Chapter 414: This child, can't even cause trouble

"Taiyi Shishu is so annoying..."

This voice kept echoing in Li Changshou's ears, lingering for a while before fading away.

That overly delicate Lingzhuzi;That fearless kid who wasn't afraid of heaven or earth, once stabbed his own father with a spear, stirred up the East Sea with the Huntian Ling, and smacked the old Dragon King with the Qiankun Quan—that little Nezha...What on earth had this child been through?By the heavens above, could a single reincarnation of Lingzhuzi completely change his personality?Lingzhuzi hadn't passed through the six paths of reincarnation when he was reborn as Nezha; it seemed like only his memories vanished, while his cultivation from the Lingzhuzi era should still be intact. Logically, his temperament shouldn't have changed so drastically...This was the first time Li Changshou felt he couldn't quite grasp the threads of this primordial world or the Investiture of the Gods calamity.

"Changgeng, you're known in the three teachings for having plenty of ideas."

Taiyi Zhenren grabbed Li Changshou's paper effigy's arm. "Consider this as me owing you a favor—help me think of something."

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and nodded calmly. "About your son—I mean, your disciple Lingzhuzi Shizhi—why do you need to report to the Saint Lords?"

Taiyi Zhenren sighed, pulling Li Changshou into the cave dwelling as he explained:

"My disciple was originally a precious pearl nurtured in the treasure pool of Kunlun Mountain. It had absorbed the essence of the sun and moon since ancient times, gradually gaining sentience. His origins are pure, and his talents exceptional; if he transformed, he could achieve the Qingfu Yuan Shen.My teacher gave the pearl to me, asking me to help it transform and take it as my disciple.After three thousand years of nurturing, it transformed in an instant into a boy who looked about five or six years old. Ah—"

Taiyi Zhenren let out a long sigh. "At first, I didn't think much of it. Since it was a male child formed from a pearl, it naturally lacked both masculine and feminine energy, which made sense.But gradually, I noticed his personality was quite soft."

As they spoke, Li Changshou and Yuding Zhenren followed Taiyi Zhenren into the Golden Light Cave. Taiyi Zhenren didn't offer any greetings, and neither did they; the three simply sat around a stone table.

Li Changshou thought for a bit and asked, "Could you give a more detailed example?"

Taiyi Zhenren considered it. "When he had just transformed, in his fifth year..."

On a hillside in Qian Yuan Mountain, the fields were covered with shallow grass and wildflowers. A handsome young Daoist sat meditating in the sunlight, while not far away, a spirited boy was reaching out, repeatedly trying to catch butterflies.

As he chased, the boy suddenly yelped. The young Daoist opened his eyes, his forehead darkening.

The boy was squatting on the ground, carefully holding a butterfly in his hands. He blew a breath of xian qi on it and whispered:

"I'm sorry, I hurt you."

The little butterfly gently flapped its wings, then slowly flew up, circling around the boy, who let out a bell-like laugh.

Just then—

Whoosh—

A dark shadow descended from the sky—it was a large foot, blocking the boy's path.

The young Daoist's forehead veins bulged as he growled, "Is this how a real man plays with butterflies?"

The boy's lips quivered, his eyes welling with tears. "M-Master... you'll scare the little butterfly."

"Scare it?"

The young Daoist smirked, his eyes narrowing into triangles, gleaming with mischief.

He raised his left hand, and a wisp of immortal light bloomed at his fingertip. The young Daoist said casually, "Today, I'll show you how a real man plays!Yin-Yang First Finger! Second Finger! Third Finger!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several streaks of light shot around the butterfly. The little butterfly flapped desperately, and the boy covered his mouth, bursting into tears.

The young Daoist chased the butterfly from behind, shooting beams of light from his fingertips and letting out a wild laugh...

Taiyi Zhenren paused, glancing at the two Daoist immortals in front of him, who were rolling up their sleeves and pulling out their treasures. He scooted his stool back a bit.

"What are you two shidis planning? I'm just trying to guide Lingzhuzi back on the right path!"

The small ding in Yuding Zhenren's hand trembled slightly. He glared at Taiyi Zhenren and put the ding away.Li Changshou also withdrew his Dayu Zhi Shui Tu; he had been thinking of jumping in to mediate and earn some favor.

Yuding Zhenren said, "It's your own doing that gave Lingzhuzi such a personality."

"No, no," Taiyi Zhenren shook his head repeatedly. "This temperament is innate. I was just trying to provoke him to protect the butterfly and show some backbone.Changgeng, do you have any ideas?"

Li Changshou asked, "Could we see what Lingzhuzi Shizhi is doing right now?"

"Very well," Taiyi Zhenren agreed without hesitation. He drew a bit of water from a treasure pool in the cave, forming a water mirror that reflected Lingzhuzi's current situation.

Li Changshou thought: Why are you so skilled at this?

Lingzhuzi was lying on a bed, hugging a thin blanket and not moving at all.

Yuding Zhenren asked with concern, "What's wrong with him?"

"He's probably been hit hard," Taiyi Zhenren said, rubbing his forehead. "In a moment, you'll see... it's coming."

