‘I wonder how Senior Uncle’s reincarnation is progressing.’

At Little Jade Peak, beside the lake in her thatched cottage, Ling’e opened her eyes while sitting on her meditation cushion, wearing plain white training robes. She appeared slightly dazed.

It had been over a month since Senior Brother and Junior Uncle went to the Underworld, with no news so far.

Naturally, Ling’e wasn’t worried that Senior Brother and Junior Uncle had suddenly eloped or anything – after all, only Senior Brother’s paper avatar had gone. His true body should be hiding somewhere in the pill-refining room.

No, that’s not right…

If she thought about it from the perspective of ‘If I could think of it, how could Senior Brother be so obvious,’ it was possible his true body wasn’t in the pill refining room at all!

It was all misdirection and illusion!

“Hehe,” Ling’e’s lips curled into a slight smile, feeling inexplicably pleased with herself.

Just then, a whispered message entered her ear.

“Come to the pill refining room. I have some matters to instruct you on.”

“Oh, alright,” Ling’e’s demeanor instantly became more subdued as she softly replied, “Senior Brother, I’ll come right over. I just finished cultivation… that is.”

“Mm,” Li Changshou acknowledged, and that strand of divine consciousness disappeared.

Ling’e let out a breath of relief and stood up from her meditation cushion. Even the loose training robes couldn’t completely conceal her graceful figure.

She first went to her dressing table to check her appearance, then used a wooden comb to secure the treasure pouch containing Senior Brother’s paper avatar that sat before the mirror.

Only then did she go behind the screen to change into her favorite everyday dress before flying on a cloud to the pill refining room.

As soon as she saw Senior Brother, Ling’e felt something was different about him today…

She hurriedly asked, “Senior Brother, did Junior Uncle Jiu run into trouble?”

Li Changshou smiled and said, “Not at all, don’t worry. Junior Uncle and my avatar are already on their way back and will arrive at the mountain gate in half an hour. Junior Uncle is about to break through to the Celestial Immortal realm, which is why they were delayed for some time. Senior Uncle Huanjiang Yu’s reincarnation has also been arranged. Junior Uncle’s breakthrough isn’t finished yet, so he’ll go into seclusion to consolidate his realm after returning to the mountain. You can focus on your cultivation during this period.”

Ling’e blinked and asked softly, “Senior Brother… is something wrong?”

Li Changshou looked at the young woman before him, seeing the unease and trepidation in her autumn-like eyes, and said gently:

“There’s something risky I need to do, with over 90% chance of success, so you needn’t worry about it. Just to be safe, I’m leaving some instructions with you, in case my return is delayed…”

Ling’e bit her lip slightly, the concern in her eyes growing deeper, “Senior Brother, if it’s dangerous, wouldn’t it be better not to do it?”

Li Changshou smiled and said, “Ling’e, do you know that our Orthodox Unity Sect has a master called the Great Dharma Master of Xuandu?”

Ling’e blinked, not understanding why Senior Brother brought this up but quickly answered:

“Of course, I know. He’s the only disciple of our sect’s Lord Sage, and one of the strongest experts below the Sage realm today. He’s also known as the Great Senior Brother of the Dao School…”

“This time, I’ll be acting together with the Great Dharma Master.”

Li Changshou continued: “Although there’s still some risk involved, with the Great Dharma Master by my side, the danger level isn’t too high. I called you here to give some instructions just to be thorough, as I might be away for some time and might miss your tribulation to become immortal. Don’t overthink it.”

Ling’e let out a slight breath of relief, the worry in her eyes reducing by half…

Li Changshou’s words weren’t deceiving her.

However, facing tribulation was ultimately something one had to do alone. No matter how strong the Great Dharma Master was, he couldn’t help bear the Heavenly Tribulation…

Well, judging by common sense, that should be impossible.

Moreover, Li Changshou worried that after successfully passing his tribulation, there might be events similar to ascension. If he couldn’t arrange everything at home properly, he would have to split his attention at that time.

Li Changshou took out two brocade boxes and said seriously:

“These two boxes contain things prepared for your tribulation. Inside each are dozens of treasure pouches, along with detailed instructions for use. After you reach the seventh stage of the Return to Dao realm, if I haven’t returned yet, open these boxes yourself and prepare for the tribulation.”

Dozens of…

Ling’e accepted the two brocade boxes, unable to resist wanting to make a few quips.

Had Senior Brother prepared these tribulation items assuming every bolt of her heavenly tribulation would be Purple Imperial Thunder?

Looking at the characters ‘Peace’ and ‘Safety’ inscribed with immortal power on the boxes, Ling’e felt both happy and warm in her heart. She hugged the two boxes to her chest and said softly:

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“Mm,” Li Changshou nodded with a smile, “Remember, this matter cannot be treated carelessly.”

Ling’e’s small face was filled with solemnity as she nodded several times in agreement.

After Ling’e returned to her lakeside cottage, Li Changshou called for Bear Lingli and temporarily entrusted her with the spirit beast enclosure, spirit trees, and immortal bean plantation base.

