Chapter 314: Eats All Three Teachings, Only the Sea God

"Timing? What timing is the teacher waiting for?"

At the gates of Doushuai Gong, Da Fashi stood quietly on the steps, reflecting on his brief exchange with his teacher earlier at Taiqing Guan.

He had gone to seek his teacher's permission to formally take Li Changshou as a disciple.

But his teacher had only said...

The timing has not yet arrived.

In other words, his teacher had decided to accept Changshou as a disciple, but was waiting for a specific timing?

What could that timing possibly be?

Wasn't it just a matter of issuing a saint's decree directly?

Why did it feel like there was some complex scheme behind it?

Da Fashi frowned slightly, pushed open the gates of Doushuai Gong, and returned to his usual spot—

Under that old tree, in the shady grass.

As the chief disciple of Renjiao and the senior brother of Daomen, how could he not understand scheming? He just rarely bothered with it.

Da Fashi adjusted his sleeves, a spark of interest in his eyes.

Today, he would thoroughly analyze and deduce what timing his teacher was waiting for, and when Changshou could smoothly enter Doushuai Gong!

And so, Da Fashi sat under the tree, constantly pinching his fingers, deeply pondering, nodding or shaking his head from time to time, his expression quite serious.

It wasn't until his brows furrowed into the character "chuan" that he slowly let out a breath...

And gave up.

He truly couldn't fathom what his teacher was scheming.

"Ah, let it be. As long as I know the teacher intends to take him as a disciple, that's enough.

I shouldn't tell Changshou about this, to avoid unsettling his mindset. We'll just wait for the teacher's decree and celebrate with him then."

Da Fashi yawned, about to let his form relax naturally and merge his spirit with the heavens and earth, when Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin came running over with quick steps.

"Da Fashi! Earlier, Changshou Shixiong came by and brought some pantao."

"Pantao?"

Da Fashi raised an eyebrow, looking at the jade box Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin opened, where six pantao were neatly arranged, and he smiled faintly.

"Changshou is thoughtful, sharing his gains like this."

Da Fashi sighed softly, "You two can take them and share. Don't waste Changshou's kind intentions."

Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin nodded quickly, hugged the jade box, and hurried back to the hall, burping a couple of times along the way.

"Those two little ones, they don't even wipe their mouths after sneaking a bite."

Pantao... Sea God...

Da Fashi murmured, "Could it be that the teacher is waiting for Changshou to accomplish some great deed?

If that's the case, then there's no need to rush, but I still feel the teacher doesn't care much about the dragon clan matters. There must be other considerations.

The word 'timing' is truly too vague."

Oh well.

Thinking about it endlessly is useless.

Da Fashi stretched lazily, leaning back as his body slowly reclined, with the shallow green grass on the ground growing rapidly and intertwining to form a comfortable grass bed.

By the way, what is Changshou doing right now?

Da Fashi rested his left hand behind his head and lightly pointed with his right hand in front of him. The Taiji Tu slowly appeared, its yin-yang fish turning as it condensed into a scroll.

Oh, he's actually gone to Sanxian Island!

Seeing this, Da Fashi perked up immediately. The image slowly advanced, quickly revealing the two figures strolling and chatting in the forest.

Da Fashi couldn't help but praise in his heart, and he hurriedly waved his hand to disperse the Taiji Tu illusion.

But even though Da Fashi's movements were swift, Yunxiao Xianzi still sensed something and glanced toward the sky...

Da Fashi carefully calculated and confirmed that his Dao rhyme hadn't been detected by Yunxiao, then he breathed a sigh of relief.

'You're quite something, little Changshou.

You don't miss any opportunity, boldly going to Sanxian Island with pantao in hand. It's not like it's some pantao spirit root, and you're not afraid that Shimei Yunxiao might look down on it.'

With that, he turned over and lay on his side, drifting into a deep sleep.

On Sanxian Island.

Yunxiao frowned slightly and slowly withdrew her gaze upward.

"What's wrong? Is someone spying here?"

Yunxiao asked curiously, "Did you also sense that aura just now?"

"My cultivation is shallow, so I couldn't sense it," Li Changshou said. "I just read it from your expression."

"It should be Dashixiong watching," Yunxiao sighed softly, a bit helplessly. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

After escorting Li Changshou to Sanxian Island, Duobao Daoist had excused himself to return to Biyou Gong and present the peaches to his teacher.

"Duobao Qianbei is free-spirited and loves to play, truly a rare character in the world.

Jiejiao has many with such temperaments, adding much human warmth compared to other places in Honghuang.

