“Emissary!”

On the reef, a Daoist cultivator trembled as he spoke: “We’ve searched everywhere and kept watch outside the Bear Village for a long time… but we couldn’t find any trace of this Sea God! Please spare our lives, Emissary! We are willing to gather the blood of a thousand mortals for you!”

“Mortals?” The woman’s eyes carried a trace of coldness. “What good is mortal blood? Not only does it lack spiritual energy, but it also diminishes merit. Having followed me for so long, you should know that I have already cleansed myself of the karmic debts left from my previous cultivation and no longer kill mortals needlessly. As for you two… hmph! Considering our sect still needs people, I’ll temporarily excuse your incompetence.”

The two Daoists let out sighs of relief and hastily called out:

“Thank you, Emissary!”

“Thank you, Emissary!”

The woman cast a cold glance at the two, and these True Immortal Daoists immediately fell silent, continuing to kneel there, not daring to even breathe heavily.

‘These human cultivators are truly useless.’

The woman snorted coldly. Her long phoenix eyes narrowed as she gazed at the distant sea, contemplating the sect orders she had just received.

Her Dao title was Wenjing, and she was originally the Queen of Blood-Winged Black Mosquitoes who had attained the Dao. Neither demon nor spirit, she was an ancient fierce demon. To be precise, she was a Queen!

Before the Six Ancient Sages attained the Dao, she had led swarms of blood-winged black mosquitoes to plague the Western creatures. Later, she was subdued by two ‘candidate’ sages of the West, though they didn’t kill her.

— At that time, the two Western sages had already received the Primordial Purple Qi bestowed by the Dao Ancestor but hadn’t comprehended the method of attaining sagehood through merit.

Now, after countless years, Daoist Wenjing had successfully cultivated in secret and become the Western Sect’s Plague-Purifying Emissary, specializing in dirty work that would tarnish the Western Sect’s reputation if exposed.

Her nature was cruel, killing creatures without batting an eye. She chose such an alluring appearance when taking human form to facilitate her sinister dealings.

After being forced to join the Western Sect, Daoist Wenjing continuously used incense and merit to cleanse her karmic debts, and now had reduced them to zero. However, the Heavenly Dao sensed this and prevented her from gaining even a bit of merit, which greatly annoyed her.

[How I want to sting this Heavenly Dao that favors humans!]

As Daoist Wenjing was lost in the calculation, she heard the two subordinates chattering again…

“Emissary, the Southern Sea Sect only occupies the marginal territories. Our arranged incense fires cover vast regions of southwestern Jambudvipa… This time… we… we haven’t lost too much.”

“Emissary, why don’t we secretly eliminate that Bear Village…”

Daoist Wenjing turned her head to look at this subordinate, making him tremble and immediately fall silent. He could only regret having opened his mouth!

“Killing mortals only increases karmic debt without any benefit. What I seek is the person who has been arranging and planning these incense offerings here. I want to drain their merit and essence blood. To have established so many divine statues for worship at such speed – this person’s schemes run far deeper than you useless lot could comprehend.”

The alluring Daoist in blood robes berated them coldly, taking a few steps to the side. Her figure swayed with captivating beauty, but the two didn’t dare raise their eyelids even slightly.

After brief contemplation, Daoist Wenjing continued:

“The Southern Sea region is far from our Western territories to begin with. The incense offerings of merely several hundred thousand beings here – losing them is no great matter. Now, I have a more urgent task for you to investigate. In the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, there is a celestial sect called the Salvation Immortal Sect, barely qualifying as an inheritor of the Human Dao. They recently had a magical battle with some mediocre Celestial Immortals from Golden Ao Island. Go to the Eastern Continent today and investigate this matter thoroughly, see if there’s anything we can exploit. If you handle this well, you can redeem yourselves, and I will grant you some rewards.”

The two exchanged glances, their eyes full of relief at having survived.

Then, they called out energetically:

“We obey!”

“Go then. You know the consequences if you bungle this task or expose your identities.”

Daoist Wenjing waved her slender finger lightly.

The two hurriedly took their leave, immediately jumping into the sea and swiftly departing from this formation-covered area.

“Useless ones are truly useless, only fit for gathering information.”

