Chapter 291: Who Doesn't Have Their Little Quirks?

Three hundred miles outside Citie City, in a dense forest.

Suddenly, massive trees began to tremble, and the grassy ground gradually swelled into mounds of earth. These mounds then collapsed, forming hundreds of deep, circular pits.

Soon after, figures emerged from the pits, soaring into the air.

Imposing shield-wielding warriors and beautiful female archers quickly formed ranks amidst the trees. Each formation, consisting of five thousand soldiers, then rose into the sky.

Mist gathered and clouds ascended, filling the forest with an aura of grim determination.

Moments later, ten formations had completed their alignment. Fifty thousand celestial soldiers had gathered, poised for deployment!

Tens of thousands of figures covered a portion of the sky, their combined aura surging towards the heavens, creating an extraordinary presence.

“Immortal Bean Soldiers, all troops, attack.”

Li Changshou issued a simple command. The fifty thousand Immortal Bean Soldiers slowly flew towards Citie City, partially obscuring the sky as they advanced.

This number had been meticulously calculated and finalized by Li Changshou. Too many Immortal Bean Soldiers would risk provoking the enemy into a desperate, last-ditch struggle, which could quickly expose their own weaknesses. However, too few would not achieve the desired deterrent effect.

Meanwhile, over twenty paper-avatars of the Heavenly Immortal realm flew out from below, blending into the gaps within the Immortal Bean Soldier formations.

For ease of command, Li Changshou grouped these Heavenly Immortal paper-avatars together. Their primary responsibility was to cast the 'Scattering Beans into Soldiers' divine ability, unleashing the most potent firepower: the Elite Pea Soldiers!

Majestic and brimming with killing intent, the fifty thousand Immortal Bean Soldiers launched a surprise attack on the demon race's Citie City!

Naturally, this was all a feint, merely a show of force.

A true surprise attack should involve approaching silently and stealthily, breaching the enemy's city protection array with the utmost speed, then rushing in with lightning swiftness, coordinating with a decapitation strike, and cleverly using sedatives and poisons to neutralize ordinary soldiers to catch the enemy completely off guard.

This false surprise attack, though seemingly sudden and awe-inspiring, was in reality a hollow display, possessing the strength for only three or four waves of assault, and with a set combat objective limited to merely breaching the enemy's city protection array.

Often, actions with grander fanfare are designed to achieve objectives beyond direct combat. Conversely, military movements meticulously concealed are the true harbinger of actual confrontation.

At the same time, three Golden Immortal realm energy fluctuations appeared out of thin air outside the city. Two men and one woman stood suspended in the air, their faces grim as ice, observing the demon city below.

The woman shouted angrily, “Demon remnants, come out and face your demise!” As her words fell, the elderly man on the left struck out with a palm, releasing a sky full of azure lightning from his palm. It crashed squarely onto Citie City's protective array, causing it to shake violently, almost tearing it apart.

The many demons within the city were utterly bewildered at this moment. A beautiful female demon, of an unknown species, shrieked, “Humans! It’s the humans! They’ve attacked!”

Chaos immediately erupted throughout the city, as most demons panicked and fled frantically in another direction. A small number of demons, enraged, roared and charged skyward, only to be blocked by the city's protective array, adding to the pandemonium within the city.

The clamor of gongs and drums, the incessant ringing of bells, and shouts of anger and cries of fear filled the air.

Li Changshou observed this scene from various perspectives, and couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.

It was once said that demons were ferocious, and humanity's fear of them was the norm in ancient times. But now, humanity had gradually risen to stand before the demon race, returning all the fear they once endured. Strength, after all, was the sole criterion for survival in the Primordial World.

Amidst the roar, the three Golden Immortal paper-avatars began to continuously attack the grand array. The elderly bull demon of the Golden Immortal realm within the city had now rushed above the City Lord's Mansion, but dared not leave the array, only glaring furiously outwards and continuously roaring orders for the troops to mobilize and for the demons within the city to exert themselves.

Soon, Li Changshou's eyes lit up. The elderly bull demon took out a horn and bellowed into it several times. He was summoning reinforcements!

The feint had been several times easier than Li Changshou had anticipated. However, he couldn't afford to be careless now, as the grand treasure hunt had just begun.

