“Related to the debate with the Golden Ao Island cultivators.”
After pondering for a while, he extended more arrows from each point, listing every possible line of development he could think of. He then analyzed them one by one…
This time, not even the smallest possibility could be overlooked.
“There’s not much to go on yet,” he muttered.
All he knew was that the person plotting against Du Xian Sect had powerful techniques, including the ability to control Celestial and True Immortal cultivators, and could instantly destroy them if needed.
The motives likely included:
- A grudge against Du Xian Sect
- A desire to seize the sect’s resources
But one motive stood out as the most likely, which Li Changshou circled several times:
“To disrupt the Tri-Sect Conference and sow discord between the Three Teachings.”
He examined everything from its origin to the possible outcomes, carefully checking every logical thread.
With his immortal sense covering the entire Xiao Qiong Peak, Li Changshou scribbled furiously. The charcoal pencil in his hand grew shorter and shorter.
Three full days passed.
At last, he let out a long sigh and sat at his desk deep in the underground chamber. In front of him hovered a white screen filled with dense black ink, held aloft by his immortal energy.
It was covered with writing, symbols, arrows, and diagrams.
Over a dozen storylines. Hundreds of potential scenarios.
Even though the culprit was still unknown, if they made another move, he would be able to trace the pattern back to one of those storylines.
He wasn’t trying to identify the mastermind. That would be meaningless—because odds were, the person responsible was someone far beyond his current reach. Touching them would mean instant death.
His goal was simply to react correctly when the opponent made a move and revealed themselves.
Even exposing his cultivation wouldn’t help much—at best, the sect would gain another elder-level combatant. Not that useful.
The sect already had plenty of elders.
And in the short term, he wasn’t going to gain any real say in sect matters.
So, better to keep his true strength hidden. Secretly, he’d do all he could to protect himself—and protect the sect.
Working from the shadows allowed him to be even more effective.
He pulled out three wooden plaques and began carving into them with a small blade.
Using a disappearing ink solution, he wrote down three strategies and sealed them inside embroidered pouches.
The first strategy: Cry.
He had already planted a seed with Uncle Jiuwu. Soon, Jiuwu would go see Elder Wan Linjun.
This pouch would be passed from Wan Linjun to Jiuwu, with strict instructions that if the sect was attacked and the protective formation was breached, Jiuwu must open it.
The point of the crying wasn’t just to cry, but to cry well.
On the wooden plaque, Li Changshou had written:
“Go to the Hall of a Hundred Mortal Affairs. Seek the portrait of the Grandmaster. Break down and cry from the depths of your soul. Say that Du Xian Sect respects the Taiqing Way, seeks no worldly trouble, yet has been used by others as a pawn. They aim to wipe out the teachings of Renjiao via Du Xian Sect, to spark conflict among the Three Teachings. Beg the Grandmaster to reveal a sign…”
The second pouch was for his martial aunt, Jiujiu, but only after a major event occurred. He couldn’t give it to her in advance.
The third pouch was for his master. It contained instructions for helping him cover his tracks, though in truth, it was to ensure his master would protect his junior sister and help her escape if war broke out.
If there were a full-blown sect war, his master would surely rush in recklessly. He needed contingency plans in place.
As for Li Changshou himself, he didn’t need anyone’s protection. His true body would be hidden somewhere extremely secure, the moment danger arose.
Once the pouches were sealed, Li Changshou gave a low shout:
“All forces, prepare for battle!”
…Er, though technically, the “army” was just him.
He casually swiped the table. From his sleeve jumped two rows of paper dolls, who bowed to him in perfect unison.
Li Changshou chuckled and called out again:
“All forces, prepare for battle!”
The little paper dolls raised their tiny arms and shook them ferociously, trying their best to look fierce.
Alright, no more playing around.
He had three top priorities right now:
- Rapidly expand his arsenal of poison-based magic tools—there was no upper limit on the amount of powder he could use.
