Chapter 514: After All, We're Not Some Evil God

Yu Ding turned towards the sound and saw Li Changshou's paper effigy. A somewhat forced smile appeared on his face as he returned the greeting with a bow.

This Zhenren was direct, as always. Without any pleasantries, his first words cut straight to the point.

"Changgeng Shidi, are there any Wu Clan battle techniques suitable for my disciple's practice?"

Li Changshou stepped aside to invite him in, smiling. "Shixiong, let's discuss this in the inner hall.

Previously, Lingzhuzi trained with the Wu Clan and obtained quite a few of their battle methods. I have several copies here. If those aren't enough, I can send a paper effigy from the underworld to further investigate in the Wu Clan territory.

Doesn't Yang Jian Shizhi practice Daoist techniques?"

Yu Ding Zhenren's smile was a mix of awkwardness and bashfulness, making it hard for Li Changshou to interpret.

He spoke softly, "Xuangong focuses on physical body cultivation, which does produce some magical power, but it's a bit impure and not very refined.

My intention is for Yang Jian to cultivate both his primordial spirit and physical body. I've already found some Daoist scriptures that don't clash with Xuangong, though they should remain secondary to it.

For combat, Wu Clan battle methods naturally complement Xuangong better."

"I see," Li Changshou said, leading Yu Ding Zhenren to a seat. He didn't take the main chair himself, instead sitting beside him.

Li Changshou continued, "Shixiong, please wait a moment while I retrieve them."

"Very well."

Yu Ding Zhenren agreed, then hesitated before adding, "Is there anything I can do to assist the Wu Clan?"

Li Changshou chuckled. "I'll discuss that with you in detail later. There's no need to worry about it now."

With that, Li Changshou closed his eyes and focused his mind, shifting his consciousness to his true body. He rummaged in his sleeve and pulled out two jade talismans.

When he had helped Niangniang Houtu resolve the issue of her seven emotions incarnation, he had obtained the 'Wu Clan secret records,' which contained many battle techniques.

Now was the perfect time to give them to Yu Ding Zhenren, so Yang Jian could experiment with which ones were best suited for Xuangong. That way...

His own cultivation efficiency would undoubtedly improve later on.

From the side, Yunxiao asked, "Is there a problem?"

"It's just Yu Ding Shixiong asking for a few Wu Clan battle methods," Li Changshou replied with a smile. "Likely for Yang Jian Shizhi's training."

As he spoke, Li Changshou made a copy of the jade talisman in his hand, then took a paper effigy from his sleeve, had it firmly grasp the talisman, and sent it flying with an escape technique towards Nanzhanbuzhou.

Yunxiao Xianzi asked softly, "Are you so attentive to Yunhua Xianzi's children because of the Jade Emperor's decree?"

"Not at all because of the Jade Emperor's wishes."

Li Changshou laughed lightly. At that moment, he and Yunxiao were seated on two meditation cushions under the shade of a tree, with a scholar by the river nearby scratching his head in frustration.

Li Changshou sighed softly, his eyes unusually warm as he whispered,

"I can't be tied to the Heavenly Court forever. Once it runs smoothly and the world returns to order, I'll retreat to the mountains. By then, I'll need a few successors to assist His Majesty the Jade Emperor in governing the Three Realms.

Yang Jian has a straightforward and resolute nature, with an unyielding Daoist heart. He's shown potential since he was young, making him the ideal candidate to take over from me.

If I had a choice, I wouldn't have left Xiaoqiong Peak in the first place..."

Yunxiao asked gently, "Is it because circumstances forced you?"

"It's more that I want a bit more stability," Li Changshou sighed. "Living in this world, we are inevitably manipulated by its forces. Though I wish to avoid the world and focus on cultivation, the grand trends are chaotic, and my cultivation isn't strong enough.

In the end, it's all about what to give up and what to gain.

Fortunately, I stepped out back then and saw the wonders of the Honghuang world, witnessed the true natures of beings behind those once-revered idols, and saw..."

Li Changshou paused, gazing into Yunxiao's eyes, and smiled. "I saw the joys and sorrows of the immortal on the clouds and how you, a senior expert, disrupt my thoughts and add to my worries."

