Chapter 223: You Are Looking for the Sea God, What About Me

In the seawater, Li Changshou kept using Water Dun to head toward the ambush array laid out by the Paper Daoist legion.

As for counter-encirclement tactics...

Through some small tricks like "Paper Fish," Li Changshou had already confirmed that the forces chasing and intercepting him numbered roughly three hundred Hai Zu members.

Among them, forty-two were in the Tianxian realm, with the rest in the Zhenxian realm—all pure-blooded Hai Zu, mostly fish spirits with human bodies and fish heads.

Particularly eye-catching were several alluring mermaid figures, their thick fish lips coated with a vibrant red unknown paste, which was somewhat...

Stimulating.

Li Changshou had evaded their interceptions several times already.

Each time they tried to surround him, his Water Dun technique would suddenly accelerate just enough to break free from their encirclement.

Unbeknownst to them, the direction he was heading had shifted from southeast to southwest...

He was already multitasking with multiple threads of focus.

The Paper Daoist legion had arrived at a deserted island in the East Sea, scouting the surrounding thousands of li. Two transport Paper Daoists scattered dozens of poison-spreading and bean-scattering Paper Daoists across different areas for later use.

Li Changshou had analyzed the situation throughout his journey, trying to figure out why he was being targeted.

After considering various possibilities, the most likely one was that he had simply been singled out by the Hai Zu rebel forces...

Although he couldn't rule out retaliation from the Western Cult, targeting just one of his incarnations seemed too petty.

Moreover, if it were the Western Cult, they could have easily sent a Jin Xian realm expert to ambush him, and this incarnation would have been defenseless...

It was probably because, at the Long Gong banquet, many people had referred to him as the Sea God, drawing this trouble.

There was no way around it.

With Heavenly Court figures nearby at the time, he couldn't hide his identity if he wanted to serve as the "friendship bridge" between Long Gong and the Heavenly Court.

Gradually, Li Changshou adjusted the speed of his Water Dun, giving the impression that his earlier bursts of speed were due to some secret technique, whose effects were now waning—making these Hai Zu rebels think their chance had come.

Within a radius of a thousand li, these hundreds of figures began their final encirclement...

Out of respect for his enemies, Li Changshou's mind raced through plans, devising three main tactics and six backups, fully occupying his mental capacity.

Six Paper Daoists had quickly prepared for battle, dispersing some colorless, odorless drugs that would take time to take effect into the waters around the island.

Then, Li Changshou's targeted Paper Daoist incarnation "happened" to collide with the ambush of several enemy experts...

The underwater battle erupted instantly, but Li Changshou struck and retreated without giving them any opening.

Those few Hai Zu Tianxian experts skilled in water combat couldn't hold him back for a moment.

This was the result of his years of trial and error perfecting Water Dun!

Of course, there wasn't much to boast about—it was just because he was too poor for spiritual treasures and had to make do with divine abilities.

A moment later, Li Changshou's Paper Daoist stood on that deserted island.

Vortices appeared on the surrounding sea surface, and hundreds of figures closed in from afar, encircling him completely.

The enemy was severely lacking in vigilance, completely unaware of the anomalies in this area and the dozens of Paper Daoists lurking on the seabed...

Li Changshou scanned his surroundings; his Paper Daoist's dwindling immortal power was fully dedicated to defense, shielding his body.

As a result, his early Tianxian realm cultivation was fully exposed.

The surrounding fish people mostly wore cold smiles, smugly watching the encircled human.

While tracking Li Changshou, these Hai Zu had a fleeting doubt: Was this South Sea Sea God actually a mud loach spirit from some great lake on land?

But finally, their efforts had paid off—they had cornered this slippery fellow!

The vast sea was their Hai Zu domain!

Now, surrounded by hundreds of Hai Zu, Li Changshou furrowed his brow slightly.

On the other side, these Hai Zu cultivators glared at him with eyes full of hatred, as if he had a grudge against them as deep as slicing them up and dipping in mustard!

In the Great Desolation, most Hai Zu had human bodies with fish heads.

Only the Jiaoren clan had an upper body like humans and a lower body like a fish tail.

As for those split down the middle, half human and half fish...

Heaven's Way would not allow it, so such beings definitely didn't exist.

Li Changshou's mind was clear and serene, his gaze showing thick wariness as he looked around, his expression slightly panicked.

