Chapter 355 A Beautiful Spirit

　　Why…

　　I was the one who did it first…

　　On a cloud path near the Lingxiao Hall, the Deputy Commander of the Heavenly River Navy, Bian Zhuang, who was holding the Nine-Toothed Harrow, looked at the two figures who were riding a cloud in the distance.

　　He even heard the conversation in the wind…

　　“Water God, how is my outfit?”

　　The Heavenly General, who had appeared out of nowhere, was dressed in purple armor. He opened his arms with a smile and turned around slightly on the cloud.

　　Water God nodded with a smile and said, “General, you are still as elegant as before.” “Hahaha!”

　　This, this proud laughter… Bian Zhuang was filled with grief and indignation. He felt his entire body trembling and his hands and feet were cold as tears flowed down his face. He really wanted to rush forward and shout.

　　Can I flatter the Water God too?

　　A greeting came from behind. “Commander Bian? His Majesty has summoned us.”

　　“It’s coming!”

　　Bian Zhuang retracted his neck and carried the Nine-Toothed Harrow on his back like it was a huge sword. He hurriedly ran over and entered the Lingxiao Treasure Hall with more than ten Heavenly Soldiers who were commanders and deputy commanders.

　　According to the orders that the Hall of Enlightenment had previously given, the twelve Heavenly Courts’ troops would soon start recruiting new Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.

　　The Jade Emperor must have summoned them for that matter…

　　Li Changshou’s immortal senses captured that scene. He chatted with the Jade Emperor’s second incarnation, Zhao Dezhu, about the details of the recruitment of the Heavenly Soldiers. When the current Heavenly Courts recruited the Heavenly Soldiers, they would trick the Heavenly Soldiers into joining the various divisions. The generals and commanders would train them themselves.

　　The reforms that Li Changshou proposed were not considered radical. They would only add an “order” to the current Heavenly Armament system.

　　“Set up the Military Reserve Hall. All Heavenly Soldiers who enter the Heavenly Courts will be trained by the Military Reserve Hall. After they learn the method to form an array formation, they will be selected by the Heavenly Generals and belong to the Twelve Divisions of the Heavenly Courts.”

　　In that case, the cycle of the new Heavenly Soldiers’ combat power would be greatly reduced. It could also balance the strength of the various troops… The Jade Emperor’s incarnation, Zhao Dezhu, sent a voice transmission. “Minister Changgeng, I have been thinking about the source of the troops that you mentioned previously. If I want to recruit enough Heavenly Soldiers in such a short period of time, I cannot rely only on the lower third Firmament Heavenly Humans. It is as you said previously, there is not much of a difference between itinerant cultivators from the five continents and the trichiliocosm. However, it is still insufficient to determine a person’s character based on merit. Although there are many Heavenly Soldiers and they are not in the Deity Position, the Heavenly Courts is a peaceful place. Naturally, we have to choose people with good character…” Li Changshou smiled and said, “Your Majesty, why don’t you recruit disciples from the immortal sects to serve the Heavenly Courts?” “I’ve tried doing that before, but only a few responded.” Zhao Dezhu was a little helpless. “Although the Heavenly Courts have been established, no one knows about it.” Li Changshou pondered for a while and said, “If we use merit and precious materials to drive them, it’s hard to guarantee that the Heavenly Soldiers we summon will be loyal to the Heavenly Courts. If they encounter a difficult battle, they will probably escape…” “Do you have any ideas?”

　　“There are three ways. They are the Fast, Medium, and Slow Strategies.” Li Changshou took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Dezhu.

　　The latter unrolled the scroll with a solemn expression.

　　“Making the Heavenly Soldiers swear a collective oath… The Super Heavenly Soldiers Plan… Trichiliocosm Heavenly Soldiers Training Base… Minister, wonderful!” Li Changshou sent a voice transmission. “I’ve been trying to figure this out for a long time. Your Majesty, you can take a look on the way. If you’re dissatisfied or if I’m not careful, you can point it out. I’ll change it immediately.”

