Chapter 387: Support

The fierce battle with a group of Zhenxian, several Tianxian, and a horde of Qi Refiners below the Zhenxian level could be summed up in just one sentence:

"I hadn't even exerted myself, and you all collapsed."

As the golden light array retracted, Li Changshou stood quietly in front of Youqin Xuanya, along with her mother, elder sister-in-law, numerous aunts, and others. In his mind, he was already plotting the next steps.

Having roamed the outside world for so long under identities like the Sea God, Water God, a minor disciple of Renjiao, and various random personas, he had finally found the opportunity for his true self—the ordinary disciple of Duxianmen’s Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou—to make an appearance and officially debut on the grand stage of Honghuang!

This move might seem risky, but it was actually the most prudent response Li Changshou could make under the circumstances.

The invasion of Honglin Kingdom by the two tribes—if it was indeed a scheme to test Duxianmen—most likely stemmed from his origins being on the verge of exposure, with the other side trying every way to confirm it...

At this point, he had no choice but to take a bold gamble and see if he could separate the "Heavenly Court Water God" from the Renjiao immortal sect.

If it succeeded, it would be a great boon, allowing him to continue his carefree cultivation in the sect;

If it failed, things wouldn't be any worse than they were now—he could confirm that his origins were exposed and promptly flee from Duxianmen to hide in the Heavenly Court...

So, success or failure didn't really matter.

Of course, it was best to avoid action if possible; getting too close to the Saint lords wasn't necessarily a good thing.

To pull off the next act, Li Changshou was standing before Youqin Xuanya at this very moment and place as his true body, which he had rushed over using his escape techniques.

Incidentally, on his way, his true body had overtaken the group of Duxianmen experts.

Having his true body play this role was the most foolproof plan!

Though this matter carried some risks, as he wasn't used to going out without Tower Lord...

Later, he just needed to wait for the hidden schemer to show up, or find the right opportunity to have the Water God paper effigy appear. By multitasking and differentiating the aura, personality, and Dao rhythm between the Water God and Duxianmen disciple Li Changshou, he could establish the proof on the spot.

Of course, he couldn't deliberately make his true body and paper effigy converse—that would be overdoing it and ruin the setup. Each persona had to stay in character.

It was already common knowledge related to the Heavenly Court that the Water God operated through incarnations.

But this plan still had some hidden dangers.

The biggest one was that the opponents in the city were just too weak!

Even though he had only used a massive array of talismans and secretly laid traps to seal off hundreds of ineffective mortal dynasty immortals, it all made sense upon closer inspection;

Yet, this spectacle and visual effect...

It could easily lead people to mistakenly think that Li Changshou of Xiaoqiong Peak was some hidden master.

What Li Changshou wanted to portray was the realm of an ordinary Tianxian who had concealed part of his strength;

After all, in Honghuang, a Qi Refiner at the Tianxian level was still just cannon fodder and wouldn't attract the attention of the big shots...

Li Changshou thought it over carefully and feigned a weakened state, as if his immortal power was depleted.

How could he force the hidden schemer to reveal themselves?

Li Changshou glanced at the woman in the face armor nearby, who was wrapped up like a rice dumpling with talismans.

Earlier, he had used his immortal power to embed a Tianxian-level poison pill into her wound and stuck several precious instant-kill talismans on her, ensuring he could end her life whenever he wanted.

But he couldn't kill her outright now—she still had a use.

This top-quality "scapegoat" could at least tarnish the reputation of that "Daowei Xianzong"...

"Shixiong?"

Youqin Xuanya, having already digested those spirit pills, stood up beside him. Her face was no longer pale, and her immortal power was quickly replenishing.

She asked immediately, "What should we do?"

"Wait," Li Changshou said with a smile. "Stay here and cultivate as if you're severely injured, and follow my voice transmission instructions."

"Mm..."

"Don't worry," Li Changshou coughed lightly. "I'll keep the crying incident a secret for you."

Youqin Xuanya's fingers subconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt, a flush flashing across her face, but she turned her head away...

"T-thank you for your help, Shixiong. I'll definitely repay this favor."

"Sure, there's actually something I need to discuss with you later," Li Changshou replied with a smile, his gaze casually scanning her profile.

Tsk tsk, that figure, those curves, that beautiful face—especially with her skirt now torn in places, giving off a unique charm from the battlefield, and that unmistakable sense of justice that couldn't be faked!

Sensing Li Changshou's unrestrained gaze, Youqin Xuanya trembled slightly and whispered, "Shixiong, you... save it for later..."

Perfect!

Li Changshou let out a long sigh.

This was practically the ideal seed candidate for his super heavenly soldier plan!

Before today's events, he hadn't realized that Youqin Xuanya had such potential!

As long as he continued to nurture her cultivation, enhance her combat abilities, boost her personal charisma, and give her a few flashy ultimate moves...

