Chapter 128 - Senior Brother’s “Anger” (1/2)
In the Sea G.o.d Temple, two Heaven Immortal guards stood in the corner of the backyard, carrying the spiritual painting of mountains and rivers.
If one could look closely at the painting for a while, they would be able to see that the two figures ill.u.s.trated were like living creatures. Some of them raised their hands and cupped their hands.
The two figures were naturally Li Changshou’s paper effigy and General Dongmu. After exchanging some pleasantries, the two of them set up several isolation array formations at the periphery of the Sea G.o.d Temple. They entered a treasure map that could block immortal senses and divine deductions.
The map had quite a powerful background. It was a replica of the Connate Spirit Treasure Mountain River map.
In the map, the two of them exchanged a few pleasantries before General Dongmu explained the purpose of their visit.
“His Majesty, the Jade Emperor, had benefited greatly from the conversation with the Sea G.o.d. A few days ago, the immortals of Lingxiao Treasure Hall had gathered. His Majesty had already stated that he wanted to recruit the Sea G.o.d of the South Ocean and soon, there will be an edict that will reach this place. Fellow Daoist, from now on, you and I will be officials of the same hall.”
Li Changshou frowned slightly and asked, “How long does ‘soon’ refer to?
Fellow Daoist, please tell me how long it will be before the edict is issued.”
“If it’s fast, it’ll be a hundred years. If it’s slow, it’ll be two or three hundred years.”
General Dongmu stroked his beard and smiled slightly. There was an awkward look on his skinny face.
“Fellow Daoist, you should know about the current situation in the Heavenly Courts. Due to the fact that the Heavenly Courts’ current positions for the legitimate G.o.ds are mostly empty, the operation of the Heavenly Dao is mostly maintained by His Majesty alone. It will take at least a hundred years before the Heavenly Dao responds to an edict that bestows an official position of a G.o.d.”
Li Changshou smiled in his heart and said, “There’s no need to be anxious about this. Even if it’s a thousand years, it’d be fine. Moreover, General Dongmu, I have to ask you to go back and report to His Majesty. Even if I obtain the position as a G.o.d, I will not be able to go to the Heavenly Courts to hear the edict immediately. I can’t let a paper effigy fly to the Heavenly Courts. That would be a joke. When the time is ripe, I will go to Heaven and wors.h.i.+p at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. I will do my best for His Majesty.”
“Fellow Daoist, you’re not eager or anxious at all. You really have a good character.”
General Dongmu praised. He had obviously expected Li Changshou to say that.
After all, during the last meeting, Li Changshou had mentioned that it was temporarily inconvenient for him to go to the Heavenly Courts.
After the imperial edict was issued, Li Changshou would obtain the position as a G.o.d of the Heavenly Courts.
After that, he only needed to order the Divine Envoys to add the Jade Emperor’s portraits in the most popular temples and hang them on his and Ao Yi’s statues. He would then announce that the Sea G.o.d Sect had returned to the Heavenly Courts.
By that time, the merit from incense offerings would still be the same. It would not change at all.
The Heavenly Dao would also bestow Heavenly Dao merit on him, the Sea G.o.d. It was similar to giving him his salary…
However, the Heavenly Dao karma was not easy to obtain. General Dongmu had six problems to deal with during his visit.
The first five were matters that the Jade Emperor could not decide on. He wanted to hear the Sea G.o.d’s opinion. In fact, he wanted to confirm his value as a strategist.
Li Changshou was not in a hurry this time. After careful consideration, he gave his opinions for each problem, one by one.
In order to be safe, he restrained his “perspective” and gave the Jade Emperor his opinions which involved things that the Jade Emperor could see.
That was clearly different from the previous twelve pieces of advice that Li Changshou had concluded from his afterlife…
However, the last thing that General Dongmu asked about, which was a personal problem of his, was a tricky issue that caused Li Changshou to get a headache.
The matter involved the saints.
Li Changshou had a rough idea of the ident.i.ty, fate, and even the story of General Dongmu.
Li Changshou could not help but sigh after hearing the detailed explanation given by General Dongmu. The old man in front of him… did not have it easy.
The so-called General Dongmu was actually the previous incarnate of Lu Dongbin, who was also known as General Dongw.a.n.g, the famous Heavenly Courts Immortal of the Three Realms.
