Li Changshou had always felt both “love and hate” toward this Black Panther.

On one hand, Black Panther could jinx things, which could help increase the success rate of his calculations, though this was rather metaphysical.

On the other hand, Li Changshou worried that Black Panther might have placed the “Fellow Daoist, please stay” curse on him.

That would be truly inauspicious.

But when Black Panther made his move this time, Li Changshou decided to formally make his acquaintance.

The timing was perfect, right before Black Panther would become a disciple at Jade Void Palace.

Thus, while Black Panther was riding clouds toward the demon gathering place in East Victory Divine Continent, one of Li Changshou’s paper clones made thorough preparations, taking the form of a middle-aged Daoist, ready to arrange a “beautiful encounter” along the way.

However, what Li Changshou hadn’t anticipated was…

“Ah, perhaps I should return to the island first to have a look.”

Just a few hundred miles from where Li Changshou’s paper clone was hiding, Black Panther muttered softly to himself and turned toward the ocean.

Li Changshou had nearly unleashed his reverse “Fellow Daoist, please stay.”

After brief consideration, Li Changshou summoned Ao Yi, who had just returned to the East Sea for his break and had him and his wife Jiang Si’er return to Golden Turtle Island.

Li Changshou’s paper clone hid in Ao Yi’s sleeve, secretly observing Black Panther’s every move.

This Black Panther…

He had already become somewhat out of place with Golden Turtle Island’s atmosphere.

He had been Daoist Yuan Ze of Golden Turtle Island, and when reincarnating, he’d received special consideration from the Netherworld. Mother Meng had given her soup ladle an extra shake, giving him the chance to recover his previous life’s memories.

But now, though he called himself Yuan Ze, he had a few topics to discuss with his former friends. Even when forcing conversation, they would quickly run out of things to say.

The Severing Sect had always maintained a good internal atmosphere.

When the various Daoists heard Black Panther wanted to stay on the island to cultivate, they immediately arranged a cave dwelling for him, urging him to stay permanently since they were all family.

Black Panther was deeply moved, but couldn’t help feeling somewhat lost.

Li Changshou quite understood this feeling. After reincarnation, everything had changed—one was no longer one’s original self, and trying to fit back into one’s original circle was nearly impossible.

Black Panther was like this;

Jiu Yushi, whom he was grooming to be the Crossing Immortals Sect’s leader, was also like this.

Then, if he had the chance to return to his old home…

Li Changshou inexplicably felt a touch of desolation, finding himself somewhat empathizing with Black Panther.

‘Fearsome agent of catastrophe.’

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, sweeping away various thoughts, giving the Heavenly Dao no opportunity to exploit.

Black Panther lived on the island for over a year, finally departing without farewell one night when the moon was full and the evening was beautiful.

As he left, his Daoist silhouette appeared quite lonely.

Though the world was vast, he had no place to belong.

The path of cultivation was ultimately one of solitude and loneliness.

When Black Panther left, though several old friends noticed, they merely sighed softly without trying to stop him.

This time, Li Changshou’s long-waiting paper clone could finally be put to use.

Calculating Black Panther’s route, Li Changshou’s paper clone chose a spot ahead and made some preparations, wondering internally if the Heavenly Dao would throw another obstacle in his path.

In the thousand-year plan of “The Disappearance of X,” the most important link was arranging all the children of catastrophe in the Investiture of the Gods.

His own master’s reincarnation as Jiang Shang needed no elaboration, as everything had been arranged.

Emperor Xin of Shang had just been arranged.

Little Lan the fox girl was slightly more complicated. She would later work for Goddess Nüwa, and Li Changshou would arrange things in advance but wouldn’t force Little Lan to do anything.

Wen Zhong had already been influenced by him and was now contemplating how to become a “Junior Tutor” on his path to becoming a Grand Tutor.

Then there were the original seven from the Investiture of the Gods story who achieved “physical ascension”—those whose physical bodies were listed on the Divine Investiture List: Li Jing, Jin Zha, Mu Zha, Nezha, Yang Jian, Wei Hu, and Lei Zhenzi. All were important figures he had to arrange.

Li Changshou’s current logic was complex, but simply put—

[He had to be involved in all variables of the Investiture catastrophe.

Even if many events were guided by his hand toward their original outcome, he still had to arrange them personally.]

Everything was for a complete withdrawal in the first half.

Following this logic and calculating carefully, there were truly an overwhelming number of matters he needed to attend to in the entire Investiture.

