Chapter 131: You're Already Very Handsome

Li Changshou never expected that the romantic and amorous Chunyang Sanren of later generations had actually planted the seeds of his fate at this very moment.

Dong Mu Gong's visit was simply to express his gratitude to Li Changshou.

As soon as they met in the Landscape Spirit Diagram, Dong Mu Gong was panting heavily.

"Your Majesty! His Majesty... he..."

"He smiled at me!"

Li Changshou felt a slight unease, thinking that one of his key supporters might have run into some trouble.

Then, Dong Mu Gong let out a long sigh, describing how difficult his life had been over the past tens of thousands of years.

He was originally an ordinary immortal with humble origins. During the late Witch-Devil War, when the Human Race rose to prominence, he fought valiantly for them, earning significant merit. This led to him being selected by the saints to become the Dong Wang Gong of the newly established Heavenly Court.

Yu Di was a servant boy of Dao Zu, addressing the saints as his senior brothers, and his own cultivation was never revealed.

What chance did Dong Mu Gong have to challenge Yu Di for power?

For all this time, Dong Mu Gong had been diligent and cautious, walking on eggshells without a single peaceful day...

Though, of course, he didn't need to sleep.

A few days earlier, Dong Mu Gong had hastily married a female immortal he had known for some time and asked Yu Di to grant him a calligraphy inscription.

"His Majesty Yu Di's smile was so hearty, so genuine..."

Dong Mu Gong took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed to Li Changshou, saying, "I dare not fully express my great debt of gratitude. If you ever need me, I will do my utmost!"

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, but still feeling uneasy, he asked for details about what Dong Mu Gong had done.

Good thing he asked...

When he heard Dong Mu Gong say, "I want them all," Li Changshou's true self nearly drowned in frustration.

"My friend, moderation is key. A reputation for devotion is just as important.

If you marry one immortal today, and another opportunity comes tomorrow, will you accept or decline?"

Dong Mu Gong laughed. "Naturally, I'll accept them all—more is safer."

"Then won't His Majesty Yu Di's inscription become a joke?"

Li Changshou sighed. "For you, being affectionate is better than being promiscuous, and being devoted is better than being affectionate...

My friend, what you fear most is His Majesty overthinking things. So why add fuel to the fire and hurt yourself like this?"

"This... this..."

Dong Mu Gong stood up and paced back and forth, looking troubled. "What I was thinking at the time was that more people would make things more secure."

"Security isn't achieved that way," Li Changshou pondered for a moment. "My friend, this matter can still be salvaged.

But this is the last time I'll give you advice on this. We shouldn't meet privately anymore. Do you understand?"

"Of course I do," Dong Mu Gong said, performing a daoist bow. Li Changshou stood and returned the gesture.

At that moment, Li Changshou could only briefly outline a plan for Dong Mu Gong's future actions.

—Essentially, build an image of devotion, perhaps even seek a title for his wife, and spread some romantic stories about them in the Heavenly Court.

The Dong Mu Gong, who had previously focused only on cultivation and assisting Yu Di, now eagerly absorbed the "knowledge" from Li Changshou, his advisor.

Gradually, Dong Mu Gong began to show signs of enlightenment...

As they talked, for every point Li Changshou made, Dong Mu Gong could come up with three more.

This was probably the talent of someone who would become Chunyang Sanren in a past life...

"I almost forgot to ask who Mu Gong married this time."

In the thatched hut, Li Changshou lifted the front of his daoist robe and stood up from the meditation cushion, stretching slightly.

Then, he continued on his way to his master's thatched hut next door.

The word "emotion" entangles so many karmic ties...

The esteemed Dong Mu Gong, a powerful immortal in the Heavenly Court with immense accumulated merit, appointed by the saints, was now anxious over this matter of emotion.

Of course, most of Dong Mu Gong's anxiety stemmed from his heavy responsibilities.

His own master, because of a single emotional entanglement, had lost his foundation for immortality and now lived in dejection, shut away in his hut.

How had his master fallen asleep again...

Li Changshou dispelled the array himself, cleared his throat, and called out to the hut, "Master, your disciple has an important matter to discuss with you."

"Oh?"

