Chapter 107: The Dragon is Lame Leisurely

Ao Yi?

Ao Yi immediately scanned his surroundings, but he couldn't find any trace of Li Changshou.

He stared at the statue before him, his shock intensifying.

Could it be that Brother Changshou hadn't yet become an immortal but had already embarked on the path of incense and fire to become a god, using the statue to send his voice to me?

But as if perceiving Ao Yi's thoughts, Li Changshou's voice transmission included a light laugh...

"Brother Ao, please don't speak for now. The causes and effects of this matter are quite complex, and it's hard to explain in a short time.

I am right here at this moment. The statue rising into the air and manifesting is just a trick.

Last time we talked, I learned that Brother Ao is deeply worried about the current troubles of the Long Zu. Recently, I have been thinking of some strategies on your behalf.

If Brother Ao trusts me, please have these Nan Hai Dragon Palace immortal soldiers withdraw to the Nan Hai for now, and wait here for a moment.

Once I finish manifesting for this ceremony, I will meet with Brother Ao again. Is that alright?"

Ao Yi's expression shifted slightly, and he nodded subtly without drawing attention.

As he was about to fly away, he heard Li Changshou's voice transmission again: "There's one more thing I'd like Brother Ao to help with..."

And so it went, in that manner.

After Li Changshou's voice transmission spoke a couple of sentences, Ao Yi quickly nodded.

Ao Yi let out a light shout, and a dragon's roar echoed through the air!

In an instant, radiant lights filled the sky, and clouds billowed everywhere!

Ao Yi revealed his massive dragon form, over a hundred zhang long, and nodded toward the Hai Shen statue. His slender body swayed gently as he soared into the air, creating a spectacular scene.

Below, the group of Xiong Zhai strongmen and the followers here were all wide-eyed in astonishment...

The azure dragon circled high in the sky twice before slowly flying back to the immortal soldiers, transforming back into the elegant young man.

"Second Brother!"

Ao Mou rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward.

"Second Brother, I've already sent someone back to gather troops. Today, we'll flatten this Nan Hai Shen Sect!

We'll smash every Hai Shen temple they have here!"

"No," Ao Yi frowned. "I'll handle this matter. You take the soldiers back above the sea surface and make sure not to harm any mortals, which would add to our karmic burdens."

Ao Mou furrowed his brow. "Second Brother, are we just going to..."

He leaned closer to Ao Yi and muttered quietly: "Are we doing this? It feels like we're losing face."

"Is face more important, or life?" Ao Yi said calmly. "We should avoid offending people if we can;

And by 'people,' I don't mean living beings."

People, not living beings? That must mean...

Ren Jiao?!

Ao Mou suddenly realized, glaring at the Hai Shen statue. "Second Brother, this is!"

"Don't say more. Go first. I'll take care of this."

Ao Yi patted Ao Mou's arm. "If there's a chance later, I'll introduce you to an extraordinary person."

Ao Mou immediately understood and laughed.

"Got it, Second Brother, you handle things here.

I'll explain to Fairy Han Zhi that you have important business here.

Later, I'll bring along an extraordinary person... no, I'll bring two!"

With that, Ao Mou winked and gestured playfully, then burst into laughter. He waved his sleeve with great flair and ordered the troops to withdraw.

The immortal soldiers helped their wounded and quickly flew toward the Nan Hai on that dark cloud.

Ao Yi rode a cloud to a nearby forest, paying no mind to the mortals' bows and stares.

Although Ao Yi felt that his conversation with Ao Mou had some slip-ups, he didn't bother with such trivial matters at the moment.

He was very interested in the two things Li Changshou had mentioned.

The current dilemmas of the Long Zu,

And that this Hai Shen Sect wasn't established by Brother Changshou.

The first point made Ao Yi unable to leave, as he wanted to consult Li Changshou and see if he could gain some insights.

The second point set Ao Yi's mind racing...

If the Hai Shen Sect wasn't founded by Brother Changshou, then who could it be?

Ao Yi had long known that the Dao Men, the Western forces, major sects, great immortal schools, and various experts had been scheming over the incense and fire matters of the Nan Zhan Bu Continent's human race for ages.

On the way here, Ao Yi had also heard from the Turtle Immortal that the Nan Hai Shen Sect had grown to a considerable scale in just a few years, which was truly remarkable...

'Could there be a Ren Jiao expert's scheme behind this?

But why would they need Brother Changshou to step forward?'

In the forest, Ao Yi fell into deep thought, while also watching the Hai Shen's manifestation ceremony in the distance.

At this time, Ao Yi had no idea that he had already stepped into the 'loop' that Li Changshou had set.

If you want to lead someone astray...

