Three months later, deep in the Eastern Sea, above the Crystal Palace.

After a series of events—the dragon prince’s rebellion, the Dragon Mother’s plea, the Dragon King’s order for investigation—a fish spirit musician who had taught the dragon prince was made the scapegoat, sliced on the spot with ginger, vinegar, and garlic…

Alas, what a pity.

The primordial world still lacked wasabi, leaving the way of sashimi incomplete.

At this time, Second Prince Ao Yi of the Dragon Palace was bound inside a massive immortal shell ship, speeding toward the border between the Southern and Eastern Seas.

Besides Ao Yi, the ship only carried a few immortal flood dragon soldiers and a turtle immortal with completely white eyebrows and a beard.

This long-retired turtle immortal sat beside Ao Yi, sighing as he advised:

“Your Highness, why are you so fixated on that small Du Xian Men?

What virtue or ability does Du Xian Men possess? Even if His Majesty allowed you to seek discipleship there, they wouldn’t dare accept you.

Moreover, you should consider His Majesty’s position. He’s already going against popular opinion, suppressing all voices to let you go seek discipleship at a sage’s gate!

This time, this old minister is putting aside face to take Your Highness to seek discipleship under Great Immortal Wu Yun, who serves under the Three Sages of the Dao Gate.

Though this Great Immortal’s name isn’t prominent, he ranks first among the Seven Attendant Immortals of the Jie Sect, deeply valued by the Three Sages of the Dao Gate. His origin is also that of a golden tortoise, of the same clan as this old minister, and we had some friendship in years past.

Your Highness, this should satisfy your wishes;

Please, please don’t cause any more major incidents!”

Ao Yi turned his head aside, his expression still showing some unwillingness.

But he was only ten years old after all. Though he had received many years of “egg education,” he had only truly been out in the world for ten years.

With the old turtle constantly persuading him, Ao Yi gradually showed some hesitation.

“Does this Great Immortal possess sage methods?”

“Naturally!”

The turtle immortal seized the opportunity, beginning to tell Ao Yi how impressive Great Immortal Wu Yun was, how much Lord Tongtian favored him, yet how low-key his personality was, never showing off in public.

Soon, the turtle immortal sighed again, transmitting to Ao Yi:

“Your Highness, this old minister sees what you want to do, but this matter isn’t as simple as you imagine, nor will mere struggle produce good results.

Glory is like a dream, and when the dream ends there’s only ice—yet no one wishes to wake from it.

You must understand His Majesty’s position. He sits at the highest point managing dragon clan affairs. He can’t move easily, and if he moves wrongly, the great edifice will be endangered.”

Ao Yi showed a thoughtful expression, then slowly nodded.

‘In any case, once out of the Dragon Palace, the vast primordial world will be mine to roam freely!’

Becoming a disciple to a great immortal while still relying on his status as Dragon Palace prince—how would this solve the Dragon Palace’s predicament?

How many other Dragon Palace offspring could become disciples of such a great immortal?

What he sought was a path forward for the dragon clan, not just a path for himself as the Second Prince of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace!

For now, he would placate this old minister. The future could wait.

In the howling sea wind, Ao Yi gradually showed some smiles, appearing as “innocent” as his age suggested. The turtle is immortal and also gradually relaxed.

…

At Du Xian Men, deep in the forest of Breaking Heaven Peak, the dwelling place of the Nine Wine Immortals.

Jiu Jiu’s large gourd floated back from the direction of Small Jade Peak. She walked back to her small tower seeming drained of energy, dejected. She slowly sat down on the wooden steps in front, gradually lying back.

Her whole body was limp like a melting clay figure. Hugging her large gourd, she lay there sighing…

“So boring. Little Shou Shou has only been in seclusion for three months, but it feels like three years. No one to play with anymore…”

“Sigh, Senior Sisters all have Senior Brothers to accompany them, and Senior Brothers go accompany others.

Eldest Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Sister and Fifth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Sister and Seventh Senior Brother. When it should have finally been Eighth Senior Brother’s turn for Ninth Junior Sister, who knew Eighth Senior Brother would learn from Third Senior Sister, turning away from Breaking Heaven Peak…

Sigh, poor me, Old Nine. Just because I’m an odd number, I have to be lonely with no one to accompany me…

And I’m even Master’s last disciple, sigh…”

The window of the neighboring tower opened, and Jiu Shi—radiant and seems to have grown centuries younger recently—leaned out to look over. Hearing Jiu Jiu’s mumblings, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiu Shi floated out the window like an immortal maiden from a painting, wearing rainbow garments as she flew over, landing beside Jiu Jiu on the wooden steps and pinching her nose tip.

