Chapter 182: Longevity Gate Performance

Taking a route via the South Sea, he traveled eastward. Before setting out, Li Changshou worried he might encounter Zhao Gongming and his companions, so he kept close to the South Sea coast, utilizing his water evasion technique. Three days later, he reached the East Sea region; the journey had been smooth.

He had previously asked Ao Yi to pinpoint the location of the Three Immortal Islands. Starting from the southeastern corner of the Southern Continent, one would travel 160,000 li eastward, then 60,000 li southward, to find a place enveloped in mist. That mist indicated the grand outer formation of the Three Immortal Islands. Within the Jie School, countless knew the location of the Three Immortal Islands, and just as many admired the Three Xiao Immortals. However, throughout history, very few had ever managed to set foot on the islands themselves.

By the time Li Changshou reached the deep East Sea, his Paper Daoist avatar had expended about ten percent of its immortal power. To present himself in the best possible state for his audience with the renowned Immortal Yunxiao, Li Changshou, nearing the Three Immortal Islands, took out a fresh Paper Daoist from his sleeve and swapped out his current avatar. He then emerged from the water and flew on a cloud towards the Three Immortal Islands.

As he pondered what situations he might face next, Li Changshou inexplicably noticed a few minor details he hadn't considered before. For instance, among the renowned experts of the Chan School, most were male immortals, with only a few exceptions like Daoist Cihang. In contrast, among the prominent figures of the Jie School, the Saint's eight major disciples included inner-door grand disciples like Holy Mother Jin Ling, Holy Mother Guiling, and Holy Mother Wudang. Not to mention the Three Xiao of the outer sect, female immortals were clearly predominant.

Li Changshou inwardly mused about a certain elderly, 'pure Yang' senior from his own Ren School. His own Grandmaster, in promoting the trend of Daoist companionship, had clearly aimed in the wrong direction. He should have encouraged it vigorously outside the Ren School but within the broader Daoist Gate. If the Chan and Jie Schools fostered more Daoist companionship between their members, it could both dampen the ambition of the cultivators in both great sects, thereby delaying the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation. It would also deepen the affection between the two schools, making them reluctant to harm each other during the Investiture of the Gods calamity.

In the original Investiture of the Gods calamity, old Daoists would shout: "Let a fellow Daoist die, not me, this poor Daoist; today I shall send you to the list!" However, in an Investiture of the Gods calamity influenced by the Grandmaster's promotion of Daoist companionship, handsome men and beautiful women would stand on the mortal battlefields of the Shang-Zhou war, gazing at each other with profound affection.

"Daoist friend, you are cruel, heartless, and unreasonable; you truly deserve a place on the Investiture of the Gods list."

"Oh no, *you* are cruel, heartless, and unreasonable, yet you accuse *me* of being so. *You* are the one who truly deserves a place on the Investiture of the Gods list..."

Li Changshou almost burst out laughing. Of course, these were merely internal jests about the Grandmaster, which he would never dare voice aloud. Although Grandmaster Xuandu was considered the senior disciple of the Daoist Gate, he would still find it difficult to influence both the Jie and Chan schools.

Joking aside, it was better to quickly eliminate the threat posed by the 'extortion gang,' then return to the immortal sect with peace of mind, manage the Dragon Race affairs, and prepare for his upcoming Golden Immortal Tribulation.

After flying on a cloud for half a day, Li Changshou spotted a colossal cloud wall rising from the distant sea. It was no wonder then that Jie School immortals all claimed the Three Immortal Islands were easy to locate. The cloud wall stretched over a thousand li in diameter. Within several thousand li around it, spiritual energy was abundant, immortal light swirled, and the sea creatures were more spiritual than those in other regions. As long as one didn't deviate too much from the general direction, persistent searching with immortal sense would surely lead to this place.

Still two thousand li from the cloud wall's edge, Li Changshou attempted to extend his immortal sense, trying to penetrate the cloud to investigate. Oddly, his immortal sense passed through it without any obstruction, but he could only perceive a vast whiteness within. The closer he approached, the wider the range his immortal sense could probe, and the more surprised Li Changshou felt. Once he was sufficiently close, his immortal sense fully enveloped the thousand li of mist. There was no impediment, not even a trace of formation fluctuations; it was merely pure mist, with not a single island to be found within. The only anomaly was the intense spiritual energy, comparable to the legendary Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands.

Li Changshou paused in thought, considering the situation carefully. Since he had come this far, he might as well settle in; he couldn't just leave without even trying. So, Li Changshou's Paper Daoist, flying on a cloud, circled back and forth several times within the thousand-li diameter cloud wall. There was no danger, but he found nothing. He couldn't even find a single reef. Even if it were a rare natural formation, there should still be an entry point.

