“Waiting for you… waiting for you… you…”

Waiting, my foot!

The rampaging lightning in the sky, the chaotic electrical arcs, and the overwhelming shockwaves appeared to Li Changshou as nothing more than a toxic gas explosion!

In response, Li Changshou cupped his hands and turned away, using his earth escape technique.

Goodbye, farewell, until we never meet again!

Gifting the Law Father’s Bird Cage to You Qin Xuanya for her heavenly tribulation was Li Changshou’s small reward to her as a senior fellow disciple, for attracting the Sacred One’s Dao resonance at the Sacred statue that day.

Li Changshou felt that his recognition by the Sacred One was inseparable from this matter.

Now, with half the Three Schools’ powerhouses present and hundreds of immortal sects gathered here, You Qin Xuanya using the Law Father’s Bird Cage to withstand a tribulation bolt had already exposed him to enormous risk.

But Li Changshou didn’t mind this point.

This was due to his previous oversight when gifting the Bird Cage to You Qin Xuanya, failing to fully consider the current situation. This was his strategic error, and You Qin Xuanya couldn’t be blamed.

The problem was, why did this young lady have to mention “Changshou” while crossing her tribulation?

Was he brothers with the Heavenly Dao? Would the tribulation’s power weaken because of his face?

Li Changshou felt deeply conflicted as he maintained a steady pace with his earth escape technique. Halfway through, he secretly circled back.

He still had something to warn You Qin Xuanya about, otherwise he might truly invite trouble.

The logic was somewhat convoluted:

[The Law Father’s Bird Cage could withstand a wave of heavenly tribulation, and today You Qin Xuanya had already demonstrated this, with the Heavenly Dao seemingly permitting this matter.

If knowledge of the Law Father’s Bird Cage spread throughout the primitive world, the success rate of crossing tribulations might increase significantly, and over years and months, the number of immortals would multiply, increasing the variables in heaven and earth.

This might cause the Mass Tribulation to arrive early and with increased power.

At that time, Li Changshou, as the creator of this tribulation-cheating tool ‘Law Father’s Bird Cage,’ would inevitably be entangled in the karmic consequences!]

This item could only be used within his small inner circle.

Li Changshou carefully pondered in his heart, trying to predict You Qin Xuanya’s thought process while preparing his words of persuasion.

Meanwhile, he had already secretly transmitted a message to Xiong Lingli, telling her to hide in a certain corner in the distance, where he would meet up with her later…

At this moment, numerous immortal consciousnesses were surely watching You Qin Xuanya. Li Changshou didn’t approach closely, instead emerging from a bamboo grove twenty li away.

Like many fellow cultivators of his generation, Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back, watching You Qin Xuanya in the sky, who had just passed through the lightning tribulation and was now bathing in immortal light, transforming from a mortal body into an immortal spirit form.

At this moment, You Qin Xuanya seemed to have entered some mysterious state, about to close her eyes and concentrate…

Ascension?

Li Changshou’s brows furrowed as he waited patiently. When You Qin Xuanya opened her eyes searching for his whereabouts, he finally transmitted a message with his immortal consciousness:

“Junior Sister, if you have any insights, immediately sit down to cultivate afterward. The immortals outside will pull you out.

If anyone asks about that birdcage, just say it was my gift.

I found this item in our sect’s ancient records. There were only a few pieces originally, now only two remain. The karma it involves is too great, and the consequences would be unimaginable if it spreads.

Of course, don’t overthink it. Your senior brother only gave you such a magical item out of our fellow disciples’ friendship, not harboring any other intentions.

Quickly comprehend your insights. This should be a great opportunity for you.”

Hearing this, You Qin Xuanya’s eyes flickered, and her newly formed immortal consciousness quickly located Li Changshou’s whereabouts…

Li Changshou nodded slightly to her before turning to walk out of the bamboo grove.

This time, the words “fellow disciples’ friendship” had directly clarified his stance.

