Chapter 145: Stability Gate Four Books Sea God Soldier Record Furry Edition

That night, Jiu Jiu left Little Qiong Peak, whimpering softly behind her hands and clutching her collar as she flew away on a large gourd.

Soon after, Jiu Wu, Jiu Shi, and Youqin Xuan Ya also bid farewell, careful not to disturb the rare peace on Little Qiong Peak.

Temporarily, Little Qiong Peak's residents grew from three master and disciples to four.

The moon lit the clear lake waters, and the night breeze carried the scent of dawn.

In front of the thatched hut, Ling'e placed two meditation cushions, and she sat with her senior brother.

Lin Jiang Sanren, Jiang Lin'er, petite and curled up in an armchair, kept her fierce blade close. She held a wine pot, taking sips now and then. She made sure not to get drunk, quickly expelling the alcohol's effects to maintain a degree of sobriety, savoring only a pleasant buzz.

With no outsiders present, Jiang Lin'er asked Old Daoist Qiyuan how he had managed to achieve 'shedding the mortal coil' and become a Turbid Immortal.

Qiyuan glanced at his eldest disciple and murmured:

“It was an Immortal Assimilation Pill that Changshou got from Elder Wan.”

Jiang Lin'er said with a knowing, half-smile, “That Elder Wan certainly helped our Little Qiong Peak a great deal, didn't he?”

Old Daoist Qiyuan nodded, replying, “Master, you're right. That Elder Wan didn't even say a word to this disciple…”

Jiang Lin'er couldn't help but raise her hand and lightly swat Old Daoist Qiyuan's forehead, gritting her teeth and chiding him for his lack of understanding:

“Why didn't I beat some sense into you back then! You just believe everything you're told!”

Old Daoist Qiyuan immediately gave a bitter smile and sighed, “Master, this disciple is merely a Turbid Immortal now. Changshou and Ling'e, I raised them both myself. Of course, I have to believe what they say.”

The small hand continued to tap his forehead, but Jiang Lin'er didn't use force. Though Old Daoist Qiyuan felt a bit awkward, a smile twinkled in his eyes. It was like an elderly mortal finding happiness in being scolded or lightly struck by their old mother; Qiyuan, in that moment, was actually quite happy.

Jiang Lin'er continued to lecture him:

“So you're a Turbid Immortal, what's there to be glum about? Your aptitude was never as good as mine to begin with, and your chances of becoming a Heavenly Immortal were always minuscule. Isn't it just as carefree and enjoyable to live a long life as a True Immortal on the Earthly Immortal path? Jiang Yu didn't want to see you and left to wander. I, her master, am not worried, so why are you? Do you want me to spank you again?!”

“Master, I… This disciple will heed your words.”

Beside them, Li Changshou whispered a few words to Ling'e through spiritual transmission.

Ling'e took out the 'Fighting Great Gods' card game and smiled, “Grand-Master, would you like to play this little game with us?”

“Oh? What is this?”

“Grand-Master, you'll understand once you see it…”

Soon, the master and disciples in front of the thatched hut began their 'Great God' battle. Jiang Lin'er visibly relaxed, and Qiyuan even laughed out loud, a rare occurrence. Amidst the fun, Jiang Lin'er also started sharing some life observations, which were actually subtle ways of comforting Old Daoist Qiyuan.

For instance—

“Second disciple, I've walked many paths and understood many truths, yet I still can't live a truly carefree life. Why? Because of worries and attachments. Everyone has attachments; without them, one wouldn't be human, but truly heartless and emotionless. It's fine to have worries in your heart, and it's fine to be attached to your senior sister, but don't fall too deeply. Since you've attained the Earthly Immortal path and have a long lifespan, just take your time.”

Old Daoist Qiyuan sighed softly and nodded, taking his master's admonitions to heart.

Seeing this, Li Changshou felt that the elixirs he had offered his grand-master were well worth it.

While Jiang Lin'er was on Little Qiong Peak, Li Changshou didn't retreat to his underground secret chamber. He decided that for these two weeks, with his 'flat-chested, ill-tempered little grand-master' back on the mountain, he would spend time with his 'lonely old master' and 'budding junior sister'.

He accompanied his master fishing for the spirit fish he raised in the lake, and took his grand-master on a tour of Little Qiong Peak's scenic illusion array. He and his junior sister personally butchered a few fattened spirit beasts, set up a mahjong table in front of the elixir chamber, and brought out his 'Primordial Era Mahjong' – the 'Divine Bird Tiles' – which he hadn't yet introduced to his junior sister.