Yunxiao looked away, lowering her head as she murmured, "Then I should visit you less, so I won't disrupt your mind..."

A finger extended from the side, stopping just inches from her lips.

The immortal followed the finger with her gaze and saw Li Changshou leaning towards her, his eyes clear yet full of warmth.

Yunxiao suddenly realized that his voice had unconsciously filled her mind, saying,

"My heart is moved, and I wish to savor these worries."

She didn't know what had come over her—her mind was a blank void, yet flashes of scenes crossed it, reflecting his face, his profile, his joys and sorrows...

"Yunxiao?"

Li Changshou called softly, his voice more gentle than ever.

For a moment, Yunxiao felt her Daoist heart growing hazy, lost in a way that didn't disrupt it, and she didn't resist—in fact, she wanted to sink deeper.

Even without worldly temptations, one could still lose control of their heart;

Even without desire, it was hard to refuse deep affection.

In her daze, she felt his face drawing closer, her Daoist heart light and ethereal yet faintly expectant, though the expectation carried a trace of unease she didn't want to let go.

Just as she was immersed in this wondrous state, before she could react, the distance between them was only a few inches.

This was...

"Water God, sir, I choose the third one!"

By the river, the scholar's soul gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and shouted with his eyes shut.

But then, he sensed something odd in the atmosphere and opened his eyes to find everything around him strangely blurred...

Under the tree, the scene froze instantly.

The scholar saw the Water God, who appeared as a young man, looking different now. He was leaning forward, upper body extended, towards the immortal...

Oh, they were very close.

The immortal, whose face the scholar had never clearly seen before, now revealed her true appearance—utterly peerless, cold and elegant, unmatched on earth or in heaven.

The problem was, the Water God and this immortal were so close, as if they were about to...

In the scholar's hometown dialect, it was called "da bo'er," in books it was "the rites of husband and wife," or sometimes "wu zha," but the scholar, well-read as he was, preferred the elegant term "eating rouge."

How refined, truly refined.

But... the atmosphere didn't seem right...

The scholar suddenly felt a surge of killing intent and yelled at the two figures frozen under the tree:

"This, this! I didn't see anything!"

Yunxiao's face flushed crimson in an instant, and with a flash of white light around her, she vanished without a trace.

Li Changshou calmly performed a gesture as if adjusting someone's hair, then smiled faintly and stood up, turning toward the scholar by the river.

"Decided? Heh."

The scholar's soul trembled slightly and hurried to say, "Water God, sir, it was purely an accident—I didn't mean to spy on you and the immortal..."

"No problem, no problem," Li Changshou said with a narrowed-eyed smile, stepping closer to the scholar's soul. "This is my fault too, getting carried away in broad daylight and affecting the decorum.

After all, I'm not some evil deity, so don't be afraid."

The scholar was on the verge of tears. Having been battered by life when alive, he could tell the Water God was on the edge of fury.

His legs went weak, and he knelt down, but Li Changshou pulled him up by the arm, summoned a cloud, and flew with him toward a nearby grand city.

The city was bustling and prosperous, with a great river flowing quietly beside it, and villages and towns dotted along its upper and lower reaches.

Li Changshou said with a smile, "Look, this is Place A, your first option."

The scholar blinked.

"But you didn't choose it."

Li Changshou spoke warmly, and the scholar's face fell, though he forced a smile.

Next, Li Changshou took the scholar to the northern border of Nanzhanbuzhou, to a second river.

The scenery there was exceptionally beautiful, with spirits abound nearby and many lovely female spirits playing in the water—it was truly a mortal paradise.

"Look, this is Place B, your second option."

The scholar gazed at the beautiful sights and muttered, "But I didn't choose it..."

Li Changshou continued with his narrowed-eyed smile, "Perhaps that's just fate and destiny. You missed this connection and lost these benefits.

After all, if you became the river god here, you might even develop wonderful friendships with many spirits."

The scholar clutched his chest and whispered, "You said you weren't angry..."

"Oh? Why would I be angry? Come on, I'll take you to Place C."

Soon after, Li Changshou brought the scholar near the capital of a merchant tribe, pointed to his forehead, and let him see the abundant destiny gathered there.