He refused to believe You Qin Xuanya could still have any misunderstandings!

In the sky, You Qin Xuanya, whose body emanated crystalline light and who had advanced several steps further on the path of beauty, watched Li Changshou’s departing figure with her immortal consciousness, silently sighing in her heart…

‘Even Senior Brother’s departing figure is so graceful. He gave me such a precious item to use, yet expects nothing in return.

While I am still thinking about how to repay Senior Brother’s kindness in giving me this birdcage to avoid the heavenly tribulation.

From now on, I can only repay with my life.’

You Qin Xuanya made a Daoist salute toward the direction Li Changshou had departed, then closed her eyes and sat cross-legged on the auspicious clouds, entering a state of Dao comprehension accompanied by that pleasant immortal music.

Ascension.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou’s mind was already constantly pondering.

Outside, immortals had probably already gone to find his sect master and others…

Such an item that could withstand a tribulation bolt was indeed enough to make major immortal sects lower their faces to exchange for or beg for it.

He was currently in this treasure map and couldn’t go out to handle this…

When Master crossed his tribulation, he used the Law Father’s Bird Cage in front of so many people. The sect’s stewards and elders must surely know of this matter.

For now, the only option was to notify Ling’e through his paper clone, have Ling’e seek an audience with Jiu Shi, and then contact Elder Brother Jiu Wu through Jiu Shi…

No sooner thought than done. Li Changshou’s mind stirred, multitasking as he activated the paper clone hidden near his junior sister.

However, as soon as the paper clone activated, Li Changshou heard the sound of rushing water, along with the little tune Ling’e often hummed while bathing…

In this urgent situation, Li Changshou couldn’t care about avoiding suspicion.

“Junior Sister!”

When the paper clone called out, Ling’e suddenly shuddered and ducked her head into the water barrel, producing a series of bubbles.

Moments later, a fully dressed Ling’e hurriedly closed several layers of formations around her thatched cottage, used spiritual power to dry her hair, and quickly flew toward Breaking Heaven Peak.

…

Meanwhile…

After the unusual phenomena around You Qin Xuanya dissipated, a beam of golden light came from beyond the heavens, shining upon her body.

This golden light didn’t disturb her but directly transported her from the treasure map’s space, placing her in the Crossing Immortal Gate sect’s seating area…

Immediately, the Crossing Immortal Gate’s members gathered around;

But Sect Master Ji Wuyou coughed several times, looking at Li Changshou, and transmitted:

“That bird cage, are you afraid of karmic entanglement?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou’s thoughts turned rapidly, and he quickly nodded in response.

Ji Wuyou pondered for a moment before transmitting: “Later you must insist that you only have two of those items left, and besides you and your junior sister, don’t let anyone else use them.”

Li Changshou sighed inwardly and said softly: “Thank you, Sect Master, for your protection.”

Ji Wuyou calmly said: “You are this poor Daoist sect disciple, it’s what should be done.

After the Three Schools’ immortals leave, there will surely be people coming to make trouble and stir up confusion. At that time… act according to my signals.”

“Disciple understands.”you quickly set up a barrier, protecting You Qin Xuanya within it.

“Don’t startle her, she’s gaining her opportunity.”

An elder smiled and said: “This is ascension. Xuanya might break through to the Origin Immortal realm in one go, stepping into the ranks of True Immortals.”

“You Qin niece is truly formidable.”

“We should properly reward her when we return.”

“Speaking of You Qin niece and Changshou nephew… tsk.”

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

While everyone was excited, they also recalled the “declaration” You Qin Xuanya had shouted out when facing the eighth tribulation bolt under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Whether the other two great schools’ immortal sects understood or not, they didn’t know.

But how could the Human School’s immortal sects, which widely practiced the Dao companion tradition, not hear that this was You Qin Xuanya’s Dao companion declaration to her beloved when facing life and death?

However, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal and several elders had gone to Ji Wuyou’s side, speaking something with worried expressions…

“How wonderful.”

Jiu Yu hugged her large gourd, her cheeks slightly flushed, watching You Qin Xuanya within the barrier while softly sighing with emotion.

Among their Small Jade Peak’s three gluttons – ahem, three immortal ladies, another one had finally become immortal. Now only little Ling’e remained!

However, Jiu Wu walked over from the side with his hands behind his back, transmitting to Jiu Yu: “What’s wonderful! Think about yourself, my dear junior sister!”

Jiu Yu blinked and transmitted back to Fifth Senior Brother: “What’s not wonderful about this? Xuanya has become immortal and even ascended.”

“Did you hear what she shouted?”

“Shouted… eh?”

Jiu Yu finally realized, her big eyes blinked, and her face immediately curved into a crescent moon…

“Hehehe, could it be that Xuanya has feelings for little Shou-shou?

This is interesting, little Ling’e likes little Shou-shou, and now Xuanya has publicly expressed herself, wow…

Are little Ling’e and Xuanya going to fight?”

Jiu Wu couldn’t help but cover his face with one hand, smiling bitterly as he continued transmitting:

“I’m saying, little Yu, haven’t you noticed that you also have some… some unusual feelings toward Changshou’s nephew?”

“Eh, Fifth Senior Brother, you misunderstand,” Jiu Yu waved her hand and transmitted: “Fourth Senior Sister brought this up with me before, and I even made a fool of myself in front of little Shou-shou.

Later I figured it out, Fifth Senior Brother, you and Fourth Senior Sister are always being lovey-dovey, your minds are just full of those romantic things, it would be strange if you didn’t think that way!

I go to Small Jade Peak to drink wine, eat meat, and make spirit beans. A Dao companion isn’t something necessary for me, and my reliance on little Changshou is more like… um… a wine lover’s affection for a winemaker.

The immortal path is lonely, having someone to keep me company is enough.”

Jiu Wu was suddenly speechless, looking at his junior sister;

Jiu Yu’s gaze was quite clear, and the smile at the corners of her mouth was rather relaxed.

“Is it really like that?”

Jiu Wu frowned and asked, just about to continue questioning Jiu Yu when he suddenly felt his transmission jade talisman constantly jumping.

The madam’s private line, how dare he not look!

Jiu Wu took the transmission jade talisman in hand, and a strand of immortal consciousness from inside entered his sea of consciousness, transforming into several words.

The short Daoist couldn’t help but be slightly startled.

Seeing this, Jiu Yu rolled her eyes but didn’t pay much attention to her Fifth Senior Brother, continuing to watch the increasingly elegant You Qin Xuanya, her mind already beginning to envision a three-person drama.

—The kind where they wear clothes.

Before long, several Human School Golden Immortals came together to seek Crossing Immortal Gate’s Sect Master Ji Wuyou, asking about the ‘bird cage’ matter during You Qin Xuanya’s tribulation.

Ji Wuyou coughed for half a day but couldn’t explain it clearly;

Beside him, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal immediately transmitted inquiries to the sect’s elders and stewards. Many calculated with their fingers, but none could calculate where this bird cage that could withstand heavenly tribulation came from.

However, the Law Father’s Bird Cage had appeared before during Qi Yuan’s tribulation, and a traveling True Immortal steward from the sect remembered and went to report this matter to Forget Emotions Upper Immortal.

“Small Jade Peak?”

Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal slightly frowned; recently, the unusual situations from this Small Jade Peak were truly becoming more and more numerous.

Just then, Jiu Wu hurriedly rushed over from the side, calling out: “Master! This disciple knows the origin of that bird cage!”

“Speak.”

Jiu Wu quickly transmitted: “That bird cage was left behind by a True Immortal elder of our sect before his passing. Back then, this elder had reached his natural limit, but had no disciples under him, and his immortal power was severely weakened, like an elderly mortal.

