Bian Zhuang?

Li Changshou was momentarily stunned. After carefully looking twice and sensing the other’s aura and Dao rhythm, he confirmed he wasn’t seeing things.

Wasn’t this fellow the young master of the Tianya Pavilion?

Why was he here… planting beans?

“Ao Yi.”

Li Changshou transmitted his voice in warning. Ao Yi, who had been entranced by the scenery, immediately came to his senses and put away his long sword, slightly frowning.

“Elder Brother Sect Leader, why is this person in the Heavenly Court?”

“I don’t know either,” Li Changshou transmitted. “Let’s first pay our respects to the Elder Lord in the Doushuai Palace, then come back to ask him about this matter.”

Ao Yi nodded in response and continued with Li Changshou toward the Doushuai Palace, his expression gradually calming.

Before the Doushuai Palace, a young attendant had been waiting early, saying the Elder Lord asked Changgeng to enter.

Ao Yi knew Li Changshou had originally wanted to bring him along to pay respects to the Sage’s avatar, but the Sage’s avatar didn’t wish to see him. He hurriedly said: “Brother, please go in quickly. I’ll wait outside.”

There was nothing else to it – his destined opportunity had not yet arrived.

Before entering the Doushuai Palace, Li Changshou specifically transmitted a reminder to Ao Yi, telling him not to wander around and to wait right there. Ao Yi solemnly agreed…

At that moment, Li Changshou held his whisk and followed behind that young attendant, walking through the door that was only opened a crack.

Stepping into the Doushuai Palace, Li Changshou was somewhat surprised.

The Doushuai Palace he had imagined in his heart should have had mysterious formations, spiritual pills floating about everywhere, and immortal root-transformed attendants running around on the ground…

But arriving here, he only saw a large courtyard, a large hall that could barely be called a palace, and a few half-withered heavenly spiritual trees common in the Heavenly Court…

Li Changshou carefully sensed and detected an obscure and profound Dao rhythm that seemed both present and absent, permeating the entire Doushuai Palace.

The Dao rhythm of the Sage… avatar!

Roughly speaking, this was essentially the Sage’s Dao rhythm!

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, inexplicably feeling deep reverence toward the presence he had yet to see in the hall ahead.

Just then, a cough came from ahead as a familiar figure pushed open the hall doors, smiling and raising his eyebrows at Li Changshou.

The Grand Magus!

Uh, still with traces of sleepiness, unable to hold back a yawn – the Grand Magus…

The Grand Magus opened his mouth to joke: “Little Silver, the Elder Lord asked you to receive the Human Path disciple and newly ascended Sea God, how did you bring back a paper person instead?”

Paper person?

The young attendant curiously looked Li Changshou over. Li Changshou also unconsciously checked his own body but found nothing unusual with the paper avatar.

Subsequently, Li Changshou understood – this was Grand Magus Xuandu protecting him, joking first to prevent the Elder Lord from being displeased about this matter.

Speaking of which…

Little Silver? That simple-minded Great King Silver Horn? Would you dare answer if I called you that?

Li Changshou glanced at this possibly not-too-bright young attendant, smiled warmly, and hurriedly stepped forward to bow to the Grand Magus.

“This disciple’s true body wishes to focus on cultivation matters and achieve the Golden Immortal path early, thus using an avatar to ascend and assist His Majesty the Jade Emperor.

Well, Grand Magus, you agreed to this before…”

Grand Magus Xuandu’s eyes immediately crinkled in a smile. “Come in, the Elder Lord has been waiting for you half a day.”

Li Changshou sent a request for eye contact communication to the Grand Magus but was cut off by the Grand Magus’s winking motion, which gave Li Changshou a reassuring smile in return.

In any case, after entering, kowtow first without saying anything – whatever the Sage says is right!

Hmm, to be prudent, he must also maintain a degree of doubt, fully considering possibilities like the Grand Magus pranking him, this possibly being a fake Heavenly Court, or this potentially being a dream demon he encountered while cultivating… and so on.

More bowing certainly couldn’t hurt.

The Grand Magus turned and entered through the hall doors with Li Changshou following behind with a lowered head.

Upon entering, he immediately saw that very eye-catching purple-gold Eight Trigrams furnace, which was quite large, taking up nearly half the great hall.

At first glance at this furnace, the words ‘beautiful’ emerged in Li Changshou’s heart – the exterior form of this Eight Trigrams furnace was so captivating, every curve subtly aligned with the Great Dao.