“Ah…”

Thinking of this, Li Changshou’s paper clone sighed deeply, holding a wine cup while standing at the edge of a mountain pavilion, reciting loudly:

“Life’s greatest sorrow is walking alone,

A solitary soul with friends unknown.

Speak not of kindred spirits ahead,

Beyond this pass, all connections have fled.”

Black Panther, who ‘happened’ to be flying past on his cloud, heard this and was filled with sorrow. He glanced down at the mountain pavilion, then turned to detour around it, avoiding disturbing this unfamiliar Daoist’s emotional moment.

Unexpectedly, Black Panther heard another line:

“Miao Miao, since you left this poor Daoist, have you been well?”

Black Panther froze in mid-air, suddenly turning to stare at the figure expressing his wine-induced sentiments below.

A demon? Yes, there was demon qi—seemed to be a tiger king’s incarnation, with power comparable to his own, both just a step away from Golden Immortal status.

Miao Miao…

Black Panther felt puzzled, along with an inexplicable tension, wondering if this might be his “descendant,” and slowly guided his cloud toward the pavilion.

“What troubles Fellow Daoist?”

Such false concern.

Li Changshou’s paper clone turned to look at Black Panther, his eyes showing traces of emotion as he smiled and said, “Never mind, never mind, I’ve made Fellow Daoist laugh at me. Just momentarily remembering my deceased wife.”

Deceased wife?

Black Panther’s spirit stirred as he stepped forward, hastily asking, “Your honored wife has passed?”

“Ah,” Li Changshou lowered his head with a sigh, walking back to the stone table to pour himself a cup of wine, which he threw back in one gulp.

Black Panther hurried forward and asked again, “Your honored wife truly passed away?”

Li Changshou furrowed his brow, glaring at Black Panther, “Fellow Daoist’s intense interest in my wife seems somewhat inappropriate, doesn’t it?”

“No, no, this poor Daoist had a good friend also named Miao Miao!”

Black Panther urgently explained, “She showed me great kindness, saving my life when I was at my lowest, and even…”

The part about offering herself to him remained unspoken.

Technically speaking, he was the one who had offered himself.

“Oh?”

Li Changshou frowned in thought, invited Black Panther to sit, and took out a jade cup from his robes along with a jar of good wine he had obtained from a demon marketplace.

One was somewhat naive, his heart full of concern for an old friend;

The other had carefully designed this, prepared topics thoroughly, and knew Black Panther inside and out.

Soon, the two were deep in conversation.

When Black Panther realized that their “Miao Miao” and “Miao Miao” were not the same demon, he felt relieved but also filled with endless emotion.

The fastest way for men to build friendships was to get drunk together.

Black Panther quickly became bleary-eyed from drinking, and as he talked with Li Changshou, he suddenly covered his face and wept.

Li Changshou felt deeply moved watching from the side.

With his dao heart in such chaos, how could this fellow avoid developing heart demons…

Agents of catastrophe, pawns of the Heavenly Dao, were truly different from others.

Black Panther’s crying was full of whimpers that would sadden listeners and bring tears to observers, carrying an autumn-mourning, spring-grieving desolation…

“Fellow Daoist, what’s troubling you so?”

Li Changshou asked gently, raising his hand to pat Black Panther’s shoulder.

Black Panther’s dao heart had collapsed at this moment, and he turned to lean against Li Changshou’s arm.

It was, well, quite sudden.

“This poor Daoist’s life, this life! How tragic it is!”

“Why did Heaven make me remember my past life? Otherwise, Miao Miao wouldn’t have left me; I was even presumptuous enough to think of myself as a Severing Sect immortal, not of demon origin.”

“In this world, where is my place to belong, where, where!

Ah, wasn’t I embracing a pillar?

My apologies, my apologies!

Waaah—even if this poor Daoist achieves Golden Immortal status and the dao of longevity, how lonely this life is! How lonely!”

Li Changshou: …

Perhaps this was the pain of being unable to resist an arranged fate, not even knowing one’s path had already been determined.

“Fellow Daoist, since we have so much in common, why not become close friends?

I too once awakened memories of a past life, once felt out of place with the past, and ill-fitted to the present.”

Black Panther was startled by these words: “Fellow Daoist, is, is this true?”

“This poor Daoist is Geng Chang!”

Li Changshou stood up and made a Daoist salute to Black Panther, “I wish to be friends with Fellow Daoist!”

