Chapter 137: South Continent Initiates Small War, Changshou Worships Sacred Image

Watching his idol being smashed right before his eyes, Li Changshou felt completely calm, with no extra emotions stirring within him.

He just felt a slight pang of sympathy for Ao Yi...

Ao Yi's idol, made from expensive materials, had been dismantled on the spot by the mortals, leaving it in a pitiful state.

This very situation was why Li Changshou had previously considered destroying the cult himself.

Now, the Dragon Clan ambushes were set, all units in position, and Li Changshou had made all the arrangements he could...

Yet, his heart remained suspended in mid-air, unable to settle.

Ideas like "sitting on a jade peak to survey thousands of miles, holding the divine seal to lay a killing trap" were far from his thoughts.

What use was being a commander?

Survival was the ultimate truth, and longevity was the lifelong priority!

So, as soon as trouble arose at the Sea God Cult and before the full-scale battle erupted, Li Changshou was already pondering post-war matters...

He always planned several—or even dozens—of steps ahead.

If this incident escalated too much and truly hurt the Western Cult, the South Sea Sea God Cult would undoubtedly draw more attention from them.

Although the chances of a saint intervening to divine the origins of the South Sea Sea God Cult were low, such possibilities still had to be considered...

The Western Cult wasn't just about its two saints; they had plenty of disciples too.

The reputations of these disciples naturally couldn't compare to the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chanism or the Eight Great Disciples of Jieism, but their strength might not be much weaker.

Especially that Mosquito Dao Ren...

Thinking carefully, Li Changshou realized he hadn't even achieved eternal golden immortality yet, and here he was, secretly contending with these "seniors" from afar.

Doing this too often, he figured, might leave him with some psychological scars.

His mind projected through the eyes of his paper effigies to survey the areas:

The Dragon Clan army was lying in wait underground, while Ao Yi and several Dragon Clan experts led three thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers to assemble in the South Sea.

Dozens of Dragon Clan experts were converging on the site where the idol had been smashed, and they would arrive at the temple shortly.

If his predictions were correct, they would face an ambush from the Western Cult.

These Dragon Clan experts had already received Ao Yi's orders on how to break out and protect themselves if attacked.

As for the self-cultivation of bait...

When Ao Yi's three thousand soldiers moved, that would be when the enemy's hidden hands were exposed...

What followed would depend on how well this "young" second cult leader performed; Li Changshou had already handed over the strategies, detailed tactics, and corresponding plans for each step to Ao Yi.

The shamans and divine envoys from Bear Village had gathered over three hundred people.

Li Changshou's two paper effigies, disguised as burly men, were mixed in among the divine envoys, hiding in a valley near the Dragon Clan's ambush site.

They would join the fight shortly but withdraw immediately after a single wave.

Although the enemy hadn't shown themselves yet, Li Changshou had a rough judgment of how the battle would unfold.

What worried him most now was the Western Cult thoroughly investigating his South Sea Sea God Cult...

After a moment of contemplation, Li Changshou rode a cloud toward the Bai Fan Hall on Broken Sky Peak.

As he flew up to the front of Bai Fan Hall, a sudden insight dawned in his heart:

The battle had started.

Li Changshou changed direction mid-step and stood with his hands behind his back in front of the sculpture of the "Heroes of Loyalty and Righteousness Trio," his mind projecting onto several paper effigies, conjuring up various scenes...

Observing the battle:

The Sea God Temple was smashed, and the Dragon Clan protectors rushed over. Several blue dragons revealed their true forms, roaring angrily in the air.

The mortal followers of the neighboring Liema God Cult panicked instantly, scattering like birds and beasts, with a small group kneeling down...

Converting to the Sea God Cult on the spot...

This process didn't add any karmic burdens.

As the crowd dispersed, chaos erupted!

Several shadowy figures hidden among the Liema followers shot into the sky, launching a surprise attack on the group of Dragon Clan protectors!

The moment Li Changshou shifted his "gaze" there, he saw dragon claws flailing everywhere, hundreds of treasure lights flashing...

The Sea God Cult's dragon protectors, on average, each summoned over a dozen treasure lights, unleashing a fierce barrage that instantly tore the shadowy figures to shreds!

Li Changshou: ...

As expected of the ancient Dragon Clan overlords, they truly did as they pleased.

But soon, a hint of doubt arose in Li Changshou's heart.

