“Lord Envoy!”
On the reef, a Daoist said in a shaky voice, “We have visited everywhere and we had also watched the Xiong Village from outside for a long time… However, we could not find the whereabouts of the Sea God at all!”
“Please have mercy on us, Lord Envoy! We are willing to search for mortal blood for you, for a thousand years!”
“Mortal?” The woman’s gaze was icy cold. “What’s so good about mortal blood? Not only does it not contain any spiritual energy, but it will also even cause me to lose merit.”
“All of you have been following me for such a long time. You should know that I have already cleared all the negative karma left behind by my cultivation. I no longer kill mortals.”
“As for you two, hmph! On account that my sect is still in the midst of using humans, I will temporarily exempt both of you from being punished for performing poorly.”
The two of them heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly exclaimed, “Thank you, Lord Envoy!”
“Thank you, Lord Envoy!”
The woman glanced at the two of them coldly. The two Perfected Immortals quickly shut their mouths and continued to kneel, not daring to breathe.
These human Qi Refinement cultivators are really useless.
The woman snorted coldly and squinted her long and narrow phoenix-like eyes. She stared at the ocean that was far away, thinking about the orders she had received from the sect.
Her Dao name was Wen Jing. She was originally a Blood-Winged Black Mosquito that had obtained the Dao. She was neither a demon nor a spirit. Instead, she was an ancient ferocious demon.
Actually, she was a queen!
Before the six ancient Saints had attained their Dao, she had led the Blood-Winged Black Mosquitoes to harm the Western living beings. Later on, she was restrained by the two Western Saints, but they did not kill her.
Back then, the two Saints of the Western Sect had already obtained the Purple Qi bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. However, they had yet to comprehend the method of meritorious sanctification.
It had been a long time since Daoist Wen Jing had succeeded in cultivating Dao in secret. She had become the Plague Envoy of the Western Sect and specialized in doing the dirty work that would harm the reputation of the Western Sect.
She was a vicious person who would kill without batting an eyelid.
The reason she chose such an enchanting appearance during her transformation was so as to make it easier for her to engage in dangerous schemes.
After being forced to join the Western Sect, Daoist Wen Jing had been using incense offerings and merits to get rid of her negative karma. Now, her negative karma had been reduced to zero.
However, the Heavenly Dao had sensed it and forbade her from obtaining any merit, thus making her feel infuriated.
I really want to stab this prejudiced Heavenly Dao of the human race!
Just as Daoist Wen Jing was thinking about it, she heard the two people who were at the side talking again…
“Lord Envoy, the South Ocean Sect has only occupied the periphery. The incense offerings we set up have occupied a large area in the Southwest region of the South Continent…”
“Actually, we… didn’t lose much this time.”
“Lord Envoy, why don’t we secretly destroy the Xiong Village…”
Daoist Wen Jing turned to look at her subordinate who was trembling and too afraid to say anything.
He only hated himself for having a mouth!
“Killing mortals would only increase one’s negative karma. There would be no benefits.
The attractive Daoist who was clad in a blood-red robe criticized coldly, “What I’m looking for is the person who put up the incense offerings here. I want to suck away all of his merit and blood essence. This person has erected so many statues for offerings. His schemes are far more profound than the trash that you offer.”
She took a few steps to the side, her body swaying in an alluring manner. However, the two of them did not even dare to lift their eyelids.
Daoist Wen Jing pondered for a moment and said, “The South Ocean is far away from the West. There are only hundreds of thousands of living beings in this place. If we lose them, we lose them. It’s not a big deal.”
“Now, I have something more important to ask of you. In the East Continent, there is an immortal sect called the Immortal Du Sect. It can barely be considered an undertaker of the Ren School. A few days ago, it fought against a few lousy Heaven Immortals from the Golden Ao Island.”
“Today, you will head to the East Continent to investigate this matter and see if there is anything you can do about it. If you do well, I will grant you some rewards and allow you to make up for your mistakes.”
The two of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with the joy of surviving a calamity.
They then exclaimed with vigor, “Yes, Lord!”
“Go. You will know the consequences if you mess up or expose your identity.”
Daoist Wen Jing gently waved her slender fingers.
