Chapter 251: Is a Good Person

The Grandmaster returned swiftly, not keeping Wen Jing Daoist waiting long. Unusually, today the Grandmaster hadn't obscured his face, allowing his true appearance to be seen by Li Changshou... or rather, by the mosquito on his shoulder.

But a Grandmaster is a Grandmaster after all. Even though Wen Jing Daoist had tried her best to hide herself, and the Grandmaster hadn't been specifically wary of Li Changshou, he immediately detected Wen Jing Daoist's presence.

"Why is she here?"

"She came earlier to deliver a message to your disciple," Li Changshou hastily explained. "I'll send her back now." With that, a burst of Samadhi True Flame erupted from his palm, incinerating the blood mosquito.

In a certain cave dwelling, the fierce individual, clad in a red gauze dress, had already leaped into a nearby treasure pool, splashing water everywhere. Unfortunately, no one was there to witness it.

Meanwhile, back at the Sea God Temple, the Grandmaster chuckled as he asked Li Changshou if his main body intended to "hide" back at the Immortal Du Sect. Li Changshou, a little embarrassed, nodded vigorously in agreement. Absolutely!

Having been on edge during his journey here, Li Changshou felt a sudden surge of happiness knowing the Grandmaster himself would escort him back. Your humble servant Changshou is willing to shed blood for the Human Dao Sect... well, with certain limitations!

This time, the Grandmaster didn't use profound spatial magic but instead traveled slowly and steadily on a cloud through the night sky with Li Changshou, appearing somewhat preoccupied. Li Changshou wondered if the Grandmaster had perhaps guessed that the Saint had arranged a matchmaking attempt for him. And now, did he want his junior disciple to take the blame? That... he couldn't handle. That was the infamous Mosquito Daoist!

"Changshou, there's something I still need to remind you about."

Here it comes! Li Changshou thought, "Oh no," and quickly bowed, saying, "Your disciple is listening."

"No need to be so formal," the Grandmaster chuckled. "Among the Human Dao Sect, you are the most capable of easing Master's worries, and you and I are the closest. Right, it's like this: I made a trip to Three Immortals Island earlier."

Li Changshou: ... This script seems to be completely different from what I expected.

"You went to Three Immortals Island... for what?"

The Grandmaster raised a hand and patted the shoulder of Li Changshou's paper avatar. "Naturally, I went on this trip for you. I've inquired thoroughly; Junior Sister Yun Xiao has never harbored romantic feelings. Although this also means she temporarily has no such feelings for you, at least no one else will be competing with you!"

Competing... for her? Li Changshou couldn't help but tilt his head, and several question marks slowly appeared on his forehead. What in the world is this?

Li Changshou immediately felt torn between laughter and tears, and quickly said, "Grandmaster, do you perhaps think your disciple harbors improper thoughts about Senior Yun Xiao?"

"Oh?" Grandmaster Xuandu's eyes twinkled with amusement, as if reflecting stars. He smiled and said, "Ask your true heart if you are aware of your own feelings. When I was giving a lecture, I saw you and Junior Sister Yun Xiao traveling across the South Sea. One of you had a smile in your eyes, and the other's brows were furrowed in thought. These things cannot deceive."

Li Changshou frowned, coughed lightly, and said with a wry smile, "Of course, I have a good impression of her, but Grandmaster, your disciple has good impressions of more than one person. I would never dare to harbor such wild fantasies about Senior Yun Xiao." The main point is, the karma involved is too significant.

Seeing the Grandmaster smile without speaking, Li Changshou quickly added, "Grandmaster, your disciple believes that matters between men and women should be divided into stages."

"Oh? How do you divide the stages?" The Grandmaster immediately became interested.

Li Changshou replied, "First, there's a good impression, then a stirring of affection. If there's mutual attraction and suitable conditions, they can become a good couple."

The Grandmaster then asked, "What do you mean by 'good impression'?"