There was no time for a second detailed look, as Li Changshou’s attention had already shifted to the elder sitting before the Eight Trigrams furnace…

How to describe this elder?

At first glance ordinary, at second glance kind and benevolent, at third glance young-faced with white hair, at fourth glance boundless in the Dao realm. But after closing one’s eyes, not a single impression remained in mind – try as one might, the Elder Lord’s image could not be retained…

“Disciple Li Changshou pays respects to the Elder Lord!

Today this disciple comes in paper avatar form, please forgive my offense!”

The Elder Lord seemed to smile, yet also seemed not to have smiled.

“Sit.”

Li Changshou was stunned for a moment as if he had misheard, before rising and sitting on the meditation cushion that appeared out of thin air ahead.

The Elder Lord spoke again: “Today I shall transmit to you three chapters of the Pill Dao.”

“Many thanks to the Elder Lord!”

“Mm,” Taishang Laojun slowly nodded, then looked toward the back door of the great hall where a certain Grand Magus was about to sneak away. “Come back.”

“Ah, a disciple is here,” the Grand Magus responded, quietly walking back over and trying hard to show a peaceful smile. “Elder Lord, this disciple does not like pill refinement.”

Another meditation cushion appeared to Li Changshou’s front left, and though the Grand Magus spoke of disliking it, he could only honestly sit down properly.

This seating position also held deep meaning.

But Li Changshou knew that being able to sit here already meant receiving the Elder Lord’s approval!

The Elder Lord’s eyes opened slightly. “Be still.”

The Grand Magus sat up even straighter, seeming to want to maintain some… dignity as the Dao sect’s big senior brother in front of Li Changshou.

Li Changshou secretly muttered to himself, why did the Grand Magus seem somewhat afraid of hearing the Elder Lord lecture…

Today the Elder Lord would transmit pill refinement methods to him – this shouldn’t trigger his Golden Immortal tribulation. Moreover, when the Elder Lord wants to transmit teachings, he absolutely cannot refuse, even if the Golden Immortal tribulation comes early, it cannot be helped.

Soon, Li Changshou understood why the Grand Magus wanted to sneak away…

The Elder Lord did not speak while teaching, just sat there quietly as a slowly rotating blue lotus appeared in his palm. Two petals flew out from this blue lotus – one disappeared without a trace, one imprinted into the Grand Magus’s forehead.

The Grand Magus’s whole body trembled twice before directly falling unconscious.

This?

Before Li Changshou could blink, several realizations arose in his heart. His true body hidden in a vase in a corner of the underground chamber beneath Little Qiong Peak opened its eyes as a lotus petal covered his entire field of vision, landing on his forehead.

With a crash, the vase shattered!

Li Changshou’s body lay prone in the corner of the secret chamber, surrounded by strands of Dao rhythm…

And in Li Changshou’s heart, emerged vast – no, oceanic amounts of pill refinement techniques!

This was no longer just pouring knowledge in – this was forcefully stuffing an ocean’s worth of water into a tiny fish pond!

Yet this fish pond remained somehow intact, beginning to passively accept it all!

“The methods of a Sage are truly incomparably profound…”

Li Changshou had no time to think further as his consciousness was completely pulled into the Pill Dao.

Submerged in water, lost and disoriented.

This submersion lasted for three years…

…

“Ling’e, why hasn’t your Senior Brother shown his face these past few years… Quick, play your tile, Ling’e.”

In the chess and card room of Little Qiong Peak, Jiu Yu asked with a yawn.

Ling’e smiled and said: “I was in closed cultivation before, so I don’t know about this either.

Hehe, Two Circles? I’ll take that!

My Senior Brother should be in closed cultivation too, right? Master-Uncle, are you out of wine? I don’t have any either.”

“Hmph, does this Master-Uncle not have her senior brother?”

Jiu Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes, then smacked her lips, “It’s Fifth Senior Brother’s wine, right? Compared to Little Changshou’s wine, it’s missing something… Xuanya, it’s your turn.”

“Mm…”

You Qin Xuanya held the jade piece in her hand, comparing its patterns with those on other jade pieces.

Having only recently taken up this new retained activity of Little Qiong Peak, she wasn’t playing very smoothly yet.

She said softly: “I want to take the one you played, then play this jade piece carved with four thin lines…

Speaking of which, I also haven’t seen Senior Brother Changshou for a long time, and rather miss him in my heart.”

