Chapter 450: Five-Character Killing Immortal Elder

Fairy Yunhua had a dream filled with longing, waking up with tears soaking her pillow. Her eyes held a vacant, obsessive gaze, as if her soul had drifted away. This was a clear sign that she was falling into the tribulation.

Li Changshou currently had two paper effigies active in the Heavenly Court. One was "live streaming" from the Moon Palace, while the other closely monitored Fairy Yunhua. At this moment, Li Changshou harbored a significant doubt. The issues with Old Daoist Fu Yuan were simply too blatant, almost akin to a deliberate self-sabotage.

Had Li Changshou considered this matter before the battle of the Northern Continent's miasma, he would have only analyzed it from conventional perspectives, such as the tribulation's influence, Fu Yuan's position, potential repercussions, and worst-case scenarios. Now, however, Li Changshou adopted several additional lines of inquiry to ensure his analysis was as comprehensive as possible. First, was it possible that Fu Yuan had become a puppet mid-way, rather than being an original plant? Second, was there something amiss with Yang Tianyou's background? Third, did a Saint directly intervene? Fourth, could this be a deliberate decoy, designed to divert his attention from their true machinations? And so forth.

Immortal Lord Fu Yuan was an ancient figure in the Heavenly Court, having joined around the same time as Duke Mu. He had served for a long time and ascended to a high position. His Daoist name, Fu Yuan, was adopted later, and he possessed no particularly distinguished origins. If Fu Yuan had been a pre-arranged pawn, the timing of his actions seemed ill-chosen. The Heavenly Court was on the cusp of rising amidst the Grand Tribulation. Previously, numerous opportunities to betray the Jade Emperor had been missed; why were they not seized?

A comprehensive analysis suggested the most probable scenario: Old Daoist Fu Yuan’s mind had been manipulated, or he had been secretly replaced entirely. If this were true, the likelihood of a Saint's direct involvement was considerably high, roughly twenty percent.

His usual method: If I were the one manipulating Fu Yuan from behind, what would I intend to accomplish through him? A flash of insight sparked in Li Changshou's mind, pinpointing a crucial detail: probing for a reaction. The opponent's actions likely lacked a definitive objective. At the very least, they aimed to irritate the Jade Emperor; ideally, they sought to undermine his authority, thereby achieving other aims. With the Grand Tribulation's destiny unfolding, the cosmos resembled murky waters. Even a small ripple caused by a thrown stone might trigger a chain reaction.

The Western Sect was naturally the most probable party behind these machinations, though the Chan Sect could not be entirely ruled out. A slim possibility also existed that the Jie Sect was involved, but... that seemed... He decided to remain skeptical and avoid premature conclusions. Thoroughness was key!

Peeking at Fairy Yunhua, who sat silently lost in thought before her dressing table, Li Changshou subtly shook his head and shifted his focus elsewhere. He dispatched a paper effigy, disguised as a Heavenly General under his command, to the Underworld to investigate Yang Tianyou's origins. Subsequently, for the first time in two years, his primary Water God paper effigy left the Lunar Star. It then brazenly moved throughout the Heavenly Court, openly investigating matters related to Fairy Yunhua. This move was another classic "thousand-layer cake" strategy, complex and multi-layered.

Li Changshou first visited Fairy Yunhua, advising her not to worry excessively. He then sent Heavenly Soldiers to the Jade Pool to request permission, adding six more maids to Fairy Yunhua's service. Fairy Yunhua thus became the second immortal in the Heavenly Court, besides the Queen Mother, to command more than two immortal handmaidens. Given the separation of male and female immortals in the Heavenly Court, even the Jade Emperor himself did not enjoy such a privilege!

Afterwards, Li Changshou proceeded to the Temple of Marriage. He inspected Fairy Yunhua’s red thread of destiny, and upon seeing the thread connecting her to Yang Tianyou, he immediately feigned outrage: “Old Man of the Moon, what is the meaning of this? Fairy Yunhua is the Jade Emperor’s own sister, who accompanied him through his tribulation! How could she be inextricably bound by a red thread to a mere mortal?”

The Old Man of the Moon trembled in fright. “This, this was absolutely not my doing!” he stammered. “Water God, you must see through this!”

Li Changshou frowned. “Then tell me,” he pressed, “what place is this?”

“The Temple of Marriage…”

“And who are you?”

