Chapter 175: Divine Power Scattering Beans to Form an Army

“How is it? Have you found him?”

In the Hall of Divine Might, before the Celestial Dream Instrument, Yue Lao, dressed in a red robe and somewhat slender, asked softly.

The familiar Golden-Armored Celestial Official, standing beside Yue Lao, spoke in his usual tone, with a hint of pride as one of the Heavenly Court’s early celestials, saying: “Elder Yue, don’t worry. A mere disciple of the Immortal-Du Sect, he could still… hmm…”

The Golden-Armored Celestial Official's voice faltered mid-sentence as he suddenly recalled the half-year ordeal from their previous encounter. The Celestial Official in charge of the Hall of Divine Might gave an awkward smile and said, a bit more cautiously: “This time, as long as he enters the dream, we'll definitely be able to connect.”

Yue Lao nodded slightly and offered a strained smile to the official, appearing preoccupied. He had never imagined that Grandmaster Xuandu would visit his Hall of Yue Lao twice in just a few days…

Half an hour prior, the Grandmaster had arrived at his hall and clarified the previously unfinished matter: there was no longer any need to deliberately foster romantic relationships for the Human Sect’s legacy. Yue Lao couldn't help but feel puzzled… Was it that his red threads weren't entwined boldly enough, or were the Grandmaster's demands simply too high? How could all his efforts over so many years be completely negated?

All these years, he had toiled tirelessly! He had strictly followed the Grandmaster's instructions: whenever he found two red threads within the Human Sect's legacy showing mutual attraction and nascent stirrings, he would discreetly facilitate their union. To this end, Yue Lao had violated many of his own principles. Whenever he saw compatible individuals among the Human Sect’s various immortal sects, he would secretly use the Acacia Tree to give them a nudge, promoting the growth of their red threads. Sagas like ‘The Overbearing Martial Uncle Fell in Love with Me,’ ‘The Elder Is Too Fierce,’ and ‘I’m Going to Let All of the Great Desolation Know That You’ve Contracted the Entire Spiritual Beast Enclosure’ were rare romantic dramas in the Great Desolation!

Furthermore, to ensure that these Human Sect cultivators’ Dao companions cherished each other more, Yue Lao would even arrange minor trials within their relationships to deepen their affection and foster mutual understanding between partners. If there were difficulties, they had to be intertwined; if there were no difficulties, he'd create them to intertwine the threads!

But the Grandmaster had actually… Yue Lao sighed deeply in his heart, gazing at the Celestial Dream Instrument. He dared not speak, nor did he dare to ask. He could only dutifully follow the Grandmaster’s orders and deliver something to his young friend, Li Changshou.

Fortunately, the Celestial Dream Instrument quickly lit up this time. The Golden-Armored Celestial Official secretly breathed a sigh of relief and, with great caution, sent an invitation for Li Changshou to enter the dream.

At this moment, Li Changshou, who was at the Three Sects’ Origin Assembly, had secretly instructed Xiong Lingli to guard him. Originally feigning a breakthrough, his consciousness quietly sank into the dream. It wouldn’t matter even if the dream message was discovered. After all, it was a dream message delivered by a Heavenly Dao treasure of the Heavenly Court. Li Changshou could simply claim he had unknowingly entered the dream and concoct a plausible excuse, and no one would suspect anything.

Before long, Li Changshou saw the Golden-Armored Celestial Official, whose expression was inexplicably… a little excited. The official said little, merely asking Li Changshou to wait, then hastily brought in Yue Lao, who was dressed in celebratory robes.

“Senior,” Li Changshou bowed and smiled, “Long time no see. Has everything been going smoothly recently?”

Upon hearing this, Yue Lao felt an inexplicable sense of… comfort! Everyone else called him 'Elder Yue' and inquired about their destinies. Only when he met this Human Sect disciple, who had yet to become an immortal, could Yue Lao reclaim his dignity as a male… Qi Refiner! Beyond his celestial duties in the Heavenly Court, Yue Lao was also a Qi Refiner who had painstakingly cultivated for tens of thousands of years!

Yue Lao returned the bow with a standard Daoist salutation and smiled gently, like an elder looking after his junior, saying: “Changshou, congratulations! You have earned the favor of your sect’s Grandmaster.”

Li Changshou was truly stunned by these words. Had the Grandmaster openly announced his appointment as the Human Sect’s 'Little Grandmaster' within Heavenly Court circles? This behavior was utterly un-Human Sect!

Fortunately, Yue Lao took out a ring-type storage magic treasure and smiled again: “These are items the Grandmaster ordered me to deliver to you, apparently some cultivation techniques. For you to receive the Grandmaster’s teachings before even becoming an immortal—this is truly unprecedented!”