“Senior Sister,” Jiu Jiu hugged Jiu Shi with her eyes closed, wailing, “Come with me to Small Jade Peak. I want to play Fight the Great God, I want to play Immortal Life Simulator!”

Jiu Shi laughed lightly, patting her little junior sister’s head. “Silly junior sister, how could I go to Small Jade Peak?”

“Hm? Why can’t Senior Sister go?”

“If Senior Sister goes, won’t you feel awkward?”

“This… awkward about what?”

Jiu Jiu tilted her head, “Fourth Senior Sister, are you misunderstanding something? Little Shou Shou and I have a pure aunt-nephew relationship.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Jiu Shi smiled with narrowed eyes, her gaze full of predatory intent.

Jiu Jiu blinked, shrinking her neck. “It’s… not?”

“Yes, a pure senior uncle and junior nephew refining pills and arranging formations together daily, spending time together intimately.”

“What intimacy! He has an illness!”

Jiu Shi froze, quickly asking: “What illness? Junior Brother Changshou has a hidden ailment. This is a serious problem.”

“It’s not a hidden ailment. Little Shou Shou can’t be touched by any woman except his junior sister or his whole body convulses.”

Jiu Jiu smiled: “His junior sister grew up under his care so it’s fine, and with me, it’s okay if limited to fist bumps and high fives.”

Jiu Shi crossed her arms and pondered, suddenly asking: “How did this condition develop? Can you tell Senior Sister in detail?”

“Well, when I took Little Shou Shou to the Northern Continent last time…”

Moments later, Jiu Shi hugged her ninth junior sister, laughing uncontrollably. She whispered something in Jiu Jiu’s ear that made Jiu Jiu first freeze, then hold her forehead.

“This fellow dared deceive this Senior Uncle!”

“Hey, calm down Little Jiu. Such a pure and untainted man is a rare treasure in this world. You mustn’t miss this chance.”

Jiu Jiu was immediately flustered, stamping her feet in anger. “Senior Sister, what nonsense are you saying! How could I possibly with…!

Ah, I’m going into seclusion!”

“Aren’t you going to guard the cultivation practice assembly in a few days?”

“Oh, right… can’t I go into seclusion for a few days first?!”

Jiu Jiu turned to flee toward her tower. Jiu Shi laughed lightly and floated after her.

“Why is Little Jiu Jiu shy with Fourth Senior Sister? Let Fourth Senior Sister teach you how to dress up…”

“Eh, don’t want to.”

“Come on, let Fourth Senior Sister see how my Little Nine’s figure is now.”

“Fourth Senior Sister, don’t touch randomly… ah, hey!”

As the sun set, the two immortal maidens’ cheerful laughter and chatter drifted around nearby.

In the neighboring tower, a short Daoist with sunken eyes and a haggard face shook his head, casually activating the formations outside Jiu Jiu’s tower.

Then, the short Daoist looked at the supreme nourishing king’s feast on the table before him, his mouth twitching…

Jiu Jiu would again serve as a guard at this practice assembly in the Northern Continent. Because of some small issues last time, the sect assigned an additional True Immortal to accompany them.

However, only two people would go to the Northern Continent this time.

On the day of the practice assembly, the current chief disciple Qin Xianya, whose reputation in the sect had been rising lately, appeared on time wearing her fire-red dress and carrying her great sword on her back.

But after waiting for everyone to form teams, she did not join this practice session, instead returning to her cave dwelling for seclusion.

Thus, the two disciples heading to the Northern Continent received the supreme treatment of exclusive True Immortal protection…

A round trip to the Northern Continent took about a month, and for several months after returning, Jiu Jiu kept pondering what Fourth Senior Sister had said.

Gradually, Jiu Jiu, who originally thought she had no special feelings for Li Changshou beyond pure companionship, began to doubt herself.

Could it be that she had unknowingly developed feelings for Little Changshou?

That couldn’t be possible, right? Although the senior uncle-junior nephew relationship was a bit thrilling, she had always treated Little Changshou as a junior to care for. She had just accidentally been won over by his feeding…

The more she thought about it, the more tangled she became, to the point she couldn’t focus during meditation.

Several more months passed this way. When the paper crane carrying Li Changshou’s invitation to help refine pills landed in her hand, Jiu Jiu immediately jumped up in joy.

Then Jiu Jiu froze…

Her reaction…

“Could it be that I’ve developed feelings for a little junior nephew who’s only a hundred-some years old?”