In the four arts of the immortal path—deception and trickery... *Ahem*, among the four arts of formations, alchemy, artifact forging, and talismans, Li Changshou was most deeply immersed in the Dao of formations. It was precisely for this reason that he could discern the extraordinary sophistication of the formation here, far surpassing his own comprehension of the Dao of formations. This was clearly a grand formation laid by a true master of the art! Among the Three Xiao, there had to be one with profound mastery of the Dao of formations! However, this was irrelevant to him; he merely offered a casual admiration to express his respect for the cultivation of the Three Xiao Maidens.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment on the sea's surface and quickly devised a plan. He couldn't simply shout, "Ren School Junior Daoist seeks an audience." This particular Paper Daoist was currently in its South Sea Sea God guise, and directly exposing it here could lead to minor complications. At present, his three primary persona routes were clearly defined: First, the South Sea Sea God, leader of the Sea God Cult, an image of a resourceful old immortal, one of the Jade Emperor's future strategists, with a Ren School background. Second, the Ren School Junior Daoist, a middle-aged Daoist who ventured outside with his true cultivation, serving as a dedicated alias for carrying out tasks for Doushuai Palace, primarily tagging along with the Grandmaster. And third, an ordinary disciple of the Immortal Du Sect—this was Li Changshou's deepest disguise. Other personas, such as the stern old Daoist from the "Dragon Cleansing Case" or the nameless primordial self-detonating artist during the Immortal Du Sect's tribulation, were one-time disguises immediately discarded after use, never to reappear.

But to business. Gaining entry to the Three Immortal Islands would indeed require some cleverness, but fortunately, Li Changshou had already prepared for this. He first called out loudly, carefully confining the sound's reach within the cloud wall: "Daoist friends of the Three Immortal Islands, are you at home?"

Naturally, there was no reply whatsoever.

Li Changshou, unhurried, pulled a stack of paper figures from his sleeve and casually scattered them. They transformed into six figures, both male and female. What appeared were: two young men in short shirts, each holding a suona; two women in plain long dresses took out two copper basins. They retrieved paper money commonly used for ancestral worship in the mortal world, lit it in the basins, knelt before them, and began weeping with handkerchiefs; additionally, two white-haired Daoists appeared: one held a soul-releasing bell, the other a wooden fish. They swayed and tapped, each chanting a reincarnation mantra.

Li Changshou let out a long sigh. The two paper figures began playing their suonas, and with the aid of immortal power, intensely piercing and mournful music resonated throughout the cloud wall. This tactic was highly effective, though it often resulted in a beating.

Moments later, Li Changshou heard a soft rebuke from within the cloud wall, spoken in a somewhat youthful girl's voice: "Who are you?! What do you think you're doing here?! This is utterly inauspicious!"

The mist swirled, and a young girl in a light yellow skirt stepped forth, her face a mix of slight anger and irritation, glaring at the benevolent-looking, slender old man.

Li Changshou immediately raised his hand, and the six paper figures ceased their actions, freezing in place. Then, Li Changshou sighed deeply and, in an aged voice, asked, "Is this the Three Immortal Islands, the Daoist abode of the Three Xiao Immortals?"

"If you know that, how dare you cause trouble here!" The girl huffed softly, "If not for your elderly appearance, the whip my Third Maiden bestowed upon me would already be striking you! Now hurry and leave! You're truly bad luck!"

Li Changshou sighed, "I have traveled tens of thousands of li to come here for two reasons. The first is to pay my respects to Daoist Friend Gongming. If the Three Immortal Islands do not permit it, then I shall depart immediately." With that, his sleeve robes billowed. The six paper figures reverted to their original forms and promptly returned to his sleeve.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" The girl immediately flared up. "My great master is perfectly fine! Why would he need your mourning! Bah, bah, you're a jinx!"

Li Changshou shook his head. "Though he is fine now, a great calamity is soon to befall him."

The girl pulled out a short whip and retorted, "Say one more word of nonsense, and I swear I'll teach you a lesson today!"

"When have I spoken nonsense?" Li Changshou sighed. "Is your Lady Qiongxiao currently off the island?"

The girl froze for a moment, then replied, "So what if she is? Perhaps you saw her somewhere and now expect me to simply lead you to the island? Impossible!"

"In that case, how about we make a wager?" Li Changshou took the formal invitation from his sleeve and, using immortal power, pushed it towards the girl. "I will wait right here. You may take this to whoever is in charge on the island. If they decide not to see me, I will depart at once and never look back."

The girl's face immediately showed suspicion as she took the silk cloth in her hand.

Li Changshou added, "It's simply for your person in charge to read this letter; it poses no harm to your Three Immortal Islands. But if you delay even a moment longer, Daoist Friend Gongming might truly face a grave predicament!"

