“Great Grand Master? How is the Sect Leader?”

In front of Du Xian Gate’s Immortal Cultivation Hall, Li Changshou, Jiang Lin’er, and You Qin Xuanya, having just returned to Du Xian Gate half an incense stick’s time ago, hurriedly went forward to meet Master Wangqing and several elders walking out from the inner hall.

Li Changshou asked concernedly, and Master Wangqing couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

Master Wangqing said: “The Sect Leader has already gone into closed cultivation to heal his injuries. He only injured his primordial spirit earlier – after a hundred years of recuperation, he should fully recover.”

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

They couldn’t stop him – they really couldn’t stop him!

When it happened, they were on their way back from beyond the heavens…

When Li Changshou heard Sect Leader Ji Wuyou mention that divine ability was cultivating the ‘Primordial Qi Within Apertures,’ he felt something wasn’t right and immediately transmitted to Master Wangqing, saying the Sect Leader had previously injured himself with this same divine ability.

To be safe, he naturally wanted Master Wangqing to persuade the Sect Leader to abandon this unreliable divine ability…

However, just as Li Changshou finished transmitting to Master Wangqing, the Sect Leader had already said:

‘Let me demonstrate for you all!’

Then he took a deep breath, white smoke gathering before his nostrils, his face instantly turning bright purple!

‘Hmph!’

The void ahead actually rippled slightly!

But…

‘Poof!’

A mouthful of fresh blood immediately sprayed from the Sect Leader’s mouth, frightening the four people as their expressions changed dramatically, quickly rising to rush over.

And then, that was that.

Although the Sect Leader kept saying ‘It’s nothing, it’s nothing’ and ‘small problem, small problem,’ fresh blood had already stained his cyan robe, a shocking and worrying sight for everyone.

The rest of the way, Master Wangqing steered the cloud while Jiang Lin’er helped stabilize the Sect Leader’s injuries.

Fortunately, Li Changshou was beside the Sect Leader at the time, and this paper doll body still had considerable immortal power remaining;

While supporting the Sect Leader, Li Changshou took advantage of Master Wangqing and Jiang Lin’er’s inattention to transfer his immortal power to the Sect Leader, helping stabilize his breath and primordial spirit…

After returning to Du Xian Gate, Master Wangqing alerted several elders, and after half an incense stick’s time of fuss, they finally confirmed the Sect Leader wasn’t in danger…

A Senior Elder said in a low voice: “The matter of the Sect Leader’s injury should not be mentioned outside, to avoid causing unnecessary panic among the disciples.”

Some agreed, and some acknowledged the order.

Since the Sect Leader was already in closed cultivation for healing, it wasn’t appropriate to visit him, so they each returned to their peaks.

The little tree spirit had almost completely recovered from its injuries by now, but because its true spirit was damaged, it was still drowsy in Jiang Lin’er’s palm, probably needing some more time to recover.

On the way back to the Five Continents, You Qin Xuanya greatly benefited from listening to Li Changshou’s teachings, gaining many insights. She now temporarily bid farewell to Li Changshou, returning to her cave dwelling with her master to quietly contemplate and cultivate.

One could say she was extremely progressive.

Following the usual routine, Li Changshou flew his cloud at a medium height, returning to Little Jade Peak.

Thinking of the Sect Leader practicing divine abilities, Li Changshou felt both amused and helpless.

Was True Person Du’e’s Two Qi Within Apertures technique so difficult to cultivate?

According to Li Changshou’s observation, it seemed to just be refining a breath of primordial qi, then releasing it in a wave-like manner…

That ‘hmph’ or ‘ha’ was just the natural sound made when the primordial qi surged out. If this divine ability was mastered, it could be replaced with ‘ah’ or ‘wa.’

However, screaming or exclaiming in surprise before combat made for an extremely bizarre style.

Better to go ‘hmph, ha, hmph, ha’ a few times, then gather around a campfire to dance gracefully, singing ‘Who~ sent you to my lips.’

Just kidding, kidding.

When Li Changshou returned to Little Jade Peak, as usual, he used his divine sense to see what his little junior sister was doing, choosing different ‘reward’ packages based on her behavior.

This time Ling’e didn’t disappoint Li Changshou – she was by a pond in the back mountain, chasing butterflies and playing with Little Master-Uncle and Bear Lingli.

Li Changshou stood in front of the pill room, watching with his divine sense for a while.

Ling’e was laughing so much her cloud-like hair was disheveled, Little Master-Uncle’s clothes were somewhat messy, and Bear Lingli was like a several-hundred-jin child, swinging a giant net ten zhang square, happily chasing the two in front.

“Alright, I won’t punish you this time.”

Li Changshou shook his head, and this paper doll returned to the pill room to quietly contemplate methods for dealing with the Golden Immortal tribulation.

After seeing the group tribulation crossing last time, Ling’e’s attitude toward cultivation had changed somewhat, increasing her cultivation time considerably. Each time she played with Jiujiu and Bear Lingli, she would keep it within two hours.

