Several days after the feast at Golden Turtle Island.

“Elder Brother Sect Leader is now far beyond what we could ever achieve,” sighed a voice.

In the East Sea Dragon Palace, within the Second Prince’s palace chamber, two figures embraced in the corner of a massive bed that stretched dozens of zhang wide.

Hearing Ao Yi’s sighs, Jiang Si’er didn’t know how to comfort him. She could only press herself closer to her husband and say softly:

“Why does my husband sigh so?

The Sect Leader has shown us great care and has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Dragon Race.

Didn’t the Elders just say that when you entered the Celestial Court, the Dragon Race’s fortune improved somewhat, and after those sixteen Sea Patrol Minor Deities took their positions, our fortune rose another notch?

These are all benefits the Sect Leader has given us.”

“This is a laugh of joy – I’m happy for Elder Brother Sect Leader,” Ao Yi smiled. “Now Elder Brother Sect Leader can sit and drink as equals with the supreme powers of Heaven and Earth. Think back to when Elder Brother Sect Leader was merely…”

“Husband.”

Jiang Si’er suddenly interrupted Ao Yi’s words, saying in a low voice: “You warned me before not to speak of matters regarding Elder Brother Sect Leader’s background, not even to me.”

Ao Yi instantly became alert, quickly checking the various formation arrays outside the great hall before finally relaxing slightly.

“Thank you for the reminder, Si’er.”

Jiang Si’er said gently: “The Sect Leader has earned the jealous hatred of powerful enemies due to Dragon Race matters. We absolutely cannot make such mistakes.”

Ao Yi held his wife even tighter, whispering tender words.

“Reporting to Second Prince, Crown Prince Ao Shi of the West Sea has arrived at the palace. The Dragon Mother requests the Second Prince’s presence, saying there are matters to discuss.”

Suddenly hearing a sea maiden’s report from outside the hall, Jiang Si’er let out a soft “eep” and hid under the thin covers.

The corner of Ao Yi’s mouth twitched slightly…

“Understood, I’ll go right away.”

“Husband,” Jiang Si’er poked her head out from under the covers and whispered, “Remember to consult with the Sect Leader about everything. Though the Four Seas have been peaceful lately, I still feel somewhat uneasy in my heart.”

“Alright,” Ao Yi gave Jiang Si’er a reassuring look, quickly dressed himself properly and headed out of the hall.

Half an hour later, Ao Yi returned with furrowed brows. Jiang Si’er, who had already dressed and tidied herself, hurried to meet him.

“Husband, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing to do with us,” said Ao Yi. “Cousin Ao Shi has invited our elder brother to feast at the West Sea Dragon Palace. This time all the Crown Princes of the Four Seas will gather.

It’s likely just for pleasure, not any serious business.”

“Then why does my husband look so worried?”

“Something feels off,” Ao Yi muttered, recalling what he had seen earlier. “Today it wasn’t just Cousin Ao Shi who came, but also Cousin Ao Mou from the South Sea.

You might not know Cousin Ao Mou’s character – he dislikes being bound by rules, is somewhat unrestrained, and usually quite indulgent with himself, often dallying with palace maids…”

Jiang Si’er blinked: “There are quite a few such young lords among the Dragon Race.”

“Tsk,” Ao Yi said in a low voice. “The last time I saw Cousin Ao Mou was two years ago. His spirit was withered, his yang essence depleted, his dragon source unstable, and his aura weak.

But when I saw Cousin Ao Mou today, his eyes contained spiritual light, his aura was deep and stable, his complexion ruddy, and his dragon source profound – like he had become a completely different person.”

“Oh you,” Jiang Si’er chided, “Can’t people change their ways, or perhaps he took some medicinal pills or supplements?”

“Something’s wrong,” Ao Yi shook his head, standing up and pacing constantly by the bed, thinking carefully. “But with just these observations, I can’t go bothering Elder Brother Sect Leader.”

Jiang Si’er quickly said: “Husband, please don’t harbor any dangerous thoughts. The Sect Leader said to tell him of all matters, big or small.”

“Don’t worry,” Ao Yi thought carefully.

[If I were Elder Brother Sect Leader, how would I handle this matter?]

Soon, Ao Yi had an idea in mind.

First, take precautions.

“I’ll go discuss this matter with several Elders, see if we can request some experts to secretly follow to the West Sea and observe.”

With that, Ao Yi hurriedly headed out of the hall again.

Jiang Si’er seemed to want to say something more but held back her words.

…

At the card room behind Lesser Jade Peak.

The half-finished card game lay on the table, while Young Lady Yu Shi, who had just begun cultivating, meditated in the next room.

