Chapter Summaries

Li Changshou arranged for Xiong Lingli to leave the Carefree Immortal Sect and join Du Xian Sect as a Registered Disciple of Ji Wuyou, then spent the following months keeping her close and teaching her to control her strength. As the Three Teachings gathering began, Chi Jingzi and two other Chan Teaching Golden Immortals arrived, only to spot a vast cloud crowded with figures and urgently call for reinforcements.

• Li Changshou persuaded Jiu Wu to help bring Xiong Lingli to Du Xian Sect, offering him two spirit pills in exchange.
• Jiu Wu and Venerable Wangqing convinced Ji Wuyou to accept Xiong Lingli as a Registered Disciple, transferring her from the Carefree Immortal Sect.
• Xiong Lingli stayed beside Li Changshou as he taught her to control her strength and assigned her books to read during the six-month wait.
• Chi Jingzi and two other Chan Teaching Golden Immortals arrived at the gathering venue as an immense cloud of figures approached from the southeast.
• The Chan Teaching arrivals took out Jade Talisman Messages and urgently called for reinforcements.

The Three Teachings Origin Conference gathered Chan, Jie, and Human Teaching immortals, who exchanged formal greetings and recounted their lineages before Yun Zhongzi opened the Minor Mountain and River Diagram for a contest among young disciples. Li Changshou tried to stay out of it, but Grand Master Xuandu’s mysterious prompting sent him and Xiong Lingli into the diagram.

• Guang Chengzi and Holy Mother Jinling greeted each other and led the Chan and Jie Teaching immortals in paying respects to their senior Saints.
• The sect leaders organized the gathering, and Daoist Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Fairy Qiongxiao, and Grand Master Xuandu arrived to join the conference.
• Guang Chengzi and Daoist Duobao recounted the Three Teachings’ origins, after which the immortal sects described their own lineages.
• Li Changshou nearly entered enlightenment while reflecting on the future, but stopped himself and continued listening.
• Yun Zhongzi opened the Minor Mountain and River Diagram for young disciples to compete, and Li Changshou tried to remain seated.
• Grand Master Xuandu prompted Li Changshou to enter, so Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli were drawn into the diagram, surprising Yun Zhongzi with their weight.

Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli entered the Minor Mountain and River Diagram, where Li Changshou chose to hide rather than seek out opponents. Grand Master Xuandu secretly watched and tried to force him into action, but Li Changshou stayed concealed even as Xiong Lingli defeated two demonic beasts; when more beasts arrived, Li Changshou ran.

• Yun Zhongzi displayed scenes from the Minor Mountain and River Diagram through six treasure pearls as the immortals watched the disciples inside.
• Grand Master Xuandu secretly observed Li Changshou, while Guang Chengzi and Daoist Duobao also watched Xuandu.
• Li Changshou hid in the diagram with Xiong Lingli and instructed her to avoid fighting while he searched for a concealed place.
• Grand Master Xuandu sent two demonic beasts toward Li Changshou's hiding place, and Li Changshou had Xiong Lingli smash them with boulders.
• When more demonic beasts charged toward the valley, Li Changshou called to Xiong Lingli and ran.

Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli hid from danger in the treasure map, where Li guided her through hunting demon birds and surviving staged encounters. Grand Master Xuandu tested Li’s temperament and, after judging him steady, sent him a cryptic prompting to display the Human Teaching’s might.

• Li Changshou moved Xiong Lingli to a riverside cave, then helped her hunt demon birds and roast their wings for food.
• Xiong Lingli killed the demon birds with earthen forks and drew wary attention from passing Qi Refiners.
• Grand Master Xuandu realized Li’s caution was unusually deep, investigated the Du Xian Sect’s past, and began a more extensive assessment of him.
• Following Li’s instructions, Xiong Lingli killed a demon beast empowered by a Lightning Hammer, accepted gifts from the rescued Jie Teaching disciples, and refined the hammer.
• Li avoided unwanted entanglements during Xuandu’s further tests while helping others when it cost him little, and Xuandu concluded that he was steady.
• Xuandu prompted Li to display the Human Teaching’s might, and Li emerged from a stream and bowed toward the sky, suspecting the Great Mage was behind it.

