Chapter 170: To be honest, Grand Mage, why don’t you make a vow…

Huh? I thought the Grandmaster had already left, so why…

By the lake, amidst the crowd, Li Changshou sat on his futon, listening to a whispered message in his heart.

“Thirty thousand li to the east, in the small grove, I await you.”

Could this really be the Grandmaster?

His own Grandmaster wouldn't be this mischievous. Could someone be simulating the Grandmaster’s Dao charm, trying to lure him out?

Li Changshou pondered briefly, then mouthed six words without making a sound:

“Please, sense the transmission.”

Thirty thousand li away, the white-robed Grandmaster standing in a small grove couldn't help but… laugh out loud.

This little Changshou was still so amusing.

What, did he think that if someone impersonated him, he wouldn't be able to sense or deduce it?

Immediately, Grandmaster Xuandu deliberated for a moment, then flicked his finger, manipulating the Grand Pure Dao as if plucking an invisible string. A ripple vibrated along the Great Dao, reaching Li Changshou's heart, forming a single character.

Only then did Li Changshou believe it by ninety-five percent. After a moment of careful thought, he said to Xiong Lingli, who was reading nearby:

“Don't wander off from here. I'm going to get some game for you.”

Xiong Lingli nodded quickly, her gaze filled with gratitude for the Sea God Lord.

Afterward, Li Changshou went to find his sect master. After a moment of consideration, he requested leave, citing “some insights as a disciple, wishing to travel to seek a breakthrough.”

Ji Wuyou said he needed a True Immortal deacon to accompany him out of the assembly venue. Li Changshou thought for a moment and then asked Uncle-Master Jiuwu to go with him.

At once, Jiuwu summoned a cloud, carrying Li Changshou, and left the basin through a secluded path.

Since too many Qi Refiners had gathered there, people were constantly coming and going, so the two of them didn't attract any particular attention.

Jiuwu carried him several thousand li away. When Li Changshou saw that the sensing stone was no longer flashing, he found an excuse to separate from Jiuwu for a moment.

When he returned, it was naturally a new type of paper effigy.

Li Changshou's paper effigy smiled and said, “My heart is overflowing with insights. I will meditate here for now. Please wait for me, Uncle-Master.”

“Alright,” Jiuwu nodded with a smile, then set up a simple array around Li Changshou.

Afterward, Jiuwu found a three-foot-tall boulder, hopped onto it, sat cross-legged, and quietly guarded Li Changshou.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou's true body had already used Earth Escapism, quickly heading towards the Grandmaster's location.

As soon as they met, Grandmaster Xuandu laughed and chided him:

“Why are you hiding and sneaking around like this? It's such a hassle just to meet me!”

Li Changshou gave an awkward smile, then spoke seriously: “My cultivation is shallow, my time cultivating the Dao is short, and my accumulation is insufficient… To survive in the Primordial World, I have no choice but to adopt multiple layers of disguise; only then can I feel somewhat at ease.

If I could have a stable environment, I wouldn't need to go to such lengths.”

Never mind the rest for now, time for some intense hinting!

Grandmaster Xuandu nodded with a smile, then waved his hand. A white cloud rose beneath Li Changshou's feet, and he chuckled, “Being cautious is good. Let's go, I'll take you somewhere.”

Li Changshou: …

Fine, opportunities truly cannot be forced. I'll let nature take its course and observe what happens next.

One who knows how to properly utilize spiritual treasures understands what an excellent spiritual treasure should do.

Li Changshou didn't ask Grandmaster Xuandu where he was taking him. He simply stood behind the Grandmaster, his eyes not looking around, his ears not listening in all directions, waiting for the Grandmaster to speak.

After only a moment, Li Changshou felt they had passed over vast mountains and towering peaks. Looking down, he saw they were now above boundless azure waves…

“Almost there,” Grandmaster Xuandu chuckled. Taking advantage of the sea's inattention, he brought Li Changshou silently into the water, descending into the deep sea.

Li Changshou now understood. Whatever could stir the Grandmaster must be related to the Dragon Race.

And the Grandmaster bringing him here likely meant… he wanted his junior disciple to act, while the Grandmaster himself remained hidden and avoided karmic entanglement.

This…

How could that work?

Isn't this a wasteful squandering of their own high-end combat power?

Li Changshou secretly schemed in his mind, wondering how to trick—ahem, how to persuade—the Grandmaster to take action later, while he himself just “played a supporting role.”

At the same time, Li Changshou also prepared for both possibilities, checking his usual battle trump cards: paper effigies, miniature array foundations, poison pills and powders, and the “one-stop funeral service”…

Lest he be unable to decline later and find himself flustered.

Surrounded by shimmering light and shadows, Li Changshou had no mind to admire the wondrous sights of the sea. After another moment, he heard the Grandmaster's words:

“We've arrived.”