Naturally, Li Changshou also maintained his vigilance over Xianlin Peak.

As for whether Xianlin Peak would retaliate later…

Li Changshou had already prepared countermeasures when he eliminated Daoist Kuaisi. However, the worst-case scenario he had anticipated hadn't happened then. But now, with his grand-master's sudden return and her venting frustrations on Xianlin Peak, Li Changshou's prepared contingency plans seemed to have found their purpose.

Now, Xianlin Peak's resentment was entirely focused on his grand-master. Later, when his grand-master left the mountain gate and continued to wander aimlessly… cough, roam… the Three Thousand Worlds, this naturally had its disadvantages, but also its advantages.

The disadvantage was that Xianlin Peak would, to some extent, transfer some of their resentment onto the three master and disciples. The advantage was that with his grand-master, a 'combat-oriented' Heavenly Immortal, acting as a deterrent, Xianlin Peak would undoubtedly exercise greater caution.

Of course, for Li Changshou, the greatest benefit was that if he wanted to eliminate this hidden danger in the future, his paper effigies could simulate his grand-master's aura and appearance. As for how to respond later, and what level of response to employ, it would all depend on Xianlin Peak's reactions. Their fate was in their own hands; Li Changshou was merely making a few extra preparations.

Deep within the convergence zone of the East and South Seas lay Golden Ao Island, the renowned Daoist training ground of the Jie Sect. Today, Golden Ao Island was quite bustling. It was time for the Golden Immortals to deliver their sermons again, and it was rumored that even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal would appear. All the Qi Refiners on the island gathered near the halls. There, the spirited Heavenly Sovereign Qin Wan had set up a simple interlocking array and was explaining its intricacies to his fellow Daoists.

By the treasure pond, beneath the jade tree. As a gentle breeze blew, the wide sleeves of the young dragon prince's blue robe swayed softly, his hair gently brushing against his small horns. Beside him, Hanzhi knelt on a meditation cushion, continuously grinding ink for him. To the left of the desk, bamboo slips were piled, but the characters within them were already firmly etched in Ao Yi's mind. On the golden cloth spread out on the desk, lines of elegant small characters represented the fruit of Ao Yi's efforts during this period.

The tactical theories and ideas summarized from 'Twenty-Six Steps to Repel the Enemy' and 'The Twenty-Seventh Step: The Ash-Scattering Chapter' were now, under Ao Yi's pen, transforming into clear and organized military tactics. As the sun set in the west, the sounds of sermons drifted faintly across Golden Ao Island. The girl grinding ink nearby had also been called by a familiar senior sister to listen to the sermon in front of the hall. Only Ao Yi remained motionless, meticulously pondering each sentence and writing each word.

Finally, when only the last ray of sunset remained over the sea, Ao Yi slowly exhaled and set down his brush and ink.

The Sea God's Military Record was complete!

Ao Yi read it through several times, an irrepressible smile spreading across his lips, and his clear, gleaming eyes filled with deep joy.

‘The Human Sect's military strategy is truly brilliant. My Dragon Race has accumulated countless years of experience, yet we uniquely lack military strategies that prioritize stability. I wonder if that Senior Grand Master Xuandu will approve of this.’

Thinking of this, Ao Yi couldn't suppress his excitement. He closed his eyes and focused, painstakingly sending out his divine sense through his own idol to connect with the main idol nearby.

A moment later, in Anshui City, within the main hall of the continually expanding Sea God Temple, the two idols began their… cough, spiritual communication again. Li Changshou, who was currently accompanying his master fishing on a boat, closed his eyes and entered a dream, using his idol to construct a dream realm and drawing Ao Yi's spiritual essence into it.

In a trance, Ao Yi saw Li Changshou standing at the foot of the idol and immediately smiled, hurrying forward to greet him.

“Brother Sect Master, have you been well lately?”

“Cultivating at home, I am naturally well.”

Li Changshou and Ao Yi exchanged a Daoist bow. Ao Yi immediately spoke words of gratitude, which Li Changshou merely humored. However, Li Changshou had already given Ao Yi a significant degree of trust, even if it was only ten out of a hundred points.

“Sect Master, I have recently compiled those twenty-six strategies for repelling the enemy into a military treatise. Recently, my Dragon Race has a celebration, so I was thinking, could I present this military treatise to my father, the King, as a gift from our Sea God Sect?”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said, “Please recite the military treatise you have compiled.”

“This matter doesn't need to ask Grand…” Ao Yi gestured upwards.