　　They were really discussing the memorial.

　　Zhao Dezhu repeatedly praised and did not feel that there was anything wrong with that. He hugged the scroll and carefully read it, but he quickly put it away…

　　He had no choice. He had already arrived at the Water God Residence. A princess who had been waiting for a long time jumped onto the cloud and bowed to Li Changshou. She blinked and asked without confidence,

　　“Water God… are you going this time?” “Yes.” Li Changshou smiled and said, “This General Zhao will go to the Netherworld with me to do a public errand. He might even make a trip to the North Continent. Do you want to come along?”

　　“Yes, yes!” Long Ji’s eyes lit up and she nodded profusely.

　　Li Changshou reminded, “Your Highness, you still need to hide your identity later. Call me Senior Brother for now. Don’t tell others about your identity. General Zhao is His Majesty’s trusted general. Don’t be rude to him.” “Long Ji greets General Zhao!” “Yes.” Zhao Dezhu nodded calmly. He wanted to say something, but he felt a little awkward. He could only look at Li Changshou, who was smiling with squinted eyes, and sigh. “Water God, let’s set off now.”

　　“Okay.”

　　Li Changshou flicked his horsetail whisk and led the father and daughter towards the East Heavenly Gate. At that moment, the Netherworld had yet to subdue to the Heavenly Courts. There was no direct path to the Netherworld. They could only take a detour outside the East Ocean to rush to the Netherworld.

　　Perhaps it was because of the addition of a new person, Long Ji was much quieter than before. Her skirt fluttered, and her long hair danced. The quiet young girl exuded a scholarly aura… Li Changshou smiled at Zhao Dezhu. “Your Highness, you are intelligent and bright. Although you are young now, you will definitely be able to help His Majesty resolve his troubles in the future. However, Your Majesty, why haven’t you rewarded Long Ji and conferred a title to her?” Zhao Dezhu shook his head and chuckled. He replied via voice transmission, “Let’s wait until the Heavenly Courts rise. The Heavenly Courts are still unstable now. Her cultivation level is still low. There’s no need to be anxious. On the other hand, beloved minster, do you really have no intention of taking in a disciple?” Li Changshou sighed and said, “Your Majesty, to be honest, I’ve only cultivated for a few hundred years. Your Highness Long Ji…” “Age is just a number for Qi Refinement cultivators.” Zhao Dezhu smiled and said, “You said that Long Ji is very smart. Moreover, Long Ji admires you, Changgeng. According to her mother, she talks about the Water God every day. Even when she is asleep, she is still talking about you in her sleep. Although I’m the Heavenly Emperor, I can’t force you. You have to decide this matter yourself… Actually, I feel that if she can’t become your disciple, it’s not a bad idea to let you marry her. It’s not impossible to marry a woman who’s 3,000 years older than you are.”

　　Bestow!

　　Li Changshou immediately did not know where he could curse and criticize.

　　If this was his previous life, the Jade Emperor would have been beaten up by a boxer if he had been a feudal parent who had arbitrarily decided on the ownership of his daughter’s emotions. He looked at Zhao Dezhu and turned to look at Long Ji.

　　“Long Ji, are you still willing to call me Teacher?” Long Ji, who was secretly imagining the “Water God and Zhao Dezhu” scene, was stunned when she heard that. Her face turned red and she leaned forward, tiptoeing. “Yes! I am 100% willing!” “I can’t guide you in your cultivation either. I’m only teaching you the Dao of strategy and schemes.” Li Changshou took out a jade token from his sleeve and smiled. “This is a set of military combat strategies that Ao Yi has organized. It’s an entry gift for you when you enter the sect.” Long Ji was overjoyed. She hugged the jade token and could not bear to let go. In the end, she bowed to Li Changshou three times. After she stood up, she shouted softly, “Teacher…” “Yes, let’s look at this military strategy first. If you don’t understand, feel free to ask questions.”

　　Li Changshou said warmly and turned to look at Zhao Dezhu.

