Chapter 339: The Strongest Assist King in the Prehistoric Era

Li Changshou stood on the ruins of the Crystal Palace, looking at the deep underwater pit before him, utterly perplexed.

Why did they run? Why did they all run?

Originally, with Ox-Head and Horse-Face as 'supporting guests,' Li Changshou thought he could play it safe this time and wouldn't need to act himself. He was quite confident in delaying, breaking through, and escaping. But halfway through the successful execution of the first plan, Master Xuan Du suddenly gave an order. As his quasi-junior disciple, Li Changshou had no choice but to adjust his strategy and display the traditional skills of a Human Sect disciple, a Heavenly Court civil official, and a junior mage under Xuan Du.

At this point, the problem seemed to be how one person could properly handle thousands of masters. But in reality, the real question was how he, who was 98% confident in being able to escape at any moment, could subtly make thousands of masters, who lacked great divine abilities, realize that they couldn't breach his defenses.

The reason Li Changshou could so decisively 'change the script' on the fly was primarily because he had already prepared this backup plan and was fully confident before making his move. Secondly, there were no saint-disciple level powerhouses present. Primordial fierce beasts also varied in strength; Wen Jing and Golden Cicada were considered formidable, but this group of fierce beasts from the West Sea Dragon Palace was noticeably weaker.

Furthermore, this group of dragons here had their minds controlled by Western Buddhism through spells. Although these old dragons were individually powerful, being the accumulation of the West Sea Dragon Palace over long years, there was no true ancient powerhouse like the West Sea Dragon King himself, nor any ancient battle dragons guarding the sea eyes. Otherwise, Li Changshou wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly!

Let's look at how he achieved this. First, he counterattacked with a paper effigy in the form of a gourd doll, then bravely endured the attacks of dozens of dragon elders, creating psychological pressure on them and forging the image of a 'great power.'

Throughout the entire process, he kept his target locked on the opposing leader, Prince Ao Shi, using verbal intimidation, guarding himself with a supreme treasure, and employing escape techniques for a surprise attack, successfully capturing Ao Shi.

In this plan, the most difficult part to achieve was not getting close to Ao Shi using escape techniques, but how to successfully escape from the encirclement of dozens of dragon masters.

Li Changshou's method was actually very simple: just don't go in.

The moment he transformed into scattering water, his true body had already used escape techniques to hide to one side, activating the power of the Taiji Diagram to conceal himself. He then used dozens of streams of water to distract the enemy and secretly employed the Qiankun escape technique to send a Golden Immortal-level paper effigy behind Ao Shi.

Li Changshou's mastery of the Qiankun escape technique was far inferior to his other escape techniques, which he had practiced for many years, and his true body would face significant obstacles and leave many traces when using it. However, using the Qiankun escape technique to send a paper effigy to a designated location was something Li Changshou had long mastered with ease.

When the paper effigy launched an attack with the Great Yu's Water Control Map, trapping Ao Shi, Li Changshou immediately used his spatial transfer technique to return the treasure map to his true body. His true body then appeared, attracting the enemy's attention, thereby covering the activation of the Earthly Fiend Spirit Explosion Formation on a Golden Core-level paper effigy.

The entire plan was executed flawlessly, like flowing clouds and water, with each step interlocking perfectly, and no major errors occurred. And Li Changshou, from beginning to end, only needed to time his actions precisely to create an impression of being 'free to come and go', dazzling and overwhelming his opponents, thus deepening their psychological fear.

The so-called 'danger' during this period was merely an illusion for both his opponents and onlookers.

What perplexed Li Changshou was that after this spirit explosion, the enemy army simply retreated.

They retreated very quickly; the afterglow of the spirit explosion had not yet dissipated when all the rebel dragons had already turned around and rapidly evacuated the Crystal Palace. As they left, many fierce beasts and rebel dragons muttered curses, complaining about the Heavenly Court civil officials, and even saying that the Heavenly Court generals were just a front, and the true formidable figures were all civil officials enjoying their retirement. This was clearly a slander against the amiable image of the Heavenly Court immortals and gods!

But their rapid retreat left Li Changshou feeling a bit regretful, as he had already prepared to sacrifice at least three Golden Immortal-level paper effigies today. (There was a limit to the number of Golden Immortal-level paper effigies that could exist simultaneously, but they could be remade after being destroyed.)

Why did they retreat? Weren't these rebel dragons supposed to have their minds controlled by the Western Sect, fearless of death as promised?

