Chapter 131: You Were Always Handsome

Li Changshou had never imagined that the future Pure Yang Immortal, known for his romantic and passionate nature, was already taking root at this very moment.

Duke Dongmu’s visit this time was simply to express his gratitude to Li Changshou.

The moment they met in the Landscape Spirit Map, Duke Dongmu gasped out:"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, he… he smiled at me!"

Li Changshou’s heart skipped a beat; he thought one of his future powerful allies had suddenly encountered some trouble.

Afterward, Duke Dongmu sighed deeply and lamented how difficult his past tens of thousands of years had been. He was originally an ordinary immortal, but during the late stages of the Lich-Demon War, as humanity rose, he risked his life for the human race, accumulating significant merit and virtue. This led to his selection by a Saint to become the Duke of the East in the newly established Heavenly Court.

The Jade Emperor was once a servant boy before the Dao Ancestor, referring to several Saints as his elder martial brothers, and his own cultivation had never been revealed. How many lives would Duke Dongmu have dared to contend for power with the Jade Emperor? For so long, Duke Dongmu had been diligent and cautious, always on edge, never having a single day of peaceful rest… Although he didn't actually need to sleep.

A few days prior, Duke Dongmu had hastily married a female immortal he had known for a long time and asked the Jade Emperor to bestow a piece of calligraphy."His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s laughter was so hearty, so clear…"Duke Dongmu exhaled slowly, rose, and bowed to Li Changshou, saying, "I dare not speak of thanks for such great kindness. If you ever need my assistance, I will certainly do my utmost!"

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, then, still feeling uneasy, inquired about the details of Duke Dongmu’s previous actions. It was fortunate that he asked… Upon hearing Duke Dongmu declare, "I want them all," Li Changshou’s true form was almost overwhelmed with dismay.

"Fellow Daoist, excess is as bad as deficiency. A reputation for devotion is equally important. Today you married one immortaless; if another suitable match comes knocking tomorrow, will you accept her or not?"

Duke Dongmu chuckled, "Naturally, I’ll accept them all. The more, the more stable, right?"

"Then won’t the calligraphy bestowed by His Majesty the Jade Emperor become a joke?" Li Changshou sighed, "For you, fellow Daoist, being romantic is better than being promiscuous, and being devoted is better than being merely romantic… What you fear most is the Jade Emperor overthinking things, so why would you go to such unnecessary lengths and harm yourself like this?"

"This… this…" Duke Dongmu rose and paced back and forth, a troubled expression on his face. "What I thought at the time was that more people meant more stability."

"Stability isn't achieved this way," Li Changshou mused. "Fellow Daoist, this matter can still be remedied. However, this is the last time I will offer such advice on this matter. It’s also not appropriate for you and me to meet privately. Do you understand, fellow Daoist?"

"Of course," Duke Dongmu bowed in a Daoist manner, and Li Changshou returned the gesture.

At that moment, Li Changshou could only briefly outline Duke Dongmu’s future course of action. It was nothing more than establishing a devoted persona, ideally securing a title for his wife, and fabricating some romantic stories to circulate throughout the Heavenly Court.

Duke Dongmu, who had originally only cared about cultivation and assisting His Majesty the Jade Emperor, was now desperately absorbing the 'knowledge' from Li Changshou, his strategist. Gradually, Duke Dongmu began to… catch on. By the end, for every suggestion Li Changshou made, Duke Dongmu could extrapolate three more. Perhaps this was the innate talent of someone who was a previous incarnation of a certain Pure Yang Immortal…

"I forgot to inquire about who Duke Mu married at this time."

Inside the thatched hut, Li Changshou lifted the front of his Daoist robe, stood up from his meditation cushion, and stretched slightly. Then he continued his previous journey, heading towards his master’s thatched hut next door.

The single word 'emotion' could entangle one in so much karma… The dignified Duke Dongmu, a powerful immortal with real authority in the Heavenly Court, who had accumulated countless merits and was appointed by a Saint, was now anxious because of this word 'emotion'. Of course, most of Duke Dongmu’s anxiety stemmed from his own immense authority.

His own master, because of love, lost his foundation for becoming an immortal, and was now even more melancholy, staying indoors in his hut, disheartened.

How did Master… fall asleep again? Li Changshou dispelled the formation himself, cleared his throat, and called out to the hut, "Master, your disciple has an important matter to discuss with you."

"Oh?" Qi Yuan quickly opened the wooden door. Although he seemed full of spirit, his expression and gaze were still somewhat downcast. "Come in, what’s the important matter?"

