“Master, why are you in there too?”

“Well… isn’t your master here looking for you all? Come on, let’s go up! Don’t make your master lose face here!”

In the corner of Ao Yi’s vision, Elder Yuan Ze hastily floated back to the heavens with two young women, flying swiftly. Upon returning to the crowd, they acted as if nothing had happened…

Then, Li Changshou flew into the air and bowed toward them.

“Little Qiong Peak disciple Li Changshou pays respects to…”

The familiar voice slowly spread through the night sky. Ao Yi’s legs trembled slightly as he stumbled half a step forward.

He had lost…

Or rather, he had lost again.

At age ten, when he wanted to concede defeat, this person stepped back first and admitted defeat, causing him to lose.

Today…

With the Water Condensing Spirit Zhenzhu given by his mother, he couldn’t break through these simple entrapment formations;

Wielding the Ice Crystal Sword bestowed by his master, he couldn’t cut through the confusion in this small space;

What face did he have left to raise his sword and seek another duel with this person?

Yet, how could he be content?

He had finally thought of a plan to make a name for himself, taking advantage of the custom of Golden Tortoise Island’s cultivators who loved to debate the Dao everywhere, challenging human prodigies one by one…

Why, here, at the very beginning of his plan…

Ao Yi stood there, his gaze full of bewilderment. He didn’t know whether he should follow his heart, bow to Li Changshou, and say “I am not your match” before turning to leave;

Or continue with his plan, disregarding face, and persist in sparring with this Humanity School disciple…

Ao Yi sighed inwardly, still unwilling to act so shamelessly;

He put away the spirit pearl, sheathed his spiritual sword, stepped forward twice, and made a ceremonial bow toward Li Changshou who stood before the elixir room:

“Friend, I have learned much from your masterful formations today.”

After speaking, Ao Yi turned to leave;

But a Heavenly Immortal from the Severing Sect in the air frowned slightly and said calmly:

“Since friend Changshou has already emerged from seclusion, there’s no need for formation contests. Let the two of them spar directly. This isn’t about winning or losing—our Golden Tortoise Island has already lost this round—it’s about helping Junior Brother Ao Yi overcome the demon in his heart.”

Ao Yi looked up, wanting to speak but holding back.

But a Long Elder from the Crossing Immortal Gate had already spoken: “Changshou, are you willing to have another match with the Dragon Palace Prince? He will seal his cultivation to match your Returning Void Realm seventh stage.”

Li Changshou didn’t hesitate, having long anticipated both sides’ reactions;

This match couldn’t be avoided, as both sides had already become somewhat competitive over the formations and face.

He bowed his head and said: “This disciple will follow the sect’s arrangements.”

Immediately, the smiles of the elders in the air grew brighter;

The elders had already reached an unspoken consensus that after the Golden Tortoise Island group left, they would reward this unexpectedly impressive young disciple.

At present, the group returned to Breaking Sky Peak.

When they came from Breaking Sky Peak, there were only five or six figures, but when returning, clouds were filling the sky, a dense mass under the starry night…

Li Changshou obediently followed behind the immortals. Jiu Wu caught up beside him, pulled his sleeve, and fell back a bit…

“Take this.”

Jiu Wu slipped a treasure pouch into Li Changshou’s sleeve and transmitted: “This Dragon Palace Prince carries two Posterior Heaven Spiritual Treasures, and that sword is extraordinary. If he tries to harm you later, just take out what’s in this pouch and throw it at him. This is my master’s Purple Jade Seal, also a spiritual treasure. I asked for it to be lent to you. Remember, it’s just borrowed! Not given to you!”

Li Changshou could barely hold back his smile, but he took out the pouch and slipped it back into Jiu Wu’s sleeve.

Oh? This Senior Uncle’s sleeve also had several treasure pouches sewn in.

Who knows what good things were inside?

“Senior Uncle need not worry, I have my way of dealing with him later,” Li Changshou transmitted back. “In this battle, I won’t let him win… As long as he doesn’t suddenly transform into his dragon form while fighting.”

Jiu Wu was momentarily confused, and Li Changshou whispered a few more words;

The short Daoist raised his eyebrows and snickered, “That’s… isn’t that a bit much?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “The Way must be applied flexibly—this is what my master often teaches.”

“By the way, where is your master? He should come watch you spar.”