Li Changshou was quite gratified by Ling’e’s progress;

At the very least, the tribulation crossing package he had prepared for so long wouldn’t go to waste…

“Master-Uncle’s matter is temporarily settled.”

Li Changshou didn’t think much more about it. He recalled what he had seen and heard in the Netherworld, took out several pieces of cloth, and carefully wrote down places where he thought merit could be obtained.

The Wu Tribe had been simple-minded since ancient times.

There were certainly wise ones among the Wu Tribe, but generally, they weren’t too clever.

This point could be somewhat verified by how the two great ancestor shamans Gong Gong and Zhu Rong could both be secretly provoked into fighting to the death…

Letting the Wu Tribe manage the Netherworld and Fengdu’s reincarnation in a somewhat chaotic manner was understandable.

Li Changshou understood that his current knowledge of the Netherworld was very limited, and his understanding of the ghost realm was also limited.

As the saying goes: Without investigation, there is no right to speak.

Li Changshou didn’t dare make arbitrary judgments about the Netherworld now. He would wait until he needed to plan for merit in the future, go to the Netherworld to investigate thoroughly and make all preparations, and then earn a big chunk of merit!

No choice – the merit golden body was one of the effective protective measures when facing a Sage.

Life and death were no small matters, and life only came once.

Earning merit would be the ‘career’ Li Changshou would strive for in his plans for the coming period!

Merit was equivalent to the Heavenly Dao’s recognition. If one didn’t consider jumping outside heaven and earth, then naturally the more merit the better. First, get a small taste, then work up to a zhang-tall golden body, and get several posterior merit treasures!

Uh…

Li Changshou, who was calculating about Netherworld matters, suddenly laughed wryly.

In his previous life as a mortal, he had pursued profit, racking his brains like this to live more comfortably and easily.

In this life of cultivation, though he had gained mountain serenity, the brilliance of the immortal path, divine abilities and magic, and immortal family members, his essence hadn’t changed.

Perhaps this was the nature of living beings;

And he had always been a mundane person.

“Others laugh at my excessive caution, I laugh at their cold bones.”

Eh? Could this count as accidentally obtaining a wonderful verse?

The ‘poetic career’ had made an unexpected breakthrough!

…

Three days after returning to the mountain, Jiang Lin’er, who had moved to Wangqing Residence, came to Little Jade Peak ‘secretly’ and launched a righteous ambush on Jiujiu who was fishing by the lake.

The scene became quite chaotic for a while. Jiujiu, unwilling to be subdued, fought back vigorously, finally falling into the water together with Jiang Lin’er, causing little Ling’e and Bear Lingli to watch from afar, laughing uproariously.

A moment later, Jiujiu sat in the tree shade whimpering while hugging her completely unhideable guilt;

Beside her, Jiang Lin’er was in high spirits, laughing heartily with hands on her hips before calling Ling’e and Bear Lingli over to announce something important!

But Jiang Lin’er’s eyes turned, and she first sighed, saying:

“Well, Little Jiu, I won’t play with you like this anymore.”

Jiujiu, who was pretending to cry, was stunned, pretending to be delicate as she wiped her eyes and said softly: “Hmph, I’d be a ghost to believe you!”

“Little Jiu, do you know?”

Jiang Lin’er looked up at the sky, her voice somewhat ethereal and light, saying: “All these years, I know you’ve harbored some resentment in your heart about my harassment.

But this is this Master Uncle’s way of expressing love for you!

However, it won’t happen anymore…”

Ling’e immediately had a bad premonition and hurriedly asked: “Grand Master, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Lin’er gave a faint sigh, suddenly becoming dejected again, murmuring: “Never again.”

Even victim Jiujiu now couldn’t help feeling suspicious. She got up and walked over, holding her hemp short shirt, asking softly: “Master-Uncle, are you alright?”

Bear Lingli said softly: “This kind of situation feels like in stories when people leave their last wi…”

“Pei pei!”

Ling’e raised her hand to lightly hit Bear Lingli, scolding: “Master-Uncle, don’t say such inauspicious things! How could anything happen to Grand Master!”

At once, Jiujiu, Ling’e, and Bear Lingli surrounded Jiang Lin’er, constantly asking with concern what was wrong.

Truly pure and simple Little Jade Peak.

Jiang Lin’er pressed her lips together and asked softly: “Little Jiu, don’t you blame me?”

Jiujiu pondered for a moment, saying softly: “Although Master-Uncle always bullies people, since you’re also a woman, playing around with me like this isn’t anything. I just feel frustrated because I can’t fight back.

Master-Uncle… you’re quite good to me.”

Jiang Lin’er’s eyes were full of emotion as she asked gently: “Then, can you let Master-Uncle have one last chance to enjoy your blessing?”

Jiujiu smiled bitterly: “Master-Uncle, you… don’t be like this. What if I want to find a Dao companion in the future and they mind…”

“Master-Uncle only has this one wish now, Little Jiu…”

“Then, you, aiya!”

Jiujiu tightly closed her eyes, lifted her head and chest, and said through gritted teeth: “I’m drunk and asleep, I don’t know anything!”

“Great!”