Daoist Wenjing’s eyes revealed a hint of coldness. She flicked her fingers, and two black mosquitoes quickly flew out, silently landing on the necks of the two True Immortals, completely unnoticed by them…

‘If they show any abnormality, drain and kill them immediately, leaving no trace.’

At her mental command, the mosquitoes’ response quickly echoed:

‘Yes, Queen.’

The one who had ordered her to exploit this matter of the small Human Dao inheritor sect battling with Golden Ao Island’s cultivators was the Western Sect’s Vice Sect Master, a disciple of the Great Sage.

Though this seemed like a minor matter, Daoist Wenjing understood well that it involved the Three Schools of the Dao Path and the face of the Sages…

She had to plan carefully and absolutely could not appear in person.

If she accidentally exposed the Western Sect’s continuous attempts to divide the Three Schools of the Dao Path and someone caught hold of this evidence, she would be eliminated by the Western Sect’s two Sages before the Dao Path’s experts could even act. At that point, she, a fierce demon, would become the scapegoat for attempting to disrupt relations between the Three Schools of the Dao Path…

Although she had been doing dirty work for the Western Sect, it didn’t mean that Daoist Wenjing was willingly subservient.

Subservient?

She was a Queen of her kind!

If not for the Western Sect’s two Sages holding her entire tribe of black mosquitoes hostage as leverage, she would have drained those hypocritical Vice Sect Masters dry long ago!

“Hmph!”

Daoist Wenjing swept her sleeve, and her alluring figure transformed into a blood-colored streak, disappearing along with the surrounding formations.

The sea surface was empty, leaving only a strand of mosquitoes buzzing circling about;

One could only hear its sound, but not trace its whereabouts.

This was probably an ancestral secret technique of the mosquito tribe.

…

“Awful Senior Brother!”

By the lakeside willows of Small Jade Peak, Lan Ling’e knelt by the lake water, using a handkerchief dampened with clear water to wash off the ‘makeup’ she had managed to put on her face with great difficulty.

“Bad Senior Brother!

Not explaining what that scroll was about, letting me make such a fool of myself!

In the end, you even said my heart for the Dao is unstable, saying I’m always doing these unusual things – I did all this just to make you happy!

It’s just copying the Wuwei Scripture a hundred times, I’ll copy it! What’s the big deal!”

In Master’s thatched cottage, hearing Lan Ling’e’s quiet complaints by the lake, Li Changshou couldn’t help but raise his hand to his forehead.

This…

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sat in his round-backed armchair, gesturing Li Changshou to take a seat beside him, and asked: “Changshou, what did you want to discuss with Master?”

“Master, please activate the surrounding formations first. Disciple fears there might be eavesdroppers.”

“Mm,” Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded, activating the formations around the thatched cottage, then studied Li Changshou intently.

Before Ling’e revealed that ‘Senior Brother is extraordinary,’ Old Daoist Qi Yuan had only thought his senior disciple was timid and afraid of death, but had excellent aptitude and had always maintained good progress in cultivation.

But after being trapped in the pill room’s maze formation, Old Daoist Qi Yuan pondered all his past interactions with his senior disciple…

Yet he still couldn’t find any clues.

However, the grand formations around the pill room…

This marvelous ‘Turtle Breathing and Qi Steadying Scripture’…

And that paper-cutting human transformation technique that he couldn’t even comprehend…

“Changshou,” Old Daoist Qi Yuan leaned forward, speaking softly, “Be honest with Master.

What realm are you actually in now?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “When I returned from my previous departure, the disciple had gone through tribulation.”

Then during the tribulation, he accidentally ascended a tiny bit… This latter half, naturally, couldn’t be said directly.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded, his heart slightly more at ease.

At least he had confirmed his senior disciple’s true cultivation level;

After tribulation, one becomes an Origin Immortal.

Becoming an immortal in just one hundred twenty or thirty years – this aptitude already qualified him as a top-tier immortal seedling!

Old Daoist Qi Yuan frowned again and asked: “Then why do you hide your realm?

Normally revealing your realm would get you the sect’s attention and protection – isn’t that good?”

“Master, the world is harsh, and people’s hearts are unfathomable.”