What was the point of those shadowy figures—two True Immortals and three Heavenly Immortals—charging out like that?

Wait, this scene... Li Changshou felt like he'd seen it somewhere before...

Blood mosquitoes!

The moment that term flashed in Li Changshou's mind, one of the golden blue dragons in the air suddenly threw its head back in a furious roar, its dragon eyes turning blood-red as it bared its fangs and claws, charging at its nearby kin!

Three blue dragons showed abnormalities in quick succession, throwing the Dragon Clan protectors into chaos.

At that very moment, among the fleeing "mortal followers," over a hundred more figures rushed into the air.

Among them were many in the mid to late Heavenly Immortal realm, with mixed auras including humans, demons, and spirits...

Witnessing this from far away—over 100,000 li—Li Changshou couldn't help but smile bitterly.

What grudge, what resentment?

Was Mosquito Dao Ren deliberately targeting him?

If this karma kept building, once he had the power to protect himself in the Great Wilderness, he would definitely deal with Mosquito Dao Ren.

Speaking of which, where did Mosquito Dao Ren get all these puppet "materials" from?

If Li Changshou's guess was right, they were probably plundered from the Three Thousand Worlds for her use.

Furious, the Dragon Clan experts still had the Second Prince's orders fresh in their ears. One Dragon Clan expert bellowed:

"Withdraw!"

Thus, these dozens of Dragon Clan experts didn't linger in battle. They broke out immediately, leaving behind a few dragon corpses and three dragons whose minds had been controlled, fleeing southeastward.

The swarm of blood mosquito puppets pursued relentlessly, but the Dragon Clan was swift in flight and soon pulled ahead.

As the dragon protectors flew desperately, enemies suddenly appeared ahead on their path.

Blocked, the dragon protectors quickly turned northeast, escaping in utter disarray.

These dozens of dragon protectors were truly frustrated;

If not for the strict orders from the Second Prince, which they had to obey, they would have fought these foes to the death, defending the Dragon Clan's honor!

Thousands of li south, the Dragon Clan's three thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers were charging forward majestically.

At the same time, shadowy figures rose from a valley hundreds of li away, numbering three to four thousand...

These dozens of dragon protectors had become bait from both sides.

"Everything is unfolding just as Brother Changshou... and the expert behind him predicted!"

Ao Yi, being carried through the air by two Dragon Clan experts, couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

But upon second thought, Ao Yi realized that wasn't quite accurate.

True foresight would mean predicting the enemy's moves precisely in advance; what the human cult expert behind Li Changshou had done was simply list out several possible scenarios and provide countermeasures for each.

Thus, Ao Yi revised his sentiment:

The human cult expert's approach was truly meticulous!

The subsequent developments of the battle aligned basically with one of the lines in the "Twenty-Six Steps."

The dozens of dragon protectors barely escaped to the stretch of barren mountains where the Dragon Clan army was ambushed. The several thousand enemy shadows closed in for the kill.

Ao Yi led the three thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers and dozens of Dragon Clan experts to rush in for support, engaging the enemy head-on and igniting a fierce battle.

When the two sides clashed at close range, the shockwaves of the combat shook the surrounding thousands of li. Suddenly, from the mountains around the battlefield, another three thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers burst out from underground, cutting off the rear of the several thousand enemy shadows.

In an instant, blue dragons filled the sky and flood dragons roared in fury.

The six thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers and over a hundred Dragon Clan experts surrounded the three to four thousand blood mosquito puppets, beating them mercilessly. Figures kept dropping from the air like dumplings...

Before the battle began, the Dragon Clan had already noted the enemy's ability to control minds.

Having roamed the Great Wilderness for so many years, how could they lack countermeasures?

The tide of battle turned overwhelmingly in one direction.

Yet, the blood mosquito puppets' key trait was their fearlessness of death; they fought back fiercely, causing considerable trouble for the Dragon Clan side.

Just then...

At the border between Jambudvipa and the West Aparagodaniya Continent, in a hidden cave within the wilderness mountains.

Wen Jing Dao Ren was lightly furrowing her brow at that moment.

Why did these Dragon Clan members seem... unlike typical dragons?

"They've even set up ambushes," she sneered.

Wen Jing Dao Ren chuckled coldly; the loss of those several thousand puppets meant nothing to her—she could control a new batch anytime she wished.

"But if that's all you've got, you're still doomed today.

In terms of contingencies, how can you compare to me?"