No sooner had Taiyi Zhenren spoken than a sigh came from the water mirror. Lingzhuzi lifted his head from the blanket, revealing a delicate face streaked with dried tears but full of determination.

By now, Lingzhuzi was equivalent to a human in his late teens, not short in stature but a bit slender.His features weren't exactly feminine, but as a reincarnation of a pearl, he had an excess of ethereal energy.

He flipped off the bed and walked to a standing mirror nearby, pursing his lips as he looked at himself. Then he made a fierce expression, glaring and furrowing his brows.

Hmm, if he hadn't puffed out his cheeks right after, it would have been quite imposing.

Lingzhuzi sighed dejectedly, standing gloomily in front of the mirror for a while before perking up again. He put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, raised his head, and waved his little hand forward, declaring crisply:

"I am Lingzhuzi, disciple of Taiyi Zhenren of Qian Yuan Mountain. Demons and monsters, begone at once!Hmm... I can be quite imposing, can't I?"

In the reception hall of the cave dwelling, dozens of yards away, Taiyi Zhenren dispersed the water mirror and couldn't help but sigh loudly:

"What's with the 'hmm'!"

Li Changshou chuckled beside him, "Though this might not please you, Shixiong, Lingzhuzi being like this isn't so bad.We cultivators—why fixate on masculine energy? Some male beings are gentle by nature and more delicate, while some females are bold and carefree. It's all perfectly normal; we should be inclusive.As long as we don't glorify such contrasts, there won't be any major issues."

Yuding Zhenren nodded slowly and said seriously, "What Shidi Changgeng says makes sense."

"Makes sense? It's not your disciple, so you're not worried!"

Taiyi Zhenren sighed:

"His personality is affecting his cultivation progress. Who knows, he might trip up because of it someday.I've secretly arranged several trials for him, and every time, he shows hesitation, excessive mercy, and gets scared at the first sign of trouble, ending up crying without any response.How can he survive in the primordial world? He can't just stay in the cave cultivating for eons without going out.Besides, with a temperament like this, even if he achieves immortality, he might get killed by some Tianxian if he ventures out!"

Li Changshou thought carefully...So, is this the real reason you went after Shi Ji Niangniang?Still, Taiyi Zhenren, with his sense of crisis and readiness to strike first, is quite the formidable figure in Chan Jiao...Though his cultivation is a bit lacking compared to true powerhouses.

Yuding Zhenren said, "Having a gentle nature isn't a fault. Nowadays, where in the world isn't aware of the three teachings?The outside world Lingzhuzi will face is completely different from when we roamed the primordial world back in the day."

Taiyi Zhenren shook his head repeatedly. "Shidi, we must nip problems in the bud and prevent disasters before they arise. If we're not always prepared, we'll suffer losses for sure.Anyway, as his master, I'm determined to straighten out his personality!Changgeng, do you have a brilliant plan?"

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, sitting quietly in thought.

Taiyi Zhenren waited a while and whispered, "I get the feeling you're not thinking about how to help Lingzhuzi, but how to extract a favor from me."

"How could you say that, Shixiong?"

Li Changshou frowned. "Am I the type to only act for personal gain? If so, how could Xandu Shixiong trust me?"

Yuding Zhenren cast an approving glance his way.

But Li Changshou quickly changed tack: "Though if Taiyi Shixiong insists on offering some human intelligence as reward, I wouldn't refuse—it would be disrespectful to turn it down and slight your face."

Taiyi Zhenren burst out laughing. "No need; I'm not one for empty formalities."

"Ah, personality is innate," Li Changshou said with a sympathetic expression...

"Fine, fine, fine!" Taiyi Zhenren laughed and scolded, "Whatever favor you want, I'll give it. Is that enough?"

The sympathy on Li Changshou's face turned into a warm smile as he said gently:

"However, personality can be improved through nurture. If we come up with some methods and proceed step by step, it should work."

Taiyi Zhenren asked, "So, what kind of favor do you want?"

Li Changshou thought for a moment and smiled. "Something for when I need help—perhaps asking you to act or hold back."

Taiyi Zhenren laughed heartily. "Even without this matter with my disciple, if you came to Qian Yuan Mountain seeking help, would I turn you away?"

"Excellent," Li Changshou and Taiyi Zhenren exchanged a look and smiled at each other.

Yuding Zhenren shook his head and moved his stone stool a bit farther from these two immortals.

Taiyi Zhenren asked again, "So, Changgeng, what's your brilliant plan?"

"This is a bit complex," Li Changshou said. "Let me prepare for half a day, and then we'll discuss it."

Hearing this, Taiyi Zhenren felt most of his worries ease and thanked Li Changshou.

Li Changshou closed his eyes, withdrawing most of his mind to his main body. He unrolled a scroll and began to think carefully.

Helping someone change their personality was something Li Changshou had never done before, but he knew it couldn't be rushed—it required a process.So, he needed to create a long-term plan.

