This is True Immortal…

“How is he even poorer than when I just completed my tribulation?”

In the underground secret chamber, Li Changshou examined the seven or eight storage treasures before him, methodically removing useful items while placing the useless ones, along with the storage treasures themselves, into a pouch designated for classified waste disposal.

Even with the minimal chance of being identified, Li Changshou would never use these “spoils of war” treasures;

Of course, spirit treasures were an exception.

The problem was that the bewildering drugs and poison pills he used also had their costs.

These were good items that he would never sell, with some poison herbs coming from Elder Wan Linyun’s assistance, their value impossible to calculate precisely.

The result of being followed this time was actually…

He had suffered a slight loss.

This True Immortal truly had no assets, which reflected the predicament of most wandering cultivators.

With humanity’s rise and the prosperity of the Dao schools, Dao lineages were everywhere, and immortal sects sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, with most resources controlled by the sects;

These wandering cultivators who lacked sect support due to their aptitude, personal experiences, or other reasons could barely maintain their daily cultivation, making it difficult to accumulate much wealth.

When Li Changshou gave them a chance to back down earlier, it was purely because he was reluctant to use the poison powder in his magical tools, so he called out that…

“Wait.”

If they had stopped, he would have just knocked them unconscious, after all, poison pills capable of killing a True Immortal were truly too expensive;

But they didn’t stop, acting very professionally and decisively, determined to kill him and seize his treasures.

This left Li Changshou quite helpless.

The high-grade spirit stones themselves might not have been so attractive, but a Return to Dao realm cultivator who could take out high-grade spirit stones might have other treasures…

This was the root of their “might as well try” mentality.

This incident taught Li Changshou two lessons: first, he needed to establish detailed trading plans to avoid being targeted again.

Second, in the future, if he was tempted by treasures and wanted to scheme for them, he should think about how these fellows ended up when trying to deal with him.

“No matter how good a treasure is, you need to be alive to use it.”

Those waste magical tools weren’t useful now, but when his artifact refining skills improved, they might come in handy.

However, the more he dealt with artifact refining formations, the more he realized how profound this “discipline” was, with few shortcuts available;

Modifying or creating new formations required thousands or tens of thousands of years of research to accomplish anything.

Moreover, the truly powerful magical treasures in the primordial world weren’t crafted from materials like this but were naturally formed objects.

The peak of crafted magical treasures was merit-based posterior spirit treasures, with the two characters’ “merit” being more important.

Rather than continuing down the path of specialized artifact refining, it would be better to spend energy on formations, pursuing “formation miniaturization” for firepower coverage.

For artifact refining, he would specialize in the storage of magical tools and the types needed for paper-cutting humans;

It was better to spend his main spare energy on formations and pill refining.

His main occupation?

Naturally, it was enlightening… ahem, cultivating the Dao and seeking immortality!

Li Changshou sat behind his desk and began categorizing the medicinal herbs and poison grasses he had acquired;

‘Later, I’ll refine some pills and send them to Elder Wan Linyun.’

Though it might seem like showing off before an expert, it was still a gesture of his sincerity.

After completing the organization work, Li Changshou put aside the dozen or so magical tool spheres containing spirit beast cubs, planning to release them in the spirit beast enclosure later.

Two of the cubs were for Ling E, who had been complaining for a long time that most creatures in the spirit beast enclosure were poisonous beings, and she wanted to find some small rabbits or deer… it was even difficult to find something for a snack.

This time, Li Changshou got her two spirit beasts that tasted good and looked nice—they could be pets if she wanted to raise them, or food ingredients after a few years of free-range raising.

Taking out that sword-like yet not quite sword-shaped “bewildering poison dispersal” magical tool, Li Changshou smiled calmly…

Then went to the side to put on his specially made poison-proof gloves, mask, and protective suit, as well as some self-made tweezers, test tubes, and other tools, placing antidote pills nearby before continuing his busy work.

Spreading ashes brings momentary satisfaction;

Pre-battle preparation requires fine grinding.

Everything was like this—pleasure and gains only came after hard work and dedication.

…

After staying focused in the secret chamber for two days, when Li Changshou left the pill room, he unexpectedly found Small Jade Peak quite lively today.

—Previously, his immortal sense had been circling within the formation around the pill room.

Liu Yan’er and Wang Qi, the Dao couple, had come to drink tea and chat with Ling E;

This, Li Changshou knew the cause and effect of.

After Ling E went to apologize last time, Liu Yan’er, worried that Ling E might overthink things, sent her paper crane messages with many words.

Coming and going, these two had also become familiar.

Ling E’s current apparent cultivation level had already rushed to the third stage of the Divine Transformation realm, at this age, and with such progress, she was also at the level of an immortal seedling.

