Li Changshou suddenly fell ill.

This happened just one day before the Baifan Palace was set to summon the disciples of the Tiangan Position and the twelve disciples recommended by the elders for a meeting.

Li Changshou had timed this perfectly.

In truth, he had received accurate information through his Wind Communication Spell while monitoring various locations within the sect that tomorrow would be the gathering of disciples.

He estimated the grand meeting would be held within half a year…

They wanted to choose him as the team leader?

To put him in the spotlight again and create more trouble for him?

He, Li Changshou, absolutely refused to fall for the same trick twice in the same place!

This time, Li Changshou had fallen ‘ill’ preemptively and made thorough preparations, devising numerous countermeasures.

Ling’e hurriedly called for Jiu Jiu, who quickly brought along Fifth Senior Brother, who rarely went into seclusion, to Little Jade Peak.

In the thatched cottage, Li Changshou lay on the grass bed with a pale complexion and weak breath, his entire being radiating weakness.

After careful examination, Jiu Wu first breathed a sigh of relief and said:

“It’s not a serious injury, just a failed breakthrough that backlashed and hurt his primordial spirit, leading to an unstable foundation. In this condition, he cannot use spiritual power or his primordial spirit. However, with seven to eight years of recuperation, he can gradually recover without any lasting effects, so don’t worry.”

Although Ling’e knew her senior brother was definitely pretending, hearing Jiu Wu speak this way, she couldn’t help but ask: “What would happen if he uses spiritual power?”

“It could damage his foundation somewhat,” Jiu Wu pondered for a moment. “It’s best not to use it.”

From the bed, Li Changshou, with pale lips, spoke weakly:

“Alas, this disciple merely wanted to advance one small step, but was too forceful… cough, cough cough…”

Jiu Wu contemplated: “I’ll go find Elder Wan to request a pill that stabilizes primordial spirits. The ones I can refine are of too low quality and unreliable.”

Ling’e quickly asked: “Would that help my senior brother recover sooner?”

Li Changshou inwardly smiled, feeling this dear junior sister was worth his affection.

Jiu Wu said solemnly: “Difficult. This type of injury simply needs time to heal. The pills only prevent further injury during recovery.”

Ling’e sighed softly, actually somewhat relieved.

Jiu Wu quickly became busy, going to request pills and report to Baifan Palace, saving Ling’e from running back and forth.

Li Changshou just lay there on the bed, simulating slightly chaotic spiritual power.

Later, when Master heard of this matter, he anxiously came to examine Li Changshou carefully, almost forgetting that his eldest disciple had already passed through the Heaven’s Tribulation.

Fortunately, Old Daoist Qi Yuan discovered Li Changshou’s injury wasn’t severe and didn’t ask many questions before returning to his secluded cultivation.

Though feigning illness seemed a small matter, for Li Changshou, it held great significance.

Elder Wan Lingyun’s visit was within Li Changshou’s expectations.

After careful examination, Elder Wan reached almost the same conclusion as Jiu Wu;

This was a great affirmation of Li Changshou’s skill at feigning illness!

“You… don’t move around,” the old master said slowly. “Six or seven years of recovery and you’ll be fine. Don’t be hasty with breakthroughs. Your aptitude is already above average, your comprehension high, your character good, and you’re good-looking too. Nothing bad will happen. If I refine that type of pill later, I’ll bring it for you to appreciate.”

Li Changshou was quite touched inside, but inwardly wanted to remind the old master…

Regarding those Spirit Perception Poison Pills, you seem to have taken a wrong turn, and you’ve almost pioneered this detour into a whole new category of poison pills…

Thus, after Elder Wan Lingyun left various recovery pills, he returned to Dan Ding Peak, no longer overly worried about Li Changshou’s condition.

Next, Li Changshou predicted…

Most likely several elders from Baifan Palace would come together;

The elders who had received the Xiongxin Pills would also come in groups to Little Jade Peak to visit.

This time’s fake illness should earn a good amount of pills, which could later be secretly taken by the paper puppet to the market town to sell, continuing to supplement the ever-unfillable Spirit Beast Ring.

Actually, what was unfillable wasn’t the Spirit Beast Ring, but human desire…

And appetite.

As Li Changshou expected, after Elder Wan left, several ‘Spirit Fish’ elders from Baifan Palace came together, felt Li Changshou’s pulse, and gave advice for him to rest and recover peacefully.

Soon after, celestial elder pairs and trios came to visit;

Of those who had eaten the Xiongxin Pills and weren’t in seclusion, eight came to visit, subtly asking if any Xiongxin Pills remained.

