Chapter 303: Xuandu Travels with Xiao Qiong, Long Life Seeking to Transmit Scriptures

Today, the winds in Tusita Palace were inexplicably boisterous again.

Under the old tree, Grand Master Xuandu stretched and sat up. Just as he was about to calculate what had disturbed his cultivation, two scenes appeared in his mind, one after the other.

The first scene was of a vast ocean.

Li Changshou's avatar?

The Jade Emperor? Dongmu Gong?

A few question marks appeared on Grand Master Xuandu's forehead as he meticulously observed the scene.

Then, the Grand Master saw a vortex appear before Li Changshou and the two others, and inside the vortex was a six-winged golden cicada.

The golden cicada flapped its thin wings and unleashed six beams of golden light to strike Li Changshou's avatar, but the Jade Emperor intervened and repelled them.

The first scene ended there, and the second began.

In that wilderness, a mortal, riding a white horse, draped in a kasaya, and wearing a monk's hat, was slowly traveling over mountains and through valleys from east to west.

This person seemed unable to endure the intense heat and was about to faint, but behind him, thousands of golden rays surged, and the ethereal images of several great Buddhas stood.

The Taiqing Dao essence gently vibrated, and the second scene also vanished.

Grand Master Xuandu mused for a moment and fell into thought.

Master, what does this mean?

The first scene was very clear, and based on Grand Master Xuandu's understanding of his master's divine abilities, it depicted events that had already occurred.

As for the second scene, apart from the strangely dressed young mortal riding a white horse, everything else was very blurry. This was a situation seen during a Heavenly Secret divination, which his master had recorded using supreme divine abilities and presented to him.

‘Master's divine abilities are becoming increasingly profound and unfathomable.

But what does Master want me to do this time?’

Xuandu sat quietly under the old tree, embarking on a long and winding path of contemplation, eventually arriving at his own conclusion.

‘Does Master want me to incorporate this person into the Human Cult's Dao lineage?’

Suddenly, a muffled thunderclap sounded, and the familiar Dao essence reappeared in Grand Master Xuandu's mind, but this time it condensed into two large characters: 'Try' and 'Kill.'

Grand Master Xuandu couldn't help but put a hand to his forehead, realizing he had guessed so wrongly.

It was truly rare that his master would let him 'try' to kill this spirit.

‘Tsk, the karma tied to this person is enough to make even Master consider probing it. While not unheard of, it is indeed rather astounding.’

It must be a matter concerning the very lifeline of their sect.

“Very well,” he thought. “I’ll go discuss this with Changshou first.”

Grand Master Xuandu stood up, stepped out of Tusita Palace, glanced towards the Sea God Temple, and turned to head for the East Heaven Gate.

After taking just a few steps, the Grand Master was already standing directly above the Boundless Immortal Sect's mountain-protecting formation.

This time, Grand Master Xuandu did not call out to Li Changshou to meet him. Instead, a thought arose in his mind: 'Let's see what Changshou is doing.' Acting on impulse, his figure vanished without a trace.

Thus, Little Qiong Peak welcomed an honored guest today.

Grand Master Xuandu, his form hidden beyond spatial reality, strolled with his hands behind his back on Little Qiong Peak.

The scenes in his eyes all carried faint ripples, which were the barrier of the cosmos and also the boundary between illusion and reality.

First, the Grand Master found a bean field covered by a large formation and discovered one of Li Changshou's paper figures tending to the bean sprouts there.

Grand Master Xuandu chuckled. Just as he was about to reveal himself and question Li Changshou about why he wasn't cultivating properly, he noticed that this paper Daoist's movements were stiff, every action perfectly 'standard,' and its eyes lacked spiritual light.

The Grand Master immediately understood—Li Changshou's consciousness was not here.

Then, the Grand Master looked towards a nearby card room and saw three women of varying builds playing with a pile of papers at the table.

The Grand Master couldn't help but recall the Marriage Hall and Li Changshou's clay figure depicting the 'three stars surrounding the moon' posture.