The spirit explosion just now didn't cause very strong casualties; it merely tore apart most of the old dragons within the 'Qiankun Seal core area.' A small portion even had their bodies intact. However, due to the dense formation of these traitorous dragons and the Qiankun Seal, the explosion's power was diminished, with only 30% of the other thousands of masters injured, and 70% mostly unharmed.

The outer rebel forces, however, suffered more casualties, but most were True Immortal-level Immortal Jiao soldiers, perfectly embodying the precise definition of 'cannon fodder' in the Great Desolation.

When the enemy retreated, it wasn't just these thousands of masters who withdrew, but also the hundreds of thousands of troops on the periphery rapidly retreated to the West Niuhe Continent. They completely disregarded their formations, fleeing in extreme disarray.

Li Changshou had no time to pursue and could only rely on his not-yet-fully-formed Water God divine position to quell the roaring West Sea, reduce casualties among marine life, and prevent himself from accumulating too much karma.

Then, sorting through the subsequent series of operations for this plan in his mind, he felt a slight regret. He couldn't implement them anymore. No matter how much he calculated, he still couldn't accurately predict the 'hearts of living beings'; this time, what he miscalculated was his opponents' psychological endurance.

At this moment, with Li Changshou at the center, a small portion of the Crystal Palace in the fan-shaped area behind him remained completely unharmed. Evidently, during the spirit explosion just now, Master Pagoda had intervened to protect the remaining 'embers' of the West Sea Dragon Palace.

Ao Shi, who had regained his human form, was now lying behind Li Changshou, covered in wounds and barely breathing, severely injured. To be safe, Li Changshou projected a stream of immortal power, adding dozens of layers of seals to Ao Shi's dragon soul to prevent him from self-destructing.

Li Changshou then surveyed the surroundings, activating some paper effigies to intercept the dragon masters arriving from three different directions, preventing them from encountering the main rebel force and incurring unnecessary casualties.

The Five Elements Grand Formation's light membrane slowly retracted. The Gourd Spirit Dolls placed their small gourds back on their heads and transformed into paper figures, flying towards the gourd vine and entering the opened gourds.

Li Changshou opened his left hand, and the gourd vine burrowed back into his sleeve. He then glanced at the deep pit before him, sighed softly, turned around, and took two steps towards the West Sea Dragon King.

The more than one hundred Immortal Jiao soldiers subconsciously took half a step back, while the dragon masters surrounding the throne looked at him with incredibly complex gazes.

Behind the throne, two battle shamans, wearing head coverings, squatted there, hands tucked into their sleeves, softly muttering:"Is this what the Water God meant by 'delaying time'? Neigh...""Isn't it?" Ox-Head chuckled. "Killing all the enemy forces and buying time for our reinforcements to arrive—that also counts as delaying time, Moo...""Are we still going to capture souls?""How can we? There are no souls left! The Water God is coming, quick, let's go!"

Amidst their whispers, the two shamans jumped directly behind Li Changshou, then, with their arms crossed and dragging a pile of iron chains, walked before the West Sea Dragon King.

Supported by the elegant and beautiful Dragon Mother beside him, the West Sea Dragon King shakily stood up and bowed, saying: "Many thanks to the Water God for saving my life."

"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formality," Li Changshou quickly replied, and then took out two bottles of elixirs, asking, "Has Your Majesty been poisoned?"

"Indeed," the West Sea Dragon King replied, feeling quite ashamed. "Although the Water God had warned me beforehand, I was still careless and fell into their trap. I never thought that the Western Sect had already completely hollowed out my Dragon Palace."

Li Changshou gently waved his left hand, placing Ao Shi, who was now barely more than a silhouette, before the Dragon King and Dragon Mother.

The Dragon King's eyes widened, and he immediately moved to strike, intending to kill Ao Shi with his palm. Dragon Palace generals and elders nearby quietly called out, "Your Majesty..." The Dragon Mother also reached out to stop him, but her hand paused, uttering only the first syllable of "Your Majesty." Ao Shi could no longer live.

But Li Changshou stepped forward at this moment and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, you cannot kill him now."

The West Sea Dragon King's eyes were bloodshot, and he said in a low voice, "Water God, why do you plead for this rebellious son!"