What was this?

This was the best promotional figure for Heavenly Court recruitment!

An absolute windfall tonight!

"Youqin Shimei, go comfort your family first," Li Changshou said, glancing at the sobbing women nearby. "Leave the rest to me."

"Mm," Youqin Xuanya replied softly, lowering her head before turning and hurrying to her mother's side, where she grasped her elder sister-in-law's wrist.

Li Changshou understood Youqin Xuanya's earlier breakdown—it was only natural...

When she learned that the attackers on Honglin Kingdom were from Chan Jiao's lineage, Daowei Xianzong, and felt the pressure from those two Jin Xian, she had backed herself into a corner.

With her family in the Honglin Kingdom palace, Youqin Xuanya wanted to save her parents and relatives. As the princess of Honglin Kingdom, she wouldn't drag her sect into this...

She had refused his initial offer of help for three reasons: she didn't want to trouble him, she wasn't sure of his strength, and she feared it would spark sect conflicts, leading to more casualties among Duxianmen disciples.

This willingness to face death rather than involve her sect was exactly something Youqin Xuanya would do...

As for her final breakdown after discovering her elder sister-in-law's pregnancy, it wasn't about preserving some dynasty's bloodline—it was purely because she felt the unborn child was innocent...

Was all of this arranged by the Heavenly Dao?

Saying it was the Heavenly Dao might not be precise, since the Heavenly Dao was merely an aggregation of rules, the "immune system" that emerged in Honghuang after the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity;

The one who could actively influence everything within the Heavenly Dao was that old man at the pinnacle of the Dao!

Shiye, the Dao Ancestor!

Li Changshou closed his eyes in contemplation, carefully sensing, and vaguely gained some insight.

"Xuanya! This shishu is here to save... oh, it's already over?"

A large gourd shot through the air from afar, with Jiu Yiyi on it rushing into the sky. Like Jiu Jiu, she looked puzzled at the moment.

—Li Changshou had set up a minor illusion array around the city earlier.

What they saw was that only the edges of the city still had fighting, while the mortals who had been in the thick of battle were now sprawled everywhere, each covered in talismans...

Mixed among these mortal soldiers were some Qi Refiners, each plastered with dozens or even hundreds of talismans...

These talismans of Li Changshou's were drawn by a few logistics paper effigies;

They were all basic talismans, simple and straightforward, not taking up much of his mental energy in daily life, allowing for stable production and a substantial stockpile.

Jiu Yiyi stared at Li Changshou, while Jiu Jiu let out a cry and sat on the large gourd, flying over as she shouted:

"Changshou, how did you end up here!"

Just as Li Changshou was about to respond, several waves of pressure appeared from the horizon!

The group didn't dare joke around and quickly formed a defensive stance, looking up to see...

Under the starry sky, several figures were speeding in from the north and northwest, coming to a halt above the mortal city and facing off against each other.

Duxianmen's sect leader Ji Wuyou and the Jin Xian elder Wang Fugui stood directly above Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya, subtly protecting their own disciples.

Facing them was an elder with a long crown and a flushed face, who lightly waved his duster...

Two more figures chased from the north—a middle-aged man and an elderly one, the two Jin Xian from Daowei Xianzong who had ambushed them earlier.

They quickly reached the elder with the long crown, bowed in unison, and said:

" Sect leader."

Li Changshou transmitted a message to Jiu Yiyi and Jiu Jiu, and the three of them bowed toward the sky, shouting in unison:

"We greet the sect leader!"

They couldn't lose in spirit or momentum.

Ji Wuyou nodded with a smile, looked down at the chaos in the city, at Youqin Xuanya's wounds, and at Li Changshou's helpless expression, and suddenly grew furious!

Ji Wuyou said coldly, "Dao Yu Zhenren, your Daowei Xianzong is going too far today!"

"Why do you say that, Wuyou Sect Leader?"

The elder—Dao Yu Zhenren of Daowei Xianzong—frowned and said:

"Our Daowei Xianzong has acted by the rules this time and didn't harm your Zhenxian or Tianxian who came to aid. How is that bullying?"

"Cough, cough... Hmph!

This place is under Duxianmen's protection, and you attacked without any warning—how is that by the rules?"

Ji Wuyou narrowed his eyes and said coldly:

"Is it because you think our Renjiao immortal sect has fewer immortals and mountains, so you can bully us at will?

Your Chan Jiao immortal sect is being far too overbearing!"

Hearing this, Dao Yu Zhenren of Daowei Xianzong couldn't help but frown.

Beside Ji Wuyou, the Unfeeling Supreme Wang Fugui couldn't resist transmitting a message:

"Sect Leader, why bring up the two teachings? Won't this escalate things?"

"Don't worry!"

