Chapter 254: Human Education Primary Six Prodigy

The Sage Master's method of imparting knowledge was simply... too overbearing. Yet, within that domineering approach, there was a subtle touch of meticulousness.

The insights Laozi imparted were purely related to alchemy; there was not a single word to elevate my Dao realm, nor did the Saintly Dao resonance have any discernible effect on me. Could it be that Laozi also felt I wasn't stable enough to undergo the Golden Immortal tribulation yet, and therefore wanted me to prepare more? That must be it!

I still need to review everything again later. Ideally, I should gain a more direct understanding of the Golden Immortal tribulation...

As these thoughts raced through Li Changshou's mind, his paper effigy in the Tushita Palace opened its eyes, but Laozi was nowhere to be seen. He dared not delay; he quickly stood up and hurried towards the palace exit. Something was happening outside...

Outside the Tushita Palace, a peculiar sight unfolded: a human and a dragon, both at the Heavenly Immortal realm, were 'wrestling' in a tangled heap right in front of the palace gate. It was indeed a brawl. Ao Yi was straddling Bian Zhuang, unleashing a flurry of punches on Bian Zhuang's handsome face, leaving him bruised and swollen.

Bian Zhuang roared, suddenly kicked Ao Yi away, and angrily shouted:“You hit my face! We're not brothers anymore!” With that, he lunged forward, pinned Ao Yi down, and retaliated with a barrage of punches to his face.

What was going on? Were they trying to kill each other? What kind of ruckus were they causing in front of a Saint's abode?!

Wait, brothers?

Li Changshou felt a bit bewildered, wondering if the Sage Master's spiritual anointing had perhaps impaired his intellect. But upon closer inspection, neither of them was using much immortal power; it was as if they were merely drunk and venting their emotions. To the side lay a few wine cups, nearby was a wooden hoe broken in half, and further away, an overturned low table and several shattered wine jars...

The area where they fought was enveloped by a familiar Dao resonance; it must have been the Grand Master who acted to conceal the scene of the human and dragon brawling.

Li Changshou: ...

What exactly had happened over the past three years? One had previously threatened to kill the other, and the other had once been infatuated with the first's appearance while cross-dressing. Yet now, they were calling each other brothers and engaging in a brotherly fistfight... Li Changshou felt his head was about to explode.

Calm down, be steady. The absurdities of this world always exceed one's imagination.

Li Changshou walked quickly, using this brief lull to swiftly complete a series of self-checks. His main body continued to meditate, digesting the remaining Saintly alchemy insights. The benefits he gained in the Tushita Palace this time were immense. Laozi had pointed out a path in alchemy that could directly lead to the very end of the Dao of alchemy. The Six-Revolutions Spirit Elixir beckoned, and the Nine-Revolutions Golden Elixir was no longer just a dream!

Meanwhile, Li Changshou divided his consciousness into four parts: one to observe the situation of the Four Seas Dragon Clan, another to check the paper effigy storage and back hall of the Sea God Temple in Anshui City, a third to investigate the situation on Little Qiong Peak, and a fourth to examine the general state of the sect. He even spared some mental effort to tidy the hairstyle of this old immortal-skin paper effigy...

Fortunately, everything seemed stable; there were no major changes over the past three years. Of course, this was just a quick observation. To be safe, he would need to conduct a thorough investigation later to gather information from the past three years.

He temporarily withdrew his consciousness and hastened to the main gate of the Tushita Palace. Li Changshou saw Laozi's two attendants sitting on a nearby wall, swinging their feet, and murmuring to each other with great interest:“They're fighting so ugly!”“Should we go help? I'll help Bian Zhuang, you help Ao Yi?”“Alright, then I'll just stop you while helping Ao Yi! Take this punch!”“Heh, Bagua Melting Metal Firewood Palm!”

With a few light shouts, the two attendants tumbled off the wall into the backyard, quickly... becoming entangled in their own brawl. As expected of enlightened attendants, they didn't seem particularly bright...