Once the Hai Zu had him completely sealed off, Li Changshou said coldly:

“Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this?”

“South Sea Sea God!”

A female Hai Zu at the peak of Tianxian realm, wielding a steel trident, shouted:

“You aided the Dragon clan in oppressing our Hai Zu—today is your end!

Prepare to die!”

“Wait a moment!”

Li Changshou frowned and called out, calculating in his mind the time for the drugs to take effect and checking if any opponents were hiding their cultivation.

Secretly, he controlled other Paper Daoists to infuse some Yuan Shen poisons stealthily into these fish people's auras.

To be thorough, Li Changshou needed to stall for time to let the toxins fully activate, so he continued:

“You're looking for the South Sea Sea God—what does that have to do with me, Sea Cucumber Daoist?”

“Sea... Sea Cucumber Daoist?”

The female fish person was clearly taken aback, furrowing her brow:

“Aren't you the South Sea Sea God?”

Li Changshou shrugged.

“You must have misheard at Long Gong—did you think people were calling me 'Sea Cucumber' and turned it into 'Sea God'?

Let me tell you, I've met the real South Sea Sea God—he's kind-eyed and benevolent, an elder who looks nothing like me.

I didn't use any illusions, so my appearance should be obvious to you all, right?”

“Hmm?”

Several fish people at the peak of Tianxian realm exchanged glances, their eyes filled with doubt.

Had they gotten it wrong?

One fish person said:

“Better to kill the wrong one than let him go.”

“Exactly! Humans and Dragons are all despicable—don't let this one escape!”

Li Changshou thought to himself: ...

They actually believed his casual bluff?

Although he had known that Hai Zu were generally not very bright, simple-minded, and easily swayed, Li Changshou never imagined they could be this naive!

No wonder they were the fish tricked by the Western Cult!

Life in the sea must be far more leisurely than on land—that's why so many people in his previous life chose to go to sea...

Ahem, that was off topic.

“Everyone,” Li Changshou said with a frown, “we humans have a saying: It's better to untie grievances than to knot them.

If you let me go today, I can pretend nothing happened.

But if you attack me, you'll face retaliation, and it will come swiftly.”

“Hmph! We don't fear the Dragon clan—why would we fear you?”

The leading female fish person snorted coldly, her fish eyes gleaming strangely, and shouted:

“Stop wasting words with him! Kill him now!”

“Understood!”

A Hai Zu general with large pincer hands leaped from the sea onto the edge of the island, charging straight at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou didn't hesitate, stepping back two paces and suddenly raising his hand to press down, shouting:

“Thousand Poisons Soul-Exterminating Hand!”

A thick green smoke burst from his sleeve, shaped into a massive palm by immortal power, slamming toward the crab general.

The enemy reacted gravely, opening his mouth to spew out dense ink...

Who knew if this crab general's master was some Squid Daoist—the technique was truly polluting.

The thick ink spread instantly like surging waves, smothering Li Changshou's smoke and rushing toward him!

Li Changshou retreated quickly, but most of his focus was on controlling the six Paper Daoists in the sea.

The toxins activated almost perfectly!

Without any warning, the crab general, who was spewing ink, suddenly hiccuped, his head swayed, and he toppled backward.

In an instant, most of the figures on the sea surface collapsed into the water.

The remaining few with higher cultivation felt dizzy and disoriented, their minds suddenly clouded...

“What's happening?”

“This sea is poisoned!”

“It's a trap...”

Poisoning was a technical skill.

Li Changshou, immersed in this field for just over two hundred years with guidance from a master and some original ideas, could be considered a senior scholar in this Great Desolation discipline.

The key to multi-target poisoning was to calculate the timing based on the enemies' cultivation, Yuan Shen strength, and resistance.

If one fell and the others immediately became alert, allowing them to flee or react, then the poisoning technique wasn't sophisticated.

Li Changshou clapped his hands—done.

Should he tie them up and take them to Long Gong?

After a brief thought, Li Changshou dismissed the idea.

It would leave too many repercussions and risk exposing his poisons.

Instead, he raised his hand to activate a miniature array base, erecting a barrier array.

This type of array consumed immortal power slowly and could sustain itself for a while.