Ji Wuyou was full of spirit at the moment, smiling calmly as his gaze briefly swept over Li Changshou below, and he transmitted back:

"This round, we're sure to win."

After all, the message from the Renjiao minor disciple was just four words:

Escalate the issue.

As an old combat unit—well, an ordinary Jin Xian—Ji Wuyou knew exactly what that meant.

This was as steady as it gets!

Dao Yu Zhenren pondered for a moment and said:

"Wuyou Sect Leader, perhaps we should wait a bit longer until our disciples arrive.

Then we can discuss the rights and wrongs."

"Hmph!" Ji Wuyou flicked his sleeve. "If your Daowei Xianzong doesn't give us an explanation today, I won't let this go!"

Dao Yu Zhenren's eyes showed some irritation, and he said no more, closing his eyes in silence.

Ji Wuyou led Wang Fugui downward, expressing concern for Youqin Xuanya and quietly asking Li Changshou a few questions via transmission.

Li Changshou briefly outlined his response strategy to the sect leader, emphasizing that the sect leader should grasp the core principles and adapt on the spot;

He didn't want to script the sect leader's lines, as that might hinder his performance.

Both sides waited a while longer, and streams of light came from the northern sky.

Duxianmen had sent back the immortals below late Zhenxian level on their original path, while a new batch of peak masters and elders arrived, all seething with anger. Their strength below Jin Xian level was even stronger than the opponent's!

The hidden reserves weren't counted.

Daowei Xianzong was also urgently summoning people, clearly not expecting Duxianmen to mobilize so many experts.

Especially when the Danding Peak elder Wan Linjun, who had been in seclusion trying to break through to Jin Xian, appeared...

The old man leaned on his cane, his expression blank as he swept his gaze over the Daowei Xianzong immortals, making over ninety percent of them feel varying degrees of unease in their Dao hearts.

Li Changshou instinctively wanted to slip back into the crowd above, but remembering his scheme for tonight, he held back.

Sometimes, when there's no way to retreat, you have to advance to retreat...

Once both sides' immortals were assembled, over seven hundred in total from the two sects stood in the air, each releasing their auras in a standoff.

Duxianmen's sect leader Ji Wuyou stepped forward two paces, his tall figure exuding an air of pride... and a touch of mysterious confidence.

In contrast, the Daowei immortals frowned slightly, deep in thought.

Ji Wuyou said, "Now that everyone's here, if we're talking reason, first return the Duxianmen immortals you ambushed and captured.

If we're fighting, then I and all of Duxianmen will see it through tonight!"

As soon as he spoke, the immortals on both sides were a bit stunned.

Was the sect leader always this fierce and confident?

Dao Yu Zhenren frowned in thought, waved his duster, and an elder Tianxian beside him stepped forward, summoning a treasure pagoda that released eighteen captives, allowing them to fly back to Duxianmen.

These were the Duxianmen disciples captured earlier.

They looked ashamed, covering their faces as they bowed, and several supreme elders offered gentle words of encouragement before they returned to the ranks.

Dao Yu Zhenren said solemnly, "Now that we've returned the captured immortals and Duxianmen has no further issues, why don't we discuss this properly here?

Wuyou Sect Leader, can we yield Honglin Kingdom?"

"There's no need to discuss," Ji Wuyou said calmly. "I won't yield.

The three teachings are one family, and we met at the Three Teachings Origin Conference.

Now, your Chan Jiao immortal sect is stirring up trouble, trying to disrupt the harmony among the three teachings. How should this be handled?"

"Wuyou Sect Leader, how can you twist things like that!"

Dao Yu Zhenren was getting heated, declaring, "The rule of not involving mountains in worldly disputes has long been established in Honghuang!

Our Daowei Xianzong has been extremely patient, so don't push it too far, Duxianmen!"

"Oh?" Ji Wuyou frowned. "Is that rule set by you?

Do you know that I have a grand-disciple who is the daughter of Honglin Kingdom's ruler and has cultivated in my sect for many years?

Does that count as involving the mountains?

If my disciples are bullied and I don't stand up, then one day if your major immortal sects bully me, who will stand for me as sect leader!"

"Good!"

Elder Wan Linjun roared, gripping his cane and stepping forward, his body radiating an extremely dangerous aura!

"Let's fight!"

Ji Wuyou was nearly startled—how had the old man gotten so worked up?

Wan Linjun's roars made the immortals on both sides tense up, each pulling out various types of weapons and circulating their immortal powers.

Just then, laughter echoed from the horizon as a slightly plump elder in a purple robe sped over on a cloud, his speed incredibly fast.

But his own pressure... was quite ordinary.

The plump elder shouted, "What's this about starting a fight tonight?

I am Dao Weizi, the founding ancestor of Daowei Xianzong and a guest at Yuxu Palace. I hope the fellow Daoists of the Renjiao immortal sects will give me some face! Ha ha ha ha!"

