Chapter 633: Flowers Bloom Again, Petals Differ

After receiving news that his master's soul had awakened, Li Changshou waited another sixteen years.

During these sixteen years, Li Changshou constantly forced himself to stay busy with Heavenly Court affairs and meticulous preparations before the Great Tribulation. In fact, over these sixteen years, Li Changshou appeared in the High Heavens Palace more times than in the preceding three hundred and twenty years combined!

This led His Majesty the Jade Emperor to briefly believe that the Heavenly Court would soon face some crisis. It also made Duke Mu uneasy, fearing that even the minor daily tasks he could perform would be taken over by Grand White Giltstar, rendering him a half-retired, half-pensioned 'useless duke' of the Heavenly Court.

Quangdang took the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with Li Changshou, advising him not to be too diligent, as it was putting considerable pressure on the immortal gods working under him.

Li Changshou merely gave a few bitter laughs and remained silent for a while.

Silence was tonight's barbecue; but when a superior came to express concern for his subordinate, Li Changshou couldn't truly disregard him.

He collected his thoughts, a faint bitter smile playing on his lips, and slowly said, "Actually, I'm being a bit overly dramatic."

"Overly dramatic?" Quangdang chuckled. "If the great and small demons you've slain were to hear such words, they'd truly leap from their coffins to settle scores with you. What is it, exactly?"

"My master, Qiyuan," Li Changshou said, downing his cup of wine and continuing to turn the skewers in his hand. Only humble mortal charcoal, it seemed, could produce such a unique dusty aroma.

Li Changshou explained, "Earlier, Lady Houtu sent word that Master's remnant soul has fully recovered within the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc."

"That's excellent news!" Quangdang exclaimed with a smile. "You used so much merit for this, even killing the demon crown prince Lu Ya, who was originally chosen by the Heavenly Dao to fan the flames of the tribulation. Fortunately, Saint Nuwa intervened to gather Fellow Daoist Qiyuan's soul. Now that your master's soul has awakened, this should be good news, so why the worried expression?"

Li Changshou pondered for a few moments, then looked at Quangdang beside him and smiled, "Your Majesty should know."

"Oh?" Quangdang blinked, then openly began divining with his fingers, completely forgetting that at this time, the Heavenly Secrets should be obscured by tribulation luck, and the Heavenly Dao should not permit divination. A Heavenly Emperor, after all, wasn't one who abused special privileges.

"Isn't this quite good?" Quangdang murmured. "The Heavenly Dao reveals that your master, after reincarnation, will still be an important figure in this Great Tribulation, making achievements in the human, immortal, and divine paths... Chang Geng, are you worried your master might become a tool for the Heavenly Dao to control you? Actually, sometimes you think of the Heavenly Dao as being too biased towards a single being. The so-called Heavenly Dao is the convergence of the Great Dao, the manifestation of rules; its sole purpose is the stability of heaven and earth. Chang Geng, you are too attached to external forms."

Li Changshou rose, performed a Daoist bow, and smiled, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for enlightening me."

Quangdang's eyes instantly crinkled in a smile.

"However, I am troubled by something else," Li Changshou sighed. "Once I leave, Master will be reincarnated."

Quangdang blinked, slightly confused.

"Previously, Saint Mother Nuwa stated that after Master's reincarnation, he would have no further ties with me; this was her condition for saving him. Since I agreed to her, I will not break my word. After Master's reincarnation, he will have no connection to me. All I can do for him is this one chance at reincarnation. For the past sixteen years, whenever I think that I couldn't fulfill my filial duties to my parents and can only watch my master depart, it truly leaves a bitter taste in my heart. Ah..."

Li Changshou sighed softly.

Quangdang pondered for a moment, then picked up a wine jar nearby and handed it to Li Changshou. "It's all in the wine! Let's get thoroughly drunk today, you and I, and forget the many troubles of the Three Realms!"

Li Changshou smiled, took the wine jar, and clinked it with Quangdang's. Both avatars drank until they were utterly intoxicated. Even the paper effigies were soaked!

