Ao Bing was, at this moment, extremely, tremendously, and uncontrollably angry.

In a corner of the East Sea Crystal Palace, a place where the Old Dragon King rarely appeared, Third Prince Ao Bing of the East Sea Dragon Palace materialized from a stream of water. With his hands behind his back, he paced back and forth restlessly.

He, the dignified Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace! Today! At the edge of the East Sea, had been beaten by a little brat wearing only an undergarment!

Where was the justice in this? Where were the heavenly laws?

The worst part was…

He hadn’t even managed to fight back…

Indeed, he was the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, who could steadily advance to the Golden Immortal realm through bloodline awakening. Although the dragon king’s bloodline in his body was too diluted to hope for a meteoric rise like his Second Brother’s.

But he was still a dragon!

Today, he went to the human territory to warm a human woman, only to be pinned down and beaten thoroughly by a little brat in an undergarment!

Where did that fellow get such strength?

“Where are my four… ouch!”

Ao Bing clutched his swollen cheek and drew in a sharp breath, feeling thoroughly miserable.

Why couldn’t he dispel the swelling with his magical powers?

Wasn’t it said that this was human territory, with barely any human cultivators?

Even if there were human cultivators, weren’t they supposed to start cultivation later in life? How could there be such a powerful human at such a young age?

“Guards!”

“Present! Were you calling us, Your Highness?”

“Your Highness, why are you swollen, Your Highness!”

Outside the palace, the dragon guards who finally heard Ao Bing’s calls rushed over.

Ao Bing was filled with rage and hatred, his handsome face bearing black and red circles around his eyes and swollen corners of his mouth, making the guards wince at the sight.

‘This damned Third Prince finally got what he deserved! How many years since hatching, yet he’s already harmed so many dragons and sea maidens, leaving countless loving dragons with nothing but regret.’

This was the guards’ secret wish.

“Your Highness! Who hurt you!”

“You must take more of us with you when you go out. You’re still young, and your bloodline hasn’t fully awakened.”

This was the reality the guards had to face.

Ao Bing spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and drew a deep breath.

“All of you, come with me to find that brat!”

The guards exchanged glances, each expressing righteous indignation as they agreed, following behind Ao Bing.

But one among them secretly crushed a jade talisman in his sleeve; deep in the dragon palace, the East Sea Dragon King lay on his throne, his gaze profound, lost in unknown thoughts.

Meanwhile, when Ao Bing led the guards back to Chen Tang Pass, dark clouds rolled and thunder crashed. These guards transformed into azure dragons, writhing among the clouds, but failed to find any trace of the undergarment-wearing little man.

Ao Bing’s anger had mostly dissipated, and he cursed toward Chen Tang Pass:

“Don’t let this prince see you again!”

Then, considering that such a troublemaker might have some powerful immortal backing him, he deliberately acted magnanimous, snorted coldly, and led the guards back to the dragon palace.

At the Li Manor.

Little Nezha had tired himself out playing and was sound asleep beside Lady Yin, with a snot bubble at the tip of his nose.

In a corner of the Li Manor, Senior Steward Li lay on his custom-made soft couch, watching Ao Bing’s retreating figure with his divine consciousness, lost in thought.

This fellow…

Was unbelievably weak, truly living up to the saying of a wax-tipped silver spear, with cultivation realms that seemed somewhat hollow.

The Killing Qi Lock that Nezha wore on his left hand had only lit up one bar.

Should he have Ao Yi intervene in this matter?

Li Longshou shifted his divine consciousness to the Heavenly Court, watching the young dragon training the water army by the Celestial River, and couldn’t help but smile.

Never mind, it would be better to keep Ao Yi and Ao Bing at a distance, avoiding strengthening their brotherly bonds.

Just as Li Longshou was about to withdraw his consciousness and turn his attention to Ji Province where a great battle was about to erupt, his divine sense suddenly caught something unusual at the East Seashore.

A small dragon quietly swam out of the waves, transformed into human form, and immediately concealed himself, looking around cautiously.

Using his magic, he quietly crept toward the village he had fled from earlier in such a pathetic state.

Old dreams renewed today, how to endure the spring wind.

“Tsk,” Li Longshou’s mouth twitched, and he almost couldn’t resist teaching this little silver dragon a lesson directly.

Truly wouldn’t learn without seeing the coffin, and wouldn’t turn back without hitting the wall.

But come to think of it, there was legally nothing that could be done about Ao Bing’s misconduct.