"Master, do you know about the Three Sects Origin Assembly?" Li Changshou asked with a smile.

Qi Yuan finally showed a slight smile. Ling’e had already reported the good news of the sect’s grand competition, and with both his disciples showing such promise, he was genuinely happy as their master. Naturally, Qi Yuan also guessed that his junior disciple’s so-called six-level promotion probably meant he had revealed his cultivation level…

"Of course I know about this assembly, Master. Is it possible that an elder recommended Ling’e to participate as well?"

"Why would Ling’e go?" Li Changshou explained, "Master, attending that Three Sects Origin Assembly offers no benefits. Traveling back and forth on the cloud roads is tiring, and one might inadvertently stir up disputes or karma. It's truly not a good thing."

Qi Yuan frowned and said:"My disciple, you are good in every way, except for this: you always only see our Little Qiong Peak as a small patch of land. This is going to bring honor to the sect, to add luster to the Immortal Ascension Sect’s lineage! To be able to attend with the sect’s esteemed masters is a great honor; how can you talk about benefits?"

Li Changshou: "..."In any case, if an elder from the sect recommended Ling’e, he would simply feign illness at that time and have Ling’e stay to take care of him. Actually, the assembly was still far off; there was no definite date yet, probably another three to five decades away.

"Master, let’s not talk about that for now. Your disciple has a favor to ask today." Seeing his master about to start lecturing, Li Changshou quickly changed the subject and explained the matter to him in a hushed and detailed manner.

Half an hour later, the hut door opened, and two figures stepped out.Looking at the person on the left: With an ordinary slender build, an ordinarily handsome face, and ordinarily flowing long hair, it was, naturally, Li Changshou himself.The person on the right had a slightly shorter build, a middle-aged face, a somewhat dejected gaze, and persistent wrinkles on his brow… Old Daoist Qi Yuan had reverted to his middle-aged appearance and donned a light blue robe, looking somewhat more spirited.

Li Changshou’s ordinariness was actually a disguise, achieved with a five-part spell; Old Daoist Qi Yuan’s ordinariness, however, was ingrained in his very bones…

Li Changshou bowed in a Daoist manner and said, "I leave it to you, Master," and Old Daoist Qi Yuan… No, at this moment, he was Daoist Priest Qi Yuan!

Daoist Priest Qi Yuan managed a smile and headed directly towards the sect gate on his cloud, to handle the small task his disciple had entrusted to him. In his heart, his master was also recalling Li Changshou’s words just now…

‘Master, previously your disciple used your appearance to hunt demons outside with Martial Uncle Jiuwu, which might leave some hidden troubles. Therefore, when you go out, Master, you shouldn’t use your usual true appearance. Why don’t you revert to your middle-aged look, and carry this sachet that conceals your aura with you? That way, you’ll have nothing to worry about.’

Qi Yuan didn't think much of it, habitually doing as his disciple said. He rode his cloud out of the sect gate and headed towards Linhai Town, the nearest market town…

Li Changshou chuckled to himself. Such things, of course, couldn't be done within the sect; it would easily cause trouble.

Li Changshou first sent a message to Ling’e, instructing her to handle any outside visitors. Then he retreated to his secret room beneath the alchemy chamber, his consciousness distributed among three paper effigies.

One paper effigy, leading a troop of paper soldiers, tracked his master underground. When his master went out, security measures still needed to be taken.

Another paper effigy kept an eye on Elder Wan Linyun’s whereabouts. Li Changshou always felt that Elder Wan Linyun might encounter some setbacks on this trip.

The third paper effigy, naturally, hid inside the sachet in his master’s sleeve, clutching two pills and waiting for its moment to appear.

His master rode his cloud…'So slow.'Three days later, Daoist Priest Qi Yuan slowly descended at the north gate of Linhai Town, queuing to enter the city.

The paper effigy troop remained outside the Reverse Five Elements Grand Formation. Since there was already a 'human-shaped' paper effigy on his master, the troop would serve as backup.

As soon as his master entered the city, Li Changshou secretly began to scout for suitable candidates to 'encourage' his master. He didn't want his master to pursue new romantic relationships; he simply wanted his master to realize… that he was still very charming and could easily gain the favor of female cultivators.

Soon, Li Changshou discovered that the Reverse-Investigation Pill had been triggered, immediately locating the wisp of spiritual mist.'Why is it an old Daoist priest?'Li Changshou shook his head, letting the wisp of spiritual mist dissipate, and continued accompanying his master forward using the paper effigy. The pill’s effects were limited; he couldn’t waste them easily.