Li Changshou's tense nerves relaxed slightly. He gave Yue Lao a 'bashful' smile. Although curious about what techniques the Grandmaster had given him, he wasn't in a hurry to examine them. After receiving the ring, Li Changshou exchanged a few more pleasantries with Yue Lao. Perhaps Li Changshou truly possessed the latent charisma of a 'Great Desolation Confidant Brother.' Before long, Yue Lao sighed and, in the dream's pavilion, recounted the matter that was troubling him…

“The Grandmaster has stopped promoting Dao companions?” Li Changshou’s heart leaped with joy at the news, feeling his life safety index instantly increase by several basis points! ‘A dignified great immortal sect, yet Dao companions are all the rage within its gates. Though it might seem natural and spontaneous, what kind of decorum is that?’ Tsk, he'd even rhymed by accident. Li Changshou's mood immediately brightened, and he continued to chat with Yue Lao for a while.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Li Changshou as he gazed at Yue Lao before him. Could there be other considerations for the Grandmaster sending Yue Lao here? Li Changshou pondered for a moment and quickly understood the Grandmaster's deeper intention in having Yue Lao visit him! The Grandmaster was deliberately reminding him that he could have Yue Lao appear at Ao Yi’s wedding to send congratulatory gifts to Ao Yi, the Second Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, and the little princess of the Merfolk clan, thus increasing the Heavenly Court's presence!

Currently, the Heavenly Court lacked both powerful experts and renown; aside from its abundant merits, it was practically destitute—of course, this was compared to the Dragon Clan. Using Ao Yi’s wedding to send congratulatory gifts to the Dragon Clan would be an excellent entry point for the Heavenly Court to gain the attention of the entire Dragon Clan. It also needed to leave a lasting impression on the Dragon Clan and make them feel that it was novel… The Dragon Clan was a prominent family in the Great Desolation; truly, they lacked no treasures except for innate spiritual treasures and innate supreme treasures. However, when Yue Lao appeared then, holding a red embroidered ball of destiny blessed by him, and blessed Ao Yi and the little princess to be harmonious and loving… that would definitely be a bonus point for the Heavenly Court!

Li Changshou was about to speak, but the words, already on his lips, changed into: “Senior, I have a friend. I wonder if I could ask for your help in stabilizing his romantic destiny.” At this time, he needed to report to the Jade Emperor; he could not unilaterally arrange matters for a Heavenly Court immortal.

Hearing Li Changshou’s request, Yue Lao, though a little disappointed, still nodded with a smile. “Of course. Your… this friend… which lady has he taken a liking to?”

Li Changshou mused for a few moments, then said solemnly: “My friend is Ao Yi, the Second Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace. We are close, like bosom friends. I heard he recently did something foolish: he had intimate relations with a certain princess of the Merfolk clan before marriage… I, your junior, feel this matter is slightly inappropriate, and I also worry that Brother Yi might disappoint this Merfolk princess due to other interferences. Therefore, I wish to ask you, Senior, to help stabilize their romantic destiny. Senior, you control a Heavenly Dao treasure. If you intervene, the Heavenly Dao itself will sense it, and all matters will then promote their affection. This matter will then be secured.”

Yue Lao blinked, his earlier disappointment vanishing. He chuckled, “So it really is about your friend.”

“Otherwise, what…?”

“Oh, hahahaha,” Yue Lao immediately stroked his beard and burst into laughter. His gaze towards Li Changshou held even more appreciation than before. Yue Lao laughed, “Good! I’ll go back and take care of this for you! Rest assured!”

Li Changshou quickly bowed, “I thank you, Senior, on behalf of Brother Yi!”

Yue Lao repeatedly said there was no need for such formality, and the more he looked at this young Human Sect junior, the more pleased he became. Respectful of teachers and the Dao, courteous, and prioritizing friends above all else. He had finally asked for a romantic favor, and it was for his friend, not like others who borrowed his red threads to meddle with fate, ultimately just coveting another's body, be they male or female! Changshou’s request was different, completely different…

As Yue Lao departed, he couldn't help but exclaim: “To be friends with Changshou is truly a blessing.” Li Changshou smiled, “If I can be considered an old friend by you, Senior, that would also be my good fortune.” Yue Lao’s old face immediately broke into a wide, joyful smile.

Thus, a small breakthrough was found for the Dragon Clan’s ascent to the heavens.

Li Changshou disengaged from the dream. He secretly observed his surroundings, and finding no one paying attention to him, he continued to feign a state of insightful breakthrough. It seemed that upon realizing he was also undergoing a breakthrough, a barrier of immortal power appeared around Li Changshou, which must have been created by Jiu Wu.