Li Changshou said softly, “Think about it – when I was in the Return to Void realm, I always presented myself as being in the Divine Transformation realm. So if someone wanted to deal with me, they would naturally plan according to dealing with a Divine Transformation realm cultivator, and they would likely expose weaknesses. This would give the disciple more chances of survival…

You should understand this reasoning.”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded, his face thoughtful, feeling something was amiss but unable to pinpoint what.

Li Changshou continued: “Disciple has always disguised himself as an excellent disciple of the sect, with strength just behind the immortal seedlings. The monthly allowance I receive is only twenty percent less than those immortal seedlings.

But the benefit is that others don’t know my name or my methods, so no one would scheme against me.

Think about it, Master;

If Small Jade Peak produced an immortal seedling, others would certainly be envious.

If we produced a chief disciple, we would likely be targeted by other peaks…

The peaks compete for cultivation resources, after all, since the sect’s various sources of income remain stable.”

Qi Yuan pondered for a while, then slowly nodded.

Before, he had always thought his senior disciple’s unconventional approaches were crooked reasoning, but now that his senior disciple was somewhat stronger than himself, he suddenly felt that this reasoning…

Made sense…

Old Daoist Qi Yuan stroked his beard and sighed: “It truly is so. Master was too shortsighted before.”

Li Changshou raised his eyebrows, not expecting his master to be even easier to foo… ahem, to convince than he had imagined.

“Master, what I wanted to discuss with you today concerns the future path for you, Junior Sister, and myself.”

“Future path?”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was caught between laughter and tears as he scolded: “What nonsense is this about a future path? We cultivate in the sect, living in peace and comfort every day – isn’t that wonderful? Do you feel the sect can no longer accommodate you as an immortal?”

“The sect has certainly treated us extremely well. If the sect faces trouble, the disciple will help in every way possible while ensuring survival, and will certainly seek revenge in the future if possible.”

Li Changshou said seriously, “But Master, don’t you want to extend your lifespan?”

“Lifespan, naturally I want that,” Qi Yuan sighed, “but you needn’t worry about Master. Being able to become a Turbid Immortal with a chance to cultivate to True Immortal – Master is already content…”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Master, there’s a way for you to extend your life even after becoming a True Immortal. Moreover, it would bring many benefits to both disciple and Junior Sister in the future.”

“Benefits for you and Ling’e? Let’s hear it.”

Li Changshou pointed upward, writing two large characters on the table:

Heavenly Court.

— In ancient script!

Old Daoist Qi Yuan furrowed his brow and muttered thoughtfully;

Seeing this, Li Changshou sighed inwardly.

His master probably shared the same resistance to the ‘official’ institution of the Heavenly Court as most cultivators.

This was unavoidable – after all, cultivating freely in the mountains was far better than going to heaven and being bound by celestial rules, having to take orders from others.

Li Changshou had prepared a set of arguments to try to persuade his master to ascend;

If Master didn’t want to ascend, Li Changshou wouldn’t force the issue – this attempt was just to test the waters…

“Mas…”

Just as Li Changshou was about to speak, Qi Yuan asked puzzledly:

“How does this place benefit one’s lifespan?”

Hm?

Li Changshou was stunned, “Master, could it be you don’t know the benefits of this place?”

“Master has heard that after the great war between Shamans and Demons, several Sage Lords established this place on the ruins of the Demon Court,” Qi Yuan frowned and said, “but I haven’t heard the specifics.”

Li Changshou: …

The current awareness of the Heavenly Court…

Was truly far from inspiring yearning!

“Master, please let disciple explain in detail.”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan immediately nodded, listening with interest as Li Changshou began his gradual explanation.

Half a day later.

Li Changshou walked back to the pill room with his hands behind his back, having retrieved the small box from his master.

Unexpectedly, Master showed no resistance to taking a position in the Heavenly Court, and even found it quite novel, giving him more motivation for breaking through to the True Immortal realm…

Thinking carefully, after becoming a Turbid Immortal, Master had become somewhat out of place in the sect;

If Master could break through to the True Immortal realm early and go to the Heavenly Court to be a minor official or become a local Earth God, Master would probably be much more at ease…

Li Changshou had just left many cultivation-enhancing pills with his master;

Being already a Turbid Immortal, there was no need to be too particular – future development potential was inherently limited, so using pills to boost cultivation wasn’t necessarily wrong.

