“Senior Brother, what new contraption have you created this time? Is this another quick-setup formation device?”

By the Great Ancestral Master Taiqing’s name, Lan Ling’e had only asked this one question before her Senior Brother called her over and locked her in a wooden cage, making her the test subject for his latest “technical achievement.”

The wooden cage stood taller than a person, constructed primarily from thirty-six bound Lightning-Strike Wood poles, with an inner layer of finely woven, colorful “metal” mesh.

Since the Lightning-Strike Wood was pieced together and bound, the cage appeared somewhat crude.

At the top of the cage was a seven-colored long needle, while at the bottom was a hexagram ring forged from Thunder-Containing Seven Spirit Iron. However, this wasn’t any formation, and there were no restrictions on it—it was simply a hexagram shape.

When Qi cultivators underwent their tribulation to become immortals, formations couldn’t be used as protection, as heavenly tribulation lightning ignored all formation barriers.

Artificially refined treasures had many wonderful uses, mainly relying on the restrictions carved inside and outside the treasure.

Based on Li Changshou’s years of research, he had confirmed one thing—the principles behind restrictions and formations were actually the same. Both used fixed “symbols” and “patterns” to guide spiritual energy, differing only in complexity and scale.

[Restrictions] were condensed onto treasures, treating the treasure as a single formation base. Most relied on cultivators injecting immortal power to activate the restrictions, which could then display powerful effects.

[Formations] used formation bases as nodes, with spiritual energy flowing between these bases, primarily borrowing power from heaven and earth.

Though their principles were the same, they developed in completely different directions.

Exceptional artificial treasures could often integrate a complete set of restrictions in an area the size of a fingernail.

The power of formations, however, was often proportional to their setup area, and they sought to merge with heaven and earth, borrowing their might.

Thus, although Li Changshou excelled at formations, he wasn’t skilled at artifact refining.

This couldn’t be helped—he had only been cultivating for about 120 years. After reaching the stage where he didn’t need sleep, he rarely slept, spending vast amounts of time on cultivation and studying miscellaneous skills like pill refining, poison crafting, and formations.

He wished he could split twelve hours into twenty-four, but his cultivation years were still too short. He had to be selective with his “side pursuits” and couldn’t master everything.

Back to the matter of resisting heavenly tribulation.

Tribulation ignored formations and most defensive treasures, with only rare artifacts capable of reducing tribulation’s power—Primordial Spirit Treasures and Supreme Treasures weren’t part of this discussion, as they were far too rare.

But Li Changshou had an advantage others didn’t—nine years of compulsory education.

This wooden cage he made was the “Far-something Cage” from his high school physics textbook, used for lightning protection, and often seen in some pleasing electrical demonstrations.

Li Changshou had almost forgotten the principles, but he was sure he hadn’t gotten the structure wrong.

Li Changshou warned Ling’e: “Don’t touch the mesh around you.”

Inside the cage, Ling’e shuddered. Standing on a wooden board, she looked pitifully at her Senior Brother. “Senior Brother, what exactly are you trying to do?”

“Just don’t move,” Li Changshou said calmly, pulling out several talismans from his sleeve and tossing them ten zhang above the cage. He pointed at the talismans with his left hand.

Crack! Lightning struck from clear skies.

Several lightning bolts struck directly on the Lightning-Strike Wood at the top of the cage. Tiny electric arcs lit up the “metal mesh” around the cage, while the Thunder-Containing Seven Spirit Iron at the bottom immediately dispersed the lightning into the ground…

Lan Ling’e, who had been curled up covering her head, slowly looked up and gazed around in amazement, full of admiration.

“What treasure is this? It really can resist lightning!”

Li Changshou said flatly: “This is the… Faraday Bird Cage… Stay in there a bit longer, I’ll increase the power for another test.”

“Senior Brother! Perhaps we should—Eek!”

Before Ling’e could finish speaking, Li Changshou had already pulled out a stack of yellow talismans from his sleeve. He activated them with spiritual power and threw them above the cage.

