After receiving news that his Master’s soul had awakened, Li Changshou waited another sixteen years.

During these sixteen years, Li Changshou forced himself to stay busy with Heavenly Court affairs and the minute preparations before the Great Tribulation. In fact, during these sixteen years, Li Changshou’s appearances in the Lingxiao Palace exceeded the total of his previous three hundred and twenty years!

This led the Jade Emperor to suspect that the Heavenly Court would soon face some crisis. It also made Minister Wu anxious, fearing that the few routine tasks he could still handle would be taken over by Grand Supreme Elder Li, reducing him to a semi-retired, obsolete minister of the Heavenly Court.

Elder Quan Tong found an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with Li Changshou, advising him not to be too diligent as the immortal officials below were feeling pressured. Li Changshou only responded with a bitter smile and fell silent for a while.

Silence might have been tonight’s barbecue, but when a superior came to show concern for his subordinate, Li Changshou couldn’t simply ignore it.

He collected his thoughts and, with a slightly bitter smile at the corners of his mouth, said slowly, “Actually, I’m being a bit sentimental.”

“Sentimental?” Quan Tong laughed, “If those greater and lesser demons who died by your hand heard such words, they would truly jump out of their coffins to settle accounts with you. What’s troubling you?”

“My Master Qi Yuan.”

Li Changshou drained his cup of wine and continued turning the skewers beside him. Only the simple mortal charcoal fire could produce that unique dusty fragrance.

Li Changshou continued, “Earlier, Lady Houtu sent word that Master’s remnant soul has fully recovered in the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc.”

“That’s good news,” Quan Tong smiled, “You previously used so much merit and even killed the demon prince Lu Ya, who was chosen by the Heavenly Dao to add fuel to the tribulation. In the end, thankfully, Goddess Nüwa intervened and gathered Master Qi Yuan’s soul. Now that your Master’s soul has awakened, this is truly good news. Why do you still look so worried?”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, looked at Quan Tong beside him, and smiled, “Your Majesty should know.”

“Oh?” Quan Tong blinked and openly performed a divination, completely forgetting that during this time the tribulation was supposed to obscure the heavenly secrets, and the Heavenly Dao should not allow divination. Being the Heavenly Emperor didn’t mean having special privileges.

“Isn’t this quite good?” Quan Tong muttered, “The Heavenly Dao shows that after your Master’s reincarnation, he will still be an important figure in this Great Tribulation, achieving success in the mortal, immortal, and divine realms… Changgeng, are you worried that your Master might become the Heavenly Dao’s means of restraining you? Sometimes you think of the Heavenly Dao as being too partial to a single being; the so-called Heavenly Dao is the convergence of great paths and the manifestation of rules, with the sole purpose of maintaining heaven and earth’s stability. Changgeng, you’re overthinking it.”

Li Changshou rose and made a Daoist salute, smiling, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for enlightening me.”

Quan Tong’s eyes crinkled with pleasure.

“However, this humble official is troubled by something else,” Li Changshou sighed, “Once I go, Master will be reincarnated.”

Quan Tong blinked, slightly confused.

“Previously, the Holy Mother Goddess said that after Master’s reincarnation, he would have no more connection with me – this was the condition for her intervention in saving Master. Since I agreed to Holy Mother Goddess’s terms, I won’t go back on my word. After Master’s reincarnation, we will have no further connection. All I can give back to Master is just this chance at reincarnation. These sixteen years, whenever I think about being unable to fulfill my filial duties to my parents and only being able to watch Master leave, it truly leaves a bitter taste in my heart. Alas…”

Li Changshou let out a soft sigh.

Quan Tong thought carefully, picked up a wine jar from beside him, and handed it to Li Changshou: “It’s all in the wine! Today, let’s get thoroughly drunk together and forget all the troubles of the Three Realms!”

Li Changshou smiled as he took the wine jar, clinked it with Quan Tong, and their avatars drank until they were completely intoxicated. Even their paper bodies got soaked!

Three months later, Li Changshou finally couldn’t delay any longer.

Master had to go for reincarnation eventually; staying in the Treasure Pool indefinitely wasn’t a solution.

