“Haha— Delightful!”

Having just gulped down her drink, Jiu Jiu sprawled across the low table, her cheeks flushed red. She held an empty wine jug in her hand as she let out two content and satisfied sighs.

At her side, Ling E couldn’t help but smile wryly as she advised, “Junior Master, you’re too dependent on alcohol.”

“Hehehe,” Jiu Jiu sighed softly. “This is my heart’s desire, how could I possibly give it up? Without it, I’d lose all my spirit! Little Ling E, it’s been years since I’ve seen you, and you’ve grown even prettier. Come, let Junior Master have a look!”

“Junior Master, the formation is broken, please don’t mess around…”

Ling E smiled helplessly as she dodged slightly. The tipsy Jiu Jiu didn’t force the issue, merely pinching Ling E’s cheek before flopping back down. For the Junior Master, sitting was too tiring; lying down was always more comfortable.

“Ling E, what did your Senior Brother go to Breaking Sky Peak for?”

“He probably went to the Scripture Hall. He should return soon.”

“Oh, the Scripture Hall…”

Ling E arranged her skirts and gracefully knelt to the side, preparing a new pot of Immortal’s Intoxication for Jiu Jiu. Fortunately, her Senior Brother had left some sleeping dr— ahem, wine concentrate with her. Otherwise, given the earlier situation, Ling E truly feared Junior Master might have gone berserk.

“Thank you, Little Ling E! Hehe, the people of Little Jade Peak are so nice, they speak so sweetly, and there’s wine to drink. I love it here.”

Jiu Jiu mumbled, “Speaking of cultivation, everyone has their path. My path is wine – what’s wrong with that?”

Ling E gave a light laugh. “Of course, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Jiu Jiu lifted the wine jug, tilting the remaining drops toward her mouth a couple of times before smacking her lips and licking them. Having drunk too hastily earlier, drowsiness was now overtaking her.

“Little Ling E, let me borrow your bed…”

Before she could finish speaking, Jiu Jiu had already taken her gourd and gone to bed. With one roll, she lay down and began snoring away.

Ling E smiled wryly, cleaned up the cups and plates on the table, then sat there staring at her Junior Master’s ‘crimes’ for a while… Finally, she let out a soft sigh, took her meditation cushion, and went to sit in meditation before the thatched house.

The formation outside had been broken by Junior Master Jiu Jiu, and when drunk and sleeping, she had the peculiar habit of randomly throwing off her intimate garments…

She needed to keep watch here to prevent others from taking advantage of Junior Master’s state.

As she meditated and sought enlightenment – the enlightenment of the master’s way and thoughts of her brother’s affairs – Ling E’s mind soon wandered, pondering once again the great question of life: ‘What type of woman does Senior Brother prefer?’

But this time, Ling E had miscalculated…

Li Changshou had gone to the Scripture Hall and hadn’t returned for half a month.

After Jiu Jiu woke up, she and Ling E played everything from simulated immortal life to puppet dress-up, and from puppet dress-up to real person dress-up. Finally, after drinking all of Little Ling E’s wine reserves, Jiu Jiu was bored once again…

After waiting for half a month, wanting to show off her cultivation progress to Li Changshou and incidentally get some wine, Jiu Jiu finally couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up!

“This guy, taking so long at the Scripture Hall! I’m going to find him there!”

“Ah, Junior Master…”

Before Ling E could finish her attempted persuasion, Jiu Jiu had already angrily leaped into the air, straddling the mouth of her large gourd as she sped toward Breaking Sky Peak!

However, when she reached the outer hall of the Scripture Hall, Jiu Jiu circled twice but couldn’t find Li Changshou’s figure. Her immortal sense searched back and forth, but she couldn’t detect even a trace of his presence.

Had he gone somewhere else?

Jiu Jiu carried her large gourd to the inner hall’s entrance, sneaking up to Elder Qi Ling’s side stealthily before suddenly shouting:

“Elder!”

Elder Qi Ling slowly opened his eyes. His somewhat lifeless gaze brightened upon seeing Jiu Jiu, and a slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth…

“Little Jiu, what have you lost this time? I’ll help you get it.”