"You! Say that nonsense again!" The girl flicked her short whip and retorted, "Fine! Today I'll make you lose hope! You wait here. However my lady scolds me later, I'll return and scold you just as harshly!"

With that, the girl turned and re-entered the cloud wall, her figure vanishing after just two steps.

Li Changshou keenly observed the subtle yet incredibly complex shifts in the spiritual energy's flow in this area. Yet, that girl just now... Li Changshou mused, a hint of suspicion stirring in his heart. Based on her demeanor, she was either a handmaiden brought to life by the Three Xiao or a creature cultivating on the Three Immortal Islands. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the girl gave him a peculiar feeling, as if something wasn't quite right. Her Heavenly Immortal cultivation, flawless demeanor, somewhat willful personality, and her charming face and shapely figure, all of these aspects struck Li Changshou as remarkably familiar. It was as if he himself were programming the appearance and personality of one of his Paper Daoists. Indeed, the girl felt too much like a template! It was as if she were acting, her performance impeccable and every detail perfect, yet she seemed to lack genuine emotional engagement.

Li Changshou remained secretly vigilant, standing motionless, ready to self-destruct at any moment.

Moments later, the cloud wall shifted once more. The girl quickly flew back, her gaze somewhat timid and tinged with shame upon seeing Li Changshou. She bowed deeply to him. The girl promptly said, "Senior, please forgive my ignorance. I failed to recognize that this was merely your avatar. My Eldest Lady is currently in seclusion, and I dare not disturb her. However, my Third Lady has read your letter and invites you to the island for a discussion. Please follow me, Senior."

Li Changshou nodded, subtly following the girl. As they entered, the mist ahead gradually began to shift. Li Changshou, who had been flying over the sea, suddenly found a winding path appearing beneath his feet. As he stepped onto it, the surrounding mist quickly receded, revealing him to be at the edge of a spiritual island.

Was this the Three Immortal Islands? He tried to survey his surroundings with his immortal sense, but some kind of formation here restricted it to only three zhang around him, preventing it from expanding further.

The girl led the way, guiding Li Changshou along the winding path, through numerous turns, until they arrived before an elegant courtyard. The girl pushed open the courtyard gate, then, bowing her head, said: "Senior, please enter. My Third Lady is waiting for you within."

Li Changshou spoke softly, "I apologize for any previous offense, please do not hold it against me, Immortal."

"It's nothing, truly, please proceed." The girl hastily waved her hand, then bowed her head and quickly retreated.

Li Changshou stepped through the courtyard gate, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss, though he sighed inwardly. He had only taken a few steps when a wisp of mist imperceptibly swirled around him. Then, Li Changshou's mind momentarily blurred, and he found himself in a backyard, standing before a precious pool shrouded in spiritual mist. The gentle sound of water emanated from the pool, where a graceful figure sat, her back to Li Changshou, calmly combing her long hair. The scene, naturally, was indescribable. And this image certainly wouldn't be allowed to air.

Yet Li Changshou remained perfectly calm, harboring only a single thought: Such a fine back, it would be a shame not to try cupping on it.

"Hmm?" The graceful figure, who was combing her long hair, suddenly sensed something. She turned her head slightly to look, and then let out a piercing scream! When she turned her head, her face was grotesquely ugly, with a cavernous mouth and an inverted melon-seed shape, making her look even worse than the 'Sister Pomegranate' character. The woman loudly chastised, "You uncouth brute! You've seen my body, now you must marry me!"

Li Changshou said nothing. He silently raised a hand, slapped his own forehead, and immediately toppled backward, lying motionless on the ground. The immortal power within the Paper Daoist rapidly dissipated, and its form shrank into a paper figure half a chi tall and one cun thick.

The woman in the pool froze. A ripple of immortal light transformed her into a jade frog, which landed in the water, gave a kick, and swiftly swam away.

Then, a burst of laughter erupted from beyond the wall. The girl who had led him earlier flipped over, shaking with mirth. "Hahahaha, he actually got scared to death! Whose avatar is this, to have such a fragile Dao heart! Hahaha! I had so many more stages planned, even the bridal chamber was prepared for you both! This unlucky old Daoist truly got off easy!"

Suddenly, a sigh echoed behind the girl. "Daoist friend, I truly have important matters to discuss with your elder sister..."

The girl, still laughing heartily, suddenly froze, tilting her head to look at the paper figure on the ground. She saw the "broken" paper figure pushed aside, and another one popped out, wobbling before quickly transforming back into the benevolent old immortal. He looked at the girl before him with a resigned expression.

"Immortal Bixiao, please be so kind as to convey my message."