Li Changshou looked up and realized they had arrived at a large underwater city.

The deep sea was like a profound curtain. An “island” hung above an underwater volcano, approximately a thousand zhang beneath the sea surface.

Below, magma surged in the seabed, while the immortal island above was enveloped by a brilliant barrier array. The light from this barrier illuminated the surrounding hundreds of li of ocean, revealing groups of sea creatures frolicking nearby.

Li Changshou's immortal sense swept over the area, detecting a minor disturbance within the city's protective array.

Approximately several hundred sea tribe rebels, clad in uniform armor, were being encircled and suppressed by sea tribe soldiers. This disturbance would clearly be quelled.

Many strange and wondrous sea tribes lived here;

Some were sea creatures who had gained sentience, still retaining their original forms like seahorses, fish, or sea donkeys, while others had transformed to closely resemble human Dao bodies, mostly retaining features such as gills, scales, tails, and fins.

There were also many even more bizarre creatures, strange beings born from the path of transformation, transcending racial divisions…

Li Changshou also saw some beautiful merfolk, which certainly broadened his horizons.

—Merfolk are a major tribe among the sea races and have a very close relationship with the Dragon Race.

The two stood in the seawater, with a subtle Dao rhythm flowing around the Grandmaster, concealing their whereabouts.

“Grandmaster,” Li Changshou said softly, “I previously submitted a memorial to His Majesty the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, using my identity as the South Sea Sea God, to report on the matter of subduing the Dragon Race. I also received His Majesty's permission.”

“Hmm, well done.”

Grandmaster Xuandu chuckled and nodded, “Let's wait and see. I merely deduced that something would happen here that would require your appearance to resolve.

It seems we've arrived a little early.”

Upon hearing this, Li Changshou felt a surge of emotion in his heart.

What level of cultivation is this? What kind of deduction Dao is this? Can the Grandmaster truly foresee the future?

Hold onto this strong backing!

The two waited for about half an hour. The rebellion in the great city had already been suppressed, but Li Changshou keenly sensed an undercurrent still lurking within the city.

Moreover, this feeling was very familiar to Li Changshou…

Li Changshou whispered, “Grandmaster, do you know the origins of those blood mosquito puppets that attacked our Immortal Du Sect back then?”

“That was the Western Sect's clandestine doing,” Grandmaster Xuandu chuckled. “Changshou, it's quite troublesome to contend with a great sect that has a Saint overseeing it.

Even if we are in the right, we must consider the Saint's dignity.

For those two Uncle-Masters of the Western Sect, this is merely a minor scheme they orchestrated with a flick of their fingers.

The demons and monsters they employ are just expendable pawns they can abandon at any time.

Saints are imperishable through myriad kalpas.

Therefore, when we dismantle the Western Sect's schemes, we must leave them some leeway. We must win, but also preserve the Saint's dignity.”

Li Changshou pondered carefully, then quickly bowed, saying, “Disciple will engrave Grandmaster's teachings in my heart!”

Although he had already thoroughly considered all this when formulating his previous plans, he still had to say:

“Had it not been for your timely reminder today, Grandmaster, I might have made a grave mistake.”

Grandmaster Xuandu immediately waved his hand, his smile becoming even more pleased.

Going out with little Changshou was truly more interesting and comfortable than going out alone…

Just then, several hundred li away, the seawater parted. A flood dragon carriage descended, escorted by hundreds of immortal flood dragon soldiers, heading towards the great underwater city.

If the Dragon Race had arrived a little later, the streets here would have already been cleared.

Li Changshou's immortal sense swept over, and he quickly discovered an extremely familiar aura.

The second patriarch of the Sea God Sect, Ao Yi.

So, this trip was indeed related to Ao Yi…

Li Changshou secretly shook his head. He had warned Ao Yi many times not to reveal himself easily…

Never mind, the Dragon Race was currently in the midst of a tribulation, and when karmic fortune struck, no one could stop it.

The subsequent developments were hardly convoluted or bizarre; it was just a typical traitor's gambit.

Ao Yi was originally cultivating peacefully on Jin'ao Island; he hadn't wanted to come here himself. He was invited by a Dragon Race expert to visit and comfort the Merfolk tribe.

After some hesitation, Ao Yi still chose to leave Jin'ao Island, gather a small elite force of the Dragon Race, and rush here for support…

Before they even entered the city, the rebellion here had already been quelled.

The city lord and nobles of this great underwater city, along with their soldiers, went out to welcome Ao Yi, ushering him into the city and to the magnificent palace…

This was naturally a trap.

Li Changshou initially wanted to warn Ao Yi, but then he thought that since the Grandmaster was here, he didn't need to interfere much.

His duty was simply to act as a proper spiritual treasure.