"It is not a plea," Li Changshou said. "Ao Shi rebelled and attempted to murder his own father; his crime is heinous, and he certainly deserves death. However, both the Dragon King and Ao Shi are currently within the Heavenly Court's divine hierarchy. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to take Ao Shi to the Heavenly Court and let His Majesty the Jade Emperor decide his fate? If His Majesty orders Ao Shi's execution, he will naturally be brought to the Heavenly Court's Dragon Execution Platform. When the Heavenly Dao's blade falls and a dragon's head drops, the Heavenly Dao will naturally release him from the heart demon's curse. And if, at that time, Ao Shi genuinely repents, perhaps His Majesty will show some compassion and grant him a chance for his true spirit to reincarnate."

Li Changshou paused, and the West Sea Dragon King, the Dragon Mother, and the surrounding elders each cast grateful looks at him. Ao Shi's actions today, even if his mind was controlled, still warranted execution; otherwise, the Dragon King's authority would be completely lost. Li Changshou proactively stepped in to stop this: first, to prevent the tragedy of a father killing his son; second, to uphold the Heavenly Court's dignity; and third, to seize the opportunity for the Heavenly Court and the Underworld to have their first 'formal contact'. These few simple words hid numerous considerations, demonstrating a bit of Li Changshou's subtle wisdom.

Li Changshou then asked, "Your Majesty, why did Ao Shi and his forces besiege but not attack earlier?"

"They were demanding the West Sea's treasury," a dragon elder sighed softly.

Li Changshou slowly nodded, realizing that this topic should not be delved into further, lest he be seen as implying something again.

Suddenly, waves of dragon roars were heard as dozens of azure dragons from the south and north rushed into the sea, heading towards their location. Just then, rumbles of thunder came from above the Dragon Palace, and a golden light shone down, from which rows of Heavenly Generals flew out... These were the 'rescue' and 'cover' teams Li Changshou had arranged earlier, appearing right on time.

The scene immediately became a little awkward.

Soon after, over a hundred masters from the South Sea and North Sea Dragon Palaces, along with one hundred thousand Heavenly River naval soldiers, gathered outside the ruins of the Crystal Palace, looking at the empty 'battlefield,' and fell into frantic self-doubt. Was there even a need for them?

Half an hour later, the West Sea Dragon King, with his remaining forces and the masters sent by the three other Dragon Palaces, temporarily went to assist in defending the West Sea's sea eyes. Li Changshou also ordered the Heavenly River naval forces to return to the Heavenly Court, to the North Heavenly Gate, to prepare for a second wave of 'aerial deployment.'

Afterwards, Li Changshou looked at the two large jars of Dragon King's blood before him, his eyes filled with a smile. What good stuff! This was the Dragon King's blood, collected when he was treating the West Sea Dragon King and forcing out the vast amount of potent poison from his body! Raw material for poison pills! Golden Immortal-level poison!

Based on Li Changshou's preliminary assessment, this poison likely came from a Primordial fierce beast, being an innate potent toxin, so virulent that even a seasoned Grand Unity Golden Immortal like the West Sea Dragon King almost couldn't endure it.

Although he had revealed the 'Gourd Spirit Doll' as a trump card, his own collection of trump cards would soon see a significant expansion!

Li Changshou carefully took out three treasure pouches, layering them three deep, and stored away the two large jars of Dragon King's blood. The conditions here were too rudimentary to easily handle such a potent poison; he would have to wait until the dragon conflict subsided and then use a paper effigy to find a desolate mountain to slowly process it.

"What are you doing with that stuff?" Master Pagoda lazily asked in his mind, then earnestly lectured: "Just blow them up! Explosions are the answer! What good is poison? It's hardly elegant! You're the man who mastered the secret art of avatar spirit explosions! Have a few more explosions, and how could Fairy Yun Xiao not fall for you?"

Li Changshou simply smiled without speaking, already accustomed to Master Pagoda's playful remarks.

"Lord Water God," Ox-Head asked weakly from the side, "Where are we going next? Your lines, both of us brothers have memorized them! Moo!"

Horse-Face quickly added, "We, the Underworld's Yin Division, will always be your companions, Lord Water God! Neigh!"

Li Changshou nodded with a smile. "I owe a great deal to both of you fellow Daoists for your assistance just now; otherwise, the situation would have certainly gotten out of hand."

"Lord, don't say that," Ox-Head mumbled. "If Horse-Face and I hadn't insisted on coming along, hardly any of those Dragon Palace rebels would have escaped!"

"That's not quite right..." Just as Li Changshou was about to explain the change in the situation, the familiar Taiji Diagram appeared in the seawater nearby. Li Changshou, Ox-Head, and Horse-Face immediately swam over and vanished from the spot.

