Chapter 343: The Joy of Not Being Human

Although the process of the Hai Yan "breaching" was not lengthy, the Dragon Clan experts closest to the Hai Yan, who charged forward without a second thought, along with most of the Dragon Clan members originally suppressing it, were largely shredded by the fierce currents.

On the surface, the Dragon Clan's overall casualties amounted to only about one-tenth, but those lost were the elite forces of the Donghai Dragon Palace.

After this battle, the Donghai Dragon Palace's strength was significantly weakened. Adding in the losses from the Xihai Dragon Palace, the earlier skirmishes, and the disappearance of the Donghai's largest Dragon Clan treasury... the Dragon Clan had suffered a massive setback.

The good news was that the Dragon Clan no longer needed to risk lives to suppress one of the Hai Yans, allowing the remaining forces of the Donghai Dragon Palace to be fully unleashed.

Li Changshou stood before the iron staff, gazing at the now-harmless Hai Yan with a complex expression.

There was no need for excuses or to shift blame; the Dragon Clan had been too hasty after the Hai Yan was exposed. In this round, he had lost to the Western Teachings.

No matter how many schemes or tricks he devised, he still lacked the power to turn the tide in critical moments...

That power could be a Heavenly Court strong enough to suppress even saints, or his own ability to unleash combat strength on the level of a great mage like Yunxiao Xianzi in a short time...

"Shui Shen," the old Dragon King, draped in a robe, walked up behind Li Changshou and bowed deeply.

Li Changshou turned around and quickly stepped forward to support him. "Dragon King, what are you doing?"

The Dragon King said, "Shui Shen, you saved my Donghai lineage. I don't know how to express my gratitude, but if you have any commands in the future, please speak directly without any reservations."

"Dragon King, great calamities also bring great opportunities. The Dragon Clan should learn from this experience."

Li Changshou shifted the topic and asked, "What do you plan to do with the Four Seas Xianjiao?"

"Ah," the Donghai Dragon King sighed softly, his dragon eyes filled with helplessness. "We've already suffered too many losses today. Though the Donghai Hai Yan is stable, the sins borne by the Dragon Clan remain unresolved.

Let them each swear an oath never to invade the Hai Yan.

Those who wish to leave may go;

Those who wish to stay can undergo the transformation like the others."

"That's good."

Li Changshou took a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to the Donghai Dragon King.

"This iron staff was a gift from Emperor Yu, originally refined by Taishang Laojun. Now, it can serve as a treasure to seal the Hai Yan.

I'll leave it here for now. The Dragon Palace must guard it carefully.

This jade talisman contains nineteen strategies that I just wrote. If you find them useful, Dragon King, feel free to consider them."

No sooner had he spoken than his paper daoist, carrying Ao Yi, swam over from a distance and placed the unconscious Ao Yi before the Dragon King.

"Please don't blame him," Li Changshou whispered. "Ao Yi treats me as a brother, and I couldn't bear to see him suffer at the Hai Yan. It wasn't him deserting the battle."

"Thank you, Shui Shen..."

The Dragon King enveloped Ao Yi in a stream of water and sent him to the waiting elders in the distance.

The Dragon King transmitted his voice: "About His Majesty, we should..."

"We still need to make the gesture," Li Changshou replied via transmission. "Though His Majesty is the Heavenly Emperor, his merits aren't something he can just give away—they're the result of his long accumulation.

I just heard an elder mention that the Donghai Dragon Palace's treasury seems to have been looted."

"Don't worry, Shui Shen," the old Dragon King sighed. "It's just some accumulated treasures. The Donghai still has two other treasuries like that."

Li Changshou nodded and said directly, "The Heavenly Court will need armor and weapons soon."

"Thank you for the advice, Shui Shen!"

Li Changshou added via transmission, "This time, the two Jie Jiao daoists put in a lot of effort. The Dragon Palace doesn't need to send any valuable gifts as thanks—just remember to visit Sanxian Island and Luofu Cave in person later."

"Of course," the Donghai Dragon King agreed repeatedly.