Li Changshou used Xiong Lingli and Youqin Xuanya to boost Human Teaching’s renown by having them swiftly defeat demon beasts across the treasure diagram. Grand Master Xuandu revealed that he had arranged the conference to draw Li Changshou toward Tushita Palace, then abandoned the plan after deciding not to force him; Li Changshou realized he had accidentally missed the opportunity, while Youqin Xuanya gained insight from the Great Mage’s departing Dao aura.

• Li Changshou suspected the Great Mage was directing him and recruited Xiong Lingli and Youqin Xuanya to make Human Teaching famous by defeating demon beasts.
• Xiong Lingli killed two demon beasts while Youqin Xuanya helped, and Li Changshou explained his plan to raise the sect’s renown through their partnership.
• Under Li Changshou’s guidance, Xiong Lingli and Youqin Xuanya swept through the treasure diagram, killed over a hundred demon beasts, and became known among the Qi Refiners.
• Grand Master Xuandu reflected on Li Changshou’s words, decided not to force him into Tushita Palace, and left him a message explaining his original plan and his changed mind.
• Li Changshou lamented that he had missed the chance to enter Tushita Palace, while Youqin Xuanya received a wisp of the Great Mage’s Dao aura and entered a moment of enlightenment.

After missing a chance to enter Tushita Palace, Li Changshou reaffirmed his plans and suppressed a sudden insight. Youqin Xuanya broke through into an immortal tribulation, and after using a Mage Birdcage to survive the seventh strike, she faced the final thunder phoenix.

• Li Changshou considered the risks of entering Tushita Palace, recommitted to his three main goals, and suppressed his new Dao insight.
• Youqin Xuanya began breaking through, so Li Changshou formed a protective array while Xiong Lingli warned nearby cultivators to keep away.
• Youqin Xuanya prepared for the tribulation with Li Changshou's pills and two Mage Birdcages as the immortals of the Three Teachings watched.
• After the seventh tribulation damaged her sword box and injured her Primordial Spirit, Youqin Xuanya hid inside a Mage Birdcage and used it to absorb the strike.
• Youqin Xuanya rose to face the eighth tribulation and charged at the thunder phoenix, calling out that she would wait for Li Changshou on the immortal path ahead.

Youqin Xuanya survived her tribulation with Li Changshou’s Mage Birdcage, ascended, and drew attention to the rare treasure. After the Three Teachings’ gathering ended, Li Changshou and Sect Master Ji Wuyou prepared to handle the people who would seek the birdcages.

• Li Changshou left Youqin Xuanya to ascend and instructed her to keep the Mage Birdcage’s origins and scarcity quiet, while she misread his concern as a reason to repay him with her life.
• Youqin Xuanya was taken from the treasure painting to Du Xian Sect’s seating area, where Ji Wuyou protected her as she entered enlightenment; Jiu Wu then warned Jiu Jiu about her feelings for Li Changshou.
• When Golden Immortals asked about the Mage Birdcage, Jiu Wu claimed it had been left to Li Changshou by a deceased sect elder, and Ji Wuyou announced that Du Xian Sect had no way to make more.
• Dozens of Three Teachings Lineages sought information about the birdcage, prompting Ji Wuyou to post a notice that only two ancient cages remained and that the sect had no refinement method.
• After Yun Zhongzi returned the disciples from the treasure painting, Ji Wuyou told Li Changshou to insist that only two birdcages remained and to act on his cues when visitors came to stir up trouble.

After the Three Teachings gathering, Li Changshou refused to let the Human Teaching sect masters take the Mage Birdcage, and Yun Zhongzi helped convince them it could not be replicated. Li Changshou destroyed two cages to end their interest, received compensation, and then sensed Zhao Gongming arriving at the Sea God Temple with a young girl.

• Xiong Lingli noted that the senior immortals had left, while Li Changshou considered avoiding Youqin Xuanya to reduce future entanglements.
• The Human Teaching sect masters asked Li Changshou to show them the Mage Birdcage, but he warned that sharing it could bring dangerous karma.
• Yun Zhongzi arrived, examined the Mage Birdcage in a treasure bottle, declared it impossible to replicate, and gave Li Changshou a jade talisman and other gifts.
• Li Changshou destroyed two Mage Birdcages, prompting the sect masters to apologize and give him compensation, including treasures that could protect the Primordial Spirit during heavenly tribulation.
• Li Changshou sensed Zhao Gongming entering the South Sea Sea God Temple with a young girl and promising to teach her a method for beating people without consequence.