Once Master reached the True Immortal realm, he could use his connections with his old friend the Matchmaker to help Master enter the Heavenly Court as a civil official – it wouldn’t be a problem…

The second step of the plan proceeded quite smoothly.

Next would be waiting for Master to break through to the True Immortal realm, which would probably take about a thousand years;

Perhaps even two thousand years…

But certainly well before the Great Tribulation of Investiture of Gods took shape!

Turbid Immortal cultivation was much harder than Element Immortal of the Celestial Immortal path; partly because they couldn’t fully obtain the opportunities of heavenly tribulation.

‘Before then, should I make a safe house outside the sect gates?’

Li Changshou carefully pondered.

In case the Salvation Immortal Sect faced extinction before the three of them reported to the Heavenly Court, he would need a place for Master and Junior Sister to take refuge…

After walking through the forest for a while, Li Changshou temporarily dismissed this idea.

The current priority was to perfect the compound formation of Small Jade Peak;

And in reality, he didn’t have enough precious materials to create another ‘safe house’ with complete formations.

Just as he walked back to the pill room, Li Changshou’s immortal consciousness detected Senior Uncle Jiu Wu flying over.

This time with Ao Yi’s sudden visit, Senior Uncle Jiu Wu had indeed helped him a lot – whether that help was counterproductive or not, he had to acknowledge the goodwill.

The short Daoist seemed to be in quite good spirits, letting out a hearty laugh as he entered the isolation formation surrounding Small Jade Peak.

“Hahaha!

Nephew Changshou, guess what your Senior Uncle brought you?

Your handling of the Golden Ao Island cultivators was quite appropriate, and the sect has many rewards for you!”

Speaking thus, the short Daoist stood on a cloud and threw over two treasure pouches, “These are all precious materials for setting up formations, the sect’s encouragement for you to continue studying the Dao of formations!”

Li Changshou used immortal power to control the pouches, checking them from afar before taking them in hand.

Jiu Wu was already used to this behavior, hovering on his cloud ten zhang away in the air.

Li Changshou cupped his hands in greeting, “Many thanks, Senior Uncle.”

“Ah, it’s too early to thank me.”

Jiu Wu pulled out a silver-white small sword and tossed it over, saying casually: “This is the entry permit for the Inner Hall of Dao Scriptures.

Your Senior Uncle spent some effort talking to get this for you over there;

The Inner Hall of Dao Scriptures contains many texts on formations and pill refining that only the sect’s True Immortals can access.

How about that?

Hm?

Hmm?”

As he spoke, Jiu Wu was winking and making faces.

Li Changshou’s heart stirred, and he immediately grabbed the silver-white small sword, turning it over in his hands a couple of times, his lips curling slightly upward.

Unexpected that this time would bring such benefits!

Earlier, exposing his cultivation level and drawing attention seemed like a small loss;

But now, it truly seemed worthwhile!

“Senior Uncle, please come in and sit down to talk.”

“No, no,” Jiu Wu waved his hand and sighed, “Alas, I’m fated for a life of toil, about to head out again.

When you become an immortal early and become a sect official, you’ll know how exhausting this work is.”

Li Changshou’s heart stirred, and he asked: “What matter takes Senior Uncle away this time?”

Jiu Wu smiled and said: “The Central Divine Continent seems to be organizing a conference of the Three Schools’ Immortal Sects, expected in fifty or a hundred years.

Your Senior Uncle is about to go with two elders to make an appearance, representing the Salvation Immortal Sect, to discuss the specifics with those major sects;

However, compared to those major sects, our Salvation Immortal Sect is too young, our standing too light – we dare not say much, just listen to what the other Human Dao immortal sects say.”

Conference of the Three Schools’ Immortal Sects?

What… is this?

Related to the Great Tribulation of Investiture of Gods?

Li Changshou pondered briefly, but Jiu Wu seemed somewhat rushed, hastily advising him to cultivate well before turning to leave.

Li Changshou looked up and hurriedly said:

“Senior Uncle, wait!”

He had spoken casually – he should have said ‘please stay’ instead.