This was truly good for Master, and he couldn’t let his inner guilt delay Master’s bright future.

All necessary arrangements had been made anyway.

Sensing that Ling E was about to emerge from her closed-door cultivation, Li Changshou set the date for visiting the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc to coincide with Ling E’s emergence. Let E also bid Master a final farewell.

On this day, the Dao rhythm around Ling E settled into tranquility, lingering only in the afterglow of enlightenment.

Li Changshou actively called her out of seclusion, instructing her to change into plainer clothes for an outing later.

Plainer clothes?

Still somewhat dazed, Ling E tilted her head, then seemed to understand something.

Senior Brother must be planning to take her to meet some powerful experts, formally introducing her into his circle!

Indeed, after becoming a Golden Immortal, Senior Brother’s attitude toward her immediately undergoes a huge change.

The thousand-year sleeping brother plan had finally seen dawn!

Thinking of this, Ling E blinked, suddenly covered her face with her hands, turned around, and rolled around on the bed holding her thin quilt.

Li Changshou outside the door: …

This little Golden Immortal was truly lacking in gravity.

However, what Li Changshou never expected was that today’s most undignified person would be…

The Jade Emperor himself.

An hour later, Ling E finally completed her grooming and dressing.

She changed into a white dress with blue flowers, arranged her hair in a heart-returning style, wore the jade hairpin gifted by Yun Xiao years ago, and carried a flower basket crafted by her Senior Brother.

Ling E had also ‘cleverly’ tied a flowing cloud ribbon around her wrist, which emanated slight flowing light even when she stood still, preventing her from being unconsciously overlooked.

Of course, Ling E’s concerns were completely unfounded.

After entering the Golden Immortal realm, the little Junior Sister, who was already considered graceful and intelligent, underwent an even more qualitative leap.

Her eyes were bright and captivating, with just the right touch of charm at their corners. The distance between her delicate nose and upper lip seemed as if Goddess Nüwa had carefully crafted it, beautiful without the slightest flaw.

Her figure had become more graceful; though her waist below the belt wasn’t dramatically slender enough to be held in one hand, it was still like a delicate willow or floating duckweed.

When she flew out of the underground chamber, dispersed her ‘Smoke Escape Technique’, and appeared gracefully before Li Changshou, even Shou was a bit surprised.

“Let’s go.”

Li Changshou said softly, conjuring a white cloud and leaving half the space for Ling E.

Ling E lightly jumped up with her toes, obediently responded, and instinctively stood at the edge of the white cloud.

Then, she asked in a small voice: “Senior Brother, our three rules… are they still…”

“Come here,” Li Changshou slightly raised his left arm, and Ling E smiled, pursing her lips, happily holding onto her Senior Brother’s arm.

The white cloud flew out of Little Qiong Peak, then out of the Supreme Elder’s Palace, heading straight for the Eastern Heaven Gate.

To avoid people questioning his character as the Grand Supreme Elder while taking Ling E out, Li Changshou specifically didn’t use his old immortal appearance, maintaining instead the face of a young Daoist.

Ling E didn’t ask where Senior Brother was taking her, currently immersed in the joy of the three rules being abolished, just squinting her eyes with a smile, occasionally giggling “Hee hee hee.”

Well, wasn’t she the one who had conquered him?

As the Senior and Junior were about to exit the Eastern Heaven Gate, a distant call came from behind – it was the Golden Roc spreading its wings approaching.

“Master!”

Li Changshou stopped the cloud, gestured to Ling E who was almost hanging on his arm to stand properly, and turned to wait for Golden Roc to arrive.

“What’s the matter? Why aren’t you leading troops in the Three Thousand Worlds, why have you suddenly returned?”

“Master,” Golden Roc clasped his hands, “The Jade Emperor just summoned this disciple back, saying that Master has been in low spirits lately and ordered me to stay by Master’s side for company.”

Li Changshou smiled lightly, made a Daoist salute toward Lingxiao Palace, and said with a smile, “Thank you for His Majesty’s concern. That’s fine then, with you here, going to the Underworld will be faster.”

