Chapter 169: The Great Wilderness is Too Complex, the Road is Obstructed and Slippery

If Zhao Gongming kept pulling these extortion schemes, things would become quite troublesome...

Disrupting the customs of Jie Jiao and even the Dao Men was a minor issue, but if during the Feng Shen Zhan, Zhao Gongming rushed to aid the Ten Heavenly Lords, defeated Guang Cheng Zi, Chi Jing Zi, Dao Xing Tian Zun, and others... then captured them and threw them into the Ten Absolutes Array...

"Pfft, you all strike so viciously! We of the three teachings are one family, and I've shown mercy everywhere, yet you want to put me to death!

This injury won't heal for several yuan hui. Come on, follow me to Yu Xu Gong to find my second shishu!"

Then Qiong Xiao would chime in from the side, crying a few times...

Wouldn't that throw everything into chaos?

Li Changshou lifted his hand to his forehead and let out a soft groan.

Fortunately, the matter of the Feng Shen Bang hadn't been finalized yet, and the Sheng Ren hadn't signed it, so it wasn't stirring up karma just yet.

What could he do about this?

The vast Hong Huang was so immense, but without the Sheng Ren stepping in, who could control Zhao Gongming and the Sanxiao?

On the Jie Jiao side, variables were already emerging. Was he supposed to help the Chan Jiao bigwigs expand their tactical ideas too?

Of course, that was just a joke. He was busy avoiding these matters—how could he dare get involved?

But this Zhao Gongming...

He couldn't afford to make an enemy of him, nor could he risk getting too deeply entangled. As for the Sanxiao Niang Niang, forget it—they were the type to strike at Sheng Ren without hesitation. Though they valued loyalty and emotions, their blessings were ultimately lacking.

Li Changshou couldn't help but smile bitterly, and in his heart, a "ding" sounded as he narrated to himself:

"Would you like to activate the side quest to save the Sanxiao? Rewards: Hun Yuan Jin Dou, Jin Jiao Jian, and the Sanxiao's goodwill. Failure penalty: total annihilation.

No, a thousand times over, thank you."

Sigh...

He didn't know when the Yu Di's decree would solidify. The Tian Ting's operations were terribly inefficient right now, lacking so many proper gods.

Once that decree arrived, Li Changshou could gain Tian Dao's recognition and officially become the "Hai Shen."

The position of South Sea Hai Shen was a proper god role, and it would be his first lifesaving talisman in the Feng Shen Da Jie.

Then, faint sounds of sutra chanting with a strange accent drifted in on the wind:

"Heaven and earth uphold the righteous law, with virtue as the foundation..."

At the San Jiao Source Flow Assembly site, several Jin Xian realm elders were seated by the small lake, taking turns lecturing on the three teachings' great Dao.

Li Changshou didn't dare listen too closely, lest it trigger some unwanted insight—that would be unpleasant.

It seemed the San Jiao Source Flow Assembly would continue for quite some time.

The matter of the Fa Ye's birdcages had come to an end, since the "final" two cages were destroyed by Li Changshou on the spot and turned to ash.

But his follow-up work wasn't finished yet.

After Zhao Gongming and Qiong Xiao left the Hai Shen Temple;

Li Changshou went to thank his sect master, Ji Wu You, and voluntarily mentioned that Yun Zhong Zi had given him many treasures while he was in the Bao Ping.

Ji Wu You, as the Kong Xu sect master of a major teaching's small branch, wouldn't covet a junior disciple's treasures.

Though he did feel a bit envious.

Ji Wu You didn't forget to cough a few times while advising Li Changshou—treasures were ultimately just external things; one's own cultivation was the foundation.

Li Changshou agreed repeatedly.

Among the Ling Bao given by Yun Zhong Zi, there were defensive items like immortal robes and boots, as well as jade pendants and necklaces in men's styles.

One of them was a Ling Bao-level imitation judge's pen, with impressive power that nicely enhanced Li Changshou's main combat divine ability, the Scripture Writing Technique.

Li Changshou quite liked this counterfeit judge's pen and made it his primary weapon.

Yun Zhong outproducts are always top quality!

Another treasure that qualified as a Houtian Ling Bao was a small pagoda, which could capture people, suppress demons, and even be used as a brick to smash enemies.

Li Changshou thought it over and decided that equipping a Houtian Ling Bao on his paper dao ren was still too extravagant...

He could wait until he had more Houtian Ling Bao to equip his paper dao ren legion.

"Older cousin, I've finished reading."