Securing this favor from Taiyi Zhenren today was also for gaining more control in Lingzhuzi's story during the Investiture of the Gods calamity.Taiyi Zhenren burning Shi Ji Niangniang was one of the earlier direct conflicts between the two teachings, though Shi Ji Niangniang had shallow roots in Jie Jiao and was just a Sanxian, so it didn't provoke much reaction from Jie Jiao.Even so, it could be exploited by those with ulterior motives...A single spark can start a prairie fire. If Shi Ji Niangniang is a benevolent soul, Li Changshou, considering testing the limits of the Heavenly Way, might try to save her when the time comes.Changing the script of the Heavenly Way won't be easy.Could he put in more effort on Lingzhuzi's personality?Though he wasn't sure how much it would affect the future Nezha, it was worth a try.

With that thought, Li Changshou wrote swiftly, as if divinely inspired. On the scroll, a long arrow pointed from right to left, with various options marked above and below it.

Two hours later, outside the Xiaoqiong Peak gaming room, Li Changshou arrived holding a jade talisman for notes.

Inside the pavilion, Ling'e, Jiang Lin'er, and Jiu Yushi quickly put down their cards in their hands. Though they didn't know why, these three women from different generations felt a bit guilty.

"Shizu, Shishu."

Li Changshou bowed with a Daoist salute and smiled as he entered. He got straight to the point: "I'm here mainly to ask Shizu about a small matter."

Jiang Lin'er pointed at herself in surprise. "Me?"

Li Changshou said, "Yes, after thinking it over, you're the most suitable person to ask."

"You asking me so suddenly makes me quite uncomfortable."

Jiang Lin'er sat up straight, then felt uneasy and lifted her left foot onto the chair, her skirt draping down.

"Go ahead and ask!"

"Shizu," Li Changshou said seriously, "When you first left Du Xian Men to venture out, your personality was outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, with a relentless drive to train outside, even risking your life to break into the Tianxian realm. Is that right?"

Jiang Lin'er blinked. "Yes."

"So, what exactly happened?"

Li Changshou asked curiously, "That turned your outwardly gentle and inwardly strong personality into... consistently so?"

"Oh, that."

Jiang Lin'er stroked her smooth chin thoughtfully, as if bubbles were appearing above her head, flashing through scenes.

It was when she first went out adventuring; her small team of rogue cultivators had just completed a demon-slaying mission and divided a large reward. A group of bloodthirsty rogues gathered to drink and chat.

'Lin Jiang, are you cross-dressing? You look so delicate.'

'Impossible! I haven't used any illusion techniques!'

Jiang Lin'er patted her chest, and her companions trusted her, continuing to drink heartily and eat meat.

"Uh..."

Jiang Lin'er covered her forehead with one hand. She was now a happily married woman, so it was best not to mention these dark past events.

Li Changshou smiled. "I think I've got it. Thank you, Shizu."

"Hey! What do you understand?"

Jiang Lin'er jumped up, slamming the table and shouting:

"I didn't spend all my time drinking and fighting with a bunch of men! I always separated when cultivating or sleeping!"

Ling'e and Jiu Yushi exchanged glances and stifled their laughter.

"Of course, of course. I didn't think otherwise."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile and wrote on the jade talisman: Those you associate with rub off on you; companions are important.

Then Li Changshou asked, "Shizu, what do you think is the most valuable trait in a man, something distinct from women?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Lin'er thought for a moment. "Having a sense of responsibility."

"A sense of responsibility..." Li Changshou noted it down and turned to Jiu Yushi. "Shishu, what about you?"

Jiu Yushi pondered seriously and said softly, "Being able to stand on his own."

Li Changshou carefully recorded it, then glanced at Ling'e and turned to leave.

"Shixiong, aren't you going to ask me?"

"No need; I already know your answer."

"Come on, Shixiong, ask me!Maybe it's different from what you think... Steadiness, steadiness is the most important! Shixiong!Sigh, he's gone."

Ling'e sighed softly, prompting another round of laughter in the gaming room.

Soon after, Li Changshou stopped at the spirit beast enclosure and asked Xiong Lingli the same question. She showed off her recently bulked-up muscles.

"It has to be stronger than me!"

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, nearly crushing the jade talisman.

Not long after, Li Changshou's paper effigy set out, conducting investigations everywhere.

In the Heavenly Court, he asked Long Ji, the fairies of Yaochi, and the generals of the Water God Mansion;In the Sea God Temple, he asked the divine messengers, the temple priests, and some elderly mortals.

After compiling and refining the answers, he filled in the gaps in his plan, adjusted some details, and then explained the plan to Taiyi Zhenren.

—Essentially, throw Lingzhuzi into the midst of heavenly soldiers and generals for some time to influence him.

Taiyi Zhenren was quite excited, grabbing Li Changshou's arm and saying, "I'll entrust my precious disciple to you for now, Shidi!"

"Don't worry, Shixiong; I'll do my best."

Li Changshou replied warmly, then added, "When you tell Lingzhuzi Shizhi about this later, don't say too much. Just tell him...This is essential training to become a true man who stands tall between heaven and earth."

"Understood, I'll follow your advice. We must make him bolder, less timid," Taiyi Zhenren said firmly. "Even if he's a bit reckless, it's fine!This child has always been so soft-hearted; he doesn't even know how to cause trouble!"

A few black lines appeared on Li Changshou's forehead. He was almost convinced.