But Golden Roc said: “Master, the Jade Emperor had the Imperial Stable prepare a carriage and procession months ago, saying it was waiting for when you went out…”

As soon as these words fell, horse neighs echoed from the horizon, and a stream of light ‘slowly’ shot toward this location.

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly, but he didn’t refuse the Jade Emperor’s kind intentions. When the carriage approached, he led Ling E to sit in the ‘convertible’ sedan.

The carriage was pulled by eight exotic golden dragons, flanked by three hundred elite Heaven soldiers riding celestial horses, with six thousand Heaven soldiers waiting outside the Eastern Heaven Gate to escort the Grand Supreme Elder’s procession.

Drums and horns;

Heaven’s might and military might.

The large contingent marched grandly toward the Netherworld, attracting gazes from inside and outside the Heavenly Court and Eastern Ocean.

Li Changshou’s mood improved because of this, no longer as stifled as before.

Three days later, the Heavenly Court procession finally arrived at the Underworld.

Fengdu City was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and all vengeful ghosts and fierce spirits were temporarily detained or driven away, making the Underworld’s greatest city… quite bright.

The two marshals, Ox Head and Horse Face, came out early to welcome them at the mighty gates, and after paying respects outside the carriage, they flanked it as escorts.

The many experts of the Underworld’s Wu Tribe lined the road to welcome them.

The ten Kings of Hell had also arrived early at the city gate. After Li Changshou alighted from the carriage, they came forward with hearty laughter, exchanging greetings and warm pleasantries.

This was the current ‘ecosystem’ of the Heavenly Court.

Li Changshou ordered Golden Roc and the Heavenly Army to wait outside the city to avoid disturbing the spirits within, then had Ling E bow to each of the ten Kings of Hell, addressing them as Seniors.

The Kings of Hell were experts at judging cases and souls, no weaklings at fighting and cursing, and hunting demons was their old profession, but when it came to praising beautiful immortal maidens, they kept repeating the same few phrases:

“My, my, Immortal Maiden Ling E has grown even more beautiful since we last met!”

“How lovely!”

“A match made in heaven, truly made in heaven.”

“May you have noble children soon, hahaha!”

Ling E’s face turned completely red as she hid behind Li Changshou, not daring to show her face; Li Changshou responded with a few smiling acknowledgments.

His face, naturally, wouldn’t redden at such low-level teasing.

Entering Fengdu City, they took the path to the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc.

The Grand Supreme Elder, accompanied by the ten Kings of Hell, inspected the city districts’ sanitation, focusing particularly on the processing efficiency of vengeful spirits, and emphasized that the Eighteen Layers of Hell must maintain their seals at all times to prevent evil spirits from causing havoc in the mortal realm.

As Li Changshou and Ling E entered the Reincarnation Disc, the ten Kings of Hell exchanged smiles. Only King Qinguang and King Chujiang remained waiting here, while the other eight hurried back to their respective courts to attend to business.

However, just as the eight Kings had left, King Qinguang’s brows furrowed, his divine sense detecting something.

He turned from the Reincarnation Island, his eyes emanating black light as he looked toward Fengdu City’s gate, and was immediately startled.

There, a Heavenly Court general in battle armor was approaching leisurely, looking around at the low buildings of Fengdu City with a faint smile.

“J-Jade Emperor Your Majesty?”

King Qinguang cried out involuntarily.

Beside him, King Chujiang, who was picking his ear with hands on his hips, laughed, “Big Brother, what are you saying? What Jade Emperor? What’s this about the Jade Emperor?”

“Fool!”

Slap! Poof! Squelch—

King Qinguang raised his hand and slapped King Chujiang, hitting exactly on his raised elbow, causing the finger to pierce into his skull, squirting out some Wu Tribe black blood.

King Qinguang lowered his voice and cursed, “That’s His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s avatar!”

King Chujiang blinked, took out a handkerchief to plug his ear hole, and stared at the young general on the street of Fengdu City, letting out a hiccup.

Hurt?

A mere skull wound wasn’t anything vital.

“Quick! I’ll go invite His Majesty the Jade Emperor to the Court of Yama, you hurry and call our brothers together, summon all the judges and ghost generals!”