Li Changshou directed several Paper Daoists to work: one group purified the drugs in the seawater, while another precisely administered poisons to finish off these dazed Hai Zu.

The corpses of these Hai Zu experts were quickly tossed onto the island, piling up like a small mountain.

Li Changshou had prepared over forty Paper Daoists, along with three thousand Poison Bean Soldiers...

But the enemies didn't give him a chance to use more—they simply collapsed.

Better to follow procedures this time.

He assigned three Paper Daoists to the island, bringing out wooden fish, soul-capturing bells, and sticks to recite the Human Sutra, Rebirth Sutra, and Disaster-Averting Incantation.

Two other Paper Daoists acted decisively, releasing streams of Samadhi True Flame to engulf the corpses...

Soon, orange flames soared into the sky, rapidly consuming the bodies within.

From the sleeve of one Paper Daoist, four paper figures emerged, playing suona horns and beating drums.

This wasn't specially prepared—it was the Heavenly Court entrance music troupe, now moonlighting here.

Since Hai Zu didn't have customs like grave offerings, Li Changshou skipped the mourning and watched these prime ingredients turn to ashes, scattering a dozen soul-capturing pearls to collect the remnants.

Throughout, his heart remained utterly calm.

“I told you, I'm Sea Cucumber Daoist.”

Li Changshou shook his head, and once the flames died down, he waved his hand to scatter the pile of ashes into the sea.

The Paper Daoists regrouped and split into two groups.

One group, with ample immortal power, took the Poison Bean Soldiers back to their original hiding spots.

The other group returned to Li Changshou's Paper Daoist sleeve, accompanying him back to Anshui City, and later smuggling back to Duxian Sect...

To recharge immortal energy.

Just as Li Changshou was finishing off the fish and scattering the ashes...

At the gates of Long Gong, several elders and managers from Tianya Pavilion gathered around the despondent young Daoist, whispering words of encouragement.

“Young master, most of the guests at Long Gong have left. We should head back too.”

“We inquired for you—Fellow Daoist Ke Le'er was grounded by her parents for a thousand years for killing many Hai Zu great demons in Tianya City last time.”

“Where is Le-er's home?”

“Young master, Long Gong won't say, and we couldn't find out.”

“Ah,” Bian Zhuang sighed deeply, his gaze tinged with emotion, “Though heaven and earth may end, this love I hope she knows.

Why must Le-er's parents punish her? If punishment is needed, confine me by her side.

Not just a thousand years—even three thousand, or thirty thousand, I would willingly endure...”

A few chuckles escaped from guests just leaving, and the Tianya Pavilion managers flushed with embarrassment, bowing apologies to those around.

“Young master, let's... let's go back first. It looks like Long Gong might take action against us.”

Bian Zhuang remained unmoved.

“If you're kept here, you'll never find Fellow Daoist Ke Le-er!”

Bian Zhuang jolted to his feet, grabbing an elder's arm and whispering, “Fu Bo, let's hurry.”

The group could only smile wryly and escort Bian Zhuang away from East Sea Long Gong.

They quickly flew out of the sea, boarding a treasure ship and speeding toward the edge of Tianya.

What the Tianya Pavilion managers said wasn't just to scare him.

The Dragon clan was already quite displeased with Bian Zhuang, and if not for Ao Yi's earlier orders, Dragon experts would have tossed this wanderer out of the Crystal Palace long ago.

Throughout the wedding, Bian Zhuang had guarded the entrance for twelve years straight!

His determination was strong, but he was undeniably a nuisance.

He had relied on his Long Gong invitation as protection before, but now that the wedding was over, its usefulness had waned...

Fortunately, they encountered no trouble from the Dragon clan and safely reached the vicinity of the majestic Tianzhu.

The vast and sprawling Tianya City loomed in the distance, but one elder frowned deeply and signaled to stop.

A figure approached on clouds from afar—an elderly woman with white hair.

Bian Zhuang suddenly grew excited and shouted:

“Le-er—is that Le-er!”

The elders and managers from Tianya Pavilion all had black lines on their foreheads.

The one the young master was so lovesick for... was this old sister?

What kind of sinister magic was this?!

Thankfully, before these Tianya Pavilion experts could act and kill her outright, Bian Zhuang added:

“It's the old grandmother who was with Le-er that day!”

The group around him breathed a sigh of relief—they'd been startled by the young master.