Chapter 277: The Big Fish Blown Out by Accident

In Wangqing Ju, under the watchful gaze of over thirty Du Xian Men Lianqi Shi, the young girl Jiu Yushi knelt before Wangqing Shangren.

She performed three full kowtows before the immortal, bidding farewell to the mortal world forever.

Then, Wangqing Shangren raised his right hand, his palm gathering wisps of Xian Guang, and gently tapped Jiu Yushi's head three times, awakening her spiritual roots and enhancing her enlightenment.

Wangqing Shangren maintained a solemn expression and said:

"From today onward, you are this poor Daoist's tenth disciple.

I hope you will cultivate diligently, achieve immortality and the Dao as soon as possible, and find peace on the immortal path, with the prospect of eternal life.

In the future, you must follow the rules of Du Xian Men, remember your origins in the Renjiao Xianzong, and avoid any actions that would bring shame to our sect."

Having rehearsed this several times before, Jiu Yushi bowed again and replied crisply:

"Disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings!"

"Good."

Wangqing Shangren beckoned lightly, and Jiu Yiyi stepped forward immediately.

Jiu Yiyi held a set of Xianlv Bao Yi, two short swords that were Xianbao, three storage pouches, and on the Bao Yi were the entry-level cultivation manual of Du Xian Men, as well as a jade talisman recording the sect's rules.

Once Jiu Yushi received the initiation gift package, her nine senior brothers and sisters came forward to greet her, each bringing their own gifts.

Seeing this, Li Changshou felt a bit emotional.

With more junior brothers and sisters, even receiving greeting gifts could bring in a small fortune!

Sensing Ling E's lingering gaze beside him, Li Changshou gave a slight smile at the corner of his mouth and turned to observe their master's expression.

Their master was now...

Deeply moved, purely moved;

He stood in another corner, following behind Jiang Lin Er, and while no one was paying attention, he wiped the corner of his eye with his hand, then smiled as he watched the lively scene.

After a moment of thought, Li Changshou decided not to intervene in such matters for his master.

As he had advised his master before, the matter of his master and his Shibo's reincarnation could only be left to take its natural course...

By now, for his master, this was already free of many regrets.

Thinking of the earthly immortals...

Li Changshou murmured quietly in his heart, suddenly missing the taste of Di San Xian, and he sent a voice transmission to Ling E to prepare the dish.

Once all the affairs here were settled, the Jiu Zi Shi Xian would go to Xiao Qiong Peak for a celebration, with Ling E and Xiong Lingli as the main cooks today.

With Jiu Yushi's initiation ceremony complete, the sect leader led the various elders forward to congratulate Wangqing Shangren.

Li Changshou still had to deal with the matters of the Heavenly Court and the Dragon Clan's expedition, so he gave a few instructions to Ling E and quietly left Wangqing Ju...

However, as soon as he rode his cloud out of Potian Peak, Jiu Wu chased after him from behind.

"Changshou! Wait a moment!"

Li Changshou stopped his cloud, turned around to bow, and then smiled, saying:

"Shibo, you're in such a hurry—could it be that...

You've run out of pills again?"

"Pills are still sufficient, pills are still sufficient!"

Jiu Wu smiled a bit awkwardly, jumped onto Li Changshou's cloud, and whispered:

"There's something I need to discuss with you.

Do you still remember? That fox demon we captured in the mortal world, the one who caused us a lot of trouble with her charm techniques."

"Of course I remember," Li Changshou replied. "Isn't she still being suppressed under the earth veins?"

Jiu Wu continued: "Do you also remember that she has some merit power on her?"

Li Changshou nodded honestly, this time not interrupting Jiu Wu, signaling him to finish speaking at once.

Jiu Wu pondered for a moment and said: "In recent months, various places in Dongsheng Shenzhou and Zhongshenzhou have seen a demon clan force searching for this fox demon.

Based on the information brought back by several external affairs officers, the fox demon this force is searching for—her appearance and the location of her disappearance...

Match exactly with the one we captured."