Li Changshou paid no further attention to the attendants' antics. He quickly exited the palace gate and suddenly saw the Grand Master standing calmly in front of it, watching Ao Yi and Bian Zhuang's mutual assault. Previously, Li Changshou's immortal sense had completely failed to detect the Grand Master's presence. It was in such casual moments that one's true cultivation realm became apparent.

“Awake already? What did you gain?” the Grand Master asked with a smile.

Li Changshou sighed, “Laozi’s Dao of alchemy is profound and extensive; your disciple will need to carefully ponder it. It will certainly benefit me for life.”

“Ah, Laozi is the Master’s incarnation, and he shares the Master’s temperament,” the Grand Master said with a wry smile. “He always keeps things simple rather than making them complicated. Even I slept for half a day back then; it must have been difficult for you.”

“Your disciple wouldn’t dare to secretly speculate on the Sage’s Dao realm, but perhaps this is the principle of 'great Dao is simple'...”

“Hahahaha,” the Grand Master couldn't help but burst into laughter. The word 'lazy' that almost slipped out, the Grand Master dared not utter. The Grand Master gestured with his chin towards the brawlers. “What’s going on with those two?”

“Your disciple isn’t quite sure,” Li Changshou stated firmly. “I will stop them at once. Such a disturbance in front of the Tushita Palace is truly improper!”

“Oh, just let them fight for a while,” the Grand Master said, his eyes crinkling in a smile. “Such an entertaining sight hasn’t been seen in a long time. Don’t worry, Laozi has gone out to cultivate. We’re in charge of Tushita Palace now.”

Li Changshou: ...

Well, let them fight, since the Grand Master wanted to watch.

“Grand Master, I’ll first use my effigy to check on the Dragon Clan’s situation. I haven’t managed them for three years; I hope no problems have arisen.”

“Good,” the Grand Master nodded with a smile, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Li Changshou began to shift his consciousness, conducting a comprehensive check of all locations. In the Little Qiong Peak's alchemy room, only Li Changshou’s paper effigy remained. The three quasi-fairies and little fairies who had just been trying to do some mischievous acts to his paper effigy had returned to the lake to continue roasting spirit beasts. Watching them laugh and chat happily, it was as if nothing had happened moments before...

Half an hour later, Bian Zhuang and Ao Yi were also tired from fighting, lying bruised and swollen on the clouds, panting heavily. Having watched enough of the commotion, the Grand Master returned inside the palace to discipline the unruly Golden and Silver Attendants. Li Changshou, with a dark expression, conjured two chains of immortal power, directly binding Ao Yi and Bian Zhuang and dragging them to the Tushita Palace gate.

“Do you two know where this is? Open your eyes and look!”

At Li Changshou’s soft shout, both the human and the dragon looked up at the vertical plaque above the gate. The three characters ‘Tushita Palace’ glittered with golden light, causing them to shiver in unison, their drunkenness largely fading.

“Hmph!” Li Changshou frowned and dispelled the chains from their bodies. “Ao Yi, why have you lost your composure so utterly?”

“S-sect Leader Brother…” Ao Yi quickly stood up, his eyes filled with self-reproach and regret, yet he indignantly glared at Bian Zhuang, scolding him: “This scoundrel is utterly despicable! One moment he was saying he liked Miss Ke Le’er! The next, he's smitten with a fairy from the Jade Pool! I, I, I really ought to teach him a good lesson!”

Li Changshou transmitted his voice to him: “Isn’t this a good thing? Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Huh?” Ao Yi blinked, then suddenly snapped back to his senses. He quickly said, “You’re right, this really doesn’t concern me.”

Bian Zhuang, still bruised and swollen to the point of barely being able to open his eyes, sighed with his head tilted back, yet spoke with deep affection: “Miss Ke Le’er was destined to be merely a beautiful dream for me. We passed each other by, two souls in a vast crowd. We never truly possessed each other, yet the memory remains etched in my heart. It is with Miss Ke Le’er’s blessings that I decided to seek a woman I truly admire. Is there anything wrong with that? Is that not allowed?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Li Changshou replied with a smile, stepping forward to help Bian Zhuang up. He asked with a knowing smile, “Might I ask, what immortal position do you hold in the Heavenly Court now, fellow Daoist?”

