In the alchemy room on Xiaoqiong Peak, Ling'e transformed into a wisp of green smoke and flew out from the corner. Before resuming her true form, she called out joyfully:
"Shixiong, when did you return? Why didn't you call me?"
Li Changshou, who was sitting in front of the dan furnace and pondering whether to refine a spiritual treasure dan furnace, paused at her words and asked curiously:
"You can tell at a glance that this is my true body?"
Ling'e blinked, a hint of nervousness in her eyes. She clasped her hands behind her back, her little finger twitching slightly, and whispered:
"Well... isn't it obvious?"
"It's not that..."
Li Changshou stroked his chin and pondered for a moment.
He had used a counterintuitive strategy, setting up several paper effigies around him and openly displaying his true body, disguised to look like one of the paper effigies. If enemies attacked, his true body could instantly shatter into pieces like a paper figure or hide in the ashes left after a paper effigy burned.
Although he had only returned a few days ago, and figures like Tu Laoda and Ta Ye hadn't been returned yet, having an extra layer of defense always added to his safety.
After all, the air here was that of the Honghuang world!
Li Changshou asked: "Ling'e, how did you recognize it?"
"This..."
Ling'e blinked again.
Could she say it out loud? If she revealed her techniques and methods, how would she tell the difference between the paper effigies and her shixiong's true body in the future? What if she messed up when trying to carry out some bold plans to deepen their bond?
"It's just a feeling, a general sense."
"Perhaps it's because we're so familiar with each other," Li Changshou said seriously, sniffing the air and shaking his head with a smile. "Well, it's a good thing you can recognize it. That way, you won't be easily deceived."
With that, he continued to ponder his new plan.
Ling'e patted her chest lightly and slowly approached him.
She wore a light pink robe that gradually faded to white, her fair neck glowing softly. Her delicate face, which had grown even more spirited with her cultivation, seemed as if it could be pinched to yield water.
After hesitating for a while, Ling'e mustered her courage and asked softly: "Shixiong, there's something... can I discuss it with you?"
Li Changshou laughed: "Just say it. Why do you need to ask for permission?"
"Well," Ling'e tiptoed a bit but couldn't get the words out right away.
Li Changshou teased her: "Is it that you want to go out for a stroll? While Shifu hasn't taken back those treasures, I can protect you if you want to go somewhere, but don't cause any trouble."
If she said yes, he'd have an excuse for copying the "Wen Zi Jing" three thousand times!
Ling'e quickly replied: "No, with the great calamity approaching, it's too unsafe to go out."
Good, that sounded just like him.
Li Changshou felt relieved and smiled: "Then what is it?"
"It's just that..."
Ling'e sighed lightly and decided to come clean.
Before she was brought to Duxianmen by her master, she had been the child of a wealthy family in the three thousand worlds. After entering the mountains for cultivation, like most Duxianmen disciples, she had cut off contact with her family.
Her family had many siblings and several aunts, with complicated relationships.
Because of that, her parents didn't expect her to return for filial duties, so she hadn't gone back. But a few years ago, she received a family letter and learned that a distant cousin of hers had also entered an immortal sect. Due to her outstanding talent, the cousin had achieved the True Immortal realm...
At this point, Li Changshou laughed: "That's great news. Your relative has attained the immortal fruit, so you can have another close friend on the path of cultivation."
Ling'e's face darkened, and she muttered: "Don't mention it. My cousin has a problematic personality. Ever since we were young, she bullied me a lot—stealing my food, splashing water on my new dress, and even rallying other kids to keep me from playing with them! Hmph!"
Li Changshou's mouth twitched slightly.
The shadows of childhood were truly not to be underestimated.
Ling'e sighed again: "Duxianmen's rules require the elders to visit disciples' families periodically. My cultivation here is already known to them. My cousin reached out to me a few years ago, probably because she's doing well—she's formed a dao companion bond with the young master of a major force in the three thousand worlds and has become a named disciple under a Jie Jiao immortal.
"I never replied to her, but last month, she sent someone with a jade talisman, saying she wants to visit me at Duxianmen."
She paused, her lips pursing in frustration: "I think she's just coming to show off and see if I'm doing worse than her."
"Don't speculate about others like that, especially a cousin with some family ties," Li Changshou said seriously. "With Shifu gone, we're relying on each other. You're the one in charge of Xiaoqiong Peak now, so you don't really need to ask me about these things. It's a rare opportunity for your family to visit. When are they coming?"