Jiang Lin’er’s eyes immediately lit up as she wiped drool from the corner of her mouth, her two sinful little hands already slowly rising.

To the side, Ling’e couldn’t help covering her face with one hand, pretending she hadn’t seen this scene.

Big Master-Uncle was really… completely at Little Grand Master’s mercy…

Just then!

“Ahem!”

A light cough came from the side as Li Changshou slowly approached on his cloud, smiling from afar: “Grand Master, how are the tree spirit’s injuries?”

Jiang Lin’er’s movements paused, and then she rolled her eyes.

‘You rascal, ruining my plans!’

However, since Li Changshou had already appeared, Jiang Lin’er’s two outstretched hands could only be raised and naturally patted Jiujiu’s shoulders.

Joking aside, Jiang Lin’er couldn’t let Jiujiu suffer in this aspect or let Li Changshou take advantage.

Jiang Lin’er held Jiujiu’s shoulders and said earnestly: “After all, I’m going to be your master aunt in the future, so I can’t keep playing around with you like this.

Come on, Little Jiu, let me hear you call me Master-Aunt a few times.”

Jiujiu: …

If she wasn’t too weak to win, she would pounce now!

When Li Changshou flew over, Jiang Lin’er took out a jade stone emanating a light green color from her embrace. When the jade opened, a three-cun-tall little person crawled out, timidly surveying the surroundings.

Ling’e’s eyes lit up, “Could this be Master…”

“Shh!”

Jiang Lin’er made a silencing gesture, “This is just a tree spirit, don’t overthink it.

Well, I’m now deeply in love with Jiujiu’s master, so it’s not good to keep raising her in Wangqing Residence. Changshou, Ling’e, this Grand Master is giving you an important task today!

Take good care of this little tree spirit, let her peacefully spend her remaining lifespan. According to the Netherworld’s check, she only has less than ten years left.”

Li Changshou and Ling’e solemnly nodded in agreement.

Ling’e declared earnestly: “Grand Master, please rest assured, we definitely won’t let… the little tree spirit suffer even a bit of grievance!”

“Well,” Jiang Lin’er smiled, “Tree spirits are ultimately different from us humans. She only has simple intelligence – just place her on a tree…”

Jiang Lin’er carefully gave some instructions before entrusting the tree spirit to Li Changshou and Ling’e, then departed on her cloud feeling unburdened.

Perhaps feeling that among these people, Ling’e was gentler;

The little tree spirit hugged Ling’e’s finger, kneeling in her palm with eyes gently closed, afraid to face this unfamiliar environment.

Several faces crowded over from the side, filling all of the tree spirit’s vision.

Bear Lingli gently exclaimed: “Wow, cousin, how can a person be so small?”

“This is a spirit,” Li Changshou smiled, “To be precise, she has no physical body, similar to a human’s primordial spirit and hun-po souls.”

Jiujiu also curiously asked: “What’s the relationship between this tree spirit and your Grand Master? A pet?”

Li Changshou smiled awkwardly and said: “Not a pet, this is the reincarnation of a Grand Master’s good friend, waiting for the tree spirit’s lifespan to be exhausted before sending her into reincarnation to be reborn as a human.”

Jiujiu suddenly understood, raising her hand to poke the tree spirit’s soft body.

The tree spirit gave a soft ‘ya,’ her two little hands hugging Ling’e’s finger more tightly.

Seeing this, Bear Lingli’s eyes lit up with hearts, her two pot-sized fists placed by her mouth in an oversized coy pose…

“The tree spirit is so cute!”

Li Changshou smiled calmly, instructing them a few times on how to care for this tree spirit before floating away, not interfering further.

What Li Changshou couldn’t have predicted was…

Generally, tree spirits drink morning dew and absorb spiritual qi, but their newly arrived tree spirit learned within a few days… to drink wine and eat meat.

When Li Changshou next saw this little tree spirit, she was wearing a tiny immortal dress, sitting on Bear Lingli’s shoulder;

Opening her little mouth quite ferociously…

Thus, spring departed autumn arrived, summer bloomed and winter descended.

Mountain cultivation life continued, and another seven years slipped unnoticed through their fingers.

The tribulation crossing fever had already begun in Du Xian Gate and was expected to continue for about ten more years. Li Changshou found an opportunity to go out for a stroll and “accidentally” crossed his ‘Immortal Tribulation.’

Du Xian Gate celebrated this internally, and the recently closed-door cultivating *ahem* Sect Leader ordered the teaching elders to give Li Changshou the latter half of the Non-Action Scripture.

Unfortunately, Li Changshou didn’t dare study it much now – if he studied more, even the Path-Breaking realm would become useless.

His status had officially changed from the sect’s immortal seedling to a newly ascended immortal, hiding among the more numerous ‘ordinary disciples.’

As the Four Seas turmoil, Western Paradise schemes, and Heaven’s rise continued…

Li Changshou’s [Ordinary Du Xian Gate Disciple] disguise became increasingly weighty, absolutely not to be carelessly removed.

Just as Li Changshou was calculating that the Western Paradise should be due for another wave of schemes, an event closely related to him was quietly unfolding.

In Heaven, at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.