Chapter 107 Suddenly, The Dragon Becomes Lame
Brother Changshou? Ao Yi immediately looked around but could not find Li Changshou.
He looked at the stone statue in front of him and felt even more shocked.
Could it be that Brother Changshou had already started to walk the path of becoming a G.o.d before he became an immortal? Could it be that the statue of him is sending voice transmissions to me?!
However, Li Changshou chuckled as he spoke, as if he had seen through Ao Yi’s thoughts…
“Brother Yi, there’s no need for you to say anything for now. The cause and effect of this matter are complicated, and it’s difficult to explain it in a short time. I’m right here, right now. The statue’s sudden manifestation is just a trick. The last time we talked, I learned that you’re very worried about the current predicament of the Dragon race. Recently, I have also thought of a few countermeasures for you, Brother Yi. If you trust me, please let these Immortal Flood Dragon troops of the South Ocean Dragon Palace retreat temporarily. Brother Yi, please wait here for a while. After I perform this ceremony, I will meet you again. Is that okay, Brother Yi?”
Ao Yi’s expression changed slightly, and he nodded calmly.
He was about to leave in the air when he heard Li Changshou’s voice. “There’s something I need your help with…”
Blah blah blah…
Li Changshou transmitted a few words and Ao Yi quickly nodded.
Ao Yi shouted softly, but a dragon’s roar sounded in the sky!
In an instant, rays of light filled the air, and clouds appeared!
Ao Yi revealed his thousand-feet long body and pointed at the Sea G.o.d statue’s dragon head. His slender body swayed gently and flew into the sky. The scene was spectacular.
The burly men from Xiong Village and the devotees below were stunned…
The azure dragon hovered in the sky before it slowly flew back to the front of the Immortal Flood Dragon troops and transformed into an elegant young man. “Second Brother!”
Ao Mou rolled up his sleeves and immediately came forward.
“Second Brother, I’ve already sent people back to dispatch the troops. Today, we will destroy the South Ocean Sea G.o.d Sect! We’ll smash all the South Ocean Sea G.o.d Temples here!”
“No.” Ao Yi frowned. “I’ll deal with this matter. Bring the troops back to the surface of the sea. Do not harm mortals and increase our negative karma.”
Ao Mou frowned. “Second Brother, we…”
He leaned closer to Ao Yi and muttered, “Isn’t it embarra.s.sing for us to be acting like this?”
“Is pride more important than our lives?”
Ao Yi said calmly, “We must try not to offend Ren[1]. I’m not referring to living beings.” “Not a living being? You mean… the Ren School!?!”
Ao Mou was enlightened. He glared at the Sea G.o.d statue. “Second Brother, this is!”
“Don’t say anything else. Let’s go first. I will handle this matter properly.”
Ao Yi raised his hand and patted Ao Mou’s arm. “If there’s a chance later, I will introduce a wonderful person to you.”
Ao Mou understood and smiled.
“I understand. Second Brother, go ahead and get busy here.
I will explain to Fairy Han Zhi that you have something important to do here.
Later, I’ll bring along a wonderful person… No, I’ll bring two!” After saying that, Ao Mou winked and laughed loudly. With a wave of his sleeve, he commanded the troops to retreat.
The Immortal Flood Dragon troops took care of the wounded. The black cloud immediately flew towards the South Sea.
Ao Yi rode a cloud and flew to a nearby mountain forest. He did not pay much attention to the mortals’ kowtows and gazes.
Although Ao Yi could sense that something had gone wrong with his conversation with Ao Mou, he could not be bothered with such trivial matters.
Ao Yi was very interested in the two sentences Li Changshou mentioned. “The current predicament of the Dragon race.”
“I did not establish the Sea G.o.d Sect.”
The first sentence made it impossible for Ao Yi to leave the place. He wanted to ask Li Changshou about the matter and see if Li Changshou could give him some inspiration.
The second sentence made Ao Yi’s thoughts run wild…
If the Sea G.o.d Sect was not established by Brother Changshou, who else could it be?
Ao Yi had long known that the Dao Sect, the Western Sect, the Great Sect, the Great Immortal Sect, and the various experts had been plotting the matter regarding incense for a long time. On the way here, Ao Yi had heard from the Immortal Turtle that the South Ocean Sea G.o.d Sect had developed to a considerable scale in just a few years. It was indeed rare…
Could it be that someone is behind this?
But why must Brother Changshou appear?
In the forest, Ao Yi fell into deep thought. He also observed the situation of the manifestation of the Sea G.o.d.
At that moment, Ao Yi did not know that he had fallen into the “trap” that Li Changshou had thrown out.
If he wanted to deceive someone…
It was not too accurate to say that he was “bluffing”. After all, Li Changshou was a proper disciple of a Daoist sect. He was upright and innocent. Besides the fact that he was hiding some trump cards, he was not a bad person.
