Chapter 245: As Expected of You

What's going on?

In the backyard of Doushuai Palace, under the trees, Xuandu Great Mage, who had been resting with his eyes closed and cultivating in his dreams, slowly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of helplessness.

He had been assigned a task by his teacher again.

Xuandu Great Mage carefully calculated and quickly figured out what had happened.

"It's rare that I don't have to fight this time; I just need to go and support Longevity in handling things."

Xuandu Great Mage chuckled lightly and closed his eyes again.

This matter was still three years away, so there was no need to rush. He could sleep... ahem, continue cultivating for a while.

Several months later,

On Jin'ao Island,

Aoyi rode the clouds away from the cave where he and Jiang Si Er were cultivating. He flew halfway around the island's perimeter and landed at the edge of a peach blossom grove.

He bowed toward the front, then stood tall with a youthful face showing a slight smile, and called out:

"Aoyi requests an audience with Jinguang Shimu!"

"Hmm?"

The peach blossoms in the grove swirled, and two graceful figures emerged from within.

These were two young women: one in a light yellow short skirt and the other in a fiery red long skirt. The first had a petite and delicate figure, a charming face, and a beaming smile, while the second had skin as fair as snow outshining frost, with her dress collar like flames, accentuating her slender form.

Aoyi recalled from memory and recognized the latter, so he quickly said: "Aoyi pays respects to Jinguang Shimu and greets Huoling Shijie."

Huoling Shengmu asked softly: "Who is this?"

Jinguang Shengmu laughed: "This is Wuyun Xian's disciple, the second prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, Aoyi."

"My apologies," Huoling Shengmu said with a smile and a nod, returning the bow to Aoyi.

Aoyi bowed in return, ensuring his etiquette was impeccable.

Jinguang Shengmu asked: "Aoyi, what brings you here? You've never come to see me before."

"It's like this," Aoyi said with a smile. "In two years, on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month, the Nanhai Sea God Cult will hold a grand Sea God ceremony. As someone who receives incense from the Sea God Cult,

my elder brother, the cult leader, wants to invite immortals from Jiejiao to attend. He originally thought of inviting Zhao Gongming Shishu, but for something as minor as the Sea God Cult, it would be overkill to trouble Zhao Gongming Shishu.

So, the leader sent me to invite you, Jinguang Shimu, to see if you have time to attend."

Jinguang Shengmu laughed: "Is that all? Then I'll agree.

By the way, Sister Huoling, would you like to come along?

That Sea God is no ordinary figure. This is a good chance to introduce you to him. He's from Renjiao and is on good terms with several senior disciples of Jiejiao. He's quite knowledgeable and speaks very pleasantly!"

Huoling Shengmu smiled warmly and said gently: "Since I have nothing else to do, I'll accompany you on this trip, Shimu."

"Call me sister! 'Shimu' makes me sound so old!"

"Alright, alright, sister."

Aoyi blinked, realizing these two had a good relationship and addressed each other casually.

Once he confirmed that the two Shengmu would attend, Aoyi provided the exact date and location, then bid farewell and rode the clouds away...

Aoyi naturally knew that Huoling Shengmu had entered the sect earlier and was a direct disciple of Duobao Daoist, the chief disciple of Jiejiao, making her effectively the senior sister of the third generation in Jiejiao.

In a certain sense, as a saint's direct grand-disciple, her status was even weightier than that of Jinguang Shengmu, who was a second-generation non-direct disciple.

With an additional Shengmu coming to observe the ceremony, he needed to inform the cult leader brother right away...

Aoyi rode the clouds back to his cave on Jin'ao Island. Seeing that his wife, Jiang Si Er, was still asleep, he sat by the bed to meditate and began a divine sense communication with the cult leader...

A moment later,

"Huoling Shengmu?"

In the underground chamber of Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou pondered for a while and felt it wasn't a big issue.

Among the Shengmu of Jiejiao, Huoling Shengmu and Jinguang Shengmu were relatively lower in rank. Whether one or two attended, it wouldn't have much impact.

The Jiejiao guests were confirmed, and the Dragon Clan had replied a few days ago; Huanglong Zhenren had been notified personally...

The 'observation group' was mostly set.

To reduce the chances of interference from the West, Li Changshou and Aoyi had announced it externally as the 'Sea God Cult Ceremony,' not the Sea God Enfeoffment Ceremony.

Using this pretext, the Sea God Cult could openly expand in the south of Anshui City, on the shores of the South Sea, building a massive venue...

At that time, numerous mortals would gather to witness this important moment.