Three months later, Li Changshou could finally delay no longer. His master was, after all, meant to be reincarnated; lingering indefinitely in the precious pool wasn't an option. For his master, this was indeed a good thing, and Li Changshou couldn't possibly let his own guilt hinder his master's bright future. All necessary arrangements had been made.

Noticing that Ling'e seemed close to ending her seclusion, Li Changshou set the date for going to the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc as the day Ling'e emerged. He wanted her to also bid farewell to their master for the last time.

On this day, the Dao charm around Ling'e settled into tranquility, remaining only in the afterglow of her enlightenment.

Li Changshou actively awakened her from her seclusion, instructing her to change into a plainer dress, as they would be going out together shortly.

"A plainer dress?" Still a little groggy, Ling'e tilted her head, then seemed to grasp something. 'Senior brother must be taking her to visit some powerful experts, officially introducing her into his circle!'

Indeed, after she became a Golden Immortal, her senior brother's attitude towards her immediately shifted dramatically. Her 'thousand-year scheme to win over Senior Brother' finally saw the light of dawn!

Thinking of this, Ling'e blinked, then suddenly covered her small face with her hands, turned, and playfully rolled around on the bed, clutching her thin quilt.

Outside the door, Li Changshou: ...

This young Golden Immortal was truly not composed.

However, what Li Changshou never expected was that the least composed person today would be... His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

An hour later, Ling'e finally finished her grooming. She had changed into a plain white long dress with blue floral patterns, styled her long hair into a coiled bun, wore the jade hairpin Yunxiao had gifted her years ago, and carried a flower basket refined by her senior brother.

Ling'e, with a 'hint of cleverness,' also tied a flowing cloud ribbon around her wrist; even when standing still, the ribbon gently fluttered with faint iridescent light, ensuring she wouldn't be instinctively overlooked.

Naturally, Ling'e's worries were completely unfounded.

After entering the Golden Immortal realm, the already graceful and intelligent junior sister underwent a qualitative leap. Her eyes were bright and captivating, with a touch of well-placed allure at the corners. The delicate tip of her nose and the space above her upper lip seemed meticulously sculpted by Lady Nuwa herself, beautiful without the slightest flaw. Her figure became even more slender; though her waist, cinched by her belt, wasn't exaggeratedly thin, it was as graceful as a willow branch or a floating duckweed.

When she flew out of the underground chamber, dispelling her 'Smoke Evasion Art' and appearing gracefully before Li Changshou, even he was slightly surprised.

"Let's go," Li Changshou said softly, summoning a white cloud and leaving half of it open for Ling'e.

Ling'e lightly tapped her toes, hopped onto the cloud, obediently assented, and instinctively stood at its edge.

Then, she quietly asked, "Senior brother, our three-chapter agreement... is it still..."

"Come here," Li Changshou said, slightly raising his left hand. Ling'e pursed her lips in a soft smile, then happily embraced her senior brother's arm.

The white cloud flew out of Little Qiong Peak, then out of Taibai Palace, heading straight for the East Heavenly Gate.

To avoid having his character as Grand White Giltstar questioned while accompanying Ling'e, Li Changshou deliberately did not use his old immortal appearance, instead maintaining the face of a young Daoist.

Ling'e didn't ask what her senior brother intended to do; she was currently immersed in the joy of their three-chapter agreement being nullified, only smiling with narrowed eyes and occasionally giggling. 'See, she thought, he was conquered by her after all!'

Just as the senior brother and junior sister were about to exit the East Heavenly Gate, a distant shout came from behind them, as the Golden-winged Roc flew over.

"Teacher!"

Li Changshou stopped the cloud, gestured for Ling'e, who was practically clinging to his arm, to stand properly, and turned to wait for Jin Peng to arrive.

"What's wrong? You're supposed to be leading troops in the Three Thousand Worlds; why are you suddenly back?"

"Teacher," Jin Peng said, cupping his hands, "His Majesty the Jade Emperor just issued a decree calling me back, saying that you've been in low spirits recently and wished for me to keep you company."

Li Changshou chuckled lightly, performed a Daoist bow towards the direction of the High Heavens Palace, and said with a smile, "His Majesty needn't trouble himself, but it's good. With you, we can reach the Underworld more quickly."