‘Some things, you only know after asking.’

Fourth Senior Sister’s laughter still echoed in her ears. Jiu Jiu sat on her bed in deep thought, finally slapping the bedboard.

What’s there to fear? Go ask!

At that, Jiu Jiu changed into clean hemp clothes and rode her large gourd to Small Jade Peak.

This time Li Changshou needed to refine poison pills, preparing more for his future tribulation.

When Jiu Jiu arrived, Li Changshou had already prepared various poison herbs and wrapped himself in layers of protective equipment.

After wearing such cumbersome “protective gear” once, Jiu Jiu never listened to Li Changshou’s urging to wear it a second time.

This made Li Changshou extra careful in controlling poison pill toxins every time, to avoid harming the little senior uncle providing immortal power support.

While refining pills, they chatted casually as usual.

But Fourth Senior Sister’s words kept swirling in Jiu Jiu’s mind. During the sixteen-hour pill refinement process, she wanted to speak dozens of times but couldn’t find the right context.

‘Just one question, why is it so hard to say?’

‘Could I really…’

‘Impossible! Am I the type to rob the cradle?!

Ask!

Once asked it’ll be fine!’

Jiu Jiu took a breath, smoothing her hair by her ears as she watched Li Changshou focus on completing the pills.

Using her greatest strength, she spoke in her weakest tone:

“How… how was my… performance this time refining pills?”

“Excellent as always,” Li Changshou smiled from within his protective cover. “Senior Uncle, your immortal power truly helped greatly.”

The poison pill trembled slightly, and Li Changshou immediately moved to control the medicinal power.

Jiu Jiu blinked, lowering her volume further…

“Then, Junior Nephew Changshou… what do you… think of me…”

At the crucial moment of pill completion, fully controlling the poison pill’s properties, Li Changshou—wearing too many anti-poison magical tools and with Jiu Jiu speaking too softly—truly didn’t hear clearly, only catching “Junior Nephew” and “What do you think.”

But their previous topic seemed to be…

Li Changshou nodded slightly, smiling without turning his head:

“Very strong,

And very stable,

Most remarkably pure, without any impurities.”

Pausing his words, Li Changshou frowned deeply, staring at the nearly complete poison pill in the furnace, adding:

“If only I could have it too.”

Jiu Jiu’s mouth opened slightly, instantly petrifying. One finger pointed at Li Changshou, but the fingertip trembled.

“Do-do you know what you’re saying?”

Li Changshou answered: “What’s wrong? Is something incorrect?”

What’s incorrect?

Very strong, most remarkably pure, so pure without any impurities…

If only I could have it too…

Have-have what?

How-how-how outrageous!

Jiu Jiu’s slightly round pretty face instantly flushed red, the blush spreading straight down from her neck, with wisps of white steam rising from her forehead.

She stepped half a step back, wanting to say something but only trembling sounds came out. She turned and fled, after two steps directly soaring into the sky, flying headlong toward Breaking Heaven Peak…

“Hm?”

Li Changshou was disturbed by the wind sound and turned his head in confusion.

She left?

Not even taking today’s payment wine?

Senior Uncle Jiu Jiu’s immortal power was indeed very stable, strong, and pure. Otherwise, they couldn’t have reached pill completion on the first attempt, saving the other eight portions of materials he had prepared!

If only he could have Senior Uncle’s rich immortal power—but well, he would face tribulation soon…

Uh, could Senior Uncle have misunderstood something? Li Changshou quickly realized.

Never mind, focus on completing the pill!

These small matters could be explained later.

Among Du Xian Men’s peaks…

Riding her large gourd in rapid flight, Jiu Jiu pulled the wine gourd from her waist, throwing back her head “glug glug glug glug glug,” then shot like a loose arrow straight into Breaking Heaven Peak’s mountainside forest, making the whole forest tremble slightly as birds scattered in flight…

Under the forest trees, on fallen leaves in the grass, the little immortal maiden in hemp clothes lay there, covering her face with delicate hands, breathing rapidly for a while.

But soon, she let out a light breath. Her pretty face bore a slight blush as one fair arm shielded her forehead, the other hand raised to block the dappled sunlight through the treetops.

“Very pure…

Pah, what nonsense.”

She casually took out a treasure pouch containing what Fifth Senior Brother had brought earlier—those colorful immortal dresses Fourth Senior Sister had made for her…

“What am I thinking about? He’s a junior nephew!”

Jiu Jiu hurriedly threw the treasure pouch away, but after throwing it, she turned to look at it again.

Just trying it on wouldn’t hurt, as long as no one sees…