“Changshou! Xuanya!”

“Changshou! Aiya! Why have you come to such a dangerous place?”

Standing before the rock cave, Li Changshou watched two figures descending from the clouds, unable to suppress a slight smile. It was beyond his expectations that his own master had come searching as well…

Although seeing his old master’s agitated expression and that familiar whisk being drawn out, seemingly ready to deliver some benevolent strikes to his posterior, Li Changshou still felt a warmth in his heart…

In front of the sect elders, Li Changshou prepared to accept the strikes without dodging, letting Master vent his anger with a couple of hits. After all, it wouldn’t hurt.

Jiujiu and Elder Qiyuan jumped down together from the clouds. Initially, Jiujiu wanted to rush to Li Changshou first to check if he was missing any parts, but remembering Elder Qiyuan’s presence, she went straight to Youqin Xuanya instead.

Seeing Master raise the whisk to strike, Li Changshou put on a bitter face and closed his eyes to accept punishment, but the whisk only fell lightly on his shoulder without much force.

Then he heard Elder Qiyuan scold:

“How could you run off to this dangerous Northern Continent! If not for Ling’e waking your master, if something had happened to you here, your master wouldn’t even know where to collect your remains!”

“Master, disciple suddenly felt restless after being still too long and failed to report to master beforehand. Please forgive disciple’s offense.”

Li Changshou responded properly with a lowered head, his peripheral vision catching sight of the scene beside him…

Jiujiu had lifted Youqin Xuanya in an embrace, spinning around in place, laughing like a child; Youqin Xuanya’s cheeks were slightly flushed, repeatedly calling out “Master-Aunt” but unable to break free.

With swaying skirts and scattered dark hair, this “dance for two” was quite a sight to behold…

Objectively speaking, Youqin Xuanya’s beauty lay in her perfect proportions and flawless figure. Compared to Youqin Xuanya, Master-Aunt Jiujiu was slightly lacking in height, with a slight rounder face – their styles were as different as heaven and earth.

Li Changshou only glanced once before averting his gaze, obediently listening to his master’s endless scolding…

That previous situation was purely due to having been a gentleman for many years in his past life, habitually evaluating based on his aesthetic preferences. It held no practical significance.

Rather, Li Changshou was more focused now on the short Daoist’s actions…

Jiuwu was holding an unconscious old Daoist who had just been knocked out, landing before everyone.

Seeing that Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya were unharmed, this short Daoist maintained a neutral expression, and lightly shook his wrist, causing the old Daoist in his grasp to convulse several times before his energy instantly dispersed.

If Li Changshou hadn’t misread, this old Daoist’s Primordial Spirit would have just been directly shattered…

As if nothing had happened, Jiuwu tossed the Yuan Immortal’s corpse into the nearby forest, smiling as he watched the master-disciple reunion on this side.

This was also a ruthless character, killing people as easily as crushing insects.

Li Changshou’s fingers hidden in his sleeve made calculating gestures as he recalled various rumors he had heard about this short Daoist, making a simple summary:

[Jiuwu, Fifth Senior Brother to Master-Aunt Jiujiu, personal disciple of the Dudao Sect’s great elder Wangqing Shangxian, cultivated for over two thousand years, cultivation at the peak of True Immortal realm, half-step to Celestial Immortal.

His temperament is childlike, enjoying joking with others, but quite shrewd and sophisticated, extremely loyal to the sect, frequently handling various matters externally, with broad friendships inside and outside the sect;

Enjoys brewing wine and refining pills, with no obvious weaknesses.]

Li Changshou quickly concluded – with such a character, he need not deliberately try to forge connections, just doing his duty as a Dudao Sect disciple would suffice.

Beside them, Jiujiu finally released Youqin Xuanya, looking up with emotion that at least most of her wine money was saved.

Youqin Xuanya heard Elder Qiyuan still counting Li Changshou’s faults:

“Just look at you, rushing here at just Divine Transformation realm, aren’t you just dragging others down?”

“Elder Qiyuan!”

