Chapter 402: Long Life Returns to the Mountain, Black Panther Seeks Friends

On a dark and windy night, Little Qiong Peak was shrouded in shadows, as a faint fragrance drifted through the forest.

Just after receiving a message from her Senior Brother, Ling'e hastily put on a Daoist robe and rushed out of her thatched hut. Holding a jade token to activate the formation, she made her way directly to the alchemy lab.

However, the moment she reached the alchemy lab, Ling'e heard muffled… sobbing?

Her heart seized. She emerged from the forest's night shroud and landed before the brightly lit entrance of the alchemy lab. There, she saw… her Senior Brother, lying back in a rocking chair, his face stained with tears and snot!

A sharp crack echoed! It was as if lightning had struck behind Ling'e. She flinched back, her eyes wide with utter shock.

Good heavens, had the sky suddenly caved in?!

“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?” Ling'e’s voice trembled with tears as she knelt directly before the rocking chair, her small hand gripping Li Changshou’s large one. She cried out:

“Tell me what’s wrong! Whatever it is, we’ll face it together! Is… is it Master? Is Master beyond saving? Senior Brother, has something gone wrong with your cultivation? If your Dao fruit of immortality is ruined, I'll even accompany you into reincarnation, Senior Brother!”

“Ling’e… I’m fine…” Li Changshou responded, his voice trembling, his Adam’s apple bobbing with profound sorrow.

Ling'e’s eyelids drooped, tears streaming down her face like scattered pearls. She placed her Senior Brother’s hand against her cheek, sobbing softly:

“Senior Brother, don’t scare me! If you were gone right now, what would I do? I wouldn’t even qualify to be your widow; I’d only be able to tend your grave… Ow! Senior Brother, why did you hit me?!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Li Changshou snapped, withdrawing the finger that had flicked her forehead. He wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, then sighed deeply, murmuring:

“The after-effects are simply too intense.”

Ling'e pouted, clutching her forehead, and gazed plaintively at her Senior Brother. “I haven’t seen you cry in so many years; naturally, I was worried,” she grumbled.

“Your brother isn’t crying,” Li Changshou sighed. “I’m merely releasing the pent-up emotions from my Dao heart.”

Ling'e was completely perplexed.

Li Changshou shook his head, gazing at the somber night sky, doing his best to quell the sorrow in his Dao heart.

He had only been back on the mountain for an hour, yet for that entire hour, he had been shedding tears like a 'steadfast man' in this very spot.

Half a day prior, upon leaving the Underworld, Li Changshou had politely declined Old Zhao’s dinner invitation, stating he needed to attend to follow-up matters at the Sea God Sect and the Heavenly Court.

The Xuanhuang Pagoda had been deliberately retrieved by the Grand Master, who had even specifically requested Immortal Yunxiao to escort Li Changshou’s true body back to the mountain gate…

A good Senior Brother, as always.

Li Changshou, for a rare moment, stood firm. He proactively escorted Immortal Yunxiao back to Three Immortals Island, where he shared a cup of tea and exchanged a few words before finally setting off on his return journey alone.

On his way back, without the protection of 'Grandpa Pagoda,' Li Changshou inevitably felt a 'lack of security'…

A journey that should have taken less than an hour to teleport back ended up taking him on a detour through nearly half of Middle Divine Continent!

Once back on Little Qiong Peak, he settled into his comfortable rocking chair and sighed softly. Wisps of deep blue Dao aura drifted around him, and waves of profound sorrow emanated from his entire being.

Reflecting on the vastness of heaven and earth, he wept, overwhelmed with solitary grief.

All things must end; how then to bear such solitude?

Previously, Li Changshou had not been unaffected by 'minor sorrow'; he had merely suppressed these emotions, projecting an aura of profound mystery to the outside world.

*Cough*, and it certainly wasn't because he was in front of Immortal Yunxiao!

Such pure sorrow, such pure infectious power, could not be resisted simply by possessing a pristine Dao heart…

Ling'e fetched a meditation cushion and sat beside Li Changshou, asking softly with her most earnest gentleness:

“Senior Brother, has something happened?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Li Changshou said calmly. “While helping Empress Houtu suppress the Seven Emotions Incarnations, I was influenced by the Dao aura born from the seven emotions of all beings. I simply need to release this emotion.”

