Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Disciple-Nephew Qi Yuan, what brings you out?”
The weather was warm again. Qi Yuan wore a long robe and carried a horsetail whisk. He floated from the Little Qiong Peak to the opening.
Qi Yuan bowed and answered, “I’m just going out for a walk, nothing much. Recently, I’ve been feeling uneasy.”
“Good.”
The old Perfected Immortal guarding the gate did not probe further. He smiled kindly and opened the gate, letting Qi Yuan ride the cloud towards the sky outside the mountain.
Qi Yuan was quite famous on the mountain because he had conducted a Deliverance by Execution and become a Turbid Immortal.
However, his reputation was not always good. Occasionally, people would mock him.
After Li Changshou finished refining that batch of pills, he waited for another four months before his master came out of seclusion and went out for a stroll.
He discussed the matter with his master. This time, he asked his master to stay out for a few more days and give the paper effigy more time to operate.
After that, Li Changshou repeatedly reminded his master not to stray too far from the sect…
In order to allow his master to hide his tracks, Li Changshou offered the second version of the Qi-Calming Turtle Breathing Mantra to his master. He did not want his master to be targeted and schemed against while he was waiting for his return.
Li Changshou’s main body was also in the mountain gate. If something happened to his master, he would be able to detect it and rush over to help.
It was Li Changshou’s decision to let his master and junior sister have the same level of access to the information.
Qi Yuan put the box away and left quietly.
The paper effigy appeared once again. It was obvious that he was a little bloated. The sling bag on his shoulder had also been replaced by a backpack.
This time, Li Changshou transformed into an old Daoist priest and decided to sell pills using that identity in the future.
He exhibited Earth Escape and the paper effigy quickly rushed to Linhai Town.
Half a day later, Li Changshou walked half a round in the direction of the east. He changed the shape of his route from an exclamation mark to a question mark.
Finally, he emerged from an empty forest on the west side. He rode a cloud, carried his sword, and floated towards the magnificent town in front of him.
The style and color of the sword, sword hilt, and sword sheath that was hung on his back had all been changed. The scabbard had a new restriction that would isolate immortal senses.
Of course, the core function would not change.
It looked like a sword, but in reality, it was a Dharma artifact that was made of a mixture of incapacitating agents and poison dispersers. It could produce colorless poison powder without anyone noticing. It could also be used to poison the enemy’s Essence Soul and organs without anyone noticing. That would increase the chances of killing a Perfected Immortal.
Naturally, he could not find that outside. Just like the Sky Treasure Umbrella, it was Li Changshou’s personal Dharma treasure.
This time, Li Changshou had prepared a second Dharma artifact that was similar.
It was a flute that would release poison through the holes when it was being played. However, there was a hidden danger.
He had to take a deep breath. Otherwise, it would be easy for him to draw in the poison.
Otherwise, it would really be as funny as a person warning others not to touch the poisonous sword that would kill anyone who was in contact with it, even though he was holding onto it.
There were four entrances to the array formation in the town, just like the city gates of the mortal world. However, the entrance where he was at, was left behind by the array formation and was not one of the city walls.
The authority in charge of maintaining peace in that place was the Great Immortal Sect of the East Continent, the Linhai Sword Sect. According to the primordial rules, they would send people to collect the “entrance fee” in front of the array formation.
The fee could be in the form of Spirit Stones, treasures, precious materials, or spirit herbs. It could be anything of a little value.
A small town of this scale could actually bring a lot of benefits to the Immortal Sect. However, they usually had to station a large number of masters there in order to prevent anyone from stirring trouble. They also had to be mighty figures.
The Immortal Du Sect had tried to build a small town in the past. However, because of their geographical location and poor management, they did not manage it well.
The town only existed for a few thousand years, and since then there were no lone cultivators staying there or visiting the town. The Immortal Du Sect had suffered major losses.
Li Changshou understood that.
After all, the people in the sect had cultivated the ‘Inaction Sutra’ and the disciples liked to be quiet. They would spend any energy they had on finding Dao companions…
After teasing his own master in his heart, Li Changshou manipulated the paper effigy to reveal his cultivation in the late-stage of the Essence Immortal. He then rode the cloud and waited behind a dozen figures.
