Chapter 156: Long Geng's First Performance

"Big Brother Cult Master, I've reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm!"

"Oh? Has the Dragon King bloodline awakened? Your cultivation is progressing so quickly."

In the main temple of the Sea God Cult in Anshui City, the divine thoughts of two statues intertwined, exchanging pleasantries.

Before the Spirit Immortals Sect's group was about to depart, Li Changshou summoned Ao Yi again to inquire about the Dragon race's situation.

As soon as Ao Yi saw Li Changshou, he excitedly announced his cultivation progress, mentioning that his master had performed a 'Daigo灌顶' (enlightenment ritual) for him, which made Li Changshou sigh with emotion.

It was bad enough that he was a 'winner in life' among dragons; he was also cheating his way to higher levels!

Li Changshou chuckled, "I've read in the Human Cult's scriptures that 'Daigo灌顶' merely enlightens disciples. One's own realm, however, must progress naturally and steadily; it cannot be forced. Of course, you are from the Jie Cult, and your philosophy differs from ours in the Human Cult, so you don't need to pay too much attention to my words."

Ao Yi's face became serious, and he bowed respectfully, "The Cult Master's teaching is correct. I will certainly pay more attention."

Following this, Li Changshou discussed major developments within the cult with Ao Yi and asked a few questions about the Dragon race's situation.

The unrest among the sea tribes in the Four Seas still hadn't subsided. The Dragon race had not yet acted harshly against the sea tribes who had followed them for countless years. The Dragon race knew who was stirring up trouble behind the scenes. However, the Dragon race had nowhere to seek justice; they could only continue to appease, suppress, and appease again.

Li Changshou said, "Recently, I've also been thinking of a method beneficial to the Dragon race, but it's just a vague idea at the moment, far from taking shape."

Ao Yi's spirits lifted, and he eagerly asked, "Has... the higher-ups given a hint?"

"Indeed, my master mentioned it," Li Changshou mused for a few moments, deliberately showing a hint of difficulty. "Don't rush. Wait until I've thoroughly considered this matter before I tell you, Brother Yi."

"Thank you, Big Brother Cult Master!" Ao Yi looked ashamed, bowed again, and his youthful face was filled with gratitude.

The Human race truly is a wondrous race. There are those cold-faced, ruthless old Daoists, and then there's Big Brother Cult Master, a dignified, elegant, gentle, valiant, and kind gentleman. Perhaps this is the demeanor befitting the protagonists of heaven and earth!

Li Changshou asked, "Did your master perform the 'Daigo灌顶' for you so that you would also attend the Three Cults Origin Convention?"

"Yes!" Ao Yi nodded emphatically and, without hesitation, revealed that his master, the Great Immortal Wuyun, had bestowed upon him a jade tortoise shell, empowering him to represent the Great Immortal Wuyun fully.

Li Changshou immediately noted this down and casually asked, "Are many seniors from Jin'ao Island attending this convention?"

Ao Yi's expression immediately became a bit strange, but he still replied, "Originally, only about twelve or thirteen senior uncles and brothers were going to attend this convention. However, before this, Senior Uncle Zhao, the chief disciple of the outer sect, visited Jin'ao Island and instructed our fellow cultivators on the island to send more people to the Three Cults Origin Convention to enhance the prestige of the three cults. Now, it's estimated that three or four hundred immortals from the island will be heading to Central Divine Continent together. And as far as I know, six of the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns of the island will be going!"

Li Changshou...

Is this going to be... an intercontinental brawl? Come to think of it, he received instructions from the Saint Lord to rush to the Three Cults Origin Convention. Surely his own Saint wouldn't send a young disciple, barely two hundred years old and lacking ambition... to mediate a fight between the Chan and Jie Cults? That's definitely impossible! How wise is the Saint Lord? How could he do something like this...? *Hiss*, it's truly hard to say. He still needed to prepare a few escape routes. If the situation turned sour, he'd immediately seize the opportunity to slip away.

Ao Yi added, "Moreover, I heard from a senior uncle that Senior Uncle Zhao also visited other immortal islands in the Five Continents, such as Penglai and the Nine Dragons Islands, and recruited many well-known ancient masters from the cult."

Hearing this, Li Changshou couldn't help but rub his forehead and sigh, "Shouldn't this convention be a gathering of the immortal sects of the Three Cults in Central Divine Continent? The immortal islands of the Jie Cult are the source of the Jie Cult's Dao, with numerous disciples registered under the Saint Lord, so why..."

Ao Yi chuckled, "We're not entirely sure about the specifics, but it's definitely going to be very lively!"

Lively? It would indeed be very lively. Such a scene involuntarily appeared in Li Changshou's mind: The immortal sects of the Three Cults gather; a few Da Luo and Golden Immortals from the Chan Cult's Jade Void Palace arrive with a dozen or so immortals to observe the ceremony, while in contrast, the immortals from the Jie Cult's various islands are a vast, overwhelming crowd...