To be precise, it should be:
“If you want to abduct someone, what are you going to do first?”
The first step was to first make that person interested in what he was going to say so that he could make the other party stay, which was the beginning of everything.
Li Changshou had already begun the second step. He was giving Ao Yi some hints and giving him enough s.p.a.ce to imagine. He wanted Ao Yi to think about it.
Later, Li Changshou would follow Ao Yi’s reaction and choose the subsequent steps… According to Li Changshou, it was on par with the “Steadiness Sutra”. It was one of the teaching books used by his junior sister Ling’e. It could be described as the content of “Volume Of Tricks” of the three cla.s.sics of “Stabilizing Little Qiong Peak”.
The third step could be to play hard to get. It could be to advance by retreating, or it could also be to gain momentum…
In short, Ao Yi chose to stay there and had already entered a quagmire.
Li Changshou calculated that his chances of surviving this tribulation had increased by another twenty-three points!
After stabilizing Ao Yi, it was time to tidy up Xiong Village.
The statue emitted an immortal glow from the sky and slowly landed on the ground. Be it the burly man from the Xiong Village or the disciples, they kept kowtowing.
A phantom image flew out of the statue. Its face was blurry, and its figure seemed to be formed from light.
It was actually Li Changshou’s little trump card, the Flying Feather Subst.i.tution Technique that he used when he was escaping. However, in an instant, he made three fake bodies that were identical to his.
The fake body was formed from immortal power, but it could be condensed within the stone statue.
However, Li Changshou did not expect to use that escape technique there…
However, it was fine. Li Changshou had a few complete escape techniques.
“The escape technique is only the basics. These ‘small tricks’ that can be changed at random are actually equally important.” The fake body spoke slowly, and its voice spread throughout the wilderness. The tens of thousands of mortals fell silent, kneeling on the ground and listening quietly.
“I have manifested my True Spirit and created a good fortune for everyone. Please be thrifty, friendly, and protective of the old and the young. Do not be afraid of hards.h.i.+p and you will gain happiness. Today, I will teach the teachings of the Sea G.o.d Sect. All of you must remember this. Be a good person and follow heaven and earth…”
Li Changshou then summarized the teachings of the Sea G.o.d Sect that he had heard over the past few days. He used three simple sentences and mixed in some of his own Steadiness Sutra…
While the paper effigy that was hiding under the statue was reciting the sutra, the other paper effigy had already returned. Li Changshou secretly observed the reaction of the people from Xiong Village. He discovered that most of the burly men were kneeling on the ground in awe.
However, the old village chief and a few Divine Envoys had complicated expressions on their faces. They knelt there, looking confused.
What? There really is a Sea G.o.d?
“Hmph!”
The few of them suddenly heard a cold snort, followed by the voice transmission of Li Changshou’s other paper effigy. Li Changshou said, “When I was patrolling the ocean, I was picked up by you from the undersea carriage. You saw my face. You know that I am the Sea G.o.d and even built a temple for me in the South Ocean. Why? Why are you all kneeling and not bowing when I personally appear?”
The old village chief frowned. Just as he was about to signal to them, he kowtowed for the time being…
The few Divine Envoys at the side suddenly rolled their eyes and slowly lay down on the ground.
The old village chief was shocked.
Li Changshou’s voice entered the old village chief’s ears. “I will punish them by taking their souls for a few days. They will wake up a few days later. When the time comes, you can ask them if they remember anything.”
In fact, it was just some Soft Immortal Disperser. Li Changshou had increased the dosage.
The old village chief s.h.i.+vered a few times, and his Adam’s apple trembled. Li Changshou’s voice transmission kept entering his ears like a demonic voice…
“Do you really think that I can’t do anything to you just because you have the bloodline of the witches? However, because I have an old relations.h.i.+p with your ancestors, I did not care about you using my name to earn money.”
“Did your ancestors warn you not to go out and hide in that corner? Is there a precept that tells you not to marry women from outside the village? And that women can choose husbands but not marry outsiders? Is there a special instruction for each generation’s leader to not cause trouble? What have you done all these years?”
The old village chief broke out in cold sweat, and his body trembled even more violently. His pupils were starting to turn gla.s.sy.
The Sea G.o.d was real, really…
Every question felt like a heavy burden weighing down on the old village chief’s back. It kept him suppressed and lowered.
That voice appeared in his heart again.
“Does your Xiong Village still want to continue existing?
“If you guys don’t want to, I’ll get rid of you guys, lest you tarnish your ancestors’ reputation.”
“We do, we do!”
The old village chief hurriedly shouted and looked up at the statue. However, he happened to see the image of the statue explaining the scriptures.
The latter lowered his eyes and head.
At that moment, the statue seemed to come to life. Its eyes were filled with coldness.