　　Zhao Dezhu shook his head slightly and looked disappointed… Disappointed? How anxious is His Majesty to let Long Ji get married?

　　Is it the same reason for knocking Xiong Lingli out? She’s still a child! She still has at least a few thousand years of puberty!

　　Of course, Li Changshou still had to continue chatting and laughing with Zhao Dezhu. As an ordinary minister, he had to be professional. He had to deceive, ahem, use certain words to make the Heavenly Emperor feel comfortable. He would not lack merit in the future.

　　As soon as they left the East Heaven Gate, they ran into Ao Yi, who had rushed to the Heavenly Courts with a large number of dragon troops to offer tributes. The efficiency of the East Ocean Dragon Palace was quite astonishing. When Ao Yi saw Li Changshou, his originally gloomy eyes lit up. He called out, “Brother Sect Master.” His voice was a little hoarse. Li Changshou went forward and handed a pill to Ao Yi. He did not mention the calamity of the dragon race and only asked, “Have you recovered?”

　　Ao Yi forced a smile and nodded in agreement. He took half a step back and bowed to Li Changshou without saying anything else. Li Changshou said, “Leave the tribute to someone else. Come with me outside and relax.” “Brother.” Ao Yi did not agree immediately. Instead, he said in a low voice, “Most of the clansmen have yet to settle down. I want to accompany them more now. There are still sporadic battles in the four

　　seas…”

　　“I’m just delaying you for half a day.” Li Changshou persuaded gently, “If you can’t even pull yourself together, how can you comfort others?” Long Ji said, “Fellow Daoist, don’t force yourself. You need someone to enlighten you.”

　　Ao Yi sighed softly and bowed to Long Ji. He addressed her as “Your Highness” and agreed to go out to relax together. He asked the soldiers from the dragon race to send tributes to enter the East Heaven Gate on their own. Li Changshou continued, “Before you leave, bow and thank the Lingxiao Hall. Don’t ask too much.”

　　“Yes.” Ao Yi did not ask anything else. He lifted the hem of his battle dress and kowtowed three times in the direction of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Zhao Dezhu, who was at the side, nodded with a smile. He lowered his head and looked at his incarnation. His eyes were a little gloomy.

　　Forget it.

　　It is not bad to be a Heavenly Emperor who is revered by living beings.

　　Six hours later, at the eastern border of Fengdu City in the Netherworld, at the top of the cliff beside the sky, two burly men, who had had their fill of wine and meat, hugged their headgear and leaned against a huge rock.

　　They snorted and savored the aftertaste. They smacked their lips and kept the fragrance lingering in their mouths. They tried their best to smell it, and they were full of satisfaction… “Horse, when are we going to look for the Water God again? It’s much more comfortable following the Water God around than staying here. Moo ~” “You’re not wearing the headgear, why are you mooing!?! The dragon race has been dealt a terrible blow by the Western Sect this time. The Western Sect is indeed worthy of being the great sect helmed by two Saints. They are even more ruthless than those demon ancestors.”

　　Ox-head scoffed. “Weren’t they destroyed by the Water God in the end? So what if the eye of the sea was knocked open? Wasn’t it filled up in the end? Speaking of which, the Water God is very powerful. He can even block the polluted spring.” Horse-face patted his belly and muttered, “It should only be stable. There will still be hidden dangers… Burp.”

　　At that moment, a voice transmission entered his ears.

　　“Fellow Daoists…”

　　Ox-head and Horse-face glared and immediately jumped up. They hurriedly put on their headgear. “Water God!”

　　“It’s me. It’s been a few days since we last met. Are you two alright?” Ox-head and Horse-face nodded vigorously. The two of them looked towards the east and soon… he recalled that their essence souls were not very strong, and their detection range was limited.

　　At that moment, Ox-head and Horse-face could only see a large number of souls and True Spirits floating over from afar. A few Qi Refinement cultivators were riding a cloud at the foot of the cliff. They were living beings who had come to work in the Netherworld…

　　Li Changshou’s voice sounded again with a smile.

