“Elder, please proceed to Breaking Sky Peak first. This disciple will return to his peak for meditation.”

Just after entering the mountain-protecting formation and passing through the white jade-carved mountain gate, Li Changshou respectfully handed over the Soul-Capturing Zhenzhu and the treasure pouch containing the “spoils of war” to Elder Wan Linyun.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered keeping something for himself. Most of the storage treasures collected this time had been destroyed in Elder Wan Linyun’s poison fire, rendering them nearly worthless… Moreover, this was a matter of life and death for the sect.

The vastness of Honghuang meant having a reliable set to call home was precious indeed.

Looking inward, the Crossing Immortals Sect had always treated him, their “outstanding” disciple, quite well. Even as a disciple from the weakest and poorest peak, no one had deliberately made things difficult for him or treated him harshly since he began cultivation. On the contrary, many elders in the Hundred Ordinary Hall showed him extra care due to the Mandarin Fish spirit…

Therefore, Li Changshou had no desire to see the sect fall.

Like today, he had revealed two of his small trump cards—the Detection Stone and Soul-Capturing Zhenzhu—in front of Elder Wan Linyun.

For him, this was his small contribution to the cause.

His principle was to help when he could while ensuring his safety, doing his utmost to protect and support.

Seeing Li Changshou lowering his head to present the treasure pouch and Soul-Capturing Zhenzhu, Elder Wan Linyun’s eyes narrowed, revealing a slight “cold smile” as she tucked them into her sleeve.

The True Immortal officials and the duty immortal guards at the sect entrance all felt nervous for Li Changshou;

Though they didn’t know the background of this young disciple in the Virtual Void realm,…

When the Poison Immortal Elder smiled like that, this disciple’s future fortune would be hard to predict!

Elder Wan Linyun immediately flew on her cloud toward Breaking Sky Peak to discuss the matter with the Sect Master and Grand Elder.

Li Changshou also turned, made a ceremonial bow to the sect immortals, and departed. He then flew at a lower altitude, finding a rarely traveled cloud path to slowly drift back toward Little Jade Peak.

On his way back, Li Changshou kept pondering about that mosquito that was killed by the paper person…

That mosquito…

He wondered if creating some kind of “mosquito killer” would be effective.

When he returned to Little Jade Peak, his junior sister and master were still diligently practicing their movement techniques.

Li Changshou didn’t disturb them and went straight to the pill room.

After activating various formations and glancing at the Detection Stones hanging in various places, he let his paper dao body double return to its original paper person form…

A wisp of green smoke rose from the ground, condensing into Li Changshou’s form. He raised his hand to grasp the paper person double and tucked it into his sleeve.

“Speaking of mosquito killer…

How to go about it? What do mosquitoes fear?

Perhaps poison in the blood?”

Muttering to himself, Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh at his thoughts.

If it were truly the formidable “Dao Lord Mosquito” appearing in person, that would be beyond his ability to handle…

But if it were like today, dealing with mosquitoes that could control puppets yet could be easily killed by paper people, Li Changshou could think of some countermeasures.

The Paper Person Divine Technique had found its natural counter!

Come to think of it…

All the preparations he had made over the past half year hadn’t been in vain.

The sacrifice of those old trees had been worth it!

With such feelings in his heart, Li Changshou took out the paper people who had just cleaned up the battlefield and recited scriptures.

He activated the pill furnace, injected the Three Realms True Flame, and threw these original divine technique paper people into it.

The flame tongues danced gently, and the paper people turned to ashes in an instant.

Afterward, Li Changshou checked the various trinkets on his person that prevented divination…

After bustling about and confirming everything was in order, he finally relaxed slightly.

Soon, he unconsciously fell into contemplation, quietly pondering where he might have exposed anything earlier.

The paper person that killed the mosquito had simulated energy signatures…

He had never shown his face to Elder Wan Linyun…

The elder’s burst of true fire had nearly burned that mountain bare…

“There shouldn’t be any oversights.”

However, Li Changshou noticed one thing in common between Elder Wan Linyun and his master—

They were easily carried away.

Perhaps they had spent too long cultivating in the mountains and forgotten the dangers of Honghuang?

Fortunately, he had stopped the elder several times. Otherwise, if the elder had appeared in person and been ambushed by that mosquito, the consequences would have been unthinkable!

Pacing back and forth in the pill room, constantly turning things over in his mind, a train of thought gradually became clear…

Today’s events weren’t entirely unexpected.

Because half a year ago, he had already listed all possible story developments that might follow;

Today’s battle had merely confirmed two or three of those storylines.

“So it is indeed like this.”

The Crossing Immortals Sect had nothing special about it except being an orthodox Humanity School sect;

The reason they had attracted others’ covetous attention was because of the slight unpleasantness between the sect and the Golden Tortoise Island cultivators earlier;

Subsequently, someone wanted to use this point to cause trouble.