It's not entirely accurate to say "lead astray," since Li Changshou is a proper Dao Men disciple, upright and honest, with nothing but a slight habit of keeping a few hidden cards—his nature isn't that of a great villain.

More precisely:

If you want to guide someone off course, what should you do first?

The first step is to make that person interested in what you say, to keep them engaged as the starting point of everything.

The second step, which Li Changshou had just taken, is to give Ao Yi some hints and leave enough room for his imagination, letting Ao Yi develop his own thoughts.

Later, Li Changshou would choose the next steps based on Ao Yi's reaction...

As recorded in Li Changshou's work, which stands alongside the "Wen Zi Jing" and serves as one of Ling E's teaching texts—part of the "Xiao Qiong Peak Wen Zi San Bao Dian," known as the "Tao Lu Lun";

The third step could be to advance by retreating, or to yield for greater gain, or to guide along the momentum...

In any case, by choosing to stay, Ao Yi had already put one foot into the quagmire.

Li Changshou calculated that his chances of surviving this calamity had just increased by two or three percent!

With Ao Yi secured, the next task was to properly deal with this Xiong Zhai.

The statue emitted a burst of immortal light from the air, then slowly descended. Below, whether the Xiong Zhai strongmen or the followers, they all continued to kowtow incessantly.

A vague figure flew out from the statue, its face blurred, as if formed from rays of light.

This was actually one of Li Changshou's small hidden cards, the "Fei Yu Ti Shen Fa" used for escapes, which could create three identical decoys in an instant.

The decoy was made of immortal power and could be directly formed within the statue.

He never expected that this escape technique would be used here today...

But it didn't matter; Li Changshou had several complete escape methods.

Escaping techniques were just the basics; these adaptable "little tricks" were equally important.

The decoy slowly spoke, its voice echoing across the mountains and fields, as over a hundred thousand mortals fell silent, kneeling on the ground and listening quietly.

"This humble one manifests true spiritual essence to bring fortune to you all.

Be diligent, frugal, friendly, and protective of the young and elderly; face hardships without fear to gain blessings.

Today, this humble one transmits the teachings of the Hai Shen Sect. You must always keep them in mind, live virtuously, and align with heaven and earth..."

At that moment, Li Changshou organized the Hai Shen Sect teachings he had heard in recent days, simplifying them into three-character phrases and incorporating some elements from his own Wen Zi Jing...

As the paper effigy hidden beneath the statue recited the scriptures, another paper effigy had already returned to the scene.

Li Changshou secretly observed the reactions of the Xiong Zhai people and found that most of the strongmen were kneeling on the ground with faces full of reverence.

However, the village elder and a few high priests had complex expressions, kneeling there with looks of bewilderment.

What? Was there really a Hai Shen?

"Hmph!"

These individuals suddenly heard a cold snort, and Li Changshou's voice from another paper effigy entered their minds.

Li Changshou said:

"When this humble one was patrolling the sea, you salvaged my divine seat from the depths and saw my true form.

Since you know I am the Hai Shen, you even built temples and shrines for me in the Nan Hai region.

How is it that now, with this humble one appearing in person, you kneel but do not bow?"

The village elder frowned, about to signal to the others to bow for now...

But the high priests beside him suddenly rolled their eyes and slowly collapsed, lying haphazardly on the ground.

The village elder was startled.

Li Changshou's voice entered the village elder's ear: "This humble one will take their souls for a few days of punishment. They will wake up on their own after that.

Then you can ask them if they remember anything."

—In reality, it was just some softened immortal powder, with Li Changshou increasing the dosage slightly.

The village elder trembled, his Adam's apple bobbing, while Li Changshou's voice continued to echo in his ear like a demonic whisper...

"Did you really think that because you have a bit of Wu Zu blood in you, this humble one couldn't do anything?

It's only because of some old ties with your ancestors that I've overlooked your using my name to gather wealth.

Did your ancestors pass down instructions forbidding you from venturing out much and telling you to huddle in that corner and survive?

Did they also instruct you not to marry many women from outside the village, and that women could take in grooms but not marry out?

And was there a special instruction for each generation's village leader to live honestly and avoid trouble?

Yet what have you done all these years?"

The village elder was drenched in cold sweat, trembling even more violently, his pupils dilating.

The Hai Shen was real, truly real...

Each "did they" felt like a thousand-jin weight pressing down on the village elder's back, forcing him lower and lower.

The voice resurfaced in his mind:

"Do you still want your Xiong Zhai to continue existing?

If not, this humble one will erase you, sparing your ancestors the shame."

"We do, we do!"

The village elder shouted desperately, looking up at the statue, just in time to see the ethereal figure reciting the scriptures.

And that figure happened to lower its eyes and look down.

In that instant, it was as if the statue had come alive, its gaze full of coldness.

