Chapter 205: No One Can Defeat Me in This Field

In the remote border where the Southern Sea and Western Sea converged, amid several layers of grand arrays.

Zhao Gongming lowered his head to look at these two disciples of the Western Sect saints. With a casual wave, he smoothed the vast waves on the sea surface, while the twenty-four Dinghai Shenzhu pearls slowly rotated...

Before him, the two Western Sect experts had blood at the corners of their mouths and trembling breaths, yet they were firmly held in place by the Dinghai Shenzhu, unable to move.

At that moment, the faces of these two old Daoists were full of complex emotions—shock, helplessness, and above all, anger.

It was the second time!

The second time!

Although this time, it was they who had intentionally plotted against Huanglong Zhenren of the Chan Sect first, and even borrowed Zhao Gongming's unique scheming methods...

But they hadn't harmed Huanglong Zhenren at all! It was just like reliving the scene from when they were caught off guard.

Without a word, Zhao Gongming had charged in and given them a thorough beating, damaging their cultivation of several millennia. This grudge was now truly set!

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and pondered...

He had gotten carried away in the fight and hadn't held back enough, leaving these two Western Sect saint disciples with damaged Dao foundations and weakened Dao intent.

This time, he wasn't exactly in the right...

At his side, the tall and slender Daoist stepped forward and bowed, his eyes filled with gratitude, as he said:

"Thank you, Gongming Shidi, for coming to my rescue!

If not for Gongming Shidi's appearance, I truly, truly wouldn't know what to do."

Zhao Gongming gave a dry laugh and replied with a smile: "It's just a trivial matter, Huanglong Shixiong needn't worry about it."

The tall and slender Daoist took a couple of steps forward, looking at the two plainly dressed, full-of-indignation Western Sect old Daoists before him, and asked in a low voice:

"Gongming Shidi, what should we do now?"

Zhao Gongming transmitted his voice: "Did they make a move against you earlier?"

"This, no..."

The tall and slender Daoist said with a bitter smile: "I had just returned from a friend's cave dwelling in the Southern Sea when I encountered these two. They said they had a fine treasure for me to examine.

But once we arrived here, they started arguing with each other and even fought. One fell to the ground, spitting blood, as if severely injured.

The other turned to me and accused me of hurting his senior brother...

I truly didn't make a move, not at all. I even tried to stop them from fighting so fiercely!"

Zhao Gongming frowned...

Had these two he had dealt with before come up with a new trick?

No!

If it followed this pattern, the other side must have hidden some recording treasure or array... This would be truly hard to handle.

Suddenly, Zhao Gongming's legs went weak in a smooth and natural motion, and he collapsed directly in front of the three, letting out a "wah" as he vomited a large mouthful of blood foam. His face turned pale, his breath trembled, and his Dao rhythm shook...

No matter what, better to lie down first!

The two old Daoists sealed by the Dinghai Shenzhu felt even more grief and indignation in their eyes, but they couldn't move an inch.

In reality, if Zhao Gongming had withdrawn the Dinghai Shenzhu at that moment, these two Western Sect experts wouldn't have uttered a harsh word—they would have turned and left immediately...

At that, the tall and slender old Daoist was completely stunned. He looked left, then right, and transmitted to Zhao Gongming:

"Gongming Shidi, should I lie down too?"

"Don't," Zhao Gongming transmitted calmly and quickly. "I'll hold them here for now!

Shixiong, you hurry to Nan Shanbu Zhou, along the Southern Sea coast. Just find any Sea God temple and seek out the Southern Sea Sea God.

Once the Sea God's incarnation appears, tell him about what happened here and ask for a resolution. Later, I'll definitely go thank the Sea God myself!"

The tall and slender old Daoist grew even more confused.

But hearing the urgency in Zhao Gongming's voice, this expert among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect didn't think twice. He immediately unleashed his divine powers, burst out of the grand arrays, and shot northward.

This Honghuang era...

Had it changed?

On Xiao Qiong Peak.

The story of the master ancestor and Wangqing Shangren reuniting after their fallout was truly hard to manage.

Still, the effort hadn't been wasted. Although the two hadn't yet confessed their feelings, they could now communicate normally...

At most, after a couple more times, it would ignite like dry wood and fierce fire, full of joy.

Li Changshou used his immortal sense to glance at his master ancestor and Wangqing Shangren, who were strolling in the back mountain of Xiao Qiong Peak. A poetic impulse arose in his heart, and he couldn't help but recite softly to himself:

'They were once a pair of mandarin ducks, but after two arguments, they separated.