Ling'e blinked, feeling as though her Senior Brother had just casually mentioned something truly extraordinary…

Li Changshou said, “Do you know why I called you over?”

“I know,” Ling'e sighed softly, adopting a resigned expression as she turned her head to the side. “If rewarding me with scripture copying brings Senior Brother joy, I… am willing…”

“Not this time,” Li Changshou replied. “Play me some cheerful tunes instead, to balance my mood.”

“Hehe, why didn’t you say so earlier? Coming right up!”

Ling'e immediately shifted back, released two paper figures to pick up a drum and a flute, and took out an ancient guqin herself, beginning to play a cheerful melody.

Li Changshou smiled, closing his eyes once more. As the tidal wave of sorrow gradually receded, his mind became active again.

The smooth resolution of Empress Houtu’s Tribulation of Seven Emotions was naturally inseparable from the cooperation of the Heavenly Court, the Dragon Palace, and the Immortal Sects of the Three Religions.

Li Changshou’s paper effigies set off once more, heading to the Dragon Palace to thank the Dragon King and report on the matter’s progress. They also located Duke Dongmu in the Heavenly Court to discuss sending envoys to the Underworld for condolences.

And from Duke Dongmu, Li Changshou received a somewhat unexpected piece of news.

Previously, when the collective spiritual power of all beings was gathered, a surge of this power also converged from the Three Thousand Worlds, rushing to the Underworld and injecting into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc, providing significant assistance.

The source of this collective spiritual power… was precisely the large number of incense-worshipping divine sects controlled by the Western Sect in the Three Thousand Worlds!

The Western Sect, acting out of righteousness?

Li Changshou pondered carefully and understood the Western Sect’s intentions, which were nothing more than three points:

First, to bestow favor upon the Underworld, making it convenient for their future operations in the Netherworld;

Second, to assist the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc simultaneously with the Dao Sect, which would be considered serving the Heavenly Dao. Although they wouldn't gain merit, they could use this to recover some of their luck;

Third, to uphold the concept of righteousness.

Righteousness, in the harsh survival environment of the Primordial World, seemed like nothing but a joke.

Indeed, this was the case before the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao and the Six Sages were born; in primordial times, it was purely a matter of might makes right, and so-called righteousness was merely a crude fig leaf.

However, after the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao and the Six Sages emerged, the order of the Primordial World was established, and one's background and lineage began to outweigh sheer strength.

The existence of the Six Sages established the basic order of the Primordial World; and the existence of the Heavenly Dao made the concept of righteousness increasingly important.

The Western Sect’s intervention this time was precisely to uphold righteousness, to 'rectify their name,' to demonstrate their responsibility as a major sect of the Primordial World, and to continue to contend with the Dao Sect on an equal footing.

It was probably to say—we, the Western Sect, are not villains of the Primordial World; we are in a competitive relationship with the Dao Sect, each with our own stance.

Was this matter ordered by a Saint, or was it proactively suggested by Ksitigarbha or another Saint’s disciple?

Li Changshou pondered for a moment. This question naturally had no answer, so he smiled and didn't think about it further.

Hmm, better to think about how to help the Underworld next, and earn a bit more merit along the way.

In assisting Empress Houtu this time, the Heavenly Dao bestowed a massive amount of merit, which was distributed among the Nine Immortals of the Dao Sect; Li Changshou, being the most instrumental and crucial figure, naturally received the largest share of merit.

But as the Grand Master had reminded him earlier…

The merit from this matter was divided among the Daoist masters who came to assist, which naturally reduced Li Changshou’s own share.

There was nothing he could do. Since it concerned the greatly virtuous Empress Houtu, Li Changshou naturally prioritized stability above all else.

His Merit Golden Body was now almost ninety percent constructed! However, this ninety percent was still merely ‘raw material.’

Pure merit, besides offsetting karma, had no significant use; only a complete Merit Golden Body could produce the effect of ‘Heavenly Dao’s protection.’

