Chapter Summaries

After Grand Master Xuandu concealed the Heavenly Secrets and warned against harming mortals, Li Changshou planned to use the South Sea Sea God Cult to draw the Dragon Clan toward the Heavenly Court while keeping his identity hidden. Daoist Wen Jing turned her attention to Dragon Clan dissidents, Ao Yi returned to Golden Ao Island, and the Jade Emperor sent Dong Mugong to reward the Sea God and learn his name.

• Li Changshou reasoned that Grand Master Xuandu’s intervention strengthened his position with the Dragon Clan and deterred Daoist Wen Jing, then began planning how to bring the Dragon Clan into the Heavenly Court.
• Daoist Wen Jing mourned her losses, decided to avoid provoking the human race, and considered exploiting unrest among Dragon Clan flood dragon soldiers.
• Ao Yi reported to the Eastern Sea Dragon King, who praised him, ordered gifts sent to the South Sea Sea God Cult, and arranged for Ao Yi to return to Golden Ao Island.
• Dong Mugong reported the Blood-Winged Black Mosquito ambush to the Jade Emperor, who ordered him to take rewards to the South Sea Sea God Cult and find out the Sea God’s name and Daoist title.

Li Changshou received gifts from the Dragon Clan and rewards from the Jade Emperor, then adopted the Daoist title Chang Geng to preserve his mystery. During years of secluded cultivation, he prepared for the Dragon Clan’s eventual entry into the Heavenly Court, studied a Sage’s scripture and an incarnation technique, and advanced his cultivation; the chapter ended when Jiu Jiu noticed a disciple spying on Youqin Xuanya and Ling'e at play.

• Li Changshou sorted the Dragon Palace’s gifts, shared some with the Xiong Village Witch-Human Divine Emissaries, and reserved the rest for temple repairs and formations.
• Dong Mugong delivered the Jade Emperor’s reward, and Li Changshou gave him half before naming himself Daoist Chang Geng.
• Li Changshou transported useful treasures to Du Xian Sect, entered secluded cultivation, and warned Ao Yi that the Western Teachings still sought to tame dragons and that he should stay on Golden Ao Island.
• Li Changshou spent years preparing plans for the Dragon Clan, refining formation foundations, and studying the Classic of Supreme Clarity's Profound Content and the Dao He Yu incarnation technique.
• A patrolling disciple found Youqin Xuanya, Ling'e, and Jiu Jiu playing in the Spirit Beast Pen; Jiu Jiu spotted him, and the Fire Qilin Sword Casket was drawn.

Li Changshou learned that his grandmaster, Jiang Lin'er, had reached the Heavenly Immortal Realm and was returning to the sect, so he prepared Lesser Qiong Peak for her arrival. When she finally arrived, she discovered Qi Yuan had become a turbid immortal and demanded to know who had crippled him.

• Ling'e opened and copied a Jade Talisman Message in which Jiang Yu announced her breakthrough to the Heavenly Immortal Realm and her impending return.
• Li Changshou warned that Jiang Lin'er would need to be told about Qi Yuan and Wan Jiangyu, arranged for the matter to be reported, and asked Qi Yuan not to reveal anything about him.
• Li Changshou and Ling'e prepared a cottage for Jiang Lin'er while Qi Yuan, Jiu Jiu, Jiu Wu, and others waited at the sect gate.
• Jiang Lin'er arrived as a young, battle-scarred woman carrying a bloodied saber, and Qi Yuan knelt to greet her.
• Qi Yuan told Jiang Lin'er that someone had destroyed his Dao foundation, and she asked who had crippled him.

Jiang Lin'er returned to the sect and attacked Kuai Si's master over the fate of her missing eldest disciple, but Li Changshou persuaded her to stop before the conflict became irreversible. She then told Li Changshou she would soon leave again to search for his martial uncle and entrusted Qi Yuan's care to him.

• Jiang Lin'er ordered Qi Yuan to return to Lesser Qiong Peak and reflect, then gave Jade Rings to Li Changshou and Ling'e before entering the sect.
• Jiang Lin'er stormed Xianlin Peak and wounded Kuai Si's master, fighting off several Heavenly Immortals until Elder Wan Linjun restrained her and Venerable Wangqing intervened.
• Jiang Lin'er refused to settle the dispute until her eldest disciple's fate was known, but Li Changshou urged her to act cautiously, and she left for Lesser Qiong Peak.
• Jiang Lin'er questioned Qi Yuan about becoming a Turbid Immortal, then spoke privately with Li Changshou and said she would leave to search for his martial uncle.