"This is Place C. It's a hub of human destiny. If you cultivate properly here, you might one day ascend to the immortal ranks and become an official deity."

The scholar was stunned and looked at Li Changshou with deep emotion, saying softly,

"Sir, your magnanimity is vaster than the ocean. I disrupted your moment, yet you still..."

Li Changshou kept his narrowed-eyed smile and slowly turned his head.

"But now, I've changed my mind."

"Huh?"

Thus, two hours later.

In a remote, winding mountain stream in the southeast of Nanzhanbuzhou, by a meandering little river and a few sparsely populated villages, a certain scholar stood blankly in the water.

The warmth from the thumb-sized seal in his hand couldn't warm his icy heart.

"From today, you are the river god of this river. Work hard to benefit the people, manage the waters, prevent disasters and droughts, and when your merits are complete, you can rise in rank."

Just then, the seal glowed faintly, forming a simple wooden bridge over the river and a tiny temple beneath it.

The new human river god stood there, tears streaming silently, sighing inwardly.

"After all, I'm not some evil deity."

Back in the Sea God Temple, Li Changshou's paper effigy had arrived and handed the jade talisman to Yu Ding Zhenren.

To make the exchange easier and avoid confusion, Li Changshou dismissed one paper effigy and smiled as he explained the battle methods in the talisman.

Yu Ding Zhenren said solemnly, "I don't know how to thank you, Shidi."

"Oh, it's nothing," Li Changshou waved it off with a laugh, but then he thought of what had just happened and couldn't help sighing deeply, lost in thought for a moment.

Truly, such moments were rare to come by.

The timing had to be right, the emotions in sync, the lighting harmonious, and there had to be a topic that touched both hearts—it was all about heaven's favor, earthly advantage, and human harmony.

Li Changshou hadn't planned it; he had just followed his feelings.

That guy had choice anxiety, so how could he just...!

What a person from the Ren School might call nonsense.

Yu Ding Zhenren asked, "Is something troubling you?"

"Ah, no," Li Changshou replied quickly. "I just parted from Yunxiao Xianzi and feel a bit reluctant. It's embarrassing for you to see this."

Yu Ding Zhenren smiled faintly. "I must say, I'm a little envious of you and Shijie Yunxiao. If two hearts are in harmony, they should enjoy life together."

"I'll take that as a good omen, Shixiong."

Li Changshou cupped his hands, his thoughts turning slightly, then sighed. "Shixiong, have you heard about the red lotus entering Yuxu Palace?"

Yu Ding Zhenren asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," Li Changshou frowned. "After erasing the remnant soul of Minghe Laozu, Shishu Tongtian wanted to use the red lotus to stabilize Jiejiao's destiny, but the red lotus couldn't handle it and shattered..."

"Oh?"

Yu Ding Zhenren pinched his fingers to calculate, then frowned in thought. "It seems the tribulation for Jiejiao is far greater than we imagined."

"I have the same feeling..."

Li Changshou changed the subject. "When the red lotus was destroyed by Minghe Laozu, it produced three lotus seeds. One is with Western Cult, and one with Jiejiao—I saw them both myself.

Shixiong, have you heard who took the third red lotus seed back then?"

Yu Ding Zhenren countered, "Are you suspecting someone tampered with it?"

"Exactly," Li Changshou said seriously. "We can't rule out that possibility. We still don't know who threw those lotus seeds into the Blood Sea."

Yu Ding Zhenren said gravely, "Those four experts who appeared that day?"

"I thought so too, but I have a vague feeling it's not them," Li Changshou stood and paced slowly. "This matter is crucial.

If someone deliberately arranged it and it's not an enemy we know, their intentions... we must be on guard."

"The great tribulation is a time of turmoil. You're right in the middle of the Three Teachings, so take good care of yourself."

Yu Ding Zhenren also stood and bowed to Li Changshou. "I'll head back now to teach Jian'er.

As for his parents' matter, should we proceed as originally planned?"

"Yes," Li Changshou replied seriously. "The future pillars of the Heavenly Court will rely on your guidance, Shixiong."

"Very well."

Yu Ding Zhenren nodded with a smile, tucked the jade talisman into his sleeve, bowed to Li Changshou, and rode a cloud away.