All say celestial immortals make fine couples, yet here it's pride against reticence.'

Not bad, not bad—some progress, and it even rhymes!

Suddenly, Li Changshou heard a few soft chants from behind—his junior sister Ling'e, who was playing the qin, parted her red lips slightly. As her fingers danced on the strings, she sang softly:

"The falling flower shadows linger late, weary birds sink into the crimson clouds.

Thoughts of you arise unbidden, pitying my colorful robes."

Li Changshou glanced at her, and Ling'e immediately stopped playing, pursed her lips, and flashed a silly smile at her senior brother...

She wasn't hinting at anything!

"Recite the 'Stability Scripture' fifty times."

"Oh," Ling'e said, looking aggrieved.

Xiong Lingli had already run off to the spirit beast garden to feed the beasts. She couldn't appreciate or adapt to the atmosphere here, afraid she'd fall asleep and snore loudly, disturbing them—just like how she used to disrupt her parents at night before going out.

Li Changshou paid attention to Wangqing Shangren and his master ancestor for a while longer.

Wangqing Shangren had set up immortal power around them, so Li Changshou couldn't hear what they were saying without alerting him.

Just then...

Several shadowy figures sneaked up from the foot of Xiao Qiong Peak, skimming above the treetops on clouds.

Leading them was the short Daoist, no taller than five feet—Jiu Wu.

Behind Jiu Wu were Jiu Shi, Jiu Luer, Jiu Qi, and another figure wrapped entirely in a quilt, with only a small face showing...

Oh, Jiu Jiu.

In this getup, Li Changshou almost didn't recognize her.

Ever since the master ancestor returned, Jiu Jiu acted like she was facing a natural enemy.

If not for her senior brothers and sisters insisting she come along, she definitely wouldn't have left her luxurious grand array!

These five—senior brothers, sisters, and juniors—quietly made their way to the thatched hut by the lake.

Li Changshou had already transmitted to Jiu Wu and Jiu Jiu, instructing them to pretend to appreciate the paintings here.

Coming to Xiao Qiong Peak to practice the art of gossip was fine, as long as they didn't disturb the two back there who were preparing for their own "yin-yang great dao."

Soon, Wangqing Shangren's five disciples stealthily entered the "painting exhibition" illusion array. Li Changshou deactivated the array, allowing them to clearly observe the back mountain scene...

Not long after, Jiu Wu hunched over and quietly approached Li Changshou, asking with concern:

"Changshou, how's it going over here?"

"What matter is Shibo asking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Shibo! It's about my master and your master ancestor!"

Jiu Wu faced him and transmitted: "Have they reconciled?"

"This, I don't know.

I'm just a junior disciple; I wouldn't dare meddle in the romantic affairs of these senior elders."

Li Changshou smiled calmly and transmitted back: "Shibo, what do the other 'Jiu' seniors think of this matter?"

"What else can they think? We're disciples; how can we interfere in our master's affairs?"

Jiu Wu chuckled and continued transmitting:

"This is naturally a joyous occasion. We've heard from our eldest senior sister many times before that our master had a deeply loved woman.

Often, our master would stare alone at a painting, even though the colors had faded and it was blurry, he refused to put it away.

It wasn't until Xiao Jiu joined and our master brought her here a few times that we realized the woman in his heart was this Jiang Shishu."

Jiu Wu paused, chuckled a couple of times, and transmitted: "If this really works out, what gift will you, as a nephew, prepare for my master?"

Li Changshou replied: "I'm only skilled in pills and wine, so that's probably what it'll be."

Jiu Wu winked suggestively: "My master has profound cultivation and has kept himself pure for so many years; he doesn't need those things!"

"Oh?" Li Changshou blinked. "From what Shibo says, it seems Shibo hasn't kept himself pure?

Jiu Shi Shibo, don't draw your sword!"

"Hey!"

Jiu Wu was startled and bolted away, leaping straight into the lake in a flash.

Jiu Wu turned back to look, only to see Li Changshou standing alone under the willow tree, while his own Dao companion was more than ten zhang away, ostensibly appreciating the paintings with the other juniors but secretly watching the back mountain.

Jiu Wu glared at Li Changshou, his eyes full of resentment.

The short Daoist slunk out of the lake, shook the water off his robe, stamped his feet, and transmitted grumpily: "You knew you were tricking your Shibo!"