Li Changshou told Jiang Lin'er that Wan Jiangyu had reincarnated and revealed how Daoist Kuai Si had died, prompting Jiang Lin'er to plan a search of the Netherworld. After accepting Li Changshou's pills, Jiang Lin'er stayed on Lesser Qiong Peak to reunite with Qi Yuan and the others, while Li Changshou kept watch for trouble from Xianlin Peak.

• Li Changshou told Jiang Lin'er that Wan Jiangyu had reincarnated after being injured while seeking medicine for Qi Yuan, and that Daoist Kuai Si had caused her death.
• Li Changshou described his supposed dream in which an impersonator poisoned Daoist Kuai Si, destroyed his Dao foundation, and killed him with a simulated Heavenly Tribulation.
• Jiang Lin'er resolved to find Wan Jiangyu's reincarnated body and accepted Li Changshou's pills before agreeing to remain on the mountain for ten days or half a month.
• Jiang Lin'er rejoined Qi Yuan, Ling'e, and the others, while Li Changshou concealed the details of their conversation from Qi Yuan.
• At the evening feast, Jiang Lin'er challenged Jiu Jiu to drink and then pinned her down to inspect her, while Li Changshou continued monitoring Xianlin Peak for further trouble.

During Jiang Lin'er's visit to Lesser Qiong Peak, Li Changshou supported his master and junior sister while keeping watch on Xianlin Peak, and he helped Ao Yi refine a military manual for the Dragon Clan. Jiang Lin'er prepared to leave the sect, but an unexpected guest arrived on the eve of her departure.

• Jiu Jiu, Jiu Wu, and Youqin Xuanya left Lesser Qiong Peak, leaving Jiang Lin'er with Qi Yuan, Li Changshou, and Ling'e.
• Jiang Lin'er learned that Qi Yuan had become a turbid immortal after taking a Melting Immortal Pill, then comforted him and played cards with the others.
• Li Changshou spent the next half month with his family while monitoring Xianlin Peak and considering how Jiang Lin'er's presence might affect its hostility.
• Ao Yi finished the Sea God's Military Records, presented its contents to Li Changshou in a dream, and received guidance before planning to offer it to his father king.
• Jiang Lin'er reported her impending departure to the Du Xian Sect, and Jiu Wu and Jiu Jiu joined her farewell feast.
• Venerable Wangqing arrived at Lesser Qiong Peak on the night before Jiang Lin'er's departure.

Li Changshou helped Jiang Lin'er prepare to leave Du Xian Sect to search for her eldest disciple Wan Jiangyu's reincarnated soul, while arranging protection and supplies for her. After Ao Yi delivered Li Changshou's secret letter and lavish gifts, he received a new message directing him to look at a woman at his temple entrance.

• Jiang Lin'er and Venerable Wangqing discussed their past, and he agreed to protect Lesser Qiong lineage and gave her a spirit treasure.
• Jiang Lin'er left Du Xian Sect with Li Changshou and Ling'e seeing her off, while Elder Wan Linjun gave her two pouches of Poison Pills.
• Jiang Lin'er traveled to the ends of heaven and corners of the earth East of the Eastern Sea to search for Wan Jiangyu's reincarnated soul.
• Ao Yi met Jiang Lin'er, delivered Li Changshou's letter, and gave her a storage treasure and an Eastern Sea Dragon Palace Proud Dragon Token that let her borrow three thousand troops.
• After Ao Yi returned to his statue, Li Changshou's divine sense told him to look at the woman at the temple entrance.

Li Changshou met Zhao Gongming, who had come to ask how the Sea God Cult grew so quickly, and then encountered a Western Teachings disciple who claimed he had ties to their sect. Li Changshou destroyed his Paper Daoist incarnation to reject the claim and avoid being drawn into a conflict between the Western Teachings and the Jie Teaching.

• Li Changshou sent a Paper Daoist incarnation to meet the disguised woman while Ao Yi secretly watched.
• The woman revealed himself as Zhao Gongming and asked Li Changshou how he had grown the Sea God Cult; Li Changshou answered that he treated his followers with sincerity.
• Zhao Gongming accepted Li Changshou's answer, gave him a folding fan, and departed.
• Ao Yi identified the visitor as Zhao Gongming, and Li Changshou hurried after him to return the fan.
• A hunchbacked Daoist from the Western Teachings appeared and began to claim that Li Changshou had affinity with their sect.
• Li Changshou rejected the claim and detonated his Paper Daoist incarnation to sever the connection.

