Chapter 205: No One Can Defeat Me in This Realm

In a remote area where the South Sea and West Sea converged, amidst several large arrays.

Zhao Gongming looked down at the two disciples of the Western Sect. With a casual sweep of his hand, he smoothed the vast waves that had risen on the sea, as the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls slowly rotated.

In front of him, the two Western Sect experts had blood at the corners of their mouths and their auras trembled, yet they were held firmly in place by the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, unable to move.

At this moment, the two old Daoists wore extremely complex expressions: fear, helplessness, and, most prominently, anger.

It was the second time!The second time!

Although this time, they had deliberately plotted against Daoist Huanglong of the Chan Sect first, and even borrowed Zhao Gongming's unique method of calculation...

However, they hadn't harmed Daoist Huanglong at all! They had merely reenacted a scenario based on their past experience of being falsely accused!

Zhao Gongming, without a word, charged forward and gave them a sound beating, causing them to lose thousands of years of their cultivation. This feud was truly established!

Zhao Gongming was also stroking his beard and pondering at this moment.

He had struck them a bit too hard earlier, holding back too little strength, causing these two Western saint disciples to suffer losses in their cultivation and spiritual essence.

This time, he wasn't exactly in the right.

From the side, the tall, slender Daoist stepped forward and bowed, his eyes filled with gratitude as he said: "Thank you, Junior Brother Gongming, for the rescue! Had you not appeared, this humble Daoist truly wouldn't have known what to do."

Zhao Gongming let out a dry chuckle and said, "It's a mere trifle, Senior Brother Huanglong, there's no need to dwell on it."

The tall, slender Daoist took two steps forward, looked at the two simply dressed, sorrowful Western Daoists before him, and quietly asked: "Junior Brother Gongming, what should we do now?"

Zhao Gongming asked via voice transmission, "Did they lay hands on you earlier, Senior Brother?"

"No, not really..." The tall, slender Daoist replied with a wry smile. "This humble Daoist had just returned from a friend's cave-dwelling in the South Sea when I encountered the two of them. They said they had a fine treasure they wished for me to observe. Unexpectedly, upon arriving here, they began arguing with each other and even started fighting. One of them fell to the ground, spitting blood, appearing severely injured. The other, however, turned to me and asked why I had harmed his senior brother... This humble Daoist truly did not lay a hand on them, absolutely not, and even urged them not to fight so fiercely!"

Zhao Gongming frowned instantly.

These two, whom he had previously 'encountered,' were now playing new tricks?

No, that's not right!

If this is their tactic, the other party must have secretly prepared a treasure or array for recording... This would be truly difficult to deal with.

Zhao Gongming's legs suddenly buckled, and with fluid, natural movements, he collapsed directly in front of the three. With a dramatic 'wah,' he spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, his face pale, his breath trembling, and his Dao charm flickering.

Regardless, lying down first was the priority!

The two old Daoists, sealed by the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, felt even greater grief and indignation in their eyes, yet they remained utterly unable to move.

In fact, if Zhao Gongming were to retract the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls at this moment, these two Western Sect experts wouldn't utter a single harsh word; they would simply turn and leave.

At that moment, the tall, slender old Daoist was completely bewildered. He looked left, then right, and transmitted his voice to Zhao Gongming: "Junior Brother Gongming, should this humble Daoist lie down as well?"

"No," Zhao Gongming replied calmly, quickly transmitting his voice. "I'll hold them steady here first! Senior Brother, quickly go to Southern Jambu Continent. Just find any Sea God Temple along the coast of the South Sea and seek out the Sea God of the South Sea. Once the Sea God's avatar appears, Senior Brother Huanglong, explain the events here to him and ask for a solution. I will certainly go thank the Sea God later!"

The tall, slender old Daoist became even more confused.

However, hearing the urgency in Zhao Gongming's words, this expert, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, didn't ponder further. He immediately cast his divine ability, burst out of the grand array, and shot northwards.

This... this Primordial World... Had times changed?

On Little Qiong Peak.

The story of his grandmaster and Master Wuzhi's reconciliation truly proved difficult to orchestrate.

However, this effort was not in vain; although the two had not yet confessed their feelings to each other, they were now able to communicate normally.

At most two more attempts, and they would be passionately harmonious, enjoying true bliss.

Li Changshou used his immortal sense to observe his junior grandmaster and Master Wuzhi, who had gone for a stroll in the back mountains of Little Qiong Peak. A poetic impulse rose within him, and he couldn't help but muse, silently reciting in his mind:'Once a pair of mandarin ducks,Twice they quarreled, then estranged.Though celestial mates, they say,One was tsundere, one repressed.'

"Not bad, not bad, progress indeed, and it rhymes!"