“Oh?” Jiu Yu’s eyes immediately crinkled in a smile as she looked at You Qin Xuanya, then at Ling’e, suddenly finding both of them quite calm.

This melon-eating turned out quite flavorless.

Xiong Lingli’s large hand picked up the jade piece You Qin Xuanya had just played. “Eat, Five Circles.”

Jiu Yu called out: “Watch my almost Heavenly Immortal hands!”

After speaking, she took the edge piece from the stack of rectangular jade pieces, then her eyes lit up – evil trembling – as she laid out her tiles face up and excitedly shouted:

“Self-drawn! Pure suit! Quick, spirit stones spirit stones!”

Ling’e and Xiong Lingli immediately complained a few times, while You Qin Xuanya gave a gentle smile as the three each took out several spirit stones and handed them to Jiu Yu.

Jiu Yu immediately laughed with joy, her eyes sparkling…

A small mahjong tournament in the primordial world continued to its next stage.

Half a day later, the four went to the spirit beast enclosure and selected two spirit beasts who appeared to have little appetite and were weary of life. With the heart of fulfilling their wishes, they brought them to the lakeside to appreciate the scenery…

Then set up a barbecue grill, prepared fine wine and dishes, and began tonight’s drinking and singing of what brief is life.

“Senior Brother hasn’t shown his face for quite a while this time.”

Ling’e glanced at the paper avatar in her sleeve pouch and muttered somewhat worriedly.

This situation was indeed very unusual – she had already been out of closed cultivation for over half a year, but Senior Brother still hadn’t come to scold her…

Jiu Yu asked softly: “Could it be that something went wrong with his cultivation?”

“Impossible,” Ling’e hurriedly said, “Senior Brother cultivates steadily without rushing or being greedy, taking each step firmly and steadily. There absolutely won’t be any problems.”

You Qin Xuanya asked: “Did Senior Brother Changshou leave behind a cultivation stone?”

“This…”

Ling’e shook her head, unconsciously revealing traces of worry in her expression.

The so-called cultivation stone was a type of magical device that could sense a cultivator’s state during closed cultivation. If they encountered cultivation deviation or danger, they could promptly alert friends and family for treatment.

Some things were better left unmentioned – once mentioned, thoughts began running wild uncontrollably, subsequently falling into a certain cycle…

Soon, Jiu Yu, You Qin Xuanya, and Ling’e all began to worry.

Especially when Ling’e said: “Senior Brother would always notify me beforehand whenever he went into closed cultivation, but not this time…”

The three senior members of Little Qiong Peak’s foodie group could no longer sit still.

Only Xiong Lingli knew her cousin was the almighty Sea God, so she didn’t feel any worry at this time.

“This won’t do, we need to check!” Jiu Yu said, “Going into closed cultivation without a word – what if something happened?”

You Qin Xuanya hummed softly and said quietly: “If we disturb Senior Brother, wouldn’t that ruin his cultivation?”

Jiu Yu waved her small hand: “Worst case, you and Ling’e can offer yourselves in marriage as compensation!”

“Master-Uncle!” Ling’e’s cheeks flushed red but then filled with worry again.

You Qin Xuanya remained quite calm as she pursed her lips and said: “Master-Uncle, don’t make such jokes – it damages Senior Brother Changshou’s reputation.”

Ling’e said: “How about this – I’ll go walk around near the pill refining room. If Senior Brother isn’t in closed cultivation, he’ll open the outer formation for me.”

“Let’s go, let’s go – Lingli can keep barbecuing, the three of us will go over.”

Jiu Yu called out and led Ling’e and You Qin Xuanya flying toward the boundary of the pill refining room’s outer formation.

Arriving there, they could sense spiritual energy flowing in the forest ahead. The three quietly waited for a while…

You Qin Xuanya couldn’t help but ask: “Is there a path to enter the formation?”

Ling’e and Jiu Yu shook their heads in unison, their worry growing deeper.

Jiu Yu shouted: “Little Changshou—”

The shout entered the formation without even an echo returning.

Just then, a certain Human Path disciple who was still having his mind filled with vast amounts of information and was about to complete receiving these teachings had a thread of consciousness disturbed by this shout.

‘Little Master-Uncle… Ling’e… Xuan…’

Although Li Changshou still couldn’t break free from the ‘teaching program’, he could spare a bit of consciousness to barely raise his hand and form a seal, opening the formation path specifically for his junior sister…

“Ling’e, Xuanya?

