Chapter 369: God Pearl vs. God Light, Gongming Meets Kongxuan

Li Changshou rarely made a request, so Zhao Gongming didn't hesitate at all. He took Li Changshou's incarnation along, called his third sister, and summoned the twenty-four Dinghai Shenzhu, rushing straight to the Nanhai.

A moment later, they quietly arrived at the site of the previous extortion incident. Qiongxiao took out a bag of greenish sand and immediately began using it to track and trace.

Zhao Gongming, now clad in armor, stroked his beard and laughed, "What's going on? Has the sun risen from the west? My brother, you're actually being so decisive for once."

"This is just choosing the lesser of two evils, and I'm trying it out," Li Changshou said seriously. "If we catch up to him, we don't have to eliminate him, but we must get rid of that big green-furred dog of his!"

Zhao Gongming thought for a moment and quickly realized, saying, "So, you're wary of that divine beast's abilities."

Qiongxiao chuckled from the side and said, "It's just a divine beast that can hear living beings' thoughts. Can't we just use a little spell to hide our primordial spirits?"

"Immortal, if we're not hiding our forms right now," Li Changshou said, "then all the fish swimming around this island and the spirits in the sea would see our traces. Wouldn't our whereabouts be exposed to that Tingting?"

Qiongxiao blinked and said, "That makes a bit of sense... It's ready now."

As soon as she finished speaking, the swirling sand in front of her turned into a mass of greenish mist, which drifted toward the depths of the Nanhai.

Zhao Gongming pondered briefly and said, "Third sister, you and Changgeng's incarnation follow from behind. I'll go ahead and meet him first!"

With that, a watery blue immortal light flickered around Zhao Gongming, and his figure turned into a breeze, vanishing instantly.

Qiongxiao curled her lips and glanced at Li Changshou with a hint of resentment, saying, "Big brother is taking what you said so seriously. He's even using his innate divine ability that he hasn't shown in years."

Li Changshou smiled and nodded slightly, a touch of emotion in his eyes.

Qiongxiao waved her hand, and a golden rope wrapped around Li Changshou's arm. She then rode the clouds to chase after them, but didn't invite Li Changshou to join her on the cloud.

Sensing the awkwardness between them, Li Changshou took the initiative to speak, asking, "How has your elder sister been lately?"

"Good, she's in seclusion cultivating," Qiongxiao replied casually, then turned back to Li Changshou and said, "You... never mind."

"Immortal, feel free to speak directly."

Qiongxiao snorted and said, "Do you know what kind of wine my sister likes? Do you know what style of dress she prefers? Look at you, always busy running around for the Heavenly Court, acting like you don't care about my sister at all. Are you waiting for her to invite you to our Sanxian Island? My sister is such a beautiful and gentle innate expert, and you're not even proactive. Do you really think she's destined to go through her emotional tribulation with you?"

"This..."

Li Changshou was at a loss for words. Just as he was about to explain that he and Yunxiao Immortal hadn't reached that passionate stage yet, the sky ahead suddenly darkened.

The universe shook, and the Great Dao surged!

"Big brother is fighting someone!"

Qiongxiao's bright eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "Let's go quickly, or we'll miss the fight!"

As soon as she finished, Qiongxiao pulled Li Changshou to speed up, but then remembered that his incarnation wasn't strong enough. She tossed out, "You fly over slowly; I'll go help with the battle," and turned into a golden light, dashing forward.

Soon, dragon roars echoed as two golden dragons soared up and down. The twenty-four stars hung over the edge of the Nanhai, sealing off a vast expanse of the universe!

Does Dizang have such power? He's actually forcing Zhao Gongming to go all out like this!

Just as Li Changshou was about to call the Grand Pure One for help, five rays of light burst from the horizon, trying to break through the seal of the Dinghai Shenzhu.

The lights were black, white, green, yellow, and red, intertwining to form a massive hand that reached to tear apart the blue sky!

Five Color Divine Light?!

Li Changshou couldn't help but widen his eyes.

How did Zhao Gongming end up fighting Xuanjie—wait, Kong Xuan?!

The two golden dragons roared and charged into the Five Color Divine Light, scattering the massive hand; the twenty-four Dinghai Shenzhu flashed continuously, shifting positions in the air and forcefully suppressing the divine light that tried to rise again!

This...

Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao, along with the Dinghai Shenzhu and the Golden Jiao Scissors, were battling Kong Xuan's Five Color Divine Light?

What a scene—this was truly unprecedented.

Li Changshou hurried forward, using his Wind Escape technique to rush to the battle site tens of thousands of li away.

Even with his swift escape method, it took a short time; in that interval, Zhao Gongming and his sister had already exchanged several rounds with Kong Xuan!