The two of them quickly retreated. They jumped into the sea and left the array formation.
“They’re really pieces of garbage that can only be used to gather information.”
There was a hint of coldness in Daoist Wen Jing’s eyes. With a flick of her finger, two black mosquitoes flew out and landed on the napes of the two Perfected Immortals without making a sound. The two of them did not notice it at all…
“If anything happens to them, kill them. Do not leave any traces.”
The black mosquito replied in his heart, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The person who had given her orders to make an issue out of the sparring session between the junior disciple of Ren School and the Qi Refinement cultivators of Golden Ao Island was a disciple of the Great Saint and Deputy Sect Master of the Western Sect.
It seemed like a small matter, but Daoist Wen Jing knew very well that it involved the pride of the three Dao Sects and the saints.
She had to devise a plan carefully and not reveal herself.
If she was careless and exposed the fact that the Western Sect had been trying to split up the three sects, she would be killed by the two Saints of the Western Sect without the intervention of the experts of the Dao Sects.
If that were to happen, she, the fierce demon, would become the culprit who had provoked the Three Sects…
Although she had been working hard for the Western Sect, it did not mean that she, Daoist Wen Jing, was willing to succumb.
Succumb?
She was the queen of a clan!
If not for the fact that the Second Saint of the Western Sect had captured all the large black mosquitoes of her clan and used them as a threat towards her, she would have long sucked all the sanctimonious Deputy Sect Masters dry!
“Humph!”
Daoist Wen Jing swept her sleeve, and her enchanting figure turned into a streak of blood that disappeared along with the array formation around her.
There was nothing on the surface of the ocean, leaving only the sounds of mosquitoes lingering in the air.
Only the sounds could be heard but there was no trace of them at all.
That was probably a secret technique passed down by the ancestors of the Mosquitoes.
…
“Stinky Senior Brother!”
On the Little Qiong Peak, Lan Ling’e was kneeling under a willow tree by the lake. She used a handkerchief to wipe the water off her face and washed away the “makeup” that she had painstakingly put on.
“Bad Senior Brother!”
“He chose not to explain clearly what that painting is and caused me to make a fool out of myself!”
“In the end, he even said that my Dao Heart isn’t stable because I behave abnormally every day, but I did all that to make him happy!”
“If he wants me to copy the scriptures a hundred times, so be it! What’s the big deal!?!”
Li Changshou was in his master’s straw hut, and he could not help but put his hand on his forehead when he heard Ling’e complaining softly by the lake.
Uh...
Qi Yuan sat on the round chair and gestured for Li Changshou to take a seat beside him. He asked, “Changshou, do you have anything to discuss with me?”
“Master, let’s activate the surrounding array formations. I’m afraid that the walls have ears.”
“Yes.” Qi Yuan nodded and activated the array formations around the straw hut. He then stared at Li Changshou and scrutinized him.
Previously, before Ling’e revealed that her senior brother was extraordinary, Old Daoist Qi Yuan felt that his eldest disciple was timid and afraid of death, though he had excellent potential and his cultivation progress had always been quite good.
However, after being trapped in the Bewitching Array of the Pill Chamber, Old Daoist Qi Yuan thought about the interaction that he had had with his eldest disciple in the past…
He still could not find any clues.
However, the array formation around the Pill Chamber…
The mysterious “Qi-Calming Turtle Breathing Mantra”…
And the Man-Forming Paper Cutouts that he could not understand…
“Changshou.” Qi Yuan leaned forward and said in a low voice, “Tell me honestly, which realm are you really at now?”
Li Changshou smiled and said, “When I went home before this, I went through the Tribulation Transcendence.”
I accidentally ascended during the Tribulation Transcendence… Naturally, he could not say the latter half of the sentence directly.
Qi Yuan nodded and felt a little more at ease.
Finally, he confirmed the true cultivation level of his eldest disciple.
After the Tribulation Transcendence, one would become an Essence Immortal.
He only took 123 years to become an immortal. His aptitude is considered top-tier amongst all the junior immortals!
Qi Yuan frowned again. “Then why did you hide your cultivation level? Wouldn’t it be good to show your cultivation level and receive the protection of the sect?”
“Master, the world is a difficult place to live in. The human heart is unpredictable.”