In the months before his passing, Small Jade Peak disciple Li Changshou, assigned by the Hundred Ordinary Hall, served him. Before the elder left, he gave Changshou’s nephew a divine technique of paper-cutting humans, as well as this treasure named Law Father’s Bird Cage.

But how this treasure was made, we truly don’t know.

There are only two pieces of this item remaining, which Changshou’s nephew kept for himself and his junior sister…”

Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal showed realization.

What Jiu Wu said was naturally half-truth and half-fiction.

Li Changshou’s paper-cutting human-divine technique did come from that elder who passed away due to reaching his limit, and now they were just pushing the responsibility for the Law Father’s Bird Cage onto him as well.

Meanwhile laying the groundwork for passing the paper-cutting humans’ divine technique to Ling’e in the future.

Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal calculated with his fingers, quickly nodded, and went toward the several Golden Immortals chatting in the distance, whispering something in the Sect Master’s ear.

Ji Wuyou soon announced that their sect had no method of refining that law cage, as it was left behind by an elder who had already passed away, and now only two pieces remained, which were for the elder’s gifted disciple’s own use.

The several Golden Immortals who came seeking the treasure showed disappointed expressions but didn’t force the matter, taking their leave one after another.

Ji Wuyou hadn’t even sat down when more Golden Immortals arrived…

In less than half a day, dozens of Three Schools’ Dao lineages successively came to inquire about the Law Father’s Bird Cage matter.

Sect Master Ji Wuyou grew weary of dealing with it and simply set up a wooden sign, clearly writing that the bird cage was not refined within the Crossing Immortal Gate but was an ancient item left by an elder, and they had no refining method…

Thus, they barely stabilized the situation.

However, the troubles regarding this matter were not over.

Seven days after the disciples entered the treasure map, most of the beasts and fierce beasts inside were cleared out, most of the treasures were taken, and this round of ‘disciple combat’ came to an end.

At this time, the Three Schools had just traced their origins, and the atmosphere of the Three Schools being one family was strong. Everyone was outwardly harmonious, avoiding ranking or comparing high and low, which was quite clever handling.

During these few days, Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli continued to hide.

The Great Dharma Master of Xuandu had already left. You Qin Xuanya’s demon elimination, tribulation crossing, and ascension had already shown enough prominence for their Crossing Immortal Gate and Human School Dao lineage. The “Human School’s display of might” that the Great Dharma Master had arranged could be considered a passing grade.

They truly didn’t need to do anything more.

These days, Li Changshou constantly analyzed the treasure map, analyzing what effects this accidental exposure of the Law Father’s Bird Cage would bring him.

Calculating back and forth, Li Changshou didn’t discover any great danger, at most there would be people making things difficult, which could be resolved by dealing with situations as they arose.

With the Great Dharma Master’s shadow behind the Crossing Immortal Gate, not everyone dared to act.

When the seventh day came, the Enlightenment School’s Fortune Golden Immortal Yunzhongzi acted again, transporting the disciples out from the treasure map, and sending each back to their original positions.

Just as Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli steadied themselves, Jiu Wu came over, taking him to see Sect Master Wuyou Daoist…

Ji Wuyou coughed several times, looking at Li Changshou, and transmitted:

“That bird cage, are you afraid of karmic entanglement?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou’s thoughts turned rapidly, and he quickly nodded in response.

Ji Wuyou pondered for a moment before transmitting: “Later you must insist that you only have two of those items left, and besides you and your junior sister, don’t let anyone else use them.”

Li Changshou sighed inwardly and said softly: “Thank you, Sect Master, for your protection.”

Ji Wuyou calmly said: “You are this poor Daoist sect disciple, it’s what should be done.

After the Three Schools’ immortals leave, there will surely be people coming to make trouble and stir up confusion. At that time… act according to my signals.”

“Disciple understands.”