On the side, there was a steady stream of people going out. Most of them were floating on clouds.
There was no need to pay tolls when they went out. If they wanted to go in again, they would have to queue up and pay the entrance fee.
When it was almost Li Changshou’s turn to enter the sect, he caught a glimpse of seven or eight figures who were about to leave the town…
They were two elderly cultivators, three middle-aged cultivators, and three young men and women.
They flew a little higher than the others and were about to fly out through the gap in the array formation. Two pairs of immortal soldiers patrolling around Linhai Town were guarding them. They were very domineering.
Li Changshou’s attention was actually attracted by the young man.
This person… has horns on his head but… no tail…
Ao Yi?
Why have I run into this little dragon again?
Li Changshou was speechless. Am I fated with this little dragon?
But then again, why is this little dragon… still the same as when he was defeated previously? Its height is the same too.
Maybe, dragons go through longer puberty periods than humans do. He probably still hasn’t developed much yet.
The paper effigy looked away and it happened to be his turn to pay the entrance fee.
Li Changshou handed the Spirit Stones in his hand to the female immortal seated behind the table.
The female immortal smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, you seem to be a stranger. Can you tell me why you are here?”
Hence, Li Changshou introduced himself using a fake name and said that he was there to buy some pills and herbs. The female immortal noted the information down and allowed him to enter the town.
During this process, Ao Yi and the two girls followed behind the five Heaven Immortals of Jie School and ascended above the paper effigy…
The five Heaven Immortals were in a good mood. They were discussing whether they should return to Golden Ao Island or continue to discuss the Dao with the immortals of their sect.
Li Changshou heard one of the old Daoist priests giving Ao Yi a compliment.
“How long have you been cultivating, Junior Ao Yi? You’ve actually already become an Essence Immortal. You do live up to the reputation of the Dragon King. Your potential is astonishing…”
Junior?
Indeed, Ao Yi had become a disciple of Jie School, and he should have been taken under the wing of a second-generation expert.
At that moment, Li Changshou felt that Ao Yi had become much more mature. His gaze was restrained and his expression was calm.
Although he was still a teenager, he still looked steady, composed, experienced, and tempered by fate.
However… it had nothing to do with Li Changshou.
The paper effigy entered Linhai Town and rode a cloud, flying past lofts and stone houses as he headed to the place where medicine shops were rampant.
I have to snatch business from my sect again.
Li Changshou sighed.
Medicine was the main business of the Immortal Du Sect’s shop in the town.
However, he would only visit that place for a few days, once every few years. Although it would affect his sect’s business to a certain extent, it should not cause the sect’s business to be poor.
After all, he was just an individual peddler.
Although his goods were of high quality and were sold in large quantities at low prices…
…
After the Qi Refinement cultivators of the Golden Ao Island left the town, they flew in the southwest direction. They then changed directions all of a sudden and sped towards the northwest.
In fact, the experts of a few Immortal Sects in the Eastern Continent had invited the Heaven Immortals whom they were familiar with, from the Golden Ao Island.
Golden Ao Island was a rather well-known teaching venue of Jie School, where Qi Refinement cultivators would be invited for a discussion about the Dao by some immortal sects.
Originally, they had already gone out to discuss the Dao for three months. They had been eating and drinking for free at the few immortal sects in the East Continent… Ahem, they had been preaching and reading scriptures…
This trip is complete. It’s time to return.
Since Ao Yi had performed extremely well during the Dao discussion, he easily defeated the Essence Immortals sent by the few immortal sects.
Furthermore, Ao Yi’s seniority was the same as the five Jie School Heaven Immortals, so they could not directly reward him.
Thus, they brought Ao Yi to Linhai Town where they chose many gifts for him.
Ao Yi distributed those gifts to the two young Apprentice-Nieces beside him, who were elated. The few Golden Ao Island Heaven Immortals were quite pleased too.
If the son of a Great Immortal Sect’s Sect Leader was said to own a treasure vault, Ao Yi, the Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace in the East Ocean could be considered as having his home in a vault.
Ao Yi did not feel the pinch at all when he gifted the disciples of the few “senior brothers” to make them happy.
