Chapter 169: The Primordial Chaos Is Too Complex, The Road Is Obstructed and Slippery

Elder Zhao's continued antics of faking accidents are making things quite difficult.

Corrupting the customs of Jie Teaching and even the entire Daoist sect is a minor concern. But what if, during the Investiture of the Gods calamity, Zhao Gongming aids the Ten Heavenly Lords, defeats Guangcheng Zi, Chijing Zi, and Daoxing Tianzun consecutively, then captures them and throws them into the Ten Absolute Array?

"Hmph, how ruthless you are! The Three Teachings are originally one family, I showed mercy to you at every turn, yet you want to put me to death! This injury won't heal for several Yuan Huis. Come on, let's go to Yu Xu Palace to find Second Martial Uncle!"

And then Qiongxiao helps by crying a few times from the side...

Wouldn't that just throw everything into utter chaos?

Li Changshou raised a hand to his forehead, letting out a soft groan.

Fortunately, the Investiture of the Gods list hasn't been finalized yet, and the Sage Lord hasn't signed it, so this hasn't yet incurred any significant karma.

What could he do about this situation?

Vast as the Primordial World is, if the Sage Lords don't intervene, who can possibly control Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiao Sisters?

Variables are already emerging on Jie Teaching's side; surely he didn't also have to help the Chan Teaching grandees expand their tactical strategies? That, of course, was a joke. He was too busy avoiding these matters; how could he dare to get involved?

But this Elder Zhao...

He couldn't make an enemy of him, nor did he dare to associate too closely. As for the Three Xiao Maidens, needless to say, these ruthless individuals who dared to act against the Sage Lords, although loyal and valuing relationships, ultimately lacked a certain amount of karmic merit.

Li Changshou gave a wry smile, and a 'ding' sound went off in his mind as he secretly narrated to himself:

"Would you like to activate the 'Save the Three Xiao Sisters' side quest? Mission rewards: the Hunyuan Golden Dou, the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, and the Three Xiao Sisters' favor. Mission failure penalty: turning to ashes."

"No, ten thousand times no, thank you."

*Sigh...*

He wondered when His Majesty the Jade Emperor's decree would be finalized. Currently, the Heavenly Court's operational efficiency was truly too slow due to the scarcity of proper gods.

Only with that decree could Li Changshou gain the Heavenly Dao's recognition and officially become the 'Sea God'.

The Sea God of the South Sea should be a proper divine position, and it would also be Li Changshou's first life-saving talisman during the coming Investiture of the Gods calamity.

Then, carried on the wind, he heard chanting in a strange accent:

"Heaven and Earth's true law, virtue as its core..."

At the Three Teachings Origin Conference, several Golden Immortal realm Daoists were seated in the small lake, taking turns to expound on the Great Dao of the Three Teachings.

Li Changshou, however, didn't quite dare to listen, fearing that if something resonated within him, it wouldn't be good.

It seemed the Three Teachings Origin Conference would continue for quite some time.

The matter of Fa Ye's birdcages had seemingly concluded, as the 'final' two were directly destroyed by Li Changshou, turned to ashes on the spot.

But Li Changshou's follow-up work did not stop.

After Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao departed from the Sea God Temple;

Li Changshou went to thank Sect Master Ji Wuyou, and voluntarily disclosed that Senior Yun Zhongzi had given him many treasures from the treasure vase...

Ji Wuyou, being merely a nominal sect master of a major teaching and minor sect, naturally wouldn't covet the treasures of a junior disciple like him.

Though, he was rather envious.

Ji Wuyou didn't forget to admonish Li Changshou, while coughing, that treasures were ultimately external things, and one's own cultivation was the true foundation.

Li Changshou repeatedly agreed.

Among the spiritual treasures given by Senior Yun Zhongzi were defensive items like immortal robes and boots, as well as some jewelry like jade pendants and necklaces, all styled for men.

Among these, there was a spiritual treasure-grade imitation Judge's Brush. Its power was quite remarkable, and it provided a good amplification for Li Changshou's main combat divine ability, "Writing Scripture into Law."

Li Changshou was quite fond of this imitation Judge's Brush and adopted it as his primary weapon.

Products from Yun Zhong are always exquisite!

The treasure that could be called a Post-natal Spiritual Treasure was a small pagoda. This pagoda had the power to capture individuals and suppress demons, and could also be used as a blunt weapon to strike people.

Li Changshou considered that equipping his paper effigies with Post-natal Spiritual Treasures at this moment would still be too luxurious...

It wouldn't be too late to equip his paper effigy army once he acquired more Post-natal Spiritual Treasures.

"Cousin, I've finished reading."

Xiong Lingli, who was meditating on a 'cushion' nearby, dutifully replied and presented the bamboo scroll in her hand to Li Changshou.