This mastermind behind the scenes had set up an ambush for the Crossing Immortals Sect group in front of the Golden Palace Sect entrance in Central Divine Continent, indirectly raising the “fame” of the Crossing Immortals Sect, letting the Three Schools know there was such a Humanity School orthodox sect in East Victory Divine Continent.

Afterward, while the Three Schools’ immortal sects were discussing the “Three Schools Origin Conference” at the Golden Palace Sect, this mastermind would use controlled puppets to destroy the Crossing Immortals Sect…

For this mastermind, the cost was minimal, and the risk was small, yet they could achieve significant goals!

Li Changshou seemed to see a dark shadow standing behind the Crossing Immortals Sect, reaching its hand toward Breaking Sky Peak.

But behind this shadow stood an even more majestic yet slightly blurry figure, ready to sweep away the shadow in front with one palm…

Great Schools, hidden struggles.

The Crossing Immortals Sect wasn’t without hope of victory.

The mastermind planning all this didn’t dare act personally, only daring to control puppets remotely through mosquitoes!

This point was verified through the fragments of remnant soul memories; in the memories of these humans and demons, there was always a trace of mosquito buzzing.

The key lay in how the Crossing Immortals Sect would respond next.

If Li Changshou wasn’t mistaken, soon there would be “dong dong dong dong, dong dong dong”…

This naturally wasn’t the classic chanting of some monk from later ages.

Suddenly…

Dong—

Dong—

The bell on Breaking Sky Peak rang out.

This bell sound had exceptional penetrating power.

When the bell rang, one or two to several figures flew out from each peak toward the main peak’s Crossing Immortals Hall.

By the lake, Old Dao Master Qi Yuan heard the bell and immediately flew toward Breaking Sky Peak on his cloud.

After all, he was nominally the master of a peak.

Seeing this, Li Changshou quickly transmitted a few words of advice to his master, asking him that no matter what he heard or saw after going there, not speak carelessly and just follow the sect’s arrangements.

The bell sound awakened many sect members and disciples who had been in seclusion, and various parts of the Crossing Immortals Sect became lively.

This kind of emergency bell might not ring once in a thousand years, and cultivators from all peaks were now watching, wondering what had happened…

Soon after, sixteen figures flew out from Breaking Sky Peak, directly breaking through the mountain-protecting formation and rushing toward the earlier “large-scale ash-scattering scene.”

The first person was the Crossing Immortals Sect’s Master, followed by powerful figures like Wan Linyun, Forgetting Emotions Senior, and other sect experts;

Li Changshou knew…

They weren’t going to verify the battle results, but should be searching for the enemy’s main force;

But this expedition was destined to return empty-handed, at most discovering some traces hastily left behind by the opponent when they retreated.

The next time the opponent appears, it will surely be to launch a full-scale offensive against the Crossing Immortals Sect, and the timing shouldn’t be too far off…

Within three years, there will surely be follow-up events!

Mountain rain approaches as the wind fills the tower, yet the small peak sits alone in leisure.

Li Changshou lay in his rocking chair, holding a jade slip he had copied from the Dao Collection Inner Hall, quietly reading the text and diagrams within.

This feeling of having comprehended the whole situation was quite satisfying…

Of course, the most satisfying life would be one where nothing happens…

This jade slip was titled “Hundred Spirits Record,” recording many delicious tastes—ahem, recording many rare spirit beasts and spirit birds.

Mosquitoes had quite a few natural enemies;

But finding spirit beasts that had decent spirit power, could counter blood mosquitoes like those seen today, and importantly, could be obtained right now and bred in large numbers, was quite troublesome.

Diligence rewards dedication.

After half an incense time, Li Changshou’s eyes lit up as he truly discovered a spirit beast in the text that he was already raising in his Little Jade Peak spirit beast enclosure…

A slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as he took out a porcelain bottle from his robes.

Years ago, when gathering herbs in the North Utterly Cold Continent, he had casually eliminated Yuan Qing’s group and obtained a pair of love parasites.

Love parasites were a type of gu insect, considered a witch’s evil technique, not a Dao school method.

Initially, Li Changshou had thought about using this pair of love parasites on the rarest spirit beasts he could obtain, letting them mate diligently to create some life value…

But he had never found suitable targets.

Recently, while studying [Thick Fortune] pill recipes, Li Changshou researched many unconventional pill formulas and accidentally discovered a sustainable way to use love parasites.

Feed the love parasites Spirit-Fixing Poison Grass to turn them into stone, called love stones;

Then combine spirit spring water with various herbs, place the love stones within, and soak for seven times seven, forty-nine days, to obtain a secret medicinal liquid.

This liquid was itself a rare item, having effects similar to being pricked by the Old Man Under the Moon’s mutual affection tree, and could also be used in pill refinement…

The bottle of medicine in Li Changshou’s hand was refined from such liquid.

Of course, it was specially configured for rare spirit beasts!

“Thank you for your hard work…

Big Jade and Second Jade.”

Rising, Li Changshou drifted toward the rear mountain spirit beast enclosure with a slight smile.