Of course, Li Changshou’s approach to this matter had always remained unchanged—

He desired the Merit Golden Body not to rely on it for survival.

With the Merit Golden Body’s protection, in general dangerous situations not involving Saints, his safety factor could increase by at least thirty percent. And in dangerous situations involving Saints, he could, relying on the Merit Golden Body, make a Saint… hesitate for a brief moment. This was a sliver of hope!

Li Changshou had long prepared the method for cultivating the Merit Golden Body. He had even considered drastically modifying it but had never found a suitable approach.

The part his Merit Golden Body was currently missing was a lower leg and a foot.

So, could he perhaps create a smaller ‘limb’? A Merit Golden Body – Heavenly Crippled Foot?

“Hahahaha!” As this image appeared in Li Changshou’s mind, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Ling'e’s guqin music ceased. She asked happily, “Senior Brother, are you alright now?”

“Ah, my Dao heart is sound,” Li Changshou said, stretching his arms. He looked at Ling'e before him and couldn’t help but fall back into thought.

Ling'e’s face suddenly flushed red. She asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Ling’e, how long have you been cultivating up to this day?”

How long had she been cultivating? Was Senior Brother… finally making his move on her?

Was their 'homegrown flower' finally going to blossom and bear fruit? Could their Senior Brother-Sister relationship finally take a significant step forward?

Ling'e’s heart pounded, her pretty face flushing crimson. She stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Bypassing all maidenly modesty and unease, she whispered the words she had prepared for years, soft as a mosquito’s buzz:

“I… I… I’m re—ready…”

“Oh?” Li Changshou’s eyes lit up. He chuckled, “You can actually guess my thoughts? Your spiritual wisdom is indeed growing as your cultivation increases. Then it’s decided: you’ll go down the mountain to travel in twelve years. It’s also time for you to face this Primordial World.”

“Huh?” Ling'e froze, while Li Changshou chuckled softly, his figure dissolving into a wisp of green smoke and vanishing from the alchemy lab.

Where could he make up for the insufficient merit?

Exterminating demons was a relatively stable option, but putting too much sudden pressure on the demon race could easily lead to a fierce backlash from them.

He still needed to use Daoist Lu Ya as the core of his scheme, leveraging his identity as the Demon Court’s Crown Prince to draw out more karma-laden great demons.

The ideal scheme, in fact, was to incite the demon race to actively pressure the Heavenly Court, raising the banner of rebellion against Heaven. Then, his own intervention to reap merit would become logical and reasonable.

The current strength and foundation of the demon race, compared to the entire human race, were naturally far inferior. However, compared to the nascent Heavenly Court, they were still not to be underestimated.

Li Changshou listed the matters he needed to handle in the coming decades: Heavenly Court recruitment, the reincarnation process completion plan, targeting Lu Ya, secretly protecting the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, and making his Junior Sister understand the world’s harsh realities…

In principle, he still wouldn't actively scheme these matters.

The timetable for the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation had already appeared in Southern Continent, guarded by Senior Sister Kong Xuan—*cough*, Daoist Kong Xuan;

Li Changshou only needed to proceed unhurriedly, making his preparations at his own pace, without needing to rush.

Impulsiveness and haste were the greatest enemies of a steadfast person!

Next, he would first talk to Junior Sister Youqin to see what stage her cultivation had reached, aiming to raise her cultivation level to the Heavenly Immortal realm before she went to the Heavenly Court.

Hmm… he also needed to arrange a scenario for Youqin to ‘officially associate’ with the Heavenly Court’s Water God, thus giving her a sufficiently strong background and lineage.

After all, she was going to the Heavenly Court to help his fellow sect junior sister; naturally, he couldn’t treat her poorly.

“Senior… Senior, are you there, Senior?”

“Hmm?” Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, shifting most of his attention back to the paper effigy hidden at the border between Southern Jambudvipa and Eastern Continent. His immortal consciousness spread, observing the Black Panther couple’s cave dwelling.