“Uh,” Li Changshou used his immortal sense to look at a sleeping tree stump hidden in the dense forest several hundred miles outside the mountain gate, and his mouth twitched slightly as he left a strand of immortal sense circling there.

He replied: “I don’t know either, master has been troubled lately and probably went out for a walk.”

Jiu Wu sighed softly: “That’s true since your master became a Turbid Immortal, the immortal path isn’t easy. Don’t think too much about it now, fight well in this match. Winning or losing doesn’t matter, just don’t look too pathetic.”

Li Changshou nodded.

Up ahead, an elder had already turned to look at the two of them. Jiu Wu dared not say more and drove his cloud to catch up with Li Changshou.

…

Moments later, before the Crossing Immortal Hall on Breaking Sky Peak, on that level square before the hall.

An elder threw out dozens of night-light magical pearls, illuminating the place as bright as day;

Over a hundred figures stood before the hall, and within the Crossing Immortal Gate, the spiritual sense and immortal sense of most cultivators were focused on this place.

The Golden Tortoise Island group didn’t say anything more;

Jiu Wu discussed with several elders and voluntarily stepped forward, announcing in a clear voice:

“Sparring and debating the Dao is meant to verify each other’s Ways and understand one’s principles, not to show off brute force. Both sides should stop at the demonstration, with no intent to harm. This space before the hall is the boundary, continuing the Dragon Palace’s rules from that day—stepping out counts as losing, and killing treasures is not allowed.”

Both Ao Yi and Li Changshou agreed.

Then, Ao Yi put away the spiritual treasure sword at his waist and took out a pair of silver-white gloves from his chest, putting them on methodically;

He turned and cupped his hands to the five Heavenly Immortals from Golden Tortoise Island:

“Please, Senior Brother, seal my cultivation to the Returning Void Realm seventh stage.”

“Very well,” a middle-aged Daoist nodded slightly, drew a talisman in the air with his left hand, and struck it onto Ao Yi. Ao Yi’s aura instantly dropped.

“This talisman can seal you for one hour.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Then, Ao Yi and Li Changshou each walked into the arena, standing fifteen zhang apart, their spiritual energies connecting.

Suddenly, someone called out:

“Senior Brother Changshou!”

Li Changshou turned to look and saw You Qin Xuanya in her red dress, watching him from before the hall, her eyes showing slight worry.

“Don’t be too aggressive.”

“Mm,” Li Changshou smiled and nodded, purely out of politeness.

Li Changshou looked at Ao Yi and said: “Prince Ao Yi, today is different from the Demon Sweeping Assembly. I might win in an ungentlemanly way.”

Shame filled Ao Yi’s youthful face as he replied in a clear, moist voice: “Friend, please feel free to make your move.”

Li Changshou nodded, swept back the front of his Daoist robe with one hand and held it behind him, then made a gesture of invitation.

What an imposing opening!

But Li Changshou had already made his calculations.

The following battle style was something he had carefully considered.

—Stability with a bit of… ahem, seeking victory through stability, without revealing anything extra!

Ao Yi took a light breath, his expression becoming solemn as a mysterious ice fire appeared around him.

Yellow paper talismans flew out from Li Changshou’s sleeve, instantly spreading out over a hundred talismans!

Ao Yi had experienced this move before, but now he felt these yellow paper talismans were more powerful than last time.

Pausing his steps, Ao Yi’s figure shot forward along the ground, several mysterious ice fires transforming into dragon shadows coiling around him, charging strongly toward Li Changshou together!

This time, Li Changshou surprisingly didn’t use his steps to dodge, but stood quietly there, his mouth rapidly chanting spells, the syllables so fast they became unclear, like humming.

Ao Yi pounced in an instant!

A punch carrying the force to split mountains and crack stones struck directly at Li Changshou’s chest, but at this moment Ao Yi frowned, already prepared to withdraw his punch at any time.

But…

Whoosh!

Li Changshou’s figure ducked, instantly diving into the ground that rippled like water!

Earth Escape!

Because of his previous journey to the Northern Continent where he had saved You Qin Xuanya twice using Earth Escape, this was already known within the sect, so Li Changshou could now use it openly.

Ao Yi’s punch hit nothing but air as he landed and charged forward more than ten steps…

The Second Dragon Prince turned his head to look back, only to see the yellow talismans had already formed a formation, with bursts of fire exploding one after another!

