“Eh? Little Changshou, why do you look so worn out after just one night? Did you… secretly do something bad, bullying our little Ling’e?”

In the early morning, as the second phase of the sect competition was about to begin, Master Jiujiu floated back carrying her spiked club and asked with feigned concern upon seeing Li Changshou’s slightly haggard appearance.

“The pressure is a bit high, after all, the Heaven’s Cycle competition is about to start,” Li Changshou replied with a smile, while inwardly letting out a sigh.

Was it easy for him? Not at all!

For his own sake, and for his master and junior sister, to avoid the great tribulation of Investiture of the Gods by seeking refuge in the Heavenly Court…

Yesterday, he had to seize the opportunity, using his paper clone to create a “fortuitous connection with the Jade Emperor.”

Afterward, he frantically analyzed whether his advice would harm the Human Dao School or the Dao Sect, how high the risk of exposure was, and whether it would invite displeasure from the Sages or the Three Schools’ masters…

It wasn’t until half an hour ago that Li Changshou finally convinced himself: there was no need to worry, just wait and see the results.

This had left him mentally exhausted, making his complexion appear poor.

Those Celestial and Golden Immortals of the Crossing to Immortality Sect had no idea that their junior disciple had already secretly established connections with the Heavenly Court…

Li Changshou understood in his heart that actively scheming would inevitably trigger various karmic consequences.

But some things would never yield results without taking initiative…

Like bearing fruit—though not in the sense of becoming a father.

Several bell tolls rang out, and the jade platform floated over from the main hall again. Today there were even more guests present.

Li Changshou maintained his Wind Speech technique while waiting for the sect competition’s Heaven’s Cycle phase to begin.

The jade slips in Li Changshou and Ling’e’s hands retained their original numbers, though their victory counts had been reset to zero.

Li Changshou naturally wasn’t too worried about the upcoming matches.

But with three hundred and sixty competitors being narrowed down to one hundred and eight, Ling’e felt somewhat pressured.

Although she had outstanding talent and constantly received extra guidance from her senior brother, along with several magical treasures for protection, her cultivation years were still relatively short.

Though Li Changshou had told her not to worry about winning or losing, her senior brother had previously set a small goal for her, and Ling’e had developed some attachment to it in her heart.

Before the competition began, Ling’e hesitated for a moment. Taking advantage of when “Little Master-Uncle was patrolling the mountain with her spiked club,” she whispered in her senior brother’s ear:

“Senior Brother, could I… have a breakthrough enlightenment?”

The implication was to use enlightenment as an excuse to reveal more of her true cultivation level.

Enlightenment was naturally something that could be encountered but not sought.

—Though some unusual types could habitually stumble upon it, this wasn’t a generally applicable reference point.

Since beginning her cultivation, Ling’e had only experienced three enlightenments, all under Li Changshou’s guidance.

Li Changshou pondered briefly before transmitting his voice in reply:

“You may, but pay attention to the details. If we’re going to do it, it must be done properly.”

Ling’e’s expression immediately turned solemn as she began contemplating the details of her upcoming enlightenment.

Then, she closed her eyes in concentration, pretending to enter a state of enlightenment while secretly adjusting the second version of the Turtle Breathing Technique, creating the appearance of unstable spiritual energy.

Above, the Vice Sect Leader began delivering an important speech.

He encouraged the eliminated disciples, motivated those who advanced to the next round to continue fighting with their true selves, compete with spirit, follow the natural course, and announced that the sect’s rewards were already on their way.

After the Vice Sect Leader finished speaking, Elder Ge, the sect’s regular “master of ceremonies,” stepped forward to announce the start of the second round of competition. Immediately, the jade slips into two disciples’ hands lit up…

Li Changshou wondered if the so-called drawing of lots might be elders secretly pointing at two jade slips.

He quietly observed and quickly discovered something peculiar…

There were two Supreme Elders whose fingers would move slightly whenever the disciples’ jade slips lit up.

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly. He had thought these jade slips were a complete set of mysterious treasures, but it turned out…

Indeed, some things that appeared sophisticated might have very simple principles.

Li Changshou’s turn came early today, with the sixteenth match being between him and a senior sister disciple.

The entire process of the match went smoothly, both sides had a good experience, and that senior sister’s much-anticipated Little Qiong Peak spiked club never appeared.

Li Changshou’s formation of talismans barely won with one move. During the process, he only used earth escape to dodge one attack before quickly emerging from the ground.

Naturally, Li Changshou would never do something as tasteless as using earth escape to pass under someone’s skirt…

When Li Changshou returned to his position on his cloud, he saw Ling’e still in deep concentration with her eyes closed, slight traces of the Dao floating around her…

‘Junior Sister’s acting skills have improved lately.’