Li Changshou said softly, “Think about it. When I was at the Void Return Stage, I had always been acting like I was at the Soul Formation Stage. If someone wanted to deal with me,they would naturally attack like they were dealing with a Qi Refinement cultivator who is at the Soul Formation stage. Then, there will be a high chance that the other party will reveal some loopholes and it’ll be more likely for me to survive.”
“You should understand this logic.”
The old Daoist priest, Qi Yuan, nodded and pondered. He felt that something was amiss, but he could not put his finger on it.
Li Changshou continued, “I have been pretending to be an outstanding disciple in the sect, whose strength is closely following that of the junior immortals. The monthly allowance I can obtain is only 20% less than those junior immortals.”
“However, the benefit that I received is the fact that no one knows my abilities or name. Thus, no one will plot against me.”
“Master, think about it. If the Little Qiong Peak produces a junior immortal, others will definitely be jealous. If a head disciple appears, he might be targeted by the other peaks…”
“There will also be competition for cultivation resources between the peaks. After all, the income in the sect is stable.”
Qi Yuan pondered for a while before nodding slowly.
In the past, he had always felt that his eldest disciple’s evil ways were wayward and twisted. Now that his eldest disciple was stronger than him, he suddenly felt that those principles… actually made sense…
Qi Yuan stroked his beard and sighed. “That’s true. I haven’t been thinking enough.”
Li Changshou raised his eyebrows. He did not expect his master to be more gullible than he had imagined…
Ahem, he’s easier to convince than imagined.
“Master, what I want to tell you today is about the way out that you, Junior, and I can take in the future.”
“Way out?”
Qi Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He chided, “What are you talking about? Isn’t it wonderful for us to cultivate in the sect and enjoy ourselves every day? Or do you think that the sect is no longer enough for an immortal like you?”
“The sect is naturally very good to us. If the sect is in trouble, I will definitely help the entire sect while I am alive. I will definitely take revenge in the future.”
Li Changshou said seriously, “But Master, don’t you want to live longer?”
“Of course I do.” Qi Yuan sighed and continued, “But you don’t have to worry about me. I am already satisfied with the fact that I could turn into a Turbid Immortal and have the chance to cultivate to the Perfected Immortal realm…”
Li Changshou smiled and said, “Master, there is a way that you can extend your lifespan after you reach the Perfected Immortal realm. Furthermore, it will be beneficial to me and Junior Sister in the future.”
“It’d be good for you and Ling’e? Tell me about it.”
Li Changshou pointed at the table and wrote two words on it.
Heavenly Courts, ancient edition!
Qi Yuan frowned and muttered to himself.
Li Changshou sighed in his heart.
Master should be repulsed by the Heavenly Courts’ “public residence”, like most cultivators.
It can’t be helped. After all, cultivation in the mountains is free and easy and that’s far better than being controlled by the heavens and being ordered around.
Li Changshou had prepared a speech in advance to see if he could persuade his master to go to the Heavenly Courts.
If Li Changshou’s Master refused to, Li Changshou would not force him either. This time, he was just trying his luck…
“Master…”
Just as Li Changshou was about to speak, Qi Yuan asked in confusion,
“How does that place benefit my lifespan?”
Huh?
Li Changshou was stunned. “Master, don’t you know the benefits of this place?”
“I’ve heard people mention that after the Great Magi-Demon War, a few saints set up that place on the ruined Demon Court.” Qi Yuan frowned and continued, “I’ve never heard of the details.”
Li Changshou was rendered speechless.
At this moment, the presence of the Heavenly Courts… is simply too tempting!
“Master, listen to my detailed explanation.”
Qi Yuan nodded and listened to Li Changshou’s explanation with interest.
Half a day later.
Li Changshou walked back to the Pill Chamber with his hands behind his back. The small box was already taken back by his master.
He did not expect his master to accept his suggestion to take on a job in the Heavenly Courts. Moreover, he was quite curious as well. He would have more motivation to cultivate and advance to the Perfected Immortal realm in the future…
Now that I think about it, ever since Master became a Turbid Immortal, he had actually been somewhat out of place in the sect.