Though it was ordinary spell fire, under Li Changshou’s simulated Returning Void Realm seventh stage spiritual power, it displayed considerable might.

Ao Yi protected his face with both arms, his figure dodging left and right, continuously being struck by the dense spell fires…

Li Changshou moved silently underground, searching for opportunities to ambush;

He could lose or win—comparing the two, it made little difference to him.

The key was how to lose or how to win.

Facing Ao Yi head-on in a grand battle, whether winning or losing, his image would be remembered in the hearts of the sect’s disciples;

But if he relied on Earth Escape and talisman techniques, avoiding confrontation, winning ungainly, or losing without regret, most people would think he was merely ordinary.

A mediocre immortal seedling skilled in formations and Earth Escape—his character image would instantly become more rounded.

Winning this way would be seen as merely clever by others, and no one would view him as some kind of ‘hero’ figure.

Well, the poisonous side might think differently, but that loophole wasn’t within consideration.

Even if he gained some unfavorable reputation, it didn’t matter;

Li Changshou only wanted the incident to quickly settle and his cultivation life to return to its original stability!

So…

Pardon me, little dragon!

The talisman formation continuously burst with flames, making Ao Yi quite disheveled, though it couldn’t add much to his injuries.

Ao Yi felt somewhat anxious inside, constantly searching for Li Changshou’s figure.

The ground was calm and waveless, seemingly with a trace of lingering aura…

There!

Ao Yi immediately charged forward, throwing out a punch that exploded the ground into a crater, but there was no trace of Li Changshou below.

At this moment, a large hand quietly emerged from the ground behind Ao Yi, this hand bearing a talisman that made it undetectable by immortal sense, holding a sharp magical dagger, aimed at Ao Yi’s heel…

Stab!

A small jet of blood instantly spurted out, and Ao Yi immediately jumped up, turning his head to look, but the large hand instantly retracted into the ground!

Ao Yi drew in a sharp cold breath, but his quickly thrown palm strike hit nothing again;

He could only widen his eyes and immediately jump into the air!

The talisman formation that had long been waiting unleashed its power together, dozens more yellow talismans had appeared unnoticed in the air, exploding into a sky full of flames, directly knocking Ao Yi’s figure down!

Among these spell fires, this time was a strand of extraordinary true flame, burning Ao Yi’s flesh with intense pain, leaving his body covered in scorch marks, making him even more disheveled…

That was Li Changshou’s spirit flame plus a strand of his essence and spirit, simulating [Appropriately Powered Three-Realm True Flame]!

Just as Ao Yi landed, another hand that couldn’t be detected by immortal sense emerged from his blind spot…

This time, the hand was holding a magical short sword, aimed at the back of Ao Yi’s knee…

Stab!

A second small jet of blood sprayed out!

Several light chuckles spread from before the hall…

Ao Yi turned his head in anger to glare, but the hand had instantly retracted into the ground, with no trace of Li Changshou to be seen!

With his delicate face deeply furrowed, Ao Yi caught another trace of lingering aura in the ground and punched out a crater half a zhang deep…

The square before the main hall was paved with very sturdy, simply refined stone materials;

Even with his cultivation sealed, being able to punch out such a crater showed Ao Yi’s strength, catching the attention of immortals on both sides…

But it was useless.

Those lingering auras were just Li Changshou’s bait—when Ao Yi pounced, he would ambush from behind, frustrating Ao Yi until he could only escape into the air.

But the formation above changed, a pillar of fire struck down from nowhere, once again pressing Ao Yi to the ground!

As soon as Ao Yi’s figure landed, his legs seemed to sink into a quagmire, the ground instantly solidifying, trapping him in place!

Li Changshou’s words “I might win in an ungentlemanly way” echoed in Ao Yi’s mind, and he suddenly realized…

Today was different from the Demon Sweeping Assembly—this was solid ground, not the ‘ground’ formed by water lotus platforms back then!

This Crossing Immortal Gate disciple could use his most skilled Earth Escape!

It had to be said, that this Earth Escape technique was quite formidable!

But!

“Ha!”

Ao Yi let out a low shout, his hands quickly forming seals as mysterious ice flames around him condensed into azure dragon shadows!

The dragon shadows howled in all directions, wildly bombarding the ground, sending stone fragments flying everywhere, instantly maximizing the light effects!

Li Changshou, hiding underground, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration…

This Dragon Prince knew the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms!?