The old village chief was ultimately just a “mortal”. At that moment, the defense in his heart had completely collapsed. He lay on the ground, kowtowing, and crying… “Sea G.o.d, please punish me, just punish me! I am greedy, I am greedy! I came up with this idea. The people in our village merely listened to me!”
“If that’s the case, your soul will be punished for a few days.”
Li Changshou snorted again. A wisp of incapacitating agent entered the old village chief’s nose. The old man immediately fell to the ground.
It just so happened that the “Sea G.o.d”, who had just finished teaching, slowly dissipated on the statue.
A voice transmission entered the hearts of the other villagers of Xiong Village.
“The celebrations will continue. Maintain the order here. Do not let anyone get hurt.
The High Priest has been greedy for money for a long time, but he did not make a huge mistake. I will punish him a little today and bring his soul back to receive punishment. He will wake up in a few days. Since you respect me as the Sea G.o.d, you will also be given the t.i.tle of living beings and understand the logic of foolishness in the future. Don’t do anything dirty and undeserving, shoulder the responsibility of a Divine Envoy, and protect the devotees!”
As the voice fell, the light on the statue dissipated at the same time…
The group of burly men from Xiong Village trembled. They looked at the High Priest and the Divine Envoy who were lying on the ground under the statue’s feet and did not dare to go forward to support them.
As expected, the village chief was too greedy. He had been punished by the Sea G.o.d…
Many devotees cheered when they saw that.
The Sea G.o.d Ceremony continued. The devotees were excited. They took turns to offer incense and pray for the Sea G.o.d. Li Changshou counted with his fingers. His merit from incense offerings… were surging.
Ao Yi sat cross-legged in the open s.p.a.ce in the forest and pondered silently. He had just heard the teachings of the Sea G.o.d Sect and felt a little admiration for his Brother Changshou.
Not far away, more than a hundred thousand humans continued to celebrate. Ao Yi stared at the rising clouds of merit, his eyes filled with envy.
Once upon a time, the dragon race had been like that too…
“Brother Yi?”
A human voice came from the side. Ao Yi hurriedly stood up and looked over. He saw a middle-aged Daoist walking over.
The Daoist priest smiled and recited the poem that the two of them had read the last time they met. Ao Yi also saw that he was using an illusion technique on him, and he immediately understood something.
Ao Yi carefully sensed that the Daoist was at the eighth-stage of the Void Return realm. His ident.i.ty was confirmed.
He was Li Changshou, a disciple of the Ren School.
Li Changshou bowed and said, “I’ve embarra.s.sed myself, Brother Yi.”
“Brother Changshou, you’re too kind.” Ao Yi cupped his fists and bowed as he strolled along with Li Changshou.
Li Changshou had already observed Ao Yi’s reaction and came to a conclusion. He knew which “Third Step” he should choose next.
Li Changshou looked at Ao Yi and set up a simple soundproof barrier around them. He said seriously, “Brother Yi, what do you think of the South Ocean Sea G.o.d Sect?”
Ao Yi nodded slowly and said, “The people of the sect do good deeds. They are not simply plundering the incense. They are extraordinarily meaningful.”
Li Changshou smiled as if he had expected his reply.
Ao Yi could not help but lower his voice and ask softly, “Brother Changshou, can you tell me everything? Is the South Ocean Sea G.o.d
Sect…”
Li Changshou immediately shook his head and pointed upwards. Then, he pointed at his mouth, followed by the ground.
Ao Yi did not seem to understand. In a daze, he suddenly understood something.
As I expected, Brother Changshou was merely coerced into this. The experts of the Ren School are the ones collecting incense offerings.
Li Changshou smiled again and sighed. “Those Divine Envoys caused some damage to the Immortal troops of the Dragon Palace. I’m really sorry.”
Ao Yi was stunned. Then, he thought of something
It’s not just the experts of the Ren School. There are also the plots of the witches!
A certain Sea G.o.d: We did not say anything.
Ao Yi smiled and said, “Don’t worry. It’s just a small matter. I’ll just give them instructions later.”
Ao Yi raised his head and looked at Li Changshou, who was beside him. He felt emotional.
“Brother Changshou asked me just now. Do you know how tired the dragon race is? How much do you know?”
Li Changshou sighed.
“There are no external problems, but there are ancient disasters. It is hard to survive in a drunken state. Brother Yi, I roughly know what you have done, but it’s very difficult to turn the situation around with just you alone.”
Li Changshou paused and secretly observed Ao Yi’s eyes.
Just now, he had used a series of trickery methods, such as “Deliberate Blank”, “Hint”, “Let your imagination run wild”, and “Fall into the trap, step by step”…
However, the highest realm of tricking would be staying silent and making the other party make the request one wanted.
In that case, karma could be transferred.
In the end, Ao Yi might even be grateful to him and say, “Thank you for your advice, Brother Changshou.”
[1] Human in Mandarin