Zhao Gongming brought Qiongxiao to the Sea God Temple to ask Li Changshou for new ways to use his crash-scam tactic. After Qiongxiao helped devise a partner-assisted version, the siblings left to test it on Dong Mugong.

• Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao visited the Sea God Temple, where Li Changshou met them through his incarnation.
• Zhao Gongming explained how he had used Li Changshou's crash-scam method against Western Teachings disciples, and Qiongxiao apologized for suspecting Li Changshou of inciting him.
• Zhao Gongming demonstrated the scam, and Qiongxiao devised a coordinated version in which she would pose as a witness and threaten the target with a great matter.
• Li Changshou asked Zhao Gongming not to credit him with the scheme, while Zhao Gongming praised Qiongxiao's improvement.
• After leaving the temple, Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao spotted Dong Mugong and secretly pursued him to test their new approach.

Li Changshou worried that Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao’s reckless actions could disrupt the coming Investiture of the Gods and complicate his plans for the Dragon Clan’s entry into the Heavenly Court. After Dong Mugong delivered the Jade Emperor’s decree and described a baffling encounter with two disguised experts, Grand Master Xuandu sensed a new matter involving Human Teaching and decided to summon Li Changshou.

• Li Changshou reflected on the danger Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiao Sisters posed to the Three Teachings, then accepted Yun Zhongzi’s treasures and continued waiting for the Three Teachings Origin Conference to end.
• Li Changshou and Jiu Wu discussed Dao companions while Xiong Lingli meditated nearby and fell asleep again.
• Dong Mugong delivered the Jade Emperor’s decree, which praised Li Changshou and entrusted him with handling the Dragon Clan’s rise to the Heavenly Court.
• Li Changshou learned that two disguised experts had frightened Dong Mugong into silence under a Great Dao Oath, then sent him back to Heaven with gifts.
• Grand Master Xuandu visited Matchmaker to apologize for his past requests, sensed a new matter involving Human Teaching, and decided to call Li Changshou over.

Grand Master Xuandu brought Li Changshou to an undersea city where Ao Yi was caught in a rebellion's trap, then urged Li Changshou to rescue him. Li Changshou secured Xuandu's promise to guard him during his Golden Immortal Tribulation and sent four Paper Daoists into the city, leaving Xuandu to realize he had been maneuvered into making the promise.

• Li Changshou confirmed Grand Master Xuandu's identity, arranged to leave the assembly grounds, and met him in a secluded forest.
• Xuandu took Li Changshou to a Sea Clan city and explained that they should dismantle the Western Sect's schemes without offending its Saints.
• Ao Yi arrived in the city, was betrayed by his Dragon Clan escort, and became trapped when the rebellion erupted.
• Xuandu told Li Changshou to save Ao Yi, and Li Changshou bargained for Xuandu to guard him during his Golden Immortal Tribulation.
• Li Changshou sent four Paper Daoists into the city, and Xuandu realized Li Changshou had secured his promise by making the rescue unavoidable.

The author explained Li Changshou’s strategy in the previous chapter, then shared a year-end reflection on the success of Senior Brother and thanked readers for their support. The author promised to keep updating through the Lunar New Year.

• The author explained that Li Changshou had pretended to be reluctant and cautious so the Great Mage would see him as someone unlikely to cause trouble, while also securing the Great Mage’s protection during his Golden Immortal Tribulation.
• The author described Senior Brother’s rise in rankings and subscriptions, and thanked readers for making the novel a success.
• The author reflected on the challenges of writing full-time and said readers’ support had helped them persist.
• The author asked readers to support Senior Brother with monthly tickets to help maintain its exposure.
• The author said they would not return to their hometown or take a break for the Lunar New Year, and would keep updating.