When Li Changshou underwent tribulation and gained enlightenment, he wanted to focus completely without any distractions.

Afterward, when the paper avatar returned with Junior Uncle Jiu, he escorted her back to Breaking Sky Peak for seclusion, and the paper avatar took the opportunity to visit Senior Uncle Jiu Wu…

After returning from Breaking Sky Peak, Li Changshou withdrew his paper avatar and went into his true form to pay respects to his Master, then sat for a while with Elder Wan Linsong.

His heart is now free of extra concerns.

Li Changshou used his usual technique – his true body used a transformation art to slip into a compartment behind a paper avatar, then had this paper avatar be picked up by another paper avatar and stored in its sleeve…

If he encountered powerful enemies before meeting up with the Great Dharma Master, he would have a fairly good chance of escape.

Then, Li Changshou quietly went underground and left Spirit Immortal Gate through that one-way earth vein transportation formation, heading to the tribulation ground he had selected beforehand.

When undergoing his immortal tribulation, Li Changshou had chosen a location at the edge of the mortal world.

His main consideration then was that if enemies disturbed him before or after the tribulation, he could directly hide in the mortal realm, and there were relatively fewer cultivators at the edges of the mortal world.

Now that he was facing the Golden Immortal tribulation, with the Great Dharma Master helping protect him, external safety was much higher. Moreover, the Golden Immortal tribulation’s power was unpredictable – he could no longer go to the edge of the mortal world, lest it affect mortals and add to his karmic burden.

Therefore, he found a relatively remote location in the East Victory Divine Continent.

This place was sixty thousand miles northwest of Spirit Immortal Gate, rather barren with no spirit veins. Thus, there were no immortal sects within ten thousand miles, only a large expanse of continuous desolate mountains where some minor demons made their lairs.

A perfect tribulation ground.

Ten years ago, Li Changshou had already arranged for paper avatars to secretly make preparations here and thoroughly investigate the demon tribes in the area.

The closest to his chosen tribulation mountain was a den of black panthers several hundred miles away, with their strongest member not yet able to take human form – no influence on him whatsoever…

After his true body arrived at this location, Li Changshou began the final arrangements and preparations before undergoing tribulation.

He first went to the peak next to this desolate mountain and dug out a Law Lord bird cage that he had refined using numerous precious materials from a dense forest.

An extra large, reinforced version!

He moved this ten-zhang-tall bird cage to the mountaintop and connected it with the earth vein.

If he was about to be overwhelmed during the tribulation, this thing would likely be able to weaken the power of a lightning strike.

However, the Golden Immortal tribulation wasn’t just lightning – heavenly tribulation manifested the five elements, so this item’s usefulness was limited…

Then Li Changshou scattered some paper avatars to hide beyond the tribulation’s range, waiting quietly at the edges of the expected tribulation ground.

These were an important trump card for this tribulation – paper avatar immortal power power banks!

During tribulation, proper use of immortal power was key to increasing the success rate.

Many cultivators couldn’t withstand heavenly tribulation because they exhausted too much magical power and immortal power in the first few tribulations, leaving them powerless when facing the real tests later.

To maintain abundant immortal power, cultivators usually chose to continuously ‘recharge’ themselves using spirit pills that quickly restored immortal and magical power.

Li Changshou had naturally prepared such pills, and different types that could be used in combination during tribulation to quickly replenish his consumption.

On top of taking pills, during the intervals between tribulations, having paper avatars inject homologous immortal power into his true body would ensure as much as possible that he wouldn’t run into situations where he lacked immortal power…

Fully exploiting the potential of the paper-human technique.

Li Changshou also arranged some paper avatars carrying immortal beans and buried some trigger-type micro formations in various places…

Given that his last tribulation happened twice.

Li Changshou had already arranged paper avatars to make slightly lower-grade preparations at a second tribulation ground three thousand miles away, and a third tribulation ground six thousand miles away.

If he could safely pass the tribulation this time, he must thank the selfless dedication of Little Jade Peak’s spirit trees!

Of course, he also had to thank the Dragon Palace bros for their financial support…

For his Golden Immortal tribulation, Li Changshou had truly staked everything.

What use was treasure if one’s life was lost?

Afterward, Li Changshou began removing the various small items his true body had been wearing and temporarily erased the barbarian tribe’s secret scripts inscribed on his body.

After the Lord Sage helped conceal his background, these ‘anti-divination’ treasures had lost their meaning.

But Li Changshou didn’t feel completely at ease just because of the Sage’s protection; if the Sage’s methods failed one day, he would still have emergency measures…

Life was still most secure when held in one’s own hands.

Learning from last time’s lesson, it was better to remove these things before the tribulation, lest another fiasco like last time occurs when the Heavenly Lord went into energy-saving mode and casually sent down an immortal tribulation that nearly made him ascend with amputated limbs.

Ugh, best not to recall that, best not to recall that.

Li Changshou busied himself for half a day until all preparations were properly arranged.

But by the appointed time, the Great Dharma Master still hadn’t appeared…

Where had the Great Dharma Master gone?