Li Changshou suddenly heard a few gentle chants from behind him. It was his junior sister, Ling'e, playing the guqin. She softly parted her crimson lips, and as her fingertips danced upon the strings, she sang:'Falling petals linger,Tired birds sink into rosy feathers.What thoughts of you arise?I cherish my colorful robes.'

Li Changshou cast a glance at her. Ling'e immediately stopped playing, pursed her lips, and offered her senior brother a slight, silly grin.

She wasn't implying anything at all!

"Fifty recitations of the 'Stability Sutra'."

"Oh," Ling'e immediately looked crestfallen.

Xiong Lingli had already gone to the spirit beast garden to feed the spirit beasts. She truly couldn't appreciate or adapt to the atmosphere here, fearing she might fall asleep and snore loudly, disturbing them.

Just like how she used to frequently disturb her parents at night before she left home.

Li Changshou continued to observe Master Wuzhi and his own grandmaster for a while longer.

Master Wuzhi had set up immortal power around them, preventing Li Changshou from hearing their conversation without alerting her.

Just then...

Several shadowy figures slyly approached, flying on clouds just above the treeline from the foot of Little Qiong Peak.

Leading them was the short Daoist, Jiu Wu, whose height was definitely no more than five feet.

Behind Jiu Wu were Jiu Shi, Jiu Lu'er, Jiu Qi, and one more, who had wrapped herself entirely in a blanket, with only a small face peeking out... Oh, Jiu Jiu.

Dressed like that, Li Changshou almost didn't recognize her.

As soon as his junior grandmaster returned, Jiu Jiu reacted as if she had encountered her natural enemy;

Had her senior sisters and brothers not insisted on pulling her along, she certainly wouldn't have left her luxurious grand array!

These five, including senior brothers, junior brother, senior sister, and junior sister, together stealthily approached the thatched hut by the lake.

Li Changshou had already transmitted his voice to Jiu Wu and Jiu Jiu, instructing them to pretend to be admiring the calligraphy and paintings there.

Coming to Little Qiong Peak to practice the art of gossip was naturally permissible, as long as they didn't disturb the two who were preparing to delve into the Great Dao of Yin and Yang.

A moment later, Master Wuzhi's five disciples stealthily entered the 'art exhibition' illusion array. Li Changshou then directly deactivated the array, allowing them to clearly observe the situation in the back mountains.

Not long after, Jiu Wu, stooping low, quietly approached Li Changshou and asked with concern: "Changshou, how are things here?"

"What is Uncle-Master inquiring about?"

"My master and your grandmaster, of course! Don't play dumb with me, your Uncle-Master!"

Jiu Wu, face-to-face, asked via voice transmission: "Have they reconciled?"

"Well, I don't know either. I'm just a junior disciple; I wouldn't dare inquire about the romantic affairs of these esteemed seniors."

Li Changshou smiled calmly, transmitting his voice back: "Uncle-Master, how do the other Uncle-Masters and Aunt-Masters of the 'Jiu' generation view this matter?"

"How else could we view it? We are disciples; how could we possibly interfere with our master's affairs?"

Jiu Wu smiled and continued via voice transmission: "This is naturally a great joyous occasion. We heard our Senior Sister mention many times, long ago, that Master had a deeply beloved woman. Many times, Master would stare blankly at a portrait alone; even though the portrait had lost its colors and was blurry, Master still refused to put it away. After Xiao Jiu joined the sect, Master brought her here a few times, and that's when some of us realized that the woman Master cherished in his heart was this Aunt-Master Jiang."

Jiu Wu paused, then chuckled twice, and asked via voice transmission: "If this truly comes to pass, what congratulatory gift will you offer my master, nephew?"

Li Changshou smiled and said, "My expertise lies in nothing more than elixirs and wine."

Jiu Wu immediately winked repeatedly. "My master has profound cultivation and has maintained his purity all these years; why would he need such things!"

"Oh?" Li Changshou blinked. "Listening to Uncle-Master, it seems you haven't exactly maintained your purity yourself? Uncle-Master Jiu Shi, please don't draw your sword!"

"Ah!"

Jiu Wu was utterly startled. He leaped out in one step, like lightning, and plunged straight into the lake.

Jiu Wu turned his head and saw Li Changshou standing alone under the willow tree, while his own Dao companion was over ten zhang away, ostensibly 'appreciating' paintings with the junior brothers and sisters, but secretly observing the movements in the back mountain.

Jiu Wu glared at Li Changshou, his eyes filled with resentment.

The short Daoist sheepishly emerged from the lake, shaking off the water from his Daoist robe. He stomped his feet and cursed via voice transmission: "You know how to trick your Uncle-Master!"

Li Changshou calmly looked at the sky and chuckled via voice transmission: "Uncle-Master, do you have a guilty conscience? Could it be that you went to find that fox demon suppressed outside the mountain gate?"