“Elder, have you seen a Return to Void realm disciple? His name is Li Changshou, from Little Jade Peak, about… this tall!”

Jiu Jiu raised her arm and stood on tiptoe to demonstrate Li Changshou’s height.

“He looks quite clean, but he’s quite devious, often using good wine to coerce his cute and kind Junior Master into doing this and that!”

Elder Qi Ling thought carefully before quickly smiling and saying, “He’s in the inner hall.”

Jiu Jiu was startled. “How did you let him into the inner hall?”

“It seems he had an entry token…”

Elder Qi Ling mumbled, but before he could continue speaking, Jiu Jiu had already vanished.

The inner hall’s great door had already been pushed open by Jiu Jiu, who peered inside sideways several times but couldn’t find Li Changshou’s figure.

“Hm? He’s not here?”

Jiu Jiu released her immortal sense, searching repeatedly through the area until she finally ‘saw’ Li Changshou leaning against a wall reading jade slips in an inconspicuous corner…

‘This guy, hiding so deep, is he looking at autumn palace drawings?’

Jiu Jiu immediately squinted with a smile, a mischievous idea forming in her heart.

“Elder, I’m going in!”

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

Elder Qi Ling waved his hand without turning his head, continuing to sit in meditation with a lingering smile at the corners of his mouth.

Jiu Jiu tiptoed into the inner hall, using the cover of various bookshelves and storage racks to secretly approach Li Changshou in the corner.

There were several other figures in the inner hall, all true immortals of the sect, either checking references or comprehending their findings in corners.

The inner hall was much smaller than the outer hall, but any text recorded here could be exchanged for large quantities of precious materials and spirit medicines in the market towns.

Except for the Effortless Scripture and the private collections of each peak’s master and these elders, all of the sect’s high-level techniques can be found here. For example, the “Heaven and Mortal Prohibition Records” that Li Changshou was currently holding contained many high-level equipment refining prohibitions that could be used to forge high-level immortal treasures.

Of course, this was assuming one had the skill and high-quality precious materials.

The jade slip itself was a magical treasure, with each jade bamboo strip emitting mystical treasure light, ensuring that the content recorded on the jade slip would not be corroded over time.

Hiding behind a bookshelf, Jiu Jiu licked her lips, already imagining how this little nephew disciple would twitch when she scared him…

In that crucial moment!

Jiu Jiu activated her footwork technique, nimbly turned around the bookshelf, raised her arms, and made a scary face, about to release her presence!

“Ah!”

But…

Li Changshou’s left hand had already risen at some point, and with a flick of his fingers, a light blue pill precisely entered Jiu Jiu’s mouth.

“Mmm?”

Jiu Jiu’s figure stopped in front of Li Changshou, tilting her head slightly as she chewed the pill.

With several crunching sounds, Jiu Jiu chewed a couple of times, and a wine fragrance surrounded her heart. A sweet fluid slid down her throat, and amidst the sweetness and softness, a strand of spiritual energy echoed throughout her body…

That comfortable feeling of being slightly tipsy made Jiu Jiu couldn’t help but hum softly, her pretty face showing a slight flush.

“Wow… delicious! What is this thing!”

“Shh!”

Li Changshou made a gesture for silence, put down the jade slip, and looking at this long-absent Junior Master before him, he truly wanted to… reach out and pat her head.

“Ahem, the hierarchy is a bit off.”

The Junior Master had finally emerged from seclusion.

Li Changshou smiled and said, “Spirit Wine Pills, made from twelve spirit medicines and refined wine essence. The effect is merely replenishing vital energy, but the taste is indeed excellent.”

Jiu Jiu immediately stretched out her little hand, looking around the inner hall like a thief. Seeing that no one was watching, she whispered:

“Give me a few more!”

She did have her pride after all; being fed by a nephew disciple was somewhat embarrassing.

Li Changshou casually pulled out a treasure pouch, “There are sixty pills inside, consider it a gift celebrating Junior Master’s emergence from seclusion.”

“You know how to handle things!”

