Chapter 102: You Don't Understand the Sea God at All!
Back at Little Qiong Peak, in the alchemy room; Li Changshou admired for a moment with his divine sense the set of 'Attic Defense Array' he had created for Senior Apprentice Sister Jiu.
Sure enough, without leaving a 'back door' for himself, he wouldn't have been able to see through those layers of light barriers...
After this experience, the safety level of Junior Apprentice Sister within the mountain gate had been significantly improved.
Although it did cost quite a bit more precious materials...
But the value of life was far beyond the estimation of these materials!
Considering the 'friends' he was now involved with—Senior Apprentice Sister Jiu, Senior Apprentice Brother Jiuwu, Elder Wanlinjun...
Plus the half-toxic Junior Apprentice Sister;
The number of 'friends' he had now exceeded his expectations.
He needed to be cautious in the future, to avoid getting involved in some strange matters due to having too many friends.
Later on, after checking the various formations around Little Qiong Peak and observing the movements of the peaks within the gate;
Feeling the Daoist charm exposed by Junior Apprentice Sister during her practice, stealing a glance at the Master diligently practicing in the thatched cottage...
After confirming everything was normal, Li Changshou then activated the surrounding trapping formations outside the alchemy room, leaving a trace of his divine sense guarding his main body while most of his consciousness descended onto the paper figurine.
At present, the top priority was to sever the cause and effect of the Southern Sea Sea God; he couldn't let the Sea God Cult continue to grow wild and barbaric...
Slowly opening his eyes in the gaps of the underground rock veins;
Li Changshou checked the sensing stones on the paper figurine's body and the few simple formations arranged around him.
Very good, no one has discovered...
Stabilizing the aura of the paper figurine, Li Changshou used earth-escape technique to ascend from a depth of a thousand zhang to a hundred zhang below the surface.
This depth underground had been carefully considered by him.
At this depth, the earth-escape speed was relatively fast, without leaving any disturbance on the ground, nor would it accidentally collide with some hard ore veins...
Although if it did collide, he might unexpectedly strike it rich...
At this moment, Li Changshou was in the border area between Dongsheng Shenzhou and Nanshan Beizhou, passing through some territory of the Yao Clan, and quickly approaching the secular world of Southern Continent.
In order to increase the safety factor, Li Changshou chose the same route he had taken before...
As his divine sense swept over, mountains and rivers greeted him, coming and going in haste;
With a slight movement of his mind, he saw familiar scenes.
For example, the frequent battles between Qi Cultivators, and the not uncommon skirmishes between mountain monsters and spirits;
The fierce battles at the mountain passes had finally ceased, and the walls had been dyed dark red;
And the couple heading for love and freedom, Li Changshou also happened to find traces of them at the edge of a forest.
However, while the uncle was still there, the aunt had disappeared, replaced by a young man chopping wood nearby...
This was probably the secular world.
After two days of earth-escape, Li Changshou arrived underground in a certain big city of the secular world, found a secluded corner, and changed into another traveling paper figurine;
The divine power of the paper figurine couldn't recover on its own. Wasting a paper figurine's combat power for nothing while traveling was naturally not cost-effective.
Continuously traveling without stopping, it took Li Changshou another seven or eight days to slowly approach himself...
What self?! The matter of the Southern Sea Sea God Cult had nothing to do with him in the first place!
If he could return the merits and virtues of these incense offerings, and exchange them for the extinction of the Southern Sea Sea God Cult without consequences, Li Changshou would certainly agree wholeheartedly.
The Southern Sea Sea God Cult wasn't very large at this time, mainly distributed in the coastal towns and villages of the Southern Sea, mostly worshipped by fishermen...
The first landing point chosen by Li Changshou was on the edge of the Southern Sea Sea God Cult's influence, a small town located on the plain.
There were probably five or six thousand residents here, with quite a few merchants resting, and it was considered relatively bustling...
On the main road that traversed the town, there were some gentle 'beasts' like oxen and horses pulling carts, transporting people and goods.
A temple of the Sea God Cult was built on the south side of the town, next to the main road.
Incense was burning vigorously there, and most people who went out or returned home would come here to light incense, praying for a safe journey.
Finding an unmanned corner, Li Changshou observed secretly for several hours before finally deciding to emerge from the ground in the dense forest...
At this moment, the appearance of this paper figurine was that of an old Daoist with white hair and beard.
Dressed in a clean gray robe, with a Daoist headband and a whisk in hand, he walked as if floating on the ground, like a transcendent figure from the world of immortals...
Li Changshou casually strolled through the town, attracting many curious gazes from the mortals;
This area was at the edge of the human clan's secular world, and the people here were relatively simple-minded. They hadn't seen many Qi Cultivators like him, so there was a bit of curiosity in their eyes when they saw such a figure.
Apart from curiosity, the townspeople also showed their hospitality.
Passing by a steamed bun shop, a vendor brought out steaming buns;
Passing by a teahouse, a waiter came out with a cup of hot tea and greeted with a smile;
Occasionally passing by an elegant wooden building, a window on the upper floor was pushed open, and a short stick propping up the window accidentally fell down. The young lady behind the window covered her mouth and chuckled...
Li Changshou walked past calmly without looking back, gradually approaching the temple of the Southern Sea Sea God.
This temple was not grand.
In fact, it was just a square courtyard with a stone statue standing in the middle.
Entering the courtyard, Li Changshou looked up at the statue, whose appearance and figure were very similar to his own, and sighed inwardly.