Black Panther hurriedly stood to return the salute.

“This poor Daoist Yuan Ze… ah, things have come to this, I might as well abandon my previous life’s Daoist title!

All troubles arise from the mind’s barriers; breaking through brings deeper cultivation. These two characters for ‘mind,’ how difficult they are—’self-breaking’ becomes ‘Shen.’

From this day forward, this poor Daoist’s title shall be Shen Bao!

Fellow Daoist Geng Chang, please accept Shen Bao’s bow!”

Li Changshou made another Daoist salute: “Congratulations on breaking through your confusion, Fellow Daoist. From today onward, may your prospects be grand!”

“Thank you for easing my heart’s burden. Come, let us continue drinking!”

The two demons laughed together, and Shen Bao swept away his previous gloom. His eyes shone with renewed spirit and energy, almost taking charge of the situation.

Afterward, the two demons drank and talked there for sixteen days.

Shen Bao spoke of his verbal divine abilities, and Li Changshou smiled and let him curse him a few times. Shen Bao did as asked, though naturally to no effect.

Shen Bao couldn’t keep things hidden in his heart and poured out everything, even expressing sorrow over Demon Crown Prince Lu Ya’s death, saying Lu Ya had been his life’s idol.

Li Changshou: …

A good opportunity.

At once, Li Changshou guided the topic to Lu Ya’s death, and Shen Bao had endless feelings to share.

To Li Changshou’s surprise, Shen Bao didn’t attack Grand White Star Li Changgen…

“Ah,” Black Panther sighed, “Senior Lu Ya’s death was the fate of demonkind.

The Heavenly Dao wished to elevate humanity and establish the Celestial Court’s order, so the orphans of the ancient Demon Court naturally couldn’t survive.

That Grand White Star Li Changgen was just doing Heaven’s work, not acting of his own will. Though I don’t know the specifics, I quite understand him.

Working for the Heavenly Dao must not be easy.”

Li Changshou’s nose stung—he had almost been counter-attacked by this fellow.

“But understanding is one thing, Senior Lu Ya showed me the kindness of rebirth, and if I have the chance in the future, I must seek justice from this Li Changgen!

Make him…

Apologize to Senior Lu Ya.”

Why did the latter half become so weak?

Brother, this blessing effect is minimal.

These “iron brothers” talked for a long while before Li Changshou said he needed to go to the East Continent to join relatives and friends.

Shen Bao seemed to want to say something but held back, thinking of asking to go along and find work together, but ultimately his pride prevented him from speaking up.

They exchanged communication talismans and agreed to meet again for drinks and conversation.

After Li Changshou departed on his cloud, Shen Bao was filled with emotion. He rode his cloud in another direction, heading toward the border between the South Jambudvipa Continent and the Middle Divine Continent, deciding to try his luck in the demon regions near the Western Cattle Gift Continent’s border.

Thus it was:

Grand White Star’s clever calculations,

Shen Bao finds his place, heart unburdened.

The path ahead holds destined meetings,

New theories in Jiang and Shen’s contention.

“Brother Geng Chang is truly a good Daoist.”

Shen Bao sighed emotionally, riding his cloud into the high sky, concealing his qi as he traveled freely onward.

…

Meeting Shen Bao was just the beginning. Since Li Changshou had decided to act, he would play the part thoroughly.

This paper clone of his, carrying nine backup paper clones, went to the East Sea shore and secretly controlled a Golden Immortal Demon King, using this demon king as cover while hiding himself.

Currently, there were many places requiring his divided attention, especially in the mortal realm, where he needed to do certain tasks at fixed times and places each day.

Befriending Shen Bao was only to influence him and participate in arranging his discipleship.

To keep all variables under his control.

Even if doing so aligned with the Heavenly Dao’s intentions, it didn’t matter.

Speaking of which, the internal power struggles in the Shang kingdom were truly cruel.

Shortly after young Zi Shou’s birth, he faced tragic fates like “poisoned milk” and “palace maid accidents,” but this fellow’s destiny was incredibly resilient—he emerged completely unscathed.

These events naturally stirred up bloody storms within the palace.

Li Changshou pretended not to see any of this, quietly cultivating his faction’s power, only speaking up to influence the human sovereign’s judgment on certain key issues.

Being an ordinary authority figure in the Celestial Court had given Li Changshou sufficient work experience.

