Chapter 632: A Letter from the Underworld, Taigong Will Arrive

"Is this alright now?"

On Sanxian Dao, in the Yingke Lou.

Several xianzi on the island peeked curiously from the corners. The three Chan Jiao immortals who had come seeking help appeared quite uneasy, but Li Changshou, the Ren Jiao disciple who was both guest and host, sat comfortably in the main seat.

In one's own home, there's no need to be formal.

In the center of the hall, the Hunyuan Jindou emitted a soft golden glow. Yunxiao Xianzi, standing quietly beside it, spoke up to inquire.

After receiving Li Changshou's affirmative reply, she gently released a pearl and a yuan shen shadow from the Hunyuan Jindou...

Yunxiao knew well how much care and attention Li Changshou had for Lingzhuzi, so her movements were exceptionally gentle, afraid of harming the already weakened divine soul of Lingzhuzi.

Taiyi Zhenren quickly stepped forward, producing a pre-prepared soul-nurturing pearl and a brocade box. He carefully collected Lingzhuzi's divine soul and that spirit stone, then examined them closely before letting out a long sigh of relief.

The task was successfully completed!

This spirit stone was Lingzhuzi's original body, now containing his memories, magical powers, and dao realm.

The divine soul still needed further nurturing. Taiyi would have to provide it with as many benefits as possible in the limited time, before sending it to the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower to transform into a fetal spirit and be reborn into the human race!

The most critical step was the one they had just completed, which Li Changshou called the separation of essence and barrier.

It might seem simple, but it was actually quite difficult.

It required Yunxiao Xianzi's assistance, Li Changshou's detailed plan, and the unique xian tian supreme-grade spiritual treasure, the Hunyuan Jindou...

Of course, for the subsequent nurturing of the divine soul, Li Changshou also had a full set of care suggestions, which he had already given to Taiyi Zhenren.

Would Nezha, the reincarnation of Lingzhuzi, end up being too strong because of this?

As long as his dao heart remained intact, the stronger, the better.

At most, he'd be on par with Yang Jian—someone you couldn't shake off even if you tried to slap them into the clouds...

With Yang Jian and Nezha, the young warrior team of the Chan Jiao and Zhou Kingdom camp in the Feng Shen calamity was taking shape.

Li Changshou reviewed his overall plan.

Figures like Leizhenzi and Huang Tianhua were already scheduled for the future, while Tu Xingsun's case would depend on whether personality reshaping was needed.

For others like Yang Ren, Jinzha, and Muzha, Li Changshou's arrangements were relatively relaxed, since their potential was far inferior to that of Yang Jian and Nezha.

Focusing on the present.

Taiyi Zhenren put away the pearl and pouch, and bowed deeply to Yunxiao Xianzi:

"Thank you, fellow daoist, thank you!"

Yunxiao smiled and nodded, then gave Li Changshou a gentle wink, signaling him to handle it.

"You're too kind, Senior Brother Taiyi."

Li Changshou stood up and said warmly, "As long as everything goes smoothly. The preparations before reincarnation are also very important—make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Ah," Taiyi Zhenren sighed with a bitter smile, "For my precious disciple, you've really gone to great lengths, Changgeng...

Should I go ahead and find a suitable mortal family for his reincarnation?

Or maybe secretly cultivate some ancestors for his reincarnated self?"

A few chuckles escaped, as Qiongxiao and Bixiao stifled their laughter nearby. Huanglong Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren, who had come with Taiyi, also smiled faintly.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment. He couldn't say that he had already arranged everything in secret.

Nor could he mention that the Heavenly Dao already had a complete script.

He laughed and said, "If you're really worried, Senior Brother, I can write a couple of letters for you. You can go to the underworld and visit Qin Guang Wang and the master of the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower, Dizang, to settle this matter.

As a great immortal of Chan Jiao, and with my divine authority, I'm sure Dizang won't make things difficult."

"Excellent!"

Taiyi Zhenren gave a thumbs-up and laughed, "You're the one who knows how to—wait, no! How to make proper use of divine authority!

Uh, uh!"