Youqin Xuanya immediately spoke up seriously, “Senior Brother Changshou hasn’t burdened anyone. On the contrary, the disciple has received senior brother’s help several times…”

“Indeed, disciple hasn’t been a burden, and has helped quite a bit.”

Li Changshou calmly cut off Youqin Xuanya’s words, showing a slightly proud expression as he smiled, “Master still doesn’t know, it was precisely through training here that disciple broke through to the Return to Void realm.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou revealed his aura – First Stage of Return to Void.

His energy had that slight instability, perfectly matching the appearance of someone who had just broken through.

Youqin Xuanya felt quite confused inside.

How did Senior Brother…

Suddenly seem like a different person?

His previous steadiness had suddenly changed to current slight frivolity.

Li Changshou winked at her, causing Youqin Xuanya to pause briefly before suddenly remembering Li Changshou’s earlier instructions.

She gently bit her lip, actually not knowing what else to say.

“Changshou, you broke through?”

Elder Qiyuan became excited for a moment, carefully sensing Li Changshou’s energy, immediately showing a smile with brightened eyes.

But Elder Qiyuan’s smile hadn’t fully bloomed before his face immediately turned stern again as he scolded: “Taking a hundred years to comprehend the Return to Void realm, yet still so smug! Look at Xuanya! She’s your junior sister, yet she’s already at the Fourth Stage of Return to Void!”

Li Changshou gave an awkward smile, seeming somewhat depressed by his master’s scolding…

His heart hadn’t wavered at all, and he even felt like laughing.

“Breaking through to Return to Void in a hundred years is quite good, that’s superior talent,” Jiuwu smiled from the side, “Junior Brother Qiyuan, my Second Senior Brother took two hundred years to comprehend the Return to Void realm, but then accumulated deeply before advancing rapidly, taking only twenty years to pass the tribulation and become immortal. Cultivation matters all depend on karmic fate, don’t be so harsh on your disciple. By the way Xuanya, do you know Yuanqing’s whereabouts?”

Youqin Xuanya’s pretty face sank as she stepped back two paces, knelt on one knee with the great sword on her back, clasped her hands, and lowered her head, saying firmly:

“Yuanqing is dead, died by disciple’s hand. Please punish me, Senior Uncle!”

Jiuwu frowned and asked: “You killed him yourself?”

“Yes, four sword strikes through the heart, destroying his Primordial Spirit,” Youqin Xuanya said with a lowered head, “This matter was done by the disciple alone, unrelated to Senior Brother Changshou. Senior Brother Changshou only used earth escape techniques to help disciples survive. A disciple is willing to accept any sect punishment!”

Jiuwu frowned in contemplation.

Jiujiu jumped two steps to Li Changshou’s side, initially wanting to elbow him, but stopped the motion in time before touching Li Changshou’s arm.

“Hey, what’s this about?” Jiujiu asked softly.

Li Changshou shook his head without answering.

Instead, it was Jiuwu who looked over upon hearing this, the short Daoist’s gaze like two sharp arrows, as if wanting to pierce through Li Changshou’s eyes.

Jiuwu asked in a deep voice: “Nephew Changshou, won’t you speak up in Xuanya’s defense?”

“Disciple doesn’t know the specific circumstances,” Li Changshou answered thus, his gaze calmly meeting Jiuwu’s.

“You are quite steady,” Jiuwu sighed, “Actually, on the way here I already searched that Yuan Immortal’s soul and learned the general course of events. Yuanqing harbored evil intentions first, and brought mortal royal power struggles into the Dudao Sect, which was already an unforgivable crime. But Nephew Xuanya, killing fellow disciples is a great sin. Regardless of the reason, this is an inescapable crime…”

Jiujiu cursed impatiently: “Can’t we just change this broken rule? Yuanqing struck first, right? Xuanya was counterattacking, right!”

Youqin Xuanya pressed her lips together without speaking further.

Seeing this, Li Changshou coughed from the side, “Senior Uncle Jiuwu, why don’t we leave this place first and meet up with the other uncles and aunts, then let Junior Sister Youqin tell the whole story? As long as Junior Sister Youqin tells the truth, the sect should be understanding.”