If Master could break through to the Perfected Immortal realm as soon as possible and become a small minister in the Heavenly Courts or take on a small position, he would be much more relaxed…
Li Changshou gave his master numerous pills in a bid to help him increase his cultivation level.
He was already a Turbid Immortal Immortal, so there was no need for him to be too particular about it. His future potential was limited, and it was not impossible for him to use pills to cultivate.
When Master reaches the Perfected Immortal realm, I can use my strong ties and connection with Elder Moon to let Master become a clerk in the Heavenly Courts. That would not be a problem…
The second step of the plan is rather easy.
Next, it would depend on when Master can break through to the Perfected Immortal realm. It would probably take another thousand years.
Or even two thousand years…
However, it will definitely be way before the Great God-Conferment Tribulation is formed!
It was much more difficult for a Turbid Immortal to cultivate for a Turbid than it was for a Heaven Immortal to become an Essence Immortal. One reason for that was also because he could not obtain all the Heavenly Tribulation opportunities.
Before that, should I build a safe house outside the mountain?
Li Changshou slowly pondered.
If the three of them went to the Heavenly Courts and reported that the Immortal Du Sect was in danger of being exterminated, he could have a place to stay together with his master and junior…
After strolling in the forest for a while, Li Changshou decided to give up on that idea.
The most important thing now is to get the Little Qiong Peak’s Recovery Array ready.
In fact, he did not have that many precious materials that he could use to build a safe house that had a complete array formation.
The moment Li Changshou returned to the Pill Chamber, his immortal senses captured Jiu Wu’s figure.
Uncle-Master Jiu Wu had indeed helped me a lot when Ao Yi suddenly came to visit me this time. Regardless of whether he had helped or not, I have to be grateful.
The short Daoist seemed to be in a good mood. He entered the isolation array outside the Little Qiong Peak and burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
“Disciple-Nephew Changshou, guess what I brought you? This time, you’ve dealt with the Qi Refinement cultivators of Golden Ao Island quite well. The sect has given you many rewards!”
As he spoke, the short Daoist stood on the cloud and threw two treasure pouches over. “These are all precious materials meant for setting up array formations. It can be said that the sect is encouraging you to continue studying array formations!”
Li Changshou used his immortal power to control the treasure pouches. He inspected it from afar before holding it in his hand.
Jiu Wu was no longer surprised by that. He stopped a hundred feet in the air.
Li Changshou cupped his hands and bowed. “Thank you, Uncle-Master.”
“Sigh, it’s too early to thank us.”
Jiu Wu took out a silver-white sword and threw it over casually. Pretending to be indifferent, he said, “This is your permit to enter the Dao Repository. I spent a bit of effort to ask for it from the other side.”
“In the inner hall of the Dao Repository, there are array formations and alchemy manuals that only Perfected Immortals can read. How is it?”
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
As he spoke, Jiu Wu winked.
Li Changshou’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately grabbed the silver-white sword and fiddled with it twice. The corners of his lips curled up slightly.
He did not expect that there to be such benefits this time!
It was a slight loss for him when he exposed his cultivation and attracted attention previously.
From the looks of it, he had really gained something!
“Uncle-Master, come in and sit down.”
“No, no.” Jiu Wu waved his hand and sighed. “Ah, I’m meant to be a slave. I’m going out again soon. Hurry and become an immortal soon, so you can become an executive of the sect as well. You will then know how tiring this job is.”
Li Changshou’s heart skipped a beat. He asked, “What are you going out for, Uncle-Master?”
Jiu Wu smiled and said, “The Middle Continent seems to be going to organize an Immortal Sect Meeting for the Three Sects. It is estimated to be held in 50 or 100 years. I’m going to attend it with two elders and have a detailed discussion with the great sects on behalf of Immortal Du Sect.”
“However, the Immortal Du Sect is too new compared to those large sects. We don’t dare to speak much. We can only listen to the other sects.”
A sect meeting between the three sects?
What… is that?
Is this related to the Great God-Conferment Tribulation?
Li Changshou pondered for a while. Jiu Wu seemed to be in a hurry. After reminding him to cultivate properly, he immediately turned around and left.
Li Changshou looked up and hurriedly said, “Uncle-Master, wait!”
He should have shouted ‘stop’ instead.
