Chapter 246: The Boasts I Made Before, Today…

I was wrong, truly wrong.

Li Changshou looked at the elder before him, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation in his heart.

He had anticipated that Zhao Gongming would overcome any obstacle to join the fun, yet he had still held onto a sliver of hope. He thought that since he hadn't invited Zhao Gongming, the elder might save face and stay away...

In fact, Li Changshou had even done a bit of calculation.

When dozens of Jiejiao immortals said they wanted to come for the excitement, Li Changshou realized the news might reach Zhao Gongming's ears. By not inviting him, he was trying to cool down their "old iron bond" a little.

But he never expected Zhao Gongming to value their friendship so highly, showing up uninvited!

"Elder, ahem, senior, please have a seat."

Li Changshou sighed. "It's not that I left you out specifically, senior. This isn't a big event, after all. As a senior disciple of Jiejiao's outer gate, how could I trouble you to appear for such a celebration? That would be disrespectful to you."

"Oh?" Zhao Gongming blinked, stroked his beard, and asked with a smile, "Is that really the reasoning?"

"Of course it is," Li Changshou replied with a laugh. "To me, your stature is incredibly important!"

Zhao Gongming shook his head with a chuckle. "Your tongue is truly cultivated to perfection!"

Fortunately, he didn't say it was enlightened or something...

With that, Zhao Gongming was led by Li Changshou to sit in a chair off to the side.

Immediately, a sturdy attendant ran over with tea, which was a hallmark of their Hai Shen Temple.

"Little brother, what's this celebration all about?"

Zhao Gongming asked while holding his teacup, his xian shi sweeping over the Nanhai coast, where he saw the gathered crowds. "This kind of event even invites immortals from the three teachings to observe—it's no simple matter."

Li Changshou felt a slight sense of caution in his heart...

Why was Zhao Gongming acting a bit unusual today?

He could even think of that—it's not like the God of Wealth's typical style.

Li Changshou laughed. "Please allow me to keep it a secret for now, senior. Today, there are some matters related to what I've been planning. I wanted to invite immortals from the three teachings to observe and add weight to it, making a deeper impression on the Long Clan."

Changing the subject, Li Changshou shook his head with a bitter smile.

"With you here, senior, I'm afraid you'll scare the Long Clan."

"Uh, well..."

Zhao Gongming suddenly looked troubled and whispered, "Should I sneak back then?"

"How could you show up and then leave?" Li Changshou quickly said. "Having you here today puts my mind at ease. I won't have to worry about any troublemakers causing chaos."

Hearing this, Zhao Gongming straightened his back. "Don't worry, I'll see who dares to crash your party today!"

But then he turned serious. "Little brother, calling me senior all the time makes it seem too formal!"

"Senior, well... alright, I'll thicken my skin and call you Zhao brother."

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Gongming burst out laughing, slapping his thigh. "Hai Shen brother! Among the immortals of the three teachings, you're the one I like the most!"

Li Changshou: ...

If we keep going, is he going to drag me into a sworn brotherhood?

Luckily, one of Li Changshou's specialties was changing the topic.

He asked about Zhao Gongming's recent situation, whether any Western experts had been giving him trouble, and steered the conversation toward calligraphy.

Zhao Gongming immediately perked up and suggested a calligraphy contest with Li Changshou. They set up a table, unrolled the cloth, one writing with grand momentum, the other with flowing elegance.

For a while, the back hall of the Hai Shen Temple echoed with joyful laughter, truly evoking the spirit of friends despite the age difference.

Suddenly, Zhao Gongming laughed. "Senior Brother Huang Long is here too?"

No sooner had he spoken than a streak of earthy yellow light flashed through the night sky, and a tall, slender figure landed at the door. He wore a pale yellow robe, his hair tied with a dao hairpin, showing some age but with a youthful face and white hair.

Li Changshou smiled. "For matters involving the Long Clan, I naturally had to inform Senior Huang Long."

"That's thoughtful," Zhao Gongming said with a smile, stepping forward to welcome him—acting more like the host than Li Changshou.

Li Changshou secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Zhao Gongming didn't lie down and demand, "You invited him but not me—are you looking down on me, Zhao so-and-so?"...

That scene would have given him a headache.

With Huang Long Zhen Ren's arrival, the back hall became even livelier.