Li Changshou smiled and gave Xiong Lingli a calming and hunger-sating pill. He transmitted his voice, "Bear with it a little while here. Once the conference is over, I'll let you eat your fill."

"It's alright, Cousin, Lingli isn't hungry."

Xiong Lingli popped the pill into her mouth, said weakly, and couldn't help but yawn.

Soon, the thunderous snoring resumed...

Jiu Wu, who was meditating nearby, was awakened. He opened his eyes slightly, and with a rockery separating the two, they began to converse via voice transmission.

"Changshou, I've never asked you this, but have you considered finding a Dao companion?"

Li Changshou calmly replied via voice transmission, "Your disciple is devoted to the Great Dao and has no mind for matters of Dao companions. After you took the Ambition Pill, how are things with Martial Aunt Jiu Shi?"

"Very harmonious and good," Jiu Wu chuckled. "What's wrong with having a Dao companion? Besides being tiring on the waist. If your cultivation faces difficulties, someone is there to encourage you. If you feel lonely on the immortal path, there's someone by your side to care for you. Isn't it good to have a companion on the immortal path?"

Li Changshou chuckled, "When my immortal path is peaceful, when my Great Dao is settled, when my future only holds vast stretches of time and a long remaining life, then I will naturally consider with whom to walk hand-in-hand."

"By then, I'm afraid there'll be no one left by your side!" Jiu Wu advised with some dissatisfaction, "Qi Refiners all seek the path to immortality, but how easy is it to attain such a path? Among all the Qi Refiners in the world, only one in ten thousand might achieve it."

Li Changshou chuckled softly. Just as he was about to advise Martial Uncle Jiu Wu to spend more time on his cultivation, a slight surge of emotion suddenly arose in his heart.

What was going on today?

Not long after Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao left, Dong Mu Gong arrived.

Li Changshou told Jiu Wu, "Your disciple will cultivate first," and then shifted half of his attention to the paper effigy disguised as an old immortal.

Today, Dong Mu Gong seemed... a little off?

This Heavenly Court dignitary's eyes were dull, and his steps were unsteady.

After Dong Mu Gong saw Li Changshou's paper effigy, he neither exchanged pleasantries nor took out the treasure map. He simply clasped his hands, sighed, and began to speak of the Jade Emperor's decree.

The decree's content was quite simple: it commended Li Changshou and entrusted him with full responsibility for the Dragon Clan's ascension to Heaven.

The rewards Dong Mu Gong brought this time were quite generous, ranging from precious materials and spiritual pills to immortal herbs and fruits, as well as some flashy but impractical precious silks and satins that would be suitable for decorating mansions and immortal caves.

Li Changshou bowed from afar towards the Nine Heavenly Courts, thanking the Jade Emperor for his bounty. He then took out two of the treasure pouches and handed them to Dong Mu Gong.

Dong Mu Gong waved his hand, but this time, he didn't say a single polite word, only sighing...

"Mu Gong... what's wrong?"

"I... I!"

Dong Mu Gong opened his mouth, speechless, and tilted his head back to inhale softly. "I can't say!"

Li Changshou frowned. "Are you bound by a Great Dao oath?"

"Alas!" Dong Mu Gong shook his head, sat down on a nearby wooden chair, and tilted his head back with a long sigh. "My lifelong reputation! My entire lifetime's reputation!"

Li Changshou's mouth twitched. He frowned. "Mu Gong, you don't have to speak. If I guess correctly, just remain silent and still. Mu Gong, when you came here, did you encounter two powerful masters?"

Dong Mu Gong immediately stood still as a block of wood.

Li Changshou raised a hand and rubbed his brow bone, as a few images surfaced in his mind...

Dong Mu Gong, basking in triumphant spirits, eating hotpot and singing songs, then suddenly knocked out with a thud, only to wake up disheveled...

Uh, it shouldn't be this script.

Li Changshou stood up and paced back and forth for a moment.

"Is there enmity between you and your attackers?"

"No enmity, no grudge," Dong Mu Gong said with a wry smile. "This matter cannot be spoken of. They actually didn't lay a hand on me, but... but when did the Primordial World become like this? I didn't even touch him, and that old man just fell! Fell!"

*Rumble—*

Suddenly, dull thunder rumbled in the sky, and calls of "It's raining, bring in your clothes!" and "Vegetables for sale cheap on a rainy day!" echoed in the streets around the Sea God Temple.

Dong Mu Gong quickly shut his mouth, and the dull thunder above his head immediately vanished.

Li Changshou carefully chose his words, then asked, "Mu Gong, do you know those two individuals?"

"How could I know them? They were clearly not in their true forms!" Dong Mu Gong sighed deeply. "I can't go on talking about it. If I do, the Great Dao oath will come! Fellow Daoist, you must be careful when you go out recently! The Primordial World is too complex, and the path is treacherous! This humble Daoist will now return to Heaven."