King Qinguang urgently ordered, and King Chujiang responded with a word before turning to run.

Soon, there was some commotion in Fengdu City, with a tense atmosphere spreading everywhere.

Meanwhile, inside the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc…

Knowing this trip was to the Underworld, Ling E immediately understood Senior Brother’s intention in asking her to wear plainer clothes.

To pay respects to Master.

So, when she followed Senior Brother into the small world within the Reincarnation Disc and flew to the Treasure Pool in the corner, without waiting for Senior Brother’s instruction, Ling E had already taken out the complete set of ceremonial offerings.

Fruits, meat, wine, candlesticks, an incense burner, a copper basin for burning paper money, several paper dolls made into little immortal maidens, and a handkerchief.

Before Li Changshou could speak, Ling E had already prepared her emotions, wiping her eyes with the handkerchief as she cried sorrowfully:

“Master, you died so tragically—”

Li Changshou: …

“Ahem!”

A dry cough came from the Treasure Pool.

Ling E was startled, and in the blink of an eye, she saw the ethereal figure of an old Daoist slowly ‘growing’ from the Treasure Pool, showing her a kind smile.

“Ah, your crying makes your Master quite embarrassed.”

“Master!”

Ling E cheered, about to jump forward, but then noticed other remnant souls were being repaired in the Treasure Pool, and quickly stopped herself, tears welling up in her eyes.

“You’re alive again!”

“What?” Old Daoist Qi Yuan pretended to be angry, “Is your Master’s return to life interrupting you and your Senior Brother?”

“No, no, oh… This disciple is just happy.”

Ling E lowered her head and made a Daoist salute, saying sweetly, “Disciple pays respects to Master!”

Li Changshou also made a deep Daoist salute beside her, saying with a smile, “Disciple pays respects to Master.”

“Ah, good, good.”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan raised his hand in a virtual gesture of support, his soul flying out from the Treasure Pool, surrounded by streams of immortal light interwoven with many merits.

He said, “That your Master’s remnant soul could be gathered again was entirely due to your Senior Brother’s plea to the Sage.

To tell the truth, your Master is ashamed, ashamed indeed.

I couldn’t teach you too much ability, yet instead made Changshou go to such lengths, both protecting my life and gathering my soul.”

Li Changshou said softly, “If not for Master giving this disciple his initial foundation, this disciple would have been merely a mortal, by now just a pile of white bones buried in the wilderness.”

Ling E stepped forward trying to hold Master’s arm but found herself blocked by the immortal light surrounding Master.

Seeing this, Li Changshou’s expression darkened slightly, but he rallied his spirits, thinking about how to make Master laugh a few more times before going to reincarnate.

Qi Yuan smiled and said:

“Earlier, the great virtuous Lady Houtu had already told your Master, that after you come, your Master will go to reincarnate.

Changshou, Ling E, accompany your Master for a walk around, your Master has many words to say to you, though I don’t know where to begin.”

Li Changshou softly agreed and followed behind Old Daoist Qi Yuan.

Ling E pursed her lips, lowered her head to wipe away tears, then approached with a smile.

“Hee hee hee! Master, guess what realm your Second Disciple has reached?”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled, “What realm could it be? Surely you couldn’t have become a Golden Immortal in such a short time?”

“Look!”

Ling E put her hands on her hips and displayed her Dao rhythm, letting out a proud little laugh.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan couldn’t help but show a kind smile.

His Second Disciple’s realm was too high for him to… sense specifically.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled and said:

“Your Master doesn’t know what virtue or ability I possessed, having accomplished nothing in this life, yet received such an outstanding disciple.

Changshou, Lady Houtu mentioned earlier that you are now a second-rank proper deity of the Heavenly Court, the Grand Supreme Elder, ranked in the top ten of the Heavenly Dao sequence…

Your Master doesn’t understand these things, but knows you have great ability and high achievement, and is quite proud.

However, Changshou, there is one thing you must remember.”

“Please speak, Master,” Li Changshou lowered his head and responded.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan’s expression turned serious as he said slowly:

“Your Master knows your nature is not truly cowardly, you just fear death;

This is natural for living beings, though you constantly speak of it.

