Chapter 486: Kunlun Jade Void Journey

Well…

When facing a dangerous situation, Ling Zhuzi could step forward without hesitation to stand in front of the Jade Rabbit maiden. This showed he could take responsibility. As for other matters, they still require ongoing observation and intervention, but if all else fails, only respect can be given.

At the entrance to the Guanghan Palace, numerous divine senses were watching.

Li Changshou stepped out with Ling Zhuzi. The former had white hair and eyebrows and wore a benevolent smile, while the latter had changed into a green Daoist robe, walking proudly behind his uncle-master.

Many heavenly generals, immortals, and fairies who were secretly probing the area gradually discovered a key point—

"How did this young man change his clothes?"

"Respectfully seeing off Lord Water God." Chang'e's gentle voice drifted from within the grand formation. She stood with the young Jade Rabbit outside the palace gate, but within the barrier's light, her hands clasped in front of her as she bowed gracefully to Li Changshou.

Li Changshou turned and returned the bow, saying aloud: "Thank you for your help today, Star Lord. If you have time, please come to my Water God's Mansion for a visit. My nephew is quite similar to your maidservant, Star Lord. If this Jade Rabbit immortal maiden has nothing to do, she is welcome to visit my Water God's Mansion anytime."

The Jade Rabbit clearly shivered, lowering her head and not daring to look at the Water God's face.

Chang'e said softly, "Thank you for the invitation, Water God." However, she said nothing more.

Li Changshou lightly flicked his horsetail whisk, and a white cloud formed beneath his feet. Taking Ling Zhuzi, he flew out from the Lunar Star.

Whether intentional or not, Chang'e stood motionless in front of the Guanghan Palace gate for a long time, her eyes somewhat lost in thought…

This scene was witnessed by the various immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court, and the conversation began to continuously stray off topic.

"Immortal Chang'e is so beautiful."

"It seems she has some extraordinary thoughts about the Water God, standing motionless at the Guanghan Palace gate for a long time after seeing him off."

"Immortal Chang'e's beauty truly lives up to her reputation as the Three Realms' most beautiful woman! Most likely, she's already smitten with the Water God; this could be a beautiful match."

"What? The Water God and Immortal Chang'e are now an item? He went into Guanghan Palace and came out, and even changed clothes?"

Before Li Changshou had even returned to the Water God's Mansion on his cloud, the news had already spread throughout the Heavenly Court, with various versions circulating. Some Heavenly Court record keepers had even started discussing this matter on their bronze mirror broadcasts, attracting considerable attention…

As a popular Heavenly Court record keeper, Bian Zhuang was incredibly well-informed on such matters. Before Li Changshou returned to the Water God's Mansion, Bian Zhuang had already heard several rumors and was sighing deeply and silently weeping by the Tianhe River.

Ao Yi, who had just returned to the Heavenly Court from the Dragon Palace yesterday and was in a good mood, felt puzzled and exceptionally showed concern for Bian Zhuang. "What's wrong?"

The breakdown of a mature man usually happens in an instant.

Bian Zhuang suddenly burst into tears, turned to look at Ao Yi, and tears flowed from his nostrils. "Me! Lord Water God! Immortal Chang'e!"

"Hmm?" Ao Yi, who had previously been focused solely on cultivation, was instantly filled with questions.

"I lost..."

Bian Zhuang wiped away his tears, his lips trembling as he said: "This fated romance of mine, which ended without resolution, ultimately lost to power, status, and fame! Lord Water God gave me everything I have now; I can't possibly be ungrateful and contend with him for Immortal Chang'e's affections! This feeling, which hasn't even materialized yet but has already lingered passionately in my heart, I... withdraw!"

Ao Yi was completely exasperated, and his mouth twitched.

"You're crazy!"

"Yes, I'm afflicted with an incurable lovesickness." Bian Zhuang sighed despairingly and whispered, "Since ancient times, being too sentimental only leaves regret!"

Ao Yi looked to the side, calmly interrupted Bian Zhuang's lament, and said indifferently: "My Big Brother Cult Master told me before that he seemed to intend to promote you to be the deputy instructor of the Three Hundred Chang'es."

Bian Zhuang's spirits instantly lifted. He wiped his face with both hands, his eyes shining brilliantly. "Is that true?"

Ao Yi: ...

"True Dragon Claw!"

"Flying Dragon in the Sky!"

Bian Zhuang screamed as he turned into a black speck in the sky, flying for a while before landing far downstream in the Tianhe River. He eventually floated up face-up and slowly drifted away…

Ao Yi thought for a moment, took out a bronze mirror, collected some related rumors, and promptly sent them to the Water God's Mansion.

Li Changshou heard about this, but only smiled faintly. It was already expected.

