Chapter 195: The Boundless Porcelain Sea

"Leader, are we misunderstanding something? He might not be from the West..."

"Ao Yi, don't fall for his act."

Inside the Main God Temple idol, the leaders of the Hai Shen Cult, both high and low, exchanged thoughts through divine sense for a moment. Suddenly, they realized that they could just talk directly in the alchemy room. This would save mental energy and be relatively safer.

Seeing that the middle-aged man—cough, male dragon—had been pacing outside the main hall for quite some time, Ao Yi felt a little uneasy, worried that there might indeed be a misunderstanding.

Li Changshou explained simply:

"This person appears hesitant, but he's constantly on guard, observing the idols here, and his gaze is unwavering. This shows he already has a plan for what he's about to do.

Look, he was hesitating just now, so why is he stepping up the stairs as if being pushed by the wind?"

Ao Yi looked carefully and couldn't help but nod, saying a little shamefully:

"Indeed, Leader's observation is meticulous.

So, what should we do next, Leader?"

Li Changshou chuckled and said, "I've already made some arrangements, Ao Yi, just watch.

If I can't handle this dragon expert, I'll need you to step in immediately."

Ao Yi quickly replied, "Don't worry, Leader. If he dares cause trouble here today, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

"No need to be impatient. Let's see how he acts first. There's an old human saying: Haste makes waste, like trying to eat stinky tofu before it's ready."

"Leader, you are absolutely right. As for tofu, you want it to ferment thoroughly... uh..."

Li Changshou couldn't help but chuckle a couple of times, suddenly experiencing a hint of the mysterious joy of a great mage.

Before the laughter in the alchemy room subsided, in the An Shui City Hai Shen Temple, the middle-aged-looking dragon had already reached the entrance of the main hall.

This dragon had two purple horns on his head, wore a luxurious brocade robe, had a sinister face, and sharp eyes. He was about to step inside;

But as soon as he lifted his left foot, a loud shout came from the side:

"Stop!"

The middle-aged male dragon's brows furrowed slightly. He glanced sideways at the source of the shout, then stepped directly into the main hall with one foot.

There, a burly man wearing a bear skin coat, built like a mountain, strode over from the side.

This bear—cough, this person—was practically the top expert in Bear Village.

If judged purely from a cultivator's perspective, he was only at the second stage of the Return to Dao Realm, which was insignificant;

But his body exuded a fierce and murderous aura, and his terrifyingly strong physique seemed to contain the power to subdue dragons and tigers!

This person was none other than the one from Bear Village who had married a beautiful female cultivator. After who knows how many lonely nights of knocking out his eldest daughter, Xiong Lingli, he was now the sixth protector of the Hai Shen Cult in the South Sea, appointed by the Hai Shen as the future chief of Bear Village, Xiong Laosan!

However, Xiong Laosan was his old name from the past. Now, he had a grand name bestowed by the Hai Shen—

Xiong Buhuan.

Xiong Buhuan looked serious as he walked directly in front of this middle-aged male dragon and asked politely:

"Where do you come from, sir? What is your purpose at the main temple of the Hai Shen Cult?"

"Step aside," the middle-aged male dragon said coldly, "I'm here to see the Hai Shen. Since when is it your turn, a half-witch remnant, to speak?"

Ao Yi heard this and immediately became furious.

If not for the fact that he was currently projecting his divine sense, merely a jade carving, he would have rushed out to kick this middle-aged male dragon flying!

What kind of talk was that?

Calling the Bear Village divine envoy a half-witch remnant might be factual, but saying "Hai Shen" with such arrogance—was he courting death?!

However, contrary to what Ao Yi expected, Xiong Buhuan did not erupt in anger...

Xiong Buhuan just frowned with his short, thick brows and pondered for a moment, hearing the voice of the Hai Shen in his heart...

So, Xiong Buhuan declared loudly:

"We of Bear Village have been blessed by the Hai Shen and appointed by him as divine envoys, spreading the teachings of the Hai Shen Cult and protecting its followers.

This is the temple of the Hai Shen Cult, and I am its protector. How could it not be my place to speak?"

As he spoke, a golden light appeared on Xiong Buhuan's chest, forming a small shield of incense fire merit, clearly inscribed with the five big characters: "Hai Shen Cult Protector."

"I told you to step aside," the middle-aged male dragon said, looking down his nose at him with enlarged nostrils, "What, do you think your sturdy body gives you the right to fight me?"

Li Changshou continued to transmit his voice to Xiong Buhuan, not forgetting to remind him to pay attention to changes in his expression and emotional progression.

Xiong Buhuan frowned and said coldly: "Are you a follower of the Hai Shen Cult, sir?"