"Go away, don't needlessly tarnish my good name!"

Jiu Wu put his hands in his sleeves and grumbled irritably: "My devotion to your Uncle-Master Jiu Shi is witnessed by the sun and moon, proven by heaven and earth—I have absolutely no second thoughts! Ahem, let's talk about something serious. Changshou, my Senior Sister heard that Aunt-Master Jiang has many friends outside... What do you think, among these people, might there be someone... well, it's not good to put it like this. As disciples, we're just a bit worried that a few people might suddenly appear and vie for Master's affections. That would certainly affect Master's cultivation state of mind, and Master's tribulation is imminent. In such a situation, it's best to avoid it if possible."

Li Changshou said seriously, "I will ask Grandmaster about this later, Uncle-Master, there's no need to worry."

Jiu Wu quickly said, "Then I shall trouble you, Nephew Changshou."

"This is merely a small matter," Li Changshou transmitted his voice. "Uncle-Master, I also have something I'd like to ask of you."

"Oh? Do tell."

Li Changshou took a scroll from his embrace, tucked it directly into Jiu Wu's arms, and whispered: "These are some small suggestions for Grand-Uncle-Master Wuzhi. My grandmaster is, after all, a bit thin-skinned; it's better for the man to be more proactive in this matter."

Jiu Wu's eyes lit up. Without a trace, he slipped the scroll into the storage pouch sewn within his sleeve.

The two exchanged glances, each smiling knowingly.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Jiu Shi called from behind. "Wu Wu, come here, what do you think of this painting? I want to exchange spirit stones for it and take it back to decorate our room."

Jiu Wu acknowledged her and immediately scurried back.

Li Changshou, however, said in a clear voice: "The paintings here are all just practice works by this disciple during his idle moments. If any Uncle-Masters or Aunt-Masters fancy them, please feel free to take them."

Master Wuzhi's seventh disciple, Jiu Qi, laughed from the side: "This level is just practice work? Nephew, do you have any completed masterpieces? Bring them out to broaden our horizons."

Li Changshou immediately shook his head with a smile.

Beside him, Jiu Wu laughed, "Seventh Junior Brother, don't ask too much about this. You absolutely must not see Nephew Changshou's masterpieces!"

Li Changshou, for his part, didn't say much.

In truth, the 'masterpieces' Uncle-Master Jiu Wu knew about were merely 'The Hundred Beauties in Old Age' and 'The Hundred Beauties Growing Old,' which were only minor achievements.

He now had even more impactful ones!

Without any warning, a faint call echoed in Li Changshou's mind... "Is the Sea God there... Sea God... Fellow Daoist... can you hear me..."

The calls were intermittent, the 'signal' exceedingly weak.

Li Changshou's left hand was tucked into his sleeve. He immediately performed a quick divination with his fingers, and a strand of his divine sense followed the sound, settling upon one of his statues that was being called.

Upon reaching this particular statue, Li Changshou was momentarily surprised.

This was not an 'official Sea God statue'.

This place was a coastal fishing village where a clay statue was worshipped, bearing two large characters: 'Sea God'...

However, this place was also where he gathered incense offerings and merits, so this clay statue had indeed formed a connection with him.

Such a simple clay statue was not counted among his current total of over 23,600 statues.

But on second thought, to be able to directly alert his true Sea God form in such a place, and even transmit the call into his mind...

The person calling was no ordinary being.

Li Changshou used his divine sense to observe the Daoist standing before the clay statue, a person who looked somewhat familiar, though he couldn't recall where he had seen him. He carefully scrutinized the other party for a while.

This person was tall and slender, dressed in a loose, light yellow Daoist robe, with a common Daoist hairpin. His palms were like cattail fans, and his overall demeanor exuded a sense of free and unrestrained elegance.

His face was distinct and unusual, with a broad and long forehead. His eyes were long and narrow, somewhat resembling the eye shape of his own second sect master, Ao Yi...

Furthermore, a faint pressure emanated from him, coupled with a subtle, profound Dao rhythm of returning to simplicity.

In terms of cultivation, he was undoubtedly an expert.

The old Daoist cupped his hands again and called out, "Sea God, Sea God, can you hear me? Has the Sea God arrived?"

A mortal auntie carrying a bamboo basket happened to pass by and couldn't help but remind him: "You old man are really strange, why are you shouting randomly at the Sea God statue? This is just a small statue we brought back. If you truly want to worship the Sea God, you should go to the large temple in the city!"

"Ah, thank you for the reminder, thank you for the reminder."

The old Daoist wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned, and immediately flew off on a cloud towards the nearest large city.

The passing auntie couldn't help but be startled. The bamboo basket on her wrist fell to the ground, scattering its contents everywhere...

Old salted fish.