But after just a moment, a white cloud approached from the southeast, carrying a dense crowd of sixty or seventy people!

At the front were six immortals, and Li Changshou recognized three: one was Qin Wan, the Qin Tian Jun; another was Jin Guang Sheng Mu, who had visited before; and the third was Bai Li, the Bai Tian Jun, whom he had met in the Long Palace.

There was also a female immortal with a slender, graceful figure in a fiery red skirt—she was likely Huo Ling Sheng Mu, as mentioned by Ao Yi...

Were the Jiejiao immortals really this idle?

Or was it Jinao Island's custom: "One call for a free meal brings a hundred, but don't expect them to foot the bill"?

Li Changshou's mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly put on a sincere smile and stepped forward two paces, flying out on a cloud to welcome them.

Zhao Gongming cleared his throat and strode to the front of the back hall, standing with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his lips.

Huang Long Zhen Ren, seeing this, pondered for a moment, then turned and went to a corner of the back hall. He took out a jade talisman and whispered into it.

Li Changshou was keeping an eye on things but could only vaguely hear...

"Um, junior brother, bring a few more over. Jiejiao has quite a crowd here... Yes, we can't let Yuxu Palace lose face... Good, good, hurry up..."

Li Changshou: ...

They were even competing over this?

The Three Teachings Origin Conference was one thing—that was a major event where Chan Jiao and Jiejiao were always at odds, each trying to outdo the other, which made sense.

But today was just his incense fire god religion's celebration. Was it appropriate for waves of immortals from both sides to show up?

—And here, "waves" is just a quantifier.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly. With things as they were, he had no choice but to quickly usher the Jiejiao immortals into the Hai Shen Temple.

As soon as they saw Zhao Gongming, the Jiejiao immortals perked up and hurried forward to pay their respects, making the scene lively.

Li Changshou paid special attention to Jin Guang Sheng Mu and noticed that this youthful, lively immortal looked at Zhao Gongming with bright eyes.

However, she didn't show much else, just crisply calling out "Senior Brother Zhao" before following her brother Qin Wan to take a seat.

Li Changshou went out to greet them, and immediately, a group of sturdy attendants brought chairs and served fragrant tea.

Although the Jiejiao immortals didn't know what was happening today, upon seeing Li Changshou, they all said, "Congratulations, congratulations."

Left with no choice, Li Changshou replied, "Same joys to you, same joys."

Soon after, the village chief of Xiong Village, the great elder of the Hai Shen Church, dressed in a bear skin coat, hurried over and whispered,

"My lord, just now, the third one reported via transmission jade talisman that a troop of soldiers has arrived at the village. They're full of yin energy, and the leaders include a few strong figures that feel connected to our village's origins."

"How strong are they?"

"The third one said they feel very strong."

Li Changshou closed his eyes slightly, and his paper daoist hidden under Xiong Village had already used xian shi to spot the group.

The one at the front was someone he recognized—it was the underworld's Ox-Head without his headgear.

"That's the underworld's people, a branch of your ancestors," Li Changshou said with a smile. "They really went to your village. As I instructed earlier, have the third one guide them and bring them quickly to An Shui City.

In two more hours, at sunrise, the ceremony will begin."

"Yes, I'll go right away!"

The old village chief agreed and was about to rush off, but Li Changshou called him back.

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said, "There are quite a few distinguished guests today, so the ceremony should be more lively. Reinstate those song and dance performances we cut—schedule them from sunrise straight through to noon."

"Understood!"

The black bear spirit of an old village chief hurried away, leaving Li Changshou with no time to rest as he continued to welcome the guests.

This was different from Ao Yi's wedding in the Long Palace—this was his home turf, so he couldn't afford to slight these "distinguished guests," even if many had come uninvited.

An hour later, another group of over twenty Chan Jiao immortals arrived from the northwest on clouds.

They must have flown at top speed, as the hair of a few Yuxu Palace heavenly immortals with lower cultivation was quite disheveled.

Leading them were two familiar faces: one was Yun Zhongzi, the Golden Immortal of Good Fortune, and the other was Chi Jingzi, ranked second among the Twelve Golden Immortals, both major figures of Chan Jiao.

Before Li Changshou could fly up, Zhao Gongming had already led several Jiejiao immortals to welcome them.

Everyone might compete covertly, but on the surface, they still maintained harmony, living up to the saying "the three teachings are one family."

