Chapter 303: Xuan Du Tours Xiao Qiong, Chang Shou Desires to Transmit Scriptures

Today, the wind in Dou Lu Gong was inexplicably noisy once more.

Under the old tree, Xuan Du Great Mage stretched lazily and sat up. He was about to bow his head and calculate what had disturbed his cultivation when two scenes suddenly appeared in his mind.

The first scene was set on a vast ocean.

Li Changshou's incarnation? Jade Emperor? Dong Mu Gong?

Xuan Du Great Mage furrowed his brow with several question marks, staring intently at the scene.

Then, he saw a vortex appear before the three of them, containing a six-winged golden cicada. The cicada flapped its thin wings and unleashed six beams of golden light toward Li Changshou's incarnation, but they were deflected by the Jade Emperor's intervention.

The first scene ended there, seamlessly transitioning to the second.

In a barren wilderness, a mortal dressed in a kasaya, wearing a monk's hat, and riding a white horse was slowly traveling from east to west over mountains and ridges. He seemed overwhelmed by the scorching heat and on the verge of fainting, yet behind him surged thousands of golden lights, with shadowy figures of several great Buddhas standing tall.

The Taiqing Dao Rhyme trembled lightly, and the second scene vanished.

Xuan Du Great Mage pondered for a moment, falling into deep thought.

What could the teacher mean by this?

The first scene was crystal clear, and based on Xuan Du Great Mage's understanding of his teacher's divine powers, it depicted events that had already occurred.

The second scene, however, was blurred except for the young mortal on the white horse with his strange attire—this was a glimpse of fate derived from divination, captured by the teacher's supreme abilities and presented to him.

"The teacher's divine powers grow ever more profound and unfathomable.

But what does the teacher want me to do this time?"

Xuan Du sat quietly under the old tree, embarking on a long and winding train of thought, eventually reaching his own conclusion.

"The teacher wants me to bring this person into the lineage of Ren Jiao?"

Suddenly, a muffled thunder rumbled, and Xuan Du Great Mage felt that familiar Dao Rhyme in his heart again, this time condensing into two large characters: "Try," "Kill."

Xuan Du Great Mage couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead, realizing he had guessed wrong so many times.

It was truly rare—the teacher actually wanted him to "try" killing this spirit.

"Tsk, the karma entangled with this person is so significant that even the teacher feels compelled to test it. Though not unheard of, it's still quite astonishing."

This must concern the vital interests of our teachings.

"Very well, I'll go consult Changshou first."

Xuan Du Great Mage stood up, stepped out of Dou Lu Gong, glanced toward the Sea God Mansion, and then turned toward the East Heaven Gate.

After taking just three or five steps, he was already standing directly above the protective mountain array of Du Xian Men.

This time, Xuan Du Great Mage did not call for Li Changshou to come out and meet him. Instead, a thought crossed his mind about what Changshou was doing, and following his whim, his figure vanished without a trace.

Thus, Xiao Qiong Peak welcomed an esteemed guest that day.

Xuan Du Great Mage concealed his form beyond the boundaries of heaven and earth, hands clasped behind his back as he strolled leisurely across Xiao Qiong Peak.

The scenes in his eyes were tinged with faint ripples—these were the barriers of the universe, the boundary between reality and illusion.

First, he found a bean field enveloped by a great array and discovered one of Li Changshou's paper effigies tending to the bean sprouts.

Xuan Du Great Mage chuckled, about to reveal himself and tease Li Changshou for not focusing on cultivation, but he noticed the paper effigy's movements were stiff and mechanical, every action rigidly standardized, with no light in its eyes.

The great mage immediately understood—Li Changshou's true spirit was not present here.

Next, he looked toward a nearby pavilion and saw three women of different builds playing with cards at a table.

The great mage recalled the arrangement in the Hall of Marriage, with Li Changshou's clay figures forming a "three stars around the moon" pattern.

One of these three was indeed one of the "three stars."

The great mage flicked his fingers, sending three streams of aura into the pavilion.

Xiong Lingli, Jiang Lin'er, and Jiu Se, who were deeply engaged in their card game, suddenly trembled lightly, rolled their eyes, and slumped onto the table, enveloped by mystical Dao Rhymes.

They were drawn into their own dream realms, beginning to gain insights into their respective paths.

Xuan Du Great Mage was in no hurry. He turned and continued his casual stroll.

Following Li Changshou's aura, he arrived at a thatched hut by the lake and found six of Li Changshou's paper effigies hidden there.

"Changshou is so concerned about his master's and junior sister's safety."

The great mage glanced at Ling E, who was in the midst of her ascension, and his eyes lit up.