Among these three, one was indeed one of the 'three stars.'

The Grand Master flicked his finger lightly, and three wisps of aura flew towards the card room.

Xiong Lingli, Jiang Liner, and Jiu Jiu, who were currently playing cards, simultaneously trembled slightly, rolled their eyes, and collapsed onto the table, enveloped by profound Dao essence.

They were drawn into their respective dreams, where they began to gain insights into their individual Daos.

Grand Master Xuandu was not in a hurry. He turned again and strolled casually.

This time, following Li Changshou's aura, he arrived at the lakeside thatched cottage and discovered six paper Daoists that Li Changshou had hidden there.

‘Changshou is actually so concerned about his master and junior sister's safety...’

The Grand Master glanced at Ling'e, who was in the process of ascending, and his eyes lit up.

This time, Grand Master Xuandu took extra care, drawing out a pure Taiqing Dao essence, which he wrapped around Ling'e's primordial spirit. After Ling'e's ascension concluded, it would provide her with another significant wave of enlightenment.

Having done this, the Grand Master glanced at the old Daoist Qi Yuan in the Mortal Immortal Realm, then turned and left.

He couldn't affect him, so he moved on.

The Grand Master strolled casually, taking a tour around Little Qiong Peak. He saw the long-abandoned 'Immortal Cat Divination Barrel' and visited the shaded stream banks designated as the exclusive barbecue area.

It was clear that life on this peak was joyful, carefree, and very comfortable.

After nearly touring the entire Little Qiong Peak, the Grand Master then casually walked towards Li Changshou's alchemy room.

The numerous formidable formations set up by Li Changshou naturally found it difficult to detect the Grand Master's figure, which was outside spatial reality.

But as the Grand Master entered the alchemy room and was about to reveal himself, he found that Li Changshou, who was refining pills...

was still a paper Daoist.

‘Where has this fellow hidden his main body?’

The Grand Master grew slightly interested and slowly spread his powerful immortal consciousness. This time, it didn't take much effort to find the secret chamber within Little Qiong Peak's mountain body.

Even if the Grand Master were to judge it, the design of this secret chamber was extremely ingenious, actually nestled between dozens of formations, making it truly difficult to draw others' attention.

Ordinary people would not be able to find this place.

The Grand Master's figure strolled through the void, arriving at the underground secret chamber in an instant.

Li Changshou was writing and drawing behind a desk, his expression quite serious.

What was he writing?

The Grand Master secretly glanced, seeing that on the paper Li Changshou was writing on, each paragraph began with the character 'Ao,' seemingly a roster of Dragon race experts.

The Grand Master was about to chuckle to let Li Changshou know he was there, but the breath was already at his throat, and he forced it back down.

He hadn't distinguished carefully just now—how could this fellow still be an avatar here?!

The Grand Master couldn't help but laugh.

Immediately, he opened his left palm, within which a faint image of the Taiji Diagram condensed, and wisps of subtle ripples spread out beyond spatial reality, causing a gentle breeze to stir across Little Qiong Peak.

A moment later, the Grand Master, using his divine ability to traverse the void, returned to the alchemy room covered by the superficial formation. He stopped before a bookshelf in the corner of the room and stared at a scroll lying flat.

The Grand Master, with his hands behind his back, slowly leaned closer, easily seeing through the outer bamboo slips of the scroll and spotting a tiny 'room' enveloped by a restriction.

This room was only three inches long, one inch high and wide, yet it was 'fully equipped' with all sorts of furniture.

On a tiny bed, an ant-sized Daoist was lying with one leg crossed over the other, drinking fine wine and engrossed in an ancient book.

The Grand Master almost burst out laughing.

Thinking of all the paper Daoists he had seen along the way, the Grand Master finally revealed himself and spoke to the scroll with genuine emotion:

“You fellow, why are you hiding so meticulously?” he asked. “Are you afraid a Saint Lord is coming to catch you?”