“No need,” Li Changshou smiled. “This time, because your Dragon Race repelled the enemy without harming mortals, I can now fully handle some minor matters.” Now, he finally didn't have to speak in riddles and leave the other party to guess. Li Changshou could directly tell Ao Yi that there was indeed someone backing him, someone the Dragon Race had even met before. Now, he was bluffing by divine decree!

Ao Yi smiled happily and recited the military treatise he had written. Li Changshou listened carefully for a while, finding that Ao Yi had only grasped a superficial understanding from it. So, he readily agreed and, incidentally, gave Ao Yi a few pointers.

After a year of deduction and analysis, Li Changshou had already concluded that the Dragon Race could not defeat the Western Sect. It depended on how determined the Western Sect was and what price they were willing to pay to subdue the Dragon Race for their own use. Li Changshou had the advantage of foresight and an intuitive understanding of the Western Sect's development strategy. The two Sages of the Western Sect were now single-mindedly poaching talents to the West, strengthening the Western Sect's power, then using that power to gain fortune, thus causing the Western Sect to prosper greatly. The Western Sect would certainly not let go of the Dragon Race, this lucrative prize. If the Dragon Race's combat strength could be stronger, they could cause more trouble for the Western Sect later, depleting more of their power. This would benefit the Dao Sect, the Heavenly Court, and Li Changshou himself. Incidentally, if the Dragon Race could hold on longer, Li Changshou would also have more time to plan for their integration into the Heavenly Court. In this matter, he could play both sides, both completing the task given by the Sage and earning merit with the Jade Emperor, accumulating some capital for his future paper effigies to ascend to the heavens. During the year he spent in the underground secret chamber, Li Changshou had been calculating all this.

Ao Yi said, “Then, Brother Changshou, I will present this military treatise to my father, the King!”

“Mm,” Li Changshou nodded gently and smiled, “Later, I will place a congratulatory letter at the usual spot, as a congratulatory gift for the Dragon Race in the name of the Sea God. Remember to send someone to retrieve it.”

Hearing this, Ao Yi immediately beamed with joy, nodding continuously. Li Changshou then reminded Ao Yi a few more times that he must absolutely not expose the Sea God's identity. The senior figure above was very concerned about this matter. After all, the Human Sect advocated purity and non-action; scheming for such a small amount of merit would be laughed at. A Sage's reputation was no small matter. Ao Yi repeatedly affirmed and reiterated the oath he had made back then.

Just before Ao Yi left, Li Changshou pondered for a moment longer and entrusted him with a task to handle personally. Ao Yi nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Leaving the dream, Ao Yi sat behind his desk in a daze for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.

Brother Changshou, truly… cares so much for the Dragon Race! To have such a confidant in life, my heart is content! Ao Yi secretly thought to himself:

‘From now on, my treasures shall be Brother Changshou's treasures! My merits shall be Brother Changshou's merits! My Dao-companion shall be! Uh, Brother Changshou's junior sister…’

Picking up his brush again, Ao Yi spread out the military treatise he had written, marked the places Li Changshou had pointed out, and decided to reorganize it again tomorrow for its final completion. What truly pleased Ao Yi was that, due to the influence of the Sea God Sect, the Dragon Race's general atmosphere was quietly changing. Although the change wasn't too obvious at the moment, it was truly happening.

Meanwhile, on Little Qiong Peak.

Li Changshou opened his eyes and continued fishing from the bamboo raft. Thinking of the Dragon Race's future situation, and the several possible directions for the Western Sect's next move, he secretly thought to himself… What a pity.

Half a month quickly passed. Jiang Lin'er's eyes held a hint of reluctance, but she still told Qiyuan that she would be leaving again, just as she had planned. Afterward, Jiang Lin'er went to the Hall of Hundred Mortals to report to the sect that she would be leaving tomorrow. Disciples like her, who had already cultivated to the Heavenly Immortal realm and wished to venture out, would not be hindered by the sect. Unlike her last departure from the mountain, Jiang Lin'er's combat power was now highly valued by the higher-ups of the Immortal Du Sect. They gave her three communication talismans, with the understanding that she would be recalled if anything important happened within the sect. Jiang Lin'er naturally agreed immediately, even adding that if she encountered powerful enemies, she could bring some fellow Daoists back to the mountain to assist. She acted completely like a bandit king.

On the night before Jiang Lin'er's departure, Jiu Wu and Jiu Jiu came to see her off, resulting in another boisterous feast. But after Jiu Jiu fled in a hurry and Jiu Wu bid farewell, another 'distinguished guest' arrived, one Li Changshou hadn't even considered.

It was Venerable Oblivion, a peak Heavenly Immortal realm master within the sect.