Chapter 522: Translation Translation, What Is Called Surprise

“Tsk, these past few years have been surprisingly peaceful. I wonder how Grand Uncle Zhao and Aunt Jin Ling are doing with their quiet lives.”

In a secret chamber beneath Little Qiong Peak, inside the hollow scroll axis of an inconspicuous painting, Li Changshou’s tiny transformed figure sat comfortably in a miniature armchair, holding a luminous cup and savoring the profound mysteries of his Dao realm breakthrough.

Cultivation, like the wine in this cup, becomes more mellow and fragrant the longer one is immersed in it.

He introspected: the Xuanhuang Pagoda floated up and down near his primordial spirit, and the Pond of Merit surrounding his primordial spirit shone with a dazzling golden light. Although two large sums of merit were still outstanding, the incense merit provided by his Heavenly Court divine position and the Sea God Sect in the Southern Continent of Jambu slowly but steadily increased Li Changshou's merit accumulation. At this rate, his Golden Body of Merit would likely be fully formed before the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation completely erupted.

Of course, if something truly awful like a 99.9% failure rate were to happen, then he could only be extremely cautious and would not dare to voice any opinions.

Senior Brother Xuandu once said that perhaps the Dao Ancestor was preventing him from forming his Golden Body of Merit to facilitate his better cultivation. Li Changshou had always harbored doubts about this. He knew, of course, that while the Golden Body of Merit served as a death-exemption token, it also made one susceptible to the influence of the Heavenly Dao. However, what the Grand Master didn't understand was that if Li Changshou wanted to take the final steps towards perfecting his Balance Dao in the future, he would need to comprehend and influence the Heavenly Dao more deeply. The Golden Body of Merit was like a 'data cable,' giving Li Changshou the opportunity to connect directly with the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, Li Changshou had always suspected that the Dao Ancestor's prevention of his Golden Body of Merit formation was actually hindering his deeper understanding of the Heavenly Dao. If this were truly the case, Li Changshou would feel regret but could not force the issue. After all, in this primordial world, the Dao Ancestor represented the strongest will outside of the Heavenly Will, surpassing even the Six Sages.

Speaking of which, what has been happening with the major powers in the primordial world these past few years? Among the five continents of the primordial world, the Jie School was peaceful, the Chan School was peaceful, and even the Western Sect had rarely been so tranquil. Outside the five continents, the Immortal Alliance developed steadily, engaging in localized skirmishes with the Incense God Kingdoms, and the Western Sect also remained largely inactive. It was a rare period of peace.

Today, if he hadn't needed to regularly observe the situation at Lintian Palace, Li Changshou wouldn't have voluntarily emerged from his state of enlightenment. He put down the luminous cup, stood up, and stretched. A surge of his consciousness swiftly swept through his various paper effigies, finally settling within Bai Ze's sleeve.

Before he even fully spread his immortal sense, he felt Dao rhythms clashing around him, and the cosmos subtly vibrating.

A battle?

Li Changshou's immortal sense quickly spread outwards, perceiving the chaotic situation outside. In the void, two groups of Qi Refiners were locked in a life-or-death struggle. Thousands of immortals were involved, and the battle was nearing its end. The victorious side had completely surrounded the other, already assured of victory. Judging by Mr. Bai's calm demeanor, it seemed Lintian Palace had won this battle. Bai Ze was not personally engaged in the fighting; instead, he was discreetly observing from a distance. Truly high-ranking civil strategists never engaged in rough work like charging into battle.

Li Changshou intentionally revealed a ripple of his immortal sense. Bai Ze immediately let out a soft 'oh?', raised his hand, looked into his sleeve, and asked:

"Water God? Oh no, Lord Star Official?"