Yuding Zhenren quickly covered Taiyi's mouth. The xianzi in the pavilion couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, filling the air with joy that soon subsided.

What had started as a somewhat somber affair about Lingzhuzi's reincarnation to rebuild his cultivation now lost all its melancholy atmosphere.

The three Chan Jiao immortals continued to express their thanks to Yunxiao, who responded gently without saying much or seeking any reward.

After all, it was Li Changshou who had asked personally, so she hadn't hesitated to help.

Once Li Changshou finished writing the letters, Taiyi Zhenren pulled Huanglong and Yuding along to head to the underworld.

Taiyi didn't insist on Li Changshou joining them—having his letters was enough...

But Yunxiao Xianzi sensed something unusual in this arrangement.

After Taiyi and the others left, on the clean beach of Sanxian Dao, as Li Changshou and Yunxiao strolled side by side, Yunxiao voiced her doubt:

"Why not go to the underworld yourself?

It seems like your actions this time are a bit unsteady."

Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes and said, "Want to guess?"

"I'm not as clever as you," Yunxiao said softly, her eyes carrying a hint of reproach.

Li Changshou quickly added, "This is just my little cleverness—you're the one with great wisdom... Actually, I don't need to handle this matter too much. I've already helped Lingzhuzi as much as I can."

A thoughtful look appeared in Yunxiao's beautiful eyes. She traced the character "tian" with her slender finger in her sleeve, and Li Changshou nodded with a smile, making her understand at once.

This matter was being pushed forward by the Heavenly Dao.

Li Changshou was merely playing the appropriate role in the right position, while giving Lingzhuzi as many benefits as possible.

"You..."

Yunxiao reached out and gently held Li Changshou's arm, her action now quite natural, her eyes filled with worry and concern.

She worried that Li Changshou was scheming too much and thinking too hard, afraid he might be overburdened in his heart without telling anyone.

Yunxiao asked, "After the great calamity, will you finally find peace?"

"It's not that easy to achieve peace," Li Changshou laughed. "My temperament is a bit peculiar.

If peace comes too easily, I'd suspect it's some kind of trap.

But if I work hard for it and finally get a peaceful corner to settle in, I'd feel it's truly real, and I could relax and stay with you all."

Perhaps his words were too tender, Yunxiao unconsciously averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes, lest her dao heart melt away in them.

The two strolled for a while before resting in the shady woods by the beach.

They recited poetry, painted, plucked the qin strings;

The mist turned into clouds, the spiritual energy into a gentle breeze, bringing them closer from a foot apart to an inch, then their clothes touched, and their skin met.

Unconsciously, Li Changshou rested his head on Yunxiao's lap, letting out a light sigh with his eyes closed.

Yunxiao's slender fingers wove through his long hair, tying it into a woman's phoenix tail, her smile growing even warmer.

"Did Ling E's tribulation go smoothly?"

She asked softly.

She already knew the process but wanted to express her care and concern for Ling E.

"Of course it did," Li Changshou said. "With our master ancestor personally protecting her, how could it not? But speaking of that, I'm a bit worried."

"Oh? Worried about what?"

"I'm afraid Ling E might get too full of herself," Li Changshou laughed. "Later, I plan to take her out more to see the world. Now that we have the Dao Ancestor's guarantee, she's safe."

Yunxiao said gently, "Then remember to bring her to the island for a stay. We should get closer as family."

Li Changshou agreed, and then there was a moment of silence, as if something was on his mind.

Yunxiao waited quietly for him to speak, never pressing.

After a while...

"Yun, if after the great calamity I have to leave the Honghuang world and can't avoid it, would you be willing to give up everything here and come with me?"

"Of course I would," Yunxiao replied softly.

"Then... let's share a kiss!"

"You!"

Yunxiao tapped Li Changshou's forehead with her hand, her cheeks flushing slightly, a bit overwhelmed by her beloved's sudden playfulness.

When she came to her senses, she saw Li Changshou gazing out at the waves, his eyes dimming a little.

Soon, Li Changshou fell asleep, his worries fading away.

Stealing a moment of leisure amid busyness, indulging in a brief joy.

The matter of Lingzhuzi's reincarnation had progressed smoothly.