But Jin Peng replied, "Teacher, His Majesty the Jade Emperor ordered the Imperial Horse Stables to prepare a carriage and escort several months ago, saying it was for your travels..."

No sooner had he spoken than horse neighs echoed from the horizon, and a stream of light 'slowly' shot towards them.

Li Changshou's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't refuse His Majesty the Jade Emperor's kind gesture. Once the carriage approached, he and Ling'e seated themselves on the 'open-top' palanquin.

The palanquin was drawn by eight exotic golden-scaled flood dragons, guarded by three hundred elite Heavenly Soldiers on celestial steeds, and six thousand more Heavenly Soldiers waited outside the East Heavenly Gate, forming the escort of Grand White Giltstar.

The sound of drums, the blast of horns; Heavenly might, military might.

A massive procession grandly made its way to the Netherworld, drawing gazes from within and outside the Heavenly Court, and across the Eastern Sea and Eastern Continent.

Li Changshou's mood, paradoxically, became lighter because of this, no longer feeling as stifled as before.

Three days later, the Heavenly Court's procession finally arrived at the Underworld.

Within Fengdu City, lanterns and colorful streamers adorned the streets, and all vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts were temporarily detained or driven away, making the Underworld's largest city... surprisingly bright.

The two marshals, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, had long since emerged from the formidable pass to greet them. After bowing outside the carriage, they took positions on either side as escorts.

Many experts of the Underworld's Wu Tribe lined the path to welcome them.

The Ten Yama Kings also arrived at the city gate in advance. After Li Changshou alighted from the palanquin, they burst into loud 'wah-hah-hah' laughter, asking about his well-being and exchanging pleasantries.

This was, in a way, the 'ecology' of the current Heavenly Court.

Li Changshou ordered Jin Peng and the Heavenly Court troops to wait outside the city, so as not to disturb the ghosts within. He also had Ling'e bow to each of the Ten Yama Kings and address them as 'Senior.'

While the Yama Kings were experts at judging cases and spirits, quite proficient at fighting and scolding, and hunting demons was their old trade, when it came to praising a beautiful immortal lady, they could only repeat a few phrases: "Oh my, Immortal Ling'e, it's been years, and you're even more beautiful!" "Truly stunning!" "A match made in heaven, a match made in heaven." "May you have many noble sons soon, ha ha ha ha!"

Ling'e's face was flushed crimson, and she hid behind Li Changshou, not daring to show her face. Li Changshou smiled and offered a few acknowledgments. His own composure, of course, was impervious to such low-level teasing.

Entering Fengdu City, they headed towards the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc. Accompanied by the Ten Yama Kings, Grand White Giltstar inspected the sanitation of Fengdu City's streets, specifically inquiring about the efficiency of handling vengeful spirits and resentful ghosts. He emphasized that the eighteen layers of hell must always maintain their seals to prevent evil spirits from escaping to the mortal realm and causing chaos.

Once Li Changshou and Ling'e entered the Reincarnation Disc, the Ten Yama Kings exchanged smiles. Only King Qinguang and King Chujiang remained to wait, while the other eight rushed back to their respective Yama Palaces to attend to their duties.

However, no sooner had the eight Yama Kings departed than King Qinguang frowned, as if sensing something. He turned from the Immortal Island of Reincarnation, his eyes glowing with dark light, and looked towards the direction of Fengdu City's gate, immediately startled.

There, a Heavenly Court general, clad in battle armor, was slowly approaching, casually observing Fengdu City's low-lying buildings with a faint smile on his lips.

"The, the Jade Emperor?" King Qinguang gasped.

King Chujiang, who was standing beside him with hands on hips, picking his ear, chuckled, "Big Brother, what are you saying? What Jade Emperor? What's a Jade Emperor?"

"Fool!" *Smack! Thud! Hiss—* King Qinguang raised his hand and slapped King Chujiang, his palm landing precisely on King Chujiang's raised elbow. That finger immediately poked into Chujiang's skull, spurting out a gush of Wu Tribe black blood.

King Qinguang cursed under his breath, "That's His Majesty the Jade Emperor's avatar!"

King Chujiang blinked, took out a handkerchief to plug his ear, and stared at the young general on Fengdu City's street, letting out an involuntary burp. A mere skull, it wasn't a vital spot anyway.