The latter half was meant for Youqin Xuanya to hear, and now Youqin Xuanya looked toward Li Changshou, her eyes carrying some helplessness and bitterness.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, showing a slight smile and nodding gently to her.

Consider it… some encouragement for her.

Jiuwu said: “Let’s do as Nephew Changshou suggests and go find them first.”

After speaking, Jiuwu couldn’t help scratching his head, also pondering how to help Youqin Xuanya avoid punishment;

But then thinking of Yuanqing’s master also being here, he became somewhat troubled.

The short Daoist made a white cloud, letting them each get on, and instructed Youqin Xuanya to stay behind him, showing temporary supervisory intent.

Li Changshou followed beside his master as everyone got on the white cloud and sat cross-legged;

Elder Qiyuan now clearly showed a different spirit – coming devastated but leaving proudly.

He was now master to a Return to Void realm disciple…

Before the white cloud rose, Jiuwu seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to look at Li Changshou, smiling: “Nephew Changshou?”

“Disciple is here.”

Jiuwu asked casually: “Won’t you collect those Three-Eyed Spider silk strands here? That’s quite a rare treasure.”

Li Changshou smiled naturally and replied: “Thank you for Senior Uncle’s concern, but these things are hard to retrieve once deployed. Disciple raises several nests of Three-Eyed Spiders on Little Qiong Peak. If Senior Uncle is also interested in these peculiar things, when we return disciple will move a nest over for Senior Uncle.”

Jiuwu raised his eyebrows at Li Changshou, “Then this senior uncle won’t decline too much. You’re quite promising, little one. In the future spend more time getting close to this senior uncle.”

“Disciple accepts the command,” Li Changshou smiled warmly and modestly, without saying more.

Saying too much leads to mistakes. Jiuwu seemed to have seen through some things about him, but being willing to ask for “hush money” also indicated Jiuwu didn’t want to meddle too much in a sect disciple’s cultivation.

However, Elder Qiyuan frowned at Li Changshou and said seriously: “You child, why are you so stingy? If not for your Senior Uncle Jiuwu coming to save you, who knows what would have happened to you now! How many nests of those immortal insects do you have? Keep one nest for yourself, move all the others to your Senior Uncle Jiuwu!”

“Cough!”

A breath of Dantian energy surged up in Li Changshou as he covered his mouth and coughed several times.

He struggled to maintain his smile while gritting his back teeth: “Yes… disciple accepts the command…”

Jiuwu in front saw this and laughed, sitting there chuckling a couple of times, but didn’t say more.

A small round face peered over from the side – it was Jiujiu circling behind Elder Qiyuan to Li Changshou’s left, carefully staring at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou instinctively leaned back.

Indeed, after leaning back, the angle adjusted well, allowing direct glimpses through the hemp clothing’s collar to…

Ahem, allowing effective defense against Master-Aunt Jiujiu’s sudden pranks.

Jiujiu blinked, “What’s this spider silk thing? Why do you and Fifth Brother seem so strange?”

Li Changshou said: “It’s a treasured material, disciple can’t explain it clearly either, perhaps Master-Aunt should ask Senior Uncle Jiuwu.”

“Hmph, forget it if you won’t say.”

Jiujiu sat up straight, seeming to recall something as she slapped her knee forcefully and said seriously:

“Oh right, Senior Brother Qiyuan, Fifth Brother! Look, what condition does Changshou have? Is it some cultivation problem, has he developed a heart demon?”

“Heart demon?”

Qiyuan, Jiuwu, and Youqin Xuanya all turned to look, while Jiujiu had already raised her hand to lightly poke Li Changshou’s earlobe.

The motion flowed smoothly – Jiujiu had already begun the action while speaking, giving Li Changshou no chance to react.

Li Changshou was instantly consumed by black lines, his left hand trembling and causing muscles throughout his body to start convulsing, while his eyes rolled back and foam formed at his mouth, making choking sounds as if about to suffocate…

Damn!

Has this little Master Aunt gone toxic too?

No, this cloud is toxic! Those with “wine” in their Daoist names are just ridiculous!