The Sea God Cult now had over 20,000 official temples and countless believers, influencing a vast area in the southwest of Nanzhanbuzhou.

With a single order from Li Changshou, the manpower and resources he could mobilize were not to be underestimated.

For this event, Li Changshou didn't mobilize his followers for labor. Instead, he used the Sea God Cult's reserves to hire many mortal craftsmen.

Motivated by payment, these craftsmen worked with great enthusiasm, and the project progressed rapidly.

In just half a year, the ceremony venue had taken initial shape.

The incense 'income' of the Sea God Cult was quite substantial. After covering the cult's operations and rewards for the divine messengers and temple priests, most of the wealth was distributed by Li Changshou to the poor mortals in the cult's area.

He didn't need this 'wealth' for his own cultivation, and doing so could resolve some of the karma from incense merits...

Most of the Xiongzhai divine messengers had arrived in Anshui City, each busy with tasks assigned by the Sea God.

The true dragons stationed as protectors for the Sea God Cult weren't idle either; they were responsible for clearing waterways, building water facilities, and ensuring three years of good weather in Anshui City...

Thus, with heaven's timing, geographical advantages, and human harmony all in place,

the ceremony was being prepared in an orderly and intensive manner.

Li Changshou himself was far from idle.

Besides regularly teaching Ling'e, occasionally resolving doubts for Youqin Xuanya, and teasing his little shishu from time to time, he paused his pill refining and array base creation to fully prepare for the enfeoffment ceremony!

Becoming an official god of the Heavenly Court was a crucial step in his immortal life.

It would allow him to escape the future Fengshen calamity, earn more heavenly merits, get closer to Doushuai Palace, and receive protection from the Heavenly Dao.

Moreover...

Once he became an official god of the Heavenly Court, he would indirectly become a subordinate of the Heavenly Dao. Wouldn't it be reasonable for the Heavenly Dao to go easy on him during his Golden Immortal tribulation?

Just kidding, just kidding.

The Heavenly Dao is impartial and selfless; it's neither a living being nor a simple will of heaven and earth—there's no backdoor to exploit.

To become a Golden Immortal, he still had to rely on his own efforts;

To attain the fruit of eternal life, he would still have to endure trials.

Li Changshou had long prepared himself mentally for this.

Two months before the Sea God Ceremony, the shores of the South Sea were festive, as if celebrating a holiday.

From above, one could see many mortals traveling on the roads, voluntarily heading to the south of Anshui City to offer incense to the Sea God.

The ceremony venue was ready;

A high platform stood on the South Sea coast, with a large area divided into over a hundred sections, each equipped with railings and barriers to prevent stampedes from crowds.

The Heavenly Court side was prepared;

Dongmu Gong had already received the decree and was waiting with tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers near the South Heaven Gate, ready to make a grand entrance at noon on the ninth of the fifth month.

For the heavenly soldiers' appearance, the main idea was to make it spectacular, so Li Changshou had designed several sets of dazzling light effect formations...

Additionally, there was the Heavenly Court congratulatory group led by Yue Lao, a group of veteran immortals who would descend to offer congratulations.

The Dragon Clan side was mostly ready;

The Four Seas Dragon Palaces' observation group was assembled, led by the four princes, including Dragon Clan elders, protectors, over three hundred experts, and thousands of immortal flood dragon soldiers as escorts.

Apart from the Four Seas Dragon Kings, the rest of the dragons had no idea what would happen at this Sea God Ceremony.

This was mainly a performance for them to see.

The other observation guests were also mostly sorted out.

Why 'mostly'?

Li Changshou felt a bit helpless about this.

When Aoyi went to invite Jinguang Shengmu that day, Huoling Shengmu happened to be there, so she was invited along.

But later, whether Jinguang Shengmu took the initiative to invite others or Huoling Shengmu mentioned it to someone, Jiejiao ended up with dozens of immortals planning to join in the fun.

Li Changshou had truly underestimated the appeal of these two 'Shengmu,' especially their influence on male immortals!

For the ceremony's security, Li Changshou had put in a lot of effort.

The paper daoist legion was already in position, each carrying a large number of immortal beans.

The Xiongzhai divine messengers had formed two special patrol teams to maintain order on the day, and under Li Changshou's guidance, they set up a 'fake Dutian God-Slaying Minor Array,' purely for intimidation.

This was part of the 'head series' he had previously conceived.

Li Changshou had prepared everything possible for this ceremony.

However, he still had two things on his mind that he couldn't decide.