Wouldn’t he be scolded as a ‘rebellious son’ by his Dragon King father?

At this moment, there should be background music…

Before the hall, the various Crossing Immortal Gate elders mostly wore expressions between laughter and tears;

They naturally all felt that Li Changshou using escape techniques to avoid direct combat was somewhat unsightly;

Yet coincidentally, at this time this young prince clearly couldn’t do anything against their disciple, and Li Changshou had already secured an undefeatable position, so the elders felt this was ultimately a good thing.

Only the few elders responsible for managing the sect’s affairs were feeling the pain…

Building this square had cost quite a few precious materials!

Look!

The dragon shadows Ao Yi summoned were smashing everywhere;

In the dust, Li Changshou’s hand again quietly emerged behind Ao Yi, this time holding…

A three-foot-long sword…

Aimed at Ao Yi’s thigh, thrust forward with another stab.

Ding!

This time no blood spurted!

Ao Yi turned his head in fury to glare, a phantom of dragon scales appearing outside his thigh as he forcefully pulled his feet from the ground!

However, the formation above began another wild bombardment, giving Ao Yi no time to think;

Li Changshou hid below ground, quietly waiting for the next opportunity to strike, secretly controlling the formation, continuously replenishing the needed talismans…

Above, the talisman formation would arrange into a snake shape one moment, then into a figure ‘8’ the next, condensing groups of spell fires and thick pillars of flame, making Ao Yi extremely disheveled…

And whenever Ao Yi’s figure landed, that hand undetectable by spiritual or immortal sense would emerge from his blind spot, holding daggers, short swords, and long swords, continuously stabbing at his legs.

Ao Yi kept roaring in rage, but it was only impotent fury;

Li Changshou’s repeated sneak attacks had already left many minor flesh wounds on Ao Yi’s legs…

For a time, throughout the Crossing Immortal Gate, the joyful laughter of young disciples filled the air.

You Qin Xuanya, who had been full of worry, now couldn’t help but purse her lips to hold back laughter;

The usually stern-faced Master Wangqing was now facing the wall inside the hall, thinking who knows what, his shoulders occasionally trembling…

Moments later, Ao Yi was completely blackened, constantly panting, his long hair disheveled;

The formation unleashed its power, and his figure was again pressed to the ground by a pillar of fire, but he stubbornly refused to fall…

At this moment, behind Ao Yi, a black shadow emerged from the ground…

A cold aura spread throughout the arena;

Everyone knew that shadow must be that hand appearing again, but this time… this time…

A cold light burst through the dust—it was a spike, no, not one spike, but countless spikes!

This time, the emerging hand was holding—a magical spiked mace!

The hand emerging from the ground raised the spiked mace, aiming at Ao Yi’s most vulnerable spot behind him, silently approaching…

At this moment, Ao Yi was searching everywhere, his spirit already somewhat dazed, not noticing the approaching danger…

All at once, the spectators widened their eyes;

You Qin Xuanya, Han Zhi, Rou Rou, and many female disciples of the Crossing Immortal Gate all covered their faces, not daring to look further;

Two Golden Tortoise Island cultivators were so angry their hands trembled;

Many male disciples’ Adam’s apples bobbed as they frantically swore in their hearts never to spar with Li Changshou from Little Qiong Peak!

“Enough! We concede!”

Elder Yuan Ze shouted helplessly, and the spiked mace instantly vanished into the ground.

Ao Yi turned his head, looking at Yuan Ze in confusion, but then lowered his head with a sigh.

He truly had no way to counter the Earth Escape.

His spirit relaxing, Ao Yi stumbled back two steps, the spiritual energy within him surging as he sat on the ground…

Really…

Lost…

He…

Just then, a clean white hand extended from the side, reaching out before Ao Yi.

Ao Yi looked up to see Li Changshou’s gentle face.

“Shall we call this a draw? If I faced you head-on, I wouldn’t be your match, so I could only use such underhanded tactics. After all, this is my Crossing Immortal Gate, and I had to try my best not to let our sect lose a round. I hope you can understand. My apologies for any offense.”

Ao Yi’s throat trembled, and he immediately showed a strong smile, his eyes somewhat reddened.

The human race wasn’t just full of cold-faced old Daoists like those demons…

There were also gentle people like Changshou…

Ao Yi raised his hand, grasped Li Changshou’s extended palm, and stood up with the momentum.