“This humble immortal is the Old Man of the… Moon…”

The Old Man of the Moon’s face suddenly turned ashen. He stumbled back several steps, gazing at the red thread, now inexplicably tied in an unbreakable knot, and instinctively reached for his golden scissors. Li Changshou flicked his whisk, stopping the Old Man of the Moon. He lowered his voice, saying: “The tribulation’s destiny is already manifest throughout heaven and earth, and this matter is highly suspicious, Old Man of the Moon. Do you truly wish to cut it?”

The Old Man of the Moon shivered again, his heart a turbulent mess. He mumbled, "It's over, it's over," and paced agitatedly before Li Changshou.

“Water God! Water God, save me!”

“This matter is beyond my ability to resolve,” Li Changshou sighed. “Remember, you must insist that this was absolutely not your doing, nor did you tie this unbreakable knot. Be prepared to swear a Grand Dao vow to that effect. His Majesty the Jade Emperor is benevolent and magnanimous, and you, Old Man of the Moon, have rendered great service in the Heavenly Court; you will certainly not be blamed. As for this matter, I genuinely must investigate it thoroughly… Old Man of the Moon, can you recall everyone who has visited your Temple of Marriage in the past twenty years? Write down all their names for me.”

“Yes, yes! I shall write them down at once!”

Li Changshou added, “To ensure no one attempts to frame you, Old Man of the Moon, I will record your entire writing process using a memory orb. Please be as detailed as possible.”

“Ah! Thank you, Water God!”

The Old Man of the Moon sighed deeply, then invited Li Changshou to a side hall. There, he continuously recalled, pondered, and recounted details, diligently writing down every piece of information. For the past two decades, the Old Man of the Moon meticulously detailed which immortal visited, at what time, and what they said, providing Li Changshou with an incredibly clear account, and unexpectedly acquired incriminating information on over a dozen Heavenly Court immortals. These were minor matters, and Li Changshou saw no reason to antagonize his fellow officials.

Half a day later, Li Changshou collected the seven memory orbs, which had recorded from multiple angles. He then instructed the Old Man of the Moon to seal the temple in the near future and prevent anyone from entering the Temple of Marriage. The Old Man of the Moon readily agreed. No sooner had Li Changshou departed than the Old Man of the Moon shut the Temple of Marriage’s main doors, sending two young attendants outside to display signs: "The Old Man of the Moon is not in the temple. The Heavenly Dao protects this place."

With no attempt to conceal his movements, Li Changshou continued his overt visits throughout the Heavenly Court. From the Temple of Marriage, he made his way to the Jade Pool. Li Changshou cautioned Long Ji not to leave the Jade Pool anytime soon, and then exchanged a few overtly "coded messages" with the Queen Mother, requesting her to keep a close watch on Fairy Yunhua. Then, as if struck by inspiration, Li Changshou abruptly changed course, intentionally passing by Immortal Lord Fu Yuan's residence and pacing outside his gate for a while. Ultimately, Li Changshou turned and departed without entering, heading instead to meet Duke Mu.

Li Changshou conversed with Duke Mu about Heavenly Court affairs for a time, employing his "Dual-Voice Synchronization Technique." As he spoke aloud, he simultaneously transmitted a message to Duke Mu using his immortal consciousness: “Duke Mu, who appointed you as the head of male immortals back then, tasked with restraining His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s authority? If it was a Daoist Saint, give a slight smile. If it was a Western Saint, sigh. If you don’t know, blink rapidly.”

Consequently, Duke Mu of the East raised a hand to his eye, muttering, “Why do I feel a little unsettled?” His eyelids then began to twitch uncontrollably, at a startling frequency. Li Changshou smiled inwardly, then continued to chat idly with Duke Mu. After bidding Duke Mu farewell, he returned to the Moon Palace. Sitting behind a bronze mirror, he resumed watching Chang’e practice her dance, while enjoying the delicacies at hand.

Another half day passed. The Underworld had also yielded results. Through the Yama King and the Book of Life and Death, Li Changshou investigated Yang Tianyou's previous eighteen lives. He found nothing unusual; it was simply a normal true spirit continuously undergoing reincarnation. Coupled with the list acquired from the Temple of Marriage, Immortal Lord Fu Yuan had visited the Temple of Marriage three times in the past twenty years, drinking and carousing with the Old Man of the Moon, clearly seeking to befriend him. The timing of the second visit perfectly coincided with the event where Hua Youming, at nineteen, entrusted his mother and sister to Yang Tianyou's care. It was clear that this scheme involving Fairy Yunhua and Yang Tianyou had been set in motion even before the Jade Emperor’s tribulation body returned to the Heavenly Court.