Li Changshou naturally had prepared for this, giving one pill to each.

By now, the news that Li Changshou had injured his primordial spirit and foundation from practicing too intensely had spread among the sect’s upper echelons…

Ordinary sect members and disciples didn’t know of this matter, as it was unrelated to them.

However, the development of events began to exceed Li Changshou’s expectations from the moment You Qin Xuan Ya hurriedly arrived…

“Senior Brother Changshou!”

Outside the thatched cottage, You Qin Xuan Ya in her ice-blue dress frowned deeply;

She quickly stepped to the bedside, looking at the pale-faced Li Changshou, her beautiful eyes full of concern.

By the bed, Ling’e hurriedly said: “Senior Sister, you needn’t worry. My senior brother just had a cultivation mishap. The sect elders have diagnosed him, and he’ll recover after resting.”

You Qin Xuan Ya nodded slightly, gazing into Li Changshou’s eyes.

Somehow…

Shou had faced the Taoist Teaching’s Senior Brother and the Jie Teaching’s Outer Senior Disciple without feeling any anxiety.

But now, Li Changshou felt slightly nervous…

[You’re toxic…]

Then You Qin Xuan Ya spoke softly: “Senior Brother, I understand.”

Li Changshou’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down – what exactly do you understand?

“You rushed your cultivation surely because you wanted to bring glory to our sect at the Three Teachings Origin Conference.”

Li Changshou: …

This, really wasn’t it.

“Senior Brother Changshou, you needn’t hurry. As this generation’s top disciple, Xuan Ya will surely carry your expectations and give it my all, fighting hard for our Du Xian Sect!”

Li Changshou inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. If this was her only interpretation, then it wasn’t too bad.

“Senior Sister You Qin…”

“Senior Brother, don’t speak, focus on recovery!”

You Qin Xuan Ya quickly leaned forward, gently pressing Li Changshou’s shoulder, her long hair falling before his face.

Her face was incomparably beautiful, but her gaze was very determined!

“Xuan Ya definitely won’t disappoint Senior Brother Changshou!”

Li Changshou showed a gratified smile…

Fortunately, this time’s deviation wasn’t too serious.

You Qin Xuan Ya stayed for two hours before bidding farewell, leaving behind many pills before departing.

However, just as You Qin Xuan Ya left, Jiu Jiu, who had run out earlier and hadn’t returned, came riding her large gourd from the direction of Breaking Heaven Peak.

What surprised Li Changshou was that beside the large gourd was a somewhat unfamiliar figure…

This person’s aura was contained, not revealing the slightest fluctuation, appearing somewhat small and thin, with a darkened forehead.

But when Li Changshou saw this person, his heart immediately shook, truly wanting to rush out and stop his little martial aunt…

Elder Qi Ling!

One of the sect’s two Golden Immortals, an ancient Qilin clan member!

Li Changshou didn’t yet know this Elder Qi Ling’s story, but the other’s eyesight and cultivation level were absolutely incomparable to Elder Wan!

He had already completed the improved sixth version of the “Turtle Breathing and Qi Settling Scripture,” which might be able to conceal his cultivation level before this elder…

But the ‘symptoms’ he had disguised layered over his outer cultivation level would surely be seen through by the other at a glance!

What to do?

How did today’s toxic nature transfer from Senior Sister You Qin to Little Martial Aunt?

How did Little Martial Aunt manage to get this Dao Collection Hall Guardian Elder to move?!

Could this elder also be of the ‘big faction’?

Well, these weren’t too important anymore, Li Changshou quickly reacted in his heart…

No matter, he had already considered this aspect!

If he hadn’t prepared for ways to fool the sect’s Golden Immortals, he wouldn’t have made such a ‘dangerous move’ that could easily expose his trump cards.

Secretly gritting his teeth and clenching his fist by his side, he calculated the subsequent qi fluctuations, turtle scripture changes, and different manifestations of multiple layers of disguise, and directly…

Shocked his primordial spirit!

With a muffled “puff” sound, Li Changshou’s primordial spirit shook, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth – he had actually been lightly wounded!

While his previous weakness had been displayed outwardly, this time it emanated from within!

This was the highest realm of feigning injury – real injury!

Ling’e by the bed had no idea what had just happened. Little Martial Aunt had already brought that elder to the cottage front, and Ling’e hurriedly went out to welcome them…

Then came Jiu Jiu martial aunt’s coquettish voice:

“Elder, please come look! With your high cultivation, just pointing at this guy would surely fix him! The Three Teachings Origin Conference is approaching, and he’s one of our sect’s outstanding disciples. This kind of once-in-a-lifetime event, at least let him join in the excitement!”