Li Changshou took two bottles of healing spirit pills he had refined from his sleeve, as a small token.

After the Dragon King thanked him and accepted the pills, Li Changshou took his leave, citing the need to handle the Donghai tsunami...

It was not appropriate to linger and observe such a sorrowful scene.

As Li Changshou used water escape to head toward the sea surface, the Dragon Clan members nearby and far off all bowed in unison.

The Dragon King looked down at the jade talisman in his hand, infused it with immortal power, and lines of small characters flew out.

Zeng Long Ce, First: Quickly establish divine positions for water gods across the southern continent, proactively request the Heavenly Court to impose strict regulations on themselves, to accumulate sufficient merits as swiftly as possible and soothe the Hai Yans of the Xihai, Beihai, and Nanhai;

Zeng Long Ce, Second: Establish the Dragon Gate and open the path for dragon transformation and advancement;

Zeng Long Ce, Third: Forge the Water Army and station them in the great worlds surrounding the Five Parts Continent...

When Li Changshou emerged from the Donghai, Yunxiao Xianzi, Zhao Gongming, and Dongmu Gong were already waiting on the clouds, with the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers divided into dozens of units rushing to the Donghai coast as a precaution.

After briefly explaining what needed to be done next, the four of them rode the clouds and easily caught up to the waterline spreading westward...

After some thought, Li Changshou smiled at Zhao Gongming and said, "Brother, I hate to trouble you, but please use the Dinghai Divine Pearl to absorb the entire Donghai tsunami."

"Easy!"

Zhao Gongming smiled slightly, without a hint of suspicion, and sacrificed the Dinghai Divine Pearl. While the Donghai was caught off guard, he quickly absorbed all the overflowing water from the Hai Yan into the pearl.

The whole process didn't cause any casualties.

As soon as Zhao Gongming finished, a large expanse of golden clouds appeared on the horizon. A small part went to find the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, while the majority drifted above the group.

Beams of golden light descended, and Li Changshou, Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao Xianzi, and Dongmu Gong each received merits.

Dongmu Gong was accustomed to this, Li Changshou observed Zhao Gongming's reaction, and Yunxiao Xianzi used her Hunyuan Jindou to collect the substantial merits on her behalf.

Li Changshou received the most merits, advancing his merit golden body a small step further.

Zhao Gongming received the next amount, about eighty percent of Li Changshou's, and he felt quite pleased, stroking his beard and laughing:

"Who would've thought I'd get merits one day."

Li Changshou cautioned, "Brother, don't underestimate these merits. If you don't have an innate treasure to protect yourself, you need them to guard against evil schemes and calculations!"

Seeing how serious Li Changshou was, Zhao Gongming nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Thanks for looking out for me, brother. I'll keep that in mind."

Yunxiao glanced at her Hunyuan Jindou and said nothing.

Dongmu Gong chuckled from the side, "Shui Shen, I'll go back and report to His Majesty.

This time, you plugged the Hai Yan, saved the Dragon Clan, and upheld the Heavenly Court's dignity—truly a great achievement..."

"Dongmu Gong!"

Li Changshou interjected quickly, "Please, don't go congratulating His Majesty!"

"Hmm?"

Dongmu Gong was puzzled.

Li Changshou explained, "We actually lost in the Donghai this time. The Dragon Palace suffered heavy losses, and so did the Heavenly Court—there's nothing to celebrate.

This was due to my insufficient planning. I'll go apologize to His Majesty later.

Just say that the Dragon Palace was severely attacked by vicious spirits, and attribute the Hai Yan breach to the demon serpents corrupted by the Blood Sea. Then, ask His Majesty to issue an order for the Three Realms to pursue the primordial vicious spirits that caused chaos in the Donghai.

That should suffice."

Dongmu Gong bowed and said, "Rest assured, Shui Shen, I'll remember all that.

But in this situation, it's clear the Western Teachings were behind it—why not use righteousness to pressure them?"

"Pressuring them would be useless; it would only invite retaliation," Li Changshou said seriously. "Besides, without evidence, how can we accuse them?

Some things are better left unsaid, even if we know them."