By now, Li Changshou had gathered enough logical support points, and a "storyline" with a sixty percent probability clearly materialized in his mind. A faint smile played on Li Changshou’s lips, and his eyes narrowed slightly. He picked up a piece of freshly roasted spirit beast meat, placed it in his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. He was, in fact, mentally reviewing the myriad hidden details behind this seemingly straightforward gambit, checking for any overlooked flaws or omissions. Self-reflection and self-correction, he believed, shouldn't wait until after an event concludes; if one could identify flaws beforehand, there was always the chance for timely rectification.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Moon Palace, a pair of eyes stared. Two rabbit-ear hair ornaments poked out, followed by a small head with a peeking forehead and eyes. From afar, it caught sight of Li Changshou's expression and couldn't help but shiver. Suddenly, a gentle feminine voice called from behind, “Little rabbit, why are you hiding here?” The young Jade Rabbit shivered slightly, swiftly withdrew her head, and made a shushing gesture to the beautiful fairies approaching on clouds behind her. She then mimed cutting her throat, choking herself, and sticking out her tongue with a twisted neck. The fairies chuckled, covering their mouths in amusement.

One fairy said, “Little rabbit, don’t be like this. The Water God is truly an excellent immortal. Haven’t you realized that in the past two years?”

“Exactly! The Water God was only teasing you those few times before. His gaze towards you is always very kind.”

“Ki-kind?” The Jade Rabbit thought back to her encounters with the Heavenly Court’s Water God over the past two years. Unable to bear the thought, she squatted down and hugged herself, looking utterly dejected. *When Darkness Falls, Only I, a Rabbit, Discovered the Truth About the Great Demon Lord.*

“Could you please present this to Lord Water God for me? I dare not approach him…” With tearful eyes, the Jade Rabbit offered an invitation to the fairies with both hands. The fairies, without hesitation, accepted the invitation and, chatting and laughing, flew into the hall, landing before Li Changshou. The young Jade Rabbit peeked out again, subtly observing the scene.

She watched Li Changshou pick up the invitation and glance at it, then heard him chuckle: “The Lunar Star Lord invited me to a banquet? I think I’ll pass. The Guanghan Palace is utterly devoid of vitality; I’m truly not accustomed to such a place.” As he spoke, Li Changshou glanced towards the hall entrance, catching sight of a faint ripple—the probable trace of the rabbit’s frantic retreat. Chang’e had invited him to a banquet? Li Changshou was unsure of the deeper meaning behind the invitation, but he was absolutely unwilling to become the first man to enter Guanghan Palace since ancient times.

And so, the joyous feast in the Moon Palace continued, its images unbroken in the bronze mirror.

Half a year passed in the mortal realm, as spring turned to autumn. Fairy Yunhua finally could no longer bear it. After consulting with her handmaidens and paying one visit to the Queen Mother, she fearlessly and secretly descended to the mortal realm. Throughout this process, the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, Li Changshou, Duke Mu, and a select few Heavenly Court experts closely monitored Fairy Yunhua's movements. When Fairy Yunhua produced a jade talisman and disguised herself as a Heavenly General, using it to slip out of the Heavenly Gate, the Jade Emperor’s expression in the Lingxiao Palace turned utterly grim. Yet, he forcibly restrained himself, choosing not to intervene. He was the Jade Emperor. With the advent of the tribulation and the Heavenly Court’s rise, any intervention on his part against the tribulation’s destiny would disrupt its progression and potentially jeopardize the Heavenly Court’s ascent.

The ensuing narrative proved somewhat cliché. Fairy Yunhua descended to meet Yang Tianyou. Years of pining and the unsettling influence of the red thread of destiny caused them to embrace uncontrollably the moment their eyes met. Yang Tianyou was a deeply responsible man. He was unwilling to jeopardize Fairy Yunhua’s future as a mere mortal, so he endured and endured… Ultimately, he could not resist. Li Changshou, who had been secretly following, enveloped the Yang residence in a barrier, signaling that the matter was now settled.

