Chapter 128 Brother Senior's 'Anger'
In the Sea God Temple, two heavenly guards stood in the corner of the backyard, holding the landscape spirit map.
If you stare at this landscape spirit map carefully for a while, you can see that the two figures inside it are like living beings, with some small gestures such as raising hands and bowing.
These two figures are naturally Li Changshou's paper Daoist and the East Wood Master.
After exchanging a few words, the two of them set up several layers of isolation formations outside the Sea God Temple, and entered a treasure map that could shield divine consciousness and prevent celestial calculations.
This map has a big origin, it's a replica of the Primordial Divine Treasure, the Mountains, Rivers, and States Map...
In the map, after exchanging a few words, the East Wood Master briefly explained his intention.
"His Majesty the Jade Emperor benefited greatly from the last conversation with the Sea God; a few days ago, the Immortal Court gathered in the Lingxiao Palace, and His Majesty had already mentioned the matter of appointing the Sea God of the South Sea. The edict will arrive here soon. Daoist friend, from now on, you and I will be ministers in the same court."
Li Changshou frowned slightly and said, "The phrase 'not long' could mean many things. Please clarify, how long will it take for the edict to arrive?"
"It could be as fast as a hundred years or as slow as two to three hundred years."
The East Wood Master chuckled lightly, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his somewhat thin face.
"As for the current situation in the Heavenly Court, Daoist friend should be well aware. Due to the majority of the divine positions being vacant, the Heavenly Dao is currently maintained mostly by His Majesty alone. It will take at least a hundred years for a formal edict to be issued, for the Heavenly Dao to respond."
Li Changshou smiled inwardly and said, "There's no need to rush this matter. Even if it takes a thousand years, it's fine. Furthermore, I'll have to ask Master East Wood to inform His Majesty that even if I were to receive the divine position, I wouldn't be able to ascend to the Heavenly Court immediately. I can't possibly let a paper figure ascend to the heavens, which would be a laughingstock. When the time is right, I will enter the Heavenly Gate and pay respects to the Lingxiao Palace, offering my meager assistance to His Majesty."
"Daoist friend is truly patient and virtuous."
The East Wood Master praised, evidently anticipating Li Changshou's response; after all, during their last meeting, Li Changshou had mentioned that he couldn't ascend to the Heavenly Court temporarily.
Once the edict appointing the Sea God arrives, Li Changshou will obtain the divine position of the Heavenly Court. Afterwards, he only needs to command the divine envoys to add portraits of the Jade Emperor to several of the most prosperous temples, hanging them behind his and Ao Yi's statues, declaring that the Sea God religion has returned to the Heavenly Court. By then, the merits of the temples will remain unchanged, just like now. And the Heavenly Dao will also bestow upon him, the Sea God, the merits of the Heavenly Dao, similar to receiving a salary...
But this Heavenly Dao merit is not so easy to obtain. The East Wood Master came this time with six questions directly.
The first five are undecided matters of the Jade Emperor, seeking the advice of his Sea God. In fact, it is to further determine his value as an adviser.
Li Changshou is not in a hurry this time either. After careful consideration, he gave his 'shallow opinion' on each point, which was also within the scope of what the Jade Emperor could see.
This is different from the previous twelve points, most of which were suggestions summarized by Li Changshou based on events from the future...
But the last question asked by the East Wood Master, concerning his own difficult matter, made Li Changshou somewhat troubled.
This involves the Sage.
Li Changshou already had a rough guess about the identity, destiny, and even the story of the East Wood Master when they met last time.
Today, listening to the East Wood Master's detailed explanation, Li Changshou couldn't help but feel emotional.
The old man in front of him...
Is really not easy.
The so-called East Wood Master is actually the East King, the previous life of the Pure Yang Immortal Lu Dongbin in later generations.
When the Heavenly Court was first established, a Sage Lord set up an East King to restrain the real power of the Jade Emperor, in charge of the male immortals of the Heavenly Court.
Originally, there was nothing wrong with this. Although it overlapped with the authority of the Jade Emperor, the East King himself was a subordinate of the Jade Emperor.
The trouble is, the position of the East King corresponds to the divine position of the West Queen Mother, who governs the female immortals of the Heavenly Court.
And the West Queen Mother and the future Queen Mother, are the same person!
She and the Jade Emperor were both attendants by the side of the Dao Ancestor in the Purple Palace, and the two of them were junior senior siblings.
According to the East Wood Master's covert observation, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother are still the kind of childhood sweethearts, innocent and trusting in each other, holding various positions in the Heavenly Court.