- Upgrade the paper dolls so that he could control them with only a fraction of his attention—he must never fully immerse his consciousness in them.
- Gain the deep trust of Elder Wan Linjun—this elder had deterrent power comparable to a Golden Immortal!
Li Changshou stood, his eyes locking on the word “Culprit” in the center of his massive black-and-white flowchart. A sharp light gleamed in his eyes.
“No matter who you are—whether from the West, the North, or just someone holding a grudge against Du Xian Sect… Or if you’re someone from Chan or Jie who doesn’t want to see the Three Teachings reconciled…
As long as you make a move—
Hmph.
I’ll make a run for it.”
Half a year later, in Central Divine Continent, at the gates of Jin Gong Sect—
Three figures flew out from a floating island. They were cultivators from Golden Ao Island, heading back after growing weary of their stay.
Coincidentally, all three had visited Du Xian Sect during the previous incident.
Two of them had been persuaded to leave early after hearing Old Daoist Yuanze complain about the whole mess. They figured it was better to head home and cultivate in peace than waste time here.
As the clouds flew forward for miles, Yuanze stood at the back, a faint red glint flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward and said quietly:
“Fellow Daoists…”
The two turned, just in time to hear a strange mosquito-like buzzing. Before they could react, a sharp pain hit the back of their necks, and they collapsed.
Yuanze caught them with ease, then continued flying southeast as if nothing had happened.
Half a month later.
In a dense forest near the border of Central and Eastern Divine Continents, deep within demon territory—
It was as if it had all been prearranged. One shadowy figure after another emerged from the woods, kneeling silently around the three cultivators.
Some were demons, some were humans, others were spirit beings—all wrapped in black garments to hide their aura.
The one thing they had in common?
A faint, barely visible scar on their necks—already healed.
One demon approached on his knees, holding three trays. On each tray sat a blood-red lotus flower, the size of a fist, with seven petals glowing faintly.
At that moment, only Yuanze and the other two could see it—
A crimson, ghostly figure flickered around them. Feminine, exaggerated, dangerously alluring.
She whispered into their ears, her voice silky and soft, sinking into their hearts.
“Take it… Take it…
This is the immortality you’ve longed for…
The Tri-Sect Conference was always a tool for Chan to suppress Jie.
You now have the power to stop it…
Only you can stop it…
Go destroy Du Xian Sect… wipe out Du Xian Sect…”
The three Golden Ao Island cultivators each took a seven-petal blood lotus.
In unison, they said:
“We obey.
This time, we will not fail!”
Tens of thousands of miles away, deep in a canyon, Daoist Wenjing sat on a jade lotus cushion, smiling coldly.
She didn’t interfere further. She simply turned and flew west.
Her plan had already succeeded: manipulating cultivators from Jie to attack Du Xian Sect. The point was to draw attention from all sides.
Then, make it look like Jie was colluding with Chan and the demon race to destroy Du Xian Sect—
The scheme would be complete.
To her, this was a mere trivial plot. The three cultivators from Golden Ao were nothing more than disguises she had set in motion.
Once the attack happened, regardless of the outcome, it would deepen the rift between the Three Teachings.
A perfect blend of deception and manipulation.
As for her—
There was no way she’d show her face. If by some chance she drew out that senior disciple of Renjiao, she had no confidence she’d escape alive.
She’d flee before things exploded and return to the Western Sect, watching the chaos from afar. That was the smart move.
And if those three succeeded or failed, she’d make sure they vanished without a trace, leaving evidence pointing to both Jie and Chan.
“Once this is done,” she smirked, “those useless co-leaders better offer me a worthy reward.
Hmph, what will they bring to please Her Majesty, hmm?
If not for the protection of those two old bastards…
I’d have drained them all dry by now.”
With a final scoff, her figure vanished, leaving behind only the faint buzz of a mosquito, fading into the distance.
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1