These talismans triggered bolt after bolt of lightning, bringing thunderous crashes, all hammering down at the cage below!

In an instant, electric light erupted, birds flew up in flocks from Little Jade Peak, and spirit beasts everywhere became restless…

Practice proved that this Faraday Bird Cage worked well, though it was unclear if it would simply fall apart when facing real tribulation lightning.

As long as it could help Master withstand the first tribulation bolt, the rest would be manageable.

“Come out now, thank you for your help.”

Li Changshou called out as he began contemplating ways to reinforce the cage.

Ling’e couldn’t help complaining: “Senior Brother, couldn’t you have used a fish instead! Why me?”

“Wanted you to feel involved,” Li Changshou smiled, “helping Master pass tribulation—we’ve both contributed now.”

Ling’e immediately pursed her lips, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before saying softly: “Senior Brother, do we need to test more? My cultivation level may be low, but I can still help with this.”

“We can’t have you inside anymore. As you suggested, go find a barrel and catch a fish,” Li Changshou took out several ropes emanating five-colored light and continued working intently. “The lightning power we’ll test next would be too much for you to withstand directly.”

Ling’e agreed and turned toward the lake, avoiding their Master who was in meditation within a sound-blocking formation, and leaped onto the lake surface to walk across the waves.

Moments later, lightning flashed again on Little Jade Peak…

This commotion continued for three full days. Outsiders assumed someone was practicing lightning techniques and paid no attention.

Until Old Daoist Qi Yuan woke from meditation, turned around with satisfaction, and his wrinkled forehead immediately creased with black lines.

The lakeside clearing, originally covered in green grass and beautiful scenery, had become a large black pit. His two disciples were crouching at the bottom, tinkering with a large birdcage…

Qi Yuan sighed helplessly and scolded: “You two aren’t cultivating properly, what mess are you making down there!”

“Master! You’re awake!”

Lan Ling’e called out excitedly, “Senior Brother made a treasure to help you resist tribulation. It’s been struck by lightning dozens or hundreds of times, and the fish inside is still alive!”

Li Changshou added: “Master, please wait a moment. This device will be complete soon.”

“Oh?” Qi Yuan’s expression changed as he moved to see what new curious treasure his senior disciple had created this time.

But as the old Daoist took a step, his expression suddenly changed. He stared at the eastern sky, frozen in place.

Ling’e looked up and asked: “Master, what’s wrong?”

“Ah,” Qi Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and said softly: “The tribulation has arrived.”

Just four words made Li Changshou and Lan Ling’e’s smiles instantly vanish.

They quickly jumped out of the pit and looked where their Master was gazing, seeing a patch of grey-black clouds appearing in the eastern sky, rapidly flying toward Degree Immortal Gate.

“Quick, Ling’e!”

Li Changshou immediately said, “Take this cage to Master’s chosen tribulation ground behind the mountain! Make sure to bury the six Spirit Iron pieces in the ground!”

“Yes!”

Lan Ling’e lifted the ‘Faraday Bird Cage’ with her delicate arms and hurriedly flew on a cloud toward the back mountain, completely disregarding any immortal maiden image.

At this moment, Li Changshou was even more anxious than his Master. He immediately pulled out a brocade box from his sleeve and rushed before Qi Yuan.

“Master, this is a precious medicine that disciple exhausted all efforts to refine. It… it can help Master survive one tribulation bolt. After the first bolt passes, if Master feels you cannot withstand the next one, use this immediately.”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan looked at Li Changshou with a smile, his gaze flickering slightly as he said softly: “Keep this precious medicine for yourself, use it for your future tribulation. Don’t waste it on me.”

“Master!”

Li Changshou knelt directly before Old Daoist Qi Yuan, stuffed the brocade box into Qi Yuan’s hand, and said urgently: “Master has raised and taught disciple for a hundred years, guiding disciple onto the Path, never making any harsh demands. This is the only thing a disciple can do for the Master. If Master won’t accept this precious medicine, disciple will destroy it right now!”