"Your disciple dares to share some of his thoughts," Li Changshou said. "A 'good impression' means finding someone to be admirable, which can be prompted by their appearance or influenced by their character. My good impression of Senior Yun Xiao comes from the latter; Senior Yun Xiao's demeanor is very appealing. However, for instance, within the Immortal Du Sect, I have a slight good impression of a certain martial uncle, and also of my junior sister, but these don't involve romantic feelings."

Grandmaster Xuandu also frowned slightly and asked, "Since you have good impressions, why haven't romantic feelings developed with them?"

"Firstly, your disciple is devoted to cultivation. Secondly, I feel the timing isn't right. Thirdly, regarding matters of marriage, your disciple must treat them with utmost caution." Li Changshou said earnestly, "The karma involved in becoming a Dao companion is too vast. To become a Dao companion with someone means bearing all the karma associated with that person. Furthermore, Grandmaster, you once taught your disciple that if one's mind is not settled on a matter, one's nature cannot be stable."

The Grandmaster pondered for a moment. "Fearing karma to the point of going against your heart is actually unhelpful for cultivation."

Li Changshou considered his words carefully, then smiled and said, "Your disciple believes that good impressions can actually accumulate. If good impressions accumulate to a certain degree, enough to make your disciple willing to stay with someone regardless of karma, then that is a stirring of affection. If my heart truly stirs, I would not go against my true nature or suppress my feelings, otherwise, it would contradict your teachings."

"Good," Grandmaster Xuandu nodded in satisfaction. "Actually, you only needed to tell me if you have a good impression of Junior Sister Yun Xiao. No need for such elaborate explanations. What, are you too embarrassed to admit it?"

"But Grandmaster, a good impression is not the same as a stirring of affection..."

The Grandmaster then added, "Junior Sister Yun Xiao also thinks your temperament is good."

"This?"

"She also said you're a good person."

"Cough!" Li Changshou lowered his head and coughed twice, once again feeling torn between laughter and tears. What kind of situation is this? Forced pairings are the most lethal!

The Grandmaster continued, "One can see that Junior Sister Yun Xiao holds no aversion towards you; in fact, she even has a degree of admiration, which is already quite rare. However, for someone like Junior Sister Yun Xiao, who is wholeheartedly devoted to the Great Dao, she won't be distracted by such matters. To win her over, you have a long and winding road ahead. But since you said you haven't had your heart stirred yet, I won't interfere further with this matter. Let nature take its course, and we'll see what happens."

Then, the Grandmaster said earnestly, "If it's about this matter, I'll help you in any way I can. And if you can bring a powerful helper to our Human Dao Sect, that would also be an excellent outcome."

Li Changshou: ... Why does it feel like I'm being used as a honey trap to poach from the Jie Sect?

Fortunately, the Grandmaster didn't bring up the matter again. Grandmaster Xuandu chatted with Li Changshou for a few more moments, then sent him back near the Immortal Du Sect. The Sea God Grand Ceremony had entered its dispersal phase. Li Changshou had already arranged all the necessary tasks beforehand, and with paper avatars on standby for emergencies, no errors would occur.

As they neared the Immortal Du Sect, the Grandmaster asked, "Now that you are a righteous deity of the Heavenly Courts, protected by the Heavenly Dao and enjoying its merits, has your Dao heart or state of mind been affected by this?"

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmaster. Your disciple should be fine." Li Changshou chuckled, "The one who became the Sea God is merely Li Chang Geng, the Sea God of the South Sea. What does that have to do with Li Changshou, the Heaven Immortal Realm disciple in the Immortal Du Sect?"

Grandmaster Xuandu blinked, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, repeatedly exclaiming "Splendid!" With that, the Grandmaster clasped his hands behind his back, took a step, and vanished from sight in an instant.

Li Changshou exhaled slightly in relief, immediately descended into the forest below, checked the sensitivity stone on his person, and then circled the area outside the sect gate a few times. Only when dawn approached did Li Changshou use Earth Escape to reach the Immortal Du Sect's gate, calling out for Ling'e to let him in. When he had left, Li Changshou had used a small subterranean displacement array he had secretly set up within the Immortal Du Sect's leylines. That displacement array was one-way and couldn't be used to return. To enter the sect's protective array without causing a stir, Li Changshou still lacked a few spiritual treasures for breaking formations.