Soon, a banquet began in the city palace. Sea maidens performed dances, immortal music echoed, and several young sea tribe men and women flirted outside the hall, displaying a decadent and indulgent atmosphere.

At the banquet, a young princess of the Merfolk tribe was also invited and served wine beside Ao Yi.

It seemed they wanted to see if the Second Crown Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace was interested in taking a concubine…

Dragon life was indeed rather dull.

Midway through the banquet, an unexpected change occurred.

The city's protective array suddenly transformed into a black smoke screen. Thousands of experts rushed out from within the city, surging towards the palace complex in the city center.

The Dragon Race expert who had invited Ao Yi suddenly betrayed him, attacking Ao Yi. Fortunately, a dragon-headed elder appeared beside Ao Yi and directly sent the expert flying…

“Protect His Highness! Protect His Highness!”

“Protect Prince Ao Yi!”

The hundreds of elite immortal flood dragon soldiers and the various sea tribe experts reacted quickly. They surrounded Ao Yi and the young merfolk princess, activated the array around the palace, and urgently mobilized the city's troops.

The entire city immediately fell into chaos!

From several corners of the great city, streaks of blood-red array patterns emerged. Two more grand arrays sealed off the area, isolating it from external detection and temporarily obscuring the heavenly secrets of the place.

The palace array was quickly breached. The sea tribe experts covered Ao Yi's breakout, while the dragon-headed elder was besieged but managed to hold back many of the enemy's experts.

At this moment, Ao Yi still didn't forget to protect the young merfolk princess in his arms. His face showed no panic, fully displaying the composure of the Second Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace…

Soon, Ao Yi was heavily besieged.

By this time, Li Changshou and Xuandu had unknowingly appeared in a residential house in the city, not far from the corner where Ao Yi was besieged.

“Go, save your second patriarch.”

Grandmaster Xuandu said with a light chuckle.

Li Changshou, however, pondered for a few moments, then frowned and said, “Grandmaster, since you are already here, eliminating these petty villains would be a mere flick of your hand…”

“Such petty villains, how are they worth my intervention?”

“Grandmaster, I actually believe,” Li Changshou said, “that it is always wise not to underestimate any enemy.

Your intervention would be both secure and swift, and it would also demonstrate the might of our Human Sect.

My intervention, on the other hand, would appear forced and carries the risk of messing things up. The enemy has already revealed several Golden Immortal realm experts. If there are more Golden Immortals lying in ambush, I'm afraid I might be outmatched.”

Grandmaster Xuandu, upon hearing this, slowly nodded.

“There is some truth to what you say.

Just go then. If any powerful experts appear from the other side, how could I not save you?”

Li Changshou frowned inwardly. Though he dared not openly refute, he whispered:

“Grandmaster, I feel… it's slightly inappropriate.

Although I know you would never harm me, Grandmaster, to choose an unstable path when a proper method exists… I cannot reconcile this in my heart…”

Grandmaster Xuandu was somewhat exasperated, yet spoke gently: “Go and display your abilities. Only then will I know your true strength, and I can better assign you tasks in the future.”

Seeing Li Changshou still hesitate, Grandmaster Xuandu added:

“Alright, I won't just idly watch your divine abilities, lest you feel displeased.

If you can save this little Dragon Prince, I will grant you one request within my power, how about that?”

Li Changshou frowned in thought, then said:

“Grandmaster, I dare to make a request.

If I can save Ao Yi, may I ask you, Grandmaster, to guard me during my Golden Immortal Tribulation?”

“Good!

Now hurry and go!”

Li Changshou nodded, then raised a hand to rub his face, subtly changing his appearance, and turned to add:

“I still feel a bit uneasy, how about… you make an oath to ensure timely rescue, Grandmaster…”

A certain Grandmaster raised his foot as if to kick.

Li Changshou quickly bowed in acknowledgment, but didn't leave the courtyard. Instead, he pulled out a stack of paper effigies from his sleeve and casually scattered them.

The paper effigies instantly transformed into a middle-aged male immortal, a young maiden, a kind-hearted old man, and a benevolent old woman, all of them exuding cultivation fluctuations typical of the early Heavenly Immortal realm.

Then, with a flick of Li Changshou's sleeve, these four paper effigies used Water Escapism, turning into four streams of water, and swiftly darted out of the courtyard.

Behind Li Changshou, Grandmaster Xuandu couldn't help but raise a hand and rub his temples.

This junior disciple is truly a bit too cautious.

Wait, no…

If he hadn't revealed himself, but simply brought Li Changshou here and dropped him off, then Ao Yi—being Li Changshou's second patriarch and a crucial figure in the Dragon Race's ascent to the Heavenly Court—how could Li Changshou not save him?

Having understood this key point, Grandmaster Xuandu's mouth twitched a few times.

It seemed he had, unknowingly, been tricked by this junior disciple in front of him, giving away a promise for nothing…