Why had his left armpit been so itchy lately?

While refining pills, Li Changshou moved his left arm, his brows slightly furrowing.

This was now his immortal body, unified inside and out, pure as jade;

How could someone as pure as him suddenly get…

An itchy armpit?

This wasn’t a small matter, but after half a month of repeated examination, Li Changshou still hadn’t found anything wrong.

Aftereffects of heaven’s punishment? That shouldn’t be it.

After much consideration, he could only attribute it to his immortal body not being perfect enough yet, and he would need to slowly consolidate his realm later.

After ascending, Li Changshou felt his mindset had changed slightly. Though the change wasn’t very obvious, his confidence had indeed grown somewhat, to the point that…

He even dared to comprehend the Dao directly in the pill room!

Sigh, he still needed to be more careful.

Better follow the old rules—firmly establish one small realm before moving on to the next.

His lifespan was still very long now, and the Great Tribulation of Conferring Godhood was far away, no need to rush;

Only by steadily building and consolidating his immortal foundation could he seek the path of longevity and have more strength to preserve his life in future tribulations.

His immortal sense detected Ling’e flying past from her thatched cottage, and Li Changshou deactivated some arrays, letting her proceed unimpeded to the pill room.

Soon, Ling’e jumped from her cloud into the pill room.

“Senior Brother!

Are you… warming your hands?”

“What warming hands? I’m refining pills.”

In the pill room, Li Changshou moved aside, revealing a three-foot-tall miniature pill furnace.

Lan Ling’e, who had floated over with a lunch box, blinked, looking at the much emptier pill room and the small three-foot-tall furnace on the ground, her slender finger tracing the outline of a large furnace in the air…

“Where’s the big one?”

“Blew up half a month ago,” Li Changshou sighed, carefully controlling the furnace fire of the small furnace.

Without the furnace’s own restrictions and arrays, and without means to stabilize the flames, pill refining had returned to its early years’ troubles, requiring constant control of the fire, making some immortal pills impossible to refine.

“Senior Brother, you need to be careful with protection when refining pills, is it really this dangerous?”

Lan Ling’e worriedly advised as she set down the deep purple openwork phoenix lunch box on a low table nearby.

Looking up, she noticed the ceiling seemed to have been replaced too.

She busied herself nearby, joining two tables together, activating the simple restrictions carved on the tables, then taking out freshly prepared dishes and carefully arranging them.

When Senior Brother wasn’t on the mountain, Lan Ling’e wore loose practice clothes most of the time.

When Senior Brother was on the mountain, even if they didn’t see each other for days, she would always wear beautiful immortal dresses, occasionally adding a touch to her eyebrows and applying some lip rouge…

“Senior Brother, did you invite Master Uncle Jiu Wu again this time?”

“Yes, Master Uncle Jiu Wu sent a paper crane letter yesterday saying he wanted to come to discuss something today.”

Li Changshou breathed out softly, the flames in the furnace gradually receding as the medicine began emanating strands of fragrance…

Thinking of how he had pranked Jiu Wu several years ago, making him take those oaths, Li Changshou couldn’t help but smile slightly.

This feast would serve as an apology to Master Uncle Jiu Wu.

After arranging the food and warming the wine, Lan Ling’e looked at the pouch hanging from her waist and giggled…

“What is it?” Li Changshou asked casually while waiting for the pills to finish, “Your mood recovered so quickly?

Looks like you’ve already forgotten last time’s lesson.”

“I haven’t! Haven’t!”

Lan Ling’e quickly frowned, putting on a troubled expression, and said pitifully: “Senior Brother, I was wrong to make you angry before…”

“Alright,” Li Changshou smiled, “What did you make for me? Take it out.”

Ling’e’s eyes brightened as she said happily: “Hehe, I knew Senior Brother was spying on me!”

Li Changshou sighed helplessly: “No need to spy, I can tell what you’re thinking from a single strand of your hair moving.”

“What’s that supposed to mean,” Ling’e immediately became deflated, casually tossing over the pouch and walking out with puffed cheeks.

“Stupid Senior Brother, I made you a robe!

I’m going back to cultivate, I’ll come clean up the dishes later!”

Li Changshou caught the pouch, looked inside to see a plain deep cyan-colored robe, and showed a satisfied smile.

Indeed, cultivating his little junior sister hadn’t been in vain…

This robe was exactly to his liking.