Li Changshou chuckled inwardly, dismissing it as Bai Ze's teasing and not dwelling on such minor details. Whether his divine rank rose or not, whether it was third or second tier, it couldn't shake the real power he wielded in the Heavenly Court. The military authority over the Heavenly River Navy and the power to execute first and report later were merely superficial powers. His status as a regular powerful minister stemmed from the Jade Emperor's trust, and even more so, from the influence of the Tushita Palace.

Li Changshou transmitted his voice back: "Mr. Bai, what's happening here?"

"Star Official..."

"Just call me Water God; it sounds more natural when you say it."

"Very well."

Bai Ze smiled slightly, hands tucked into his sleeves, and said gently: "This is an immortal sect that clashed with Lintian Palace three months ago. They wanted to seize our territory. Water God, you can rest assured, this matter will conclude today."

Li Changshou asked: "What are Lintian Palace's casualties?"

"No more than two-tenths of the Qi Refiners have fallen," Bai Ze replied. "In fact, due to this kind of combat training, their overall strength has seen a significant leap."

Two-tenths...

Beneath these two simple words lay numerous lives. However, this was unavoidable. Only Lintian Palace, forged through blood and soul, could accomplish the significant tasks ahead.

Li Changshou further asked: "Are the arrangements for dealing with the aftermath of the fallen soldiers in place?"

Bai Ze answered: "They were arranged beforehand, but currently Lintian Palace still lacks sufficient strength. The circulation of spirit stones and precious materials is insufficient, and manpower is lacking, so it cannot be perfect."

"Regardless, you must do your best."

Li Changshou observed the ongoing battle. Lintian Palace had begun shouting, 'Those who surrender will not die,' and many Qi Refiners from the opposing immortal sect had begun to honestly restrain their immortal power. Battles of this scale were common in the Three Thousand Worlds, but it was rare to see one side 'annihilate' another. In most conflicts, as soon as one side gained an advantage, most Qi Refiners on the other side would begin to strategize their retreat. And when one side's advantage was great enough to secure victory, nearly half of the Qi Refiners on the other side would quickly scatter. They would call it 'preserving strength,' believing that as long as the green mountains remained, there would be no shortage of firewood. In reality, Qi Refiners simply didn't feel such deep allegiance to immortal sects and didn't want to fight to the death for them.

Today's battle, of course, was meticulously arranged and cleverly orchestrated by Bai Ze. Lintian Palace won fluidly, and managed to capture a large number of prisoners.

Li Changshou's immortal sense swept across various locations, then was drawn to a scene in another corner. There, an immortal maiden of myriad grace stood on a seven-colored lotus platform. Her long boots, which encased her jade feet, had thick soles, subtly compensating for slight imperfections in her figure. Her light red bandeau top seemed on the verge of tearing, while her black silk robe, interwoven with gold threads, accentuated her snow-like skin, seemingly defying frost and cold. Above her slender neck was her increasingly stunning countenance; though veiled by thin gauze, the vibrant red of her lips remained unmistakable. At this moment, she gently waved her slender hand, controlling a large gourd that weaved through the crowd, unleashing streaks of sharp sword energy.

Junior Aunt Jiu, this truly is... a woman undergoes eighty-one transformations; the more she changes, the more beautiful she becomes. In fact, the biggest change in Jiu Jiu was her own temperament. Originally somewhat 'youthful' and languid, she now exuded maturity, dignity, and authority, while retaining a touch of languidness. Her peerless beauty surpassed mortals, and one glance captured the hearts of all men.

Li Changshou transmitted his admiration to Bai Ze: "If it weren't for that large gourd, I truly wouldn't have recognized Junior Aunt Jiu."

Bai Ze chuckled: "The Saintess has been working very hard these past few years, so it's only natural that there's some reward. Does Water God know which of her many words moved me the most?"

"How could I know that?"

"She said," Bai Ze sighed softly, "As long as I can help him."

Li Changshou was somewhat at a loss for words. He glanced at his junior aunt over there and could only say: "Please, Mr. Bai, take good care of Junior Aunt Jiu and don't let her feel too much pressure. She's already doing exceptionally well."

