“Nephew Qi Yuan, where are you headed?”

It was another mild and sunny day when Elder Qi Yuan, wearing a long robe and holding a duster, floated from Little Qiong Peak to the mountain gate.

After paying his respects to the Mountain Guardian Immortal who had asked the question, Elder Qi Yuan replied, “Just going out for a walk. Nothing major, though I’ve been feeling somewhat uneasy lately.”

“Very well.”

The elderly True Immortal guarding the gate didn’t inquire further. With a kindly smile, he opened the mountain gate, allowing Qi Yuan to drift out on his cloud into the sky beyond.

Due to the incident with the impure immortal’s divine punishment, Qi Yuan now had some “reputation” within the mountain. However, this fame wasn’t always positive, and occasionally people would mock and jest about the matter.

After Li Changshou finished refining this batch of pills, he waited another four months before his Master ended his seclusion and went out for a stroll.

He discussed matters with his Master, arranging for him to stay out a few more days this time to give the paper puppet more operational time. Afterward, Li Changshou repeatedly cautioned his Master not to venture too far from the mountain gate…

To help his Master conceal his movements, Li Changshou offered him the second version of the “Turtle Breathing and Qi Settling Scripture,” preventing others from targeting or scheming against his Master while waiting for his return. Li Changshou’s true body remained within the mountain gate – if anything happened to his Master, he would sense it and rush to his aid.

Giving his Master and Junior Sister the same level of information access was something Li Changshou had decided on earlier.

Qi Yuan carefully stored away the box and quietly departed.

The paper puppet reappeared, noticeably more “plump” than before, with his shoulder bag replaced by a backpack.

This time, Li Changshou took on the appearance of an elderly Daoist and decided that from now on, he would maintain this elderly image for his pill-selling business.

Using earth-traversing techniques, the paper puppet quickly made his way to Linhai Town.

Half a day later, Li Changshou wandered halfway around the eastern side, forcibly bending his route from an “exclamation mark” into a “question mark.” Finally, he emerged from an uninhabited forest to the west, riding his cloud with a sword on his back as he drifted toward the magnificent market town ahead.

The sword on his back had changed in both hilt and scabbard style and color, with new restrictions added to the scabbard to block immortal perception.

Of course, its core function remained unchanged.

What appeared to be a sword was a confusion poison mixture dispersal tool, capable of invisibly releasing colorless poison powder that could enter an enemy immortal’s divine soul and internal organs without detection, thereby increasing the chances of successfully poisoning True Immortals…

This type of weapon naturally couldn’t be found elsewhere, and like the Luo Tian Treasure Fan, it was one of Li Changshou’s self-developed magical treasures.

This time, Li Changshou had prepared a second similar magical tool.

It was a flute that could release poison through its holes when played, though it had one drawback—

One had to be careful when breathing in and out, or else they might accidentally inhale it.

Otherwise, it would become as comical as [My blade is poisoned, touch it and die, wipe it and perish… *sniffle*].

The market town had four gates for entering and exiting the local formation, similar to the city gates of mortal cities, except these were entry points left in the grand formation rather than city walls.

The East Victory Divine Continent’s major Daoist sect “Linhai Sword Sect” was responsible for maintaining order here, following the rules of the primitive world by collecting “entry fees” at the formation gates.

These fees could be paid in spirit stones, precious materials, or spiritual medicines – anything of slight value would do.

A market town of this scale could bring considerable income to a Daoist sect. However, it required stationing many powerful cultivators to prevent trouble, making it impossible for smaller sects to operate.

The Degree Immortal Sect had once tried to run a market town, but due to factors such as geographical location and poor management, the town only lasted a few thousand years before dispersed cultivators stopped frequenting it, causing significant losses for the sect.

Li Changshou could understand this point.

After all, his sect cultivated the “Way of Non-Action,” and its members preferred peace and tranquility, using what energy they had on the “trend of Dao companions”…

After mentally teasing his sect a bit, Li Changshou had his paper puppet display late-stage Element Immortal realm cultivation and waited in line behind more than ten figures ahead.

To the side was a steady stream of people leaving, most of them riding clouds close to the ground.

While leaving didn’t require paying taxes, entering meant queuing up to pay fees.

