Chapter 329: Wants a Piece of Land in the Heavenly Court and to Be Neighbors with the Old Lord

Ling E, from the current situation, it seems the mountain gate is no longer safe...

In the early morning, as the white clouds drifted toward the back mountain, Ling E gazed at the rosy clouds in the east, slightly lost in thought.Her senior brother’s words from last night still echoed in her ears, making it hard for her to calm down.

Her senior brother had said:The Honghuang situation is unpredictable and mysterious, and the possibility of our main base being exposed is growing. Some big shots we can’t oppose don’t care about face at all. If I stay here any longer, it might drag down the entire Du Xian Men.Fortunately, a hundred years ago, I had a premonition of this and formulated this plan.I want to lift up Xiaoqiong Peak and fly it from Du Xian Men to near Doushuai Palace in Tian Court.This plan is expected to take ten years, and I call it...The Xiaoqiong Peak Wandering Plan!

Although Ling E had really wanted to retort at the time, when her senior brother said this, his eyes were shining, and he exuded a serious, steady, and determined aura, which made her completely captivated...She didn’t think twice and just nodded in agreement, even feeling that what he said made a lot of sense.

Ling E thought about this and couldn’t help but hum a few notes, sighing in her heart:‘I’m probably beyond saving.’

According to her senior brother’s plan, moving Xiaoqiong Peak involves five steps.The first step, which is what Ling E needed to do now, is to use shadow orbs to record the detailed geography of Xiaoqiong Peak and thoroughly catalog the forests, spiritual objects, and so on.The second step, Li Changshou would select a small mountain similar to Xiaoqiong Peak, reshape it to match Xiaoqiong Peak’s form, transplant the soil and grass, create spiritual lakes, replicate the buildings, and set up a complete disguise.The third step, ask the sect leader for permission to build a large array around Xiaoqiong Peak to block external detection.The fourth step, swap the real with the fake in a sleight of hand!The fifth step, the real Xiaoqiong Peak will be relocated to Tian Court, while the fake one stays at the mountain gate, and Li Changshou will station a paper effigy there.

After reading through her senior brother’s detailed plans, Ling E couldn’t help but question from the depths of her soul:“But senior brother, why can’t we just switch to another mountain peak? Do we have to move everything?”

Li Changshou had sighed at the time and answered like this...“Junior sister, do you know how much effort I’ve poured into this Xiaoqiong Peak?The entire mountain’s engineering is already eighty percent complete, with six hundred and seventy-two array foundations embedded inside.The core arrays include thirty-six Tiangang killing arrays, one hundred and eight Xiaozhoutian trapping arrays, and three hundred and sixty-five Zhoutian defensive arrays.By combining the array foundations differently, over a hundred variations of arrays can be formed, and at the mountain’s central eye, I’ve placed a set of Five Elements Spiritual Pearls that rival innate spiritual treasures.This is just for the arrays...If we give up Xiaoqiong Peak, it would be like abandoning what I’ve... ahem, acquired from the Dragon Clan.In short, Xiaoqiong Peak is our family fortune and our future home and refuge.Over the next ten years, I’ll continue to add arrays and complete the initial refinement of the entire Xiaoqiong Peak...”

So, what on earth has senior brother been up to behind my back!

Arrays...Ling E looked down at the quiet forest below and tried to probe into the mountain with her immortal sense. At first, she found nothing, as if her sense went straight through.After carefully searching again, she finally discovered a small array foundation hidden in the rock patterns.‘Does senior brother have many powerful enemies?’

Ling E patted her forehead, clenched her small hand, and made a firm resolve.She absolutely couldn’t hold senior brother back and had to do everything within her power to be his support... force...

Mentioning the word “support,” Ling E thought of another major thing her senior brother had mentioned last night.Xianzi Yunxiao!An innate spirit, a saint’s disciple, an ancient powerhouse, beautiful, gentle, and virtuous...What to do about this.Clearly, she’s no match!

Ling E’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she murmured from time to time. She had already reached the edge of the area she needed to survey but forgot to descend from the cloud.“Hmm!”This matter must be planned carefully.

The Pan Tao Banquet lasted three days.Although it was much shorter than the Dragon Palace banquets that often last months, the Pan Tao Banquet had accomplished all it needed to, and the spiritual fruits and peaches had been shared among the immortals, so there was no point in extending it.