Did the formation here just open?”

Jiu Yu pointed at the forest ahead and asked curiously.

Ling’e took out a jade piece and looking at the green light flickering on it, quietly sighed in relief. “Senior Brother is fine. Should we still go in?”

“Of course! We’ve come all this way! Let’s see what he’s up to!”

At that, Jiu Yu grabbed one in each hand and pulled them charging into the forest.

Li Changshou, who had just opened the formation path, now lost awareness of the outside world again…

Fortunately, his true body was prone in the underground chamber – only a paper avatar lay in the pill-refining room.

This was the scene the three saw…

A layer of fine dust covered everything in the pill refining room. Li Changshou lay before the pill furnace, his expression was very peaceful as he quietly closed his eyes, barely breathing…

“Senior Brother!”

Ling’e couldn’t help her voice trembling as she rushed forward.

But You Qin Xuanya had slightly stronger cultivation, appearing instantly at Li Changshou’s side. She knelt, raised her hand, and placed a slender finger on Li Changshou’s wrist, closing her eyes to sense.

“Immortal power circulation is normal, and spirit force is stable,” You Qin Xuanya said softly, “There seems to be no major issue.”

“Why would he lie down if nothing’s wrong?”

Jiu Yu frowned and moved closer, kneeling at Li Changshou’s head. She placed her finger on his forehead, carefully sensing.

Ling’e remembered something and also knelt on the other side, gently pinching her Senior Brother’s finger.

The texture… hard…

Feeling careful, it was indeed Senior Brother’s paper avatar.

“According to this Master-Uncle’s diagnosis,” Jiu Yu said very seriously, “this is exhaustion-induced deep sleep. He probably got too tired from refining pills earlier.

Sometimes, you know, cultivators get so tired from refining pills or artifacts that they fall into this kind of deep sleep. Don’t worry…

Generally, in these situations, a female cultivator only needs to use the mouth-to-mouth method to transfer a breath of yin energy, and they’ll wake up immediately.

You’re both his junior sisters – who’ll do it?”

“Really?”

“This matter…”

Ling’e looked toward You Qin Xuanya, who was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and suddenly a spark of electricity seemed to flash between them.

Beside them, Jiu Yu immediately covered her mouth to giggle.

“I’ll do it.”

You Qin Xuanya said softly, her gaze quite determined, her heart unwavering.

Ling’e frowned slightly, wanting to remind them this was Senior Brother’s avatar, but afraid of exposing Senior Brother’s secret…

Moreover, her heart felt somewhat uncomfortable…

Ling’e forced herself to say: “Senior Sister, let me do it. I’ve been raised by Senior Brother since childhood, I’m closer to him, and Senior Brother won’t mind this matter.”

Jiu Yu quickly brought over a wooden stool, grabbed a handful of spirit melon seeds, and entered spectator mode, her large eyes…

Exceptionally bright!

You Qin Xuanya gently bit her lip, seemingly about to speak again;

Ling’e sighed inwardly, afraid of exposing Senior Brother’s avatar secret, she could only force herself to persist. When their gazes met, neither would yield…

Suddenly, the lying Li Changshou let out a soft groan, raised his hand to hold his forehead, opened his eyes full of confusion, and said hoarsely:

“Don’t make trouble, my head hurts right now…”

Li Changshou slowly sat up, with Ling’e and You Qin hurrying to support him;

Behind him, Jiu Yu instantly put away her melon seeds and stool, kneeling there totally obediently, her eyes full of concern for her nephew’s health.

“Senior Brother, are you alright now?”

“Senior Brother Changshou, is there anywhere uncomfortable?”

“Mm, I’m fine…” Li Changshou rubbed his brow. “Ling’e, how long has it been since your last closed cultivation until now?”

“Senior Brother, it’s been three years since I entered closed cultivation, and I’ve been out for half a year now.”

Three years…

The Sage Lord gave one lotus petal, and it was a full three years!?

Just as Li Changshou wanted to complain, quickly recovering several paper avatar incarnations’ divine consciousness, he suddenly jolted mentally, taking a sharp breath, rarely showing an urgent expression.

“How did they start fighting!”

After speaking he immediately closed his eyes, his consciousness instantly returning to that paper avatar in the Doushuai Palace, leaving behind the three fairy ladies looking at each other in dismay.