Because Ling E was punished with twenty years of confinement, Liu Yan’er had also come to Small Jade Peak to gather with Ling E several times these years;

Today Liu Yan’er and her Junior Brother Qi came together, just for an ordinary stroll during cultivation breaks.

But…

Li Changshou’s immortal sense “saw” that You Qin Xuanya, who sat to the side like an immortal maiden transformed from an ice-blue snow lotus, was playing the “Simulated Immortal Life” game together with the three of them…

Why was she here?

And her cultivation had reached the second stage of the Return to Dao realm?

Did her cultivation advance quickly because she was free from Yuan Qing’s harassment?

Not bad, firmly seated as the current generation’s top disciple.

But You Qin Xuanya always coming to Small Jade Peak wasn’t good—she was too eye-catching, her every move watched by everyone in the sect, high and low.

Li Changshou pondered for a while;

A guest is a guest, he couldn’t directly drive her away and offend the Sect Master’s lineage over such a small matter.

Coming out of the forest, Li Changshou walked straight back to his thatched cottage, not deliberately concealing his whereabouts.

Activating the concealment formation, changing into a Daoist robe, and sitting under the large character hanging on the wall, he quietly meditated while thinking about how to resolve the matter of You Qin Xuanya.

Many cultivators liked to hang large characters in their dwellings.

Like those powerful beings who had survived from ancient times, they liked to hang the characters for “Heaven” and “Earth”;

And in recent tens of thousands of years, cultivators liked to hang the character for “Dao,” or the characters for “Great Dao.”

These were relatively common, as cultivators would often hang large characters according to their preferences, such as “Stillness,” “Force,” “Mystery,” “Wonder” and such.

Some slightly more eccentric ones would hang “Return” or “Sister” and so on.

But the large character behind Li Changshou on the wall was extraordinary—probably, in the vast primordial world, among countless cultivators, few would match his choice.

It was the character for “Steady”!

“Senior Brother!”

Outside the window, beyond the formation light barrier, little Ling E was waving energetically.

Li Changshou smiled helplessly, stood up, opened the door, closed the formation, and walked out.

“What is it?”

“Senior Brother, come join us for tea and chat!

Senior Sister You Qin… has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Ling E blinked at him, and with this exchange of glances between senior and junior disciples, they understood the matter.

‘Senior Brother, Senior Sister You Qin has come looking for you again, I can’t handle it, please come handle it yourself!’

Li Changshou smiled and said, “I’m quite tired from just refining pills, wanted to rest a bit, saw you all playing happily so didn’t want to disturb.”

By the thatched cottage, You Qin Xuanya heard this and immediately stepped forward.

She said: “If Senior Brother Changshou is tired and needs rest, that’s fine, I don’t have anything urgent.

I was just wandering around the sect after being in seclusion for too long, wanting to seek some guidance from Senior Brother.”

Li Changshou made a Daoist salute to You Qin Xuanya and the other two, “Many apologies for my negligence, please forgive me.”

The three returned the salute, Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er saying it was nothing;

Liu Yan’er seemed to notice something, her smile quite meaningful.

You Qin Xuanya’s eyes were very bright at this moment, and her usually cold beautiful face now showed a trace of hesitation.

But she ultimately wasn’t someone who would act coy, and soon took out a brocade box from her bracelet, walking toward Li Changshou…

“Senior Brother Changshou, this is a gift for you.”

Li Changshou was stunned for a moment.

He was still waiting for You Qin Xuanya to explain why she was giving him a gift, whether she had a favor to ask, or wanted to personally thank him for saving her life back then…

But You Qin Xuanya just said these words and offered the brocade box.

Her face, beautiful as immortal jade and flawless, showed no particular expression, but in the depths of her gaze, there was a hint of nervousness.

Li Changshou: …

‘Well, can’t blame her for these feelings, there’s also the matter of the Moon Elder’s influence.’

But he had to set everything straight and return to normal.

Since there were no such intentions, he shouldn’t let the young lady have too many thoughts—such matters should be cut off decisively, or they would become chaotic if left unresolved.

“Thank you, Junior Sister You Qin,” Li Changshou smiled and said, accepting the brocade box.

Then, he took out a magical tool sphere containing a spirit beast cub from his sleeve and said: “I haven’t prepared anything on such short notice, let this be my return gift to Junior Sister, I hope Junior Sister won’t mind.”

“Mm… mm!”

You Qin Xuanya’s lips curved slightly upward as she cradled the spirit beast cub magical tool sphere in her palms.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Changshou.”

To the side, Ling E couldn’t help but puff her cheeks, though she didn’t say anything.

Li Changshou held the brocade box and said slowly:

“During that journey to the North Continent with Junior Sister You Qin years ago, I also gained much. In the future, if Junior Sister You Qin has free time, she’s welcome to visit Small Jade Peak.