After they left, several figures flew out from all directions, busying themselves in the deep underwater pit, finishing off the corpses one by one and collecting residual souls with soul-absorbing pearls. They then gathered the corpses and ignited them with True Samadhi Flames. The scriptures they chanted were the Scripture of Liberating Beings, the Spell for Eliminating Disasters and Praying for Blessings, and the Taiqing Soul-Stabilizing Spell.

A paper effigy opened a bubble in the seawater, gathered the ashes, and then scattered them again, then played a suona inside the bubble, instantly making the ritual feel complete.

In the Sea God Temple, Master Xuan Du, Fairy Yun Xiao, Li Changshou, Ox-Head, and Horse-Face appeared one after another, as if they had never left.

Li Changshou closed his eyes and concentrated, monitoring the movements throughout the Four Seas via his paper effigies.

For the Western Sect, although they failed to find the 'Dragon Treasures' in the West Sea, their losses were not significant due to their decisive retreat, and it was unlikely they would give up today.

At this moment, the South Sea and East Sea had already plunged into chaos as the marine rebel forces launched fierce attacks, putting pressure on the dragon clan's front lines.

Seeing Li Changshou frown, Master Xuan Du asked, "Chang Geng, what's happening?"

"Chaos has erupted everywhere," Li Changshou said. "My arranged paper effigies have already discovered the West Sea Dragon Clan rebels; they are moving north and south along the borders of West Niuhe Continent. It seems they intend to attack the North Sea and South Sea. The Western Sect's goal this time is clear: they want the accumulated treasures of the Dragon Palaces from countless years, to serve as the foundation for their grand revival."

Master Xuan Du frowned and said, "If the Western Sect prospers, where will that leave our Dao Sect? This is unacceptable! Junior Sister Yun Xiao, you protect Chang Geng and go to the South Sea. I will go to the North Sea to take charge. We must thwart the Western Sect's schemes! By doing so, the Dao Sect's fortunes will flourish!" With that, a Taiji Diagram appeared behind Master Xuan Du, and he turned and stepped into it.

Fairy Yun Xiao, standing quietly to the side, couldn't help but blink softly. It seemed she had been 'arranged.'

Li Changshou, however, hastily said, "Senior Brother, about this!" The Taiji Diagram flashed and disappeared, and Master Xuan Du was gone.

Yun Xiao couldn't help but chuckle softly, saying gently: "Senior Brother Xuan Du's words are also reasonable. Resisting the Western Sect is not solely a matter for the Human Sect."

Li Changshou gave a helpless smile, then said, "My recent display of combat skills must have amused you."

"When you make a move, fellow Daoist, it's like a mountain collapsing," Yun Xiao smiled. "It seems you were born too late, fellow Daoist. If you had begun cultivating in ancient times, you would already be a great power."

Li Changshou shook his head and chuckled, "As long as you don't find my methods unscrupulous."

Yun Xiao tilted her head slightly, a hint of thought in her eyes, and softly asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you perhaps think that I only know how to cultivate, and am unaware of the dangers of the Great Desolation?"

Li Changshou smiled warmly and slowly shook his head. They exchanged glances, each feeling they understood the other a little better.

In the corner, Ox-Head whispered, "Horse, we're quite awkward here, Moo." Before Horse-Face could 'Neigh,' a Taiji Diagram appeared behind them, and two large hands reached out from thin air, pulling the two brothers directly into it. Master Xuan Du's voice emanated from the Taiji Diagram: "Chang Geng! Catch!"

A black light flew over, landing directly in front of Li Changshou, who caught it with both hands. It was the Qiankun Ruler, an Innate Merit Spirit Treasure, forged by the Grand Pure Saint! The ruler resembled a blunt sword. It had once struck the Eastern Emperor Bell and smashed the soul of Kunpeng, making it one of the Human Sect's rare offensive spirit treasures! Of course, like the Xuanhuang Pagoda, this was merely borrowed, not bestowed. To say it was 'borrowed' might even be too formal; this should be considered a Human Sect specialty—shared spirit treasures!

The Qiankun Ruler subtly vibrated, and a wisp of spiritual consciousness echoed in Li Changshou's mind, seemingly engaging in a crosstalk with the Xuanhuang Pagoda.

"Let's go to the South Sea Dragon Palace now; we mustn't delay the main business," Fairy Yun Xiao said proactively.

"To involve you in such karma..." Li Changshou said with a hint of apology.

"Don't worry," Yun Xiao said, with her small hands clasped behind her back, "Just put more effort into planning and arrangements, and don't give me a chance to act."