Just as it was almost Li Changshou’s turn to enter, he glimpsed seven or eight figures about to exit the market town…

These were two elderly Daoists, three middle-aged Daoists, and three youths.

They flew higher than others, about to pass through the gap in the formation above, escorted by two pairs of Linhai Town patrol immortal soldiers – quite an impressive display.

Li Changshou’s attention was drawn to one of the young men among them.

This person… had horns on his head, but… no tail behind him…

Ao Yi?

How did he run into this little dragon again?

Li Changshou was quite speechless – did he have some sort of connection with this little dragon?

Though come to think of it, how was this little dragon… still the same size as when he had been defeated by him last time, having not grown at all?

Perhaps dragon tribe development periods were much longer than humans, and these few years weren’t enough for his growth.

As the paper puppet withdrew his gaze, it was just his turn to pay the entry fee.

Li Changshou handed his spirit stones to the female immortal behind the desk.

The female immortal smiled and said, “You seem unfamiliar. May I ask your purpose for visiting?”

So, Li Changshou gave a false name and said he was here to trade in pills and medicinal herbs. After making a brief record, she allowed him to enter the market town.

During this process, Ao Yi and the two young women floated overhead following the five Heavenly Immortals from the Severing Sect…

The five Heavenly Immortals were in good spirits, discussing whether to return to Golden Toad Island or continue visiting another immortal sect for discussions and tea.

Li Changshou heard one elderly Daoist praise:

“Brother Ao Yi has achieved the Element Immortal realm in such a short time since beginning cultivation. Truly befitting of Dragon King bloodline, with astounding talent…”

Brother?

Sure enough, Ao Yi had joined The Severing Sect, probably under a second-generation master.

Li Changshou’s current impression was that this Ao Yi had become much more mature and steady, with an introspective gaze and calm demeanor.

Though still in a youth’s body, he carried himself with the composure of one who had experienced much and been tempered by fate.

However… it had nothing to do with him.

The paper puppet stepped into Linhai Town, riding his cloud directly over various pavilions and stone houses, heading toward the area where medicine shops clustered.

‘Once again, I’ll be competing with my sect for business.’

Li Changshou sighed internally.

The Degree Immortal Sect’s shop here also mainly dealt with pills.

However, he only came here for a few days every few years, and while he would somewhat affect his sect’s business, it shouldn’t make their business too dismal.

After all, he was just an individual vendor.

Albeit one with high volume, high quality, good value, and slightly lower prices…

…

Speaking of the Golden Toad Island cultivators’ group, after leaving the market town, they first flew southwest for a while, then suddenly changed direction, heading northwest on their clouds.

This outing for discussions was actually at the invitation of several familiar Golden Toad Island Heavenly Immortals by some masters from Eastern-continent immortal sects.

Golden Toad Island was a famous Severing cultivation ground, and various immortal sects often invited cultivators from there to give lectures and hold discussions at their sects.

Originally, their group had already been out discussing dao for three months, freeloading… ahem, lecturing and discussing… at several East Victory Divine Continent immortal sects.

The journey was complete and successful, and they should have been returning.

Because Ao Yi had performed exceptionally well during these discussions, easily defeating the Element Immortals sent by these sects;

And because Ao Yi was of the same generation as these five Severing Heavenly Immortals, they couldn’t directly reward him;

So they brought Ao Yi to Linhai Town and selected many gifts for him.

Ao Yi distributed these gifts to the two young women disciples beside him, making them beam with joy, while the Golden Toad Island Heavenly Immortals were also quite pleased.

If one could say that the children of major immortal sect leaders were born with silver spoons;

Then Ao Yi, as the East Sea Dragon Palace crown prince, was practically born with a golden mountain…

Using these gifts to make his “senior brothers'” disciples happy didn’t pain Ao Yi in the least.

If needed, he could send a message home with a communication talisman, and tomorrow he could send thick gifts to every Golden Toad Island cultivator.

After leaving the market town, the group was about to take the route to Golden Toad Island;

But Ao Yi pondered briefly, hummed a few times, then suddenly spoke up, saying, “Senior Brothers, I have a presumptuous request.”

The five immediately turned around, looking at Ao Yi with full concern.

“There’s no such thing as a presumptuous request, if there’s a request, there must be a response, Brother Ao Yi, just speak.”

“We Golden Toad Island cultivators love and care for each other, without discrimination, connected as one, sharing glory and shame!”