No need to rush to urge him – the Golden Immortal tribulation wasn’t imminent, and Li Changshou had left himself some buffer time.

Calculating back and forth, he had already severed his Dao realm eight times. The method of severing the Dao realm had almost completely lost its effect, but not entirely.

If his tribulation came and the Great Dharma Master still hadn’t arrived, he would sever the Dao realm a ninth time.

This could delay for one to two hours, and his avatar in the Heavenly Court could also rush to the Tushita Palace to seek aid…

Thus, all preparations were complete, just waiting online for one Great Dharma Master.

Li Changshou let out a light breath and took out his pre-prepared tribulation thank-you speech, beginning to review it word by word.

…

The Great Dharma Master of Xuandu hadn’t intentionally arrived late;

Before the appointed time with Li Changshou, the Great Dharma Master had already left Tushita Palace;

But when the Great Dharma Master left the Heavenly Court, he suddenly thought of something, changed course, and first went to the East Sea region…

The Great Dharma Master placed great importance on Li Changshou’s tribulation.

It could be said that after ancient times, the thing the Great Dharma Master cared most about was Li Changshou’s Golden Immortal tribulation.

This related to whether he could retire early from Tushita Palace and the frequency of future errands from his teacher…

Moreover, in the Great Dharma Master’s view, this junior Li Changshou was quite likable. Even without these considerations, he would gladly lend a hand.

Therefore, before going to find Li Changshou, the Great Dharma Master drifted to the East Sea, arrived at those Three Immortal Islands, waited briefly, and met Junior Sister Yunxiao…

A certain eavesdropping duo quickly took their posts.

When Yunxiao went out to meet with Great Dharma Master Xuandu, she softly sighed in her heart.

Since being schemed against by this Senior Brother Xuandu last time, disturbing her state of mind, various thoughts had been sprouting in her heart these days.

Yunxiao also knew this was due to cultivating for too long and her Dao heart suddenly being disturbed. She only needed to seclude herself for ten thousand years to suppress this disturbance.

This time when the Great Dharma Master came, Yunxiao initially didn’t want to meet, but after brief consideration, she still walked out of her warm chamber…

“Senior Brother Xuandu, do you have important matters again?”

The Great Dharma Master said seriously: “This time I want to request Junior Sister Yunxiao’s help, to borrow Junior Sister’s Mixed Origin Golden Dipper for use.”

Fairy Yunxiao was somewhat surprised and smiled lightly: “Senior Brother Xuandu has Great Master Uncle’s numerous treasures for protection, how would you need my Mixed Origin Golden Dipper?”

The Great Dharma Master said: “If fighting others, though I can only borrow part of the power of teacher’s few supreme treasures, it’s enough to handle various situations. But this time, it’s to protect someone, and only Junior Sister’s Golden Dipper will do.”

Hearing the Great Dharma Master’s words, Yunxiao grew more curious.

“Can Senior Brother explain in more detail? The Taiji Diagram and Profound Yellow Pagoda are both supreme defensive treasures, far above my Golden Dipper.”

The Great Dharma Master pondered for a moment, then said:

“To be honest, this time I want Junior Sister to come with me to help a disciple pass tribulation. Though the Taiji Diagram and Profound Yellow Pagoda are powerful, using their power would only forcefully resist or disperse the heavenly tribulation. The heavenly tribulation is both Heaven’s Way’s trial for the one undergoing tribulation and an opportunity given to them. If we use such supreme treasures to protect this person while also hindering their cultivation. But Junior Sister’s Mixed Origin Golden Dipper is different. When the Golden Dipper reverses, it can refine beings taken into it; when it turns forward, it can heal and replenish the essence of beings taken into it. Moreover, the Golden Dipper isolates heaven and earth severs the five elements, and can also delay the timing of the heavenly tribulation’s descent. Thus, I came to request Junior Sister’s help to accompany me on this trip.”

While speaking, the Great Dharma Master took out two jade bottles and smiled: “Inside are the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill and Nine Revolutions Jade Bright Pill refined by the Lord of the Dao. Consider them thanks for Junior Sister’s assistance this time.”

Yunxiao hummed softly, her gaze not falling on those pills, but only said:

“Senior Brother, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but it’s better not to interfere too much when cultivators undergo tribulation. Letting things take their natural course and acting without interference – isn’t this the principle of Supreme Clarity?”

“Following the natural course doesn’t mean following Heaven’s mandate;

Supreme Clarity’s non-interference doesn’t mean non-interference in all matters.”

The Great Dharma Master smiled and said: “This disciple is quite important to our Orthodox Unity Sect. If the teacher didn’t approve of my actions, he would have warned me before I reached the Three Immortal Islands.”

Yunxiao frowned slightly. Even though the Great Dharma Master’s words brought up the Lord Sage, she was still unwilling to increase karmic ties.

But…

The Great Dharma Master threw out his trump card: “The one undergoing tribulation is the Sea God.”

“Then, Senior Brother please wait.

Let me give my two sisters some instructions, then I’ll go with Senior Brother. It’s time I repaid Sea God Fellow Daoist’s karmic debt.”