Chapter 301: Yudi Gege, Your Road is Blocked

What on earth is going on?

Lu Ya Dao Ren was nowhere to be seen, and now Jin Chan Zi had unexpectedly appeared.

Originally, accompanying Yu Di on this coastal patrol was already an unforeseen variable in Li Changshou's plans.

He thought it best not to dampen Yu Di's spirits, and besides, no one in the Three Realms would dare to truly challenge Yu Di, so he decided to join the outing.

But today's events were unfolding in such an unstable direction.

The gathering of the Long Zi, with Western figures hiding here...

There must be something suspicious!

Li Changshou's mind raced quickly, and he made a decision. In the ship's cabin, he sent a voice transmission to Yu Di:

"Your Majesty, this person is a Western Teach expert known as Jin Chan Zi. He has clashed with me several times in recent decades.

Today's Long Zi gathering is likely his scheme, and we've stumbled upon it by accident.

I don't know his exact intentions yet, but they must be related to the Long Clan matters."

Yu Di replied calmly through voice transmission: "My dear minister, just pretend I'm not here. Handle it as you would normally."

Li Changshou: ...

If Your Majesty weren't here, this fellow could dance a strip prayer at the Hai Shen Temple, and I might not even notice.

But seeing the eager glint in Yu Di's eyes, Li Changshou didn't voice these thoughts.

Upon reflection, this Majesty probably just wanted to feel involved in such Heavenly Court affairs...

"I obey your command!"

Li Changshou acknowledged and then sent a voice transmission to Dong Mu Gong with instructions.

If a conflict arose, they must protect Yu Di immediately.

His paper Dao Ren avatar had limited strength, and even teaming up with Dong Mu Gong might not match Jin Chan Zi. Plus, there were many Long Clan troops here, and their loyalties were uncertain...

If a real fight broke out, Yu Di would likely have to step in to protect the two Heavenly Court ministers.

They might not have the power, but they had to show the right attitude and strike a perfect pose.

Li Changshou signaled the dancers to take a short break and had the musicians stop playing. He led the way out of the ship's cabin, holding his duster.

Dong Mu Gong bowed slightly in a gesture of invitation, but Yu Di shot him a stern look, prompting Dong Mu Gong to straighten up and smile knowingly at Yu Di.

And so, the three stood at the bow of the ship, with Li Changshou using his divine power to propel them forward at lightning speed.

Yu Di sent a voice transmission with a laugh: "Changgeng, my dear minister, how do you usually handle such enemies?"

"My avatar has limited strength and isn't skilled in combat. I mostly offer ideas and strategies."

Li Changshou replied without turning back, through voice transmission. "This Jin Chan Zi is ruthless and cruel. His true form is a Hong Meng fierce beast, but he's gained the favor of the Western Teach saints and seems to be on the path to becoming their disciple.

Recently, many of the Western Teach's schemes regarding the Long Clan have come from him.

If we can capture him here today, it would be ideal."

"Excellent!"

Yu Di's eyes lit up. "Today, let me witness how my dear minister outwits this Western powerhouse!"

Li Changshou felt a few black lines forming on his forehead.

He had said all this partly to suggest that taking down Jin Chan Zi would make the Western Teach feel the pain.

Though one Jin Chan Zi wasn't worth Yu Di personally intervening.

But having the direct power to eliminate the opponent and yet hiding in the background to watch the show felt a bit...

Not quite prudent.

Oh well, who could blame it being Yu Di? He was just a fourth-rank minor god, with more troubles than merits, while others took vacations, he worked overtime, and relied on scattering beans to summon immortals for battles.

How to outwit him?

Well, how else...

Li Changshou began secretly calling for help.

First, he sent his divine sense to the Hai Shen Temple, connected with the nearby jade statue, and quickly contacted Ao Yi, asking him to bring any available Long Clan experts and rush to the West Sea immediately.

Ao Yi agreed, and Li Changshou cut off the connection.

Next, he dispatched a paper Dao Ren in the form of a young girl from underground in An Shui City to the edge of the South Sea. There, she blew a short flute toward the sea.

In an instant, a fish appeared in the water, and Li Changshou sent it a voice transmission.

This fish was Wen Jing Dao Ren's puppet.

Li Changshou didn't explain much; he simply instructed Wen Jing Dao Ren to come to the West Sea if possible, without revealing himself directly—first make secret contact.

After these arrangements, Li Changshou started thinking about how to stall for time. He needed to maintain his own dignity, uphold the Heavenly Court's prestige, and make Yu Di feel that...

'Hey, this fight is quite entertaining.'

The key was to make it 'expected yet unexpected.'

It seemed he had to play on Jin Chan Zi's inherent arrogance and pretentiousness...

"Humph!"

Still thousands of miles away, Li Changshou snorted coldly, his face expressionless as he lightly flicked his duster.

Jin Chan Zi narrowed his eyes and smiled, seeming quite smug.

At that moment, on the sea shell immortal boat, several Long Zi stood up, their expressions varying.