The Dinghai Shenzhu unleashed its power, temporarily holding back the Five Color Divine Light and preventing it from brushing them away.

Zhao Gongming wielded a golden whip, while Kong Xuan gripped a long saber. The two figures clashed repeatedly over the sea, leaving trails of afterimages and stirring up massive waves!

Fortunately, Zhao Gongming's Dinghai Shenzhu had the ability to stabilize the universe; otherwise, this place might have been shattered.

Qiongxiao pointed with her slender fingers, controlling the Golden Jiao Scissors to dodge the Five Color Divine Light. Whenever the light tried to close in, she made the scissors transform into golden dragons to scatter it.

Despite facing two opponents, Kong Xuan showed no sign of defeat. With the Five Color Divine Light, he restrained the Dinghai Shenzhu and kept Qiongxiao from joining the fight...

Li Changshou appeared at Qiongxiao's side and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Old brother! Kong Xuan Daoist friend! Please, both of you, stop!"

However, his voice, enhanced with immortal power, was torn apart by the turbulent spiritual energy of the battle...

"Don't worry," Qiongxiao said with a smile. "Big brother can handle it."

Li Changshou quickly thought of a plan and shouted toward the sky, "Senior brother! What are you doing here?"

As soon as he spoke, the Five Color Divine Light flashed rapidly, wrapping around Kong Xuan and shooting far away, escaping the Dinghai Shenzhu's enclosure and stopping a thousand li off.

"Old brother! Old brother!"

Li Changshou rushed forward and stopped Zhao Gongming, who was about to pursue, then released his own aura.

A thousand li away, Kong Xuan, dressed in green robes, frowned slightly. He glanced up at the sky and stared coldly at Li Changshou, letting out a huff before flying over on the clouds.

Li Changshou held Zhao Gongming's arm and asked, "Old brother, do you have some old grudge with Kong Xuan Daoist friend?"

"What old grudge? I just met him earlier?"

Zhao Gongming was annoyed and blew on his beard. "I was tracking Dizang's traces and found an island. I saw him standing above the immortal island, so I wanted to ask if he'd seen anything. I was perfectly polite, calling him 'Dao brother,' but he glared and asked which eye of mine saw him as a brother. Then I thought... well, maybe I was wrong, so I corrected myself and called him 'Immortal,' and apologized. But he glared again and asked which eye saw him as an immortal! So I said, 'Are you a brother, an immortal, or neither?' And then he came at me to fight!"

"Pfft... ha ha ha ha!"

Qiongxiao burst out laughing, nearly doubling over on the cloud.

By now, Kong Xuan had flown back and said coldly, "So what if I hit you? If you weren't a saint's disciple and a renowned figure of Jiejiao, I'd have plucked out all your beard today!"

"Hey!"

Zhao Gongming glared, with the twenty-four Dinghai Shenzhu circling around him. "Daoist friend, that's going too far. Are we going to have another round right now?"

"You two, you two!"

Li Changshou felt a headache coming on.

Kong Xuan was considered a "neutral faction" between Daoism and the West, so they shouldn't offend him, even if they couldn't win him over.

To play it safe, Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to calm Zhao Gongming, then turned and bowed to Kong Xuan, saying with a smile, "Daoist friend, what just happened was a small misunderstanding. You are heroic and elegant, with a perfect innate Dao body, beyond the mundane and unbound by conventions, so you shouldn't be judged by ordinary standards. My old brother misspoke for a moment, and you acted in response. Let's just let this matter drop today."

Kong Xuan's expression visibly softened from gloom to calm, and he nodded lightly, saying, "I acted rashly just now, which was impolite on my part. I apologize here."

Zhao Gongming stepped out from behind Li Changshou and said with a smile, "It was also my carelessness and rudeness. Still, your Five Elements divine powers are truly impressive. If there's a chance, let's spar again sometime!"

Kong Xuan's narrow phoenix eyes lit up, and their auras clashed lightly through the air.

"How about right now..."

"Another day! Another day!" Li Changshou quickly interjected.

Kong Xuan smirked and said, "What path are you two on?"

Li Changshou replied, "We're chasing some enemies—a young Daoist riding a green-furred spirit beast."

Kong Xuan calculated with his fingers and soon gave an answer. "They passed over my island's great array earlier, heading toward the southern Tianzhu. They've already left the Five Buzhou."

Hearing this, Li Changshou sighed in disappointment.

Kong Xuan said with a smile, "How about I go chase them for you? Maybe I can find their traces."

"No need, let him go this time," Li Changshou bowed. "We appreciate the offer."

Kong Xuan added, "In that case, why not come to my island for a visit?"

Li Changshou glanced at Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao with his eyes for their opinion, and both nodded, leaving it to him.