Li Changshou's attention was primarily focused on the six Golden Immortal paper-avatars at this moment, to reserve enough mental energy to handle various unexpected situations. Other paper-avatars were only occasionally given his diverted attention for operations.

It was as if dozens of small 'screens' had opened in his mind. Through these windows, Li Changshou observed everything, steadily advancing this grand performance according to his meticulously prepared script.

The reaction of the demons in Citie City was far more chaotic than Li Changshou had predicted, which significantly reduced his frontal pressure.

Meanwhile, in that valley...

The grand array protecting the area opened a slit, and dozens of strong figures rushed out in a hurry.

Their faces and physiques were quite similar to humans, with the vast majority being true bull demons who had undergone transformation. The male bull demons were robust, their sturdy, gnarled horns being their proudest physical feature. The hair on their heads was dyed in various vibrant colors, mostly styled in an explosive manner. Nose rings were a particularly favored accessory among the male bull demons; nearly every one had one. Coupled with their angry shouts as they turned their heads: “Gather at the village entrance! Bring your gear! The humans have attacked!” Clearly, these male bull demons were at the forefront of Primordial World fashion.

In contrast to the males, the female bull demons were relatively ordinary, with nothing particularly remarkable about them. Among female bull demons, stoutness was considered beautiful; so even if a slender one had slightly higher cultivation, she wouldn't be able to hold her head high within their species. Conversely, those female bull demons with plump figures, even if their cultivation wasn't top-tier, would walk with their chests out and heads held high, positioned in the very center of their group.

Indeed, no sooner had this group of bull demons rushed out of the valley's grand array than a strong gust of wind blew directly into their faces!

This group comprised forty-six Heavenly Immortal realm experts in total, most of whom were at the mid-to-late Heavenly Immortal stage. Yet, not a single one noticed the unusual sand and fallen leaves carried within the gust, and they each pressed forward against the wind, heading to reinforce Citie City.

As soon as the forty-six Heavenly Immortal bull demons had rushed away, two more majestic figures immediately emerged from deep within the valley, emitting two earth-shattering 'moo' sounds and radiating a formidable Golden Immortal realm pressure as they sped off to aid Citie City!

Li Changshou dared not be careless and waited patiently. Once this group of experts had gone a certain distance, on the inner side of the grand array, a few grains of sand and some fallen leaves slowly merged into the earth.

These, of course, were paper-avatars that had employed transformation techniques. The most crucial step of the plan was to get the paper-avatars from outside to inside the grand array the moment it opened. Breaching this grand array was not difficult for Li Changshou at this point, but entering it without anyone noticing was truly challenging. The opportunity was fleeting, but fortunately, he seized it successfully.

The eight paper-avatars quickly dispersed in various directions, rapidly collecting all sorts of intelligence within the valley. This included terrain features, distribution of experts, flaws in the grand array, and more.

Li Changshou's mind was quickly inundated with various pieces of information. After careful analysis, he was slightly taken aback. What he found inside was vastly different from what he had imagined. He had expected to infiltrate an 'iron-blooded military camp,' but upon closer inspection, he found the place to be like a secluded paradise...

Wooden houses stood among the trees, and laughter filled the air. There were no heavily armed patrol guards, only a group of young demons, recently transformed, frolicking in the fields, who were then called home to hide by their bull demon parents rushing from afar.

To Li Changshou's slight regret, there was no negative karma here; instead, amidst the tranquility, it exuded a faint auspicious aura. Indeed, he confirmed with his senses that this was a place where treasures were hidden!

Since he had chosen the strategy of luring the tiger out of its mountain lair, he naturally had to see this tactic through to the end.

The eight paper-avatars that had infiltrated the area were divided into two groups: two remained near the grand array, preparing to breach it and lure enemies later, while another six paper-avatars lay in ambush outside for support.

Another six paper-avatars ventured deeper into the valley to search for the hidden treasure location.

Were these all his tricks? Of course not. As the *Scripture of Stability* states, 'Only by leaving many contingencies can one adapt to change.'