This time, Xuan Du Great Mage exerted extra effort, drawing out a pure strand of Taiqing Dao Rhyme to wrap around Ling E's primordial spirit. It would provide her with another wave of insights once her ascension ended.

After that, the great mage looked at Qi Yuan, who was in the Turbid Immortal realm, and then turned to leave.

No point in lingering—on to the next.

The great mage wandered freely around Xiao Qiong Peak, visiting the long-abandoned "Immortal Cat Divination Barrel" and the shaded stream designated as a barbecue area.

It was clear that life on this peak was carefree and comfortable.

After nearly touring the entire Xiao Qiong Peak, the great mage finally strolled toward Li Changshou's alchemy room.

The multiple layers of arrays Li Changshou had set up could not detect the great mage's form beyond the universe.

But as soon as the great mage entered the alchemy room and prepared to reveal himself, he found that the Li Changshou refining pills was still just a paper effigy.

"Where has this guy hidden his true body?"

The great mage grew a bit curious, slowly extending his powerful immortal sense. It didn't take much effort to locate a secret chamber within the mountain body of Xiao Qiong Peak.

Even by the great mage's standards, the design of this secret chamber was quite clever, tucked into the gaps between dozens of arrays, making it hard for others to notice.

The great mage stepped through the void and arrived at the underground chamber in an instant.

Li Changshou was sitting at his desk, writing intently.

What was he writing?

The great mage glanced discreetly and saw that each section on the paper began with the character "Ao," seeming to list a roster of dragon clan experts.

The great mage was about to chuckle and announce his presence, but as the words reached his throat, he held them back.

Upon closer inspection, even here—it was still an incarnation!

The great mage couldn't help but laugh in amusement.

He then spread his left palm, manifesting a virtual shadow of the Taiji Diagram, sending ripples through the boundaries of the universe and stirring a gentle breeze across Xiao Qiong Peak.

A moment later, the great mage used his divine powers to traverse the void and returned to the alchemy room on the surface, stopping in front of a bookshelf in the corner and staring at a laid-out scroll.

The great mage clasped his hands behind his back and leaned in closer, easily seeing through the outer bamboo layers of the scroll to the forbidden space within.

This tiny room was only three inches long and one inch high and wide, yet it was fully furnished with all kinds of items.

On a small bed, a tiny figure the size of an ant lay with legs crossed, sipping wine and reading an ancient book with great enjoyment.

The great mage nearly burst out laughing.

Thinking back on all the paper effigies he had encountered along the way, the great mage finally revealed himself and sighed from the heart toward the scroll:

"You really go to such lengths to hide—do you think some saint is out to catch you?"

"Hmm?"

The little figure in the scroll froze in surprise, then stiffened on the bed.

Only then did the great mage use his divine powers to check and confirm that this was still...

Right at that moment, behind the great mage, the paper effigy by the pill furnace turned its head in a panic and stood up hurriedly.

"Great Mage, I'm right here! That one is just a decoy!"

With that, the paper effigy quickly pulled out a porcelain bottle from its sleeve, poured out a jade-colored spirit pill, and crushed it, transforming it into Li Changshou's true form.

Li Changshou hastily bowed in salute and carefully looked up at the great mage, who was slowly turning around.

Uh...

There was killing intent!

A short while later, in the river valley where Xuan Du Great Mage and Li Changshou had first met.

The great mage stood by the stream with a smile, in high spirits.

Li Changshou nursed the swollen bump on his forehead, grilling several spirit fish he had just caught from the river, and let out a series of soft sighs.

What kind of technique had the great mage used? A single flick had given him this "flick to the forehead," and it still hurt without damaging his body or primordial spirit.

The great mage asked leisurely:

"Changshou, have you encountered any strong enemies lately?"

As if nothing had happened moments before.

Li Changshou's thoughts raced—he first considered his answer, then wondered why the great mage was asking.

If he thought about recent strong enemies, Lu Ya Daoist was one, and Ran Deng was another.

Jin Chan Zi could count as a third, barely.

He replied solemnly:

"Recently, I encountered an old Daoist with a gourd treasure called the Zhan Xian Fei Dao. His name is Lu Ya, and based on my deductions, he should be the surviving prince of the ancient demon court. That flying knife of his is quite formidable, and if he perfects it, he could become a real threat."

"Lu Ya?"

The great mage pinched his fingers to divine, soon frowning slightly.

A warning from Hong Xiu Qiu.

"The saint's mother has concealed his fate," the great mage murmured, extending his left hand to manifest the Taiji Diagram again and continuing his divination.

