"Sigh, working in the Heavenly Court is truly too difficult."
Inside the Matchmaker's Palace, a thin old man in a bright red wedding robe sat in his armchair, drinking tea brought by his attendant boys, wiping the hot sweat from his forehead.
Just now, he had finally gotten rid of a Heavenly General who insisted that the Matchmaker help him arrange a match with a fairy from the Jade Pool.
Could such a thread be casually tied?
Even though he was the Matchmaker, he couldn't arbitrarily alter others' destinies!
Although there were indeed many underhanded methods, it also depended on who was being tied!
The Matchmaker had expended great effort to fool that Heavenly General, sweating profusely.
He had to refuse without making the other party displeased, and without offending the target of their affection...
The Matchmaker's job was truly too difficult.
Most marriages were self-formed, while a small portion were heaven-sent.
As the Matchmaker, he did have some authority to make changes, but that golden scissors and those red threads were all merit treasures of the Heavenly Dao — they truly couldn't be moved carelessly!
Even if it was just the marriage of a pair of mortals, if handled poorly, it would not only damage the merit he had painstakingly accumulated, but also bring down punishment from that diligent and responsible Jade Emperor...
What were self-formed marriages?
In the rear hall, there was a nearly endless mystical cosmos, filled with countless small clay figurines. Every creature in heaven, earth, and humanity that needed to be married, every being within the three destined marriages of heaven, earth, and humanity, had a corresponding clay figurine here.
Marriage was the foundation of ritual, the bedrock of social order.
The creatures corresponding to the clay figurines were mostly human, along with a small portion of well-behaved demons and witch clans;
When they interacted in the mortal world, the clay figurines here would move closer to each other, and then each would give birth to a marriage red thread. The red threads would intertwine, forming a marriage.
Love developing over time meant their red threads slowly swaying, slowly entangling;
Love at first sight meant the red threads lightly touching and immediately intertwining.
Occasionally, a clay figurine would drift in the wrong direction, its red thread tangling with someone else's marriage thread — that was, naturally, an affair...
What were heaven-sent marriages?
When a creature was born, this place would sense it and give birth to a clay figurine, which would then be tied with the red thread of marriage to its destined partner — that was a heaven-sent marriage.
In addition, some clay figurines were naturally "free-spirited" and would break free from their own marriage red thread, dragging half a thread as they flew about.
Occasionally encountering another clay figurine in the same situation, the red threads would connect — passionate flames; the red thread would break — a fleeting affair.
The Heavenly General's request just now wasn't actually difficult for the Matchmaker to accomplish.
He only needed to tie the Heavenly General's red thread directly to that fairy, and that would count as forming a marriage. Generally, there wouldn't be any karmic backlash.
But the Matchmaker had to consider the background of the Jade Pool fairy.
Several hundred years ago, the Queen Mother had already sent someone to reprimand him. Nowadays, he absolutely dared not do such a rule-breaking thing to a Jade Pool fairy...
The Matchmaker had originally been merely a Heavenly Immortal cultivator, but he was among the first batch of immortals and deities to join the new Heavenly Court. His background was clean, he worked diligently, and ten thousand years ago, the Jade Emperor had bestowed upon him the position of Matchmaker.
Having served for ten thousand years, the Matchmaker had experienced the many benefits of this immortal position, and for this reason, he had been conscientious and daring not to be the slightest bit slack.
But the problem was, nowadays, more and more Heavenly Court immortals and deities had learned the secret of the red threads, and they also knew that as the Matchmaker, he could change the red threads;
His little Marriage Palace had people sneaking in from time to time...
Some were colleagues in the same palace, and indeed he couldn't refuse to save face;
And some thought they could gain marriage by sending gifts, but the Matchmaker refused all of them... What gift could be heavier than the merit rewards received from serving in the Heavenly Court?
But there was one more situation — one that the Matchmaker couldn't, and dared not refuse. That was those old Daoists with too much strength and too solid backgrounds. His divine position was merely a small deity's role in front of such big shots. For example...
"Master!"
Outside the palace, two attendant boys with sheep-horn braids and festive attire rushed in hurriedly, shouting:
"The Grand Master is coming! He's almost at the palace entrance!"
The Matchmaker's spirit lifted, and he quickly rose to welcome the Grand Master at the palace entrance.
This Grand Master was a remarkable figure — the only direct disciple of the Higher Pure Sage, the leader of the Human Teaching. His own cultivation was unfathomably deep, and behind him was the Higher Pure Sage, Laozi!
Because Laozi was the eldest among the Three Pure Lords, this Grand Master, although having entered that small courtyard in Mount Kunlun slightly later, was addressed as "Senior Brother" with equal respect by Guangchengzi of the Chan Teaching — the head disciple who struck the golden bell in the Jade Void Palace — and Duobao Daoren, the great disciple of the Jie Teaching.
The true "Senior Brother" of the Dao.
The Grand Master didn't have a clear Dao title, because the Higher Pure Sage hadn't bestowed one, to prevent him from being entangled in great karma;
Because he was called the Grand Master within the "Xuandu" controlled by the Higher Pure Sage, over time, this expert had accepted this title —
Xuandu the Grand Master!