Li Changshou’s Paper Daoist self-destructed to escape a Western Teachings disciple, prompting Zhao Gongming to beat and capture the hunchbacked Daoist. As Zhao Gongming brought the captive to the Sea God Temple and demanded an apology, Li Changshou tried to prevent the incident from escalating and began proposing countermeasures.

• The hunchbacked Daoist watched Li Changshou’s incarnation explode, then found Zhao Gongming sealing the surrounding cosmos with the Twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.
• Zhao Gongming accused the hunchbacked Daoist of insulting the Daoist Sect and battered him with his golden wooden whip until he could no longer resist.
• Li Changshou reflected on his recent carelessness and worried that Zhao Gongming’s actions would bring the Western Teachings’ retaliation upon him.
• Zhao Gongming suppressed the captive with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, carried him to the Sea God Temple, and demanded that he apologize to the Sea God.
• Li Changshou warned Zhao Gongming that continuing could provoke conflict between the Western Teachings and Jie Teaching, then offered to suggest countermeasures.

Li Changshou devised a scheme for Zhao Gongming to turn the hunchbacked Western disciple’s attack into leverage and protect the Sea God Cult. Zhao Gongming secured a detailed Great Dao Oath from the disciple, binding him not to trouble the Jie Teaching, Dragon Clan, or Sea God Cult again.

• Li Changshou assessed the risks of Zhao Gongming’s fight with the hunchbacked Daoist and secretly instructed Zhao Gongming on a plan.
• Zhao Gongming pretended to be grievously injured and accused the hunchbacked Daoist of harming him and Li Changshou’s incarnation.
• The hunchbacked Daoist struck and injured himself, but Zhao Gongming used an Image Recording Orb to capture the act and restrained him with the Twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.
• Zhao Gongming offered the hunchbacked Daoist a choice between settling privately with a Great Dao Oath or having the recording shown to powerful figures and sects.
• An elder from the South Sea Dragon Palace delivered Li Changshou’s detailed oath, and the hunchbacked Daoist swore not to trouble the Jie Teaching, Dragon Clan, or Sea God Cult.

Li Changshou and Zhao Gongming dealt with the Western Teachings’ scheme at the Sea God temple, then Li Changshou spent years revising his plans for the Dragon Clan’s entry into the Heavenly Court. After emerging from seclusion, he began teaching Ling'e combat and cleanup techniques, while Zhao Gongming prepared to use the same trick against another target.

• Zhao Gongming befriended Li Changshou, accepted the Sea God Cult Doctrine, and gave him a Chaos Spirit Stone as thanks.
• Li Changshou assessed how Zhao Gongming’s intervention affected the Dragon Clan and the Western Teachings, then instructed Ao Yi to cultivate Zhao Gongming’s goodwill.
• Li Changshou returned to Lesser Qiong Peak, spent years in seclusion revising his plans, and emerged with his displayed cultivation raised by one level.
• Li Changshou told Ling'e to study combat techniques and methods for ending karmic entanglements after battle.
• Zhao Gongming suppressed a battered old Daoist with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and staged an accusation to lure him toward Spirit Mountain.

Li Changshou taught Ling'e and Jiu Jiu Lesser Qiong Peak’s cautious methods for avoiding karma and handling enemies, then reflected on Jiang Lin’er’s news and the Dragon Clan’s troubles. As rumors spread that the Three Teachings Origin Conference would begin early, he started preparing a plan to avoid attending.

• Li Changshou gave Ling'e a lesson on acting cautiously, severing karma, and dealing with enemies, while Jiu Jiu listened and joined in.
• Li Changshou taught Ling'e and Jiu Jiu how to dispose of corpses and souls, giving them Soul-Capturing Beads and explaining several scriptures and mantras.
• Li Changshou received Jiang Lin’er's letter saying she had traced Wan Jiangyu's reincarnation to a tree spirit nearing the end of its life and planned to wait for the next reincarnation.
• Li Changshou continued monitoring the Dragon Clan’s troubles and waited for feedback on his answers to the Jade Emperor’s questions through Dong Mugong.
• Rumors spread that the Three Teachings Origin Conference would begin early, and Li Changshou began preparing a plan to avoid it.