Three days ago, when the Dragon Clan arrived, they presented themselves as guests.Three days later, when they left, they referred to themselves as subjects, their bows natural and fluent, without any psychological barriers.

If you need swift acceptance of fate, go to the Four Seas Dragon Palace and find the Dragon King!

As the Pan Tao Banquet ended and the immortals and gods dispersed, the Jade Emperor returned to Lingxiao Hall. Li Changshou took the opportunity to bring Zhao Gongming to the Yue Lao’s Hall of Marriage.

At this point, Zhao Gongming could wander freely in Tian Court, thanks to the Jade Emperor’s tacit permission.Although, even without permission, no one would dare stop him...

Piercing through clouds and mist, crossing the sea of clouds, the Hall of Marriage came into view.

Li Changshou smiled and said, “Old brother, that’s the Hall of Marriage.Yue Lao has already returned and is waiting for us, so let’s go in directly.”

“Alright!”

Zhao Gongming took out a jar of fruit wine from his sleeve, held it properly, and walked side by side with Li Changshou, flying on clouds to the front of the hall.

Yue Lao, dressed in a big red wedding robe, hurried out with two attendants to greet them. After some pleasantries at the hall’s entrance, he led the two distinguished guests into a side hall.

Once the hosts and guests were seated, the attendants served tea.

Zhao Gongming presented his gift and hesitated for a moment, his face flushing. He gave Li Changshou a signal with his eyes.

“Ahem!”

Li Changshou, in his old immortal paper effigy form, cleared his throat and said with a smile:“Public Ming old brother is here today to consult Yue Lao on a matter. Yue Lao manages marriages and deals with them every day.In the Three Realms, no one understands matters of marriage better than you.”

Yue Lao: ...He was just the Yue Lao guarding the Hall of Marriage, a pure yang heavenly immortal tens of thousands of years old! What did he know about romance between men and women!

But although Yue Lao felt a bit helpless inside, he put on a calm and composed demeanor, smiling and saying:“It’s just a little understanding, just a little.”

Zhao Gongming’s eyes lit up immediately, feeling that Yue Lao was even more reliable.

Li Changshou added, “Today’s matter, Yue Lao must not mention it to anyone else.”

“I understand the rules for Public Ming Dao You and Water God.”

Yue Lao smiled calmly, raised his left hand, and said in a full voice:“Heavenly Dao above, I swear by the Great Dao...”

Only then did Zhao Gongming feel at ease, though he had a slight sense of being unfairly judged, but it indeed made him feel much more secure.

After Yue Lao finished his oath, Li Changshou spoke up and relayed Zhao Gongming’s troubles on his behalf.It was like this, and like that.

Yue Lao listened and smiled...“So it’s like this. That Jin Guang Sheng Mu has reached a passionate state toward Public Ming Dao You, but Public Ming Dao You only has a favorable impression of Jin Guang Sheng Mu.”

Yue Lao secretly glanced at the jade talisman in his sleeve, afraid of messing up these states.

Then, Yue Lao said slowly:“This is a gap in the cultivation of emotional Great Dao, which is common in marriage relationships. In our Hall of Marriage’s terminology, it’s called ‘emotional strength imbalance.’Of course, simply put, it’s one-sided infatuation with no attachment from the other.”

Master Zhao nodded slowly.Although it was somewhat vague and impressive, it seemed quite reasonable.

Right away, Yue Lao followed the words recorded on the jade talisman and started elaborating sentence by sentence.

Zhao Gongming listened with growing enlightenment, his eyes shining, and even when Li Changshou tried to speak, Zhao Gongming held him back, telling him not to interrupt.

That jade talisman had been delivered to Yue Lao by an attendant upon his return to the Hall of Marriage, said to be from a strange heavenly general yesterday.

Yue Lao had only glanced at it twice and knew it was the ‘answer’ prepared by the Water God.

After just over ten sentences from Yue Lao, Zhao Gongming suddenly understood.“According to Yue Lao, I should face Jin Guang Sheng Mu directly and have an honest talk with her?”

“That’s right, that’s the most basic solution,” Yue Lao said seriously. “Avoiding it won’t solve the problem, and cutting it off abruptly might miss your own marriage fate.”