Two graceful figures and one iron tower-like form gathered at the pavilion stairway, concernedly looking upward.

Shortly after, Jiu Yu tiptoed down the stairs, laid down a barrier with immortal power, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

You Qin Xuan Ya asked: “Has Junior Sister Ling’e started cultivating?”

“No, she fell right asleep,” Jiu Yu frowned and sighed. “This is too frightening!”

Jiang Lin’er hurriedly asked: “What happened? When I saw her return on her cloud earlier, she looked completely exhausted as if her soul had been stolen.”

“I don’t know either,” Jiu Yu’s brows were tightly knitted as she said seriously: “I just heard her muttering something about Senior Brother making her… five thousand four hundred times… or something.”

You Qin Xuan Ya was somewhat confused, “Five thousand four hundred times?”

“Pff!”

Jiang Lin’er almost burst out laughing, “Xuan Ya, don’t think too much, Little Jiu is joking.”

You Qin Xuan Ya tilted her head, falling into even deeper confusion.

“Hee hee,” Jiu Yu hopped down two steps, the threads of her hemp clothes suddenly becoming rather tight.

Jiu Yu laughed: “She copied scriptures five thousand four hundred times, Master-Wife, you’re thinking too much! Ling’e was even criticized by her Senior Brother for having an unstable foundation.”

At the mention of tribulation, Jiang Lin’er, as Ling’e’s Grand Master, also showed a serious expression.

“Ling’e’s tribulation is imminent. If her foundation is truly unstable, she should indeed endure some trials.

However, how can copying scriptures strengthen one’s foundation?”

“If Senior Brother Chang Shou had Ling’e do it, it must be beneficial to her,” You Qin Xuan Ya said from the side. “Let’s trust in Senior Brother Chang Shou.”

Beside her, Xiong Ling Li nodded repeatedly, “My cousin is super amazing!”

“The question is, how did Ling’e’s foundation become unstable?”

Jiu Yu puffed her cheeks and said: “The few times I’ve seen Ling’e have insights before, the foundation manifestation she emanated showed an eight-petaled foundation lotus.

Such a foundation was even more stable than mine was back then.”

“Hey,” Jiang Lin’er suddenly interrupted Jiu Yu’s words, pointing at the ceiling, “Look!”

Everyone looked up to see a two-inch diameter cyan lotus flower slowly floating down from the ceiling.

The cyan color was faint, with nine petals containing light as if a wisp of pure fragrance spread throughout.

Jiu Yu’s almond eyes widened as she exclaimed: “Nine petals!”

“No,” Jiang Lin’er’s eyes blazed with divine light as she saw Ling’e’s current state.

In the quiet room upstairs, Ling’e, who had been lying on her side on the bed, was now surrounded by spiritual light, floating cross-legged in the air, with blurry characters circling around her.

These characters were converging behind Ling’e, where the shadowy form of a book was faintly taking shape.

“Quick!”

Jiang Lin’er immediately called out: “Ling’e is about to face her tribulation! Quick! Quick!”

Jiu Yu anxiously asked: “Quick what, Master-Wife?!”

You Qin Xuan Ya said nothing, immediately heading upstairs.

“There’s no need to hurry, everyone. She is currently in pre-immortal enlightenment.”

Just then, a gentle breeze blew in from outside the door, and Li Chang Shou’s form appeared directly before everyone.

Did she achieve enlightenment so quickly?

Li Chang Shou was also somewhat surprised, having thought Ling’e would need half a month of rest before making a breakthrough…

No, wait.

Li Chang Shou watched Ling’e upstairs, his gaze falling on the shadowy book behind her, faintly making out the character ‘Steady’ on it.

Uh, entering the Dao through the ‘Scripture of Steadiness’?

Li Chang Shou’s mouth twitched several times, also somewhat bewildered.

Fortunately, after careful observation for a while, he found that his junior sister had indeed taken a unique path based on the foundation of the ‘Scripture of Non-Action’…

This path had no errors and held promise for the future.

“Grand Master,” Li Chang Shou said, “Please inform the sect that Ling’e will soon face her tribulation outside the mountain gate.

Please ask the sect’s disciples to keep their distance and not disturb her, lest they be accidentally injured by the heavenly tribulation.”

Jiang Lin’er said: “Alright, I’ll go to the Hundred Ordinary Hall right away and say it’s from my Fu Gui’er!”

You Qin Xuan Ya asked from the side: “Senior Brother, is there anything I can do?”