Zhao Gongming muttered, "The Heavenly Court took such a big loss, and we're just letting it go?

Long Geng, do you want me to stir things up in the West Niu He Continent to vent for you and my junior sister?"

"There's no need, brother," Li Changshou laughed. "The Heavenly Court's rise requires enduring hardships. By respecting the saints of the Western Teachings, we're also respecting our own Daoist saints.

Those vicious spirits got the Dragon Palace treasury and retaliated against the Dragon Clan and Heavenly Court, so they'll lie low for a while.

This period is especially crucial for the Heavenly Court."

"This is just too frustrating!"

Zhao Gongming felt irritated and was about to say more, but Yunxiao Xianzi lightly parted her lips:

"Big brother, don't add to his troubles. This matter does need careful handling."

Zhao Gongming nodded immediately. "You're right, second sister!"

With that, Dongmu Gong, carrying Li Changshou's instructions, went to rendezvous with the heavenly soldiers and then report back to the Heavenly Court.

Seeing the weariness on Li Changshou's face, Yunxiao said gently, "I'll take you back to the mountains to rest. I don't know where Xuan Du Shixiong has gone."

"I'll escort you," Li Changshou said with a smile. "We're not far from Sanxian Island. Later, I can have brother send me back to the Sea God Temple."

Yunxiao nodded slightly. "You could rest on Sanxian Island too."

"There's still a lot to do," Li Changshou replied, his smile fading. "This time, there were mistakes, so I need to summarize and analyze to prevent such oversights in the future.

This time it was the Dragon Clan that suffered; next time, it could affect us directly. We must stay vigilant."

Zhao Gongming laughed. "You're always so steady, brother."

Li Changshou seemed to think of something and frowned in thought.

Yunxiao looked up at this "elder," as if seeing through his transformation to the young face beneath, and didn't look away for a moment.

Behind them, Zhao Gongming thought to himself: ...

It felt like there was an extra, unnecessary option in his divine abilities.

Yunxiao rode the clouds, taking the two to Sanxian Island nearby, entering the layers of mist and arriving at the immortal island hidden by the great array.

The three of them extended their immortal senses along the inner side of the array.

—This was a habit common among cultivators, though Li Changshou always did so cautiously, ready to sever the connection if he encountered an "immortal sense poison pill."

Their scan revealed something unexpected: Yunxiao Xianzi's brows furrowed, Zhao Gongming's eyes lit up, and Li Changshou silently pressed his hand to his forehead.

It was beyond words.

In a pavilion surrounded by mist, a "Li Changshou" and a "Yunxiao" were embracing, exchanging exaggerated sweet nothings that Li Changshou would never say.

What made Li Changshou want to avert his eyes even more was that this "Li Changshou" was in his true form...

The "Li Changshou" in the pavilion said affectionately:

"Yun, look at me. Come closer—can you see your reflection in my eyes?"

"Shou, don't look at me like that. It makes my heart flutter, like a little deer bumping around inside."

"Yun..."

"Kneel!"

A sudden light rebuke rang out, and the embracing pair instantly separated with two soft thuds, transforming into two fairy maidens.

Qiongxiao, in orange robes, turned pale;

Bixiao, in a light green skirt, moved as fast as a shadow—straightening her legs, bending her knees, and pinching her ears, her little mouth pouting...

Qiongxiao trembled and said, "Sis-sister, when did you get back?"

Yunxiao's figure flashed, appearing in the pavilion, picking up the recording pearl on the stone table and crushing it.

"You two, have you found cultivation too dull?"

Qiongxiao and Bixiao both shuddered, and Qiongxiao knelt beside her younger sister, full of regret.

Regret, pure regret...

At the edge of the island on the clouds, Li Changshou turned his head, only to find Zhao Gongming gone from his line of sight;

Looking down, he saw Zhao Gongming awkwardly straightening up, holding his knee and muttering:

"Ah, my leg's acting up again... how did that old injury flare up..."

Li Changshou thought: ...

What's there to be afraid of?

After a short stay on Sanxian Island, Li Changshou and Zhao Gongming bid farewell together and headed toward Dongsheng Shenzhou.