Seeing this, the Chan Cult immediately pulled out their communication jade talismans and started summoning reinforcements. 'Senior Brother Guangchengzi! There are too many people from their Jie Cult! Please summon all Twelve Golden Immortals, and if that's not enough, invite Yunzhongzi, Immortal Lord Antarctic, and Vice Cult Master Randeng to come as well! Remember to bring treasures and formation diagrams!'

If they disagreed even slightly, the probability of the two sides fighting was truly too high. Their Human Cult couldn't compare to either side at all; at most, there would be two or three people, not even on the same scale.

Li Changshou groaned inwardly twice, his heart once again filled with worry and unease about the path ahead.

He should prepare a few more escape methods.

Even at this moment, with the Spirit Immortals Sect's group about to depart, Li Changshou still couldn't fathom what his Saint intended for him to do at this Three Cults Convention.

Li Changshou gave Ao Yi a few more instructions regarding the South Sea Sea God Cult, and then their divine sense communication ceased.

Breaking free from the dream he had constructed, Li Changshou slowly opened his eyes and saw his master and junior sister walking together outside the alchemy room.

*Dong—*

The bell of the Hundred Affairs Hall rang out just then. Li Changshou lifted the hem of his Daoist robe, stood up, and bowed to his master.

"Master, your disciple will now depart with the sect for Central Divine Continent."

Old Daoist Qiyuan admonished, "Do not stir up trouble. Remember to offer more ideas for the sect and fulfill your responsibilities as the leader."

"Your disciple obeys," Li Changshou said with a smile, stepped outside, and a white cloud gradually formed beneath his feet.

Li Changshou looked at his junior sister and added,

"Ling'e, cultivate steadily in the mountains and don't cause trouble for Master. Always remember to keep the treasure pouch I gave you on your person. If you encounter trouble on the peak, go to Elixir Cauldron Peak and seek Elder Wan Linyun."

"I've noted it," Ling'e pursed her lips and nodded, softly saying, "Senior Brother... please take care. When you return..."

Li Changshou calmly said, "One hundred times."

Ling'e immediately recalled the contents of the 'Scripture of Stability': 'When you return, we will...' was one of the ten forbidden phrases.

Ling'e pouted and reluctantly answered.

"Mm," Li Changshou smiled and gave a shallow Daoist bow, and Ling'e quickly lowered her head to return the gesture.

Then, Li Changshou said to Old Daoist Qiyuan, who was chuckling, completely unaware of what was happening but very happy:

"Master, your disciple is leaving now."

"Go, go," Qiyuan waved his hand. Li Changshou moved back several zhang on his cloud before turning and flying towards Sky-Breaking Peak.

Beside Sky-Breaking Peak, a magnificent spiritual treasure ship, a hundred zhang long and dozens of zhang high, adorned in gold and jade, had been suspended for several days.

Beneath this treasure ship was a flat stone slab inscribed with several formations, and within it were numerous restrictions.

Although such a massive treasure ship was costly, the Spirit Immortals Sect could afford to build it.

However, this magical treasure was a 'spirit stone pulverizer', consuming over a hundred spirit stones on average for every thousand *li* flown.

Had it not been for such an important event, the elders would have been reluctant to use this treasure ship.

When assembling at the Hundred Affairs Hall, Li Changshou naturally stood in a corner, hiding behind the three statues of anonymous righteous individuals, attracting no one's attention.

Half an hour later, Sect Master Ji Wuyou, along with two Grand Elders, and twelve Heavenly Immortal Realm elders including Immortal Lord Wangqing, led thirty-six True Immortal Realm sect deacons and forty-eight disciples aboard the treasure ship.

Afterwards, the light barrier of the mountain-protecting array slowly descended. The treasure ship, enveloped in several layers of light walls, flew towards the western sky at a considerable speed.

Once the treasure ship had flown away, the mountain-protecting array closed again. Elder Qi Ling, a Golden Immortal, and several Grand Elders who remained in the sect, each revealed their own aura.

Until the Sect Master and others returned, they would remain on alert and not continue their secluded cultivation.

There were many rooms on the treasure ship, but they were all reserved for the Sect Master and elders.

After the treasure ship flew out of Spirit Immortals Sect, Sect Master Wuyou Daoist coughed while smiling and said,

"No need to be too constrained. Being at ease and spontaneous... *cough, cough*... that's the way of our Human Cult."

After speaking, the Sect Master went to the luxurious suite on the top deck of the treasure ship, leaving a group of disciples and sect members on the ship's main deck.

Li Changshou familiarly greeted his 'half-familiar' fellow disciples, hung several detection stones in inconspicuous corners of the treasure ship, and found a quiet spot on the aft deck to quietly sit in meditation with closed eyes.

He appeared to be diligently cultivating, but in reality, he had already begun using his immortal sense to monitor various areas.

Incidentally, Li Changshou rechecked the eight new-model paper effigies that were already in place.

Two new-model 'Human' character paper effigies, unharmed; six original 'Human' character paper effigies serving as reserve combat power, unharmed; new-model 'Earth' character paper effigies, unharmed...

