What a vicious scheme.
Li Changshou multitasked effortlessly. One paper effigy accompanied Long Ji on a tour of the Dragon Palace, while another remained in the back hall of the Sea God Temple, dismissing the 'Bula Bula' mosquito that had just delivered a message.
He then began to ponder countermeasures.
In retrospect, this was partly his own fault. He might have hidden things too securely, leaving the Western Cult without a clear entry point, so they shifted their focus to the Sea God Cult's own structure.
This was a major cult, backed by two saints and ranking among the top second-tier forces in the primordial world, yet after much deliberation, they planned to destroy a small bear village of the Wu people and assassinate the Sea God Cult's divine envoys across various bear villages!
It was pure spite, nothing but revenge and venting frustration!
Though the plan seemed absurd, it made Li Changshou feel deeply uncomfortable.
Upon closer reflection, it was because his approach to 'steadiness' had fallen short.
In his earlier, more reckless youth, he thought being steady meant being flawless in every way, covering all angles without any mistakes.
Now, with a slightly more mature mindset, he realized belatedly that when managing a force, true steadiness involved deliberately exposing a false weakness to guide the enemy's actions, making them focus their efforts there and giving his side more opportunities to respond.
But this wasn't the time for self-reflection; he needed to quickly devise a plan.
If the Western Cult wanted to dismantle the Sea God Cult, they could simply send a few fierce beasts to slaughter the divine envoys and temple priests, achieving devastating results in a short time.
Fortunately, Li Changshou had...
Prepared in advance.
The paper effigy in the back hall immediately dove underground, while seven or eight other paper effigies sprang into action separately.
He would relocate the bear villages in the shortest time possible, move most of the Wu people to Dongsheng Divine Continent, and gather the elite divine envoys in the safe house beneath the Sea God Temple.
Although the Western Cult's target was the Wu people this time, Li Changshou would also alert the true dragon guardians stationed in various places, instructing them to temporarily withdraw to the South Sea.
Additionally, to protect his excellent undercover agents behind enemy lines, he had the Sea God Temples across all regions post notices:
The divine envoys will be undergoing a concentrated divine power advancement. In the coming days, please offer incense at home.
Even after these arrangements, Li Changshou still felt it wasn't enough.
The dragon clan's affairs were at a critical juncture, and if he couldn't spare his full attention later and made a mistake, the enemy might seize the opportunity.
Though the Wu people had 'schemed' against him at the beginning, over the years they had wholeheartedly helped—well, wholeheartedly scammed food and drink, ahem, wholeheartedly developed the Sea God Cult!
Thanks to them, Li Changshou had gained so much incense merit; their contributions were indelible. Since he could protect them, he wouldn't let them suffer pointless bloodshed.
After thinking it over, Li Changshou used a Golden Immortal realm paper effigy, accompanied by a few skilled actors among the divine envoys—like the "midnight lady-beater" Xiong Laosan—and headed straight to the Underworld.
If the Wu people faced a crisis, it would be perfectly reasonable for Wu clan experts to step in and protect them.
Li Changshou wouldn't freeload off the Wu clan experts; he would offer the appropriate rewards without hesitation. Whatever the Underworld Wu clan lacked, he would have people prepare it.
It was just a matter of a few tens of thousands of spirit beasts, after all!
While making these preparations for the confrontation, Li Changshou led Long Ji into the sea, arriving in the waters where the East Sea Dragon Palace was located.
"Hold on a moment, I have some matters to handle that require my divided attention."
"Okay~"
Long Ji agreed sweetly and stood behind Li Changshou, admiring the stunning scenery of the sea.
The four seas of the primordial world, no matter how deep or vast, always had a faint glow, and immortals and cultivators were adept at 'observing in the dark,' making viewing underwater objects as clear as admiring flowers in daylight.
Before long, Li Changshou adjusted his mental focus, sorted out the bear village affairs, and then called to Long Ji:
"Alright, let's go to the Dragon Palace."
"Sea God, do you have some trouble?"
Long Ji said seriously, "Last night, my mother instructed me that although the Heavenly Court is short on soldiers and generals right now, we can't let you handle everything alone. If there's any difficulty, please don't hesitate to speak to the Heavenly Court.
Um...
That's what my mother said."
"Hahahaha," Li Changshou laughed, "Thank you for the empress's concern. If I encounter any trouble, I won't shoulder it alone; I'll prioritize the greater interests of the Heavenly Court!"
Long Ji blinked lightly and suddenly realized...
The Sea God was incredibly eloquent.