“Hmm?”

The 'little person' inside the scroll immediately froze, then became rigid on the bed.

Only at this moment did the Grand Master use his divine ability to check, and found that this was still...

Just then, behind the Grand Master, the paper Daoist tending the alchemy furnace turned its head to look and hurriedly stood up.

“Grand Master, this disciple is here!” he exclaimed. “That one was a decoy!”

After speaking, this paper Daoist swiftly pulled out a porcelain bottle from its sleeve and poured out an jade-colored elixir from it. The elixir shattered with a 'pop,' transforming into Li Changshou's true form.

Li Changshou quickly bowed in a Daoist salute and cautiously looked up at the Grand Master, who was slowly turning around.

Uh...

Murderous intent!

A moment later, in the river valley where Li Changshou and the Grand Master first met.

The Grand Master stood smiling by the stream, his mood exceedingly pleasant.

Li Changshou, sporting a bump on his forehead, roasted a few spiritual fish he had just caught from the river, sighing faintly all the while.

What technique had the Grand Master used to give him a 'head flick' that still hurt and hadn't subsided, yet hadn't harmed his Dao body or primordial spirit?

Then he heard the Grand Master ask leisurely:

“Changshou, have you encountered any formidable enemies recently?”

As if what had just happened never occurred.

Li Changshou's mind churned, first considering the answer, then pondering why the Grand Master would ask this.

If speaking of formidable enemies encountered recently, Daoist Lu Ya should be considered one, and Daoist Randeng also one.

There was also the Golden Cicada, who could barely be considered a third of one.

At once, Li Changshou said solemnly:

“This disciple recently encountered an old Daoist. He possesses a gourd spiritual treasure called the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife. This old Daoist is named Lu Ya, and based on this disciple's deduction, he should be the surviving Demon Emperor's Crown Prince from the ancient Demon Court. His flying knife is quite formidable, and if he refines it to perfection, he will also become a very troublesome individual.”

“Lu Ya?”

The Grand Master pinched his fingers to calculate, and soon his brows furrowed slightly.

The Red Embroidered Ball warned him.

“The Saintly Empress has concealed the Heavenly Secrets for him,” the Grand Master mused for a moment, opened his left hand, and as the Taiji Diagram reappeared, he continued his divination.

Soon, the Grand Master said: “This Lu Ya is hiding in the Golden Crow Palace on the Solar Star. It seems the Saintly Empress intervened, gathering the remnant fate of the demon race for him, giving him the destiny of a demonic resurgence. But this remnant fate is not deep, and his destiny is uncertain; his end will likely not be a good one.”

“Changshou, I did not come today for this Daoist Lu Ya. Have you seen a six-winged golden cicada?”

Li Changshou chuckled: “That's a fierce beast nurtured by the Western Sect. This disciple has fought him a few times.”

“Take a look.”

The Grand Master flicked his finger, and a wisp of Dao essence entered Li Changshou's glabella, and the same scene appeared in Li Changshou's mind.

With just one glance, Li Changshou recognized what it referred to.

Tang Sanzang, riding a white horse and dressed in his kasaya, set out on the journey to the West!

In fact, Li Changshou subconsciously provided a 'lai lai, lai lai lai lai, lai lai lai lai' background music for this scene.

Ahem, let's get back to business.

Golden light surged behind Tang Sanzang; that was the Human Race's fortune and also the Human Race's merit.

Such a scene indeed verified that the 'Journey to the West' was the Western Sect's scheme to greatly flourish in the West by leveraging the Human Race's fortune and merit.

Li Changshou mused for a moment and asked: “Grand Master, what are the Saint Lord's instructions?”

The Grand Master said calmly: “The word 'try' and the word 'kill.'”

Li Changshou was truly surprised; his first reaction was...

This isn't like the Human Cult; it's very un-Human Cult!

Then Li Changshou became a little doubtful.