　　“I’m still 5,000 kilometers away. I’m rushing over with a general of the Heavenly Courts. This general’s background is not to be underestimated. He’s going to the Netherworld to check on the situation in the Netherworld. A sentence from him to the Jade Emperor is more effective than ten sentences from me. If the Netherworld has the intention to enter the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Courts and receive the protection of the Heavenly Emperor, you have to perform well and be careful.” Ox-head and Horse-face perked up when they heard that. The two brothers looked at each other, their eyes filled with joy.

　　Ox-head shouted, “Quick! Horse, go and inform the Grand Magus and stir up the atmosphere in the city! Moo!”

　　“Neigh!”

　　Horse-face turned his head and fled hurriedly. With a single step, he jumped thousands of feet away and sprinted on the top of the cliff. He did not forget to take out a stone comb and combed his smooth mane.

　　Ox-head rubbed his hands and jumped to the checkpoint below. He shouted at the top of his lungs and made the hundreds of Magi guarding the place busy. He also frightened the Qi Refinement cultivators who were about to pass. When Li Changshou rode a cloud and flew 500 kilometers away with Zhao Dezhu, Long Ji, and Ao Yi, he was discovered by Ox-head. Ox-head turned around and shouted, “Play the drums!” A few burly Magi carried an old and tattered drum and walked forward. Ox-head picked up the drum stick and struck a Magi battle drum.

　　Rumble…

　　The drums sounded everywhere in Fengdu City. Half of the Netherworld was shaken.

　　Li Changshou saw it from afar and smiled. Zhao Dezhu sent a voice transmission and smiled. “Changgeng, it seems that you have made many arrangements in the Netherworld.” “Your Majesty, you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t do anything,” Li Changshou replied via voice transmission. “When the Netherworld heard that the dragon race had submitted to the Heavenly Courts, they knew that the Heavenly Emperor was benevolent and wanted to join them.”

　　Zhao Dezhu smiled and squinted, but… the misunderstanding was deeper. Behind the two of them, Long Ji looked at Ao Yi and muttered softly, “Teacher has been sending voice transmissions along the way.” Ao Yi nodded and did not reply. There was a thoughtful expression on his delicate face. Just as Li Changshou landed on the cloud, he heard dozens of Magi crying out. The Magi took off the cloth armor donned by the Netherworld servants, wrapped themselves in beast skin, and restrained their blood energy. They danced with the drums and performed a group dance that was full of power. When the Magi finished jumping and retreated, Zhao Dezhu clapped his hands and nodded. He liked them. “Moo! Make way! Show me your brush and ink!”

　　Ox-head called out. The Netherworld servants who were guarding the checkpoint turned around and raised ten huge rocks on both sides. There were ten words written on them with blood of unknown origin.

　　“The Netherworld welcomes you!”

　　“Reincarnation? No problem!”

　　“Pfft!” Long Ji could not help but cover her mouth and laugh. Ao Yi also smiled faintly.

　　Zhao Dezhu smiled warmly and walked forward with Li Changshou. They sat on the… ox cart prepared by the Netherworld. This time, Ox-head personally took the lead. Before he even stepped out of the One-Line Sky, he enthusiastically introduced the “tourist destination” of the Netherworld to the two of them.

　　Li Changshou smiled and asked, “Why don’t I see you, Fellow Daoist Horse-face?” “He’s going to the front to prepare! Moo!” Ox-head replied casually. Coincidentally, he walked out of the One-Line Sky and left the array formation.

　　A gust of cold wind blew in front of him, and sinister laughter could be heard everywhere. He heard melodious music playing in the distance. Accompanied by the desolate music, beautiful figures flew over from all directions.

　　She’s here, she’s here. They’re flying over with stiff smiles and eerie Yin energy!

　　They carried the flower baskets and scattered the petals of the spider lilies…

　　They hummed a song that sounded like a seductive tune that was circulated in the mortal world…

　　“Water God, how is it?”

　　Ox-head smiled smugly. “This is the best reception in the Netherworld. If these are not enough, we can look for more! There are plenty!”