Ling E and I don’t have many friends in the sect, besides Junior Brother Wang Qi, and Senior Sister Yan’er, there are only Senior Uncle Jiu Jiu, Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, and these few senior figures.

If Junior Sister You Qin doesn’t mind, both my junior sister and I can be not only fellow disciples but also good friends with Junior Sister You Qin.”

Hearing these words, Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er immediately understood something, both somewhat puzzled.

By reason, gaining You Qin Xuanya’s favor should be a great opportunity and blessing for Li Changshou, why would he reject it so decisively?

Wang Qi had a sudden realization—it must be because their cultivation levels weren’t equal, Senior Brother Changshou felt he was too far below this top disciple, so he rejected… probably.

While Ling E felt helpless in her heart.

Her Senior Brother’s troublesome personality…

Ling E was also quite happy that her Senior Brother would reject other female cultivators, especially someone like You Qin Xuanya.

But this also showed that for Ling E herself to enter the Senior Brother’s heart, to take that crucial step up from the junior sister position, there would also be great resistance.

[What kind of person does Senior Brother like?]

Ling E wondered from the side.

However, what caught everyone off guard was that when You Qin Xuanya heard Li Changshou’s speech, she actually… revealed a knowing smile!

Her gaze was quite animated, and though she didn’t show much emotion, everyone could feel that she was in very good spirits;

It wasn’t the kind of forced fake smile, but completely genuine happiness…

That incomparably beautiful face gained a touch of red, making even Ling E, a female cultivator, feel her heart flutter at the sight.

“Really?”

You Qin Xuanya’s words also gained several notes of inflection.

Even her tone was happy…

“Of course,” Li Changshou smiled and nodded, but inside he was quite puzzled.

His meaning was so obvious, didn’t You Qin understand?

You Qin Xuanya immediately cupped her hands and bowed her head, saying firmly: “In the future, please give me much guidance, Senior Brother!

Also please give me much guidance, Junior Sister Ling E!

I, I will come often!”

Uh?

Several question marks slowly appeared in Li Changshou’s mind.

Wait, in this situation, he was a bit confused…

On another side, Wang Qi couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head, while Liu Yan’er showed confusion.

Instead, Ling E’s heart surged with huge waves, her gaze somewhat flickering, feeling a sense of sympathy in her heart.

This, this humble?

Senior Sister You Qin actually… actually… was content just being friends with Senior Brother, not asking for anything else?

Compared to this Senior Sister, she, unable to catch the moon despite being next to the water tower, was really…

Too blessed…

“Senior Sister,” Ling E stepped forward and made a Daoist salute to You Qin Xuanya, “Please give me much guidance in the future!”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but tilt his head;

What were these two doing suddenly bowing to each other? Could this toxicity be contagious?

“Mm,” You Qin Xuanya nodded with a smile, light flickering in her eyes.

Seeing Li Changshou’s expression wasn’t quite right, she hurriedly said: “Senior Brother Changshou please rest well, Xuanya will come to visit Senior Brother again after emerging from seclusion.

Please don’t force yourself with pill refining and cultivation.

Junior Sister Ling E as well…

Then, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Take care, Senior Sister, come play often.”

“Mm!”

You Qin Xuanya bid farewell to Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er, then flew away on her cloud, even her hair flowing in the wind seemed more lively.

Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er expressed that they had received too much stimulation and also took their leave.

Watching the silhouettes of the three people leaving in two directions, Li Changshou frowned deeply.

He really couldn’t figure out this poisonous approach…

Had he not expressed himself earlier?

Being fellow disciples and friends in the future, wasn’t that rejecting that kind of feeling?

This…

This must be a poison that had entered the bones!

“Stinky Senior Brother, where’s my gift!”

Li Changshou took out another spirit beast sphere from his sleeve and handed it to his junior sister, standing there doubting immortal life.

Ling E exclaimed: “Senior Sister You Qin is really beautiful, and her cultivation is so high.”

“Heh, hehe,” Li Changshou sighed dejectedly, feeling somewhat powerless regarding You Qin Xuanya, “How could it not be high?

With her personality, she probably won’t encounter heart demons in this lifetime.”

Ling E immediately didn’t understand, “Hm? Why? Isn’t it said that when the heart is unstable, demonic obstacles can appear at any time?”

Li Changshou looked up at the sky, unable to give a specific answer.

“Fate, probably.”

Beside him, Ling E had already started unsealing the magical tool sphere, and soon let out an exclamation of praise, taking out the spirit beast cub from within.

“Wow! So cute!

Is this… a Pursuit-of-Life Hundred-Toothed Metal-Devouring Beast cub? Thank you, Senior Brother!”

“Mm, I’m glad you like it.”