The crown princes from the West Sea and South Sea Dragon Palaces smiled indifferently, unfazed.

The crown prince from the North Sea Dragon Palace looked puzzled but otherwise normal.

As for Ao Jia, the crown prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, he seemed uneasy, frowning at the suddenly appearing Jin Chan Zi with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

This guy was radiating menace—who on earth had he come from?

Ao Jia had a tall, slender build and handsome features, but his years of indulgence had made him look somewhat frail, like a refined dandy come to life, with his horns lacking clarity.

Now, seeing the Hai Shen approaching from the southeast with a stern expression and this expert suddenly emerging, shouting about talking to the Hai Shen again...

After some thought, Ao Jia realized something.

He had been set up!

Though Ao Jia lived a life of indulgence, he wasn't foolish. He knew which path his father had chosen, and in that moment, he acted decisively.

"Hai Shen brother!"

Ao Jia called out urgently, bypassing Jin Chan Zi entirely and flying toward Li Changshou, who was still miles away.

Jin Chan Zi's brows furrowed slightly. He clasped his hands behind his back, a thin, blade-like leaf as delicate as a cicada's wing appearing between his fingers, his eyes flashing with malice.

Li Changshou caught Jin Chan Zi's subtle movement and narrowed his eyes, saying coolly:

"How dare you?"

Jin Chan Zi smiled faintly, his fingers behind his back poised to flick, but then he froze.

A surge of intense killing intent!

Suddenly, several dragon roars echoed, and three figures burst from the sea without splashing a drop, forming a triangular formation that subtly surrounded Jin Chan Zi.

These were three elderly dragon leaders, their auras steady and majestic, their faces scaled with a faint bloody hue, enveloped in visible karmic obstacles.

Ancient war dragons!

Jin Chan Zi's expression began to change.

The Hai Shen's sudden arrival...

The Long Clan's ambush of such experts...

It seemed his plan for today had been uncovered by the Hai Shen and the Long Clan long ago!

Why?

He had schemed for so long, taking a different approach by secretly using Western Teach secret methods to influence the West Sea Dragon Palace crown prince's mind, planning to use him as a breakthrough to control the next generation of the Long Clan.

Once he had a firm grip on most of the Long Clan's successors and combined it with pressure from other angles, how could the Long Clan not fall?

Yet, his plan had just started, and today, after luring the crown princes from the South Sea, East Sea, and North Sea Dragon Palaces and even bringing in sons of several Long Clan ministers...

As he made his covert moves, having just targeted a couple of minor ministers' offspring, the Hai Shen had already arrived!

Truly deserving of the one who had repeatedly thwarted the Mosquito Clan queen.

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Faced with the three ancient war dragons' encirclement, Jin Chan Zi laughed fearlessly and said:

"Hai Shen, you've won!"

Though Li Changshou's mind was full of questions, he kept a perfectly calm facade and smiled casually, his eyes showing a touch of disdain.

Behind him, Yu Di and Dong Mu Gong exchanged glances.

Dong Mu Gong's eyes were full of admiration, though he had no idea how the Hai Shen had pulled it off—but he absolutely couldn't let Yu Di see his confusion.

Yu Di also smiled faintly, as if everything was under his control.

The East Sea Dragon Palace crown prince, Ao Jia, had already flown to Li Changshou's side, with an elder following him. The elder bowed deeply to Li Changshou.

"Hai Shen brother! I, Ao Jia, nearly fell for someone's scheme today. Thank you for arriving just in time!"

Li Changshou nodded with a smile and asked the elder, "Why are you all here?"

The Long Clan elder replied hastily, "In response to Hai Shen, it was the second prince who sought us out and asked us to protect the crown prince."

Ao Jia laughed. "So, Hai Shen brother had already arranged it all!"

Li Changshou: ...

This wasn't his arrangement at all—it was Ao Yi's countermeasure.

Li Changshou said calmly, "Please, everyone, take action and capture this fierce beast!"

"Yes, sir!"

The dragon leader elder saluted and responded, then turned and let out a thunderous dragon roar. The three ancient war dragons surrounding Jin Chan Zi attacked in unison.

Jin Chan Zi held his blade and chuckled lightly, his figure vanishing strangely from the spot. When he reappeared, he was behind the somewhat bewildered North Sea Dragon Palace crown prince.

A thin blade was pressed against the crown prince's neck!

At the same time, several more thin blades appeared at the necks of the West Sea and South Sea crown princes!

The three crown princes were instantly held hostage, forcing the three ancient war dragons to halt.

Seeing this, Ao Jia, still far away, quickly ducked behind the dragon leader elder and peered out from his shoulder.

Jin Chan Zi scanned the area with a composed gaze, clearly having planned this escape route in advance.

He said, "I excel at teleportation and speed. It might be troublesome for you all to keep me here.

Hai Shen, why don't we take this chance to talk again?