Bian Zhuang wiped his face, instantly restoring his usual handsome appearance. He then shivered slightly as he looked at the Tushita Palace plaque and whispered: “I wouldn’t dare claim any specific immortal position; I merely cultivate a type of immortal bean in the Heavenly Court. I recently arrived in the Heavenly Court and was assigned the post of Little Marshal for Immortal Bean Cultivation. And you, fellow Daoist, are…”

Ao Yi scoffed from the side, “This is the elder brother I spoke of earlier, the Profoundly Flawless Grand Deity of the Four Seas! He was just listening to the Dao inside the Tushita Palace!”

Bian Zhuang’s spirits lifted, and he quickly bowed with clasped fists. “This humble general greets the Grand Deity!”

“No need for formalities,” Li Changshou said with a gentle smile, looking from Ao Yi to Bian Zhuang. “Did you two perhaps become acquainted through fighting?”

Bian Zhuang gave an awkward smile, while Ao Yi pursed his lips and began to briefly recount how the two had met. Bian Zhuang cultivated beans not far from the Tushita Palace. The area was rich in spiritual energy, infused with the fragrance of spiritual herbs wafting from the palace, making it arguably the finest... bean field in the Heavenly Court. Ao Yi had waited and waited there, but Li Changshou's whereabouts remained unknown. Unable to contain his impatience, he decided to sound out Bian Zhuang about a year and a half ago.

Bian Zhuang was bored cultivating beans, and Ao Yi was lonely waiting for his brother. Ao Yi wanted to find out if Bian Zhuang was part of a Heavenly Court scheme, so he patiently befriended him, hoping to get some information. Over time, they became familiar with each other. After a few drinking sessions, they considered each other good friends. Today, during their drinking, both were somewhat intoxicated, so Ao Yi took the opportunity to ask about Miss Ke Le’er. He had originally intended to see if there was any further development in that matter, and if so, to stop it early. Unexpectedly, Bian Zhuang sighed softly, stating that he had already forgotten Miss Ke Le’er and now harbored a new dream in his heart... Then, Ao Yi cursed him for being fickle, while Bian Zhuang argued that he merely followed his heart and lived for love. After a few more contentious words, they overturned the table, truly lost their tempers, and started fighting.

Li Changshou looked at Ao Yi, somewhat bewildered. Wasn't Bian Zhuang’s fickleness a good thing?

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Ao Yi’s refined face. “Brother, I was a bit muddled from drinking earlier. After all... Si Si is good friends with Miss Ke Le’er...”

“Alas,” Bian Zhuang shook his head. “Never mind. I’m going back to tend to those immortal beans.”

Bian Zhuang cupped his hands to Li Changshou in farewell. Li Changshou nodded with a smile. Ao Yi seemed to hesitate, as if he wanted to apologize. Bian Zhuang merely cupped his hands to Ao Yi without saying much, then lowered his head and walked towards the broken hoe in the distance.

“How could you break my hoe? It had at least a bit of Heavenly Dao power on it... Sigh... are you expecting me to dig with my bare hands?”

Just as Li Changshou was about to say that he might be able to repair it with merit, he heard the Grand Master say from inside the courtyard: “Xiao Jin, go get that rake lying in the corner and give it to that little Heavenly General for his bean field.”

“Alright!” One of the attendants replied, then quickly ran out carrying a three-foot-long silver rake. He looked left and right, then hurried over and placed it into Bian Zhuang’s hand.

“This is from Senior Brother Xuandu. Take it and use it.”

Bian Zhuang’s spirits brightened instantly. He naturally knew who ‘Senior Brother Xuandu’ was, and quickly took the rake, then bowed deeply towards the Tushita Palace.

He was in luck! Then, he took the three-foot-long silver rake, and with a slight refinement, the rake automatically transformed into a six-foot length, perfectly suiting his hand. Bian Zhuang was overcome with joy. “Thank you, Grand Master, for this precious gift! This humble general will go tend to the beans at once!” With that, he hoisted the silver rake onto his shoulder and strode confidently along the cloud path, humming a traditional tune from the Heavenly Edge Pavilion.

Li Changshou shook his head slightly at the sight. This must be his fortuitous encounter...