"Quick! I'll go invite His Majesty the Jade Emperor to the Yama Hall; you quickly gather the brothers and summon all the judges and ghost generals!" King Qinguang urgently commanded. King Chujiang assented and turned to run.

Before long, a slight commotion arose in Fengdu City, and an atmosphere of tension spread everywhere.

Meanwhile, inside the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc.

Knowing that this outing was to the Underworld, Ling'e immediately understood her senior brother's intention in asking her to wear a plainer dress: to pay respects to their master.

So, when she followed her senior brother into the small world within the Reincarnation Disc and flew to the precious pool in the corner, without her senior brother needing to prompt her, Ling'e had already taken out the five-piece set for offerings: melons, fruits, wine, meat, a candlestick and incense burner, a brass basin for burning paper, several small paper effigy immortals, and a handkerchief.

Before Li Changshou could even speak, Ling'e had already prepared herself emotionally. Wiping the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief, she wailed dramatically: "Master, you died so tragically—"

Li Changshou: ...

"Ahem!" A dry cough echoed from the precious pool.

Ling'e froze, and in the blink of an eye, she saw the faint silhouette of an old Daoist slowly 'grow' out of the precious pool, smiling kindly at her.

"Oh dear, your crying makes this master quite awkward," the old Daoist said.

"Master!" Ling'e cheered, rising as if to leap forward, but then noticed other remnant souls being repaired in the pool and quickly halted, tears welling up in her eyes. "You're alive again!"

"What?" Old Daoist Qiyuan feigned anger. "Has your master's revival inconvenienced you and your senior brother?"

"No, no, oh dear... I'm happy," Ling'e said, lowering her head to perform a Daoist bow and speaking in a charming voice, "Disciple greets Master!"

Li Changshou also performed a deep Daoist bow beside her, smiling, "Disciple greets Master."

"Ah, good, good," Old Daoist Qiyuan said, raising his hand in a gesture of support. His soul flew out of the precious pool, surrounded by streams of immortal light, mixed with considerable merit.

He said, "My remnant soul was able to reunite entirely thanks to your senior brother's plea to the Saints. Truly, I am ashamed, so ashamed. I haven't been able to teach you two much, yet Changshou has gone to great lengths, protecting my life and gathering my soul."

Li Changshou softly said, "If Master hadn't given me my initial foundation, I would have been nothing more than a mortal. By now, I would have been a pile of white bones, buried in desolation."

Ling'e stepped forward, attempting to link her arm with her master's, but found herself obstructed by the immortal light around him. Seeing this, Li Changshou's expression grew slightly somber, but he quickly composed himself, thinking how to make his master laugh a few more times before his reincarnation.

Qiyuan chuckled, "The great virtue, Lady Houtu, already told me that once you arrived, I would go to be reincarnated. Changshou, Ling'e, walk with me for a while. I have many things I wish to tell you, though I don't know where to begin."

Li Changshou quietly assented, following behind Old Daoist Qiyuan. Ling'e pursed her small lips, wiped away her tears, and then, with a hint of a smile, moved closer.

"Hehehe! Master, guess what cultivation level your second disciple is at now?"

Old Daoist Qiyuan laughed, "What cultivation level could it be? It's not possible that you've achieved Golden Immortal status in such a short time, is it?"

"Look!" Ling'e put her hands on her hips and revealed her Dao charm, letting out a delighted chuckle.

Old Daoist Qiyuan couldn't help but show a benevolent smile. His second disciple's Dao realm was too high; he... couldn't discern the specifics.

Old Daoist Qiyuan smiled, "I don't know what virtue or ability I possess to have achieved nothing in this life, yet have taken in such an extraordinary disciple. Changshou, Lady Houtu mentioned earlier that you are now a second-rank righteous god of the Heavenly Court, Grand White Giltstar, ranked among the top ten in the Heavenly Dao sequence... I don't really understand these things, but knowing that you are capable and highly skilled makes me quite proud. However, Changshou, there's one thing you must remember."

"Please speak, Master," Li Changshou replied, bowing his head.