In the mortal dynasty, he chose to hide in the shadows, avoiding prominence.

Achieving merit and fame in the mortal realm held little interest.

Being Great Yin City’s underground “evil” force barely managed to spark some interest.

After the setback with “Bi Gan’s Seven Apertures Spiritual Heart,” the Enlightenment Sect seemed to have truly taken Li Changshou’s advice that less action was better than more—those Third Generation disciples had even withdrawn.

On the Severing Sect’s side, seeing Wen Zhong doing well in Great Yin City, they placed high hopes on him and didn’t openly do much else.

In reality, both sects were secretly investigating powerful vassal states, looking for one that could replace the Shang.

But looking left and right, they all fell somewhat short.

Though the Zhou kingdom had developed its national power over many years, it had just experienced a disaster that greatly weakened it, and it bowed to Shang rule, not daring to rebel.

—Ji Jili, Ji Chang’s father, had worked diligently to expand Zhou territory, conquering many small tribes. He gained the previous Shang king’s praise, who granted him the honorary title “Leader of Western Vassals” and then had him executed.

The grudge between Zhou and Shang was planted then.

The Zhou kingdom was currently leaderless, with Ji Chang not daring to succeed without the Shang king’s order.

The Shang king deliberately delayed, clearly intending to suppress this potential threat.

Compared to Zhou, the Chong Marquis clan in the north was more prosperous, the Jiang clan in the east had deep foundations and strong military power, and the E Marquis in the south had vast territory and high prestige…

The other three families indeed showed more potential to replace the Shang.

This left both the Enlightenment and Severing Sects puzzled, forcing them to spread their bets, and continuously placing chess pieces in various locations.

Though the Investiture catastrophe still had several decades of buffer time, undercurrents were already surging, creating a tense atmosphere.

At this time, Li Changshou turned his attention to his old opponent.

The game in the South Continent had the Heavenly Dao maintaining stability and the Sages watching—it wouldn’t easily fall into chaos.

He had to take advantage of the Sages’ attention being focused on the South Continent to complete his other backup arrangements…

For instance, secretly threw a heart-burning fire when Li Jing met the Yin clan.

Or taking a stroll through the Netherworld to find Jin Zha’s previous life’s origin.

Or perhaps casually issuing an imperial decree in the Celestial Court to hunt down Virtual Bodhi, who was hiding in the Three Thousand Worlds.

Li Changshou’s main body personally took action, with White Marsh coordinating the strategy and Golden Peng handling the pursuit and interception. In just a few days, they had Virtual Bodhi cornered at the edge of the Three Thousand Worlds.

Golden Peng wanted to kill him directly but was secretly stopped by White Marsh.

Li Changshou deliberately left an opening, giving Virtual Bodhi a chance to escape toward the world’s boundary.

However, just as Virtual Bodhi was about to break through the edge of the great wilderness, a curtain of lightning fell from the void, blocking all his escape routes.

The rules of the great wilderness.

If one intentionally fled into the Chaos Sea to avoid a great catastrophe, the Heavenly Dao would erase their origin, counting them as “already dead.”

Such beings returning to the great wilderness would become [Demons] like those black shadows that appeared in the ancient city of Blood Sea Asuras, rejected by the Heavenly Dao and formally considered fallen.

—Li Changshou’s several outings were all considered official business.

[Additionally, the right to interpret this clause ultimately belongs to the Heavenly Dao.]

Virtual Bodhi stopped somewhat disheveled before the lightning curtain, lowered his head to spit blood, and turned to glare at the approaching Celestial Court authority.

“Run, Virtual Bodhi.”

Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes, “Hand over the Seven Arrow Book of Nailing, and I might spare your life.”

Eh? Why does this feel somewhat villainous?

“Hmph! This poor Daoist knows nothing of any Seven Arrow Book! Our Western Sect has already suffered heavy losses—do you truly intend to destroy us completely?”

“I’ve already said, that today is about personal grudges. No need to involve sect rivalries.”

Li Changshou’s left hand opened, and the God-Slaying Spear flew from Golden Peng’s hand into his grip.

Virtual Bodhi gritted his teeth, his eyes full of hatred turned and charged through the lightning curtain into the Chaos Sea, his form instantly vanishing.

Li Changshou frowned deeply as Golden Peng gave chase, with him and White Marsh following closely behind.

In reality, Li Changshou felt somewhat relieved internally.

This chess piece of Virtual Bodhi had finally been placed.