Li Changshou: ...

It was fortunate that Mu Gong didn't recognize the two grandees, and also fortunate that they hadn't laid a hand on him. Otherwise, if Dong Mu Gong had gone to complain to the Jade Emperor, and the Jade Emperor, in a fit of anger, then went to complain to the old Dao Ancestor, wouldn't the Investiture of the Gods calamity arrive then?

That Fairy Qiongxiao turned out to be even more trouble-prone than Zhao Gongming! Wasn't this just needlessly accumulating karma? Once the calamity descends, if you're not on the list, then who will be?

"Mu Gong, Mu Gong!"

The paper effigy, holding a whisk, chased out of the Sea God Temple's back hall and stopped Dong Mu Gong, who was about to fly away on clouds, urging him to accept the 'kickback'.

As Dong Mu Gong left, his figure appeared so desolate...

A gentle breeze blew, and Dong Mu Gong shivered. He no longer dared to fly slowly, instead immediately transforming into a streak of light and hurriedly shooting towards the South Heavenly Gate.

Li Changshou's paper effigy, disguised as an old immortal, sat in the Sea God Temple, deep in thought.

This matter...

He couldn't control it; he could only let them be.

Now, he only wished for the Three Teachings Origin Conference to end so his true body could return to the Immortal Ascension Sect, burn three tall incense sticks before the portrait of Grand Pure Laozi, and pay homage to the Sage Lord. Grand Pure Lord above, the Daoist sect's customs were certainly not corrupted by a junior disciple like him, who hadn't even reached the Golden Immortal realm!

He would later remind Ao Yi to keep the Second Leader far away from the Four Outer Sect Disciples of Jie Teaching's outer sect. This was simply too...

Speaking of Ao Yi, Li Changshou couldn't help but ponder what impact Zhao Gongming and his group's constant 'faked accidents' would have on the Dragon Clan's ascension to Heaven.

There would naturally be an impact; striking at the apparent masters of Western Teaching would more or less delay Western Teaching's schemes against the Dragon Clan.

If only Zhao Gongming could go and provoke Daoist Mosquito, that would be a truly wonderful thing... But the possibility was too low.

Shaking his head, Li Changshou erased all traces of his presence from the area. This paper effigy performed earth evasion and disappeared into the back hall, not forgetting to leave some wealth for the temple's caretaker.

After arranging this Heavenly Immortal realm paper effigy, Li Changshou continued to wait for the Three Teachings Origin Conference to conclude.

He wondered how much longer this conference would last. He also wondered how many of the spiritual beast younglings in the Little Qiong Peak enclosure Ling'e had managed to kill through her raising...

Half a month later, in the Heavenly Court's Matchmaker Hall.

Grand Master Xuandu, clad in wide-sleeved white robes, slowly drifted over from the direction of Tushita Palace, a serene and comfortable smile on his lips.

The Matchmaker hurriedly rushed out of the hall to greet him, accompanied by two attendants. His body slightly leaned forward as he expressed a warm welcome and heartfelt respect for Grand Master Xuandu's arrival.

Upon entering the Matchmaker Hall, the Matchmaker proactively asked, "Grand Master, is it still... according to the old rules this time?"

"No," the Grand Master waved his hand and smiled. "I came here this time to inform you, Matchmaker, that you won't need to do this anymore in the future."

The Matchmaker was stunned, his legs went weak, and he nearly knelt down on the spot. He hurriedly said, "Did this humble immortal do something wrong? Grand Master, their not having children is truly not something this humble immortal can control! I can only arrange their marriages! They, they!"

"Oh?" The Grand Master raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Matchmaker, did you know about this long ago?"

"Well," the Matchmaker sighed, "when Qi Refiners become couples, they rarely have the thought of raising offspring. This humble immortal, this humble immortal... I beg the Grand Master to forgive me!"

The Grand Master smiled, waved his hand, and said gently: "It has nothing to do with you, Matchmaker. It was my previous idea that was mistaken. Today, I also came to thank you and offer an apology. Here are some spiritual pills. You've been troubled these past years, Matchmaker."

"This humble immortal dare not accept them! This humble immortal dare not accept! It is this humble immortal's greatest honor to do something for the Grand Master!"

Just as the Grand Master was about to persuade him, he suddenly frowned. A thought in his mind felt off, as if something related to the Human Teaching was happening.

Seeing the Grand Master frown, the Matchmaker's old hands trembled slightly. He proactively 'snatched' the jade bottles, his old face turning somewhat pale...

Grand Master Xuandu performed a quick divination with his fingers and soon revealed a slight smile. He clasped his hands towards the Matchmaker, his figure subtly flickered, and he had already disappeared from the Matchmaker Hall.

"Hmm... go call Little Changshou. It's also not suitable for me to appear directly."