“Ah,” Zhao Gongming laughed, “I’m not alone, I have Changgeng! Why seek another marriage?”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but have a few black lines on his forehead...

Yue Lao quickly said, “Dao You, don’t think that way. Friends and confidants are one thing, but partners and spouses are another.As the saying goes, isolated yin doesn’t grow, isolated yang doesn’t thrive; the harmony of yin and yang is also a Great Dao.You are an innate spirit, so you have no need for reproduction and thus no such desires, which is different from acquired beings who naturally need companions.But spirits, whether innate or acquired, all have gaps in their Dao hearts. You were born as a male from the start, which destined you to meet such a fine woman in your fate.”

Li Changshou narrowed his eyes and smiled.This part was purely Yue Lao’s improvisation, and it was quite skillful.

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and pondered, asking, “Then, should I try getting along with Jin Guang Sheng Mu?”

Li Changshou said, “This matter is for you to decide, old brother; others can’t interfere.”

“But how should I handle it?”

Zhao Gongming stood up and paced a few steps, sighing, “You don’t know, every time I want to talk to Jin Guang Sheng Mu, she looks at me with such intense eyes.Ah, I really don’t have those feelings, but I can’t bear to hurt her spirit, and I can’t say harsh words.”

Li Changshou and Yue Lao exchanged a glance, and Li Changshou asked, “Yue Lao, is there a marriage clay figure for Jin Guang Sheng Mu here?”

“Well,” Yue Lao stroked his beard and thought, “Innate spirits aren’t entered into the Hall of Marriage, and I don’t know Jin Guang Sheng Mu’s origins. Also, since Public Ming Dao You doesn’t have one here, this marriage isn’t under my jurisdiction.”

Zhao Gongming suddenly felt troubled, “Then how can this be resolved satisfactorily?”

“How about writing a letter?” Li Changshou suggested with a smile. “Old brother, write down what you want to say in the letter and have someone deliver it.That way, you can think it through carefully, avoid facing her directly, and give her time to calm down and reflect.”

“Writing a letter?”

Zhao Gongming blinked, then slapped his thigh and praised, “You always have the best ideas, old brother!Let’s go, let’s head to your Sea God Temple and figure out how to write this letter!”

With that, Zhao Gongming pulled Li Changshou along, bid farewell to Yue Lao in a hurry, and headed toward the gate of the Hall of Marriage.

Before leaving, Zhao Gongming suddenly asked, “Old brother, your marriages are all here. Since we’re here, why not show me yours?”

Li Changshou quickly transmitted, “Old brother, you forgot; I have to keep my titles separate.”

“That’s true,” Zhao Gongming didn’t insist and flew with Li Changshou toward the South Heaven Gate.

In that moment, Li Changshou broke out in a cold sweat...

As they hurried to the South Heaven Gate, Li Changshou deliberately slowed their cloud speed and asked with a smile about the purpose of inviting Zhao Gongming to Tian Court.“Old brother, what do you think of Tian Court?”

Zhao Gongming nodded and praised, “The spiritual energy is abundant, and the Great Dao is traceable; it’s not an exaggeration to call it a holy land for cultivation.”

But then he changed his tone and shook his head, “Unfortunately, the Heavenly Dao power is too thick, making it feel awkward and uncomfortable, like every word and action is under Heavenly Dao surveillance, which is quite unpleasant.”

Li Changshou laughed, “The Heavenly Dao is impartial; what’s wrong with surveillance?”

“Probably because we’re used to being free and easy,” Zhao Gongming said, looking at the somewhat barren Tian Court, with clouds rising and beautiful mountains everywhere.

Zhao Gongming clasped his hands behind his back and smiled, “I don’t covet Tian Court’s merits and don’t want to be under its rule or follow the ways of monarch and minister.Why do we cultivate?First for longevity, then for freedom, seeking unrestrained thoughts, so we can achieve transcendence and find our true selves.”

Li Changshou praised, “Old brother’s words are profound.”

By now, the South Heaven Gate was in sight. Zhao Gongming suddenly chuckled, and his expert demeanor vanished instantly.“Alright, let’s go to your Sea God Temple to write the letter first!”

“Old brother, just go ahead. This incarnation of mine still has business in Tian Court; there’s already one waiting for you there.”