A Saint's named disciple?

Ji Wuyou furrowed his brow, and the Duxianmen elders were on high alert.

He hadn't called his own master for backup—how to handle this...

At that moment, a transmission reached his ear, and Ji Wuyou instantly calmed down, saying indifferently, "There are so many mortal kingdoms in Honghuang—why must your esteemed one fixate on Honglin Kingdom?"

The newly arrived plump elder—Dao Weizi—frowned, not expecting Ji Wuyou to shift the conversation so quickly.

"Wuyou my nephew," Dao Weizi said with a smile, "I have a good relationship with your master, so perhaps..."

"Is this senior trying to use seniority to pressure me?" Ji Wuyou cut him off.

"Are you bullying Duxianmen because our ancestors aren't here? Or because you think Renjiao has no experts?"

Dao Weizi said seriously, "Today's matter—let me discuss it with your master.

To avoid conflict between our sects and other unpleasantness, why don't you take your people and leave, Wuyou my nephew?"

Ji Wuyou coughed lowly, his eyes showing a hint of discontent, while the Duxianmen immortals looked both angry and helpless.

However, Ji Wuyou's next move was unexpected but, upon reflection, made perfect sense.

He showed a sorrowful expression, looked up, and sighed deeply:

"Does Renjiao have any experts who can appear? Predecessors of Renjiao, see how Daowei Xianzong is bullying us!"

Suddenly, two beams of light appeared in the starry sky...

A water-blue and a fire-red meteor slowly circled and chased each other, instantly forming a Taiji diagram of water and fire.

Beneath the Taiji diagram, the figure of an elder materialized from illusion to reality;

He wore a white robe, held a duster, and had a slender face with a slight smile, exuding a casual and comfortable Dao rhythm.

A Duxianmen immortal shouted, "The Water God! It's the Heavenly Court Water God!"

Indeed, it was Li Changshou.

Li Changshou smiled faintly, nodded in greeting to the Duxianmen immortals below, and casually glanced at his true body standing on the ground with a look of "surprised admiration," finding the situation quite novel.

This kind of act really couldn't be done too often—it might lead to mental issues.

Li Changshou said calmly, "May I, as a representative of Duxianmen, discuss this with you, Daoist friend?"

Dao Weizi's expression turned extremely serious as he bowed and said, "So it's Senior Brother Water God—my apologies."

—A Saint's named disciple naturally had to show respect to a Saint's formal disciple.

Dao Weizi said with a smile, "Today's matter is trivial; I didn't expect to trouble the Water God."

"There's no way around it," Li Changshou said amiably. "The Grand Mage assigned me to handle Renjiao affairs, and Renjiao only has six immortal sects in total—we have to protect them closely."

Li Changshou paused and looked toward the northwest.

There, golden light filled the sky as a figure sat on a cloud, speeding toward them.

Though still tens of thousands of li away, the figure's aura and pressure reached them unobstructed.

The immortals on the cloud were now completely baffled, unsure of what was unfolding tonight...

Li Changshou declared loudly:

"Daoist friend, are you afraid something might go wrong? Why call in Chan Jiao's deputy leader the moment I appear?"

Dao Weizi, sensing the implication in Li Changshou's words, shook his head subtly and said:

"Senior Brother Water God holds a high position in the Heavenly Court and is a top expert in Renjiao. I consider my own cultivation and knowledge shallow, fearing I might offend you, so I invited Teacher Ran Deng to discuss this matter."

Ran Deng!

Li Changshou smiled inwardly—his guess was correct; it was indeed that old schemer behind this!

Since it involved Chan Jiao, it had to be him.

The Duxianmen immortals all turned to look at the Heavenly Court Water God, most of them hoping—hoping that man would show up tonight.

After all, Renjiao had few experts, and above the Water God, the only one he could call was the Grand Mage...

However, the Duxianmen immortals were soon disappointed.

When Ran Deng flew closer, just a few hundred li away, a Taiji diagram vortex suddenly appeared above Li Changshou's Water God paper effigy.

A small tower and a bronze ruler dropped from it, which the Water God caught steadily.

Thus, the Water God held the tower and ruler, calmly facing the approaching Ran Deng Daoist, who slowed his flight considerably.

This was Renjiao's support!

On the ground, Li Changshou felt a warmth in his heart—after all, when the Saint lord or the Grand Mage sent these treasures, they appeared directly above his paper effigy, not his true body.

This tacitly approved his scheme regarding his origins tonight.

But there was one thing...

Li Changshou looked at the shattered jade talisman in his sleeve, wondering if having that big shot come here directly was a good or bad thing.

At the same time, in the skies above the South Sea;

A flash of five-colored divine light shot toward the southeast of Dongsheng Shenzhou!