Chapter 593: Danger · Longevity · Danger

"Why haven't my younger brother and second sister returned? Could they have run into some trouble?"

Although there had been the passing of Taiqing Shengren and Bai Ze's classic interpretations earlier, Zhao Gongming still felt somewhat uneasy.

Moreover, at that moment...

As an uncle, his intuition was very strong.

Was the Chaos Sea a good place to go? If they wanted a chance to be alone, couldn't they just find some beautiful spot in the three thousand worlds of the Honghuang realm? Wouldn't that be more appealing?

Now, out of contact were his closest younger brother and his sworn sister, with whom he had been bonded since ancient times.

If he didn't go to help, who else could assist his gentle and lovely second sister and her honest brother-in-law?

After all, he had never had such a kindred spirit of a good brother, who had broadened his horizons and increased his knowledge, elevating him from an ordinary outer disciple senior brother of Jie Jiao to a figure with personality in the Honghuang ancestral realm.

Zhao Gongming pondered in his heart that if Xuan Du City received news and the Chaos Sea needed help, he would ride the Jinpeng Bird and rush there with lightning speed.

But what was the situation in Xuan Du City?

His senior brother Xuan Du and Kong Xuan chatted and laughed there every day!

Anyone with eyes could see that Ren Jiao was about to form a marriage alliance with the Feng Clan!

The Jinpeng Bird was a straightforward fool, stubbornly staying in Xuan Du City as a "watchstone," but Zhao Gongming, as someone who had been through it, couldn't go and disrupt that atmosphere.

Therefore, after leaving Xuan Du City earlier, he wandered in the nearest great thousand world, found a scenic spot, built a hut, and spread his Dao rhyme far and wide, making sure others knew he was there.

It was a bit regrettable that Jinling Shengmu had returned to Bi You Palace for cultivation and wasn't openly staying with him here.

Regarding his successful union with Jinling Shengmu, Elder Zhao had always wanted to host a proper event to collect back some of the gifts he had given out since ancient times.

But from Jinling Shengmu's perspective, it seemed they could just keep their companionship in secret and not make their Dao companion bond public.

It must be stated here that there was nothing improper about this; Jinling Shengmu simply couldn't bring herself to face it openly.

Absolutely no side stories!

Zhao Gongming could only go along with it and didn't dare say more.

Without Jinling by his side for these twenty or thirty years, Elder Zhao felt a bit empty and lonely, but as an ancient being, he could just stare at the sky or gaze at the lake for a while, and time would pass in a flash.

He waited left and right, receiving a greeting from Bai Ze, a message from Taiyi Zhenren, a reminder from senior brother Duobao, and finally that voice...

"Big brother."

"Cough!"

Zhao Gongming nearly choked, his legs trembling slightly. He quickly stood up from where he was fishing by the lake and hurriedly stuffed the scrolls in front of him into his storage treasure.

A flash of golden light appeared—it was the Jinpeng Bird speeding over, with two figures standing on it.

Zhao Gongming looked closely—who else could it be but the two he had been waiting for news about?

Something's wrong...

Why was his second sister wearing his younger brother's Dao robe? And it looked like it had been carefully tailored?

Uh, were these two alone and that destructive to clothing?

But then, Zhao Gongming furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and had his twenty-four Dinghai God Pearls circle around him as he warily looked toward the Jinpeng Bird.

"Hold on, don't come any closer yet."

Li Changshou blinked, and Yunxiao also looked puzzled.

"Old brother, what's going on?"

"Are you really Changgeng?"

Zhao Gongming frowned and said, "Tell me, when we first met back then, why did I go looking for you?"

"The matter of incense offerings."

Li Changshou answered casually, and seeing Zhao Gongming's reaction, he felt a slight sense of unease in his heart.

After returning to Xuan Du City, he had only briefly met the great mage and Kong Xuan before sensing Zhao Gongming's aura and coming straight here.

—After all, just before returning, he had seen a tragic scene involving Zhao Gongming in that wisp of Hongmong Purple Qi.

At that moment, Li Changshou had only activated the paper effigy in the Tai Bai Palace to confirm that Ling E was safe and sound, without yet checking other places.

Seeing Zhao Gongming's reaction, could it be that someone had caused trouble while he was away?

Li Changshou's thoughts raced, and he quickly added, "The spring flowers and autumn moon painting you were just viewing is the one hundred and sixty-second I gave you, with the theme of crabapple blossoms in the rain, mainly composed of..."

"Enough! Enough!"

Zhao Gongming shouted loudly, "I know it's really you, my younger brother! Don't go on with that nonsense about crabapple blossoms."