A short while later, Ling'e flew from Little Qiong Peak to Potian Peak, retrieved an outdoor jade slip, and then rushed to the sect gate. The old gatekeeper... *cough*, the old immortal, still worriedly cautioned her, "A female disciple like you must be careful when going out. Your cultivation isn't high; don't fall prey to villains' schemes." Ling'e quickly nodded in response, saying she was just taking a walk nearby to find some herbs and then return to learn how to refine elixirs.

Flying out of the sect gate, Ling'e rode her cloud towards the forest her senior brother had mentioned. Li Changshou had been waiting there early. Seeing his junior sister's figure arriving on a cloud from above the treetops, he couldn't help but be a little lost in thought. Ling'e had rushed out after receiving the paper avatar's message, without a trace of makeup. Yet her pretty face was delicate and charming, her fair skin endearing. What was most precious was her innate fresh and lively aura, which seemed to overflow, especially in the morning sunlight. Ling'e's light green long dress, paired with a waist sash adorned with a few yellow jades, revealed much of her graceful figure. Her delicate beauty was already commendable, and it was rare to find her flawless.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, thinking that his junior sister, whom he had watched grow up, was still the most reliable and stable. Uh, the Grandmaster's influence was making him think all sorts of irrelevant things! But then again, perhaps he should change his attitude towards his junior sister, so she wouldn't be suspicious and could focus solely on cultivation?

"Hm?" Ling'e suddenly stopped about thirty feet away, her long eyelashes fluttering, and she immediately realized something. Something's wrong! Definitely something wrong!

"Hmph, Senior Brother, you're testing me again, aren't you?" Ling'e pouted and hummed lightly with a hint of displeasure. "You must have placed a paper figure there, and if I went over, I'd fall into a trap! Honestly, I heard you talking and rushed out immediately; I didn't even have time to tidy my hair!"

Li Changshou: ... He watched quietly. He watched Ling'e release two paper figures, which approached his paper avatar (that contained his main body), gradually exploring the surrounding fallen leaves and shallow grass, and even cautiously poked his cheek twice...

Never mind. I'll just keep teaching. She's still far from ready. Li Changshou shook his head. The paper avatar directly transformed into the appearance of a regular paper figure, and his main body emerged from behind it, turning into a small insect.

"Take me back now."

Ling'e blinked and quietly asked, "Senior Brother, when did you go out?"

"Guess," Li Changshou smiled calmly. "If you don't guess, copy the 'Stability Sutra' three hundred times. If you guess wrong, copy it five hundred times."

Ling'e: ... She suddenly wanted to leave her annoying senior brother outside!

After the Sea God Sect's Grand Ceremony, more than half of the pressure on Li Changshou's shoulders suddenly disappeared. This feeling was very distinct. Those from the Western Sect who had been continuously investigating the South Sea Sea God Sect had completely vanished. He had always worried that the Dragon race would resist the Heavenly Courts, but now he found that they were filled with longing for the Heavenly Courts, even willing to pay any price to help a group of dragon sons obtain low-ranking divine positions to help them escape their karma. Influenced by him, the Western Sect adjusted their strategy for taming dragons, also beginning to ease pressure on the Dragon race. The situation in the Four Seas began to relax.

Next, people from the Western Sect would likely come knocking, seeking a friendly exchange with him. At that time, Li Changshou would deliberately avoid meeting them, refusing any communication with the Western Sect. Otherwise, the other party could easily manipulate the situation, making the Dragon race believe that the Heavenly Courts and the Western Sect had merely put on a grand show. Li Changshou would naturally not fall for such schemes.