Li Changshou felt quite gratified in his heart. If she hadn’t told him beforehand, he would have been fooled by his junior sister’s deceptively realistic performance.

Li Changshou didn’t interfere, just sat on his cushion and quietly slid backward slightly toward a space.

‘Junior Sister has grown up…’

The matches below continued, with three hundred and sixty disciples needing to fight nine rounds to determine rankings.

At the third quarter of the Snake Hour, the jade slip lying across Ling’e’s skirt trembled slightly and began to glow.

Ling’e remained completely unaware, surrounded by traces of the Dao, her hands in an orchid position on her knees, her pretty face becoming increasingly radiant.

Li Changshou saw this and smiled inwardly…

‘Little Junior Sister is overdoing the act a bit.’

Then, Li Changshou’s brows furrowed as he noticed something was wrong and immediately moved to set up a barrier around Ling’e.

But before he could act, the jade slip suddenly made a rapid clicking sound.

“Hmm?”

Ling’e slowly opened her eyes, which were clear as the most pristine starry sky without clouds or moon.

But within that clarity was a hint of confusion.

Seeing this, Li Changshou’s heart relaxed slightly.

Ling’e had truly broken through. Being interrupted at the critical moment, it was fortunate she hadn’t gone into cultivation deviation…

However, seeking a breakthrough in such a noisy environment was quite imprudent.

Then came a shout from an official in the arena:

“Xin One Two One!

It’s your turn to enter the arena for the match!”

“Yes!” Ling’e quickly responded, standing up while holding the jade slip.

But as soon as she stood, the spiritual energy around her suddenly surged like the tides, and due to her recent breakthrough, waves of mysterious Dao essence spread outward!

In an instant, across the jade platform and surrounding areas, countless immortal and spiritual consciousnesses probed toward this location.

Ling’e’s face first turned pale, then she realized the source of the problem.

The Turtle Breathing Technique had failed for a moment due to her breakthrough in the realm!

Her true cultivation level of the fifth stage of the Return to Void realm was exposed just like that!

What… what should she do?

Ling’e’s slender white neck stiffened as she weakly turned her head to look at her senior brother, only to see him looking at her with an expression full of admiration…

The same as everyone else’s expression!

This…

It’s… all over…

…

Ling’e was almost crying with anxiety at this moment. How could such an unfortunate thing as an on-the-spot breakthrough happen to her?

“Junior Sister! How did you break through so many levels at once!” Li Changshou exclaimed in shock, while the surrounding senior brothers and sisters also let out exclamations of amazement.

“Breaking through six levels at once?”

“What kind of divine talent is this? Is our Crossing to Immortality Sect about to produce another cultivation prodigy?”

“Comparing ourselves to others is deadly, comparing our Dao to others is wasteful.”

Ling’e couldn’t help but cover her face with one hand. Below in the arena, the two officials had stopped urging her forward and were also looking up with admiration.

Just then, Li Changshou transmitted his voice to her: “Don’t look so dejected. Your expression now should be outwardly calm but inwardly joyful, while trying not to let others see how happy you are.

Don’t worry, your senior brother is very understanding.

When you get back, it’ll just be three thousand six hundred repetitions of the Stability Scripture.”

Ling’e’s mouth twitched slightly, but a weight lifted from her heart.

As long as Senior Brother was still speaking to her…

She immediately adjusted her expression and, gripping the jade slip, rode her cloud forward under everyone’s gazes, her spiritual energy still slightly unstable.

This wasn’t an act—her energy was unstable.

Speaking of unfortunate circumstances, the most unlucky person was her opponent below, a male disciple in the third stage of the Return to Void realm…

Eager to return and explain to her senior brother that this wasn’t intentional, Ling’e unleashed all her magical treasure powers at once, decisively sending the male disciple flying.

She gave a graceful bow and departed dashingly on her cloud.

The gazes in the arena were immediately filled with even more admiration and praise.

However, as soon as Ling’e turned around, she discovered that her cushion was now… over ten zhang away from her senior brother’s position.

Li Changshou’s voice transmitted to her ear:

“Three ground rules.

Be well-behaved from now on. The stone slabs on the peak are almost worn out from your scraping.”

“Oh,” Ling’e gave Li Changshou a pitiful look before sitting on her cushion, secretly distressed.

A hundred years of the sleeping brother plan was ruined by one breakthrough!

Earlier, how did she suddenly gain enlightenment?

After the “Senior Sister Yan’er and her peculiar junior brother” incident, she had finally gotten a little closer to Senior Brother, yet it was all destroyed at this sect competition!

Where was heaven’s justice?

How unfair!

Just then, Master Jiujiu flew over hurriedly with her blood-dripping spiked club, exclaiming:

“Little Ling’e! How did you break through so many levels at once!”