His words were perfectly timed, subtle yet profound, flowing effortlessly and full of depth!
She took out her jade talisman and immediately wrote down her observation.
Looking again at the Sea God's back, she felt he was even more unfathomable...
In every sense of the word.
Ahead, dragon roars echoed, the sea waters churned, and schools of fish scattered in panic.
The dragon clan, already aware of Li Changshou's arrival in the East Sea, dispatched a large contingent of soldiers and generals to welcome him when he was still a thousand *li* from the Crystal Palace.
At that moment, Long Ji heard a soft intake of breath within the immortal energy barrier.
Long Ji tiptoed and leaned forward, seeing that the Sea God's expression had turned somewhat grave, and his gaze was firmer than it had been throughout their journey.
"Sea God, is the dragon clan's matter that difficult?"
"It's manageable."
Li Changshou clenched his fist slightly, resolved to fight this battle well!
From today onward, stabilize the world; in the Lingxiao Hall, become a prominent minister!
He never imagined that he, Li Changshou, could feel such a surge of ambition!
Long Ji, standing nearby, keenly sensed the change in the Sea God's demeanor and felt her own spirits rise.
'Father said that this Sea God has a flaw: he's overly cautious, thinking things through multiple times before acting.
But seeing him today, it's not like what my fa...ther...said...'
Before Long Ji could finish her silent thought, a dragon clan expert arrived first, laughing heartily at the Sea God and bowing from afar.
The Sea God instantly dropped his intense aura; the previous moment he was full of grand ambition, and suddenly he was...
Smiling with narrowed eyes, warm and affable.
The dragon-headed elder called out, "Sea God, I hope you've been well!"
Li Changshou replied, "It's all thanks to Elder Ao Jiao's blessings; I've been enjoying leisure in the Heavenly Court."
With that, both threw back their heads and laughed, their laughter echoing far through the sea waters.
This...
Long Ji's forehead creased with a few black lines.
She knew that in the primordial world, there was an unwritten rule: when two parties met and weren't sure if they were enemies, they could share a laugh—the longer the laugh, the less the hostility.
How did this rule come about?
Rumor had it that in ancient times, many innate spirits would laugh joyfully upon finding treasure, and other innate spirits would hear the laughter and take a detour, hurrying off to find treasure elsewhere.
Over time, this became the custom.
In ancient eras, experts from all sides would start laughing from a thousand *li* away when meeting, and if they were heading to places prone to fights or treasure hunts, they'd laugh while flying over.
It made sense and was quite convincing.
Long Ji gently pursed her lips as she listened to the dragon-headed elder and the Sea God exchange pleasantries.
"Hahahaha! Sea God, come quickly to the Crystal Palace; today we must drink three hundred cups together!"
"Is the Dragon King at home?
I have a few important matters to discuss with him."
"Yes, yes, His Majesty is waiting for you. Hahahaha!"
Amid this hearty laughter, Li Changshou led Long Ji, escorted by the crowd of dragon clan experts, toward the Crystal Palace.
Long Ji was still trying to process it, amazed at how the Sea God could switch his demeanor so seamlessly.
Thus, she wrote in her jade talisman:
The Sea God's ability to shift his own emotions is incredibly swift; his skill at playing the part is unmatched.
But then Long Ji blinked and added:
Those who like to smile with narrowed eyes are all... remarkable figures!
Though I'm the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, when it comes to the Sea God, it's always fine to follow my heart.
Enough with the digressions; the dragon clan's fate is at hand.
Li Changshou rarely felt nervous, except for his first heavenly tribulation, his first heavenly punishment, his first encounter with the Grand Pure One, and that year when he was in the Return to Void realm and accidentally teleported into the cave of a pair of True Immortal realm *dao* companions, where he stumbled upon...
That doesn't matter.
Ahem, in short, he could maintain a relatively calm mindset in most situations.
But this visit to the Crystal Palace did make Li Changshou a bit tense.
This scheme had been ongoing for years, tied to merits he hadn't yet secured, and to some extent, it would determine his future path, seriously affecting the curve of his 'primordial world survival safety index'!
Yet, this tension kept his mind sharp, his thoughts quicker, and his ideas flowing faster.
Entering the Crystal Palace, they went to the Dragon King Hall.
The East Sea Dragon King descended from the high platform to greet them, exchanged bows with Li Changshou, and then led him up to the platform for the banquet.
The dragon clan must have seen through Long Ji's identity, as they had prepared a seat for her at the banquet.