"Probably in the next three to five days," Ling'e said uneasily. "Shixiong, I don't want them to disturb you..."
Li Changshou said warmly: "It's fine. You can handle this completely on your own. If you want to see them, let them in. If not, go to the sect leader and have them turned away discreetly. Don't forget, you're now a named disciple of the Taiqing Saint."
Ling'e hesitated for a while before saying: "How about I host them at Hei Chi Peak?"
This girl might complain, but she was probably happy deep down.
Though they were childhood rivals, there was still a blood connection. If they could keep in touch, it might be a good thing.
Li Changshou had always worried that Ling'e, cooped up in the mountains, might lose her lively spirit.
In the beginning, when they had little strength, fewer friends meant fewer disasters. But now, while he would continue to follow the "Wen Zi Jing," Ling'e didn't have to.
The potential disruptions she could cause were fully under his control.
So, for her, making more friends was a good idea.
Li Changshou advised: "To be safe, host them at Hei Chi Peak. I'll seal off the various areas of Xiaoqiong Peak later and ask Tu Laoda and the others to stay a few more days. Remember to have Lingli prepare some rare spirit beasts in advance. You could also ask the Jiuzi generation uncles for help with arrangements, or invite Liu Yanshi and the others to join. And don't forget to call Uncle Jiuyu Shi for some lively company—she's always in closed cultivation and rarely goes out."
"Understood!" Ling'e said, her hands fluttering at her sides like little wings, and she chirped happily: "Thank you, Shixiong."
"Go ahead and get busy," Li Changshou said with a smile and a shake of his head.
If he kept nagging, he'd turn into a fussy old daoist.
Ling'e added: "I'll make some pastries and fruit soup and bring them over later."
With that, she hummed a tune and rode the clouds out of the alchemy room.
Li Changshou quickly refined a furnace of sixth-grade spirit pills to restore vital energy, just to keep his refining skills sharp. He extinguished the furnace fire and spread his immortal sense throughout the sect, glancing at the various scenes on Xianlin Peak before directing it toward Dan Ding Peak.
Elder Wan had been in seclusion since his tribulation, so it wasn't the right time to congratulate him.
Li Changshou asked in his heart: "Ta Ye, when do you want to return to Shifu's side?"
Two spiritual senses responded at once.
"Actually, if the master doesn't call, we could just stay with you—it's fine," Ta Ye replied calmly.
But the Taiji Tu said: "Your cultivation and dao realm aren't complete yet, so it's not good to rely on us too much."
"That's right," Li Changshou agreed. "Let me check everything first. After Ling'e's relatives leave, I'll send you all back to Taiqing Temple."
The treasures fell silent.
They knew their young disciple's temperament—he was thorough, valued his life above all, and stuck to the principle of stability in everything!
But being this cautious was beyond what they expected.
Ling'e's cousin, the daughter-in-law of an immortal path force in the three thousand worlds, who had probably bought her way into being a Jie Jiao named disciple...
Did they really need the Taiji Tu, Xuanhuang Ta, Qiankun Chi, and Yan Guang Qi to be on full alert?
Ta Ye muttered: "Once we go back, the master will probably seal us away casually. It's more relaxing with you, young disciple. How did you do it, by the way? You had Yunxiao completely smitten, almost... heh-heh-heh. Teach us a few tricks? Maybe I can get closer to Sister Jindou."
The Qiankun Chi retorted: "You old flirt!"
The Taiji Tu added: "So improper!"
Li Changshou: ...
He wasn't very familiar with how spiritual treasures made friends, and besides, he had no knowledge from his previous life on this front.
From what he knew of Yunxiao's personality, after missing that great opportunity, she'd probably avoid him for decades or even centuries!
That meddlesome blabbermouth!
With a soft sigh, Li Changshou listened to the treasures criticizing Ta Ye's impropriety. He went outside to a rocking chair and relaxed with his eyes closed.
Back in the Heavenly Court, he saw the Golden-Winged Great Peng training the soldiers and generals of the Water God Mansion, and Li Changshou nodded in satisfaction.
That was a mature magic treasure—with a sense of responsibility.
He instructed someone to prepare a small courtyard as a residence for Lingzhuzi upon his return.
As for the "Three Immortal Guests of the Heavenly Court," whether they went to the Dragon Palace for a celebration or to the Tianya Pavilion for some indulgence, Li Changshou didn't care.
With Ao Yi watching, Lingzhuzi wouldn't cause real trouble.