For an expert like Kong Xuan, it was better to build good karma than to make an enemy.

Besides, this involved the Grand Mage's romantic fate, and as a junior of Renjiao, Li Changshou felt he should help the Grand Mage out.

How could he let the Grand Mage grow old alone in Xuandu City, lonely and melancholic?

Caring for the first pure yang of the Honghuang humankind!

As long as everyone contributes a little love, the Three Realms will have a better tomorrow!

Li Changshou smiled and said, "Kong Xuan Daoist friend, let me introduce you. These two are among the top experts of Jiejiao in Daoism today."

Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao exchanged a look, then stepped forward together, blocking Li Changshou back.

"I am Zhao Gongming, considered Changgeng's brother-in-law."

"Qiongxiao of Sanxian Island, his little... aunt!"

Li Changshou: ...

He and Yunxiao Immortal hadn't even...

No, what are you two worried about?!

Kong Xuan huffed and said, "I treat him this way only because he's the Grand Mage's junior brother, and I owe the Grand Mage many favors. Hmph, follow me."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and led the way.

Kong Xuan's hidden abode was quite secluded.

The entire island was concealed by a great array, invisible to the naked eye or immortal sense.

The island was elegantly arranged, with clear streams winding around bamboo pavilions and rocks dotted among the forests.

The young girl whom Kong Xuan had rescued earlier had recovered from her mental turmoil. Dressed in a colorful skirt and with a pretty face, she served tea and water, looking nothing like a man-eating peacock.

Perhaps because he had recently remodeled Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou subconsciously examined everything, noticing some detailed arrangements on the island that he found quite beneficial upon closer inspection.

Once seated, there was little small talk; Kong Xuan simply asked about matters related to the Grand Mage.

Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao exchanged glances, and the siblings began to sense something, feeling a mix of awe toward that man.

Li Changshou answered in detail and subtly steered the conversation away.

Li Changshou asked, "Why were you outside your array earlier, and how did you run into my old brother?"

"I felt a bit restless, as if some opportunity was approaching," Kong Xuan sighed lightly, gazing at the bamboo grove outside and toying with his jade cup. "But as soon as I went out, I encountered Zhao Daoist friend."

"An opportunity?"

Zhao Gongming was puzzled. "What kind? Do I have some treasure you need? If so, please say it. Since you're my brother's friend, you're my friend too! I, Zhao Gongming, won't be stingy!"

"I don't know exactly what it is, and it's not a treasure," Kong Xuan calculated with his fingers and sighed. "The opportunity I mentioned isn't directly related to me; it's for my clan. Do you three know about my Feng Clan?"

Li Changshou nodded slowly, and Zhao Gongming stroked his beard in agreement.

Qiongxiao tapped Li Changshou with her finger and smiled lightly, "If it's about the Feng Clan, that opportunity might just fall on him."

"Hmm?" Li Changshou was confused. "Why do you say that, Immortal?"

What opportunity could he have with the Feng Clan?

Dragons and phoenixes were mortal enemies, and he was already on the dragon side—the Feng Clan probably wouldn't trust him anyway.

Qiongxiao rolled her eyes. "Don't you know your own status?"

Kong Xuan's eyes also showed a hint of curiosity.

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and sighed, "Kong Xuan Daoist friend, my brother's reputation is quite long. Listen carefully! The one sitting before you is the most trusted immortal official in the Heavenly Court under the Jade Emperor, overseeing all water affairs in the Three Realms. He's also the undisclosed disciple of the Renjiao saints, handling Renjiao affairs, and he comes and goes freely in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall and Doushuai Palace."

"Ahem!"

Qiongxiao cleared her throat and continued, "He's the master strategist behind the Heavenly Court's rise, the one who orchestrated the dragons ascending to heaven, wiped out hundreds of thousands of demon soldiers with a wave, resolved the Wu Clan's crisis of survival in an instant, and the recognized advisor on matters of love and romance in all of Daoism! Of course, most importantly, he's my sister's prospective Dao companion. Oh well."

As the siblings spoke, Kong Xuan's eyes grew brighter, and when he looked at the somewhat embarrassed Li Changshou, his gaze became more eager.

"So, Daoist friend, can you help my Feng Clan?"

"Don't listen to my old brother and the immortal's praises; I don't have that many abilities. I'm just an ordinary immortal official in the Heavenly Court..."

Suddenly, that word appeared in his mind unbidden, accompanied by a faint aura of the Taiji Great Dao—it was undoubtedly the Taiji Master!

"...in the Heavenly Court."

Li Changshou cleared his throat and said seriously, "However, with the Grand Mage as our connection, whatever you ask, I'll carefully consider and do my best to help."