In the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the Jade Emperor shook his head with a sigh. His sister had grown up and was choosing to marry; as her brother, he had little to say in truth. It was the intricate web of subsequent entanglements that truly gave the Jade Emperor headaches.

At that very moment, Li Changshou’s paper effigy, in the guise of a young Daoist, joined the Jade Emperor’s avatar. They found a scenic immortal mountain, shared a drink, and deliberated on the next course of action. The Jade Emperor, wishing to fulfill Yang Tianyou and Fairy Yunhua’s desire, passed this challenge to Li Changshou, remarking: “If Chang Geng can devise a solution before this cup of wine is finished, I shall bestow a treasure upon you.”

Li Changshou offered a subtle smile, deliberately affecting a thoughtful expression. No sooner had the Jade Emperor lifted his cup and taken a sip than Li Changshou presented his pre-prepared solution. “I have it.”

*Pfft*— The Jade Emperor’s avatar clutched his mouth, staring at Li Changshou. “Have what?” he spluttered.

“The solution Your Majesty seeks,” Li Changshou chuckled, “I investigated Yang Tianyou’s background for his previous eighteen lives and requested the Yama King to conceal all records in the Book of Life and Death. With heavenly secrets currently muddled and divination forbidden, we can simply craft a romantic tale to provide a plausible explanation for their union.”

“Oh?” The Jade Emperor’s interest was piqued. “What kind of story?”

Li Changshou produced several scrolls from his sleeve. “Your Majesty, please observe,” he said, “I have long prepared these, anticipating such a turn of events.” The Jade Emperor peered closer, only to see titles like *Three Lives, Three Worlds, I Found You*, *Immortal Love Unfinished*, and *You Are Left, I Am Right* inscribed on the scrolls. Black lines appeared on the Jade Emperor’s avatar’s forehead. He glared at Li Changshou and scolded: “Why didn’t you present these when I descended to the mortal realm?!”

“Ahem,” Li Changshou offered an awkward chuckle. “Your Majesty’s story at that time was custom-made. These are merely my own improvisations, so some differences are inevitable.”

The Jade Emperor scrutinized the scrolls for a while before swiftly selecting a script. As Li Changshou had anticipated, it was the classic "three lives, three worlds, golden boy and jade maiden" narrative. The Jade Emperor then asked, “What good will fabricating such a story do for them?”

Li Changshou calmly elaborated: “Your Majesty, in a few years, rumors will undoubtedly spread throughout the Heavenly Court, claiming that Fairy Yunhua secretly descended to the mortal realm and illicitly married a mortal. At that point, this humble immortal will release this story to mitigate some of the subsequent repercussions. Your Majesty can also make a show of punishment, ordering Yang Tianyou to forfeit his family’s wealth and letting them experience a period of hardship… Many immortals in the Heavenly Court are sentimental beings. While they might not openly voice their opinions, they would secretly sympathize with Fairy Yunhua and Yang Tianyou. At that time, Your Majesty simply needs to find an opportune moment to apprehend them and bring them back to the Heavenly Court. You can then diminish some of Fairy Yunhua’s cultivation and punish them by sacrificing a portion of their lifespan to solidify their karmic bond, serving as a deterrent for others. Thus, this matter can be brought to a satisfactory close…”

This was Li Changshou’s moderate strategy to ensure the smooth birth of Erlang Shen Yang Jian while accommodating the interests of all parties involved.

The Jade Emperor slowly exhaled, then nodded in agreement. He retrieved a jade brush from his robes and handed it to Li Changshou. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This humble immortal would be impolite to refuse.”

“I can’t help but feel, Chang Geng, that you’re deliberately setting a trap for me,” the Jade Emperor said, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Li Changshou calmly smiled, then raised his wine cup in a toast to the Heavenly Pillar.

And so, seven years later.

Events indeed unfolded exactly as Li Changshou and the Jade Emperor had discussed, with the first six years passing in perfect tranquility. In Fairy Yunhua’s first year in the mortal realm, the Yang family welcomed their second son. In her third year, their third child, a daughter, was born. The Yang family’s life was one envied by immortals and even begrudged by mandarin ducks, its joys unfathomable to mortals.