"Should I relay Water God's exact words to her?"

"As you wish."

With that, Li Changshou's 'gaze' shifted elsewhere. He didn't see the figure of Lord Oblivion, the Palace Master of Wealth, but he did see his own Grandmaster Jiang Lin'er wielding a large saber, fighting in all directions. His immortal sense spread further, discovering another combat zone where seven or eight Golden Immortals were battling. Lord Oblivion held his left hand in a sword-finger gesture, unleashing thousands of sword qi. His temples, streaked with white hair, fluttered, and his black robe shimmered with blue light – truly a sight of sheer 'coolness'!

It was incredibly cool!

Li Changshou said: "Mr. Bai, have the Three Thousand Worlds been peaceful recently?"

"The Western Sect seems intent on stalling for time, merely confronting the Immortal Alliance rather than launching a full assault," Bai Ze said. "The day for discussing the tribulation at Zixiao Palace is drawing near, so they must be fully preparing for that event. Does Water God have complete confidence in suppressing the Western Sect then?"

Li Changshou chuckled: "Mr. Bai, you flatter me. That will be a meeting of the Six Sages, presided over by the Dao Ancestor. At most, I'll be able to say a word or two. The one who can truly make a difference should be His Majesty the Jade Emperor. At that time... I can't say it's a sure thing, but I can only do my best."

Li Changshou predicted that at least three of the Six Sages would make a move on the 'Heavenly Book: Investiture of the Gods List.' Although the Jade Emperor would likely control the Investiture of the Gods List at that time, his position was still somewhat unstable. Over the next few decades, what Li Changshou needed to do was prepare several sets of speeches for the Jade Emperor. As for himself, he would try his best to be the man behind the Jade Emperor, becoming a small trump card for the Heavenly Court.

After chatting with Bai Ze for half an hour and with the two battles concluded, Li Changshou felt ready to leave. Before leaving, he glanced at Jiu Jiu again, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Previously, when Jiu Jiu drank, she usually just drank directly from the gourd's mouth, which was somewhat uninhibited and lacked grace. But today...

After the battle concluded, the Saintess of Lintian returned to her lotus platform. An immortal maiden promptly presented her with an exquisite jade goblet of fine brew. With two slender, white fingers, she picked up the goblet, lifted her thin veil, and took a delicate sip, exuding an aura of myriad charm in that moment.

Li Changshou: ...Simply peerless.

"Thank you, Mr. Bai, for your continued efforts," Li Changshou said. "I shall return to my main body and continue my cultivation."

Bai Ze chuckled: "Doing these things for Water God outside, while not as peaceful as being on Black Pool Peak, is still interesting and certainly not tiresome. It's just that I cannot show my face at this Grand Ceremony for Taibai. Please forgive my discourtesy, Water God."

"Mr. Bai, you jest," Li Changshou replied, his consciousness returning to his main body. Junior Aunt Jiu's figure flashed before his eyes again, and he couldn't help to shake his head and chuckle softly. Quite impressive.

Next, I'll visit the Heavenly Court, have a heart-to-heart with His Majesty the Jade Emperor, and maintain our 'plastic' ruler-subject relationship...

Taibai? Ceremony?

Question marks popped up above Li Changshou's head. A few suspicions arose in his mind, and he immediately chose the most direct solution. Sensing his paper effigy, his consciousness settled back into it. Li Changshou transmitted his voice, calling out: "Mr. Bai?"

Bai Ze, who was about to turn and leave the battleground, instinctively straightened his posture and quickly said: "Your subordinate is here."

"What is this Grand Ceremony for Taibai about then?"

Bai Ze blinked, puzzled, and said: "Don't you know yet? Yesterday, the Heavenly Court widely distributed invitations to the Three Sects of Daoism, inviting immortals from the Chan and Jie Schools to attend a ceremony at the Heavenly Court in half a month, to celebrate your promotion to a second-rank righteous god, Water God. Could it be that they kept it from you, Water God, to give you a little... surprise?"