And from then on, the two characters "Xuandu" could refer to this head disciple of the Human Teaching, and also carried the meaning of a "place name."
The Matchmaker was very clear in his heart — this head disciple of the Human Teaching was not at all on the same level as the Higher Pure Sage's several nominal disciples!
Because the Heavenly Court had just risen and was still weak, Xuandu the Grand Master had also been temporarily residing in the Tushita Palace these days...
After all, if some Daluo or Golden Immortal level troublemakers came to the Heavenly Court to cause chaos, it wouldn't be appropriate for a Sage to personally intervene. Xuandu could simply destroy them.
On several occasions before and after, this Grand Master had visited the Matchmaker's door a few times. The matters he handled — the Matchmaker naturally understood.
The Matchmaker hurriedly stepped out of the palace entrance and looked up to see a young Daoist floating toward him on a cloud not far away.
Looking at this person, he wore a dark Daoist robe. His features were unremarkable but perfectly balanced;
He stood tall like a crane, his Daoist robe fluttering lightly. He had no jade ornaments or accessories whatsoever, yet he gave people a feeling of returning to authenticity like uncarved jade — this was a bearing that only came with extremely deep cultivation.
Xuandu the Grand Master was said to be among the first batch of humans in heaven and earth, without father or mother, formed from clay by the Goddess Nüwa. He possessed a small amount of merit from creating humanity, and also carried the fortune of the Human Teaching.
Before even reaching the palace entrance, the Grand Master cupped his hands in a Dao salute toward the Matchmaker and smiled: "Has the Matchmaker been well lately?"
"Very well, very well."
The Matchmaker nodded repeatedly. If others didn't know, they might think this Heavenly Court divine official was naturally stooped.
"Grand Master, please come inside... Same as last time?"
"Thank you for your trouble, Matchmaker," Xuandu the Grand Master's smile was quite warm as he walked straight into the Matchmaker's Palace, following the Matchmaker to the rear hall.
Entering the rear hall's courtyard, ahead was a mystical starry sky.
The Matchmaker stood beside him, gently shaking a potted plant. A cluster of starlight flew from the starry sky and hovered before them.
This potted plant was actually a post-natal merit spiritual treasure — the Lovesickness Tree.
The starlight faded, dividing into five piles of clay figurines, each pile of different sizes, with several characters formed by starlight on them, sorted by category.
For example, the pile on the far left had three large characters written on it: Du Xian Sect.
The other piles had "Carefree Immortal Sect," "Free and Easy Gate"... which were actually several lineages of the Human Teaching.
Xuandu sighed softly and smiled: "How many have been formed in this thousand years?"
The Matchmaker bowed his head beside him: "As you instructed, if we discovered a marriage destiny, we would give it a push;
In this thousand years, these immortal sects have produced a total of three hundred and sixty-two couples."
Xuandu the Grand Master nodded gently, speaking warmly: "Hmm, not bad. How many newborns have there been?"
"Um... you would need to check the registry at the Underworld. We only handle marriages here."
Xuandu was momentarily amused, and when he smiled, he liked to narrow his eyes. His smile was also quite warm.
"I forgot about that matter. Please don't mind, Matchmaker.
Sigh, the teacher truly gave me a difficult problem. He wants the Human Teaching to prosper moderately, but won't let me take disciples..."
Xuandu clasped his hands behind his back and sighed, his gaze sweeping across. "I can only resort to this last resort.
Matchmaker, could you bring out the marriages that are about to form recently? I want to see how many there are."
"Yes, Grand Master. Please wait a moment."
The Matchmaker shook the potted plant in his hand again, and soon dozens of clay figurines flew forward a distance. The distances between the figurines varied based on their relationships and the likelihood of forming marriages.
Each clay figurine had one or two red threads. Some had as many as three or four, but not too many.
Some people had long relationships, so their red threads were longer;
Some people had short relationships, so their red threads were shorter.
Soon, Xuandu the Grand Master's gaze was attracted by four clay figurines clustered together. He stepped forward two paces and looked at these four figurines beneath the three characters "Du Xian Sect."
The Matchmaker smiled beside him: "This is the formation of three stars encircling the moon — good fortune."
Xuandu the Grand Master nodded gently and stared for a while.
The three figurines with long skirts and cloud-like buns surrounded a figurine with long hair and long robes. The three figurines' red threads had already extended inward, but the central figurine...
Hmm...
Xuandu the Grand Master frowned and said: "Why is his so short?"
"This one?"
The Matchmaker leaned forward half a step, staring at the male figurine for a moment, then quickly said:
"It is a bit short, but it's still there.
Grand Master, look — there's a bit of red thread on his wrists and ankles. It's just that the red thread has only just begun to form...
Some people are like this. This must be because this talented disciple of the Human Teaching is devoted to cultivation and doesn't want to concern himself with worldly matters."