After returning to the mountain, Li Changshou met with his master and junior sister. He spoke to his master about matters concerning the Heavenly Courts and urged his junior sister to cultivate diligently. This time, Ling'e agreed quite readily, announcing on the spot that she would enter seclusion for three years, which almost made Li Changshou check if it was really her.

Ling'e's cheerful willingness to go into seclusion was related to Junior Uncle Jiu Jiu. Jiu Jiu regularly stayed in the card and chess room. Recently, Youqin Xuanya also often came to Little Qiong Peak to play. If Junior Uncle Jiu Jiu felt bored, she could invite Youqin Xuanya and Xiong Lingli to play 'Fight the Deities,' 'Simulate Immortal Life,' 'Three Realms Kill,' and other games. Moreover, the Little Qiong Peak card and chess room recently gained another regular member: the notorious Jiang Lin'er. Wang Fugui—*cough*, Forgotten Love Immortal—was in seclusion cultivating and comprehending the Golden Immortal Dao. Jiang Lin'er, worried about her Dao companion's cultivation, dared not enter long-term seclusion herself, and also wanted to pay more attention to the little tree spirit's condition, so she often came to Little Qiong Peak to play. Thus, Ling'e didn't have to worry about her Junior Uncle getting bored, allowing her to focus on cultivation for a period.

Ling'e was now extremely motivated in her cultivation. Recently, many female disciples within the sect had achieved immortality, undergoing qualitative changes in both their demeanor and skin condition! Because of this, Ling'e also solidified her belief in achieving immortality soon! If Li Changshou knew that his continuous "encouragement to study" was less effective than this reason, he wondered what he would feel. He'd probably give her a good beating, the kind where she's hung up.

For the past half-year, besides strategizing and planning, Li Changshou had also been diligently working on a small matter—researching divine power. He had already discovered that wherever his immortal consciousness covered, he could unleash the divine power bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. Of course, on land, he, as the Sea God, was like a fish without water, unable to exert much power. But if a paper avatar was on the open sea, he could use the immortal consciousness spread by the paper avatar to exert up to fifty percent of his divine power's effectiveness. The abilities of the Sea God's divine power included, but were not limited to: initiating tsunamis, guiding schools of fish, assisting marine life in reproduction, and increasing the survival rate of marine offspring. From the current perspective, it wasn't of great use.

This Sea God Sect Grand Ceremony also had a massive impact on the Sea God Sect itself, ushering in another period of rapid temple expansion. The prestige of the Sea God and the Heavenly Emperor quickly spread throughout the vast southwestern regions of Jambudvipa. This time, it was no longer limited to coastal areas. However, Li Changshou had made development plans in advance. He could compete with wild gods for merit, but he could not seize the offerings of the Dao Sects.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. Li Changshou informed Ao Yi with a spiritual message, telling him to meet his paper avatar at the Sea God Temple in Anshui City. It was time to officially visit the Heavenly Courts, sign in at the Tongming Hall, punch in at the High Heavens Palace, and formally become a part of the Heavenly Courts! Of course, the one going this time was still... one of the paper avatars of his main body.

'Junior Sister Yun Xiao, how about we make a bet?'

On Three Immortals Island, in a secluded pavilion by a cliff, the graceful figure meditating quietly on a cushion slowly opened a pair of clear eyes. "Sigh, Senior Brother Xuandu, needlessly disturbing my state of mind with such matters." Yun Xiao elegantly turned her hand, and the scroll appeared in her palm. She opened it and quietly looked at it, then slightly shook her head. "Overthinking would only lead to mental turmoil and fall right into Senior Brother Xuandu's calculations. It's better to let this matter be, let my heart decide, and not worry about anything. One must know one's true heart and nature to understand the Dao of creation." After murmuring a few words, Yun Xiao gently raised her hand and pointed. The scroll flew to a corner of the room and hung itself behind a blue curtain. Then, the chief disciple of the Jie Sect's outer gate showed a faint smile at the corner of her lips. She closed her eyes and focused, quickly immersing herself in the Great Dao, with subtle and profound Dao rhythms surrounding her.