Those women experienced it as if it were a dream, with a perfect lover in the dream, and treasure as compensation upon waking, ensuring they would never want for food or clothing.

If Li Longshou tried to find victims to testify against Ao Bing, he might instead be scolded by these women for meddling.

Ao Bing relied on sweet talk and hadn’t used any supernatural arts, so there was no handle to grab.

But from a personal standpoint, Ao Bing’s behavior was truly infuriating.

Li Longshou glanced at the sleeping Nezha, and thinking of the rough script he had set, immediately felt at ease.

This fellow Ao Bing was destined for a miserable end.

Boom boom boom boom—

The urgent sound of war drums crossed his mind, and Li Longshou’s eyes brightened. Leaving part of his consciousness to watch over Nezha, he divided his attention and looked toward another side of the South Jambudvipa Continent.

At Ji Province City, Su Hu had rebelled and was now subtly surrounded by Chong Houhu’s army.

Dark clouds pressed upon the city as if to crush it, and the morale in Su Hu’s army was quite low. Many soldiers had heard of the Northern Earl’s reputation for cruel killing, and most had lost their will to fight.

This included…

The Provisions General, Zheng Lun.

…”How could I be this unlucky?”

Inside the city walls of Ji Province, in the army camp, Zheng Lun sat in his armor, somewhat dazed.

Thinking back to those years, when his master suddenly received some heavenly path indication, saying Zheng Lun’s fate held tribulation that would manifest in the South Jambudvipa Continent.

Zheng Lun had asked then, wasn’t the Human Dao staying out of this great tribulation?

Master Du’e couldn’t answer, and after months of calculations, still sent Zheng Lun to the South Continent.

So Master Du’e spoke thus:

‘With the great tribulation ahead, disciple, you seem to be caught in it and must make a journey to the South Jambudvipa Continent.

But don’t worry disciple, you had a deep friendship with the Star Lord in your previous life, and with those memories preserved, you’re no ordinary transformation.

With this relationship, the Star-Lord will surely look after you, what is there to fear?

Moreover, when you go to the South Continent, don’t mess around in places like Zhaoge City or the Four Earls’ territories. Just find a medium-sized feudal lord in a remote area and become a minor general.

How could the great tribulation affect you then?’

Thinking his master’s words made sense, Zheng Lun made his way to the South Continent, explored various places, and finally chose this nicely situated Ji Province.

It was far from Zhaoge City, and the lord Su Hu was a righteous and principled local feudal lord.

Then…

Su Hu: ‘King Di Xin is without the Way! He levies heavy taxes and kills loyal subjects! I, Su Hu, will not serve such a king!’

Zheng Lun was quite puzzled, not knowing which nerve had misfired in his lord’s head. With Ji Province’s meager troops and provisions, weren’t they just giving the Shang army some easy honors?

Now, the Shang army hadn’t even moved, yet just the Northern Earl’s forces were enough to bring Ji Province to the brink of suffocation.

“Sigh.”

Zheng Lun let out a short sigh, looking at the map laid out on the table before him, and thinking about how to respond.

This was a defensive battle, where a provisions officer seemed to have little use.

As the saying goes, before the army moves, provisions go first, making the Provisions General almost as important as the Vanguard General, so Zheng Lun would also have to charge into battle soon.

He was currently disguised as a peculiar person with some strange arts, and to avoid revealing his identity as an immortal, he had to ride horses, use weapons, and be careful not to kill too many mortals to avoid accumulating a karmic burden.

If there were cultivators hidden in Chong Houhu’s army, he could have a proper exchange with them, regardless of victory or defeat, at least avoiding the mockery of bullying mortals.

In his previous life, he was the Sect Leader of one of the Six Great Immortal Sects of the Human Dao;

Now look at him, a kitchen general under a mortal feudal lord.

The contrast was too great, not stylish at all.

This time he would just go through the motions, and if Su Hu was defeated, he would simply return to the mountains and forests, counting it as having made his journey to the South Continent.

Could Su Hu win?

Joking aside, just Chong Houhu’s army alone was ten times the size of Ji Province’s forces. Although Su Hu had a reputation for bravery, defeat was already certain.

If Su Hu could win, he, Zheng Lun, would eat this wooden table right there and then!

[Having surrounded Ji Province, Chong Houhu led his army to challenge, and Su Hu responded, with his son Su Quanzhong as backup. He charged forward on horseback to fight Chong Houhu, narrowly winning by one move. Chong Houhu retreated, his morale damaged, temporarily halting the siege.