But the East Wood Master often sees the Jade Emperor entering and leaving the Jade Pool of the Heavenly Court, and sometimes the two of them even go to the Jade Pool in the Western Kunlun together...
Now, the East King and the West Queen Mother have become the heads of the male and female immortals of the Heavenly Court, and are often listed together by the heavenly immortals...
Can the Jade Emperor swallow this?
Originally, the East King had thought that as long as he had the appointment given by the Sage Lord, even His Majesty the Jade Emperor could not move him.
But soon, he...
Was taught to be loyal to the Jade Emperor!
And he deeply understands the means of the Jade Emperor. Now, he is proud to be able to assist such a master of the Three Realms!
Although the Jade Emperor did not mention the matter of 'East King and West Queen Mother', the East King dared not be careless.
So, the East King changed his name to the East Wood Master, was cautious in his daily life, and never used the power of his 'male immortal divine position appointment' recklessly. Whatever the Jade Emperor said, he, the East Wood Master, would do.
But now, with the Jade Emperor not yet in full power and no one available under him; If the Jade Emperor becomes more powerful in the future, whether it is to consolidate power or consider reputation, the East Wood Master will definitely...
Definitely...
The East Wood Master has been worried for many years, with no one to consult. Seeing that the Jade Emperor appreciates the Sea God of the South Sea very much recently, he had no choice but to come here.
"Daoist friend, you are wise and resourceful. Could you also suggest a clear path for the poor Daoist?"
Li Changshou pondered for a moment. Even though he was not someone who would be swayed by external objects, the East Wood Master had offered too much...
Ahem, no matter how much was given, it wouldn't work!
Even though Li Changshou already knew the best solution to this difficult problem; But if he helped the East Wood Master, it would be like undermining the position set up by the Sage Lord. Neither of the Sage Lords who set up this East King to disgust the Jade Emperor was something Li Changshou could provoke at this time. Life and wealth, Li Changshou naturally knows how to distinguish them. Li Changshou sighed, "I can't help much, friend. This matter depends mainly on how far you can retreat."
The East Wood Master hurriedly said, "If I can live without worries in the future and secure the Dao fruit of longevity, I dare not ask for more!"
Li Changshou thought for a moment and could only say, "In all matters, don't be hasty. With three steps back, even a withered tree can flourish in spring."
"Dare I ask, what are those three steps?"
"I really dare not say," Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, pushing back the two storage treasures that the East Wood Master had taken out.
He didn't want to get involved in this karma, nor could he. But now, the East Wood Master is the messenger of the Jade Emperor, and Li Changshou knows well that he cannot offend this person. He could only, without taking on any karma, give the East Wood Master some advice...
"Recently, why is everyone rushing to send us treasure materials?" murmured Li Changshou in the alchemy room of Little Qiongfeng. He had secretly sent the paper Daoists outside the mountain gate to rush to the edge of the South Sea.
Eastwood was determined to leave those two storage magic treasures behind and was extremely grateful to Li Changshou. Although what Li Changshou gave him was just a stopgap solution, Eastwood seemed to have opened the door to a new world...
Li Changshou calculated silently. With the treasure materials he had obtained recently, he would be busy for a few years. After the internal competition ended, the various peaks of the Duexian Gate quickly quieted down, and the young disciples resumed their daily cultivation routines.
Linge, Jiuyu, and Qingxuanya, who had just arrived half an hour ago, were drinking and making merry in the grass hut. It was their little fairy gathering, and Li Changshou thought it was inappropriate for him to join, so he stayed away.
Li Changshou took out a bamboo slip and inscribed on it the various tasks he needed to accomplish from today until the Three Teachings Source Conference: Firstly, refine the array foundation and fill in the large array to construct the core array foundation of Little Qiongfeng's array system. Secondly, continue to improve the "Tortoise Breath Calm Qi Technique" to prepare for any potential "disasters" he might encounter in the future.
Regarding the upcoming Three Teachings Source Conference, Li Changshou had already decided to feign illness (deviate from his cultivation path) and not attend. As long as the two golden immortals in the sect didn't come to treat him at that time, he would be able to get through it.
But Li Changshou vaguely felt that things weren't so simple...
After these two tasks, there was the matter of refining pills and accumulating wealth. Unwritten on this bamboo slip were two other essential tasks: monitoring the movements of the Xianlin Peak and encouraging his master to come out of seclusion.
After a few years of busy work, Li Changshou had turned the treasure materials he had been rewarded with into the "defensive power" of Little Qiongfeng. He directly scrapped the two magic treasures given by Eastwood because he was worried they might have tracking effects.