Qi Yuan quickly opened the wooden door. Though he looked spirited, his expression and gaze were still somewhat downcast.

"Come in. What is it?"

"Master, are you aware of the Three Teachings Origin Conference?"

Li Changshou asked with a smile.

Qi Yuan finally showed a hint of a smile. His disciple Lan Ling'e had already reported the good news about the sect's grand competition, and as their master, he was truly proud of them.

Naturally, Qi Yuan also guessed that his younger disciple's rapid advancement of six levels probably meant she had revealed her cultivation...

"This conference, I know about it. Is there an elder recommending that Ling E attend?"

"Why would Ling E go?"

Li Changshou explained, "Master, attending the Three Teachings Origin Conference brings no benefits—just a tiring journey through the clouds, and it could easily stir up unnecessary karma. It's really not worthwhile."

Qi Yuan frowned.

"You've always been excellent in every way, my disciple, except for this narrow view, always focusing on our tiny Little Qiongfeng.

This is an opportunity to bring honor to the sect and enhance the Du Xian Men's heritage!

Being able to accompany the sect's experts is a great honor. How can you talk about benefits?"

Li Changshou: ...

Anyway, if any sect elder recommended Ling E, he could just pretend to be ill and have her stay to take care of him.

The conference was still far off, with no set date yet—probably in three to five decades.

"Master, let's set that aside for now. Your disciple has a favor to ask today."

Seeing that his master was about to start lecturing, Li Changshou quickly changed the subject and explained the matter.

After some mumbling back and forth,

Half an hour later, the door of the hut opened, and two figures stepped out.

Look at the one on the left:

An ordinary build, tall and slender; an ordinary handsome face; ordinary flowing long hair—it was naturally Li Changshou himself.

The one on the right was slightly shorter, with a middle-aged appearance, a gaze tinged with weariness, and persistent frown lines on his brow...

Qi Yuan the old daoist had reverted to his middle-aged look and changed into a light blue long robe, looking somewhat refreshed.

Li Changshou's ordinariness was due to a five-part incantation for disguise;

Qi Yuan the old daoist's ordinariness was etched into his very bones...

Li Changshou performed a daoist bow and said, "I'm counting on you, Master." Qi Yuan the old daoist...

No, at this moment, he was Qi Yuan the daoist!

Qi Yuan the daoist managed a forced smile and rode the clouds straight toward the mountain gate to handle the small task his disciple had assigned.

In his heart, Qi Yuan was recalling what Li Changshou had said earlier...

'Master, earlier I used your appearance to go demon-hunting with Uncle Jiu Wu, which might have left some hidden risks.

So, when you go out, you can't use your usual true face.

Why not revert to your middle-aged appearance and carry this pouch to conceal your aura? That way, you'll be safe.'

Qi Yuan didn't think much of it and habitually followed his disciple's instructions. He rode the clouds out of the mountain gate, heading toward the nearest market town, Lin Hai Town...

Li Changshou chuckled lightly to himself.

Such matters couldn't be handled within the sect, as it might cause unnecessary trouble.

First, Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Ling E, telling her to handle any visitors.

Then, he retreated to the secret chamber beneath his pill room, dividing his mind among three paper effigies.

One paper effigy, with its paper soldier brigade, tracked his master underground.

It was essential to ensure his master's safety on this outing.

Another paper effigy kept watch on Elder Wan Lin Jun's side—Li Changshou had a feeling that the elder's trip might encounter some setbacks.

The third paper effigy hid inside the pouch in his master's sleeve, holding two pills and waiting for the right moment.

As his master rode the clouds...

'So slow.'

Three days later, Qi Yuan the daoist leisurely arrived at the north gate of Lin Hai Town and lined up to enter.

The paper soldier brigade stayed outside the Five Elements Reversal Array, as his master still had a paper effigy with him for protection.

As soon as his master entered the town, Li Changshou began discreetly scouting for someone who could "encourage" him.

He wasn't trying to get his master involved in new romances; he just wanted his master to realize...

That he still had plenty of charm and could easily attract female qi refiners.

Soon, Li Changshou noticed that the Inverse Search Pill had been triggered and quickly located the source of that wisp of spiritual mist.

'Why is it an old daoist?'