At this moment, Li Changshou couldn't help but inwardly marvel several times. The Grandmaster was indeed the Grandmaster after all! Unfettered and free-spirited, unburdened by trifles, yet capable of keen observation, seeing angles that even he, the 'Little Grandmaster,' could not! To directly send Yue Lao to him, reminding him that the Dragon Clan's ascension to the heavens could also be approached from this angle! Although Li Changshou had considered that the Grandmaster might have simply used Yue Lao as a convenient errand-runner to deliver the items… compared to 'the Grandmaster's laziness,' Li Changshou was more willing to believe that his patron was unfathomably profound!

Holding the magic treasure ring in his hand, Li Changshou wasn't initially in a hurry to see its contents. However, fearing that the Grandmaster might have other instructions, he took a slight risk and quietly refined it. Soon, Li Changshou saw the small mountain of precious materials and spirit stones within. Based on their types and residual aura, he judged them to be gifts from Yue Lao. In the very center and most prominent position within the ring’s small dimension, there was a small gray cloth bag, which seemed to contain two ancient scrolls. Li Changshou's immortal sense barely made out the four-character label affixed to the outside of one jade slip, and his forehead immediately furrowed with dark lines…

Scatter… Scatter Beans into Soldiers? No wonder the Grandmaster was now telling Yue Lao to stop meddling with the Human Sect immortals; it turned out he had discovered that Li Changshou, a single magical person, could do the work of four or five magical people! And now he wanted him to… expand the scale…

Shaking his head, Li Changshou sighed softly and activated the paper effigy beneath the Sea God Temple. Finding a corner, he began writing his second memorial. The Heavenly Court hadn't even paid him yet, but he had already begun working ahead of time. It was like being on probation but already worrying like a general manager and doing the work of a chairman’s assistant… This memorial suggested that His Majesty the Jade Emperor arrange for Yue Lao to convey congratulations to Ao Yi and the Merfolk princess at their wedding. Li Changshou carefully considered and wrote, taking all circumstances into account to avoid displeasing the Jade Emperor and preventing the Dragon Clan from developing resentment towards the Heavenly Court…

Meanwhile, in the back hall of Yue Lao’s residence in the Heavenly Court. The first thing Yue Lao did upon returning from the Hall of Divine Might was to head straight there, summon Ao Yi’s destiny doll, the Second Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, and draw out all related dolls. Upon closer inspection, there were as many as three.

Among the three destiny dolls surrounding Ao Yi, the closest to him was Han Zhi, a Qi Refiner from Jinao Island of the Jie Sect. The farthest was a Dragon Maiden. And neither far nor close was the Merfolk princess, with a human body and a fish tail. Ao Yi’s destiny doll also had a youthful appearance, with clear features. Among the three red threads extending from him, the one corresponding to the Dragon Maiden was the shortest, merely a loose end. Although the Dragon Maiden’s red thread was long, it couldn't reach Ao Yi at all—this indicated the Dragon Maiden's unrequited love, with Ao Yi having only a faint liking for her. Among Ao Yi’s three red threads, the one reaching towards Han Zhi was the longest. Han Zhi’s red thread also extended, but the two threads were misaligned and had not intertwined.

The Merfolk princess’s red thread, however, was quite formidable. It seemed it had only recently drawn near. Along with Ao Yi’s destiny doll, corresponding red threads had grown between them, and now the two threads were already intertwined, slowly pulling the two destiny dolls closer…

Yue Lao held the potted Acacia Tree and observed for a while, carefully calculating. Soon, he slowly nodded. This situation was exactly as Changshou had described. What situation hadn't Yue Lao seen? This was clearly a classic case of instant passion leading to mutual affection.

Immediately, Yue Lao first took out his Heavenly Dao treasure, the Golden Scissors. With two snips, he shortened more than half of both Ao Yi’s and Han Zhi’s red threads. Han Zhi’s destiny doll immediately moved further away. Yue Lao then checked the red thread on the 'unrequited love Dragon Maiden' and discovered that Ao Yi’s cousin already had two other intertwined red threads… Tsk, most of the Dragon Clan's red threads were this messy; a simple tidying up would suffice. He then examined the Merfolk princess’s destiny doll and found that she was quite simple, with only this single red thread.

Then, Yue Lao squinted and smiled, pulling a loose thread from his celebratory robe. He gently draped this red thread over the red threads of Ao Yi and the Merfolk princess, carefully wrapped it around a few times, and tied a true love knot… Lock it down, then talk.

“Changshou, you may rest assured.” Yue Lao chuckled a few times and returned the destiny dolls of Ao Yi and the Merfolk princess to their original places.

Under the tree in the backyard of the Tushita Palace.

‘Today, the breeze in the Tushita Palace is as serene as ever.’ Grandmaster Xuandu stretched, then lay on his side on a soft cushion beneath the tree, propping his head with a hand, and leisurely closed his eyes for a nap.

Utterly content.