Ling E, who was practicing water escape techniques “day and night” on the lake, stood on tiptoe to look toward the pill room direction, just catching sight of Li Changshou’s back as he drifted past with his hands behind him.

“Nasty senior brother, not even coming over to talk!

I’ve been practicing for days and nights without rest, so inconsiderate…”

That direction senior brother was heading…

Puffing her cheeks, Ling E hurriedly followed, wanting to see what senior brother was up to in the spirit beast enclosure.

Not because she wanted to talk to her senior brother!

Soon after, Ling E flew on her cloud above the spirit beast enclosure, immediately spotting her senior brother crouching beside a pond.

Without turning his head, Li Changshou gently waved to Ling E…

Understanding, Ling E suppressed her aura, drifted on her cloud to beside her senior brother, gathered her skirts to kneel on the grass, and looked where her senior brother was gazing.

“Uh…”

“Shh!”

Li Changshou made a silencing gesture, and Ling E couldn’t help but cover her face with one hand, not daring to look more.

On a lotus leaf in the pond ahead, two extremely rare “Spirit-Cultivating Jade Frogs” with bodies like jasper were engaged in an indescribable act of indescribable nature…

Ling E couldn’t help but purse her lips, averting her gaze, and whispered to her senior brother:

“Senior Brother, although this junior sister has deep feelings for you, you should still mind the influence!

Some things shouldn’t be brought into the open, it will affect junior sister’s evaluation of senior brother.”

Li Changshou casually replied: “Then thank you, help me adjust the evaluation to slightly above average.”

Ling E rolled her eyes and humphed: “I won’t… it’s excellent excellent!”

She suddenly blinked, looking at the jade frogs there, remembering something.

“Senior Brother, didn’t you say these spirit beasts are very difficult to breed, so much that you couldn’t bear to use them for pill refining or drinking?”

Li Changshou shook the now empty porcelain bottle in his hand and smiled: “The mountain man has his clever plans.”

“This is…”

Ling E suddenly understood something, her face reddening, first showing some disgust, then blinking her eyes and deliberately saying:

“My my—

Senior Brother, you did secretly refine this kind of pill!

The books were right, cultivators who like refining pills inevitably all have such thoughts!

Sigh, considering I’m your junior sister…

Senior Brother, do you have any more spirit beasts that need breeding?

This junior sister will reluctantly help you out!”

Li Changshou calmly said: “Don’t have any bold ideas, each bottle of this medicine has been placed under special restrictions by me.”

“Miser… what kind of senior brother is so guarded against his junior sister!”

“No choice, after all, he has a junior sister with complicated thoughts.”

Ling E immediately rolled her eyes again, averting her gaze to look at the spirit beast enclosure beside them, though her thoughts had flown off somewhere unknown.

She naturally didn’t know that Li Changshou was truly busy with important matters at this time.

This type of spirit beast would become a very important part of Little Jade Peak’s defense system…

And after this tribulation passed, the jade frogs wouldn’t go to waste either—they could invite Uncle Master Wu over for hotpot and have a feast.

The taste should be quite excellent!

The bell had rung for half a day when the more than ten experts who had gone out all returned to Breaking Sky Peak.

Shortly after, the Sect Master personally ordered that from today onwards, all sect members and disciples were forbidden to leave, and the mountain-protecting formation was completely sealed.

Afterward, the Sect Master and several Grand Elders discussed countermeasures against the enemy together with Elder Wan Linyun…

Elder Wan Linyun’s seniority was close to advancing to Grand Elder, but he had always been indifferent to such things, usually just focused on pill refining and cultivation on Cauldron Peak.

At this time, though his prestige and influence in the sect were somewhat lacking, his position was not low.

And regarding Elder Wan Linyun single-handedly eliminating so many powerful enemies this time, resolving a crisis for the Crossing Immortals Sect, by reason and emotion, the sect must make some gesture.

However, for such a greatly meritorious elder, using ‘rewards’ was inappropriate, and using ‘thanks’ was also inappropriate…

The Crossing Immortals Sect Master thought it over and could only smile and say:

“This time Elder Wan Linyun must have used many precious poison pills, the sect should properly compensate the elder for these losses.”

Elder Wan Linyun slightly frowned, looking at the storage ring the Sect Master handed over, instinctively about to shake his head in refusal.

Doing these things for the sect was natural, he couldn’t accept such rewards.

But soon, Elder Wan Linyun remembered something, the corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a cold smile.

Indeed, it could be used as a reward for Changshou…

“Then, I’ll take it.”

After speaking, Elder Wan Linyun turned around, supporting himself with his walking stick as he walked toward the hall door, leaving behind an elderly yet graceful figure for those behind him.

The Crossing Immortals Sect Master, who was actually of the same generation as Elder Wan Linyun, immediately frowned, looked at the several Grand Elders sitting behind him, and asked in a low voice:

“Did I just say something wrong that upset Elder Wan?”

The several Grand Elders could only smile bitterly—they weren’t that familiar with Elder Wan either…