Setting aside Bian Zhuang's character for now, his luck was indeed quite good. He came from a wealthy background, joined the Heavenly Court during its nascent stage as a temporary, unranked Heavenly General, and today even received a treasure from the Tushita Palace. Even if it was just a rake for tilling, it was likely forged by Laozi himself. Looking at this silver rake, it had nine teeth with sharp, weapon-like points. Fine cloud patterns covered its surface, and it possessed ample spiritual energy, containing a wisp of primordial Qi. It was truly no ordinary... item...

Wait a minute?

Li Changshou stared at the silver rake, carefully counting its teeth. A nine-toothed silver rake... The Nine-Toothed Rake?!

Bian Zhuang, young master of Heavenly Edge Pavilion, joined the Heavenly Court during its early stages, now a Heavenly Immortal cultivator, a Heavenly General, fickle, falls for anyone he sees, with a questionable private life... Could this possibly be the future Marshal Tian Peng of the Heavenly River Navy?!

Second... Second Senior Brother?

Li Changshou suddenly chuckled, watching Bian Zhuang’s retreating back. He muttered “Interesting” twice in his mind.

Beside him, Ao Yi awkwardly rubbed his nose, then lowered his head and went to clear the low table and wine cups. He felt ashamed for letting down his elder brother’s efforts in nurturing him by causing such a scene here.

Ao Yi waited outside for another half a day while Li Changshou entered the Tushita Palace. He accompanied the Grand Master to the backyard and explained the full circumstances of the fight between the two. The Grand Master was also greatly amused, laughing for quite some time before saying, “Changshou, ever since you joined our Human School, interesting events have truly occurred one after another. Go on and busy yourself. Do you intend to leave this effigy in the Heavenly Court?”

“Your disciple does indeed plan to.”

“Very well. If you have any urgent matters in the future, just come directly to the Tushita Palace gate; I will sense it.”

“Your disciple thanks the Grand Master for his protection!”

The Grand Master waved his hand gently and said, “Is your Golden Immortal tribulation approaching?”

“It should be soon. After some more preparation, your disciple can attempt to pluck this Dao Fruit of Longevity.”

“Remember, uphold your true intention and achieve the righteous fruit.”

Li Changshou bowed his head in acknowledgment, then excused himself and left the Tushita Palace. Taking Ao Yi with him, Li Changshou proceeded to his 'Sea God Mansion' in the Heavenly Court. As was customary for powerful officials, his Sea God Mansion was located in the Seventh Heaven. Li Changshou had specifically chosen a secluded spot, surrounded by vast, desolate immortal mountains and seas of clouds. By then, the mansion had been fully renovated, and three thousand Heavenly soldiers were already stationed around it as guards. The immortal gods of the Heavenly Court were less particular in their arrangements compared to the Dragon Palace; besides guards, no serving maids had been assigned. Ahem, that wasn't important.

Li Changshou had Ao Yi bring some gifts to reward the three thousand soldiers. He then instructed this paper effigy to remain there, keeping the mansion gates open, ready to be summoned by His Majesty the Jade Emperor at any time. Ao Yi would also stay here for a while, establishing more of his presence in the Heavenly Court, before returning to the Dragon Palace to report back.

As soon as he had settled down in the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou, whose head was throbbing from the forced infusion of vast alchemy insights, decided to rest for a few days. He specifically informed Ling'e and Xiong Lingli to carefully guard the grand formations around the alchemy room for the next few days, preventing anyone from accidentally trespassing. He also hung a sign outside the formations reading 'Beware: Vicious Beasts Ahead', activated multiple trapping and killing formations, and then lay down on the floor of his underground secret chamber, preparing for a few days of light sleep...

However, just as Li Changshou was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly felt a vast Heavenly might appear above the Immortal Ascension Sect, causing him to spring up with a jolt.

The Golden Immortal tribulation?!

He quickly inspected himself internally, finding his primordial spirit stable, his Dao realm firm, and his Dao foundation just a hair's breadth from completion, meaning he hadn't triggered it.

Then... Was Eldest Master Fu Gui about to undergo his tribulation?