The back hall of the Hai Shen Temple was now almost packed;

The immortals from the two teachings exchanged greetings and then sat in clearly divided groups.

Li Changshou felt like he could no longer control the scene...

But he couldn't just call his master over now, could he?

Only asking for help after losing control would mean he hadn't handled things well...

As he was thinking this, a voice transmission suddenly entered his heart.

"Changshou, where has your true body gone? I've searched the Du Xian Gate twice and couldn't find you."

Li Changshou perked up!

Speak of the devil and he appears!

Family had arrived!

Li Changshou quickly pointed to his chest and glanced around, not sure how to respond.

"Not bad at all! Haha! Hiding in your incarnation! Who would've thought, truly who would've thought!"

The voice transmission laughed again, then asked, "I see you've invited quite a few Daoist experts. Do you need me to show up today? If yes, just nod."

Li Changshou nodded vigorously.

A light laugh echoed through the back hall of the Hai Shen Temple, instantly quieting the room full of cheerful chatter;

Zhao Gongming was the first to calculate with his fingers and stand up, delighted. "Senior Brother Xuan Du is here!"

As soon as Zhao Gongming spoke, a faint mist appeared in the Hai Shen Temple's backyard, forming a subtle Taiji shadow, and a figure in a long robe stepped out.

He had a tall, slender build with flowing long hair; his face was unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it exuded an effortless charm and a rare sense of free-spirited truth!

"Dear junior brothers and sisters, I hope you've all been well."

With the arrival of the Daoist school's eldest senior brother, everyone present was his junior.

"Senior Brother Xuan Du!"

"It's Senior Brother Xuan Du!"

"Senior brother, why are you here too?"

Xuan Du senior showed a refined smile, much like when he was alone with Li Changshou—as if he had become more elegant and approachable.

Seeing Xuan Du senior about to speak, Li Changshou quickly transmitted, "Senior, my incarnation as the Nanhai Hai Shen is named Chang Geng."

Senior laughed. "Since it's Chang Geng's important matter, I naturally had to come.

I must also thank all you junior brothers and sisters for attending the ceremony. If there's any lack in hospitality, please bear with it.

Our Ren Jiao has few people and doesn't make a big fuss, but in the future, as Chang Geng travels outside, I hope you'll all look after him."

Chang Geng?

The immortals were puzzled at first, then saw Li Changshou step forward to bow, and suddenly understood.

Was the Hai Shen's background this solid?

Xuan Du senior's wording was very precise; that phrase "if there's any lack in hospitality" directly positioned him as part of the "host family."

So, the Hai Shen Church was established by Ren Jiao!

And this Nanhai Hai Shen, Chang Geng Daoist, must have a deep connection with Xuan Du senior—perhaps even someone favored by the Tai Qing Saint as a Ren Jiao junior!

In an instant, the Jiejiao and Chan Jiao immortals who had come for the fun now felt a strong desire to build ties.

Xuan Du senior gave Li Changshou a meaningful look, as if asking, "How's that?"

Li Changshou returned a grateful and emotional glance, as if saying, "You're amazing!"

All the boasts he'd made before were finally coming true today!

What Li Changshou was thinking now was how to make sure today's events were clearly seen by the Western Church, down to every detail...

He then invited senior to the main seat and personally went to arrange the "ascending cloud platform" that would be used later.

The so-called ascending cloud platform was an observation stand for immortals that Li Changshou had prepared earlier.

It was a mass of white clouds supported by wooden frames, inscribed with cloud-generating talismans and levitation talismans; to avoid any mishaps, there were dozens of layers of reinforcement.

Li Changshou had originally prepared two, with four backups, thinking that would be enough.

But seeing Huang Long Zhen Ren and Zhao Gongming pull out transmission jade talismans to call for more people, Li Changshou smiled helplessly and activated a few paper daoists to quickly make new ones.

As soon as he finished arranging that and was about to return to accompany senior, he heard dragon roars from the sky and a clear shout from afar.

"Big brother of the teacher!"

The first wave of guests from the Long Palace had arrived!

However, Ao Yi landed excitedly in the backyard, lifting the hem of his long robe, his young face full of excitement, and took a big step forward!

"I've come... eh?"

Catching sight of the full hall of guests from the corner of his eye, Ao Yi's smile froze, his legs went weak, and he nearly knelt in front of Li Changshou.