Li Changshou looked up at the sky and transmitted with a smile: "Does Shibo have a guilty conscience?

Or did you go to see that fox demon sealed outside the mountain gate?"

"Get out of here; don't slander me out of nowhere!"

Jiu Wu stuffed his hands into his sleeves and grumbled: "My feelings for Jiu Shi Shibo are as clear as the sun and moon, as witnessed by heaven and earth—absolutely faithful!

Ahem, let's get to the point.

Changshou, my eldest senior sister heard that Jiang Shishu has quite a few friends outside...

Do you think among them, there might be someone who... well, it's not easy to say... but as disciples, we're worried that suddenly some rival in love might appear.

That would definitely affect our master's cultivation mindset, and with his upcoming tribulation, it's best to avoid such situations if possible."

Li Changshou said seriously: "I'll ask my master ancestor about this later; Shibo doesn't need to worry."

Jiu Wu replied quickly: "Then I'll trouble you, nephew Changshou."

"It's just a small matter," Li Changshou transmitted. "Shibo, I actually have something to ask of you."

"Oh? Go ahead."

Li Changshou took a scroll from his sleeve and discreetly handed it to Jiu Wu, whispering:

"This is some advice for Wangqing Shibozu.

My master ancestor is rather thin-skinned, so it's better if the man takes the initiative."

Jiu Wu's eyes lit up, and without a trace, he tucked the scroll into the storage pouch sewn into his sleeve.

The two exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.

"What are you two whispering about over there?"

Jiu Shi called from behind: "Wu Wu, come here. What do you think of this painting?

I want to trade some spirit stones for it and hang it in our room."

Jiu Wu responded and hurried back.

Li Changshou, however, spoke aloud:

"These paintings are just something I sketched when I was bored, Shibo and Shishu. If you like any, feel free to take them."

Jiu Qi, Wangqing Shangren's seventh disciple, laughed nearby: "If this level is just practice, does Shizhi have any masterpieces? Show us to broaden our horizons."

Li Changshou just smiled and shook his head.

Jiu Wu laughed: "Seventh Shidi, don't ask too much. You absolutely mustn't see Changshou Shizhi's masterpieces!"

Jiu Qi perked up with interest and started pestering Jiu Wu with questions.

Li Changshou didn't say much.

In truth, the masterpieces Jiu Wu knew about were just things like "Hundred Beauties in Old Age" and "Hundred Beauties Aged," which were merely minor works.

He had even more powerful ones now!

Out of nowhere, a faint call echoed in Li Changshou's heart...

'Sea God, are you there... Sea God... Daoist friend... Can you hear me...'

The voice was intermittent, the 'signal' very weak.

Li Changshou kept his left hand hidden in his sleeve and quickly performed a divination. A wisp of his divine sense followed the call to the statue that was summoning him.

As soon as he arrived at the statue, Li Changshou was taken aback.

This wasn't an official Sea God statue.

It was in a coastal fishing village, where a simple clay statue had been set up, with the characters "Hai Shen" written on it...

But this place was also a spot where he collected incense merit, so the statue had a connection to him.

Such a basic clay figure wasn't counted among his current twenty-three thousand six hundred plus statues.

Still, being able to reach him directly from such a place and transmit the call into his heart...

The caller was no ordinary person.

Li Changshou used his divine sense to observe the somewhat familiar-looking Daoist in front of the statue, studying him carefully.

The man was tall and slender, wearing a loose pale yellow Daoist robe, with a common Daoist hairpin. His hands were like large fans, giving off an air of carefree elegance.

His face was distinctive, with a broad and long forehead, slender eyes—somewhat similar to his second sect leader Ao Yi's eye shape...

Moreover, the man exuded a faint pressure, with a touch of the profound Dao rhythm of returning to simplicity...

In terms of cultivation, he was definitely an expert.

The old Daoist bowed again and called: "Sea God, Sea God, can you hear me? Is the Sea God here?"

A passing middle-aged woman with a bamboo basket happened to walk by and couldn't help but remind him:

"You old man are so strange, shouting at the Sea God statue like that?

This is just a small statue we set up here. If you really want to worship the Sea God, go to the big temple in the city!"

"Ah, thank you for the reminder, thank you."

The old Daoist wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to fly away on clouds toward the nearest city.

The woman was startled, dropping her bamboo basket, spilling its contents on the ground...

An old salted fish.