needed was the Enlightenment Sect’s fighting force, a blade in the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, and future generals of the Heavenly Court.

Li Changshou naturally wouldn’t try to change this general direction.

All these things Li Changshou had done now were to avert the tragedy between Li Jing and Nezha as father and son.

Looking at Li Jing’s current situation, Li Changshou was about ninety percent confident in averting this tragedy. The next focus would be on Li Jing’s wife, the mother of Jin Zha, Mu Zha, and Nezha.

As the saying goes: An overly kind mother spoils the child.

A strict father paired with a stern mother often makes father and son form a united front, bringing them closer.

Li Changshou’s earlier visit to the Old Man Under the Moon’s Marriage Palace wasn’t just to arrange marriages for the Heavenly Court’s immortals;

He had the Old Man tie some red threads for Spirit Zhenzhu and instructed him to look for opportunities to use the Tree of Mutual Longing once Spirit Zhenzhu’s reincarnation passed eighteen years of age.

Besides this, Li Changshou had also, under the pretext of “observing the Orthodox Unity Sect’s customs regarding Dao companions,” looked at Li Jing’s fated marriage and made some minor arrangements.

And while his main body was being intimate with Yun Xiao on Three Immortals Island, Li Changshou decided…

To add another layer of security.

Once Li Jing achieved merit and became a general, he would send a paper avatar to infiltrate the Li household, lurking right under Li Jing’s nose as a steward or servant.

Hmph, “moderate involvement.”

When the three Enlightenment Sect immortals returned from the Netherworld, Taiyi sent a message jade slip to Li Changshou, mostly expressing gratitude and saying that both Ksitigarbha and King Qinguang had agreed to the matter.

What True Person Taiyi needed to do next was nurture Spirit Zhenzhu’s soul;

To make this soul align as much as possible with the Dao, increasing its comprehension of the Dao so that after reincarnation, he would possess extraordinary enlightenment.

The cultivation of Nezha would begin from the womb—no…

From before reincarnation!

After arranging Spirit Zhenzhu’s matter, Li Changshou turned his attention to the Dragon Race and the Three Thousand Worlds.

Heaven has no constant situation, the heart has no lasting peace.

The Dragon Race had gone from being the Heavenly Court’s help to its current hidden worry in just a few hundred years.

The Dragon Race, originally suppressed by the Western Teaching, had grasped the ladder of the Heavenly Court under Li Changshou’s guidance, maintaining their fortune and earning merit, showing signs of revival.

But the corruption within the Dragon Race, present since ancient times, was deeply entrenched and difficult to reverse.

Though conflicts hadn’t yet been intensified and the Heavenly Court and Dragon Palace were at peace, when these naturally proud dragons realized their Dragon Palace had become dispensable to the Heavenly Court, merely depending on it without enjoying any special privileges, they would likely lose their balance…

The consequences could only go two ways.

Either the Dragon Race would refuse to submit to the Heavenly Court, attempting to break away, losing their advantageous position and severely impacting the Heavenly Court’s prestige.

Or the Heavenly Court would strengthen control over the Dragon Race, using severe punishment as a deterrent, binding them with the Heavenly Dao.

According to Li Changshou’s calculations, the latter was more likely.

After all, in Li Changshou’s previous life knowledge, the later Dragon Race were merely gods of clouds and rain, with even the slightest error in rainfall considered a violation of heavenly law, subject to harsh punishment from the Heavenly Court.

The only way to break this impasse was to help the Dragon Race find its proper place in the current Primordial World.

Simply put, wake up the Dragon Race.

Before conflicts between the Dragon Race and Heavenly Court erupted, completely strangled the conflict within the Dragon Race, made them face their many internal problems, and seek change for survival.

Li Changshou, as Great White Star, had been granted the symbol of killing and reform when receiving the Heavenly Court’s rewards.

This time, the Eastern Morning Star was destined to shine over the Four Seas…

Looking past the Dragon Race matter, a ‘perfect’ scroll slowly unfurled in Li Changshou’s mind.

The Thirty-Three Heavens suppressing the Primordial World;

Mortals living freely in South Jambudvipa and the vast Three Thousand Worlds;

The Eighteen Layers of Hell and Six Paths of Reincarnation are no longer blocked;

The Western Teaching retreating, the Buddhist Gate was successfully transformed by the Dao Gate through subterfuge, becoming an important force supporting and balancing the Heavenly Court;

The Three Thousand Worlds are openly controlled by three forces—the Heavenly Court, the Approaching Heaven Palace, and the Immortal Alliance—controlling over ninety percent of the Great Thousand Worlds, creating apparent opposition between the Immortal Alliance or Approaching Heaven Palace and the Heavenly Court, giving practitioners choices of different camps, preventing the possibility of Three Thousand Buddhist Nations, and restraining Buddhist power;

The Dao Gate inevitably lost vitality in the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, but preserved as much of the Dao inheritance as possible;

And himself…

Li Changshou revealed a faint smile, his form merging with nature as he sighed softly.

Wanting to escape wasn’t so easy. Retirement couldn’t just be talk.

This scroll still lacked its core part.

The Sage…

“Report—”

Suddenly, a messenger soldier hurried over from outside the Great White Palace, interrupting Li Changshou’s thoughts.

Opening his paper avatar and walking to the front of the Great White Palace, Li Changshou asked gently: “What is it?”

“Reporting to Star-Lord! Lord Wang of the Tongming Palace ordered this subordinate to urgently deliver this message jade slip!”

The soldier held out a jade slip carved with the mark of King Yama’s Palace, still bearing the distinctive divine light of the Tongming Palace.

This jade slip had been forwarded from the Tongming Palace.

Li Changshou casually took the jade slip, his immortal consciousness probing inside. Upon seeing King Qinguang’s handwriting, he first froze, then his paper avatar’s gaze became fixed, followed by lowering his head with a slightly relieved smile.

The letter mentioned that in the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the soul of Qi Yuan, the cultivator from the Crossing Immortal Gate, had reformed and only needed final nurturing before reincarnation.

“You may go.”

Li Changshou waved his hand, and the soldier lowered his head in acknowledgment before quickly retreating.

Li Changshou held the jade slip, somewhat hesitant.

At this moment, he wasn’t thinking about the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, but simply hesitating as he returned to the great hall with his hands behind his back, his silhouette somewhat lonely.

What use was balancing the Heavenly Dao?

He should visit the Marriage Palace again later, to look for good marriages for his master’s reincarnation. His master had cultivated cautiously and diligently for a lifetime, only achieving the realm of a Lesser Immortal…

In his next life, whether he becomes Jiang Taigong or Flying Bear, arranging more mortal marriages would be his disciple’s way of showing filial piety.