He had originally intended to use the 'rumor-crushing' Heavenly Emperor Stele from before to prove his innocence; but then he considered that the more one tried to explain such matters, the worse they became. Outwardly suppressing the issue would instead be taken as his tacit admission. It wouldn't hurt for such rumors to spread for a while; he was merely a paper effigy in the Heavenly Court, what else could he do? If he didn't go to Guanghan Palace later, the rumors would die down on their own. Moreover, he could use this wave of rumors to establish a second brand for the Heavenly Court—the Three Realms' most beautiful woman.

The 'Super Heavenly Soldiers' plan had a significant effect; with Yuqin Xuanya's activity and the rise of the Heavenly Court, batches of loose immortals joined the ranks of Heavenly soldiers and generals. Furthermore, they were recently preparing to raise the minimum threshold for Heavenly soldiers from early-stage Origin Immortal Realm to mid-stage…

Although the Heavenly Court was still only the 'Fourth Great Power of the Primordial World' at this time, its overall strength ranked after the Dao Sect, Western Sect, and Central Divine Continent Immortal Sects. However, the name of the Heavenly Court had already spread throughout the Primordial World. The Primordial era where no one knew of the Heavenly Court was long in the past. Next, contending with the Western Sect for the Three Thousand Worlds could also further enhance the Heavenly Court's influence within them.

From a perspective outside of the heavens and earth, Li Changshou scrutinized the trajectory of the Heavenly Dao's great revitalization of the Heavenly Court and gained many insights. The rise of the Heavenly Court could not solely rely on the Investiture of the Gods calamity, but also on the perfection of its internal systems, the increase of its external prestige, the recruitment and formation of Heavenly soldiers and generals, and the recognition of all beings… These were all foundations for its great prosperity. Li Changshou became a helper in this process, gaining benefits while also doing much for the Heavenly Dao and the Heavenly Court…

He had become an indispensable part of the Heavenly Dao's evolution. Suddenly remembering that statement from Lady Nuwa, Li Changshou was momentarily startled. Connecting it to the two instances where his merits were deducted, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease in his heart. This Heavenly Dao wouldn't truly discard him after using him, would it? He still needed to think of more fallback plans, as the current ones were clearly not secure enough.

In the study of the Water God's Mansion, Li Changshou activated a paper effigy in the form of a heavenly general and sent that box of incredibly precious rouge and powder, precious in every sense, to Kong Xuan…

Li Changshou was, after all, a minor master in alchemy, and he discerned numerous precious materials in the rouge and powder. Calculating its value, it was barely equivalent to two Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, really not a big deal… This extravagant immortaless! She's already that beautiful and still not satisfied! Why not stew the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots into a beauty-enhancing soup! Li Changshou inwardly muttered about how terrifying it was. The paper effigy slowly closed its eyes in the armchair, and his consciousness shifted elsewhere.

Half a day later, outside the largest city of the Shang tribe, deep in the forest.

Li Changshou handed the box of rouge and powder to Kong Xuan. Kong Xuan thanked him, saying she would begin her seclusion shortly. Her process of stabilizing Yin and Yang was estimated to take thirty-six years…

"My seclusion this time is not for enlightenment; I will also divide my attention to look after this place during seclusion, so you don't need to worry. Whether it's the Shang tribe or the Seven Emotions avatar, I will naturally not let them be harmed." Kong Xuan paused and asked again, "Have you thought of names for the Seven Emotions?"

"Once they can speak, let them choose their own." Li Changshou shook his head and smiled, "Seven souls, seven personalities. Whatever names we pick, someone will always be dissatisfied."

Kong Xuan chuckled lightly, her gaze slightly complex. After all, this seclusion was to stabilize Yin and Yang, and her own transformation and future path were full of unknowns.

Li Changshou said, "Teacher once said that you have a tribulation in your destiny, and my senior brother and I should help you overcome it when the time comes, before you join the Human Sect."

A light flickered in Kong Xuan's eyes; she cupped her hands to Li Changshou and turned to leave. But as soon as she turned, she stopped and turned her head to say: "One more thing, I have a third brother who is a Golden-winged Great Peng; he entered the Primordial World roughly at the same time as me. His temperament is somewhat perverse, similar to how I was before I met the Grandmaster. A few days ago, he came to find me, trying to persuade me to join the Western Sect… If he attacks you, you don't need to show mercy for my sake; it's fine to kill him."

Having said that, Kong Xuan didn't wait for Li Changshou's reply. She took two steps forward, and her figure vanished into a five-colored mist.

Golden-winged Great Peng? Li Changshou was also familiar with this name; Kong Xuan's third brother, Immortal Feathered Wing from the Investiture of the Gods calamity. He hadn't expected him to already belong to the Western Sect and even try to persuade Kong Xuan to join them. Indeed, with the Western Sect establishing Ksitigarbha as a pillar of destiny, their desire to cause trouble had begun to stir.