The three Chan Jiao elders went to the underworld. Even with Taiyi Zhenren's mouth sealed and Huanglong Zhenren speaking for him throughout, his past glorious battles still carried considerable intimidation.

Back in the day, he had challenged the Western side alone, proving the strength of saints has its east and west.

With Li Changshou's letters as guarantee, Yan Jun wouldn't make things difficult. The underworld granted special permission, allowing Lingzhuzi to directly enter the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower to become a fetal spirit and choose his rebirth family.

At that time, the underworld's judge's pen would mark the book of life and death, and the selected couple would be arranged by the Heavenly Dao to prepare for having a child, also gaining protection from Lingzhuzi's own luck and merits.

On the Wheel of Reincarnation Tower side, Dizang hesitated for a while but ultimately agreed.

At this point, Chan Jiao was still an alliance target that Western Cult was eager to win over.

Even if Dizang wanted to raise his head high against Li Changshou and say no, he had to consider the impact on Western Cult and Chan Jiao.

In this move, Li Changshou had calculated everything steadily—neither over-involving himself nor ensuring Lingzhuzi's safe reincarnation.

Originally, Li Changshou had planned to take Taiyi Zhenren to the Niangniang Palace to seek an audience with Nüwa and have her create a perfect dao body for Lingzhuzi.

But first, it wasn't appropriate for him to go to Niangniang Palace again now.

He was well aware of the previous test and felt Nüwa had deliberately concealed things, giving him an easy answer.

Second, he shouldn't engage in a deep struggle with the Heavenly Dao over Nezha's matter. Nezha would likely still use the baolian to form a lotus immortal body, and giving him a perfect human dao body would be a waste.

As always—'The great trend cannot be changed, but small details can be manipulated.'

What the Heavenly Dao needed was the living forces of the Chan Jiao side, the sharp blades in the Feng Shen calamity, and the future generals of the Heavenly Court.

Li Changshou wouldn't try to alter that overall direction.

All the things he had done so far were to reverse the tragic fate of father and son, Li Jing and Nezha.

Looking at Li Jing's current situation, Li Changshou was about ninety percent confident in turning things around. The next focus would be on Li Jing's wife, the mother of Jinzha, Muzha, and Nezha.

As the saying goes: A loving mother often spoils the child.

A strict father and a kind mother can easily unite father and son on the same front, making them closer.

When Li Changshou previously visited the Yue Lao's Hall of Marriage, it wasn't just to arrange marriages for the Heavenly Court's immortals.

He had Yue Lao tie some red threads for Lingzhuzi and instructed him to start looking for opportunities once Lingzhuzi's reincarnated self turned eighteen, using the lovesickness tree to influence things more.

Besides that, under the pretext of observing the dao companion trends in the Ren Jiao immortal sects, Li Changshou had glanced at Li Jing's destined marriage and made a tiny, insignificant adjustment.

While his true body was on Sanxian Dao getting affectionate with Yunxiao, Li Changshou decided...

To play it even safer.

Once Li Jing achieved merits and became a general, he'd send a paper daoist to infiltrate the Li household, lurking under Li Jing's nose as a steward or servant.

Tsk, moderate involvement.

After the three Chan Jiao elders returned from the underworld, Taiyi Zhenren sent a message jade talisman to Li Changshou, full of words of gratitude, saying that Dizang and Qin Guang Wang had both agreed.

Next, Taiyi Zhenren's task was to nurture Lingzhuzi's divine soul,

Allowing it to align as much as possible with the Great Dao, enhancing its comprehension, so that after reincarnation, it would have extraordinary insight.

The cultivation of Nezha would start from the womb—or rather, from before reincarnation!

With the Lingzhuzi matter arranged, Li Changshou shifted his focus to the dragon race and the three thousand worlds.

The ways of heaven are ever-changing, and the heart finds no lasting peace.

The dragon race, once a boost to the Heavenly Court, had become a hidden threat in just a few hundred years.

Originally oppressed by the Western Cult, the dragon race had, under Li Changshou's guidance, grasped the ladder of the Heavenly Court, extending their luck, earning merits, and gaining a resurgence.