Old Daoist Qiyuan's expression became serious, and he slowly said, "I know that your nature is not cowardly, merely afraid of death; this is a common sentiment among living beings, you just verbalize it constantly. I am but a small turbid immortal in heaven and earth, with limited vision or experience, but I raised and nurtured you, so I still bear the responsibility of a master towards you, and these words must be said. Now that you are in your current position, you cannot only think of yourself. You are an important immortal of the Heavenly Court, holding the power of life and death over countless beings, and it seems you are also the one overseeing the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. You must consider how to do things for the common people of the world, for the beings of the Three Realms. You don't need to seek fame, and you might encounter some misunderstandings, but you only need to have a clear conscience, and you must be worthy of your current position and authority."

"Yes, disciple has noted it," Li Changshou said with a smile.

Ling'e quietly interjected, "Master, most of the current Heavenly Court order was planned and personally established by Senior Brother; he has already done many things for the common people."

"Is that so?" Qiyuan's eyes brightened slightly as he looked at the young man before him.

Li Changshou nodded with a faint smile, murmuring, "As long as it doesn't affect my life's safety, I just went with the flow."

"That's good then, ah, that's good." Old Daoist Qiyuan smiled contentedly, walking forward with his hands behind his back. After a few steps, he asked, "Junior Sister Yushi... is she well?"

"Aunt-Master Yushi remains cultivating at the Immortal Ascension Sect," Li Changshou said. "I once invited her to the Heavenly Court, but she was somewhat reluctant. Master, rest assured, the Immortal Ascension Sect is now protected by Heavenly Soldiers and faces no danger."

"That's good then," Qiyuan chuckled. "This master failed your Aunt-Master in this life. I had hoped to find her reincarnated self, but I never expected... Though the flower bloomed again, it bore no identical petals. Perhaps this is the principle of reincarnation."

Li Changshou sighed, just about to speak, when Qiyuan continued, "After my reincarnation, I will have no karmic ties to my previous life. You two must cultivate well. Knowing that I have been reincarnated, there's no need to worry about me, no need to visit me, and certainly no need to trouble yourselves to guide my cultivation. Changshou, you have already done too much for your master. Ultimately, a master does not wish to be cared for by his disciples in such a way."

Ling'e's eyes reddened, and she whimpered, "Master..."

"My foolish child, why cry? For your master to be able to reincarnate is a great blessing; this is good news." Qiyuan instinctively reached out, but couldn't grasp Ling'e's fingers. Ling'e quickly raised her hand, letting it follow her master's palm.

The old Daoist placed Ling'e's small hand into Li Changshou's palm and gently patted it.

"Changshou, your junior sister has been deeply devoted to you since childhood. You have taught her so much, also hoping she could stay by your side permanently. I know you have developed a romantic relationship with the powerful Immortal Yunxiao, but remember, do not neglect or let Ling'e down. This is my final request to you as your master."

"Master..." Li Changshou moved his lips, wanting to speak, but his voice choked, and he could only tightly clasp Ling'e's slender hand.

Qiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, then patted the back of Li Changshou's hand and said, "I'm leaving. You two wait here. Don't watch me enter the Reincarnation Disc. Don't be sad, and don't worry too much. For cultivators like us, transcendence is hard to achieve, but what's so hard about being carefree?"

With that, Old Daoist Qiyuan waved his hand, turned around, and slowly walked towards the mist not far ahead, softly chanting: "A vast lifetime, the fruit of a turbid immortal, let not a thousand years of mediocrity bring sorrow. The Dao heart remains unchanged, the ambition for immortality unwavering, how can this soul not complete its journey?"

A ray of golden light shone down, moving the old Daoist's soul outside the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc.

Li Changshou suddenly felt a surge of despair. He gasped, his breath trembling uncontrollably, and tears glistened in the corners of his eyes, which he quickly evaporated. He was a master of the Human Dao, a powerful god of the Heavenly Court, the tenth in the Heavenly Dao sequence!

Slowly kneeling, Li Changshou prostrated himself in the direction where the old Daoist had departed...

'Little one, would you like to come with this humble Daoist to learn immortal arts? You can gain immortality and wander freely throughout heaven and earth.'