Jiu Jiu patted Li Changshou’s arm with satisfaction, took the pouch, and produced a magical porcelain bottle. She placed her large gourd to the side and leaned against the smooth stone wall in the same posture as Li Changshou, then peered over…

“What are you reading?”

“Equipment refining prohibitions,” Li Changshou said. “There are several prohibitions I want to try applying to formation bases. By the way, would Junior Master be interested in contracting the improvement project for Little Jade Peak’s pill room’s outer formation?”

Jiu Jiu blinked: “Wasn’t that formation just built? It hasn’t been a hundred years yet, why improve it already? Is it like before, suppressing spiritual power and placing formation bases?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll take it!”

Jiu Jiu’s eyes turned, and she held up two fingers. “Two years’ worth of Immortal’s Brew, Beauty’s Enchantment, and Ganges Old White Spirit! Plus three hundred of these spirit pills!”

Li Changshou nodded decisively, “Deal.”

Jiu Jiu suddenly felt a bit awkward, feeling as if she had extorted her little nephew’s disciple. Originally planning to ask for some wine right away, she instead clasped her hands behind her back, leaned against the stone wall, and became slightly lost in thought…

Li Changshou glanced at her and continued reading.

“I’ll probably need to stay here for another month. Junior Master, you focus on your cultivation first, and wait for me a while.”

Jiu Jiu blinked and said softly, “Mm, then I’ll wait here. A month… will pass in no time.”

Li Changshou suddenly remembered that Senior Uncle Jiu Wu had gone to the Central Divine State to participate in the Three Teachings Conference preparations and hadn’t returned yet.

If Junior Master had just emerged from seclusion, she probably couldn’t find any wine to drink.

He casually took out another treasure pouch and handed it to Jiu Jiu. “Advance payment, though for now, it’s only Beauty’s Brew.”

Jiu Jiu scratched her forehead, “This is too embarrassing.”

“Well then, never mind…”

As Li Changshou made to withdraw his hand, Jiu Jiu snatched the pouch away.

“You’ve already taken it out! How can you take it back? Hmph hmph, this Junior Master will graciously accept it!”

Li Changshou’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he lowered his head to continue memorizing the prohibitions.

Jiu Jiu yawned beside him, found a jade tablet recording techniques, and slowly read it next to Li Changshou while casually tossing two Spirit Wine Pills into her mouth.

Li Changshou said, “Eat fewer of those, they can make you drunk too.”

“Oh… But these pills are delicious!”

Before long, Li Changshou heard soft snoring from beside him…

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, feeling that Junior Master’s personality only matched a fraction of her age.

That was fine too.

Li Changshou had made several other pills similar to the Spirit Wine Pills, but he needed to give them to Junior Master gradually. Giving them all at once wouldn’t be as nice.

Calming his mind and focusing on his spirit, he continued strengthening his memory. As a Return to Void Seventh Stage disciple, it wasn’t appropriate to frequently visit the Scripture Hall. It was best to memorize everything he needed in one visit.

Starting now…

[I am an emotionless equipment copying machine]

…

In the northeastern part of the Central Divine State, among the majestic mountains and forbidden peaks.

An immortal island floated above the mountain range, covered with countless pavilions and palaces, surrounded by white clouds and ethereal immortal music, with layers of grand formations enveloping the entire island.

This was truly the magnificent sight of a great sect!

This place was the Golden Palace Sect, an orthodox Clarification Teaching sect that recognized the Clarification Teaching cultivator Chi Jing Zi as their patriarch. Chi Jing Zi cultivated in the blessed land of Great Hua Mountain’s Cloud Peak Cave and had once revealed his presence at the Golden Palace Sect.

This immortal sect was among the ten great immortal sects that were both orthodox in the Clarification Teaching and powerful…

Regarding this “Three Teachings Origins Conference,” the Golden Palace Sect was one of the initiators.

The “Three Teachings Origins Conference” aimed to ease the increasing tensions between the Clarification and Severance Teachings.

The Three Pure Ones were originally one family. After Pangu the Great Deity fell creating heaven and earth, his primordial spirit transformed into Tai Qing Lao Zi, Yu Qing Yuan Shi, and Shang Qing Ling Bao, known as the Three Friends – this was the origin of the Dao School’s “One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.”