Sitting in the rocking chair outside the pill room, Li Changshou quietly waited for Jiu Wu to arrive, eyes closed as he pondered mystical techniques.

Soon, the short Daoist figure appeared outside Small Jade Peak;

Li Changshou rose to welcome him, deactivating the surrounding arrays and bowed to this Master Uncle—everything exactly as before.

But this time, the short Daoist spun around several times before landing a hundred zhang away, hands behind his back as he examined everything…

His gaze is full of vigilance.

Li Changshou smiled without speaking, quietly standing by the door waiting, watching this Master Uncle approach step by step, not showing much reaction.

When still three zhang apart, the two looked at each other and smiled.

“Ahem!”

Jiu Wu coughed lightly and said calmly: “Well, this time… you don’t need this Master Uncle’s guidance on arrays?”

Li Changshou smiled: “This disciple didn’t prepare in advance. Master Uncle said you were coming, so this disciple just had Junior Sister prepare some food and wine.

If Master Uncle wishes to guide this disciple in array cultivation, this disciple does have some questions.”

“No, no,” Jiu Wu immediately shook his head, “Your Master Uncle is old, can’t guide anymore, can’t guide any more.”

“Master Uncle’s attainment in arrays is far beyond what this disciple could achieve.”

Li Changshou said seriously: “This disciple has only made some minor innovations in insignificant areas;

For truly powerful grand arrays, that requires true array masters like Master Uncle with high cultivation and sufficient materials.”

Jiu Wu raised his short thick eyebrows, beaming with joy.

“Not going to leave me a recording orb this time?”

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, about to step aside to invite Master Uncle in when Jiu Wu grinned smugly and pulled out…

Two fist-sized crystal orbs from his Daoist robe.

“Hmph hmph, I brought them!”

Li Changshou: …

“As long as Master Uncle is happy,” Li Changshou made a welcoming gesture, “This time this disciple has no favors to ask, just wants to hear Master Uncle’s teachings. Please come in, Master Uncle.”

Thus began a slow, cautious advance, checking every third step.

Jiu Wu noticed the furnace’s unusual state and couldn’t help analyzing what arrangements would result from a pill furnace becoming a small furnace.

Finally, after much effort, Jiu Wu and Li Changshou both sat down.

Looking at the feast before him…

Jiu Wu narrowed his eyes, took out a spirit beast rabbit from his sleeve, and began feeding it to test the food.

Li Changshou watched with amusement, quietly waiting for Jiu Wu to finish his antics.

Finally, after Jiu Wu confirmed Li Changshou hadn’t tampered with anything today and took out his jade chopsticks, he cleared his throat, showed a troubled expression, and said solemnly:

“Your Master Uncle Jiu Shi is currently in seclusion seeking breakthrough, nephew…

You absolutely must not do what you did last time.”

Li Changshou said: “This disciple can swear an oath that here and now, I sincerely just want to drink and chat with Master Uncle!”

“Then swear,” Jiu Wu immediately nodded, “Come on, quickly swear.”

“This disciple was just saying that casually. If I swore an oath, wouldn’t that suggest this disciple truly had ulterior motives?”

Li Changshou smiled: “Master Uncle, let me toast you.”

Jiu Wu snorted with laughter, and raised his wine cup to gesture toward Li Changshou, but only took a small sip.

“Let’s discuss business before drinking,” Jiu Wu said, “This time, according to the oath this Master Uncle swore last time, I’ve come to discuss with you in advance.

If you agree to this matter, the sect will give good rewards;

If you don’t agree, then consider this Master Uncle never mentioned it.”

“Oh?” Li Changshou thought briefly, then understood what it was about, “If Master Uncle wants to promote linked arrays within the sect, there’s really no need to ask this disciple.”

Jiu Wu frowned: “How did you know? I haven’t mentioned this to anyone!”

“Just guessed,” Li Changshou picked up some spirit fish cooked by his junior sister, the tender white flesh melting in his mouth, fragrant outside and sweet inside, lingering on the taste buds.

“So you agree?” Jiu Wu’s eyes immediately squinted with joy, “Come, tell me, how do you arrange your linked arrays?”

So he hadn’t figured it out…

Li Changshou said: “Actually, this disciple saw some fragments in ancient texts and summarized from there.”

Then, Li Changshou took out a sheepskin scroll.

He naturally wouldn’t expose his trump cards so easily;

What he took out now was just a theoretical solution, used to solve the key difficulty of linked arrays—the compatibility of different array foundations.