“Facing tribulation is a personal matter,” Li Chang Shou smiled. “Don’t worry, Ling’e’s preparations are very thorough, and I will also protect her during the process.”

Jiu Yu volunteered: “I’ll go beat the drums to cheer for Ling’e!”

Xiong Ling Li asked softly: “Can I help?”

“Great!” Jiu Yu waved her small hand. “You can be the drum!”

Xiong Ling Li agreed with a miserable sound, bringing more laughter to the pavilion.

Unlike Master Qi Yuan’s hesitant heavenly tribulation,

And unlike Li Chang Shou’s repetitive, encore-filled tribulation,

Ling’e’s heavenly tribulation came very gently.

After completing her final enlightenment before ascension, Ling’e slowly opened her eyes, her pupils filled with brilliant spiritual light. Her entire being was wrapped in a faint mist, her snow-white skin appearing as delicate as jade.

Li Chang Shou transmitted his voice: “The heavenly tribulation has arrived. Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Ling’e nodded gently, having already sensed it.

She had thought she would feel worried and afraid, but hearing her Senior Brother’s voice instantly calmed her heart.

What was there to fear about a heavenly tribulation?

After passing the tribulation, she would have a longer lifespan and could stay with Senior Brother on the peak…

Taking a gentle breath, Ling’e quickly checked the storage treasures on her person, looking at the various ‘tribulation-specific’ pouches organized by category within, her confidence growing.

She changed into a specially crafted treasure silk dress with a gauze robe over it, letting her long hair cascade down before simply tying it back.

Carrying a short sword and holding a jade flute, she went downstairs, exchanged smiles with her Senior Brother, and opened the door to find hundred-mile dark clouds outside.

Boundless spiritual energy rolled in as clouds and mist churned above.

The entire mountain gate was stirred, streams of immortal consciousness converging here.

Li Chang Shou waved his sleeve, summoning a white cloud to carry himself and Ling’e toward the mountain gate.

Li Chang Shou asked: “Have you checked everything?”

“Yes,” Ling’e nodded gently. “Senior Brother can rest assured, everything is prepared.”

“Keep this in your mouth,” Li Chang Shou took out a golden pill wrapped in immortal power.

Without hesitation or question about what it was, Ling’e picked up the pill and put it in her mouth, her cheeks immediately bulging.

Li Chang Shou instructed: “Don’t swallow this pill directly. This is the final trump card for emergencies, to save your life – it’s very expensive.”

“It’s sthtuck… I can’t speak properly…”

“Then don’t speak.”

“Oh.”

Ling’e obediently agreed, looking up at the dark clouds covering the sky, her heart peaceful.

At the mountain gate, over ten figures waited for the senior-junior pair to arrive.

Grand Master Jiang Lin’er, Master Qi Yuan, Little Master-Uncle Yu Shi, Master-Aunts Jiu Wu, and Jiu Shi, along with four other Jiu-named immortals, as well as Senior Sister Yan’er, Junior Brother Qi Qi…

Ling’e stepped forward and made a Daoist bow.

Jiang Lin’er smiled: “After you pass the tribulation, I’ll have your Grand-Master-Uncle Wang Qing knock your Senior Brother unconscious and throw him in your room!”

Ling’e’s pretty face instantly flushed red. She wanted to nod but didn’t dare, only weakly glancing at her Senior Brother.

Li Chang Shou stood by with a smile.

Qi Yuan, however, worriedly instructed: “When it comes to facing tribulation, your master has experience. If you cannot withstand it directly, then don’t force it. Long Shou, did you prepare that pill for your junior sister?”

“I prepared a different kind,” Li Chang Shou quickly said. “Master, please don’t worry. When Master faced tribulation back then, this disciple’s cultivation was insufficient and abilities lacking. For Junior Sister’s tribulation, everything has been prepared securely.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Qi Yuan’s eyes were full of emotion.

At this point, Jiang Lin’er and Qi Yuan stepped aside, left and right, as Li Chang Shou led Ling’e on the cloud past the mountain gate.

Encouraging words came from all around as Ling’e bowed to each person, unable to speak at the moment.

Beyond the mountain gate, the tribulation ground lay ahead on a desolate mountain.

Qi Yuan and the others followed on clouds, stopping ten miles away;

Li Chang Shou escorted her five miles further, indicated the tribulation spot to Ling’e, and said: “Go on.”

“Senior Brother…”

“Steady.”

“Yes!”

Ling’e nodded gently, her left hand leading forward as her form floated up, skirts and long hair dancing in the wind, like an immortal maiden ascending from a mural, flying herself to this desolate mountain marked with traces of past tribulations.

Boom! Rumble!