Li Changshou shook his head and let the spiritual mist dissipate, continuing to accompany his master with the paper effigy.

The pill's effects were limited and shouldn't be wasted.

Qi Yuan the daoist didn't think much of it and headed straight for the street with the spiritual herbs and medicinal plants stalls.

After walking about thirty zhang, Li Changshou finally spotted the first female Yuan Immortal, who looked around twenty-four or twenty-five, using her immortal sense to scan his master.

'You'll do, elder sister.'

In the pouch, the paper effigy used its thin paper hands to remove the seal on the Heartfire Pill.

Qi Yuan the daoist had only walked another fifteen steps when...

"Excuse me, fellow daoist... may I have a word?"

"Hmm?"

Qi Yuan the daoist turned and frowned at the female Yuan Immortal who had called out to him. He cupped his hands and said, "What can I do for you, fellow daoist?"

"You," the female Yuan Immortal blushed, covering her face with a handkerchief, and whispered, "Could you come with me to a quiet place? I have something to say to you."

Qi Yuan was clearly startled, instantly on guard. "I have nothing to say to you, fellow daoist."

With that, he strode quickly ahead.

"Fellow daoist..."

The female Yuan Immortal chased a couple of steps but suddenly snapped out of her daze. She felt puzzled, glanced at the images in her mind, and hurriedly covered her face as she left.

Li Changshou had only activated the Heartfire Pill for an instant before resealing it.

Qi Yuan had barely walked a few steps when he heard a gentle voice from the side:

"Excuse me, fellow daoist..."

Qi Yuan turned to see a heroic female qi refiner holding a long sword, bowing to him with a fist salute.

She said softly, "Would you care to join me for tea at a nearby teahouse?"

"I'm afraid not—I have urgent matters. My disciple at home is seriously injured and needs herbs. Apologies, apologies."

Qi Yuan returned the bow and hurried forward, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.

With his looks and this weary, melancholic air...

Was he really this popular?

However, twice rejecting invitations from female qi refiners had drawn quite a bit of attention.

In the short stretch of road ahead, one graceful figure after another approached from the sides, the front, and the back.

"Daoist, where are you from? Where are you headed?"

"Fellow daoist, please wait for me."

"Fellow daoist, why won't you look at me?"

Qi Yuan the daoist was completely baffled and kept refusing, eventually even covering his face as he pushed forward.

What was wrong with this market town?

Had he been away so long that the customs in Dong Sheng Divine Continent had become this liberal?

In secret, the paper effigy where Li Changshou's mind was focused was also exhausted, wiping away a bead of "sweat."

"Hey! Fellow daoist!"

Suddenly, a rough voice called out, and a massive figure appeared in front of Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan looked up to see a towering "woman," seemingly a body cultivator, with arms thicker than his waist, staring at him with eyes like copper bells.

"Let's not beat around the bush—I fancy you. Come back to my cave abode and be my dao companion!"

Qi Yuan frowned and said hastily, "Fellow daoist, I think you've got the wrong person."

Li Changshou also frowned—he hadn't affected this female daoist...

His mind shifted to the paper effigy in the pouch, and his mouth twitched as he saw the Heartfire Pill in its hands...

It had shattered!

What was going on? It was intact just a moment ago!

Had opening and closing the seal too many times made the pill unstable and caused it to break?

What were the consequences of a broken pill?

Generally, it seemed the effects would burst forth briefly...

Li Changshou spread his immortal sense, and his face changed instantly. He transmitted a message:

"Master, run! Put the pouch in your storage treasure right now!"

Qi Yuan the daoist was stunned for a second, then reacted, quickly stashing the pouch in his storage treasure.

At that moment, coquettish calls echoed from all directions within a hundred zhang, as dozens of figures turned toward Qi Yuan.

"Daoist..."

"Fellow daoist..."

"Fellow daoist!"

From a street corner, a stern-faced old daoist suddenly pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve. "This fellow daoist, would you mind being my dao companion? Purely for cultivation, of course."

Qi Yuan's legs trembled...

"You... don't come any closer!"

Boom—

The ground suddenly rumbled with dull thuds, and someone shouted:

"Everyone, watch out! The spirit beasts in Spirit Beast Street are rioting!"