The moon hung over the western mountains, amidst scattered cups and plates.

Li Changshou stood before the pill room, watching the direction where Master Jiu Wu had departed, the smile gradually fading from his face.

He had, for now, managed to appease this Senior Uncle.

Since that meaningful glance Master Jiu Wu gave him in the Northern Continent, Li Changshou knew this meticulous short Daoist had developed some ‘curiosity’ about him.

Moreover, his recent close association with Senior Aunt Jiu Jiu, asking her for help with many matters, would inevitably spark deeper ‘interest’ in Senior Uncle Jiu Wu.

Curiosity and interest could easily develop into suspicion, becoming a potential threat to himself.

How to eliminate Senior Uncle Jiu Wu’s threat?

Simple, just kill him.

Ahem, just joking.

He had no grudge against Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, who was not only formidably powerful but also a well-respected executive in the sect;

If anything happened to any of the Nine Wine Immortals, it would cause a massive upheaval within the sect;

Plotting against Jiu Wu would be pure suicide.

Among the remaining options, the most stable and reliable was to invite this Senior Uncle here for an open and honest discussion.

Before Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, he would make vows promising never to harm the sect;

Then casually reveal a portion of his hidden cultivation, letting Senior Uncle Jiu Wu feel he had grasped the measure of this junior nephew…

This way, not only would Senior Uncle Jiu Wu stop dwelling on him, but he could also win some goodwill from this sect elder.

This proactive move would transform a future crisis into a slight opportunity.

Li Changshou recalled the details of his talk with Jiu Wu, reviewing it in his mind frame by frame like a slow-motion film.

Their conversation topics, the rhythm and direction of their talk, and even subtle expressions and demeanor changes were all scenarios Li Changshou had repeatedly rehearsed beforehand.

After reviewing, he confirmed he hadn’t revealed any extra information or given his Senior Uncle cause for other associations.

‘Could any of my words have caused other misunderstandings?’

Still, not entirely at ease, Li Changshou continued recalling, analyzing word by word;

He touched his cheek, recalling each of his previous movements and expressions, as well as Senior Uncle Jiu Wu’s constantly changing gaze…

There shouldn’t have been any mistakes.

A light pink figure appeared at the edge of his vision. Li Changshou turned to look – it was Ling E riding a white cloud through the forest canopy;

Her three thousand dark strands danced in the wind, her light pink dress reflecting flower-like radiance.

She carried an empty bamboo basket, jumping before Li Changshou. Her lightly made-up face in the candlelight was indescribably elegant and charming.

“Senior Brother! How did it go? Did you handle that Senior Uncle?”

“Barely,” Li Changshou smiled in response, “Actually, this was just a small aftereffect from the Northern Continent trip. In the future, as long as I don’t go out, I won’t attract attention from such accomplished seniors.”

Lan Ling E blinked, “Senior Brother, how did you manage it? Did you show Senior Uncle Jiu Wu your hidden cultivation?”

Li Changshou glared at his junior sister, transmitting his voice somewhat helplessly:

“I showed part of it, couldn’t handle it otherwise.

Haven’t I told you many times not to speak of these things openly?

Walls have ears, and winds carry immortal consciousness, of everything I’ve taught you these ten years, you haven’t truly grasped even half.

There could be some divine listener eavesdropping on this place right now.”

“Oh,” Lan Ling E puffed her cheeks, saying glumly: “I didn’t mean anything by it, I’m just concerned about you. I’ll go clean up the dishes…”

She walked two steps with a lowered head, then suddenly turned and leaned forward, placing her delicate hand on her Senior Brother’s shoulder, breathing fragrant words by his ear, asking softly:

“Senior Brother, what realm has your cultivation reached? Have you caught up to Master? Are you also close to becoming an immortal?”

“Guess.”

Li Changshou glanced at her, then humming a tune, walked out of the small tower with hands behind his back.

Lan Ling E made a face at Li Changshou, then ran to clean up the empty bowls and chopsticks.

Meanwhile, on the white cloud returning to Breaking Sky Peak…

“This wine packs quite a punch, truly worthy of being called Ganges Old White Spirit, it goes to your head.”

Jiu Wu’s cheeks were flushed, and slightly tipsy, his whole person swaying somewhat, but his eyes remained clear.