On the Jinpeng's back, Yunxiao Immortal turned her gaze elsewhere. The slight furrow in her brow, the hint of a helpless smile, and the faint blush on her cheeks all indicated...

She had just used her immortal sense to see the content of the painting.

Those two were up to no good.

Li Changshou smiled calmly; such minor schemes were insignificant. He quickly asked, "Old brother, when did you become so cautious? Has something happened?"

"This," Zhao Gongming waved his sleeve, stood with his hands behind his back, and the thatched hut and fence behind him dispersed in the wind.

He said, "You two just got back? Take a rest first. It's not a big deal."

"But someone impersonated me?"

"That's right," Zhao Gongming sighed, "This matter is a long story. You went to the Chaos Sea to hunt Kunpeng and haven't shown yourself for years, so Heaven has lost some of its composure.

Especially in the last ten-plus years, Heaven's days haven't been easy.

By the way, what happened to Kunpeng?"

"I didn't fail the mission," Li Changshou pondered for a moment, "Jinpeng, return to Heaven at full speed."

The Jinpeng Bird responded firmly, "This disciple obeys!"

"Old brother, you chat with Yun first. I'll use my effigy to check things out," Li Changshou said with a dark expression as he sat down cross-legged.

In the Chaos Sea, he had completely lost contact with the Honghuang realm. His biggest worry was Ling E's safety, followed by whether Western Cult would attack Heaven at this time.

And now, it seemed Western Cult had indeed made a move.

As expected, Western Cult never disappointed when it came to causing trouble.

Meanwhile, at the city wall of Xuan Du City.

Two rocking chairs, spaced less than a foot apart, gently swayed. The great mage stretched lazily, pillowing his arms as he gazed at the chaos of the Chaos Sea.

Beside the great mage, Kong Xuan, dressed in a thin gauze skirt accompanied by multicolored immortal light, held a book in one hand, quietly reading.

The two didn't talk much, but their companionship was quite harmonious, giving a sense of natural ease.

Kong Xuan seemed to think of something, put down the book, turned sideways to face the great mage, and asked softly:

"Just now, when Changgeng and Yunxiao appeared together, did you notice anything odd?"

"Hmm?" The great mage was startled, "What's wrong? Is there something off about them? I wouldn't mistake their Daos, so don't overthink it."

"I'm not saying they're impostors," Kong Xuan said lightly, "Weren't you the one who went to Taiqing Temple to ask the Saint before? What did the Saint say that time?"

"Teacher said that my junior brother and Yunxiao are fine, currently in Kunpeng's secret place in the Chaos Sea, and Kunpeng was subdued early on."

"Counting carefully, that's already over thirty years."

Kong Xuan lowered her voice, her red lips pursed slightly, and flames of gossip burned in her phoenix eyes as she said softly:

"But when I saw them just now, their auras were clearly distinct, their Dao rhymes hadn't merged, one was still intact, and the other was still in a state of isolated yang.

No matter how high their cultivation, this is something I couldn't miss.

Is that normal?"

"This... is it not normal?"

The great mage frowned and asked in return, pondering it carefully and indeed feeling something was amiss.

The great mage murmured, "Changgeng and Yunxiao have deep feelings and have been together for so long. In such a secluded place in the Chaos Sea for over thirty years, yet nothing happened.

That can't be right..."

"Or not?"

"No, Changgeng knows everything, right?"

The great mage shook his head and laughed, "Don't forget, Changgeng is the ambassador for promoting Dao companion customs in Jie Jiao, who single-handedly facilitated hundreds of Dao companion pairs in Jie Jiao.

If anyone in the three teachings knows about matters between men and women, it's definitely Changgeng."

"Some people talk a good game, sounding like experts on some Dao," Kong Xuan curled her lips, "But when it comes to themselves, they freeze up and just stare, unable to do anything."

The great mage frowned, "Hmm? I feel like you're implying something, pointing at the mulberry and scolding the locust."

"Was I?"

Kong Xuan smiled with narrowed eyes and said no more.

She shifted from lying sideways back to sitting, and under the thin gauze, her captivating curves were highlighted by the array wall's glow, looking incredibly alluring.

The great mage cleared his throat and continued to pillow his arms while staring at the Chaos Sea.

After some time, the great mage sighed softly and said in a low voice:

"Emptiness and illusion, only the Dao endures."

Kong Xuan's fingers, turning the pages, paused slightly, a hint of helplessness flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she wasn't in a hurry, just quietly sitting beside him.

It wasn't until Li Changshou's paper effigy patrolled and nearly made him curse out loud.

Was there no one else in Heaven to take charge besides him?

Western Cult really knew how to seize opportunities!