The dragon replied: "No. So what?"

"Then, are you a true dragon protector of the Hai Shen Cult?"

The dragon said again: "No. So what?"

Xiong Buhuan nodded calmly and smiled: "Since you're neither a follower of the Hai Shen Cult nor a true dragon protector, what gives you the right to enter this sacred ground of the Hai Shen Cult?"

The middle-aged male dragon's mouth twitched slightly as he said coldly: "What if I join the Hai Shen Cult right now and become a follower? Then what?"

Xiong Buhuan laughed heartily and, following the transmitted voice, calmly replied:

"Sorry, we don't accept."

"You!"

The middle-aged male dragon was furious, glaring at Xiong Buhuan and taking another step forward, forcing his way into the main hall with a provocative smile.

"I've just walked in like this. What are you going to do about it!"

In the alchemy room, Ao Yi was so angry he ground his teeth.

"This bastard! How is he so infuriating?"

"He probably wants the Bear Village divine envoy to make a move," Li Changshou analyzed carefully, a flash of insight in his mind as he suddenly thought of a possibility.

This matter was plotted by a Western Cult expert other than Wen Jing Dao Ren;

This dragon first deliberately exposed himself, wandered around here for a few circles, drawing ordinary people to the Hai Shen Temple and alerting the true dragon protectors of the Hai Shen Cult who usually cultivate on the edges of the South Sea...

Then, he deliberately provoked...

Could it be that he'll just fall after one hit? And then blame it on the Hai Shen Cult?

Is this an attempt at extortion?

A Western Cult expert, a dragon, engaging in extortion... Zhao Gongming once said he had dealt with quite a few Western Cult experts...

No, it's not that simple!

This dragon at the peak of the Tianxian Realm isn't just some Western Cult pawn or dragon traitor; he's merely bait!

Li Changshou suddenly realized, and a new storyline quickly formed in his mind.

How interesting—extortion directed at the master of extortion!

Li Changshou immediately said to Ao Yi:

"Ao Yi, quickly send a reliable dragon expert to An Shui City. I'll hold this dragon off for a while!

If I'm right, this dragon has likely been secretly tampered with and could die here at any moment!"

Ao Yi was startled but didn't ask why. He took out a palm-sized jade token, pressed it a few times to activate the restrictions, and spoke urgently into it.

On the other side, Li Changshou controlled the paper effigy and transmitted his voice to Xiong Buhuan again:

"Respond to him once, then step back immediately, close the temple doors, and have people persuade the ordinary folk to leave..."

And so, Li Changshou carefully instructed Xiong Buhuan.

Xiong Buhuan, who had already clenched his fists in anger, didn't dare disobey the Hai Shen's will. Thinking of the joy of his wife being pregnant and about to give birth to their third child, he suddenly broke into a happy smile.

This smile made the male dragon feel uneasy.

In fact, Xiong Buhuan even turned and made a inviting gesture...

"I can't do anything to you, sir, so please go ahead. But I do hope you'll show some respect to our Hai Shen."

With that, Xiong Buhuan turned and walked away without looking back.

The dragon was stunned. He truly hadn't expected that even after acting this way, this witch descendant still wouldn't strike!

Didn't they say that the witch race isn't very bright?

The middle-aged male dragon couldn't help but recall that shadowy figure and the words that figure had spoken...

A Golden Immortal opportunity, the path to immortality, all hinged on this scheme of his today...

The middle-aged male dragon narrowed his eyes and raised his left palm, gently clawing with his five fingers as a suction force burst from his palm.

Xiong Buhuan, already ten zhang away, stumbled backward.

But Xiong Buhuan reacted quickly, planting his feet in a horse stance and lowering his body; with two crisp cracks, his large feet shattered two glazed stone slabs!

He barely steadied himself.

"Did I say you could leave?"

The middle-aged male dragon spoke coldly; what he had done just now was casual, but now he was about to increase the force.

Right at that moment, a figure emerged from the broken stone slabs on the ground, blocking Xiong Buhuan just in time.

This person had white hair and a white beard, a lean face, holding a duster in his hand, wearing a clean white daoist robe, and exuding a calm, watery dao rhythm.

The dragon visitor furrowed his brows;

Naturally, he couldn't tell that this old immortal was an incarnation and thought a cultivator at the early Tianxian Realm had suddenly appeared.

This was, of course, Li Changshou's old immortal paper effigy.

Li Changshou gently flicked his duster and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, may I ask what brings you here?"

The middle-aged male dragon said coldly: "And who are you?"

Xiong Buhuan, not far away, turned and shouted: "He's an elder of our Hai Shen Cult! Don't you get too arrogant!"