But the corruption within the dragon race, accumulated since ancient times, was deeply entrenched.

Though the conflicts hadn't erupted yet and the Heavenly Court and Dragon Palace were at peace, when these proud dragons realized that the Dragon Palace was dispensable to the Heavenly Court and that they enjoyed no special privileges despite their attachment, the dragons would likely lose their balance...

The possible consequences were only two.

Either the dragon race would defy the Heavenly Court and seek to break away, losing a great opportunity and severely impacting the Heavenly Court's prestige.

Or the Heavenly Court would tighten control over the dragon race with harsh punishments, binding them with the Heavenly Dao.

Based on Li Changshou's calculations, the latter was more likely.

After all, from his understanding in his previous life, the later dragon race merely became gods of rain and clouds. Even a slight mistake in rainfall would violate heavenly rules and invite Heavenly Court reprimands.

The only way to break this deadlock was to help the dragon race find their rightful place in the current Honghuang world.

In simple terms, to awaken the dragon race.

Before the contradictions between the dragon race and the Heavenly Court exploded, he needed to nip the conflicts in the bud within the dragon race itself, making them face their own flaws and seek change for survival.

As the Taibai Jinxing, when granted rewards by the Heavenly Court, Jade Emperor had given him symbols of killing and reform.

This time, the Morning Star of the East was destined to shine brightly over the four seas...

Looking beyond the dragon race matter, Li Changshou slowly unfolded a 'perfect' picture in his mind.

The Thirty-Three Heavens suppressing the Honghuang world;

Mortals living freely in the Jambudvipa and the vast three thousand worlds;

The eighteen levels of hell and the six paths of reincarnation flowing without obstruction;

The Western Cult fading away, with the Buddhist sect successfully replaced and integrated by the Dao Sect, becoming an important force to support and balance the Heavenly Court;

On the surface, the three thousand worlds controlled by the Heavenly Court, the Lintian Hall, and the Immortal Alliance, dominating over ninety percent of the great worlds, creating opposition between the Immortal Alliance or Lintian Hall and the Heavenly Court. This would give qi refiners choices of factions, preventing the rise of three thousand Buddhist kingdoms and curbing the Buddhist sect's power;

The Dao Sect would inevitably lose vitality in the Feng Shen calamity but preserve its heritage as much as possible;

And for himself...

Li Changshou smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth, his figure merging with nature, and sighed softly.

Wanting to escape, it's not that easy. To retire, it can't just be talk.

This picture was still missing the most core part.

Saint...

"Report—"

Suddenly, a messenger heavenly soldier hurried into the Taibai Hall, interrupting Li Changshou's thoughts.

Activating the paper daoist, Li Changshou strolled to the front of thebai Hall and asked warmly, "What is it?"

"Reporting to the Star Lord! Lord Wang from Tongming Hall has ordered me to deliver this message jade talisman urgently!"

The heavenly soldier presented a jade talisman, carved with the seal of Yanluo Hall and still bearing the divine light of Tongming Hall.

Clearly, this jade talisman had been forwarded from Tongming Hall.

Li Changshou took it casually, scanned it with his immortal sense, and upon seeing Qin Guang Wang's handwriting, he first froze, then his paper daoist's gaze grew still, followed by a slight look of relief.

The message mentioned that in the six paths of reincarnation disk, the soul of Qi Yuan, the Daoist from Duxian Men, had reformed and only needed final nurturing before reincarnation.

"Go on."

Li Changshou waved his hand, and the heavenly soldier bowed and quickly retreated.

Holding the jade talisman, Li Changshou hesitated for a moment.

In that instant, he wasn't thinking about the Feng Shen calamity or anything else; he was simply hesitating. As he walked back into the hall with his hands behind his back, his figure seemed a bit forlorn.

Even with the balance of the Heavenly Dao, what of it?

He decided to visit the Hall of Marriage again later, to scout out some good marital fates for his master's reincarnated self. His master had spent his life treading carefully and cultivating as a turbid immortal...

In his next life, whether he's Jiang Ziya or Feibear, arranging more ordinary marital ties would be this disciple's way of showing filial piety.