At night, Su Hu led Ji Province’s army in a raid on the camp.

Chong Houhu’s numerous troops were arrogant and unprepared, allowing Su Hu’s army to charge into the main camp. Chong Houhu’s troops were leaderless and scattered in all directions, while Ji Province’s army killed them everywhere, causing Chong Houhu’s great army to collapse and retreat a hundred li.]

Zheng Lun: …

Very well.

After returning to his tent from killing enemies, Zheng Lun pointed at the wooden table, transforming it into a platter of fruits, and began enjoying them by himself.

If they could win like this, why was Chong Houhu even one of the Four Earls? He might as well commit suicide!

Really!

“Why is Sect Leader so angry?”

A clear voice reached his ears, and Zheng Lun’s spirit stirred as he turned his head to look around, yet couldn’t determine the voice’s source.

Li Longshou chuckled softly as his paper avatar appeared in the corner of the tent.

This address of “Sect Leader” was well-considered. Although Zheng Lun had reincarnated, due to the Netherworld’s leniency, his memories hadn’t faded. Moreover, continuing his previous path, he had become Master Du’e’s disciple and had been active in the Mount Kunlun immortal social circle.

If he didn’t call him “Sect Leader,” Zheng Lun would have to address him as Uncle Master, which would be somewhat awkward.

Seeing Li Longshou’s form, Zheng Lun quickly stood up, first casually setting up a barrier to prevent outsiders from seeing, then immediately made a Daoist salute to Li Longshou.

“Greetings, Star-Lord.”

Li Longshou returned the Daoist salute with clasped hands, smiling: “No need for formalities, Sect Leader. I was just passing by and came to visit.”

Zheng Lun didn’t stand on ceremony, made a welcoming gesture, and smiled: “Please sit, Star-Lord. It’s been a long time since we’ve met, we should have a good chat.”

“Very well,” Li Longshou agreed, sitting down opposite Zheng Lun. Seeing a fruit plate floating beside Zheng Lun, he didn’t look too closely and casually took a grape, tossing it into his mouth.

This was a detail expressing the closeness of their relationship.

But when the grape entered his mouth, Li Longshou took a bite, frowned at Zheng Lun, seemed to want to say something but held back, and silently finished eating the grape and swallowed it…

“When did Sect Leader develop such tastes? *cough* *cough cough*”

“Hahaha! Just trying something new when idle, just trying something new!”

Zheng Lun waved his hand and laughed heartily, brushing it off and calmly changing the subject.

“Where is Star-Lord headed, passing by here?”

“I was drawn here by the war situation,” Li Longshou fixed his gaze on Zheng Lun, speaking seriously, “Why has Sect Leader become involved in such mortal warfare?”

“Ah—”

Zheng Lun let out a long sigh, having nowhere else to voice his troubles, and took a grape into his mouth, speaking through a mouthful of wood shavings as he began recounting his previous experiences.

Li Longshou listened with slightly furrowed brows.

Was it truly a coincidence?

“Does Sect Leader remember what thoughts you had when deciding to stay in Ji Province?”

“Thoughts?” Zheng Lun carefully recalled, “There weren’t any particular thoughts, I just felt this place was nice and had some fate with me, so I might as well wait here and see how the great tribulation unfolds.”

Li Longshou fell into contemplation.

He hadn’t interfered much with the Sect Leader’s path after reincarnation, so it couldn’t be called heavenly path convergence.

According to the Sect Leader’s words, he didn’t feel he had been manipulated either; all thoughts arose from his heart, and all actions were from his true intentions.

Coincidence?

Not entirely—it should be called the fate of primordial beings.

The turning of great tribulation affects the fate of all beings, arranging everything in place imperceptibly to compose the heavenly path’s script.

This was the truly frightening aspect of the heavenly path.

Li Longshou sat opposite Zheng Lun in thought for a moment, but soon returned to his usual expression and began chatting with Zheng Lun about interesting matters in Ji Province.

Li Longshou knew that soon, a Severing Sect immortal would come to assist Chong Houhu, one named Chong Heihu, Chong Houhu’s younger brother, who had been secretly taken away by Severing Sect immortals earlier and had just returned to South Jambudvipa Continent to serve as an official these past two years, having learned some magic.