To make his actions even more deceptive, Li Changshou's true treasure-hunting paper-avatar — Golden Character Four — now used transformation techniques to turn into a flying insect, following one of the Heavenly Immortal paper-avatars from a distance.

By this point, ninety percent of Li Changshou's mental energy was occupied as he continuously managed multiple operations. A single mistake now could easily lead to a complete collapse of the entire plan!

Soon, Li Changshou pinpointed the location of the treasury. It was where the most restrictions were placed and the tightest security was maintained, and a faint flow of merit power could be faintly sensed within.

Li Changshou deliberated briefly and selected a plan. Six paper-avatars, carrying sedatives, approached the treasury underground, preparing to launch a fierce assault on it later. Meanwhile, Golden Character Four used earth escape to burrow underground.

Once the dozens of bull demon guards outside were incapacitated by the sedatives, two paper-avatars would rush out first to draw away the enemy experts. Then four paper-avatars would launch a sudden attack, directly assailing the outer array of the treasury, hurling miniature 'self-destructing after use' formations at the grand array.

Amidst this chaos, the Golden Character paper-avatar, still underground, reached the edge of the treasury. Just one step more!

Li Changshou calmed his mind, controlling the paper-avatar to press its left palm against the light of the barrier ahead. Its immortal power erupted, directly smashing through two layers of restrictions! His immortal sense swiftly surged forward to investigate, confirming there was no living aura present. With a Five-Element Escape, his form transformed into a ray of rainbow light underground! Escaping through the heavens and earth!

Almost instantly, Li Changshou escaped into the core area of the treasury. With lightning speed, he burst through the thick stone slab floor of the treasury and barged into the shimmering golden grotto!

He was in! The walls were adorned with weapons that exuded a fierce aura, and a pile of golden-glowing precious materials was stacked like a small mountain.

Li Changshou took a closer look, and his expression changed drastically. Someone was here!

Not only was there someone, but Li Changshou couldn't discern this person's cultivation level at all and had detected nothing beforehand! Moreover, this slightly plump Daoist was lying atop the mountain of treasures, murmuring blissfully, his body wriggling constantly amidst the precious materials... Crucially! He was... unclothed...

Suddenly, the slightly plump Daoist, who had seemed intoxicated, abruptly sat up and stared wide-eyed at Li Changshou, who stared back. The river of time seemed to have jammed at this very spot!

“Halt! Behold my treasures!” The slightly plump Daoist roared like thunder, his brows furrowed in a furious shout! Brilliant light shone around his body, coalescing into swords, spears, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks, manifesting also as ingots, Ruyi scepters, grand cauldrons, and stone pagodas, which rained down chaotically upon Li Changshou's Golden Immortal realm paper-avatar!

Li Changshou could only manage to shout, “Junior disciple of the Human Dao!” The paper-avatar was immediately submerged by dozens of spirit treasures, losing contact with its main body in an instant, and that wisp of primordial spirit energy turned into mere residue...

At Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou stood dumbfounded, subconsciously controlling his various paper-avatars, unable to fully process what had happened for a moment.

He vaguely recalled seeing that Daoist before... At the Three Religions' Origins Conference, wasn't the one accompanying Master Xuandu that slightly plump figure...

“By the Human Dao’s foul mouth, what in the world was that?” Li Changshou's mouth twitched uncontrollably, as a powerful wisp of his immortal sense had already locked onto his other paper-avatars.

Treasure hunting, to him, was a solemn and sacred affair.

‘With so many spiritual treasures I acquired from the Cliff of Treasure Distribution back then, do I truly lack treasures?’ Duobao Daoist often asked himself this question, and the answer was, of course, no. Not only did he not lack them, he was exceedingly rich — this was true when compared to any being below a Saint.

When he made friends within the Jie School, he never considered their cultivation levels or the quantity of their spiritual treasures, as none could possibly possess more than him anyway.

Duobao Daoist was not stingy, and many excellent disciples within the Jie School had received spiritual treasures gifted by him.

However, the act of treasure hunting itself was always irresistible, like an addiction.

When his cultivation was low, he relied on divine abilities to find treasures. As his cultivation deepened, his divine abilities also made leaps, allowing him to directly sense heavenly omens and discover treasures about to emerge.