A charming smile played on Wen Jing Dao Ren's lips as she reached out and produced a blood-red jade dish.

She gently slid her fingertip across it, and the dish emitted a buzzing sound.

Wen Jing Dao Ren spoke slowly:

"Go, my children, and wipe out these little dragons."

The buzzing from the jade dish grew louder...

In the southwest of Jambudvipa, above the Dragon Clan's encirclement, the several thousand blood mosquito puppets were already more than half destroyed.

From a barren mountain over a thousand li away, swarms of black "giant mosquitoes" flew out from the mountain forests, soaring into the sky.

The mosquitoes transformed in mid-air into figures with similar faces, clad in black armor.

In the blink of an eye, their numbers exceeded ten thousand.

They formed ranks in the air, a dark mass yet eerily silent.

Ancient ferocious beasts—the Blood-Winged Black Mosquito swarm!

In terms of individual cultivation, each Blood-Winged Black Mosquito was comparable to a human True Immortal, with many experts among them.

Their most terrifying aspect was their coordinated combat!

This black cloud exuded a sky-high blood aura as it surged toward the Dragon Clan's battlefield.

The Dragon Clan was on the verge of a great victory when this new strong enemy appeared, but they didn't panic.

Ao Yi made a decisive call, ordering all units to strike with full force, first eliminating the current enemies, then quickly forming a defensive formation.

The ten thousand mosquitoes charged in grandly, and the over five thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers held their protective formations steady as Ao Yi secretly wiped away a bead of sweat...

In mere moments, the mosquito army swept in, and the two forces were about to engage when suddenly, from the forests below, a flood of immortal lights erupted. A massive array formed like an overturned sea bowl, enveloping the barren mountains and wilderness within a hundred li radius!

A thunderous drumbeat echoed from deep within the earth as groups of Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers flew out from underground, soaring into the sky!

From all four sides, eight directions!

From the nine heavens, ten earths!

The front line of five thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers abandoned their previous defensive stance, revealing ferocious dragon claws and launching a fierce assault.

As ancient overlords of the Great Wilderness, how could the Dragon Clan fear these foul mosquitoes?

In total, twenty thousand Immortal Flood Dragon soldiers and over three hundred Dragon Clan experts initiated the second wave of encirclement...

During the aerial battle, another three hundred burly men charged out from the forests on one side.

Half of them transformed their arms to a normal size, with lights surging upon them to form longbows and arrows, which they drew and shot at the mosquitoes!

The other half shouted and yelled incessantly;

Moreover, two burly men carried spirit beast bags, scattering out jade-green little frogs everywhere...

Adding a touch of vibrancy to this battle.

The outcome was decided!

Standing under the command flag, observing the battlefield, Ao Yi suddenly recalled something.

He took out a bamboo slip from his robe, inscribed with: "The Twenty-Seven Steps to Repel Enemies: The Sixty-First Chapter on Scattering Ashes."

It was time to open this volume...

In the East Victory Divine Continent, at the Immortal Du Sect's Broken Sky Peak, in front of Bai Fan Hall.

Why so many mosquitoes?

Li Changshou rubbed his brow, pondering slightly.

If Mosquito Dao Ren wanted to destroy his South Sea Sea God Cult, a surprise attack with several thousand blood mosquito puppets would suffice...

So why did over ten thousand black-robed figures charge out afterward?

Fortunately, he had advised the Dragon Clan to play it safe earlier...

Though some aspects puzzled him, Li Changshou saw that the battle situation had stabilized and a Dragon Clan victory was certain, so he stopped paying attention.

He stepped into Bai Fan Hall and headed toward the corner.

After greeting a few familiar elders with fine wine and spirit fish, and getting their approval, he approached the saint's portrait in front of Bai Fan Hall.

Li Changshou fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out three thick incense sticks, each as thick as his thumb and three feet long. He lit them at a nearby candle stand and respectfully placed them in the incense burner.

The nearby outer affairs elders: ...

Li Changshou stepped back three paces, lifted the hem of his daoist robe, and knelt down properly.

'Supreme Teacher of Human Cult, your disciple Li Changshou sincerely... seeks your protection.'

Originally, Li Changshou had come here just for peace of mind.

He didn't recite any prayers or stir up emotions; it was just his usual routine of offering incense.

But to his surprise...

Today...

A corner of the portrait trembled slightly, and a wisp of dao rhythm flowed out, landing on him.