It was also because his abilities hadn't reached the point where he could change his appearance completely, making it impossible for others to remember his appearance;
When he was being struck by tribulation and punishment one after another, suffering severe injuries and falling into enlightenment of ascension, Li Changshou indeed couldn't care about these details...
He could only try to make up for it now.
"Oh? Where are you from?"
In the corner of the courtyard, there suddenly came a greeting, and a figure, slightly short and thin, wearing a dirty and tattered Taoist robe, hurried over.
This person's cultivation seemed to be only at the third stage of Qi Refinement, barely able to perform some weak spells; he had set up a fortune-telling stall in the corner of the courtyard, selling various incense sticks of different prices on the side, presumably trying to make a living here.
However, Li Changshou was still cautious.
This person could be a spy planted by the Western Sect, or perhaps a formidable expert whom he couldn't see through...
Although the latter scenario was not very likely. Anyway, when entering the influence range of the Sea God Sect, Li Changshou reminded himself to be careful at all times.
As the old diviner approached quickly, Li Changshou had already made a courteous gesture from a distance of three zhang (about ten meters).
"Greetings, fellow Daoist," he said.
"What's up?"
The old diviner was momentarily stunned, his small eyes darting around before he hastily returned the gesture and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you're very polite, very polite.
Where are you from?
What brings you to our little temple?"
Li Changshou replied, "I've traveled far and wide and ended up here. I noticed the bustling incense here, but I've never heard of the deity worshipped in this temple. I was curious, so I came to take a look."
The old diviner frowned, "Haven't you heard of Lord Sea God?"
Li Changshou shook his head and smiled, "I'm new to this place..."
"Old man! Don't say such things in front of our Sea God!"
The old diviner snapped, his face stern as he shouted loudly, "The name of our Sea God is known throughout the world! Sir, please be cautious with your words and deeds in front of the Sea God's statue.
Not long ago, there was a rich man in town who offended the Sea God with a wrong word here, and the next day, he drank a glass of wine and died of drunkenness.
His newlywed wife became a widow!"
Li Changshou:...
"Oh? The Sea God is actually so effective?"
"Of course," the old diviner, proud of his Qi Refinement stage, chuckled, and some worshippers nearby chimed in, saying the same thing; then, the old diviner continued to talk endlessly about... the Sea God's stories.
More than a dozen ordinary people who came to offer incense also gathered around; as the old diviner told the stories, these ordinary people kept interjecting, each speaking as if they had experienced it themselves.
Li Changshou patiently listened to the old diviner's constantly embellished stories, feeling a bit twitchy in his heart. Currently, near the South Sea, the most widely spread stories about the Sea God are: "Sea God Battles the Carp Spirit", "Sea God Teases the Little Dragon Maiden Six Times", "Sea God Says: What's a Little Pain in the Storm", "Sea God Brings Fish Schools", "Believe in the Sea God and Gain Great Power"...
Even if others didn't believe it, Li Changshou didn't believe a single word. He absolutely didn't do anything! He hadn't even seen the female carp spirit or the little dragon maiden!
And that girl who got pregnant out of wedlock because of the Sea God's influence, could someone carefully investigate the cause and effect?
He couldn't afford such unfounded accusations! After the old man had been talking for a long time and his throat was dry, he saw that Li Changshou had been silent all along and snorted lightly.
"Do you understand what I've been saying?"
"I've heard it, but I don't quite understand," Li Changshou smiled, the friendly demeanor of the old Daoist still somewhat present.
He explained with emphasis, "Gathering incense is also a method of cultivation.
From what I observe here, it seems that there are no miracles.
Fellow Daoist, the things you mentioned, are they somewhat exaggerated?"
The old diviner immediately glared, shouting loudly, "Exaggerated?! Hey! I said, where did you come from?
What are you doing here?
This is our Sea God Sect.
Our Sea God's messengers are all incredibly powerful!"
Li Changshou's thoughts raced, and he continued, "Incredible power that can be achieved with a little cultivation may have been manipulated by others. If the South Sea Sea God is truly so effective, I'll just stand here and let him show his power."
The ordinary people around immediately took on a posture as if they were going to beat someone, and the old diviner also looked distressed.
"You, you... you don't understand our Sea God at all! Forget it, get out of here, get out! The Sea God is still merciful to you now, but he may punish you later!"
Li Changshou was about to speak again, but the old man was already rushing forward, urging him away, and the surrounding ordinary people were also driving him away;
Li Changshou took advantage of the chaos to leave a few strands of Spider Silk in the corner of the courtyard, and then he was pushed out by the old Daoist and the worshippers...
Standing in front of the temple gate, Li Changshou couldn't help but feel amused.
Being driven out of the temple where his own worshippers worshipped his statue was indeed a strange thing.
Li Changshou sighed intentionally, flicked his whisk a few times, and then walked towards the south along the main road...
Originally, he left the spider silk there to better understand the Sea God Sect; in order to overthrow the Sea God Sect without bloodshed, he had to understand why so many people believed in this Sea God who had never manifested, find those key points, and overturn them one by one.
But the spider silk left by Li Changshou brought him a small unexpected gain when it was quiet at night...
In the middle of the night, the old diviner slipped out of the side room, took out a piece of paper talisman, lit it, and quietly waited in the courtyard. Soon, under the moonlight, a crow landed in the courtyard, looked around, and turned into a human figure.
The old diviner kept his head down and dared not look up, tremblingly recounting the incident with the old immortal he had encountered during the day...