Not to mention the situation in the three thousand worlds, where the Immortal Alliance was suppressed everywhere;

Just in the five continents, as Li Changshou's divine sense jumped through the paper effigy network, he saw scene after scene.

Heaven's five great heavenly gates were tightly closed, and the areas where immortal soldiers were stationed had been reduced by half.

In the Northern Continent, war had broken out again, with the demon clan and witch clan facing off, both suffering casualties;

In the Central Divine Continent, blood energy soared everywhere. In the half hour his immortal sense searched back and forth, two major immortal sects of the three teachings had clashed, with disciples of Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao hiding in the shadows.

In the Four Seas, conflicts between the dragon clan and sea clan had been stirred up again, with dead fish and shrimp floating on the borders of the North Sea and East Sea, clearly the aftermath of a great battle.

Even the Sea God Cult, which he had let grow freely for years, had half of its temples smashed, and Western Cult's incense offerings had revived.

How many years had it been?

Just thirty-five years!

If he and Yunxiao had stayed outside for three or five hundred years, would all the good situations he had worked so hard to build be destroyed?

Li Changshou suppressed his anger and quickly thought of countermeasures.

Venting emotions wouldn't change anything. Now, he needed to figure out the losses everywhere, boost morale, gradually reclaim the "lost ground," and suppress Western Cult's momentum.

On the Jinpeng's back, Li Changshou opened his eyes and forced a somewhat ugly smile.

"Old brother, someone impersonated me before?"

"Ah," Zhao Gongming immediately said, "There were three instances of impersonation.

The first was over ten years ago. You appeared in the Northern Continent, inviting the witch clan's shamans to join forces with the heavenly soldiers and generals against the demons at the border, but it led them into a demon trap, causing massive casualties among the witch clan.

The second and third were in the three thousand worlds. The second targeted the Immortal Alliance, resulting in a major defeat with heavy losses.

The third targeted the heavenly soldiers and generals delivering spirit stones and immortal elixirs to the Immortal Alliance. The heavenly general at the time, Bian Zhuang, the deputy commander of the Tianhe Water Army, saw through the scheme, but they still suffered heavy casualties.

After that, senior brother Duobao ordered the immortals of Jie Jiao to spread messages everywhere, saying you hadn't returned from beyond the heavens and to strictly investigate anyone impersonating you."

"What did the impersonator look like?"

"It was the elderly appearance you often show."

Li Changshou nodded slowly, furrowed his brow in thought for a while, and said, "This is actually a good thing."

Zhao Gongming and Yunxiao were puzzled. Yunxiao asked in confusion, "How is this a good thing? According to Honghuang rules, the one impersonating you is already a mortal enemy to us.

We can't take this lightly."

"Um," Li Changshou smiled, "I won't take it lightly, but for someone to impersonate me and deceive the witch clan's great shamans and the Immortal Alliance's deputy leaders, they must have imitated my Dao rhyme and aura perfectly.

This person is likely quite powerful with impressive divine abilities. Once news of my return spreads, they'll definitely go into hiding."

Zhao Gongming asked, "Could they have infiltrated Heaven?"

"Heaven is guarded by the three divine swords and is the place with the densest heavenly way power, so there won't be any issues."

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said, "Later, I'll go to the underworld for a visit and find out who it is. That Ting Shen Beast can't just freeload on heavenly way protection.

Let's not dwell on that for now. Old brother, have you felt any restlessness lately, like wanting to go out and travel?"

Zhao Gongming blinked, "No, I've been quite settled lately and just want to find a place to sleep."

Li Changshou and Yunxiao exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting with perfect understanding.

Yunxiao said, "Big brother, would you be willing to listen to my advice?"

"Of course," Zhao Gongming sat up straight, legs crossed, and said righteously, puffing out his chest, "Second sister, go ahead, and I'll follow your orders!"

Li Changshou: ...

Why did that sound a bit off?

Yunxiao said, "It's nothing much, I just want you and Jinling Shengmu to move to San Xian Island.

After I go back, when the time is right, I'll send out invitations to disciples inside and outside for lectures and discussions. You and Jinling Shengmu can just stay on the island.

You don't need to stay long, just until after the Feng Shen calamity."

Zhao Gongming frowned and pondered for a while, looked at Yunxiao, then at Li Changshou, and asked in a low voice:

"Second sister, are you implying that I might face trouble later?"

Yunxiao nodded slightly, and Li Changshou said nothing.

Zhao Gongming thought for a moment and smiled with a carefree air, "Forget moving there. Jinling might find it difficult, and besides, I'm not a child who needs watching.

Second sister, don't worry. I'll just go into seclusion in Luofu Cave for cultivation and ignore all external matters. How about that?