As for Bian Zhuang... well, he was going to be the second shixiong's man, so suppressing his nature too much wasn't ideal.
Hmm, but if he dared cause chaos in the Heavenly Court, he'd deal with him swiftly!
Li Changshou's eyes flickered slightly as he opened them, and in the Youming Realm, Bian Zhuang, who was chanting spells, suddenly shivered and glanced around weakly...
The Water God Mansion was gradually filling up, from Lingzhuzi and Jin Peng to Youqin Xuanya, giving it the feel of a "second Xiaoqiong Peak."
Lately, Li Changshou had been thinking of chatting with the "Super Heavenly Soldier" Youqin Xuanya. It wasn't for any particular reason—just to check on his fellow disciple.
But Youqin Xuanya was either in seclusion or out slaying demons.
Her reputation was growing, with other heavenly generals recording her demon-slaying exploits on shadow orbs and projecting them across the Five Parts Continents on the Heavenly Court's large bronze mirrors...
This was boosting the Heavenly Court's soft power.
Longji had been keeping a low profile lately, saying she wanted to seclude herself to grow up and shed her girlish appearance.
This left Li Changshou's prepared boxes of "strategy exercises" gathering dust.
The Heavenly Court was now on the right track, with rapid development everywhere.
The once barren cloud seas and immortal mountains were now bustling with immortals, full of vitality.
Suddenly, on Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou heard Ling'e's voice transmission:
"Shixiong, my cousin and her group are here. You can keep busy—I’ll handle them."
Li Changshou shifted his mind back to his true body. His immortal sense had already noticed the dozen or so figures at the mountain gate, though he hadn't paid much attention earlier.
A magnificent carriage hovered on the cloud path, with a fairly handsome young daoist inside, at the early Tianxian realm with a somewhat unstable foundation. He was gazing affectionately at the woman beside him.
Next to the young daoist sat a veiled and attractive female immortal, who must be Ling'e's cousin.
Were they here to ask Ling'e for help? It didn't seem so—otherwise, they wouldn't stay in the carriage, and the woman had an air of arrogance...
Li Changshou figured it out.
After a moment's thought, he left a trace of his mind on Ling'e and asked Ta Ye and Qi Yi to keep an eye on things, then stopped paying attention.
His mind returned to the Heavenly Court, and his paper effigy rode the clouds to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
As planned, he went to report to the Jade Emperor on the follow-up of the Honglian matter.
Upon hearing that the Honglian had shattered, the Jade Emperor frowned and asked: "Is the corruption in Jie Jiao this severe?"
After pondering, he added: "You should keep an eye on this, Changgeng. I know you don't want the Dao Sect to lose too much strength, but selecting proper gods for the Heavenly Court is no small matter."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Li Changshou bowed and said seriously: "Apart from a few Jie Jiao senior disciples whom the minor gods don't want to see harmed, I won't let personal feelings interfere with the Heavenly Dao's operations."
"Of course, I trust you," the white-robed Jade Emperor said warmly. "When the Zixiao Palace convenes, the great calamity should become clearer. By the way, Changgeng, would you like to go with me to the Zixiao Palace?"
"I would be honored," Li Changshou replied after a moment's thought, "but... my teacher wants me to accompany him there."
The Jade Emperor laughed: "That's fine. We're both going to the Zixiao Palace—surely I can't compete with Taiqing Shixiong for you?"
Li Changshou bowed his head: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."
"Besides, I couldn't win anyway," the Jade Emperor sighed, then asked about any interesting events from Li Changshou's assistance in the Blood Sea, where Jie Jiao seized the Honglian.
Li Changshou organized his thoughts and shared some details the Jade Emperor didn't know, from the events in the Shura ancient city.
He recounted:
The Lunhui Ta decided not to fight, and the three Jie Jiao seniors sought the lotus.
But the mirage qi was hard to find, and their dao hearts fell into peril in dreams.
The Shura princess struck with a sword, and Laojun's green ox pondered mortal matters.
The Honglian returned to Biyou, but the teacher found it incomplete.
The Jade Emperor listened and sighed deeply, commenting that the Minghe Ancestor was reckless, while the Shura princess showed true loyalty.
He then asked Li Changshou if he should acknowledge the green ox's mortal inclinations—perhaps grant it a title or a plaque for "the chastity of the green ox."
Li Changshou quickly dissuaded him, saying it wasn't necessary.
The green ox matter should be kept low-key, as no one could predict how it would develop.