He had used a technique to keep his Primordial Spirit from becoming intoxicated.

Approaching Breaking Sky Peak, Jiu Wu gave a light laugh, but sighed inwardly:

This Junior Nephew Changshou had reached the fifth stage of the Returning Void realm! He could rank among the top few disciples of the current generation!

Reaching this realm in just over a hundred years of cultivation, his aptitude was truly exceptional!

Remarkably, his comprehension ability was equally astounding. Earlier when testing his knowledge of formations, he grasped many points instantly.

Most precious was his excellent character, compared to the likes of Yuan Qing, like comparing a bright moon to muddy water.

Jiu Wu bowed his head with a long sigh, speaking softly:

“Though he doesn’t say it, how could this poor Daoist not deduce his reason for hiding his cultivation?

While drinking, his several obvious moments of hesitation, those hidden subtle expressions, actually revealed the helplessness in his heart.

Junior Nephew Changshou hides his cultivation surely because he doesn’t want to bring more storms to the already sparsely populated Little Jade Peak, even if it means he won’t receive focused cultivation resources from the sect, he doesn’t want to give Junior Brother Qi Yuan any extra trouble.

Good disciple, good disciple indeed.

If Junior Brother Qi Yuan fails his tribulation, I’ll request Big Senior Sister or Second Senior Brother to come out of seclusion, and bring Junior Nephew Changshou and his junior sister up to Breaking Sky Peak.”

After these continuous sighs, Breaking Sky Peak was right before him.

Jiu Wu glanced at his little junior sister’s pavilion, seeing she had activated her protective formation, likely already resting.

“I’ll have Little Junior Sister bring some classics to Junior Nephew Changshou later.

Hmm, another day this poor Daoist will chat with the Teaching Elder, such an immortal seedling should have no problem starting to cultivate the ‘Effortless Scripture’ before achieving immortality.

Little Jade Peak…

Junior Brother Qi Yuan has taken a good disciple, truly enviable.”

Shaking his head with a sigh, Jiu Wu returned to his pavilion, casually activating the surrounding formations, floating to his bed that still retained a faint fragrance, and began sitting meditation.

…

Two days passed after the night talk with Jiu Wu.

Li Changshou finally confirmed that this Senior Uncle hadn’t done anything extra.

This brought him considerable relief, his cultivation life finally returning to the century-long peace it had maintained before.

These small disturbances were all because of two small Immortal Dispelling Grass plants;

Now the Immortal Fusion Pills were finished refining, and the disturbance had settled, Li Changshou was fairly satisfied with both the process and results.

In the afternoon, Li Changshou was in the pill room, coating an Immortal Fusion Pill with a specially made sugar shell;

With this, the preparations needed for the first plan were essentially complete.

Then Li Changshou looked at the extra eleven Immortal Fusion Pills he had refined, divided them into three portions, and carefully stored them away.

Few people refined these things, but they were treasures for those with no hope of achieving immortality to avoid heavenly tribulation and extend their lifespan; if there was an opportunity, he could go to some bustling markets to sell a few pills, exchanging them for other precious materials to refine formation bases.

Of course, he would keep two pills in reserve.

Although he now had 80% confidence in surviving the tribulation, his confidence would gradually increase with accumulation;

And his junior sister’s future breakthrough to immortality would certainly have over 60% success rate;

But…

Life was unpredictable, no one could say what might happen later.

Having an extra Immortal Fusion Pill in reserve would at least ensure that even if he encountered an erratic tribulation in the future, he could survive;

Leaving an Immortal Fusion Pill in reserve for his junior sister would at least allow her to copy Master’s elderly life plan.

As a disciple and senior brother, this was the extent of help he could provide.

However, looking at this Immortal Fusion Pill, Li Changshou fell into contemplation…

What if, just what if, Master couldn’t withstand even the first tribulation, instantly turning to ash when the heavenly thunderstruck? What then?

“Though the first plan is complete, I should proceed with the second and third plans simultaneously.

If Master suddenly has enlightenment and can smoothly pass through the tribulation, becoming a normal immortal, that would be the best outcome.”