Hearing this, Li Changshou furrowed his brow slightly and asked: "Is this force you mentioned very strong?"

"It's not about whether it's strong or not," Jiu Wu said with a bitter smile. "The background of this force is quite complicated; it's somewhat well-known in Zhongshenzhou.

Behind this force, there are attendants who serve the Saint in Wa Huang Gong, and demon clan experts who kindly sheltered human clan survivors when the ancient human race was nearly wiped out.

Additionally...

Well...

Among our human clan's ancient sages, there was an emperor who had a harem of three thousand, and behind this clan stand the favored consorts of two human sages...

The fox demon we caught last time seems to be related by blood or ties to that sage.

Moreover, this force has never participated in the conflicts between the demon clan and the human clan; they've always been in seclusion, cultivating, so most Xianmen give them some respect."

Ancient sages... a harem of three thousand...

Xuan Yuan Huangdi?

After listening to Jiu Wu, Li Changshou felt a slight headache.

Come to think of it, why was Xuan Yuan's harem of three thousand so diverse in composition!

Could collecting beauties from all races provide some kind of cultivation bonus?

Unknown territory, unknown territory.

Li Changshou asked: "Why hasn't anyone looked for her all these years?"

Jiu Wu explained: "It seems that clan thought she was cultivating somewhere, and only recently discovered she was missing and deduced that she had been captured by cultivators.

Fortunately, we didn't kill her directly back then; otherwise, this would have turned into a real mess now."

Li Changshou asked: "Weren't we aware of this force before?"

Jiu Wu sighed lightly and explained:

"Our Du Xian Men is quite far from Zhongshenzhou, so we really didn't consider this aspect before.

Several elders in the sect are now aware of the matter and are feeling a bit stuck.

If we just release the fox demon, it would damage the face of our Renjiao Daocheng for no reason and make people think Du Xian Men is afraid of this demon clan force.

But if we don't release her, given their stance, it seems this fox demon holds a high position in their clan, which could easily trigger another disaster.

Changshou, you're always full of ideas—do you have any good solutions for this?"

Li Changshou nodded slowly, already having a plan in mind.

He smiled and said: "Shibo, I do have a strategy that should help resolve this smoothly.

You can present it to the elders and let them decide whether to proceed."

"Oh! Tell me quickly!"

"Shibo, come closer..."

And so, in this manner, he explained it that way.

After Li Changshou whispered in Jiu Wu's ear for a while, the light in Jiu Wu's large eyes under his thick brows grew brighter and brighter.

"Excellent! I'll go report this to the elders right away!"

"Don't rush, Shibo. As long as we're in the right, the rest isn't a concern," Li Changshou said with a smile. "Their clan has a complicated background, but our Du Xian Men is under the Renjiao Daocheng."

Jiu Wu nodded repeatedly and hurried toward the Shangfa Hall.

Li Changshou rode his cloud at a moderate height back to Xiao Qiong Peak, and in his heart, he reviewed his proposed plan several times over.

It should be fine; after all, they hadn't done anything to the fox demon, just kept her confined there...

Back then, to research the Heart Fire Burning Xian Shi Poison Pill, Li Changshou had made her use her charm techniques a few times.

Upon careful thought, that shouldn't cause any problems.

Besides, the Du Xian Men of today was no longer the one that could be bullied by someone like Wen Jing Dao Ren sending a few puppets.

Not to mention anything else, just the Spirit Explosion Paper Dao Ren that Li Changshou had recently developed could be used in actual combat.

He could infuse his Golden Immortal realm power into the latest semi-finished Paper Dao Ren to reach a nearly full state;

Then, use ordinary Paper Dao Ren to carry the Spirit Explosion Paper Dao Ren, infiltrate the enemy gathering area, and have the ordinary Paper Dao Ren continue channeling immortal power to push it to the Golden Immortal threshold, triggering an explosion comparable to a half-step Golden Immortal cultivator's self-destruction...

This was the art of cultivation.