If their Saint Lord's plan to 'transform barbarians into Buddhas' had been successfully completed after the Investiture of the Gods, then the future Tathagata of Buddhism would be Daoist Duobao of the Jie Sect today...

Could it be that there was still some variable in this scheme?

Or had Daoist Duobao failed to circumvent the West and instead been countered by the two Western Saints?

The relationships involved were intricate and complex, and Li Changshou couldn't untangle them for a moment.

The Saint Lord's command to the Grand Master was to try and see if they could kill this golden cicada to disrupt the West's great fortune in the future.

A flash of insight appeared in his mind, and Li Changshou immediately smiled.

The Grand Master asked curiously: “Why are you laughing, Changshou?”

“The word 'try' given by the Saint Lord is truly profound,” Li Changshou said, lifting the roasted fish and respectfully offering it, feeling a sudden clarity in his mind.

Saints will also actively seek ways to break a deadlock!

What the Heavenly Secrets revealed should be the most probable future. If Saints saw this possibility and were dissatisfied with it, even their own Saint Lord, Taiqing, despite his principle of non-action, would intervene!

In other words—

Not everything is predetermined, and future events are not unchangeable!

Li Changshou's Dao Heart trembled, and insights emerged profusely. The slight knot in his heart that had been bothering him was gently pierced by this word 'try'!

Gathering all these insights, Li Changshou did not enter a state of sudden enlightenment in front of the Grand Master.

The Saint Lord had already given the command for him and the Grand Master to try and take action against the Golden Cicada. If they could eliminate the Golden Cicada and to a certain extent alter the Journey to the West, it would naturally be a joyous outcome.

If the attempt yielded no results, they would retreat promptly, and there would be no loss.

The Grand Master smiled: “Seeing the continuous divine light in your eyes, have you already come up with an idea?”

“This disciple has a somewhat immature idea,” Li Changshou said. “Please, Grand Master, correct me.”

“Just say it,” the Grand Master replied.

The Grand Master sat back on the bluestone and slowly began to savor the roasted fish.

“Yes,” Li Changshou mused for a moment, slowly pacing beside him as he eloquently recounted several plans to eliminate the Golden Cicada.

Just recently, he had directly confronted the Golden Cicada and had a conflict.

On that day, the Golden Cicada had launched a fierce attack against Li Changshou's avatar, truly intending to annihilate it.

For this, Li Changshou could invite the Grand Master to 'uphold justice' and in turn pursue and kill the Golden Cicada, which would be reasonable, logical, and well-justified.

This pretext was sufficient.

The problem now was that neither Li Changshou nor Grand Master Xuandu could determine whether the two Western Saints were aware of the Golden Cicada's 'importance.'

“...Therefore, this disciple believes they must slay this golden cicada in an instant, leaving the opponent no opportunity for rescue.”

“This is somewhat troublesome,” the Grand Master said. “The power of a Saint is to turn the impossible into possible. No Saint Lord can be underestimated. Moreover, Changshou, you yourself do not have much certainty against the Golden Cicada. How can you achieve an instant kill?”

Li Changshou couldn't help but ask timidly: “Grand Master... isn't this disciple in charge of devising strategies?”

The Grand Master's eyes immediately crinkled into a smile. He extended his right hand, and a small pagoda wrapped in Xuanhuang energy slowly condensed in his palm.

“This time, it's not as simple as a single burst of power,” he said. “Rest assured.”

Li Changshou slightly relaxed, and couldn't help but ponder for a moment, beginning to rethink his strategy.

Just then, his spiritual sense stirred slightly, sensing Ao Yi arriving at Anshui City with a large contingent of Dragon race soldiers.

Ao Yi had come from the West Sea Dragon Palace, previously having been kept there for a banquet, and had only just returned today.

Li Changshou said: “Grand Master, could you take this disciple to Anshui City? This disciple happens to have a scripture to present to Ao Yi, and going in my true form would convey more solemnity. We can also carefully deliberate on this matter there.”

“Very well,” the Grand Master agreed.