Still, most of the immortals from Duxian Gate believed that this burly figure, having returned so battered and bruised, must have gone through a brutal battle, and the fact that he managed to slay so many powerful demons earned him their admiration.
The burly figure continued cursing loudly, but the only responses he got were spells and magical treasures being hurled at him. He couldn’t manage to lure the enemy away.
“Forget it.”
Luring too many enemies to Little Qiong Peak — once or twice might be explained away as a coincidence, but if it kept happening, it would raise suspicions.
Meanwhile, the battle at Duxian Gate’s main peak was starting to stabilize. The blood mosquito puppets had lost their momentum.
Though Duxian Gate’s forces were still being pressed, the casualties were increasing much more slowly now, and the roles of experts like Elder Wan Linjun and Master Wangqing were becoming more and more crucial.
That said, the situation was far from safe.
Everything hinged on the battle between the Golden Immortals overhead — that was the true deciding factor.
If either the sect leader or Elder Qiling had lost before reinforcements from the human sect arrived, Duxian Gate would still be utterly defeated today.
“Is there any way to help at the level of a Golden Immortal duel?”
The thought flashed through Li Changshou’s mind — and immediately made him frown in self-reflection.
Was he trying to manage too much?
This was clearly beyond his current capabilities and not something he was obligated to involve himself in.
Could it be… some kind of karmic entanglement had already wrapped around him?
Otherwise, why would such an outrageous idea even cross his mind?
Li Changshou didn’t dwell on it. After straightening out his thoughts, he decided to stick to his original plan.
A short while later—
The “Ren Character Number Three” paper figure beside Ling’e sensed the demon aura of the incoming Peng demon. Though the enemy had taken a roundabout path, they were still “successfully” closing in for the kill.
Immediately, Li Changshou activated three paper figures flying within the sect: the burly man and the two junior siblings charged toward the main formation of mosquito puppets.
The three “people” quickly fell into dire straits, overwhelmed.
But their bravery and unyielding spirit shone through. They fought their way into the densest cluster of enemy monsters — and then all self-detonated at once!
The sight made the immortals of Duxian Gate cry out, “No, Daoists, don’t!” — and many old immortals who had been in closed-door cultivation for years let out heavy sighs.
However…
Both sides couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d seen this scene somewhere before…
Li Changshou winced inwardly.
Those three paper figures were the finest, most resource-intensive ones he could currently make.
But there was no choice. They had already fulfilled their role and accumulated too much karmic cause and effect.
Especially the burly figure — the way he had cursed out the demon race would inevitably draw attention later, especially if some high-level figures related to the demon race, like Daoist Lu Ya, decided to settle old scores.
Better that they self-detonated now and cut off the karma altogether.
The burly figure had insulted the demon emperor, after all — what did that have to do with a marginal disciple of the Human Sect like Li Little-Qiong Peak’s Mediocre Seedling Changshou?
After double-checking the concealment items on his person, Li Changshou decided not to worry about it further.
In truth, the demon race had long since been forced off the main stage of the world.
Back in ancient times, the demon emperor, to defeat the Wu Tribe, had brutally slaughtered countless humans, using their souls to forge forbidden treasures, nearly causing humanity’s extinction and creating an unbreakable karmic grudge.
Thankfully, the goddess Nuwa and Dao Sect masters, who already had grievances with the demon emperor, intervened to preserve the human bloodline.
As a member of the human race, not only was it acceptable to mock the demon emperor, but it wouldn’t even be disrespectful to throw a dance party on his grave.
—In fact, that had happened.
At the end of the ancient era, after the third major battle between the demons and the Wu Tribe, when humanity seized the opportunity to triumph, a human ruler had ordered decades of music and dancing before the fallen demon court to celebrate.
The rise of humanity wasn’t just handed to them by bowing to the heavens or honoring the Three Teachings — it came at a cost of immeasurable bloodshed.
Later generations would simply say, “the demons and Wu fell out of accordance with the Dao of Heaven,” to make it seem like humanity’s rise was simply destiny.
This battle today made Li Changshou deeply aware—
Just a hidden hand trying to slightly sabotage Duxian Gate had already led to the deaths of so many true immortals and celestial immortals…
[Concealing to avoid karma, burning trump cards to sever karma — both are equally critical]
From now on, it wasn’t just a matter of whether to hide;
It was—
Hide as deeply as possible.
At this moment, the “Tian Character Number Two” paper figure was lurking underground at Po Tian Peak.
The “Tian Character Number Eight” paper figure, disguised as his master Qi Yuan, was quietly seated in the alchemy room, secretly controlling the Little Qiong Peak’s grand formation.
Li Changshou focused most of his mind on the “Ren Character Number Three” paper figure, guarding his junior sister and master, ready to strike and kill the incoming celestial-level enemy to protect Duxian Gate’s future.
As for the battles around Po Tian Peak, they no longer required his direct intervention.
From the start of the war to now, not much time had passed, but Li Changshou felt he had already done plenty.
Everything in moderation — overreaching was dangerous.
At this point, most of Duxian Gate’s immortals were filled with guilt and gratitude toward the three “loyal Dao friends” who had fought to the death and self-destructed.
And that was enough.
Of course, Li Changshou didn’t know yet that there were already elders planning to build monuments and hold memorial ceremonies for the three paper figures — a rather ridiculous but sincere gesture.
Sixteen thousand miles east of Duxian Gate, the great demon Qingpeng streaked through the skies, circling overhead, as two threads of immortal senses locked onto the people below.
Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Ling’e:
“Stay close to me. You can even use me as a shield if you have to.”
“Huh?”
Ling’e blinked, then hurriedly shrank behind her senior brother. “Li Changshou” made sure to fully shield her.
At the same time, Youqin Xuanya and the two external elders stood ready for battle, defensive formations prepared to activate at a moment’s notice.
Underground, Ling’e tilted her head curiously and whispered, her cheeks slightly pink:
“Senior brother, why are you being so…”
“Watch more, talk less. Pay close attention and learn carefully.”
“Li Changshou” spoke calmly, and Ling’e immediately nodded, a little nervous.
Suddenly, beams of light shot down from the sky.
The two elders joined forces to fend them off, activating the surrounding formations just in time to barely block the attack.
The Peng demon above folded its wings and swooped downward at breakneck speed!
But the figure riding on its back hovered midair instead.
This celestial-level old Daoist, controlled by the blood mosquito spell, had already developed a deep fear of Duxian Gate’s “poisons”…
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1