The path of cultivation is long; having friends to accompany you is the greatest fortune."

Yunxiao stopped walking, slightly turned her body, and smiled gently, "How is it that everything sounds beneficial and reasonable when it comes from your mouth?"

The dappled light and shadows in the forest scattered, with a few spots falling on her long skirt, adding a touch of liveliness.

"Please don't overpraise me," Li Changshou said, not daring to look too much, just smiling. "It's just that when viewing the same thing, one can take different angles.

Besides, Jiejiao's human warmth is both good and bad."

Yunxiao asked, "Is the bad part related to karma?"

"Yes, exactly karma," Li Changshou said with a meaningful look in his eyes. "The more deep connections you have, the harder it is to untangle that karma.

Karma is like a net, already enveloping all of Jiejiao."

Yunxiao pondered this thoughtfully.

To be cautious, Li Changshou didn't elaborate further and stopped there, continuing to stroll with Yunxiao.

Clouds rise and fall, tides ebb and flow.

The scenery on Sanxian Island was quite nice, though Li Changshou didn't remember much of it.

Yunxiao also asked why he had come to Jin'ao Island this time. Li Changshou mentioned the dragon clan matters and the letter he had obtained from Duobao Daoist along the way.

The letter had two ancient characters: "long" and "tian."

Next, after leaving Sanxian Island, Li Changshou planned to visit Yuxu Gong and hope to meet Guangchengzi to seek the characters "kun" and "sheng."

"Trapped dragon ascending to heaven?"

Yunxiao murmured softly, "Does this handwriting have any effect on the dragon clan?"

"If it's just from two qianbei, it might even backfire, making them think Daomen is interfering in dragon clan affairs."

"But if we handle this carefully and combine it with the promises from Yudi, it can create strong pressure.

Though Honghuang is vast and the three thousand worlds are expansive, with the three teachings of Daomen taking a stance, the dragon clan has nowhere to hide.

Now, Yudi has lost patience with the dragon clan matters and wants a quick resolution. We can't let them deal with their internal troubles first; we must make them formally commit, then coordinate inside and out to gradually reorganize..."

In the forest, Li Changshou spoke eloquently.

Yunxiao Xianzi mostly listened quietly, occasionally nodding gently or asking questions.

They talked happily, with time on their hands.

It seemed like just a blink, and they had already spent one or two shichen on the island.

When Li Changshou expressed his intent to leave, Yunxiao saw him off the island, while Qiongxiao and Bixiao ran out to join in the fun, their eyes twinkling with mischief, though they didn't tease aloud.

"Let's go," Li Changshou called to Longji Gongzhu, who was suddenly feeling a bit reserved beside him.

Longji flew forward and followed behind Li Changshou, holding her duster, slightly lost in thought.

They set off toward Nanzhanbuzhou, heading for Kunlun Xian Mountain.

Halfway there, Longji finally asked softly, "Sea God..."

"Hmm?"

"Are peaches tasty?"

"Not bad, why ask suddenly?"

"Hehe," Longji stuck out her tongue and smiled, then said a bit timidly, "Sea God, can Longji ask you something? Why are you... um, why are you helping my father in Heaven?"

Li Changshou countered, "Then why do you think Laojun is helping His Majesty in Heaven?"

Longji was startled, vaguely feeling she had gotten the answer, yet still felt like she was in a fog, unsure what she had understood.

Li Changshou chuckled lightly and continued flying on the clouds, saying no more.

Meanwhile, Longji thought for a while, took out her jade talisman, and wrote down:

Sea God visited Jiejiao, his network and friendships are astoundingly vast, especially with Duobao Daoist Qianbei seeking him out and treating him like a brother...

Sea God and Yunxiao Xianzi are like close confidants, strolling through the mountains and forests, chatting and laughing joyfully...

Truly remarkable, truly remarkable.

"Longji?"

"Yes!" Longji quickly responded, tucking the jade talisman into her dao robe sleeve. "What are your orders, Sea God?"

"Don't let what we saw today spread in Heaven."

"If Father and Mother ask..."

"Then it's fine to tell them."

Li Changshou said, "Next, we'll visit a qianbei first, then go to Yuxu Gong. Remember, no matter what happens in Yuxu Gong, don't say anything—just stay behind me."

"Yes," Longji replied solemnly.

She knew well that the Chan and Jie sects often clashed due to differences in teachings and ideals.

Seeing how popular Li Changshou was in Jiejiao, even being a close friend of the renowned Yunxiao Xianzi, she wondered about Chan Sect...

Surely, they wouldn't be driven out, right?