Seeing Long Ji still wanting to stand behind him, Li Changshou said with a smile, "Please sit; don't disappoint the Dragon King's hospitality."
"Yes," Long Ji replied with a bow, then sat upright with her chest out and head high in the seat to Li Changshou's side and rear.
She carried herself with poise and grace, truly befitting a noble lady.
"Dragon King," Li Changshou cupped his hands and smiled, "I'm here today to share some good news with you.
Has Ao Yi mentioned anything about the Peach Banquet?"
"The child has already told me," the East Sea Dragon King stroked his beard and chuckled, his dragon eyes sparkling with vitality, unlike his usual drowsy demeanor.
The East Sea Dragon King said, "Sea God, my son has been rushing around lately, lobbying his elders in the East Sea about how wonderful the Heavenly Court positions are...
Was this your advice?"
"Indeed," Li Changshou admitted openly and laughed, "I just wanted to lay some groundwork so my visit today wouldn't seem too abrupt.
I'm telling you this, Dragon King, to make sure you know I have no intention of deceiving the dragon clan in the slightest."
The East Sea Dragon King pondered for a moment, lowering his head to look at the wine cup before him.
Li Changshou didn't rush him and waited patiently.
In the silence, this was a contest, yet not quite.
Long Ji, sitting nearby, gripped her jade talisman, recording every word the Sea God said and savoring the deeper meanings.
At that moment, Long Ji felt as if two dark clouds were gathering over the Sea God and the old Dragon King, giving her a slight sense of pressure.
"Sigh—"
The Dragon King sighed slowly, raised his wine cup, and smiled with a touch of weariness.
"I offer this cup to the Sea God."
"Thank you, Dragon King!"
Li Changshou raised his cup in return, took a light sip, and then turned serious.
"Dragon King, allow me to ask: aside from the other three seas, are there any key figures in the East Sea Dragon Palace who still harbor resentment toward the Heavenly Court?"
"Sea God, you're overthinking it. My clan holds only respect for the Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Court has aided my clan multiple times and given us so many benefits; we are truly grateful.
It's just that... many in my clan are worried now, fearing that the Heavenly Court might turn out like another Western Cult. Our clan's vitality is already greatly diminished; we can't afford another ordeal like that."
"Hahahaha!"
Li Changshou laughed. "Then today, I'll dispel those doubts for the dragon clan!
Dragon King, why don't you summon the elders of the East Sea Dragon Palace right now? I'll explain this good news to them in detail.
That way, you won't have to repeat it yourself later."
"Oh?"
The East Sea Dragon King perked up but didn't ask more, simply saying with a smile, "In that case, Sea God, please wait a moment.
Where is the Prime Minister?"
Several turtle prime ministers rushed in from outside the hall.
The Dragon King issued orders, and soon, the Dragon Mother, the dragon princes, dozens of dragon clan elders with real authority, and dozens of lower-ranking but powerful dragon clan generals all gathered in the main hall of the Crystal Palace.
This impressive assembly made even Long Ji's palms sweat.
Li Changshou remained composed, rising to bow in greeting, exchanging a few pre-written comedic lines with Ao Yi, and smoothly steering the conversation toward the dragon clan's ascension to the heavens.
"Everyone!"
Li Changshou stood before the high platform, gave a shallow bow to the dragon clan members, and spoke slowly:
"The dragon clan's opportunity is here now. As the Sea God appointed by the Heavenly Court over the four seas, I'm here today to persuade you all.
I understand your concerns, and I know the dragon clan is unwilling to submit to any force.
The dragon clan was once the rulers of the world in ancient times, dominating the four seas in the ancient era, and even today, it remains a force that cannot be ignored in the primordial world and the three realms!
Today, I won't mention those who covet the dragon clan's vitality or speak of great destinies and trends. I'll just discuss matters directly related to the dragon clan's interests!
If the dragon clan serves the heavens, there are three key benefits.
The first is merit, the second is karmic burdens—these two are intertwined but not identical. You can see it clearly just by looking at Prince Ao Yi."
Ao Yi stepped forward on his own, activating his merit, with the nearly overflowing incense merit and the pure heavenly merit shining in harmony.
Li Changshou continued, "I won't elaborate on these two points. The third is that it can shield the dragon clan from Western invasions."
"Sea God!"
A dragon clan general frowned. "The first and second points are the most important; why gloss over them?"
Another dragon clan elder spoke up:
"Since the Sea God is being straightforward, we won't beat around the bush. I have a question! How many Heavenly Court positions are you willing to grant the dragon clan to help us escape our current predicament?