After seeing Yu Ding Zhenren off, Li Changshou stood quietly before Tongtian Jiaozhu's painting for a while.

The original holder of the third red lotus...

Various scenes flashed through Li Changshou's mind, with the words Chan and Jie swirling endlessly, but in the end, they only turned into a faint smile. His figure then vanished into the ground.

The Sea God Temple no longer needed his direct involvement; it had its own system for selecting and training divine messengers.

Xiong Lingli's father, Xiong Laosan, had gained considerable lifespan and was protected by merits, so Li Changshou didn't have to worry about the temple for now.

As for renaming the Sea God Temple...

Better not. In the blink of an eye, he would be promoted from Water God to Star Lord.

Once his merit body was complete, he could leave the Sea God Temple to the Dragon Clan.

Li Changshou's true body quietly returned to Xiaoqiong Peak, glanced at Ling'e meditating in the underground chamber, and went to the study to organize matters related to the "Xianmeng" and "Lintian Dian."

He lost track of time, and three or five days passed in a flash.

That day, his transmission jade talisman vibrated slightly. It was Bai Ze, following his instructions, reporting back safely from Lintian Dian.

—When Li Changshou left Biyou Palace, he had sent the great-winged golden peng back to the Heavenly Court Water God Mansion, while Bai Ze returned on his own to hide in the Three Thousand Worlds.

As an old auspicious beast, he was certainly skilled at finding his way.

Stretching lazily, Li Changshou's thoughts stirred, and he activated the small judge paper effigy in Fengdu City.

With his immortal sense sweeping over, he saw Ao Yi, Bian Zhuang, and Lingzhuzi still earnestly reciting scriptures there...

Bian Zhuang had made quite some progress.

To be safe, he should tell Lingzhuzi to leave temporarily;

Avoid too much contact with Ao Yi, so it wouldn't be harder if they truly became enemies later.

Just as Li Changshou was about to send a message with his immortal sense, he heard Bian Zhuang say,

"Big brother, third brother, after we finish superdeg this place, let's go somewhere fun for a few days to celebrate our sworn brotherhood!"

Ao Yi snorted, "Go to my home. Don't think about dragging third brother to yours!"

Bian Zhuang chuckled awkwardly, "Well, mine has more atmosphere, right, third brother?"

Lingzhuzi laughed naively beside them.

Third... brother?

Li Changshou stood on the dimly lit street of Fengdu City, his paper effigy covered in black lines, almost short-circuiting.

This...

What about Nezha's story?

Would there be a friendly spar with the Dragon Clan, replaying his own "peak duel" with Ao Yi before he became an immortal?

Forget it, whatever. He should think about early retirement and extricating himself.

Shaking his head, Li Changshou turned and floated away, his face full of resignation.

The cicadas chirped—

As dusk fell, a sturdy woodcutter carried a large bundle of firewood on his shoulder, with two wild game and an iron axe at his waist. He walked wearily to the riverbank and suddenly stopped.

"How did a wooden bridge appear here?"

The woodcutter chuckled, "This saves me a few steps."

With that, he stepped onto the bridge with a lively gait, but unwittingly, the iron axe at his waist slipped off.

"Oh no, my ancestral axe!"

The woodcutter shouted anxiously, dropped the firewood, and was about to strip and jump in.

At that moment!

The river glowed with golden light, and a handsome male deity in elegant robes slowly emerged, half his body out of the water, his left hand glowing gold and his right hand silver.

"Oh, foolish mortal, I am the local river god.

Do you want my left-hand gold axe, my right-hand silver axe, or this ancestral wooden axe of yours?"

The woodcutter paused, glanced at the gold axe and the silver axe, and swallowed hard.

"I want my ancestral one..."

"Heh," the river god said with a narrowed-eyed smile, and the three axes vanished from his hands. "I've changed my mind. This is your new axe."

A flash of white light landed steadily in the woodcutter's hand. He looked closely and saw it was a rotten piece of wood with a palm-sized stone tied to it with grass rope.

The woodcutter threw the stone axe away and dove into the river.

"River god, you son of a—give me back my ancestral axe!"

"Ahahaha, after all, we're not some evil deity."

And so, the river god and the woodcutter began a joyful and happy life together.