“You with your incarnations everywhere,” Zhao Gongming laughed and scolded, “One day, I’ll catch your true body and make you drink for three days and nights!Oh, right, if it weren’t for my second sister showing up, your true body would hardly appear.Ah, what are friends and brothers compared to a confidante!”

Li Changshou’s old face turned red, and he smiled bitterly at Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming burst out laughing a few times and flew straight out of the South Heaven Gate. The gate guards had already received the message and pretended not to see this Jie Jiao powerhouse.

Watching Zhao Gongming leave the heavenly gate, a hint of helplessness flashed in Li Changshou’s eyes.‘Jin Guang Sheng Mu, the Ten Heavenly Lords...’This is also a trigger for the Feng Shen calamity. Li Changshou didn’t know if he should forcibly intervene or let it unfold.

To safely plot the Feng Shen calamity, he had to plan from the angle of not knowing about it, to avoid attracting heavenly punishment.

The highest level of scheming is to do very little but make everything you want happen naturally.

Li Changshou suspected that this was the true meaning of the Taiji Laojun’s words, ‘go with the flow’...

“Sea God sir? Oh no, Water God sir! What a coincidence to meet you here, ha ha ha!”

A familiar voice came from afar. Li Changshou turned to see Hua Ri Tian approaching on clouds.

“Marshal Hua,” Li Changshou bowed his hand, and they exchanged greetings, then flew together toward the Sea God Mansion, which was already starting construction on a new plaque, in perfect harmony.

They hadn’t exchanged many words before Hua Ri Tian burst into laughter, his mood extremely joyful and his emotions stirred.

Li Changshou flew slowly on the clouds, waiting for the Jade Emperor to finish laughing...After all, his true body couldn’t be so uninhibited, so he had to use an incarnation to vent his emotions.

Hua Ri Tian transmitted, “Changgeng, with the Dragon Clan matter initially settled, I’m very pleased. Do you have any rewards you want?If there’s anything, just say it!”

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I do have a request today; I want a small piece of land in Tian Court.”

Hua Ri Tian laughed, “That’s trivial and not worth a reward. Even if you expand your mansion ten or a hundred times, it’s fine.”

Li Changshou explained, “Your Majesty, I mean to get a small piece of land near Doushuai Palace and move my mansion there, closer to Laojun.”

“Doushuai Palace?”

Hua Ri Tian immediately became serious, thought for a moment, and said, “Such a matter, you can decide for yourself, dear minister. As long as Laojun doesn’t drive you away, you can live anywhere in Tian Court.”

Li Changshou quickly transmitted his thanks; this was exactly the permission he wanted.

In the future, Xiaoqiong Peak wouldn’t appear directly in Tian Court; a few layers of disguise were necessary.

To complete the fifth step of the Xiaoqiong Peak Wandering Plan, Li Changshou had several solutions;The best one still lacked a divine ability and an array, so he’d need to ask the Grand Pure Mage for help later.

“Oh, right, Changgeng,” Hua Ri Tian asked with a smile, “Do you have any leads on that Lu Ya matter?”

Li Changshou said seriously, “Your Majesty, I only know that Lu Ya is hiding in the Golden Crow Palace on the Sun Star.”

“Oh?”

Hua Ri Tian looked toward the sun on the horizon, two golden lights flashing in his eyes, “Changgeng, how about you lead a troop to surround the Golden Crow Palace, and I’ll secretly take action to eliminate this remnant of the demon court.”

Li Changshou quickly said, “I’m afraid I can’t lead troops there.”

Hua Ri Tian smiled, “That’s true; I almost forgot your incarnations are made of paper and can’t get near fire.”

“Moreover, Your Majesty, this little Golden Crow is protected by a saint’s mother. Even if the saint’s mother has hidden his heavenly secrets, it was the Grand Pure Mage who personally calculated it.”

Hua Ri Tian narrowed his eyes, his expression growing solemn.“If that’s the case, it’s quite troublesome.”

Li Changshou slightly divided his attention, using the paper effigy hidden in the mountains at the border of Dongsheng Shenzhou and Nanzhanbuzhou to glance with his immortal sense at the demon couple who were offering incense to the ‘Lu Ya Dao Ren’ tablet at that moment...Hmm, who knows how Lu Ya Dao You is doing now.