Li Changshou: …

“You…” Elder Qi Ling’s sigh was full of an elder’s doting for juniors.

This elder stepped into the thatched cottage, looked at Li Changshou’s bedside, then said: “It’s exactly as you said, just a primordial spirit injury from a breakthrough shock. Don’t worry, if there’s nothing else I’ll head back.”

Li Changshou weakly said: “Thank you, Elder…”

Elder Qi Ling calmly nodded, but when turning to look at Jiu Jiu, showed a kindly smile again.

The elder came quickly and left quickly. Jiu Jiu still knew proper etiquette and escorted the elder back to Dao Collection Hall.

[Later, need to have a good talk with Little Martial Aunt]

In a moment of carelessness, he had almost let Little Martial Aunt ruin his good hand.

After this elder left, the surprises continued, though this time it was just a small one.

The slightly chubby Daoist Liu Feixian from Dan Ding Peak came to Little Jade Peak carrying some gifts, spoke a few encouraging words to Li Changshou, then hurriedly left.

Finally, night fell quiet…

Exhausted from the day, Ling’e collapsed sitting by the bed, couldn’t help complaining quietly:

“Senior Brother, when did you become so popular?”

“Probably a matter of temperament,” Li Changshou slowly breathed a sigh of relief, continuing to lie in bed, inwardly sighing deeply.

From fake injury to real injury, he didn’t know exactly what he had experienced today;

But, as long as he could avoid the Three Teachings Origin Conference, this minor injury that could be recovered from with just meditation was merely a trivial price!

Worth it!

Ling’e laughed: “The most surprising today wasn’t Senior Sister You Qin, but rather Little Martial Aunt.”

“I also didn’t expect she would be so attentive, inviting such an expert from our sect. This is just a minor injury after all…”

Li Changshou shook his head, just about to complain a bit when his divine consciousness suddenly detected two figures flying over from Breaking Heaven Peak.

Of these two figures, one was You Qin Xuan Ya who had just left earlier, and the other was…

Was…

Snow-white robes, intermittent coughing, handsome and graceful features, his whole being emanating emptiness.

Du Xian Sect’s Sect Master, Empty- ahem, Worry-free Daoist Ji Wuyou!

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched, not knowing whether to cry or laugh at this moment.

He first breathed a sigh of relief, feeling this was right – how could Little Martial Aunt’s occasional ‘toxicity’ exceed toxic Senior Sister’s?

This made Li Changshou slightly more at ease.

Then came a burst of powerless complaints. For the first time in his life he regretted that time You Qin Xuan Ya descended from North Uttarakuru – his earth escape technique had been that tiny bit too slow!

Come to think of it, were all these beauties who usually freeloaded at his Little Jade Peak so well-connected?!

Heavens above!

…

Being able to fool Elder Qi Ling naturally meant being able to fool the Sect Master.

And fooling Sect Master Ji Wuyou meant Li Changshou’s illness was firmly established.

Though there were some waves, they were basically all within Li Changshou’s control. This fake illness also tested how effective his sixth version of the “Turtle Scripture” was.

Later, he could pass the third version to Master and little martial sister.

However, Li Changshou couldn’t stay at peace for even twelve hours.

On the second day of feigning illness, forty-six disciples gathered in Baifan Palace, closed the hall’s restrictions, and began receiving instructions about the Three Teachings Origin Conference.

But after their meeting ended, You Qin Xuan Ya and Jiu Wu came to Little Jade Peak one after another, bringing Li Changshou the same news.

[The Sect Master personally appointed, in view of Li Changshou’s contributions to the sect and his dedication to the Three Teachings Origin Conference, shown by striving to cultivate and forcefully attempting breakthrough before the conference.

Now, Li Changshou and You Qin Xuan Ya are specially appointed as co-leaders for this group of disciples, with other disciples to be managed by these two.]

Six black dots slowly appeared above Li Changshou’s head as he softly asked: “Is there some mistake?”

“No, this is the sect’s affirmation of you,” Jiu Wu smiled, “Don’t worry Changshou, you’ll definitely make it in time for this conference.”

You Qin Xuan Ya nodded slightly, saying: “That’s right, you’ll definitely make it. The conference will be held in twelve years, we just need to arrive there half a year early.”

Ten!

Li Changshou’s eyes widened, then slowly closed as he took a deep breath, laughing at the world’s fickleness, sighing at… life’s unpredictability.