Sur... surprise? Can someone explain to me what a surprise is?

Li Changshou couldn't help but palm his forehead. His paper effigy let out a few soft groans, and he gave a wry smile. His consciousness immediately returned to his Water God's residence in the Heavenly Court. His immortal sense probed outwards, finding nothing unusual anywhere. However, by casting a Wind Whisper spell, he could hear whispers coming from various places.

"Lord Water God is still in the dark."

"Hehehe, yesterday's sudden announcement caught everyone off guard."

"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since Lord Water God appeared these past few years. He must have been cultivating."

"That's right. A few words from Lord Water God can be worth decades of Heavenly Court affairs. Lord Water God is the second disciple of the Human School's Saint Master, so he certainly can't neglect his own cultivation..."

In the study, Li Changshou's paper effigy couldn't help but raise a hand to rub its temples, feeling as if a swarm of mosquitoes had entered its Dao heart, buzzing chaotically. Why did His Majesty the Jade Emperor suddenly pull such a move? Truly, it gave Changshou a headache.

To prevent any chaos from erupting while he was in secluded cultivation, Li Changshou always kept a trace of his consciousness outside. Whenever any of his paper effigies stationed in various places detected intense battle fluctuations, Li Changshou would be startled awake, even if it was during a critical moment of enlightenment. Maintaining such 'passive vigilance' while in spiritual enlightenment was already extremely difficult. Towards the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou never relaxed his guard. In the intervals of comprehending the Great Dao, he would actively sense the Heavenly Court's situation. This sensing was very superficial, merely observing whether the Heavenly Court was peaceful. And because of this, when the Heavenly Court 'widely issued invitations' to hold a grand promotion ceremony for Li Chang Geng, the Water God of the Heavenly Court, Li Changshou ironically became the last person to know about it. Then again, the news from Lintian Palace was quite well-informed.

What now? What else could he do? He could only brace himself and accept the matter.

'Does His Majesty the Jade Emperor have other considerations?'

Li Changshou pondered carefully. Although he couldn't say the Jade Emperor was truly as pure as ice and jade, the probability of the Jade Emperor using this matter for some scheme was minuscule. He could even imagine the scene of the Jade Emperor discussing the 'handling' of this matter with Duke Mu. It was likely a sudden whim, a flash of inspiration, where he thought this event could enhance the Heavenly Court's influence. However, in reality, it added countless variables, and he had no idea what situations might arise afterward. Truly, he couldn't be at ease...

Li Changshou rubbed his temples and pondered for half a day, choosing the most reliable way to handle the situation. On the surface, he would act as if he knew nothing about it. Later, he would secretly have his main body rush to the Heavenly Court, guarding against anyone who might use this as an excuse to make trouble or accuse him of disrespecting the Heavenly Court. If someone were to target him, where else might they cause trouble? Li Changshou continued to ponder, sitting in deep thought in his Water God's residence study, trying his best to prepare several backup plans.

At Three Immortals Island, amidst ethereal clouds and the gurgling of mountain springs, several graceful figures were drinking and having fun on the grass by the pond, playing a drumming and singing game, their laughter echoing throughout the forest. Those playing there were Qiong Xiao, Bi Xiao, Han Zhi, and two other immortal maidens cultivating on Three Immortals Island.

A white figure slowly walked out from the woods, and a gentle voice drifted over: "Stop playing, there's something that needs to be done."

"Me!" Bi Xiao immediately jumped up, raising her small hand high: "Sister, let me go!"

Yun Xiao frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said: "You're a bit restless right now. How can I trust you not to make a mistake? Would you mind troubling Han Zhi to go?"

Han Zhi quickly stood up and bowed to Yun Xiao. "If there's any task, please feel free to instruct."