Your Master is just a small impure immortal in the world, without much perspective or knowledge, but you were still raised and taught by your Master, and your Master still has a responsibility as your teacher, these words must be said.

In your current position, you can’t just think about yourself anymore.

You are an important deity of the Heavenly Court, holding power over countless beings’ lives and deaths, and seem to be the main figure in the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

You must think about how to do things for all living beings, for the creatures of the Three Realms.

You don’t need to seek fame and may encounter some misunderstandings, but you only need to have a clear conscience, and must live up to your current position and authority.”

“Yes, the disciple will remember.”

Li Changshou smiled and agreed.

Beside them, Ling E said softly, “Master, most of the current order in the Heavenly Court was planned and personally established by Senior Brother. Senior Brother has already done much for all living beings.”

“Is that so?” Qi Yuan’s eyes carried a gleam of light as he looked at the young man before him.

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, saying softly, “As long as it doesn’t affect my life and safety, I just went with the flow.”

“That’s good then, ah, that’s good.”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled with satisfaction, walking forward with his hands behind his back. After a few steps, he asked again, “Is Junior Sister Yu Shi… well?”

“Yu Shi Senior Aunt remains cultivating at Crossing Immortal Gate,” Li Changshou said, “Disciple once invited her to the Heavenly Court, but she was somewhat unwilling.

Master, please don’t worry, Crossing Immortal Gate now has Heaven soldiers protecting it, there won’t be any danger.”

“That’s good,” Qi Yuan smiled, “Your Master failed your Senior Uncle in this life, had hoped to find his reincarnated form, but didn’t expect…

Though the flower blooms again, its petals are not the same – perhaps this is the principle of reincarnation.”

Li Changshou sighed, and was about to speak when Qi Yuan continued:

“After your Master reincarnates, there will be no more karma with the previous life. You both cultivate well, and once you know your Master has reincarnated, don’t think about me too much, don’t come to see me, and especially don’t trouble yourselves to guide my cultivation.

Changshou, you’ve already done too much for your Master, and in the end, your Master is unwilling to be cared for by his disciple in this way.”

Ling E’s eyes reddened as she pouted, calling out: “Master…”

“Silly child, why cry? Your Master being able to reincarnate is already a great blessing, this is a good thing.”

Qi Yuan reached out proactively, but couldn’t grasp Ling E’s fingers; Ling E quickly raised her hand to follow her Master’s palm.

The old Daoist placed Ling E’s small hand in Li Changshou’s palm, patting it gently.

“Changshou, your Junior Sister has had deep feelings for you since she was young, and you taught your Junior Sister so much, also thinking of having her by your side for long.

Your Master knows you have developed dao partner feelings with the great power Immortal Yun Xiao, but remember, don’t neglect or disappoint Ling E.

Consider this your Master’s final request.”

“Master…”

Li Changshou’s lips moved wanting to speak, but his voice choked, and he could only tightly hold Ling E’s delicate hand.

Qi Yuan relaxed with relief, patted Li Changshou’s hand again, and said:

“I’m going.

You two wait here, don’t watch your Master enter the Reincarnation Disc, don’t be sad, and don’t think about it too much.

We qi-refining practitioners seek transcendence with difficulty, but what’s so hard about being free-spirited?”

Having said this, Old Daoist Qi Yuan waved his hand, turned around, and walked slowly toward the mist not far ahead, softly chanting.

“In this vast life as an impure immortal bearing fruit,

Let not a thousand mundane years bring worry.

With dao heart unchanged in pursuit of a long life,

How could this soul walk its final path?”

A streak of golden light shone down, moving the old Daoist’s soul outside the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc.

Li Changshou suddenly felt somewhat broken and tilted his head back to breathe in, but his breath kept trembling, tears glinting at the corners of his eyes before being quickly evaporated.

He was a Human Dao expert, a power deity of the Heavenly Court, ranked tenth in the Heavenly Dao sequence!

Slowly kneeling, Li Changshou prostrated himself in the direction the old Daoist had left…

‘Little one, want to learn immortal arts with this poor Daoist? You can achieve immortality and roam freely through heaven and earth.’