Li Changshou feigned a serious cultivation injury to avoid attending the Three Teachings Origin Conference, but Youqin Xuanya and Jiu Jiu drew powerful elders and the sect master into examining him. The sect appointed him and Youqin Xuanya joint leaders, and he learned the conference was still twelve years away.

• Li Changshou staged a Primordial Spirit injury, and Jiu Wu, Old Daoist Qi Yuan, and Wan Linjun examined him and advised him to rest for years.
• Youqin Xuanya visited, mistook his injury for proof of his devotion to the sect, and promised to carry out his expectations at the conference.
• Jiu Jiu brought Elder Qi Ling to examine Li Changshou, so Li Changshou deliberately injured his Primordial Spirit to make his feigned illness convincing.
• Sect Master Ji Wuyou visited after Youqin Xuanya returned, and Li Changshou successfully maintained his disguise.
• The next day, Jiu Wu and Youqin Xuanya told Li Changshou that he and Youqin Xuanya had been appointed joint leaders for the conference, which would take place twelve years later.

Li Changshou weighed whether to attend the Three Teachings Origin Conference while secretly improving his Paper Daoists and seeking guidance from the Saint. After receiving a cryptic admonition to proceed steadily, he decided on his course, while the chapter ended with a new scene introducing the powerful but accident-prone Lingli.

• Li Changshou realized Du Xian Sect had summoned its disciples twelve years before the conference and spent three years pretending to recover while refining his plans.
• Li Changshou developed a new Paper Daoist that could disguise its aura and fight at the initial Heavenly Immortal level, though it could not replenish its immortal power.
• Li Changshou visited Elder Wan Linjun and Elder Qi Ling to test whether they could see through his disguise, and neither detected it.
• Li Changshou offered incense before the Portrait of a Saint and received the words “Still, heart, non-action. Begin, one, steady, end,” which he recognized as the Saint's Admonishment.
• Grand Master Xuandu revealed that the insight had been transmitted through the Great Dao, and an old Heavenly Immortal in the Carefree Immortal Sect visited his disciple Lingli.
• Lingli excitedly greeted the old Daoist, accidentally sending her Long Staff flying toward his face.

Grand Master Xuandu discovered Zhao Gongming was using staged injuries and recorded evidence to extort Western Teachings experts, then learned that Li Changshou had introduced him to the scheme. Xuandu decided to recruit Li Changshou into Human Teachings proper and agreed to attend the Three Teachings Origin Conference, while Li Changshou prepared meticulously for the event.

• Grand Master Xuandu investigated Zhao Gongming's recent clashes with Western Teachings and watched him fake an injury, provoke his opponent, record the encounter, and demand a private settlement or public exposure.
• Grand Master Xuandu asked Zhao Gongming whether he had met the South Sea Sea God, learned that Li Changshou was involved, and resolved to make Li Changshou his junior brother.
• When Zhao Gongming asked whether Xuandu would attend the Three Teachings Origin Conference, Xuandu changed his answer and agreed to go.
• Li Changshou questioned why he had to attend, accepted that the Saint Lord must have a reason, and prepared Paper Daoists, treasures, poisons, arrays, and other safeguards.
• Li Changshou consolidated his cultivation, considered but rejected sending a weaker Paper Daoist in his place, and prepared intelligence materials and a conduct handbook for the Du Xian Sect delegation.

Li Changshou prepared with the Du Xian Sect disciples for the Three Teachings Origin Conference, while Ling'e chose to stay behind and entrusted Jiu Jiu with looking after her brother. On Golden Ao Island, Great Immortal Wuyun sent Ao Yi to the conference and gave him a jade turtle shell for contacting his master.

• Li Changshou attended the disciples' gathering, where Youqin Xuanya checked their copied Disciple's Rules and Elder Ge reviewed preparations for the conference.
• Ling'e refused an invitation to travel to the Central Divine Continent and asked Jiu Jiu not to tease Li Changshou when they were away.
• Great Immortal Wuyun told Ao Yi to attend the conference, gave him a jade turtle shell for contacting him, and helped him advance through a burst of instruction.
• Ao Yi entered the treasure pool to cultivate, and Zhao Gongming later hurried toward Golden Ao Island.