“Indeed, not just us at Golden Toad Island, but the entire Severing is like this – when one faces difficulty, help comes from all directions!”

Ao Yi smiled inwardly but maintained a rather solemn expression, saying softly, “Actually, I’ve had a… difficult matter to speak of in my heart.”

The two young women at the side instantly looked over, their eyes sparkling.

One of the young women had over ten small braids and a pretty, cute appearance – it was Hanzi, who had witnessed Li Changshou’s tribulation back then.

Among the five Heavenly Immortals in front, one was Hanzi’s master, Elder Yuan Ze.

Ao Yi sighed and said, “Thinking back to that year’s East Sea demon-quelling gathering, I was only ten years old, ordered to represent the Dragon Palace in seeking someone for friendly competition, yet was defeated by a Returns to Void realm disciple from the Degree Immortal Sect.

This matter has been weighing on my mind.

Now that I’ve transcended tribulation to become an immortal, though only in the Element Immortal realm, I wish to find that person and compete in discussion again.”

“Is that all?”

Elder Yuan Ze asked with a smile.

Ao Yi showed an embarrassed expression and lowered his head, saying, “That’s it.”

“That’s easy to arrange,” another middle-aged Daoist replied with a smile, casually pointing as the white clouds drifted toward the Degree Immortal Sect mountain gate, “Come, let’s pay a visit to the Degree Immortal Sect.

This poor Daoist has quite a good relationship with Vice Sect Leader Zhong Yu of the Degree Immortal Sect.

Their Degree Immortal Sect inherits the Human Dao, while our Golden Toad Island is a Severing cultivation ground – what’s wrong with visiting them?”

The others all agreed it was good.

One person smiled and said, “Should we notify them in advance? To avoid any awkward situations.”

Elder Yuan Ze waved his hand, “No need, no need, we’re not going there for combat, we’re just going for some discussion, letting young people compete a bit.”

At the very back, the two young women holding hands exchanged glances upon hearing this.

One young woman activated the bracelet-like magical device on her wrist, preventing others from hearing their conversation.

She said softly, “Hanzi, your master is at it again.”

Hanzi’s mouth twitched, and she said dejectedly, “Let’s make some preparations.

Sigh, my master is practically a heavenly dao magical device;

Before when I was facing tribulation, my master said ‘Don’t worry, your heavenly tribulation will definitely only have six bolts,’ but it ended up bringing eight bolts of tribulation, and I almost perished…

Given my aptitude and accumulation, by rights, it should have been seven bolts at most.”

The other young woman immediately covered her mouth and giggled, “But you got benefits from it, advancing a stage in ascension.”

“Speaking of this,” Hanzi’s gaze became somewhat distant, “Only after personally experiencing eight bolts of tribulation, and rather low-ranking eight bolts at that, did I understand how terrifying such immortal tribulation is.

I truly can’t imagine what kind of figure that person who passed nine bolts of tribulation in the South Sea must have been.”

“Must have been a great figure from the remote or ancient past reincarnating for another life.”

“Perhaps…”

The two young women giggled a few times, and the topic quickly returned to the dragon tribe youth in front of them.

His appearance as such a handsome youth was quite appealing to young women.

Half a day later, the Degree Immortal Sect’s thin and smooth protective mountain formation came into distant view, and the Golden Toad Island group drifted over amid laughter and conversation.

And Ao Yi’s slight smile carried a touch of deeper meaning.

…

“Hmm?”

In the forest, Qi Yuan, who was pondering the “Turtle Breathing and Qi Settling Scripture,” looked up at the sky and saw the Golden Toad Island group passing overhead on clouds.

He sensed several Heavenly Immortal pressure waves and was quite puzzled, not knowing where these masters had suddenly come from, heading to their Degree Immortal Sect.

“It has nothing to do with our Little Qiong Peak.”

Elder Qi Yuan smiled, looked at the communication talisman his big disciple had given him, and felt it must just be several masters visiting friends together, so he didn’t mention this matter to Li Changshou.

Continuing to ponder this method of concealing qi that his disciple had created;

Soon, Elder Qi Yuan completely concealed his qi, excitedly used a transformation technique, and transformed into a tree stump.

After carefully feeling for a while…

“It’s unexpectedly… stable.”