Daoist Priest Qi Yuan didn't think much of it and headed straight for the street where spiritual herbs and medicinal plants were sold.

After his master had walked about thirty zhang, Li Changshou finally detected the first person to probe his master with divine sense: a female Immortal of about twenty-four or twenty-five years old.'You’re the one, Big Sister.'

Inside the sachet, the paper effigy used its thin paper hands to release the restriction on the Spirit Pill Heart Fire.

Daoist Priest Qi Yuan had only walked fifteen steps when…"Fellow Daoist… could you please stop?""Hmm?"Daoist Priest Qi Yuan turned his head, frowned at the female Immortal who had called out to him, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist, what is your purpose?"

"You," the female Immortal blushed, covering her face with a handkerchief, and whispered, "Could you find a quiet place with me? There are some things I wish to tell you."

Qi Yuan visibly froze, and a sense of alarm instantly arose in his heart. "I have nothing to say to you, fellow Daoist." Having said that, he quickly strode forward.

"Fellow Daoist…"The female Immortal pursued him for two steps, then her mind momentarily cleared, and she broke free from the spell. She secretly found it strange and, seeing the images in her mind, quickly covered her face and left. Just now, Li Changshou had only unleashed the Heart Fire for an instant before sealing the spiritual pill again.

Qi Yuan had just walked a few steps when he heard a soft, whispered greeting from the side:"Fellow Daoist…"Qi Yuan turned to look and saw a valiant female Qi cultivator holding a long sword, cupping her hands in a respectful bow. She also said softly, "Would you mind joining me for a seat at the teahouse nearby?"

"Ah, I have important matters to attend to. My disciple at home is seriously injured and needs herbs. Apologies, apologies." Qi Yuan bowed in a Daoist manner and continued to walk quickly, but a sense of doubt arose in his heart. His appearance, his current dejected and melancholic aura… Was he really that popular?

However, rejecting two female cultivators’ invitations had already attracted considerable attention. Along the next hundred zhang of street, one graceful figure after another approached from the sides, front, and rear."Daoist Priest, where do you come from? Where are you going?""Fellow Daoist, please wait for me.""Fellow Daoist, why don’t you dare to look me in the eye?"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was utterly bewildered. He could only continue to refuse, eventually even covering his face and hurrying forward with his head down. What was wrong with this market town? He hadn't been out for a long time; had the customs of East Victory Divine Continent become so open-minded?

In the shadows, the paper effigy holding Li Changshou’s consciousness also metaphorically wiped 'sweat' from its brow.

"Hey! Fellow Daoist!"Suddenly, a rough voice called out, and a 'tower of iron' abruptly appeared before Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan looked up and saw a ten-foot-tall 'woman,' seemingly a body cultivator, whose arms were thicker than his waist. She was now glaring at him with eyes as large as copper bells."Let’s not beat around the bush; I fancy you. Come back to my cave dwelling and be my Dao companion!"

Qi Yuan frowned and hastily said, "Fellow Daoist, have you perhaps mistaken me for someone else?"

Li Changshou also frowned; he hadn’t 'ignited' this female Daoist at all… Li Changshou’s consciousness shifted to the paper effigy in the sachet, and his mouth twitched as he saw that the Spirit Pill Heart Fire in the paper effigy’s hand had actually… shattered!What was going on? It was perfectly intact just a moment ago! Had he perhaps opened and closed the restriction too many times, causing the pill's properties to become unstable and shatter directly? What were the consequences of a shattered pill? Generally, it seemed the medicinal properties would slightly burst forth…

Li Changshou’s immortal sense spread out, and his expression instantly changed drastically. He transmitted a message:"Master, hurry! Put the sachet into a storage artifact quickly!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly put the sachet from his sleeve into a storage artifact. At that moment, from within a hundred zhang radius, a chorus of sweet, melodious calls rang out, and dozens of figures simultaneously looked at Qi Yuan."Daoist Priest…""Fellow Daoist…""Fellow Daoist!"

An old Daoist priest with a righteous expression suddenly pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve at the street corner. "Fellow Daoist, would you mind if we became Dao companions and cultivated together—purely for cultivation, of course?"

Qi Yuan’s legs trembled…"You, you all don’t come closer!"Rumble—Suddenly, a series of muffled sounds came from the ground, and someone shouted:"Attention, fellow Daoists! The spirit beasts on Spirit Beast Street are rioting!"