Li Changshou beside them also secretly marveled…

This little master-uncle spent every day with Ling’e yet truly hadn’t investigated whether Ling’e was concealing her cultivation level…

“Master-Uncle, please don’t say anymore, I’m currently… under a lot of pressure.”

“Breaking through is a good thing!”

“I… I…”

Ling’e suddenly found herself at a loss for words, turning to bury her face in her master-uncle’s embrace, transforming all her countless grievances into several muffled sobs.

“I’m afraid… of developing a heart demon…”

“There, there, don’t be afraid. Heart demons are the kind of thing that appear more easily the more you fear them.

Although breaking through too quickly isn’t good, yours counts as a heaven-bestowed opportunity. It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Master Jiujiu turned her head, searching around until she finally found Li Changshou in the “distance,” immediately glaring at him.

The latter had his eyes closed in meditation, completely unaware, fully avoiding the area of concentrated gazes.

At the same time, through his Wind Speech technique, Li Changshou heard some news that wasn’t too good for Little Qiong Peak.

—A Supreme Elder had thoughts of taking Ling’e as a disciple.

Looking at Ling’e, Li Changshou knew that letting her follow a Supreme Elder for cultivation would not be a bad choice, but since he had raised Ling’e himself, he inevitably felt somewhat reluctant to part with her.

Moreover, could the Supreme Elder teach her things that he couldn’t?

If this were before passing tribulation and ascending, Li Changshou would certainly weigh the pros and cons and not prevent it.

But now…

‘Junior Sister knows too many of my affairs, it’s more secure to keep her by my side.’

Li Changshou quickly made up his mind—unless Ling’e herself was willing, even if the Sect Leader came, it would be useless.

This matter progressed quickly.

On the fourteenth day of the sect competition, during the fourth round of the Heaven’s Cycle matches, two female True Immortals and an elderly woman came to Ling’e’s side, set up a barrier, and spoke to her in gentle voices.

Li Changshou secretly frowned, picked up his cushion, and walked back from far away, sitting in his old position half a zhang away from his junior sister.

Hmph…

Ling’e turned her head to look at her senior brother, blinked lightly, and pressed her lips together in a slight smile.

Soon after, the elderly Celestial Immortal’s face showed regret as she handed Ling’e a handkerchief treasure.

However, Ling’e shook her head in refusal and stood up to give the elderly woman a Daoist bow.

Li Changshou could actually hear what they were saying, but at this moment he didn’t listen much, just closed his eyes to rest.

Coincidentally, it was his turn to enter the arena. Li Changshou maintained his usual expression, entered, and easily won.

When he returned, the elderly woman and the two female immortals were gone, with only Ling’e sitting there, smiling at him.

“Senior Brother~”

Li Changshou didn’t say anything, just sat back on his cushion.

Ling’e sat back on her cushion, subtly and continuously shifting, inching closer bit by bit…

Looking straight ahead, she said in a voice as thin as a mosquito’s: “Senior Brother, you were worried just now, weren’t you?”

Li Changshou transmitted: “Three ground rules.”

“I’ll add four hundred more myself to make it an even four thousand… Senior Brother, answer me first, were you worried just now?”

Li Changshou swept his sleeve, assumed the Primordial Unity posture, and transmitted back: “Four thousand and fifty times, you still owed fifty from before.”

Ling’e couldn’t help but roll her eyes, yet she was delightedly pressing her lips together in a smile, humming a cheerful tune beside him.

Soon after, Master Jiujiu flew over hurriedly, quietly asking Ling’e how she had refused that Supreme Elder.

“Hehe, I told them…”

Whisper whisper, such and such.

“Cough!”

Beside them, Li Changshou’s breath reversed, and he almost raised his hand to clean the house for his master.

Master Jiujiu asked in horror: “Really?”

“I already said it was a lie,” Ling’e pulled Master Jiujiu’s hand, laughing so much her delicate frame shook.

Ling’e laughed and said: “Little Qiong Peak has few people and is comfortable, and there’s still space to play with Master Uncle every day. I don’t want to go to other peaks.”

Master Jiujiu immediately smiled until her eyes narrowed, sat down between Ling’e and Li Changshou, and began fawning over Ling’e.

The real situation, however…

A moment ago, within the barrier, Lan Ling’e made a Daoist bow and said softly:

“This disciple does not pursue immortality, nor love vanity, only wishes to remain by one person’s side.

If the sect does not permit this, Ling’e requests to be demoted to the mortal realm, with no regrets in her heart.”

Thanks to the Crossing to Immortality Sect’s unchanging ethos over the years;

That Supreme Elder and the two True Immortal officials deeply empathized with and understood her feelings, and didn’t force the matter.