Today was such a day: he had sensed a treasure about to emerge and came over to join the excitement.

Duobao Daoist's current cultivation was at the very threshold of severing his three corpses; and he knew that once he fully comprehended the concept of 'treasure,' he would step into an entirely new realm.

But how could one simply 'comprehend' it just by saying so?

It was almost common knowledge in the Primordial World that Duobao Daoist's true form was the first treasure-hunting mouse in the world.

The catalyst for the Sanqing's separation was when Grandmaster Tongtian brought Duobao back to the Three Friends' Courtyard and even accepted Duobao as his principal disciple, which Yuanshi Tianzun felt was a personal affront...

Duobao Daoist never felt there was anything wrong with his origins. It was precisely because of them that he was able to meet his Master, which was his greatest fortune and opportunity.

However, the phrase 'treasure hunting' was like an insurmountable inner demon for him, driving him to dig from ancient times until today.

There was nothing he could do; the process of treasure hunting was filled with intoxicating charm, allowing him to forget himself and feel the most primal rhythm of the Grand Dao.

All the difficulties of treasure hunting were for that singular moment of satisfaction and joy when a treasure was found!

When he embraced a treasure, felt the pulse of the Grand Dao, and became immersed in his own Dao...

‘There is nothing in this world that brings me more satisfaction than this!’ Duobao Daoist exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

Was there anything wrong with intimate contact with treasures? Was there a problem? This, was a realm of understanding!

‘Ahem,’ Duobao Daoist said, sitting atop the pile of treasures, and lowered his head to wipe his face. Clothing formed from immortal power had already appeared on his body, over which he now wore a real Daoist robe.

How… how embarrassing. Isn't the Human Dao's Little Sea God still outside? How did he suddenly appear here? Wait, no, the one I just smashed to dust seemed to be a Golden Immortal realm...

‘Hiss!’ Could that have been the Human Dao's Little Sea God's true body? If, in a fit of shame and anger, he had accidentally killed the junior disciple valued by his Senior Uncle, that would be a massive predicament!

Duobao Daoist quickly jumped down from the treasure pile, and, upon realizing he had only destroyed a paper-avatar, he breathed a sigh of relief. He then retrieved the over three hundred spiritual treasures he had just flung out in several batches back into his sleeve.

It was all his fault for being too engrossed just now... He was utterly humiliated!

Duobao Daoist had discovered this place half an hour earlier, and this treasure-hunting master had quickly detected the paper-avatars Li Changshou had secretly deployed.

At the time, Duobao Daoist understood that the emergence of this treasure was likely connected to the Sea God... Currently, the divine ability of cutting paper into human forms had almost become synonymous with the Sea God.

Furthermore, Duobao Daoist secretly locked onto one of the paper-avatars and attempted a deduction. Upon receiving a warning from the Taiji Diagram, he naturally confirmed the identity of the operator behind the paper-avatars.

But Duobao Daoist did not interfere much. What he enjoyed was the pleasure of treasure hunting and the feeling of being a small, weak creature searching for treasures.

Duobao Daoist had originally planned that after finding the treasure, he would indulge himself for a bit and then leave on his own, without disturbing the Human Dao's Little Sea God's treasure hunt. He even intended to leave a small gift for the Human Dao's Little Sea God, creating a small good karma.

So, Duobao Daoist silently entered the bull demons' treasury, gathered the treasures together, and lay upon them, indulging and immersing himself, waiting for the moment right before the Sea God's paper-avatar arrived.

Duobao Daoist was naturally confident that Li Changshou wouldn't be able to detect his departure. However, the sliver of his attention that he had diverted was constantly focused on the eight paper-avatars outside...

He never would have expected... that his intended 'surprise' would instead result in a 'scare' from the other party.

‘How did he suddenly pop up from underground?’ Duobao Daoist slapped his forehead and quickly pondered in his mind how to resolve this situation, but he was flustered and agitated, and couldn't come up with a good idea for a while.

So, without overthinking it, Duobao Daoist pulled out a purple-gold alms bowl from his embrace. He raised his hand, and with a gentle tremor, the bowl vanished. At the same time, an alms bowl a thousand *li* in diameter descended from the sky, directly covering Citie City and the valley.