Quickly, he said, "This Lu Ya is hiding in the Jin Wu Palace on the Sun Star. It seems the saint's mother has acted to gather the remnants of the demon clan's luck for him, giving him a destiny of demon revival. But this luck is shallow and the destiny unstable, so his end is likely not a good one.

"Changshou, I'm not here about Lu Ya.

"Have you seen a six-winged golden cicada?"

Li Changshou laughed. "That's a vicious beast raised by the Western Teachings. I've clashed with it a few times."

"Come, take a look."

The great mage flicked his finger, sending a strand of Dao Rhyme into Li Changshou's brow, and the same scene appeared in his mind.

At a glance, Li Changshou recognized what it depicted.

The monk Tang Seng on his white horse, setting off on the westward journey!

Unconsciously, Li Changshou even imagined background music for the scene—something rhythmic and repetitive.

But let's focus on the matter at hand.

Behind Tang Seng, golden lights surged—that was the luck and merit of the human race.

This scene confirmed that the "journey to the west" was a scheme by the Western Teachings to borrow the human race's luck and merit for their own rise.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and asked, "Great Mage, what is the saint's instruction?"

The great mage replied calmly, "One word: try. Another word: kill."

Li Changshou was genuinely surprised, his first reaction being...

This isn't like Ren Jiao at all—it's completely out of character!

Then, he felt puzzled.

If his saint had successfully executed the "transforming barbarians into Buddhists" scheme after the Feng Shen, the future Buddha of the Western Teachings would be Duo Bao Daoist from Jie Jiao...

Could there be some variable in this scheme?

Or had Duo Bao Daoist failed to control the Western Teachings and been countered by the two Western saints instead?

The relationships were complex and intertwined, and Li Changshou couldn't unravel them all at once.

The saint's order to the great mage was to attempt killing Jin Chan Zi and disrupt the Western Teachings' great destiny.

A flash of insight struck Li Changshou, and he burst into laughter.

The great mage asked curiously, "Why are you laughing, Changshou?"

"The 'try' from the saint is truly profound," Li Changshou said, lifting the grilled fish and offering it respectfully. His heart felt suddenly enlightened.

Even saints actively seek ways to break deadlocks!

What the heavens showed was likely the most probable future. If the saint was dissatisfied, even the inactive Taiqing Saint would intervene!

In other words—

Nothing is set in stone; the future can be changed!

Li Changshou's Dao heart trembled, insights flooding in, and a few knots that had been troubling him were gently untied by that single word "try."

He gathered these insights but did not enter a state of enlightenment in front of the great mage.

Since the saint had given the order, he and the great mage would try to target Jin Chan Zi. If they could eliminate him and alter the journey to the west to some degree, it would be a great success.

If their attempt failed, they could retreat without losses.

The great mage smiled. "The light in your eyes suggests you've got an idea?"

"I have a somewhat immature plan, and I'd like the great mage's guidance."

"Go ahead."

The great mage sat back on the green stone, picking up the grilled fish and savoring it slowly.

"Yes," Li Changshou said, pondering for a moment as he paced slowly beside him. He outlined several strategies for eliminating Jin Chan Zi.

Coincidentally, he had recently faced Jin Chan Zi directly and sparked a conflict.

Jin Chan Zi had struck viciously at Li Changshou's incarnation that day, intent on destroying it.

Now, Li Changshou could invite the great mage to "seek justice," turning the tables to pursue Jin Chan Zi—it was perfectly reasonable and justified.

This pretext was sufficient.

The current issue was that neither Li Changshou nor Xuan Du Great Mage could be sure if the two Western saints knew of Jin Chan Zi's "importance."

"...So, I think we must strike and kill Jin Chan Zi in an instant, leaving no chance for rescue."

"This might be tricky," the great mage said. "A saint's power can turn the impossible into possible—never underestimate any saint.

"Moreover, Changshou, you don't have much of an advantage against Jin Chan Zi. How can you ensure a single strike kills him?"

Li Changshou asked weakly, "Great Mage... isn't my role to come up with the plans?"

The great mage narrowed his eyes with a smile, extending his right hand and slowly condensing a small pagoda wrapped in Xuan Huang aura in his palm.

"This time, it's not just a simple burst of power. Leave it to me."

Li Changshou felt a slight relief and pondered anew, rethinking their strategy.

Just then, a stir in his divine sense alerted him that Ao Yi had arrived at An Shui City with a large force of dragon soldiers.

Ao Yi had come from the West Sea Dragon Palace, where he had been kept for a banquet and only returned today.

Li Changshou said, "Great Mage, could you take me to An Shui City?

"I have a scripture to give to Ao Yi, and going in person would add a sense of formality. We can also discuss this matter further there."

"Very well."