"Alright, go on your way, Buhuan!"

"Yes, Elder, you carry on," Xiong Buhuan chuckled and strode out of the hall, calling over a dozen divine envoys to start ushering the ordinary people out of the temple.

Li Changshou thought it over; on one hand, he treated Xiong Buhuan like a junior, and on the other, he was constantly called "older brother" by Xiong Buhuan's daughter.

Truly, each to their own.

Li Changshou flicked his duster and smiled: "Fellow Daoist, why not come with me to the back hall for a seat?

If you have any urgent matters, you can tell me, and I'll make sure to report them to the Hai Shen."

"Hmph, I just think your Hai Shen Cult is too overbearing and bullies people too much!"

The middle-aged male dragon's left hand formed a claw, with a ball of flame flickering within it. "I'll tell you straight today—I'm here to smash your Hai Shen's idol!

How could my clan's Second Prince, Ao Yi, bow to a mere Hai Shen?

The Hai Shen Cult should rightfully belong to our dragon race!"

In the alchemy room, Ao Yi's forehead veins bulged, itching to teleport to An Shui City and fight this dragon to the death.

These were words that struck at the heart, every one a dagger!

The intent to stir trouble was now crystal clear!

And he had even thought earlier that this dragon had real business...

However, in the great hall, a few light laughs echoed.

"Well, I think you're right," the old immortal paper effigy nodded with a smile, "I agree with what you said. That's exactly what I think too."

The middle-aged male dragon was taken aback, then stared at the elder in front of him, his mouth twitching slightly.

Still not angry? Still not making a move?

Whether it was the witch protector or this Tianxian Realm elder, as long as someone from the Hai Shen Cult in the South Sea struck, this dragon would immediately follow the plan: fly outward, crash in front of the hall, spit blood, and injure himself severely.

That's right, he only needed to do that to seize the opportunity to become a Golden Immortal!

The middle-aged male dragon steeled his heart and took a few steps forward, advancing aggressively.

But Li Changshou's old immortal paper effigy agilely jumped to the side and said with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, why don't you just go ahead and smash the main idol?"

"You... why aren't you stopping me?"

"Why should I stop you?" Li Changshou spread his hands. "This temple was built with funds and effort from the dragon race, after all. As a dragon, if you want to smash it, that's perfectly reasonable—who would dare object?"

Li Changshou then said warmly, "Fellow Daoist, why not sit down and rest for a bit? I'll call a few divine envoys over right away.

How could we let you handle such physical labor yourself?"

The middle-aged male dragon nearly cursed out loud, but he sneered and, without another word, lunged straight at Li Changshou's paper effigy!

However, at that moment, the paper effigy just smiled with narrowed eyes and slowly pulled out a treasure bead from his sleeve.

A large recording bead!

The middle-aged male dragon paused, his face full of suspicion.

Li Changshou smiled and said: "Fellow Daoist, look at this bead—it's so big and round.

This is an improved treasure of mine, called the Twin Voice-Shadow Bead.

From the moment you arrived in front of the hall up to now, every action and expression of yours has been recorded in this voice-shadow bead.

And the images recorded in this bead will be simultaneously stored in another paired voice-shadow bead.

In other words, even if you destroy this bead, everything you've done is preserved without a single detail missing in a secret place thousands of miles away."

The middle-aged male dragon's face changed drastically, his eyes filled with ruthlessness, and in that instant, he was about to strike and kill this old daoist and destroy the voice-shadow bead.

But as he moved, Li Changshou gently flicked his duster.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a good look around before deciding whether to rough me up today."

The middle-aged male dragon scanned with his immortal sense and immediately paled.

He hadn't noticed it before, but now he saw that all around the main hall—hanging from the eaves, embedded in the beams, even in the eyes of the two idols, and in other corners...

At first glance, there were over a dozen recording beads!

The middle-aged male dragon's face darkened like water, while Li Changshou smiled and flicked his duster, sighing:

"Fellow Daoist, the sea of extortion is vast—turn back, and you'll find the shore.

I see you have a connection with the Hai Shen Cult, so why not listen to me explain some of its teachings?

I won't spread word of today's events. How about that?"

"You..."

The middle-aged male dragon furrowed his brows and sighed softly.

Forget it—he just wasn't fated to be a Golden Immortal. This plan had failed.

"Hmph, farewell!"

The middle-aged male dragon flung his sleeve and, without further ado, turned and headed toward the hall's exit.

But after just two steps, a sudden change occurred!

A splash of blood light surged from his left shoulder, forming a long sword that slashed straight for the middle-aged male dragon's neck!