Yunxiao repeatedly instructed Zhao Gongming to ensure Li Changshou reached safety, to avoid any schemes from Western powerhouses.

Although Zhao Gongming wanted to say, "Second sister, you could protect him personally," he ultimately kept it to himself...

Ahem!

As the eldest disciple of Jie Jiao and like siblings, could it be fear?

Well, maybe just a bit of reluctance.

Thus, Zhao Gongming rejected Li Changshou's suggestion to part at the Donghai and insisted on escorting him all the way to the Sea God Temple in Nanshanbuzhou, adding a touch of difficulty to Li Changshou's return home.

Fortunately, with the Xuanhuang Pagoda and Kunlun Ruler protecting him, Li Changshou safely returned to Duixian Gate's Xiaoqiong Peak and hid within the great array, activating his paper daoist.

As for the Western Teachings...

Li Changshou felt a bit restless but didn't rush to see the Jade Emperor or search for the whereabouts of Xuan Du Dafa Shi. Instead, he projected his mind onto the paper daoist and strolled along the lake edge and spirit beast enclosure on Xiaoqiong Peak.

He carefully pondered, summarized, and outlined the next plan.

A sweep of his immortal sense over Potian Peak, where the young Li Jing was cultivating, showed everything was fine, so he didn't interfere.

Unconsciously, he reached the grass hut by the lake and paused, looking at his master's meditating figure.

"It's time to arrange for Master to ascend, and I can use this opportunity..."

The next memorial he would write for the Jade Emperor was already fully thought out.

"Senior brother?"

Ling E flew over from the direction of the chess room on a cloud, landing lightly in front of Li Changshou, and asked softly:

"What's wrong? You look tired."

"I was outmaneuvered," Li Changshou smiled. "Ran into some obstacles outside, but it's nothing major."

Ling E blinked. "Someone could outmaneuver you, senior brother?"

"There are plenty," Li Changshou said seriously. "Beyond the heavens, there are more heavens; beyond people, there are more people; and above all, there are transcendent beings. We're just two small fish in the vast Honghuang.

Don't let flattery from our sect mates make you arrogant or lose your sense of awe!"

Ling E pouted. "Senior brother, I was wrong."

"Good, lecturing you has lifted my spirits," Li Changshou said, casually pointing at a white cloud and stepping onto it. "I'll head to the alchemy room to refine some pills and think about important matters.

This time, I've decided to self-punish by copying the 'Stability Scripture' six thousand times, but I'm too busy to do it right now..."

"You can do it!" Ling E immediately made a fist-pumping gesture and turned to use wind escape.

Li Changshou flicked his finger, and Ling E's body trembled as her forehead hit an invisible wall.

She heard her senior brother say leisurely, "This time, I'll have to trouble you to take the punishment for me."

"Yes, I understand," Ling E replied, feeling aggrieved.

Li Changshou's mood improved greatly as he rode the cloud toward the alchemy room.

Not being the one in trouble was truly delightful.

Just then, at his true body, a small Taiji Chart appeared, and the Xuanhuang Pagoda and Kunlun Ruler bid him a hasty farewell before vanishing into the Taiji Chart.

It seemed the eldest disciple had summoned them...

Through the Taiji Chart, Li Changshou vaguely sensed a familiar foul aura.

The Blood Sea?

Had the great mage gone to the Blood Sea?

At the edge of the underworld, near the boundary of the Diyu, deep in the surging blood-red Blood Sea...

A beautiful female Asura with "two arms," scantily clad, sat cross-legged on the sea floor, absorbing the Blood Sea's power to heal herself, with a silver sword resting on her knees.

Suddenly, a light laugh echoed, and the female Asura's eyes snapped open. Her aura fluctuated as she looked up sharply.

Above the Blood Sea, the Taiji Chart slowly rotated, and a young daoist in green robes stepped out.

He had the Xuanhuang Pagoda above his head, held a green ruler, and the Taiji Chart spun behind him. The once-turbulent Blood Sea instantly calmed...

"Now, it's my turn."