However, this idyllic period was short-lived, as a startling change occurred in the heavens. First, rumors rapidly spread throughout the Heavenly Court. Almost overnight, even the Heavenly Soldiers in the most remote corners of the realm became aware of Fairy Yunhua, the Jade Emperor’s sister, illicitly marrying a mortal and disgracing heavenly authority. The Heavenly Soldiers, generals, and immortals themselves didn't consider it a major incident; they simply treated it as a piece of gossip. Li Changshou promptly released the fabricated story: “Yang Tianyou is the reincarnation of a Golden Boy, and his union with Fairy Yunhua is a divinely ordained destiny.” This swiftly corrected public perception. However, at this juncture, certain immortals, led by Immortal Lord Fu Yuan, continuously exaggerated the gravity of the situation, escalating the matter to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

The Jade Emperor calmly issued an order, dispatching a contingent of Heavenly Soldiers to the mortal realm to apprehend Yang Tianyou’s family of five and bring them to the Lingxiao Palace for his judgment. The problem, however, arose at this very stage. Li Changshou had meticulously planned this entire affair and naturally would not overlook this crucial juncture. His paper effigy secretly hid beneath the Yang residence, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Heavenly Soldiers. The Heavenly Soldiers descended, declared His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s decree, and proceeded to apprehend Yang Tianyou’s family. Yang Tianyou remained remarkably calm, having long anticipated this moment. He shielded his wife and children as he was bound by the Heavenly Soldiers’ immortal ropes.

It was at this precise moment that an unforeseen turn of events occurred! A Heavenly Soldier, merely half a *zhang* away from Yang Tianyou, suddenly had his eyes brim with golden light and slammed his palm towards Yang Tianyou’s crown. Fairy Yunhua, not skilled in combat, had no time to intervene. However, a white silhouette flashed swiftly from the side, barely interposing itself before Yang Tianyou, its beard and hair billowing, eyes wide in fury. Li Changshou’s paper effigy lunged forth, angrily rebuking: “Who are you?!”

But no sooner had the words left its mouth than Li Changshou instantly lost connection with that paper effigy. He felt a wisp of Dao charm forcibly annihilating the primordial spirit power he had entrusted to it! In a flash of lightning, Li Changshou swiftly shifted his consciousness into the paper effigy’s sleeve, fully activating another spare effigy. However, by the time this new effigy burst forth, it was already too late. The Heavenly Soldier shattered Yang Tianyou’s skull with a single palm strike. On the other side, another Heavenly Soldier struck down Yang Tianyou’s eldest son. Li Changshou only managed to act in time to deflect a palm strike aimed at Fairy Yunhua with his whisk. With immortal power surging through him, he unleashed a furious gale.

When the wind died down and the commotion ceased, the courtyard was left in disarray. The remaining Heavenly Soldiers stood utterly bewildered, staring blankly at the scene before them, their eyes fixed on the corpses of Yang Tianyou and his eldest son. Yang Tianyou’s six-and-a-half-year-old second son clutched his younger sister tightly. His calm expression held a touch of bewilderment, and a streak of splashed blood stained his face.

Li Changshou’s paper effigy left only two transmitted messages for the Heavenly Soldiers present, instructing them to retreat. One effigy had already taken Fairy Yunhua away, escorting her to the Heavenly Court. The other paper effigies remained at the scene, guarding Yang Jian and Yang Chan.

Simultaneously, thunder roared outside the Lingxiao Palace. Li Changshou’s paper effigy, arriving from the Moon Palace, shot forth amidst the lightning, its face cold with fury. It stepped into the hall and strode directly towards Immortal Lord Fu Yuan. The Jade Emperor looked perplexed, and the assembled immortals were somewhat confused, yet all instantly sensed Li Changshou’s profound anger. Duke Mu hastily asked, “Water God…”

Li Changshou offered no reply. He had already reached Immortal Lord Fu Yuan, and their eyes met. The latter wore a confused expression, seemingly unaware of what was unfolding. Li Changshou’s lips moved subtly, transmitting five words. Immortal Lord Fu Yuan first registered surprise, then his entire body began to tremble. His immortal form startlingly shriveled, like a deflating balloon. In a mere instant, he disintegrated into streaks of ash, his divine soul utterly dispersed!

A pin drop could have been heard within the Lingxiao Palace. The assembled immortals stared at Li Changshou in horror. Only the Jade Emperor, of all present, had heard Li Changshou’s five words. He wore a contemplative expression, and divine light surged within his eyes.

“This is too much, Martial Uncle.”