Sighing, Li Changshou stood up, placed the sugar-coated Immortal Fusion Pill in his sleeve, and strolled out of the pill room.

Half an hour later.

Li Changshou stood at his Master’s secluded cultivation place, cleared his throat, made a Daoist bow at the door, and called out:

“Master! Disciple wishes to seek guidance on some cultivation difficulties!

Disciple deeply regrets disturbing Master’s peaceful cultivation!”

The wooden door quickly opened, and Old Daoist Qi Yuan walked out smiling, waving his hand at Li Changshou.

“Come, let’s go to the lakeside. These past few years, I have indeed neglected your teachings.”

Li Changshou sighed slightly inside.

Master opening the door so quickly meant he hadn’t been in meditation;

Was he already unable to enter meditation? It seemed the tribulation was truly not far ahead.

Master and disciple arrived under the willow tree by the lake, where Qi Yuan took out two meditation cushions, sitting opposite Li Changshou.

Qi Yuan said gently: “Whatever doubts you have, feel free to speak.”

Then, Qi Yuan’s gaze dimmed as he sighed, “If I cannot pass this tribulation hurdle, I fear I won’t have the chance to teach you like this in the future.”

“Master, what are you saying,” Li Changshou smiled, “You will certainly pass through the tribulation.

Didn’t you often say before, Master, that if one doesn’t even have this much confidence, how can one face the trials and tempering given by the Great Dao?”

“You with your life-cherishing, death-fearing nature, now turn to lecture your Master!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan put on a stern face and rebuked;

Li Changshou smiled with narrowed eyes, quickly moving to the main topic, asking about doubts encountered in his cultivation.

The first three questions Li Changshou asked were relatively ordinary, all difficulties encountered in Returning Void realm cultivation, which Qi Yuan answered in detail.

But with the fourth question, Li Changshou asked about the meaning of ‘Spirit returns to spirit, qi returns to qi, five qi restart, heaven’s cycle as wished.’

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was stunned by the question, and then sat by the lake in silent contemplation;

Li Changshou didn’t stop there, following with three more clearly ‘advanced’ questions, all of which left Old Daoist Qi Yuan at a loss for answers.

He wasn’t intentionally trying to embarrass his Master, purely wanting to tactfully remind Master that if his cultivation met bottlenecks, he could explore forward from these aspects.

At this time, Old Daoist Qi Yuan, thinking his hopes of passing the tribulation were slim, wanted to teach his disciple as much as possible, also pondering and weighing his understanding of these questions, not daring to mislead his disciple.

Gradually, Qi Yuan himself fell into deep thought.

Before long, Old Daoist Qi Yuan closed his eyes in concentration;

After another while, flower petals began floating around Old Daoist Qi Yuan’s body, a common phenomenon when those about to face tribulation enter meditation.

However, the flower petals around Old Daoist Qi Yuan were very pale, and their outlines were somewhat incomplete…

Li Changshou very carefully set up a simple sound-isolating protective barrier around his Master, then turned to begin bustling about in front of his thatched cottage.

This was the main part of the second plan – trying to enhance Master’s own strength, increasing his comprehension and understanding of the Dao.

‘Ah, if only I could give Master a small portion of the enlightenment that comes to me every few days.’

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, beginning to prepare the supplementary plan for this approach.

And the supplementary part of the second plan was impressive…

Li Changshou took out a treasure pouch marked ‘Mystic Thirty-Two’, retrieving several three-chi-long purple wooden pieces and six six-chi-long rainbow-colored metal rods, and began working intently.

[Thunder-Falling Wood]: A commonly used treasure material for arranging thunder-type formations, able to guide thunder force.

[Thunder-Containing Seven Spirit Iron]: Similarly a commonly used treasure material for thunder-type formations, able to store and disperse thunder force.

According to the ‘knowledge’ Li Changshou now possessed, the destructive power of heavenly tribulation on cultivators came mostly from thunder force, with only a small portion from the impact of the Dao.

If he could create a ‘secondary transfer lightning rod’ that could draw out most of the thunder force from the tribulation-facing cultivator’s body when struck, it might increase the chances of successfully passing through the tribulation;

And theoretically, it shouldn’t trigger an increase in the tribulation’s power.

Whatever the case, having a method was worth trying.