If Zheng Lun hadn’t intervened later, Chong Heihu could easily have achieved victory, thereby facilitating Da Ji’s entry into the palace.

Seeing his Sect Leader eating wood out of boredom like this…

He probably didn’t want to get involved.

After Zheng Lun had finished the plate of “fruits,” Li Longshou rose to take his leave, enjoining Zheng Lun to prioritize protecting himself during the great tribulation, and in crucial moments to call out his identity as a Human Dao disciple.

Zheng Lun agreed repeatedly, and after seeing Li Longshou off, turned and retched.

It was just a wooden table after all.

‘This Chong Houhu is truly useless, making this poor Daoist so pathetic, almost embarrassing myself in front of Longshou!’

At that moment, Zheng Lun gritted his teeth and steeled himself!

This time he’d bet this washbasin!

Ji Province would last at least three more rounds! Otherwise, he would eat this bronze basin right then and there!

[Ji Province’s new victory raised army morale and encouraged the feudal lords, but Chong Houhu rallied his forces and quickly attacked again, with his brother Chong Heihu arriving to assist.

Su Hu, wary of rumors about Chong Heihu, intended to defend the city and wait for aid from other feudal lords.

His son Su Quanzhong wanted to send troops to battle, but they couldn’t resolve their argument. Su Quanzhong secretly led troops out of the city to fight and was captured by Chong Heihu.

Using the eldest son Su Quanzhong as leverage, and with Chong Heihu’s fierce threat, Su Hu lost all hope. He went to the back courtyard with his sword, intending to kill his wife and daughter before committing suicide to show his loyalty.

However, his daughter Da Ji was extremely beautiful, and Su Hu couldn’t bring himself to kill her. Feeling even more dejected, he could only secretly seek aid from the Western Earl Ji Chang and offer his daughter to King Di Xin.]

One night, at the Ji Province wedding escort team’s camp, a certain Ji Province general held a washbasin, tears mixing with saliva, as he silently tore the bronze basin into strips.

If one cannot keep faith in oneself, how can the Dao’s heart be called firm?

Li Longshou’s paper avatar, hidden underground, witnessed this scene and fell into contemplation.

Was this how the Two Qi Humming Technique in the cavity was cultivated?

Extraordinary indeed, truly remarkable.

…

“Sister, are you not going to do anything about this matter?”

On the Three Immortal Island, in a misty place.

At the end of a corridor, Qiong Xiao sat on a stone bench asking thus.

Beside her, Yun Xiao faced the cloud sea and misty lake, speaking softly: “There was no issue to begin with, why create trouble? Sister Ling’e explained everything very clearly, Fairy Chang’e sought him out for urgent business.”

Qiong Xiao snorted: “As if he would dare have any thoughts!

However, if you don’t take a stance on this kind of thing, Sister, he might be testing us.

Why not take this opportunity to make a bigger issue of it, also warn those who covet Brother-in-law’s beauty!”

Yun Xiao smiled helplessly and walked back to sit at the stone table.

Bi Xiao, carrying a jade tray, came riding on clouds from afar, containing freshly brewed immortal wine.

Yun Xiao said gently: “Earlier, we saw human affairs at Master’s place, and he’s also involved, probably still worried about it now.

The human torch seems to have been passed to him as well, this burden must be quite heavy.”

“Humans… forget it,” Qiong Xiao shook her head, “I can’t understand what humans are thinking anymore. They are indeed quite remarkable, having survived those difficult years since ancient times to suddenly become the protagonists of heaven and earth.”

Bi Xiao’s laughter came from the side: “Why are we discussing such serious matters?”

“Let’s not speak of this,” Yun Xiao said, “It’s been long since we three sisters gathered like this. Today let’s drink and be merry—though not too drunk—and help you both ease the worries of being unable to go out.”

Qiong Xiao immediately squinted and smiled: “Who wants to ease the worries of being unable to go out, Sister~”

Yun Xiao cast a sidelong glance, and Qiong Xiao shrank her neck, obediently lowering her head to drink.

“Ah…”

Yun Xiao raised the jade cup before her, slowly moistening her lips, becoming somewhat lost in thought.

However, before the wine was half finished and heartfelt words were spoken, clouds and mist churned outside the Three Immortal Island, and a familiar presence searched into the island, hurriedly seeking them, brows furrowed into the shape of a river.

Yun Xiao put down her wine cup, rose to welcome him, and called out “Elder Brother” along with her two sisters.

The arrival was none other than Zhao Gongming.