If calamity comes, you can't hide from it, and breaking through isn't just talk.

Second sister..."

"Hmm?"

Zhao Gongming laughed, "If I really have a great calamity and can't avoid it, don't act too impulsively and get caught in the calamity's flow.

Leave everything to Changgeng; discuss all matters with him."

A hint of a smile appeared in Li Changshou's eyes as he nodded slowly.

But because of his special identity as the main calamity figure, even here and now, he couldn't say another word.

Yunxiao's gaze was a bit complex, but she didn't persuade further, just reminded Zhao Gongming not to act rashly in anything.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly.

Everyone said such nice things—one advising the other not to be impulsive, another telling this one not to be reckless—but when it came down to it, they'd probably all lose their heads.

It was still best for him, the "outsider," to handle this.

The message carried by that wisp of Hongmong Purple Qi was just a segment of a scene, something that might happen in the future or that the heavenly way would guide toward.

As for the rest, arranging an "effigy to undergo the calamity" for Elder Zhao was theoretically possible.

In the original Feng Shen calamity, Zhao Gongming went down the mountain into calamity because the Ten Absolutes Array was broken one after another, and several of the Ten Heavenly Lords died—they were his good friends.

Now, the Ten Heavenly Lords' great array had probably become the Ten Absolutes Linked Array of Destroying Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang...

Cough, that had nothing to do with him. Back then, he had only given the concept of a linked array, and the Ten Heavenly Lords had developed it themselves, even demonstrating it on Jin'ao Island last time.

Now, the trigger for Elder Zhao's entry into calamity might no longer be the Ten Heavenly Lords.

What exactly would happen to put Zhao Gongming in such dire straits, severely injured and fighting desperately?

This was truly hard to fathom.

The final three teachings' killing immortals calamity of the Feng Shen event suddenly felt imminent.

The Jinpeng Bird sped along, shooting from the direction of Xuan Du City toward the five continents.

Li Changshou quickly returned to the topic, chatting casually with Zhao Gongming to ease the worry in his eyes.

Yunxiao also had her own concerns, worrying about her brother's calamity, but she didn't mention it much to Li Changshou, as if she wanted to think of a way herself.

On the way back, Li Changshou wasn't idle.

His paper effigies began to be active in Heaven, first going to seek an audience with the Jade Emperor, then learning from Mu Gong about recent events;

He didn't forget to send a message to Ling E saying he was back, delighting her so much she spun in circles.

Fortunately, Mu Gong was still there and hadn't reincarnated as that Chunyang Daoist.

From Mu Gong, Li Changshou heard about a series of fierce offensives from Western Cult, from the three thousand worlds to the five continents. Heaven had lost quite a few soldiers, but it wasn't crippling.

On the other hand, the Jade Emperor smiled and said, "Western Cult's eagerness to act is only natural, Changgeng, you might not know."

"Your Majesty, what happened?"

The Jade Emperor sat on the jade steps and laughed, "When you... cough, when you charged into Kunpeng's mouth to break him from within in Xuan Du City, Western Cult's two Saints appeared to stop Tongtian Shibo from killing Kunpeng.

Tongtian Shibo fought them in the Chaos Sea and ended in a draw, with no losses on either side.

But when the three Saints appeared in Xuan Du City and were about to return to the Honghuang, Taiqing Shige suddenly showed up, seriously injuring Jiyin Shengren with one palm and wiping out two-tenths of Zhunti Shengren's cultivation.

In the realm of Saints, Zhunti was already the sixth Saint, and now his position is probably precarious.

Ha ha ha!"

Mu Gong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, don't laugh so obviously."

"Was I?" The Jade Emperor pursed his lips, "It feels so satisfying."

Li Changshou showed a look of realization and pondered carefully, continuing to inquire about follow-up matters with Mu Gong.

Even before returning to Heaven, his paper effigies had started managing various affairs, first stabilizing Heaven inside and out, then appropriately counterattacking Western Cult.

The situation in the three thousand worlds was the real trouble and would require a lot of effort later.

And that mastermind impersonating him would be his next whetstone; he had to seize this and pull out the whole rat's tail!

—This has no intention of belittling senior brother Duobao.

However, what Li Changshou truly didn't expect was that just as he was working hard for Heaven, arranging everything to turn the tide, his true body sat on the Jinpeng's back with Yunxiao Immortal and Elder Zhao, entering the five continents...

His Dao heart trembled slightly, his heartstrings vibrated, and a few large characters formed in his mind, not from Taiqing Dao rhyme.

Ninety-eight percent, come quickly to Zixiao Palace!

Think about how to explain losing the Hongmong Purple Qi!

Ah, it really came.