After about half an hour, Li Changshou finally finished checking all the placed paper effigies. He then diverted most of his attention to the paper effigy beneath the Sea God Temple in Anshui City.

This Heavenly Immortal-level paper effigy appeared in the main temple's backyard and went to a secluded pavilion guarded by several divine envoys.

Of course, he wasn't keeping a concubine hidden here; if he were, his main body should be present...

*Cough*, back to business.

Based on the patterns he had summarized, Li Changshou estimated that Duke Dongmu would soon reappear.

"I'll lay the groundwork for this matter first, to avoid being flustered later."

Li Changshou took out an exquisite magical silk scroll and, in the upper right corner, penned a 'Memorial' character in seal script.

Then, starting a new vertical line, he wrote 'Changgeng, Minor Deity of the South Sea' below. And again, starting another vertical line, he wrote 'For His Majesty the Jade Emperor' above.

After these three lines were written, he cut to the chase:

Your Majesty's decree has not yet been issued, and this humble deity should not submit a memorial. I humbly beg for forgiveness. However, this humble deity has been restless recently, unable to find peace of mind, and there is a matter that must be reported to Your Majesty as soon as possible, hence this transgression.

Recently, there has been much unrest in the Four Seas, with sea tribes rebelling everywhere. The Four Dragon Palaces are overwhelmed, and marine creatures have suffered heavy casualties. This humble deity coincidentally learned that after this incident, others are plotting to force the Dragon race into Western Continent, causing me deep unease.

If the Dragon race enters Western Continent, a great power will rise outside the Daoist Sects, and the rise of the Heavenly Court will be far from imminent. The Four Seas are crucial lands of the Three Realms. The marine creatures are countless, and the Dragon race's and sea tribes' naval forces are mighty and not to be underestimated. The Dragon race, a great ancient race, despite their heavenly and earthly sins and their current decline, their destiny is not yet exhausted, and there are many experts within their clan.

If the Dragon race could serve in the Heavenly Court, submit to Your Majesty's authority, obey Your Majesty's commands, and abide by the Heavenly Court's rules, then the Four Seas would entirely belong to the Heavenly Court—this is the first benefit. If Your Majesty grants merit as remuneration, allowing the Dragon race to obey Your Majesty's orders, control the matters of clouds and rain, and govern the rivers, lakes, and seas of the Southern Jambudvipa, then the Heavenly Court's might would be spread in Southern Jambudvipa, its virtue displayed, and its foundation strengthened—this is the second benefit. The Three Thousand Worlds also belong to the Three Realms and should be under Your Majesty's control. The Dragon race has naval forces stationed throughout the Three Thousand Worlds. If the Dragon race is obtained, then ten percent of the achievements in the Three Thousand Worlds could be accomplished—this is the third benefit.

This humble deity is of shallow insight and can only perceive these three benefits...

Li Changshou suddenly stopped writing. This white-haired paper effigy closed its eyes, and most of its consciousness returned to the main body.

On the treasure ship, someone came looking for him.

It wasn't just one person; Yuqin Xuanya was walking in front, with Wang Qi and Liu Yan'er behind her.

Li Changshou rose to greet them and asked, "Junior Sister Yuqin, is there something important?"

Yuqin Xuanya gazed at Li Changshou and softly said, "There's nothing specific. Xuanya didn't know where to go, so I came to find Senior Brother."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, not complaining too much inwardly.

For no other reason than his increasing poison resistance.

Instead, Wang Qi and Liu Yan'er hadn't come for small talk; Wang Qi had an important matter and sought Li Changshou's help.

"It's like this, Senior Brother Changshou..."

Wang Qi raised a hand and rubbed his nose, slightly embarrassed, and whispered, "One of my senior uncles... has a friend, also from our sect, who wants to request an elixir refined by Senior Brother."

Li Changshou blinked at Wang Qi, who, with a sincere look, added, "Of course, we wouldn't let Senior Brother Changshou refine it for free."

"Well," Li Changshou was about to reply when he suddenly felt something.

That Duke Dongmu had reappeared in the familiar small temple.

His timing was quite coincidental.

Li Changshou had to multitask: half his mind focused on the major affairs of the Three Realms, with the paper effigy quickly finishing the 'memorial' he was composing;

And the other half attended to his fellow junior brother's 'minor marital troubles,' giving Wang Qi a slight smile and taking out two jars of Dragon Venom Wine.

"Junior Brother, why don't you... have your senior uncle's friend try this medicated wine first. If your senior uncle's friend's cultivation isn't high, don't drink too much each time; a small cup will show results. And... it's best to use it back home."

Junior Brother Qiqi pondered for a moment, took the Dragon Venom Wine, and thanked him with a hint of guilt. Liu Yan'er, meanwhile, looked away, her cheeks flushed.

Li Changshou reiterated, "Remember, use it back home."

Wang Qi nodded repeatedly, saying he definitely would.