Yun Xiao took out a jade talisman and a jade ring from her sleeve, gently pushed them towards Han Zhi, and instructed: "Go to Jin'ao Island and pay a visit to Immortal Wuyun. Deliver this jade talisman and ring into his hands personally."

"Yes," Han Zhi replied, carefully put away the two items, and immediately soared on a cloud towards outside the island.

Qiong Xiao wondered: "Sister, why are you sending a message to Immortal Wuyun?"

"I just have something to entrust to Immortal Wuyun," Yun Xiao sighed softly. "In half a month, it will be his Grand Ceremony for his promotion to Taibai. The Jade Emperor has already sent invitations to our island, so I must make an appearance. If I bring too many gifts myself, it might easily invite gossip, so I'm sending them through Immortal Wuyun."

"Sister, why are you worrying so much?" Qiong Xiao slightly pouted. "What's wrong with us giving more gifts? It's perfectly natural."

Yun Xiao chuckled softly without speaking, gazing at the pond, slightly lost in thought, pondering something unknown.

Meanwhile, at Mount Emei, a renowned blessed land in Central Divine Continent, within the Luofu Cave protected by layers of grand formations, a stream of azure light flew in from outside the cave. Layer after layer of formations automatically opened and then closed, allowing the light to directly reach the deepest part of the cave, where it transformed into Zhao Gongming's heroic figure. By this time, Luofu Cave had undergone an 'expansion,' becoming significantly more spacious than when Li Changshou last visited. After all, it had transformed from a 'bachelor immortal cave' into a 'love nest for two immortals.'

Behind layers of curtains, a graceful figure sat at a dressing table, slowly combing her waterfall-like black hair. Zhao Gongming walked over quickly, delightedly saying: "Jin Ling, have you heard? Chang Geng is being promoted to a second-rank righteous god. Shall we go together to offer our congratulations and gifts?"

"You go ahead." Holy Mother Jin Ling calmly replied, "Remember not to let it slip. I haven't decided yet how to announce our matter to outsiders."

"What's there to think about? We can just walk together openly. Who would dare gossip?" Zhao Gongming stepped forward, naturally took the comb, and skillfully styled Holy Mother Jin Ling's long hair, saying gently: "But you're in charge of all this; I'll just follow your orders."

Holy Mother Jin Ling couldn't help but lower her gaze and chuckle, chiding: "You just say these things. You've truly learned bad habits from your brother Chang Geng! Oh, and remember to prepare more gifts. The Heavenly Court is making such a grand display this time, scattering invitations far and wide within a single day. It's a rare grand event in the primordial world. We are closest to Chang Geng, so if our gifts are too few, we might be ridiculed."

"Don't worry, don't worry, everything is arranged. It just feels incomplete without you being there."

"I can go too, but you must remember not to act too affectionate."

"Alas, is there anything Old Zhao can't handle?"

"It's not that, it's just a bit embarrassing... If you move around again, I'll chop off your mischievous hands! Behave!"

Amidst soft whispers, Luofu Cave was filled with tranquility.

In the Underworld, on the top floor of the Wheel of Reincarnation Pagoda, Ksitigarbha, clad in white, stood by the window, gazing at Fengdu City in the distance. Diting lay by his feet, seemingly bored, but its gaze never left the corner near the staircase. There, a slightly plump figure sat casually, his loose robe adorned with two patches. His stature didn't seem tall, and his face was hidden in shadow, making him indistinguishable.

"Junior Brother Ksitigarbha, are you truly unwilling to write a letter, a congratulatory message for the Water God?"

"You cannot contend with the Water God," Ksitigarbha said without turning his head, his voice clear and placid.

The figure chuckled: "Why fight him? This is an opportunity to send someone to rectify past mistakes and shake hands with the Water God; that is the proper path."

"If you go personally, then I can certainly write this congratulatory message." Ksitigarbha slightly turned his head, glancing at the corner. "If you keep hiding like this, aren't you afraid Spirit Mountain will forget about you, Senior Brother?"