The water demon Miao Miao was pacing back and forth in front of the cave, holding the communication jade token Li Changshou had given her earlier.

What was going on?

Li Changshou’s paper effigy stood up, checked its appearance to ensure it was still the old Daoist guise he had shown the Black Panther couple, and then sped off on a cloud.

His immortal consciousness detected that Black Panther was sprawled on a stone table inside the cave, fast asleep, with two jars of immortal brew beside him, clearly having been plied with drink by his wife.

This situation, this scene… If Black Panther were to see this, he would surely think that his ‘Old Daoist Lu Ya’ and the water demon Miao Miao had something going on!

Arriving in front of the cave, Li Changshou sternly asked:

“Why did you hastily seek this poor Daoist? And why did you get your husband drunk?”

The water demon bowed her head in salute and hurriedly replied:

“These past few days, my husband has kept muttering about the Immortal Sect of Jie, the Immortal Sect of Jie, and even said he wanted to visit Jinao Island. I asked him what was wrong, and he said he missed some old friends on Jinao Island and wanted to visit them. Jinao Island is the Daoist training ground of the Jie Sect, a gathering place for experts; how dare we, just two small demons, go there to visit? If we were to displease any expert, wouldn’t that be a fatal disaster? Senior, could you please persuade my husband?”

“No matter,” Li Changshou pondered slightly, then frowned and said, “If he wants to go, then let him go.”

The water demon frowned deeply and whispered, “Is—is this truly fine?”

“Of course it’s fine,” Li Changshou showed a hint of impatience. “You two are husband and wife; this matter should be discussed between yourselves. This poor Daoist is not keeping you confined here. This poor Daoist merely believes that Daoist Black Panther’s eloquence is an extremely important skill for our demon race, which is why I’ve given you both considerable care. The immortals on Jinao Island are reasonable and pleasant to converse with. If what your husband said is true, then you might even gain some benefits on Jinao Island. Do not be ashamed of your demon origins; although our demon race is not powerful now, it was once glorious in ancient times.”

The water demon couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She whispered, “If he goes, I certainly won’t be going…”

“That is a matter for you two as husband and wife,” Li Changshou waved his hand. “This poor Daoist has other important matters to attend to, so I won’t stay here long. Such a trivial matter, hmph.”

With that, Li Changshou departed on a cloud. The water demon seemed to want to say more but could only bow in farewell.

Sighing softly a few times, the water demon turned and returned to the cave dwelling, lifted Black Panther onto the bed, and activated the protective formation of the cave.

Black Panther was going to Jinao Island to visit friends? What chain reactions would this cause for the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation?

Li Changshou mused for a moment, a faint premonition stirring in his heart that Black Panther’s actions would surely stir up great commotion in the Primordial World.

In fact, he could seize the opportunity to stir up some trouble for Lu Ya…

Li Changshou’s thoughts continuously expanded, and his eyes gradually curved into a smile.

Three days later, Black Panther indeed departed from the cave dwelling, secretly making his way to the East Sea, and from its edge, headed towards Jinao Island.

And no sooner had Black Panther set off than the Heavenly Court issued a punitive declaration to the Five Continents, seeking to apprehend Daoist Lu Ya, a remnant of the ancient Demon Court.

The declaration also stated the reason: Daoist Lu Ya possessed a magical treasure that threatened the balance of heaven and earth, and thus he needed to be ‘captured and returned to Heaven’ as soon as possible…

Once this declaration was issued, the human immortal sects in Middle Divine Continent showed little reaction, practically ignoring it.

—Although the Heavenly Court had begun to rise, its influence and appeal were still severely lacking; it had yet to truly resemble the ruler of the Three Realms.

However, when the demon race heard about this, they first cursed the Heavenly Court, then immediately grasped the key point.

Daoist Lu Ya, a powerful treasure that threatened the balance of heaven and earth! How could this be tolerated?

Many demon experts instantly felt their blood boil; the demon territories on the borders of various continents erupted in cheers, and ancient demons who had only recently settled down emerged from seclusion, awaiting the Crown Prince’s rallying call!

And when the person involved finally received this news, he was utterly… bewildered.