The Three Friends originally lived in a small courtyard on Kunlun Mountain. Later, they became disciples of Hong Jun, becoming his three personal disciples, changed the Mysterious School to the Dao School, and respected Hong Jun as the Dao Ancestor.

However, due to different ideas about accepting and teaching disciples, Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Ling Bao Tian Zun gradually became somewhat discordant.

Later, Yuan Shi Tian Zun criticized Ling Bao Tian Zun’s chief disciple “Duo Bao,” causing Ling Bao Tian Zun to angrily move to the Southern Sea.

When the Three Pure Ones became saints, Yuan Shi Tian Zun established the Clarification Teaching, meaning to “clarify the great dao and enlighten all beings,” advocating that methods should not be lightly transmitted and that entering disciples needed virtue, fortune, and destiny combined.

Ling Bao Tian Zun established the Severance Teaching, known as Tong Tian Teaching Master, meaning to “sever a lifeline of hope for all beings,” advocating teaching without discrimination, and accepting disciples… as long as they looked pleasing to the eye.

Lao Zi established the Human Teaching, concealing himself above the Nine Heavens to comprehend the great dao of heaven and earth, advocating tranquil non-action, accepting only one disciple – the Great Law Master Xuan Du.

The “sulking” between Tong Tian Teaching Master and Yuan Shi Tian Zun – their difference in accepting disciples – was the root cause of the conflict between the Clarification and Severance Teachings.

However, the Three Pure Ones shared deep feelings, the three teachings originated from the same source, and both the Severance and Clarification Teachings fundamentally belonged to the Dao School…

So some great immortal sects took the initiative to organize this “Three Teachings Origins Conference,” intending to reconcile the three teachings.

The Clarification and Severance Teaching sects that came to discuss how to hold this conference were all those primordial “great houses.”

The Human Teaching only had five or six orthodox sects to begin with, so the Degree Immortal Sect was also brought in to make up the numbers.

However, the preparations for this conference had already been ongoing for more than a year…

Yet they still hadn’t entered the main topic.

Jiu Wu and two other stewards from the Degree Immortal Sect followed behind two elders, spending their days paying respects, making courtesies, wandering around making friends, and listening to high beings lecture on the dao and expound teachings.

This was the [Sitting and Discussing Dao] phase before the “conference preparations” began, estimated to continue for another three to five years.

Starting the Three Teachings Origins Conference preparations a hundred years in advance was truly extremely wise…

That night, Jiu Wu couldn’t hold his liquor and was sent back to his lodgings by two male disciples of the Golden Palace Sect.

In his hazy state, Jiu Wu seemed to hear a mosquito…

‘How could there be mosquitoes here?’

He casually swatted at it, and the mosquito sound silently disappeared.

However, not far from the tower where the Degree Immortal Sect members were staying was one of the towers housing the cultivators from Golden Turtle Island.

A streak of blood light left Jiu Wu’s vicinity, silently breaking through the tower’s outer formation and finding an old Daoist sitting in meditation…

Golden Turtle Island, Yuan Ze.

Hum—

“Hmm?”

Yuan Ze turned his head to look, feeling slightly puzzled in his heart. Just as he was about to use his immortal sense to probe the surroundings, his neck stung slightly.

Instantly, Old Daoist Yuan Ze’s entire body trembled slightly, and he lowered his head to sit there, seemingly continuing his cultivation…

A streak of blood light silently seeped into Old Daoist Yuan Ze’s primordial spirit, polluting this old Daoist’s divine soul and consciousness.

A moment later, Old Daoist Yuan Ze let out a soft breath, his lifeless eyes gradually regaining their spirit as he said in a low voice:

“Master, rest assured! This servant stakes his life on guaranteeing this task’s success!”

Ten thousand miles away, in a desolate dense forest.

Daoist Wen Jing sat quietly on a large rock, that bewitchingly beautiful face showing a slight enchanting smile…

Plotting against these Celestial Immortals was truly too simple.