"What a waste," Xuandu said, looking at the three red threads floating around this figurine. "Matchmaker, could you help him lengthen the red thread a bit so it connects with the other three threads?"
"Well, that's certainly possible, but Grand Master, we can only assist — it's not good to forcibly change..."
"While letting nature take its course, we can appropriately add a little assistance."
"Ah, this humble deity will do it right away."
At that moment, the Matchmaker raised the potted Lovesickness Tree and lightly tapped it toward the figurine.
Meanwhile, in the pill chamber on Xiaoqiong Peak of the Du Xian Sect in the Eastern Divine Province.
Having just taken a bath and worrying about a new pill furnace, Li Changshou suddenly felt a few images inappropriate for children rise in his heart.
"Hmm?"
Li Changshou chuckled softly and instantly banished the images from his heart.
In the rear hall of the Matchmaker's Palace, the Lovesickness Tree slowly tapped down, and the clay figurine moved...
Back one step.
"Eh?"
The Matchmaker frowned, changed direction, and continued tapping the small potted Lovesickness Tree.
In the pill chamber on Xiaoqiong Peak, more images surfaced in Li Changshou's mind, all combining his past and present lives — like his martial aunt wearing a sailor uniform, his junior sister wearing a school uniform, and...
Uh, why was he fantasizing about Youdu wearing a mecha suit?
"The Dao heart can be solid, but illusions cannot destroy it!"
The images in his mind instantly shattered. Li Changshou shook his head and continued thinking about the new pill furnace.
In the Matchmaker's Palace, the Lovesickness Tree attacked, and the clay figurine lightly twisted to the left.
"Hey! I—"
The Matchmaker's eyes widened. He grabbed the Lovesickness Tree and changed direction again, tapping toward the figurine. This time, the figurine did a backflip, nimbly dodging.
"Hahaha!"
Xuandu the Grand Master beside him couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The Matchmaker's expression suddenly became somewhat ugly. He had actually made a fool of himself in front of the Grand Master, and it was over the smallest of matters!
"Grow!"
The Matchmaker stroked the Lovesickness Tree, and it instantly expanded. Branches and leaves attacked the figurine en masse.
On the ground, Li Changshou's brows furrowed. In his mind, a beautiful pill furnace appeared. The furnace opened, and several graceful figures flew out...
Li Changshou immediately sat cross-legged and began reciting the Heart-Clearing Calm Breath Incantation;
What a joke — what hadn't he seen in his previous life?
Perhaps after becoming an immortal, his mental state was unstable, causing him to always think about these things.
What use was momentary pleasure?
At least first achieve immortality, then consider these matters! That would be the truly lasting shamelessness!
No, immortality didn't necessarily guarantee self-protection... He still couldn't get involved with marriage karma, which was optional.
Li Changshou shouted softly: "Quiet!"
In the Matchmaker's Palace, the clay figurine instantly performed a series of responses.
Retreating...
Dodging...
Flipping...
Jumping side to side...
Thomas Flap...
Regardless of how the Lovesickness Tree's countless branches whipped at him, not a single leaf touched his body.
The Matchmaker was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, almost to the point of qi reflux from anger;
The Grand Master beside him laughed: "Let me lend the Matchmaker a hand."
Immediately, his left hand glowed with starlight, his palm containing yin and yang, reaching toward the figurine from a distance.
The Matchmaker's eyes widened. He was about to shout "Don't!" but it was half a heartbeat too late. The Grand Master had already grasped the figurine's left arm.
But...
Crack!
The figurine's left arm was instantly broken. Its body nimbly jumped away, and after steadying itself, it even struck a "come at me" pose.
The entire scene fell into dead silence.
"Grand Master... you can't, you can't force it..."
"Cough, can this thing be repaired?"
"It can, but it's very time-consuming. Fortunately, there was no red thread on his left arm originally, so it's easier to repair..."
"Then I'll trouble the Matchmaker.
Well, Matchmaker, you're busy. I'll come back later and bring you some pills refined by Elder Laojun...
Pay special attention to this kid. Thank you for your trouble!"
With that, Xuandu the Grand Master hurriedly made a Dao salute, turned, and vanished in two steps, leaving only the Matchmaker in a state of confusion.
A moment ago, in the pill chamber of the Du Xian Sect.
Li Changshou frowned tightly. In his mind, chaos reigned.
He shook his head helplessly, reached into his robe, and from the Earth-6 treasure pouch took out one of his trump cards for calming his mind and qi.
A scroll. He opened it and looked inside. It showed a row of exquisitely painted, heavily made-up old women wearing rainbow-colored garments...
Li Changshou looked carefully, murmuring: "True affection isn't just admiring her youthful beauty, but also accepting her nagging in old age."
Instantly, the images in his heart shattered one by one, bringing a wave of peace.
"But where in cultivation is there old age?"
He smiled smugly, putting away this precious "Painting of a Hundred Beauties in Old Age." His mind instantly became much more peaceful.
A man should be harsh with himself.
By the way, it was one thing for him to occasionally think about his junior sister and little martial aunt, but why was he thinking about Youdu?
Tsk, toxic.