Li Changshou didn't want to actually use this move, as these Paper Dao Ren were the hard-earned products of the spirit trees on Xiao Qiong Peak.

Most of his preparations were just in case.

"Fox demon, complicated demon clan force..."

Suddenly, a name popped into Li Changshou's mind—

Daji?

More precisely, it should be the Nine-Tailed Fox, with Daji being just a mortal woman possessed by the fox.

'Daji probably has nothing to do with the suppressed fox demon, but this force might be where the Nine-Tailed Fox originated.

After all, for her to be chosen by the Saint, the Nine-Tailed Fox couldn't be an ordinary demon.'

Oh well, thinking about it was useless; the Fengshen matters were no longer connected to him.

Better to focus more on tomorrow night's battle and check for any oversights that others might exploit.

Back in the pill room, he lay down on the rocking chair, and two days and one night passed in a flash.

When Li Changshou's Paper Dao Ren flew out of Nan Tian Men with the vast heavenly army, he also spared a bit of his attention to check the situation by the spiritual lake on Xiao Qiong Peak with his immortal sense.

There, the Jiu Zi Shi Xian, Ling E, You Qin, Xiong Lingli, and Liu Yan Er, Wang Qi, were gathered, drinking and celebrating.

The newly initiated Jiu Yushi was quite shy but, encouraged by Jiu Jiu, blushed as she held her sword and danced to the music played by Ling E's paper doll band.

At the edge of the lively scene, Qi Yuan had returned to his usual demeanor, sitting cross-legged in meditation in the thatched hut by the lake, surrounded by Dao rhythms, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Li Changshou couldn't help but smile, lying on the rocking chair and focusing his mind entirely on the Heavenly Court battle.

Thus, half a day later.

If you asked what His Majesty the Jade Emperor was feeling now, it could only be described as... regret.

What the Jade Emperor had imagined for leading the expedition:

Holding the Heavenly Sword, clad in golden armor, mounted on a pure white heavenly horse, facing countless demons shrouded in demonic energy, raising the Heavenly Sword and shouting "For the Heavenly Court," charging into battle with waves of heavenly soldiers and generals, fighting bloody battles to uphold the righteous energy of heaven and earth!

But the actual leading of the expedition...

"Report—Your Marshal, all units have entered the ambush areas!"

"Report—Over three thousand five hundred deep-sea demon clan have been lured out; investigations show that nine out of ten are tainted with karmic burdens!"

"Report—The enemy has entered the ambush; Dragon Clan units are ready!

Awaiting your order, Marshal!"

High in the sky, where layers of white clouds gathered, thousands of heavenly soldiers surrounded several seats.

The Heavenly Court Demon-Slaying Marshal Hua Ritian, along with the Supervisory General Dongmu Gong, the Chief Coordinator Li Changshou, and a Dragon Clan elder with real authority, sat together here.

Messengers kept rushing in, loudly reporting the received information.

Li Changshou smiled and said:

"Marshal, we shouldn't delay; please give the order."

Hua Ritian looked at Li Changshou, a hint of doubt in his eyes, as if asking:

'Is this all a marshal does?'

Li Changshou smiled and blinked, giving Hua Ritian an affirmative signal.

Hua Ritian pursed his lips, coughed, and said:

"All units, attack and annihilate the demons."

It sounded a bit lackluster.

"Yes!" the messenger responded, leaping out ten zhang, quickly waving a treasure command flag in his hand, turning the orders into streams of light that fell toward various parts of the South Sea.

Soon after, spiritual energy churned in the South Sea, waves surged on the sea surface!

The roars of demon beasts, the furious cries of azure dragons, and the battle shouts of heavenly soldiers and generals shot straight into the sky!

Dongmu Gong, Li Changshou, and the Dragon Clan elder all remained composed, each waiting patiently.

As the main general, Hua Ritian couldn't help but stand up, gripping his sword, and declare firmly:

"As the commander, I should fight alongside the troops—how can I cower here?"