Where was the Western Sect most likely to target next?

In the underground secret chamber of Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou pondered for a moment, picked up his brush and wrote down several options, then crossed out the others one by one, leaving only one—The first alliance meeting of anti-Western Immortal Dao forces. From the current perspective, a battle was inevitable.

"Senior Brother!" Ling'e called softly, skipped over to his side, and lowered her head to look at the words on the desk. "Are you worrying about this?"

"Tsk," Li Changshou put down his self-made brush. Just as he was about to raise his hand to rub his temples, two slightly cool small hands reached up and gently massaged them in turn.

Ling'e whispered, "Are you worried about the Western Sect causing trouble?"

"No matter how I calculate, it can't be avoided," Li Changshou said. "Last time, Senior Brother Lü Yue and I used poison to eliminate a group of their enforcers. This time, when they cause trouble, they will likely stop at nothing."

"How about we make the location of the meeting place a bit more complex in design?" Ling'e softly offered a suggestion: "For example, we could initially designate one gathering point, then change to another location once people arrive, repeating this several times…"

"Not feasible," Li Changshou said solemnly. "Not to mention how such actions would damage the Immortal Alliance's credibility and the Heavenly Court's dignity, how can we ensure that the Western Sect's planted spies won't transmit information? When the Western Sect dealt with the Dragon Race, they once displayed a method of mass relocation by a large number of masters. This method seems good, but in reality, it's not feasible."

"Senior Brother always considers everything thoroughly," Ling'e replied cheerfully, and continued to help ponder countermeasures.

Li Changshou remembered something and asked, "I'm opening a furnace to refine a batch of elixirs tomorrow; do you want… skin-care or whitening elixirs?"

"Can you refine those?" Ling'e was full of anticipation.

"Of course," Li Changshou chuckled. "You really care about this. Do you want to become so beautiful you ascend to heaven?"

"Senior Brother, please refine some for me," Ling'e hugged Li Changshou's arm and whined playfully. "My cultivation is already so far behind Sister Yunxiao's; of course, I need to make up for it elsewhere!"

Li Changshou: ...

Alright then, he felt a little guilty about this.

"This Western Sect," Li Changshou murmured, and continued to pick up his brush and write and draw.

Ling'e watched from the side for a while, realized she was gradually unable to understand her senior brother's handwriting and couldn't keep up with his changing thoughts, so she obediently moved to the side to do some relatively simple information sorting.

The underground secret chamber was quiet. The senior brother frowned, concentrating on contemplating major worldly affairs, while the junior sister, taking a break from her tasks, lay on the desk, secretly gazing at her senior brother's face… One might say it was a peaceful time, but perhaps great changes were unfolding. Ling'e kept her minor worries hidden in her heart, always feeling that such a life as an immortal was not in vain and exceptionally peaceful.

Thus, nine years later.

A white cloud drifted out of the Central Heavenly Gate, drawing the gaze of numerous Heavenly soldiers and generals, and slowly flew towards Kunlun Mountain in the northwest. On the cloud, a white-robed old Daoist stood in front, with kindly eyes and white hair and eyebrows. Naturally, it was the Water God of the Heavenly Court himself, the same Changshou who would receive an edict in a little over a decade to officially become the Grand White Star. His circulating name in the Three Realms was now Chang Geng, and only the Grandmaster, Ling'e, and a few others would mention the name Changshou. Behind Li Changshou was naturally Ling Zhuzi, dressed in a long blue-green robe.

Li Changshou had several objectives for this trip to Kunlun Mountain: First, to invite several experts from the Chan Sect to intervene in the upcoming 'Immortal Alliance Conference' of the Three Thousand Worlds, preferably inviting experts from the Lamp-Burning Daoist's lineage to assist;—Behind this lay countless calculations. Second, it was a response to the Saint Lord's invitation that day; Third, to let Ling Zhuzi make an appearance so that the Chan Sect could discover his changes and then spread the news to True Person Taiyi.—This would avoid having to personally take Ling Zhuzi back to Qianyuan Mountain and having True Person Taiyi discover that Ling Zhuzi had been somewhat over-cultivated.

After taking Ling Zhuzi to Guanghan Palace last time, Li Changshou had paid considerable attention to Ling Zhuzi. Gradually, Li Changshou also understood that Ling Zhuzi had not changed from simple-minded to confused, but rather had developed a passion for combat techniques and physical close-quarters combat abilities. He became quite warlike; in just nine years, he had fought his way from the Water God's Mansion to the edge of the Tianhe River. Many Heavenly Court generals had become his defeated opponents, and even one or two Golden Immortal Realm generals had been defeated by him. Wu Tribe