Just thinking about the Duojiao Great King and the Niu Mowang, who might not be the same ox, made Li Changshou faintly anticipate the story of Ah Niu and Ah Shan.
In the Lingxiao Hall, after chatting with the Jade Emperor for a while, Li Changshou received a task:
"Changgeng, Yunhua seems a bit down lately. Go check on her for me."
Li Changshou agreed and headed toward the Yao Pond on his clouds, wondering if Yunhua Xianzi was missing Yang Jian and Yang Chan.
Unlike the stories he knew, Yunhua Xianzi wasn't imprisoned under Peach Mountain.
At the edge of the Yao Pond stood eight mountains, seven arranged in the Beidou Seven Stars formation, guarding the mountain that held Yunhua Xianzi.
To avoid rumors that might hinder Yang Jian's growth, Li Changshou usually stayed away.
This time, with the Jade Emperor's order, he went to visit Yunhua Xianzi to get a sense of the situation—it was another card in his hand regarding Yang Jian.
As he flew near the Yao Pond on his clouds, he encountered more xianzi than thirty years ago.
Everyone in the Heavenly Court recognized the Water God, and upon seeing Li Changshou, they all bowed in greeting, their expressions tinged with amusement.
When he reached the area where Yunhua Xianzi was held, Li Changshou didn't enter. He just glanced at the setup from the entrance.
Inside, the mountain had been hollowed out into a small cave heaven paradise, with jade trees, golden platforms, and fragrant chambers. The "ruthlessly" imprisoned Yunhua Xianzi could move freely within, with no restrictions on her, and even had six attendants to serve her—they could play the zither or flute when idle.
As for the imprisonment...
Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Yunhua Xianzi about Yang Jian and Yang Chan's recent situation, then flicked his dust whisk and said seriously to the heavenly soldiers and generals at the entrance:
"You must guard this place strictly and stay vigilant!"
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers and generals bowed their heads in response.
Li Changshou nodded in satisfaction and left on his clouds before Yunhua Xianzi could rush out of her pavilion, heading back to the Water God Mansion.
Midway, a flicker in his spiritual sense caught his attention—he heard an intriguing term: Shiji Niangniang.
Li Changshou sorted through the information his immortal sense had captured, and some images surfaced in his mind: the scene that had just unfolded on Hei Chi Peak...
By the pond, several low tables were set up, with a small channel dug nearby to mimic the flowing wine game, and musical instruments placed not far away.
Ling'e was the host, with Jiuyu Shi as her companion, while the visiting couple sat opposite, holding hands and being affectionate.
—At that moment, Ling'e had disguised her appearance to look more ordinary and used the "Pingxi Guiqi Jue" to conceal her cultivation, showing only the True Immortal realm to match her cousin.
He heard the veiled female immortal say softly:
"...I was fortunate to become a named disciple of Shiji Niangniang, though she only taught me some dao methods. It's given me a proper background. E, why don't you come back with me? We're sisters and the only family we have—let's walk the cultivation path together. I'll ensure you have plenty of pills and spirit stones, and I can find you a good dao companion to support your practice. Staying here as a mere disciple, sigh, it's hard to stand out."
Jiuyu Shi lowered her head to suppress a laugh, while Ling'e's face was a picture of awkwardness.
In front of the alchemy room, Li Changshou thought it over and slowly stood up.
He decided to play it safe, minimizing any exposure, and pulled out a "treasure" he had never used before—one that was actually unnecessary: his appearance.
As a shixiong, he needed to stand up for his shimei and back her up!
Who did they think they were, trying to lure away his Ling'e?
Li Changshou smirked, turned to the corner of the alchemy room, removed his dao robe, and took out a long-sealed wooden box.
Time to don the battle robe!
What robe? A white brocade with gold patterns and embroidered cranes, standing collar!
What boots? Warm jade-threaded black cloud-stepping boots!
He couldn't skip the rings and belt, nor the flowing cloud hair tie. A spiritual treasure jade gourd hung at his waist for decoration, and his sleeves were tied symmetrically without a flaw.
He took a acquired spiritual treasure ring for storage, infused it with a bit of merit to turn it into an acquired merit spiritual treasure. The faint glow it emitted was just to show that this was an ordinary household storage item.
Dropping three layers of his usual disguise except for his appearance, Li Changshou stepped out of the alchemy room. He adjusted his displayed cultivation to the late Tianxian realm and calmly headed toward Hei Chi Peak.
The Water God was coming to support Ling'e!
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