The Heavenly Courts had just been established. In order to suppress the Jade Emperor’s authority, the Saint had established a General Dongw.a.n.g to control the male immortals of the Heavenly Courts.
It was nothing much. Although he had overlapping authorities with the Jade Emperor, General Dongw.a.n.g was the Jade Emperor’s subordinate.
The problem was that the corresponding position of the General Dongw.a.n.g was the Empress of the West, who controlled the female immortals of the Heavenly Courts.
The Empress of the West was the same person as the future Queen Mother!
She and the Jade Emperor were children who had been by the Dao Ancestor’s side in the Purple Cloud Temple. They were truly senior brother and junior sister.
According to General Dongmu’s secret observations, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother were childhood sweethearts. They were the G.o.d-like figures of the Heavenly Courts.
However, General Dongmu often saw the Jade Emperor entering the Heavenly Courts’ Jade Pool. Sometimes, the two of them would go to the Jade Pool in West Kunlun together… Now, the General Dongw.a.n.g and the Empress of the West had become the heads of the male immortals and female immortals of the Heavenly Courts, respectively. They were often among the immortals of the Heavenly Courts…
How could the Jade Emperor not be disgruntled?
Initially, General Dongw.a.n.g had thought that even the Jade Emperor would not be able to touch him since he had been appointed by the Saint.
However, he… was soon taught to be loyal to the Jade Emperor!
He was well aware of the Jade Emperor’s abilities. Now, he was proud of being able to a.s.sist the Lord of the Three Realms!
Although the Jade Emperor did not mention the matter of the General Dongw.a.n.g and the Empress of The West, the General Dongw.a.n.g had no choice but to stay alert.
Hence, General Dongw.a.n.g changed himself to General Dongmu. He was usually cautious and would never use his authority as a male immortal. He would do whatever the Jade Emperor said.
However, the Jade Emperor had yet to rise and did not have any useful subordinates.
If the Jade Emperor was fully-fledged and regardless of whether he wanted to take back his power or spare a thought for his reputation, he, the General Dongmu, would definitely…
He would definitely…
General Dongmu had been worried for many years and he could not discuss the matter with anyone. Lately, the Jade Emperor had been praising the Sea G.o.d of the South Ocean. Hence, he had no choice but to go there. “Fellow Daoist, you’re friendly and resourceful. Can you give me a way out?”
Li Changshou pondered deeply for a while. There was a look of dismay on the face of the elderly immortal who was actually the paper effigy.
General Dongmu stood up and bowed. He took out two storage Dharma treasures from his sleeve and said softly, “If you can give me some pointers, I will definitely thank you!” Li Changshou was not someone who would be moved by external objects, but General Dongmu had given too much…
Ahem, I can’t give you more pointers!
Li Changshou knew the best solution to that problem.
However, if he helped General Dongmu, he would be shaming the Saint.
No matter which Saint had set up the position of General Dongw.a.n.g to irk the Jade Emperor, it was not karma that Li Changshou could afford to get embroiled with.
Li Changshou naturally knew that his life was more important than wealth.
Li Changshou sighed and said, “I can’t help you in any way. It mainly depends on how far you can retreat, Fellow Daoist.”
General Dongmu hurriedly said, “If I can live without worries in the future, the Dao Fruit of Longevity can be saved. I don’t dare to ask for more!”
Li Changshou thought for a while and could only say, “You can’t rush things. You can salvage the situation by taking three steps back.”
“May I ask, what are the three steps?”
“I really don’t dare to say much.” Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, pus.h.i.+ng the two storage Dharma treasures back to him.
He did not want to get involved with that karma.
However, General Dongmu was the Jade Emperor’s messenger now. Li Changshou knew that he could not offend him.
He could only give General Dongmu an idea while not bearing the consequences of karma…
Why have you all been rus.h.i.+ng to give me precious materials recently?
In the Pill Chamber of Little Qiong Peak, Li Changshou muttered to himself. He had secretly sent the paper effigy outside the sect to the edge of the South Ocean.
Dong Mugong insisted on letting Li Changshou keep the two storage Dharma treasures and expressed his grat.i.tude to him. Clearly, what Li Changshou had given him was just a solution to treat the root of the problem. However, it was as if the door to a new world had opened…