He inspected each piece of treasure and spirit stone in detail before sealing them one by one with the secret scriptures of the Witch Clan and storing them in his treasure bag. The few artifacts inside were directly assigned to the paper Daoists on guard duty and couldn't be brought near him...
Then, Li Changshou calculated the route and trajectory of the paper Daoists' return journey, making them take a few detours before returning near the Duexian Gate and bringing them back to Little Qiongfeng with his master who was out.
His current identity absolutely couldn't be exposed in front of the Jade Emperor. Doing so would ruin the image of him as a "wise and resourceful old immortal" that he had finally established...
After completing this part of the array foundation, Li Changshou brewed some pills and calculated that the wine of his junior martial uncle was about to run out. So, he made a batch of fine wine for his junior martial uncle.
Jiaren Mei had already been completely eliminated by him, after all, there was some karma involved.
On this day...
After a few years of busyness and everything stabilizing, Li Changshou wanted to relax a little. Cultivation required moderation. If one was constantly tense, it would only lead to mental and physical exhaustion.
At this time, taking a walk in Little Qiongfeng and wandering around was a rare rest, and it often led to some insights arising from the depths of the heart, prompting a sudden enlightenment.
Strolling through the woods, breathing in the fresh air, Li Changshou felt a touch of emotion in his heart.
As he walked, he came to the spirit beast enclosure he had set up years ago through hard work.
Li Changshou raised spirit beasts mainly for their "medicinal value." Some elixirs required the blood of spirit beasts, and besides that, there were also some useful exotic beasts like the Triple-Pupil Spider.
Looking at the spirit beast enclosure again, most of the spirit beasts were no longer useful. But Li Changshou still had some feelings for them. He would occasionally play with Fat Two on the west side or tease Ahua on the east side, feeling relaxed and content.
Today, Li Changshou habitually walked to Fat Two's enclosure, but the serene smile on his lips gradually disappeared.
Huh?
Where's Fat Two?
All the enclosures were intact, so it didn't seem like they had escaped.
A sweep of his divine sense...
Huh?
How come most of the spirit beasts in his enclosure are missing?
Li Changshou immediately checked on his junior sister, master, and his junior martial uncle who was sleeping soundly on Ling E's bed and found that Little Qiongfeng was fine.
During his cultivation or when he was busy, he would spread his divine sense over Little Qiongfeng, so if there was anything abnormal, he would be alerted.
If there were no abnormalities, these images would be stored as memories without him needing to concentrate on them.
It was a technique every cultivator needed, as cultivators often lived for thousands of years. At this moment, Li Changshou pinched his fingers and calculated, searching his own memories. Soon, he saw these scenes, the daily occurrences that he subconsciously ignored before...
About three years ago, one afternoon, the three beautiful sisters appeared in the spirit beast enclosure.
Linge was full of distress, looking at a young beast she had forgotten to feed, causing it to die from neglect.
Qingxuanya sighed, "Junior sister, accept it and move on."
"It's okay, I ignored it because of the internal competition before. At most, I'll just get scolded by my senior brother."
Linge shook her head gently, then smiled, "Just right, today my sister will show off her skills again. Let's go to the stream behind the mountain and roast it, shall we?"
Jiuyu immediately cheered, while Qingxuanya frowned slightly but didn't stop them.
So, half a month later...
"Little Linge, look at this one. Does it look sick to you?"
"Um... It does seem sick."
"Should we barbecue it?"
"This one needs to be stewed to make the taste better."
"Let's do it!"
So, ten days later...
"Today, little Xiaoyan rarely comes. How come there are no cute spirit beasts around, only hitting trees on their own?"
A certain junior martial uncle secretly gestured, and the two sisters ran over and crashed into a big tree, instantly losing their lives, very fresh.
Seven days later...
"This one looks like it has heatstroke!"
Three days later...
"Wow, this one definitely has a demonic heart! Little Xiaoyan, don't you agree!"
"Um!" Qingxuanya nodded vigorously.
"You...can tell?" Little Linge called out somewhat nervously.
Again...and again...
Li Changshou stopped checking and rubbed his forehead.
This isn't good, I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
If I had come out of seclusion a year later, the entire spirit beast enclosure would have been eaten clean by those three female Qi Refiners!
"Blue Linge!"
The girl who was copying the Steadfast Scripture under a willow tree trembled, covering her eyes with her hands.
Oh no, the cat's out of the bag...
Linge heard a voice like a cold wind from the Nine Hells creeping into her ears from behind.
"Go, bring your sister Qingxuanya to this place. I have a few words to say to her."
"Ah...yes!" Linge's small hand trembled, holding up her skirt and flying hastily towards the direction of the Broken Sky Peak.