Xiong Ling Li, who was sitting on the nearby "mattress," responded obediently and handed the bamboo slips to Li Changshou.

Li Changshou smiled and gave her a pill to calm the mind and stave off hunger, transmitting his voice: "Just bear with it here for now. Once the assembly ends, I'll let you eat to your heart's content."

"It's fine, older cousin. I'm not hungry."

Xiong Ling Li popped the pill into her mouth and said feebly, then couldn't help but yawn.

Soon, thunderous snores filled the air...

This woke up Jiu Wu, who was meditating nearby. He opened one eye a crack, with a fake mountain between them, and they began a voice transmission conversation.

"Changshou, I never asked you before, but have you thought about finding a dao companion?"

Li Changshou calmly replied via transmission: "This disciple is devoted to the great Dao and has no interest in a dao companion.

How has Shibo been getting along with Jiu Shi Shibo after taking the Xiong Xin Dan?"

"Quite harmoniously, very well," Jiu Wu chuckled lightly. "What's wrong with having a dao companion? Aside from the toll on your waist.

If you hit a roadblock in cultivation, there's someone to encourage you; if you feel the immortal path is lonely, there's someone by your side to care for you.

Having a companion on the immortal path isn't bad, right?"

Li Changshou laughed: "When my immortal path is stable, when my great Dao is settled, when my future holds only endless years and a long remaining life, then I'll think about who to walk hand in hand with."

"By then, I'm afraid there'll be no one left by your side!"

Jiu Wu advised with some dissatisfaction, "Qi refiners all pursue the path of longevity, but how easy is that path to attain?

Among all the qi refiners in the world, not one in ten thousand succeeds."

Li Changshou was about to turn the advice back on Jiu Wu Shibo, urging him to spend more time on cultivation, when he suddenly felt a slight surge in his heart.

What was going on today?

Zhao Gongming and Qiong Xiao had just left, and now Dong Mu Gong had arrived.

Li Changshou said to Jiu Wu, "This disciple will go meditate now," and diverted half his focus to the paper dao ren in the old immortal's skin.

Today's Dong Mu Gong seemed... a bit off?

This Tian Ting minister had vacant eyes and unsteady steps.

When Dong Mu Gong saw Li Changshou's paper dao ren, he skipped the pleasantries and didn't mention the treasure map; he just cupped his hands, sighed, and began relaying the Yu Di's decree.

The decree was straightforward: it praised Li Changshou and entrusted him with full responsibility for bringing the Long Clan to heaven.

The rewards Dong Mu Gong brought were quite generous, including precious materials, spirit pills, immortal herbs, fruits, and some flashy treasures like silks and satins, perfect for decorating a residence or cave.

Li Changshou bowed remotely toward the Nine Heavens Threshold to thank the Yu Di for the rewards, then took out two treasure pouches and offered them to Dong Mu Gong.

Dong Mu Gong waved his hand, not uttering a single polite word this time, just kept sighing...

"Mu Gong... what's wrong with you?"

"I—I!"

Dong Mu Gong opened his mouth but said nothing, tilting his head back to take a deep breath. "I can't say!"

Li Changshou frowned: "Is it a Great Dao oath binding you?"

"Sigh!" Dong Mu Gong shook his head and sat on a nearby wooden chair, looking up with a long sigh. "A lifetime of good reputation! I've ruined my lifetime of good reputation!"

Li Changshou's mouth twitched, and he frowned: "Mu Gong, you don't need to speak. If I guess right, just don't say anything or move.

Mu Gong, did you encounter two experts on your way here?"

Dong Mu Gong instantly stood still like a statue.

Li Changshou rubbed his brow, picturing a few scenes in his mind...

A triumphant Dong Mu Gong, enjoying hot pot and singing, suddenly gets knocked out with a thud, and wakes up disheveled...

Uh, probably not that scenario.

Li Changshou stood up and paced back and forth.

"Do you have grievances with the ones who attacked you?"

"No grudges at all," Dong Mu Gong said bitterly. "I can't mention this. They didn't actually harm me, but—but... when did Hong Huang become such a place?

I didn't even touch him, and that old man just collapsed! Collapsed!"

A series of muffled thunders rumbled in the sky, and shouts echoed from the streets outside the Hai Shen Temple about collecting clothes in the rain and selling vegetables cheap in the rain.

Dong Mu Gong quickly shut his mouth, and the thunder overhead vanished.

Li Changshou chose his words carefully and asked, "Mu Gong, do you know those two?"

"How could I know them? They're clearly not in their true forms!"