Thunder sounded overhead as Ling’e looked up to see the dark clouds beginning to rotate.

‘Oh right, where’s Little Master-Uncle?’

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums suddenly came from the side. Ling’e turned to look and saw, a few miles away on a cloud, Jiu Yu wearing short clothes and a headband, vigorously beating a drum with her mallets.

Xiong Ling Li stood beside her, repeatedly striking a brass gong.

The two shouted in unison:

“Ling-e-must-win!”

“Pass-tribulation-become-immortal!”

You Qin Xuan Ya stood behind the two, right leg curled and left toe pointing distantly at the ground, wearing a fire-red long dress, beautiful beyond description.

Her delicate hands formed elegant sword fingers, controlling sixteen flagpoles.

Those large flags were written with phrases like ‘Ling’e Must Win’ and ‘Pass Tribulation Become Immortal’…

Ling’e couldn’t help but cover her face with one hand, feeling somewhat… embarrassed.

“Don’t get distracted.”

Li Chang Shou’s voice transmission arrived.

Ling’e immediately focused, taking out various magical treasures and tools from her pouch, pushing them a hundred zhang out around herself, wrapped in magical power, ready to use at any moment.

Lesser Jade Peak’s special tribulation-passing tools including the Law Lord Bird Cage: three types, nine pieces total.

Rare treasures for protecting the primordial spirit during the tribulation: six pieces, half being superior-grade immortal treasures.

Treasures for quickly gathering spiritual energy and recovering magical power: four pieces.

Self-triggering miniature formation bases for defense against sneak attacks: twelve sets…

Second-grade spirit pills for increasing lightning tribulation resistance: two bottles;

Fourth-grade spirit pills that continuously release medicinal effects to heal injuries: six bottles;

Third-grade spirit pills that continuously release power to accelerate immortal energy recovery: three bottles;

Pills for repairing primordial spirit damage: one bottle;

Pills for quickly repairing foundation damage: three pills…

And so on.

Ten miles away, in the direction of the mountain gate, the gathered immortals of the Degree Immortal Sect watched this scene with complex expressions.

Jiang Lin’er muttered:

“When did our Lesser Jade Peak become so wealthy?

This setup – forget ascension tribulation, even if you said it was for becoming a Golden Immortal, people would believe it!”

Qi Yuan chuckled lightly, his eyes full of comfort.

“Ahem, ahem ahem,” several coughs sounded as a tall figure descended from the sky, landing before the group and calmly standing with hands behind his back.

It was, naturally, the Degree Immortal Sect’s Leader, Ji Wu You.

Ji Wu You smiled: “These were all bestowed by this poor Daoist. Ling’e is our Degree Immortal Sect’s once-in-a-thousand-year cultivation prodigy. It’s only natural that this poor Daoist showed her extra care.”

The gathered immortals immediately showed expressions of understanding.

Ji Wu You’s eyes crinkled in a smile.

‘Looking at this setup, her position as the Great Law Master Senior’s daughter-in-law is set in stone.

If anything goes wrong during the tribulation later, even if this poor Daoist has to destroy several magical treasures, she must pass safely.’

Just then, the tribulation clouds, which had already begun forming a ‘thunder well vortex’, suddenly stopped.

More and more spiritual energy began gathering from all directions, and the tribulation clouds that had already taken shape began growing larger!

Seeing this, Li Chang Shou felt no surprise.

The heavenly tribulation that appeared earlier was what Ling’e’s original talents should have faced; the tribulation force increasing now was due to her current foundation’s influence.

Li Chang Shou quickly calculated in his mind, that the success rate was still at ninety percent… eighty…

“Hmm?”

Li Chang Shou sensed something and looked up, only to see a gray cloud suddenly fly out from the tribulation clouds, stopping directly above his head.

Why… why?

…

Three thousand miles east of the Degree Immortal Sect, a figure sneaking through the mountain forests suddenly stopped.

It was a black panther, carrying a young maiden on its back.

The black panther had recently awakened some memories of its previous life and was taking its lady to search for some precious treasures he had buried when known as ‘Daoist Yuan Ze’ in his previous life, at the edge of the South Jambudvipa Continent in a mountain forest.

At this moment, he looked east, faintly seeing a tribulation cloud with what appeared to be a scene of immortal maidens dancing above it.

“Hssss—

It’s the Nine Heavens Pure Spirit Tribulation, ranked sixth among ascension tribulations!”

The black panther drew in a sharp breath.

The maiden quickly said: “Keep it simple, no long explanations.”

“She won’t pass it, this kind of great tribulation definitely can’t be passed!”