Li Changshou used his Paper Daoist Incarnations and poison to repeatedly rescue Ao Yi from the Sea Clan rebels while keeping the Jade Emperor’s involvement ambiguous. When a rebel Golden Immortal broke through toward Ao Yi, Grand Master Xuandu lent Li Changshou the Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda and sent him to face the attacker.

• Li Changshou’s four Paper Daoist Incarnations ambushed the rebels surrounding Ao Yi, poisoned them, burned their bodies, and performed rites for the dead before retreating to hide.
• The Paper Daoist Incarnations rescued Ao Yi from a second rebel attack, but the rebels changed tactics after failing to capture him twice.
• A rebel Golden Immortal rushed toward Ao Yi while the dragon-headed elder was held back by other attackers, and Ao Yi rose to fight the stronger opponent.
• Grand Master Xuandu lent Li Changshou the protection of the Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda for half an hour and told him to test his strength against the unstable Golden Immortal.
• Li Changshou disguised himself, prepared his combat tools, and sent his Paper Daoist Incarnations to pin Ao Yi down and set up miniature arrays as he prepared to confront the attacker.

Li Changshou used the borrowed name Xuandu the Lesser Mage and an elaborate array of Paper Daoists, talismans, and spells to defeat a fake Golden Immortal attacking Ao Yi. The enemy survived the apparent killing blow, but Li Changshou destroyed his Blood Lotus and finished him off before returning to Grand Master Xuandu, lamenting the cost of the battle.

• Li Changshou asked Grand Master Xuandu to let him use his name, then posed as Xuandu the Lesser Mage to distract the fake Sea Clan Golden Immortal and reassure Ao Yi.
• Li Changshou sent out four Paper Daoists and attacked with miniature arrays, painted spells, and coordinated strikes, while the fake Golden Immortal resisted and exposed himself to a trap.
• Li Changshou's Paper Daoists bound the fake Golden Immortal, and their Samadhi True Fire burned him until he appeared dead.
• The fake Golden Immortal revived through the Blood Lotus and struck down a paper decoy, but Li Changshou stabbed him from behind with a Jade Flute and destroyed the Blood Lotus with poisoned attacks and Samadhi True Fire.
• Li Changshou left the Four Protectors to deal with the remains and returned to Grand Master Xuandu, counting the many treasures and resources he had spent.

Li Changshou helped Grand Master Xuandu repel the Sea Clan rebels and received a Jade Card bearing the Human Teaching’s authority, while the chaotic effects of his Heart Fire Burn pill spread through Merfolk Great City. The chapter ended with Ao Yi waking in an unfamiliar palace and noticing an unfamiliar woman.

• Daoist Wen Jing ordered her Sea Clan puppets to withdraw and wondered whether Li Changshou was connected to a powerful man she knew.
• Li Changshou explained Heart Fire Burn’s effects to Grand Master Xuandu, who praised his disguises and tactics.
• The Sea Clan rebels retreated, and Grand Master Xuandu gave Li Changshou a Jade Card bearing his title and Dao resonance.
• Grand Master Xuandu departed, then searched Human Teaching libraries for divine abilities to teach Li Changshou.
• Ao Yi woke in an unfamiliar palace and noticed an unfamiliar woman.

After Ao Yi told Li Changshou about his encounter with the Merfolk Princess, Li Changshou guided him toward accepting the marriage and subtly encouraged the Dragon Clan to seek the Heavenly Court’s protection. Back at the Three Teachings Origin Conference, Youqin Xuanya reached the early True Immortal Realm, and Li Changshou then sensed a mysterious force trying to draw him into a dream.

• Ao Yi contacted Li Changshou and confessed that he and the Merfolk Princess had become intimate after escaping an ambush.
• Li Changshou advised Ao Yi to take responsibility for the princess, and Ao Yi decided to bring her to the Dragon Palace and marry her.
• Li Changshou told Ao Yi that he had asked the Jade Emperor to protect the Dragon Clan, prompting Ao Yi to thank him and secretly plan to send him formation materials.
• Li Changshou considered whether Han Zhi was Han Zhi Xian and continued assessing the Western Teachings’ plans against the Dragon Clan.
• Youqin Xuanya completed her breakthrough into the early True Immortal Realm, and Li Changshou pretended to focus on his own cultivation to avoid her approaching him.
• Two days into Li Changshou’s feigned breakthrough, he sensed a mysterious Dao resonance trying to pull him into a dream.