It was still quite an early solution.

It also noted references, all from neglected ancient texts in the outer hall of the Dao Collection Hall.

This solution was completely different from his current ‘array foundation unit’ approach, with the main drawback being a waste of materials, but it could still achieve the effect of arranging linked arrays.

From the first day of building arrays around the pill room, this sheepskin scroll had been waiting to be brought out, and today it finally “fulfilled its wish.”

Jiu Wu took it and read carefully.

After a while, the short Daoist couldn’t help slapping his thigh, repeatedly praising its brilliance.

“I thought I’d need to spend some effort persuading you, didn’t expect you’d bring it out so readily!

This Master Uncle’s high regard for you wasn’t wasted, wasn’t wasted at all!

This can truly be presented to the sect?”

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, saying: “Naturally.”

“Ah, who would have thought!

This poor Daoist misjudged you by my standards, thinking you’d be someone who hoards secrets!”

Jiu Wu sighed with emotion, draining his wine cup in one gulp, “I deserve punishment, deserve punishment!”

Li Changshou said seriously: “The sect is my home, its prosperity depends on everyone.

Master Uncle, this…

What rewards can the sect give?”

Jiu Wu smiled: “You’ll get your share! What do you want?”

“If possible,” Li Changshou pointed at the pill furnace nearby.

Jiu Wu was stunned for a moment, then nodded in agreement, adding:

“If the sect can’t find a furnace you like when your Master Uncle Jiu Shi comes out of seclusion, I’ll have her make one for you!

Her equipment forging skills can’t compare to the several Heavenly Immortal Elders who specialize in forging, but she’s quite skilled!”

Li Changshou immediately smiled, repeatedly toasting Jiu Wu.

For a time, wine cups clinked back and forth, Master Uncle and nephew getting along very well…

When they had drunk until slightly tipsy, that food-testing rabbit was, at Li Changshou’s suggestion, directly roasted in the small furnace into ‘medicinal fragrant crispy rabbit.’

The taste was quite good.

Three days after this drinking session, Jiu Wu came to find Li Changshou, taking him to Dan Ding Peak to select a new pill furnace.

Dan Ding Peak was a lineage within Du Xian Men specializing in pill and equipment refining. Though their output of pills and magical treasures wasn’t large, they had quite a reputation in East Victory Divine Continent, counting as one of Du Xian Men’s few bright spots.

Just as Li Changshou was riding his cloud leaving Small Jade Peak with Jiu Wu, a graceful figure flew over from Breaking Heaven Peak’s direction.

Detecting this figure with his immortal sense, Li Changshou frowned slightly.

Without needing to see her face clearly, just from that graceful form and near-perfect figure curves, plus that familiar fire-red long dress, he knew who it was.

You Qin Xuanya.

On Small Jade Peak, Ling’e was cultivating under the tree…

Li Changshou thought for a moment, then decided not to intervene, continuing to chat with Master Uncle Jiu Wu.

These Master Uncle and nephew, when not scheming against each other, actually had quite compatible interests.

…

Under the willow tree, You Qin Xuanya stood quietly, stating her purpose for coming.

Though she very much wanted to come to Small Jade Peak to see that Senior Brother, she couldn’t come without reason. After coming out of seclusion, she had thought for several days and nights before finally coming up with a method.

She came to seek guidance on earth element tunneling cultivation insights.

After stating her purpose, You Qin Xuanya lowered her head and waited quietly, feeling in her heart that such an excuse was too forced, not knowing if it could fool…

She heard some rustling sounds but didn’t hear Ling’e’s reply;

You Qin Xuanya looked up and saw a stone tablet with several lines carved on it:

[Senior Brother just left

I’ve been punished by Senior Brother not to speak

Senior Sister, please sit inside and wait a while]

Ling’e secretly laughed, thinking that she had promised Senior Brother not to speak to strangers, and Senior Sister You Qin was quite strange to her, after all.

Even though they had slept together before.

Saying this, Senior Sister You Qin would surely take the hint and leave;

The two characters for “left” were somewhat ambiguous, easily taken to mean leaving the mountain.

“That’s fine too.”

Too?

“Sorry to trouble Junior Sister.”

You Qin Xuanya bowed to Ling’e, then walked by herself toward the open-doored thatched cottage nearby.

Ling’e tilted her head, about to speak but couldn’t help slapping her forehead…

This Senior Sister…

Was she poisoned or something?

Did she not understand even this basic social etiquette?