But Qi Yuan smiled bitterly: “Why trouble yourself so? Don’t I know my situation?”

“Also, disciple has eleven more!”

Li Changshou immediately changed tactics, “Disciple can swear to the Great Dao, there are eleven more identical pills, and each cultivator can only use one!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan hesitated, “Really?”

“True!”

“Very well,” Qi Yuan took the brocade box, “Let’s go to the back mountain, don’t let the tribulation destroy our dwelling.”

The grey clouds from the east had now reached Degree Immortal Gate.

Li Changshou quickly summoned a white cloud and pulled his Master toward the back mountain.

“Master, please conserve your spiritual power. Master, do you have enough pills? You can use all types of pills during tribulation. Are healing pills and spiritual power recovery pills prepared? Why did this tribulation come so suddenly without warning!”

“All prepared, all prepared,” Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled as he looked at Li Changshou before him, remembering in his heart that awkward and somewhat lost boy when he first brought him to the mountain…

In a blink, so many years had passed.

Though that child later took some unconventional paths, he ultimately grew into someone capable.

He had used all of Little Jade Peak’s final accumulation on him, actually just wanting him to successfully become immortal…

“Changshou.

If Master can’t survive the tribulation, Little Jade Peak will be left to you to manage.

If the sect wants to reclaim our Little Jade Peak, don’t resist, just follow the sect’s arrangements. I’ve already asked several familiar fellow disciples, they will take you and Ling’e to cultivate at other peaks.”

“Master, you will survive the tribulation!”

Li Changshou said firmly, “Have confidence! Now is not the time to be dejected, this is a trial given by the Heavenly Dao, and beyond it lies vast skies and seas.

If living beings don’t fight for that thread of survival, why walk this world at all?

Every desperate situation has a thread of hope, only by fighting when in desperation can one survive!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sighed lightly and smiled bitterly: “My good disciple, don’t you know these principles? Why are you usually so cautious?”

Li Changshou said solemnly:

“Disciple has never forgotten the principles Master taught.

Disciple’s caution is only to avoid falling into desperate situations.”

In a blink, they reached the back mountain of Little Jade Peak. Lan Ling’e was waving continuously in a forest clearing. Li Changshou pulled his Master down and without explanation pushed him into the newly made cage.

Then he quickly bent down to check how the bird cage was placed, took out a pile of porcelain bottles and threw them to his Master, finally closed the cage and pulled Ling’e rapidly backward.

That patch of grey clouds had appeared above Degree Immortal Gate, casting the gate into darkness.

Li Changshou shouted: “Master, resist with all your might!

That precious medicine must be used after the first tribulation bolt!”

Qi Yuan nodded with a grave expression, looking up at the tribulation clouds as waves of spiritual power surged around him, making his sleeves and robes flutter without wind.

Ling’e called out loudly: “Master, you can do it!”

“Master… will also fight this one for me!”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan looked up at the sky, his eyes flashing with bright light.

One fight, for destiny!

Suddenly, a dragon’s roar descended from the clouds, and a thousand-zhang azure dragon covered in blazing red fire scales burst out from the grey clouds, its claws striking fiercely at the mountain-protecting formation.

The protective formation’s light surged, the peaks trembled slightly, and the ground rumbled everywhere!

At the same time, a deep voice descended from the heavens!

“Those in charge of Degree Immortal Gate, come out and speak!”

Wait!

Azure dragon? Calling out?

These grey clouds were also outside the mountain-protecting formation and didn’t have the characteristic of ignoring all formations…

Though there was pressure, carefully feeling it, it wasn’t heavenly might…

“Eh? Isn’t this supposed to be Master’s tribulation cloud…”

Lan Ling’e tilted her head, Li Changshou couldn’t help covering his face with one hand; Old Daoist Qi Yuan standing in the Faraday Bird Cage’s corner twitched.

The old Daoist silently turned around and slowly crouched down.

By the Great Pure One above, this time he had truly lost all face!