Li Changshou learned that the Jie Teaching planned to send hundreds of immortals to the Three Teachings Origin Conference, then departed with the Du Xian Sect while preparing for trouble and drafting a memorial urging the Jade Emperor to bring the Dragon Clan into the Heavenly Court. He left the memorial unfinished when Dong Mugong appeared and handled Wang Qi’s request by giving him Poison Dragon Wine.

• Li Changshou asked Ao Yi about the Dragon Clan and learned that Zhao Gongming had encouraged hundreds of Jie Teaching immortals, including six of the Ten Heavenly Lords, to attend the conference.
• Li Changshou bid farewell to Old Daoist Qi Yuan and Ling'e, then boarded the Du Xian Sect’s treasure ship with Sect Master Ji Wuyou and the other travelers.
• After the ship departed, Li Changshou monitored its passengers and his Paper Daoists, then began drafting a memorial proposing that the Dragon Clan serve the Heavenly Court.
• Youqin Xuanya, Wang Qi, and Liu Yan'er visited Li Changshou, and Wang Qi asked him for a pill on behalf of an acquaintance.
• When Dong Mugong appeared at the Sea God Temple, Li Changshou gave Wang Qi two jars of Poison Dragon Wine and advised him to use it only after returning.

Jade Emperor Haotian accepted Li Changshou’s plan to subdue the Dragon Clan and settle the Four Seas, and the Heavenly Dao rewarded Changshou with merit that he refined into protection for his Primordial Spirit. On the journey to the Central Divine Continent, Wang Qi drank Poison Dragon Wine, and Sect Master Ji Wuyou arranged for him to be alone with his Dao companion before asking Changshou about Grand Master Xuandu.

• Dong Mugong presented Li Changshou’s memorial, and Jade Emperor Haotian praised its plan to pacify the Four Seas and ordered officials to follow a new memorial format.
• Haotian sent Dong Mugong to deliver spirit herbs and precious medicine to Tushita Palace, while Heavenly Dao Merit descended upon Li Changshou aboard the Treasure Ship.
• Li Changshou refined the merit into a protective vest for his Primordial Spirit and considered how to keep future merit payments from revealing his identity.
• Wang Qi admitted that he had drunk Poison Dragon Wine, so Li Changshou advised him to seek help from Sect Master Ji Wuyou.
• Ji Wuyou summoned Liu Yan’er, sealed them inside a suite, and took Poison Dragon Wine and Ambition Pills from Li Changshou for his old friends.
• Ji Wuyou told Li Changshou that he and Youqin Xuanya would follow him to meet experts of the Three Teachings, then asked about Grand Master Xuandu.

Li Changshou arrived at the Three Teachings Origin Conference with Du Xian Sect and cautiously assessed the venue and its guests. He recognized the disguised Sea God Lingli just as she began to call out to him, and silenced her by pushing her face into the grass.

• Wuyou Daoist told Li Changshou that Grand Master Xuandu knew his name, while Li Changshou considered how to influence the conference without exposing himself.
• Du Xian Sect’s Treasure Ship traveled for twenty-one days to the conference, where Carefree Immortal Sect greeted the party and guided them to their lakeside seating area.
• Youqin Xuanya drew her Greatsword and planted it inches from Cao Zhi’s toes when he approached her, causing him to retreat.
• Li Changshou found that the venue blocked his Wind Whisper Spell and inspected the surroundings using his immortal consciousness.
• Li Changshou recognized the burly Carefree Immortal Sect disciple as Sea God Lingli and stopped her from calling out by pressing her face into the grass.

Li Changshou unexpectedly reunited with Xiong Lingli at the sect gathering and concealed that he was the Sea God by claiming to be her cousin. As Xiong Lingli recounted how her immense strength had driven away several masters, Li Changshou asked Jiu Wu whether he needed a disciple.

• Li Changshou stopped Xiong Lingli from revealing his Sea God identity and persuaded her to call him Cousin.
• Xiong Lingli told Li Changshou that her parents had sent her away to find a master, and she eagerly stayed with him to catch up.
• Li Changshou learned that Xiong Lingli had accidentally injured her master, and her Carefree Immortal Sect companions confirmed she had been punished.
• Xiong Lingli recounted being expelled from an earlier sect after eating its guardian spirit beast and injuring successive masters with her strength.
• Li Changshou secretly asked Jiu Wu whether he needed a disciple, and Jiu Wu paled at the suggestion.