Dong Mu Gong sighed deeply. "I can't say any more, or the Great Dao oath will kick in!

Dao friend, be careful when you go out lately!

Hong Huang is too complicated, the roads are treacherous and slippery!

I'll head back to heaven now."

Li Changshou: ...

At least Mu Gong didn't recognize the two bigwigs, and thankfully, they hadn't harmed him.

Otherwise, if Dong Mu Gong complained to the Yu Di, and the Yu Di went to cry to the Dao Zu, the Feng Shen Da Jie would be upon them.

That Qiong Xiao Xian Zi had a temperament even more troublemaking than Zhao Gongming!

Wasn't this just adding unnecessary karma?

When the great tribulation falls, if you're not on the list, who will be?

"Mu Gong, Mu Gong!"

The paper dao ren hurried out of the Hai Shen Temple's back hall with his duster, stopping Dong Mu Gong who was about to ride the clouds, and made him take the "rebate."

When Dong Mu Gong left, his figure looked so desolate...

A breeze blew, and he shivered, not daring to fly slowly anymore. He turned into a streak of light and rushed straight toward the South Heaven Gate.

Li Changshou's old immortal paper dao ren sat in the Hai Shen Temple, lost in thought.

This matter...

He couldn't handle it; he'd just let it be.

Now, he just wanted to wait for the San Jiao Source Flow Assembly to end, return to Du Xian Men with his true body, burn three sticks of high incense in front of the Tai Qing Lao Zi portrait, and pay respects to the Sheng Ren.

Tai Qing Lao Zi above, the customs of the Dao Men were absolutely not ruined by a minor disciple like him who hadn't even reached Jin Xian!

Later, he'd remind Ao Yi to keep the Er Jiao Zhu far away from Jie Jiao's outer four great disciples—that was just too...

Thinking of Ao Yi, Li Changshou couldn't help but ponder how Zhao Gongming and the others' extortion might affect the Long Clan's ascension to heaven.

There would be an impact, of course—hitting the Western Teachings' open experts would delay their schemes against the Long Clan to some extent.

If Zhao Gongming could go after the Mosquito Dao Ren, that would be ideal...

But the chances were slim.

Shaking his head, Li Changshou erased all traces of aura here. This paper dao ren used Earth Escape and vanished from the back hall, not forgetting to leave some wealth for the temple keeper.

After arranging this Tian Xian realm paper dao ren, Li Changshou continued waiting for the San Jiao Source Flow Assembly to end.

He had no idea how much longer this assembly would last.

In the spirit beast enclosure on Xiao Qiong Peak, he wondered how many of those spirit beast saplings Ling E had accidentally killed...

Half a month later, in the Tian Ting, at the Moon Elder Hall.

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi, dressed in a wide-sleeved white robe, drifted over slowly from the Dou Lu Gong direction, a faint, comfortable smile on his lips.

Moon Elder hurried out of the grand hall with two attendants, leaning forward slightly to warmly welcome Xuan Du Da Fa Shi and express sincere respect.

Once inside the Moon Elder Hall, Moon Elder took the initiative: "Da Fa Shi, this time... as per the old rules?"

"No," Da Fa Shi waved his hand with a smile. "I'm here to tell you, Moon Elder, that you don't need to handle this matter anymore."

Moon Elder was stunned, his legs went weak, and he nearly knelt down.

Moon Elder quickly said, "Did I do something wrong?

Da Fa Shi, if they don't have children, it's really not something I can control! I can only arrange their marriages for them!

They—they!"

"Oh?"

Da Fa Shi raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Moon Elder, you knew about this all along?"

"Well," Moon Elder sighed, "Qi refiners who form couples rarely think about raising offspring. I—I... please forgive me, Da Fa Shi!"

Da Fa Shi chuckled and waved his hand gently: "It's not related to you; it was my earlier idea that was mistaken. Today, I'm here to thank you and offer an apology.

Here are some spirit pills; you've worked hard all these years."

"I dare not accept them, I dare not! It's an honor for me to do things for Da Fa Shi!"

Just as Da Fa Shi was about to persuade him, his brows furrowed slightly, sensing some unease in his thoughts, as if something related to Ren Jiao was unfolding.

Moon Elder saw Da Fa Shi frown, and his old hands trembled. He quickly "took" the jade bottles, his face turning pale...

Xuan Du Da Fa Shi did a quick divination and soon smiled. He cupped his hands to Moon Elder and vanished from the Moon Elder Hall in a gentle flicker.

"Hmm... I should bring Xiao Changshou along; it's not appropriate for me to show up directly."