"Marshal," Li Changshou advised, "there is a difference between a general and a marshal. As the commander of the three armies, you must oversee the overall situation. If you charge into battle, the army will be leaderless and in danger."

"Indeed," Dongmu Gong added. "Marshal Hua, don't be impatient!

Charging into battle is for the generals; as marshal, you must focus on the bigger picture!"

Hua Ritian nodded upon hearing this and sat back in his seat, continuing to wait quietly.

In other words, if he hadn't appointed his incarnation, he would be right in the midst of the sea now, battling fiercely with those deep-sea demons.

Hua Ritian glanced at Li Changshou and transmitted:

"Sea God, Sea God... Changgeng, my dear minister!"

Li Changshou turned his head and transmitted back: "Your Majesty, what is it?"

Hua Ritian said: "You handle the overall command; I'll go down and fight with the troops.

From troop deployment to ambush setup, it's all been you and Dongmu Gong doing it. Is my role just to give one order?"

Li Changshou transmitted: "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the Three Realms..."

"Dear minister, do you know how dull my days are as the Jade Emperor? I've finally waited for a battle like this!"

Li Changshou: ...

Seeing that the Jade Emperor was about to start complaining, Li Changshou pondered for a moment and transmitted:

"Your Majesty, once the South Sea battle calms down, when we move to sweep the West Sea demons, I can hold back Dongmu Gong, and you can personally lead the troops to exterminate them.

However, Your Majesty must take care of yourself, as by the time we reach the West Sea, Western Cult will likely have reacted and may interfere."

"Excellent!"

Hua Ritian immediately perked up, sitting straight in his chair, waiting for the reports.

Not long after, massive, scarred corpses began appearing on the sea below.

A grand array, supported by tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers, enveloped a three-thousand-li radius of sea, ensuring the disturbance didn't affect too many sea creatures.

Two hours later, the South Sea battle concluded;

The heavenly and dragon troops merged and pressed on toward the gathering place of the great sea demons for a pursuit.

According to the rules Li Changshou and Dongmu Gong had agreed upon beforehand, any demon clan with karmic burdens would have their demon souls destroyed to prevent future trouble;

Those without karmic burdens would be captured into the Heavenly Court's Lock Demon Tower to await the end of their lifespan and reincarnation.

After battling through the night until dawn,

The heavenly and dragon troops assembled at the edge of the South Sea and marched grandly toward the West Sea, rushing to the next battlefield without pause.

When the South Sea demons were being vanquished, the deep-sea demons of the West Sea had planned to withdraw overnight from the edge of the West Sea and leave the Five Parts Continent, but they were intercepted by the Dragon Clan's forces midway, with most blocked at the West Sea's edge.

This time, Li Changshou followed his agreement with Hua Ritian, holding back Dongmu Gong and suggesting that the Heavenly Court Demon-Slaying Marshal Hua Ritian personally lead a troop on a ten-thousand-li rapid assault against the West Sea demon horde...

Watching Hua Ritian's figure charging at the forefront, Dongmu Gong frowned and said:

"This young man, how can he be so impatient? Sigh, when we return, I truly must report him to His Majesty!

Sea God, shall we jointly submit a memorial?"

"There's no need for that; you can do it yourself, Dongmu Gong."

Li Changshou smiled: "Since General Hua has already led the troops, the overall situation still needs you to control."

Dongmu Gong shook his head slightly, looking at Hua Ritian's back with a mix of disappointment and frustration.

Just then, a white cloud sped from the depths of the West Sea, blocking the path of the heavenly troops.

Li Changshou probed with his immortal sense, but due to the distance, he could only vaguely see...

It was a brown-robed old Daoist carrying a large gourd, standing alone in the way of the charging clouds of the heavenly and dragon armies, exuding a strong aura of pressure.

The old Daoist spoke coldly, taking the large purple-and-white gourd from his back and holding it in his palm, his gaze fixed on the foremost heavenly general—Hua Ritian.

"What is the meaning of the Heavenly Court? Must you eradicate every last remnant of the Yao Court?"

(End of chapter)