Last time we spoke, I felt you steered the conversation away, and I couldn't express what was truly on my mind."

Li Changshou replied indifferently, "I have nothing to discuss with you.

Jin Chan Zi, do you really dare to kill these three princes?

Are you trying to make the Long Clan submit to the Western Teach, or force them into endless enmity?"

"You misunderstand, Hai Shen," Jin Chan Zi said coldly. "I am merely a wandering cultivator from the mountains, with no connection to the Western Spirit Mountain."

"Is that so?"

Li Changshou said coolly, "Your great Dao oath from last time still echoes in my ears. Why deny your backers now?

Or have you been cast out?"

"Nonsense!"

Jin Chan Zi snapped coldly, but this time he was more cautious and didn't argue further.

Just then, Li Changshou heard a voice transmission, soft and charming with a hint of timidity, like a deliberately delicate flower:

"My lord, I have arrived. You can send a message to that upside-down fish in the sea. I'm hiding a thousand miles away right now."

It was Wen Jing Dao Ren who had arrived.

Not having been in touch for a while, even her self-address had changed.

Li Changshou immediately sent a voice transmission to the fish, instructing:

"If Jin Chan Zi manages to escape, take the chance to save him, but don't reveal yourself.

If he can't escape, stay hidden—as if you were never here."

Wen Jing Dao Ren replied quickly:

"I obey, my lord. But there are Western Teach experts hiding nearby as well. Please be careful, my lord."

Li Changshou smiled slightly at the warning, as he had already considered that.

As he finished arranging with Wen Jing Dao Ren, Jin Chan Zi spoke loudly:

"Why are you stopping at six hundred miles away, Hai Shen? Are you afraid?

If I'm not mistaken, you're still using an avatar. Don't you even have the courage to sit and talk with me?"

—This was provocation.

Li Changshou replied indifferently: "Those who discuss the Dao are heroes; those who sit and drink are not villains."

—Counter-provocation.

"What a 'heroes all,'" Jin Chan Zi retorted sarcastically. "If we're talking about villains, what about the two behind you?

They have ordinary auras and a bit of Heavenly Court merit—they're just minor gods.

How is that? Am I not even worthy of them?"

At these words, Dong Mu Gong shouted: "You—"

"Ah," Yu Di interrupted with a smile, saying nothing more, just quietly watching Jin Chan Zi.

Li Changshou shot back:

"Absurd! Ridiculous!

Jin Chan Zi, you judge heroism by divine powers, but you don't understand that I speak of virtue and character!

Look at your actions now—threatening the lives of these princes just to discuss the Dao with me?

You have no shame at all. How can you not be called a villain?"

"You sly-tongued Hai Shen! I can't outargue you!"

Jin Chan Zi's eyes flashed with ferocity. As his words fell, golden light surged, and his figure vanished instantly!

The three ancient war dragons struck simultaneously at a point in the sky, causing the universe to tremble and clouds to shatter—but they hit nothing!

One of the war dragons suddenly shouted: "Hai Shen, watch out!"

Li Changshou sensed a warning in his heart. A hundred yards away on the sea surface, a black vortex appeared out of nowhere, shooting six faint golden lights!

In that instant!

Li Changshou leaped from the left, and Dong Mu Gong from the right, both positioning themselves in front of Yu Di!

Li Changshou spread his arms, and Dong Mu Gong threw himself forward, both wearing expressions of resolute self-sacrifice, as if they were about to cry out "Protect the emperor"...

Yu Di had black lines all over his forehead and nearly slapped his left and right arms away.

Using Li Changshou and Dong Mu Gong as cover, Yu Di pointed a finger lightly, and a beam of white light descended, enveloping Li Changshou's paper Dao Ren.

With a few light clinks, the six golden blades were easily deflected by the white light...

Yu Di's eyes then shot two more beams of white light, merging into a massive sword that slashed into the vortex!

A muffled groan came from the vortex, where a blurry figure trembled slightly before vanishing with the vortex, leaving only a spray of blood in the air...

Jin Chan Zi's fierce voice echoed from all directions:

"I never expected the Heavenly Court to hide such a dragon among men. I've learned my lesson today!

Hiding in the shadows and striking from ambush—you're no hero, just a villain!

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

Li Changshou observed Yu Di's expression discreetly and felt a slight twitch in his heart.

This guy was still laughing—what was so funny?

'Oh, dear imperial brother, now I finally understand why, when you went to seek scriptures in your reincarnation, you got pinned down and killed nine times by that certain Heavenly Court general whose name we won't mention...'

Yu Di's eyes glowed with white light as he gazed in a certain direction in the sky and sent a voice transmission to Li Changshou: "Someone helped him escape."

"Your Majesty, who was it?"

"A woman, likely also of fierce beast origin."

Li Changshou laughed. "What does Your Majesty think of that woman?"

"Ah, don't get any ideas, my dear minister," Yu Di said seriously. "My relationship with my junior sister is the model of heavenly fate—we mustn't act rashly or frivolously."