Have you calculated that?"
"A few dozen or a hundred won't suffice," Li Changshou said calmly, "But if you're seeking positions to clear your karmic burdens, why not grant them with a time limit? For example, rotate every one thousand or several hundred years, allowing the dragon clan to take turns on duty. How could that not resolve your karmic issues?"
The dragon clan members were stunned.
Could Heavenly Court positions be handled like that?
"Heavenly Court rules are strict but flexible," Li Changshou said with a smile. "The heavenly *dao* is eternal and impartial, yet its many rules can be used to our advantage.
Moreover, Heavenly Court positions aren't fixed forever.
Rotating and evaluating lower-ranking immortal positions that aren't core god roles is something I'm about to propose to the Jade Emperor.
Is this answer satisfactory to you all?"
Many dragon clan leaders were moved, and the elder who had asked the question bowed deeply to Li Changshou, his face showing remorse.
"It was my shortsightedness; please don't hold it against me, Sea God!"
"That's not all!"
Li Changshou said with a hearty laugh, "To resolve the dragon clan's crisis, the Heavenly Emperor sent me to the Fire Cloud Cave to pay respects to the human sages and retrieve this treasure.
Look, everyone!"
With that, Li Changshou produced the shimmering golden "*Da Yu Zhi Shui Tu*."
He waved his left hand, and the treasure scroll unfurled, projecting a full view of Nanbuzhou in the Crystal Palace, with rushing rivers surging forth.
"Today, I'll tell you all frankly: His Majesty has ordered me to inspect the rivers, lakes, and seas of Nanbuzhou and soon appoint gods for them!
The dragon clan has long managed the four seas, excels in water warfare, and knows the waterways well—who could be more suitable as water gods in Nanbuzhou?"
As soon as he said this, the dragon clan leaders were all deeply stirred, and many of the older dragons even had tears in their eyes.
Li Changshou pressed his advantage and continued, "The dragon clan's ascension to the heavens aligns with the heavenly *dao*'s momentum and earns the heavens' approval!
Now, we have the writings from the disciples of the two saints who lead the Daoist teachings—Explication and Severance—specially presented to the Dragon King!"
With that, Li Changshou handed the bound scroll to Ao Yi.
Ao Yi slowly unrolled it, and the four large characters 'Trapped Dragon Ascends to Heaven' radiated two distinct *dao* rhythms, astonishing all the dragon clan present.
The power of the Heavenly Court and the might of the Daoist teachings!
A dragon clan elder murmured, "It's indeed the *dao* rhythms of Daoist Duobao and Grand Pure One Guangchengzi."
Ao Yi held the scroll reverently and presented it to the Dragon King, who accepted it with both hands and sighed with emotion.
Beside him, the dignified and elegant Dragon Mother spoke, "If everything is as the Sea God says, how could our clan not pledge allegiance to the Jade Emperor?
But even if the Sea God swears a great *dao* oath, how can we be sure of the Jade Emperor's intentions?"
"How can we not be sure?"
A clear voice rang out as Long Ji stood up, bowed to everyone, and said calmly:
"If the dragon clan joins the heavens to help govern the three realms, the Jade Emperor will absolutely not mistreat them.
Though the Heavenly Court faces many challenges now, the Jade Emperor is dedicated to reform, and with the court united and the Sea God's brilliant strategies, prosperity is only a matter of time!
If you all ascend now, it's a prime opportunity for great achievements and earning merit—what could be better?"
"Princess," Li Changshou said with a smile, "please sit."
"Oh," Long Ji responded obediently and quickly sat back, drawing curious glances from the dragon princes.
Li Changshou continued, "Dragon Mother, my purpose today is simply to get the East Sea Dragon Palace's stance.
To be honest, apart from the East Sea Dragon Palace, I don't trust the other three sea palaces; I'm afraid Western infiltrators are hiding there.
This is my final trump card, so please look at this!"
As he spoke, Li Changshou took out a golden scroll from his sleeve and held it high, radiating a brilliant golden light and dense heavenly *dao* power.
With a flick of his hand, the scroll unfurled, revealing a blank surface!
"As long as the Dragon King and the elders agree today and swear not to go back on it, feel free to voice any concerns.
Naturally, I'll deliberate and, in front of you all, write the Heavenly Court's guarantees on this decree for presentation to the Jade Emperor.
Once it's sealed with the Heavenly Emperor's seal, it will be recognized by the heavenly *dao*!
In this way, can you trust me, and trust the Heavenly Court?"
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