In the end, the village elder was just a mortal. At that moment, his mental defenses completely collapsed. He prostrated on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Sea God, punish me, punish me alone!

It was my greed, my greed!

This idea was mine; everyone in the village just followed me!"

"In that case, your soul will also come for a few days of punishment."

Li Changshou snorted coldly again, and a wisp of knockout drug entered the village elder's nose. The old man instantly collapsed.

Just then, the "Hai Shen" who had finished reciting the teachings slowly faded from the statue.

A voice entered the hearts of the other Xiong Zhai people:

"The ceremony continues; maintain order here and ensure no one gets hurt.

The high priest has been greedy for a long time, but fortunately, he hasn't committed a great wrong.

Today, this humble one will lightly punish him by taking his soul back for correction. He will wake up in a few days.

Since you honor this Hai Shen, from now on, you should uphold the principles of bringing fortune to all and enlightening the ignorant. Avoid filthy and evasive deeds, fulfill your roles as divine messengers, and protect the followers!"

The voice gradually faded, along with the light on the statue...

The group of Xiong Zhai strongmen shuddered, looking at the high priest and divine messengers lying in a heap at the base of the statue, not daring to approach and help them up.

Indeed, the village elder's greed had gone too far, and he was punished by the Hai Shen...

Many followers cheered at the sight, chanting the Hai Shen's illustrious name.

The Hai Shen ceremony continued, with the followers more excited than ever, taking turns to offer incense and pray.

Li Changshou calculated with his fingers; his incense and fire merit...

Was surging rapidly upward.

Ao Yi sat cross-legged in a clearing in the forest, quietly pondering the Hai Shen Sect teachings he had just heard, feeling even more admiration for "Brother Changshou."

In the distance, hundreds of thousands of humans continued their celebration. Ao Yi watched the rising clouds of merit, a hint of envy in his eyes.

Once upon a time, the Long Zu had been like this...

"Brother Ao?"

A voice came from the side, and Ao Yi quickly stood up to see a middle-aged Daoist strolling over.

The Daoist smiled and recited a line of poetry from their last meeting. Ao Yi noticed the illusion technique on him and immediately understood.

Ao Yi carefully sensed the Daoist's cultivation, which was at the eighth stage of Fan Xu realm, confirming his identity without a doubt.

—Disciple of Ren Jiao's Du Xian Gate, Li Changshou.

Li Changshou bowed. "I hope Brother Ao doesn't find this laughable."

"Brother Changshou speaks too seriously," Ao Yi returned the bow and walked alongside Li Changshou.

By now, Li Changshou had observed Ao Yi's reaction and drawn some conclusions, knowing which "third step" to take next.

Li Changshou looked at Ao Yi and set up a simple soundproof barrier around them, speaking seriously. "Brother Ao, what do you think of this Nan Hai Shen Sect?"

Ao Yi nodded slowly. "Its teachings promote goodness and aren't just about seizing incense and fire. It's quite significant."

Li Changshou smiled, as if he had anticipated the answer.

Ao Yi couldn't help but lower his voice and ask quietly: "Brother Changshou, could you give me a hint? This Hai Shen Sect, exactly what is it...?"

Li Changshou shook his head, pointed upward, then to his mouth, and then downward.

Ao Yi vaguely understood, his thoughts becoming muddled, and he suddenly grasped something.

'Sure enough, as I thought, Brother Changshou is just the front man. It's the Ren Jiao experts collecting the incense and fire merit.'

Li Changshou smiled again and sighed. "Those divine messengers caused some damage to the Dragon Palace immortal soldiers earlier, and I feel quite uneasy about it."

Ao Yi was taken aback, then thought of something else.

'It's not just Ren Jiao experts; there's Wu Zu scheming behind this too!'

Certain Hai Shen: I didn't say anything.

Ao Yi laughed. "Don't worry, it's just a minor matter. I'll remind them later."

Ao Yi looked up at the "Li Changshou" beside him, feeling a wave of emotion.

"Brother Changshou asked me earlier if I know about the Long Zu's troubles. How much does Brother Changshou know?"

Li Changshou sighed:

"No immediate threats from outside, yet ancient calamities linger; lost in indulgence, the sea eyes are hard to sustain.

Brother Ao, I have a rough idea of what you've done, but relying on you alone, it's difficult to turn the tide."

Li Changshou paused his words, secretly observing Ao Yi's expression.

Earlier, he had used a series of persuasion tactics, like intentional omissions, subtle hints, allowing free association, and step-by-step enticement...

But the highest level of persuasion is to not speak directly and let the other person bring up what you want.

That way, the karma shifts.

Perhaps in the end, Ao Yi would even thank him profusely and say, "Thank you, Brother Changshou, for your guidance."