Li Changshou met Matchmaker in a dream and realized the Great Mage’s gifts could help him advance the Heavenly Court’s ties with the Dragon Clan. He asked Matchmaker to secure Ao Yi’s marriage to the Mermaid Princess, then sent the Jade Emperor a proposal for Matchmaker to attend their wedding.

• Matchmaker told Li Changshou that the Great Mage had ordered him to stop arranging marriages for the Human Teachings Lineage and delivered cultivation methods and other gifts.
• Li Changshou asked Matchmaker to stabilize Ao Yi’s marriage to the Mermaid Princess, presenting the request as a favor for his friend.
• Li Changshou wrote a memorial asking the Jade Emperor to arrange for Matchmaker to congratulate Ao Yi and the Mermaid Princess at their wedding.
• Matchmaker inspected Ao Yi’s marriage ties, cut back his connection to Han Zhi, and tied a Concentric Knot between Ao Yi and the Mermaid Princess.

Li Changshou sent the Jade Emperor a second memorial through Dong Mugong and used Xiong Lingli to make Youqin Xuanya reconsider how her open admiration affected him. Meanwhile, Qiongxiao recruited Han Zhi to help Zhao Gongming stage a collision scam against a mysterious woman connected to the West.

• Li Changshou gave Dong Mugong the second memorial and advised him to remind the Jade Emperor that the Matchmaker should act prudently and not judge others by rank or lifespan.
• Li Changshou secretly guided Xiong Lingli to tell Youqin Xuanya that her attention could burden him, and Youqin Xuanya agreed to consider her words.
• Li Changshou noticed that Jiu Jiu had fallen asleep while using a barrier and an immortal rope to prevent her usual mishaps.
• Han Zhi, feeling unsettled after hearing that Ao Yi had found a Dao companion, encountered Qiongxiao and was taken to Zhao Gongming.
• Zhao Gongming showed Qiongxiao and Han Zhi a mysterious woman connected to the West, and Qiongxiao explained their plan to stage a collision scam and pressure the woman into settling privately.

Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao tricked Daoist Wen Jing into swearing a Great Dao Oath, leaving her humiliated and heading west. After receiving a vision and guidance from the Grand Pure Sage, Li Changshou flew south to intervene in a future event involving Daoist Wen Jing and the Twelve-petal Golden Lotus.

• Daoist Wen Jing stayed on her hidden island when Zhao Gongming approached, but he feigned an injury and accused her of ambushing him as Qiongxiao arrived.
• Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao compelled Daoist Wen Jing to swear a Great Dao Oath, and she left in disguise, bitterly resenting the Jie Teaching disciples.
• Li Changshou sensed an unexplained auspicious event, then received a vision from the Grand Pure Sage showing Daoist Wen Jing transforming from a Black-winged Blood Mosquito and feeding on the Twelve-petal Golden Lotus.
• Li Changshou understood that the Saint Lord wanted him to correct a disturbed future possibility and hurried south toward the sea.
• Li Changshou spotted Daoist Wen Jing flying west and called out to her as she passed nearby.

After Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao shook down Daoist Wen Jing, she became disillusioned and decided to leave the Primordial Wilderness. Li Changshou intercepted her in disguise and used his knowledge of her schemes to persuade her to go with him, leaving her wary and at his mercy.

• Daoist Wen Jing brooded over her humiliation by Zhao Gongming, Qiongxiao, and their accomplice, and considered abandoning the Primordial Wilderness.
• Li Changshou realized Daoist Wen Jing was genuinely disheartened and decided he had to stop her from leaving.
• Disguised as an old immortal, Li Changshou approached Daoist Wen Jing and introduced himself as the South Sea Sea God, inviting her to hear about his cult.
• When Daoist Wen Jing denied any connection to his cult, Li Changshou confronted her about inciting other cults to smash his statues and reminded her that he had kept her identity from Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao.
• Li Changshou hinted that he knew Daoist Wen Jing was a mosquito and warned her about large black mosquitoes near the Southern Sea; Daoist Wen Jing realized he had her trapped and agreed to speak elsewhere.