First, whether to invite people from the Underworld to observe and let them feel the mighty heavenly aura.

Second, whether his true body should go to receive the enfeoffment.

The first issue was easy to solve.

He had laid groundwork with the ox-head in the Underworld before, so with an invitation and a paper daoist, he could likely get Underworld guests to come.

Li Changshou hesitated because he didn't want to make the already messy Dragon Clan affairs even more chaotic.

After thinking it over carefully, he decided to invite the Underworld guests.

After all, in the context of the Nanhai Sea God Cult, the 'witches' were an important component. Having Underworld figures appear could give the Dragon Clan more food for thought.

It could also open the door to gaining Underworld merits.

But the second issue involved his own life and safety. Li Changshou had been agonizing over it for two years and still couldn't make up his mind.

Taking his true body out without the Great Mage's protection or the small pagoda's cover... it felt utterly insecure!

Yet, he had a premonition that when the Heavenly Court god position descended, his true body would be locked by the Heavenly Dao.

At that time, his origins would be easily exposed!

Moreover, receiving the Heavenly Court's enfeoffment with an incarnation might seem like slighting the Heavenly Court, which would go against the purpose of this ceremony.

On top of that, the Jade Emperor was someone who could secretly monitor the heavenly generals with his own incarnations...

He might even note it down!

Not going with his true body was inappropriate;

Going out carried risks.

Li Changshou kept pondering solutions as time slipped by.

Finally, half a month before the ceremony, he gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and decided to have his true body go receive the god position!

For the rise of the Heavenly Court and the well-being of the three realms, this time, he could truly be said to be...

Taking a great risk!

Hmm, Li Changshou almost moved himself to tears.

Breaking free from his usual mindset and thinking differently, Li Changshou suddenly saw the light, and a fairly good plan came to mind.

To use the true to confuse the false!

He would have his true body disguise as his own paper daoist.

Li Changshou immediately started arranging it, activating his ultimate paper daoist masterpiece—the Number One True Body Edition!

He waved his hand over the desk, and a two-foot-long paper daoist appeared on the surface.

This paper daoist was half a foot thick, covered in intricate prohibitions and talismans, with surging Heavenly Immortal power flowing inside.

On the back of the paper daoist, there was a small 'window';

Li Changshou formed hand seals, and the window slowly opened, revealing a hollow cavity wrapped in prohibitions.

He cast a transformation spell, turning into an insect, and entered through the window;

Then, he controlled the paper daoist from zero distance to stand up and transform into the fixed appearance of the Nanhai Sea God, that of an elderly immortal...

With his true body hidden inside the incarnation, true and false mixed among the immortals.

Soon after, the paper daoist returned to its paper form, and Li Changshou's true body emerged from its back, resuming its original shape.

He first used a bone-shrinking spell to make his figure match that of the Nanhai Sea God paper daoist, then put on a white wide-sleeved robe.

After that, Li Changshou sat at the desk, took out a bronze mirror, and began carefully applying makeup and disguise to himself...

Spells could be seen through, but this kind of 'physical' disguise was safe...

In the end, his true body's appearance matched the youthful look of the elderly immortal's skin.

Then, he put on a half-face mask and cast an illusion spell before transforming into an insect and entering the paper daoist's body.

Not long after, this paper daoist carrying his true body left the underground of Xiaoqiong Peak;

Without alarming anyone, it quietly slipped out of the Duxian Sect's mountain-protecting array and headed toward the South Sea...

On the eve of the Sea God Enfeoffment Ceremony, Li Changshou's true body had secretly arrived at the back hall of the Nanhai Sea God Cult, hidden inside the paper daoist, guarding beneath the portrait of Tongtian Jiaozhu.

With his immortal sense sweeping out, he saw hundreds of bonfires lit at the ceremony site, with countless mortals singing and dancing there.

In a few more hours, guests from all sides would arrive...

'Sigh, at such an important moment, it's a pity I don't have a friend to share the feelings with.'

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, not feeling it was anything bad.

Better to endure a bit of solitude now; in the future, there would be endless years of leisure...

"You sly Sea God!"

Out of nowhere, a voice full of resentment scolded from outside the back hall.

Li Changshou was startled and hadn't even stood up yet;

A burly man with a beard jumped straight into the back hall, striding forward with great momentum, hands on his hips and head held high, scolding with a laugh:

"Say it!

Sea God, do you not consider me Zhao Gongming a friend? You invited so many Jiejiao immortals to observe the ceremony but left me out!

Believe it or not, I'll lie down in your Sea God temple today and never get up!"