Longji, being a young girl at heart, started feeling anxious.

However, what happened next left Longji overwhelmed.

They first went to Zhongshenzhou's Erxian Mountain, found Magu Cave, and met a kind elder with a clean face and no beard—

Huanglong Zhenren.

Li Changshou didn't beat around the bush; he directly said it was about the dragon clan and asked Huanglong Zhenren to help get a letter from Guangchengzi Qianbei, even showing the one from Duobao Daoist.

Huanglong Zhenren asked, "Just need Shixiong Guangchengzi to write two characters?"

"Yes, and it's best if he leaves a trace of his aura, to represent Chan Sect's stance."

"That's easy!"

Huanglong Zhenren agreed readily and immediately took Li Changshou and Longji to Kunlun Mountain.

They found Yuxu Gong and paid respects to Guangchengzi. Huanglong Zhenren didn't mention Li Changshou's purpose; he took the matter upon himself and presented the two characters from Duobao Daoist to Guangchengzi.

Guangchengzi smiled, picked up his brush, and wrote "kun" and "sheng."

"Is that all?"

"Thank you, Shixiong!"

"Thank you, Qianbei."

"It's a small matter," Guangchengzi said, folding the letter and sending it back to Li Changshou with his immortal power. "Heaven was established by Daozu, so it's only right to lend a hand."

Li Changshou thanked him repeatedly, while Longji beside him didn't know what to say.

Did Chan and Jie sects really have such goodwill toward Heaven?

Longji knew full well—it was all because of Sea God's face.

After leaving Yuxu Gong safely, they headed back toward the East Sea. Longji took out her jade talisman and silently wrote:

Sea God, master of all three teachings, truly astonishing to Ji.

When Li Changshou and Longji arrived at the East Sea;

In Xiniu Hezhou, at the foot of Ling Mountain, inside a great array in a deep valley.

Several figures stood by a treasure pool, simultaneously acting to slowly submerge a golden cicada that had not yet shed its shell into the bottom of the pool.

These figures were all old Daoists, each wearing somewhat tattered robes;

According to Ling Mountain's rules, the more worn the robes, the higher the status, as a reminder not to forget the "poverty of the West."

Not far behind these old Daoists, in a few corners, one or two figures stood each.

Wenjing Daoist was there too, watching the golden cicada in the pool;

Feeling a sense of schadenfreude mixed with sorrow, she almost laughed out loud...

She heard the old Daoists say:

"Jin Chanzi is ruined."

"That Sea God actually has the power to nearly kill Jin Chanzi; tell Wenjing and the others to be careful and not confront Sea God directly. He's deeply hidden."

"A disciple of Renjiao, concealing his intentions—who knows what he's planning."

They spoke one after another, and after a few words, fell silent.

Wenjing Daoist was genuinely surprised.

Sea God?

The one who had severely injured Jin Chanzi, forcing him into near reincarnation?

How was that possible? Sea God's cultivation shouldn't have reached Daluo Realm, and Jin Chanzi was a fierce beast from ancient battles, nearly unbeatable in the same realm...

How could Jin Chanzi have almost been done in? Wenjing Daoist was baffled.

And besides, Sea God...

Wasn't he just a civil official?

Wenjing Daoist blinked in confusion.

Then she heard one old Daoist grit his teeth and scold, "Are we just going to swallow this? Teacher said Jin Chanzi is key to the great prosperity of the West; Sea God has cut off our great fortune!"

"Even if we want to strike at Sea God, we can't find his true body. What's the point of killing his paper effigies?"

Another old Daoist said, "If we can't touch Sea God, can't we touch those around him?"

"Who?"

"The one who's close to Sea God and has many karmic ties with our West is..."

"Jiejiao, Zhao Gongming."

At the mention of that name, the old Daoists by the pool fell silent again.

This silence lasted a good while until one old Daoist looked up and sighed:

"We can't win against him; let's pick someone else."

Wenjing Daoist couldn't help but roll her eyes, leaning against the stone wall as she waited for these saint disciples to reach a conclusion.

After muttering for a long time without finding a suitable target for revenge, Wenjing Daoist snorted inwardly...

'Not just you all—even I, as Sea God's right-hand aide, don't know half of his friends and family.

Instead of chattering here, why don't you dare storm Doushuai Gong and bother my lord's consort?'

Thinking of the word "consort," Wenjing Daoist's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile playing at her lips...

These Western sage disciples discussed for a long time before finalizing their plan to retaliate against Sea God.

And this plan was relayed in full by Wenjing Daoist to Li Changshou's paper effigy, word for word...