If necessary, he would take out a voice transmission talisman and inform his family about his plans. He would then be able to give every Qi Refinement cultivator of Golden Ao Island a generous gift tomorrow.
After leaving the town, the group wanted to visit Golden Ao Island.
However, Ao Yi pondered for a moment. After a few moments of silence, he suddenly said, “Senior Brothers, I have a request.”
The five of them immediately turned around and looked at Ao Yi with concern.
“There’s no such thing as an unreasonable request. If there’s a request, there must be a response. Junior Brother Ao Yi, just speak your mind.”
“The Qi Refinement cultivators of Golden Ao Island are on good terms with each other. We are inseparable and we share the same glory and humiliation!”
“That’s right. It’s not just so for us in Golden Ao Island. It’s the same for everyone in Jie School. If any one of us is in trouble, everyone will come to help!”
Ao Yi smiled in his heart, but his expression was still very serious. He said in a low voice, “Actually, I have a hidden secret.”
The two girls at the side looked over instantly, their eyes glistening.
One of the young girls had her hair in a dozen braids that made her look suave and cute. She was Han Zhi, who had witnessed Li Changshou’s tribulation.
Among the five Heaven Immortals, one of them was Han Zhi’s master, the old Daoist priest Yuan Ze.
Ao Yi sighed. “During the Demon-Sweeping Meet in the East Ocean back then, I was only ten years old. I was ordered to help the Dragon Palace find someone to spar with, but I lost to a disciple of the Immortal Du Sect who was in the Void Return stage. I haven’t been able to let this matter go.”
He continued, “I have already transcended the tribulation to become an immortal. Although I am only at the Essence Immortal realm, I still want to spar with that person and discuss the Dao.”
“Is that it?” Yuan Ze asked with a smile.
A look of shame appeared on Ao Yi’s face. He lowered his head and said, “Yes.”
“That’s easy,” replied another middle-aged Daoist who smiled. With a wave of his hand, the white cloud drifted towards the Immortal Du Sect. “Let’s go. We’ll go to Immortal Du Sect for a walk.”
Daoist Zhong Yu, the Deputy Sect Master of the Immortal Du Sect, had a good relationship with him.
“The Immortal Du Sect is a subsidiary of the Ren School. The Golden Ao Island is also the teaching venue for the Jie School. Why can’t we pay a visit?”
The others agreed.
One of them smiled and said, “Should we inform them in advance? Otherwise, something awkward will happen.”
The old Daoist priest, Yuan Ze, waved his hand and said, “No need, no need for that. We’re not looking for them for a fight. Let’s discuss the Dao and let the young people spar.”
At the end of the line, the two young girls who were holding hands looked at each other.
A young girl activated the bracelet-shaped Dharma artifact on her wrist so as to prevent their conversation from being overheard.
She said softly, “Han Zhi, your master is doing it again.”
Han Zhi pursed her lips and said gloomily, “Make some preparations.”
“Sigh, my master is as good as a Heavenly Dao artifact. When I was undergoing the Tribulation Transcendence, Master told me not to worry and that I would only have six Heavenly Tribulations. However, I ended up summoning eight Heavenly Tribulations. I almost died… My aptitude and accumulation should be at most seven.”
The other girl immediately covered her mouth and chuckled. “You also benefited from this and ascended for a while.”
“Speaking of this…” Han Zhi seemed to be in a daze. She continued, “I experienced eight Heavenly Tribulations personally, and it was the eight Heavenly Tribulations that were ranked at the bottom. Only then did I know how terrifying this Immortal Ascension Tribulation was. I can’t imagine what kind of person it was for him to survive nine Heavenly Tribulations in the South Sea that day.”
“It must have been the reincarnation of an ancient, powerful figure.”
“Maybe…”
The two girls chuckled. Soon, the topic was shifted onto the young man of the dragon race in front of them.
He looked like a delicate and handsome young man, which made the young girl very happy.
Half a day later, the Immortal Du Sect’s thin and smooth mountain-protecting array formation could be seen. The group of people drifted over while chatting and laughing.
The smile on Ao Yi’s lips had a deeper meaning.
…
“Eh?”
In the forest on the mountain, Qi Yuan, who was thinking about the “Qi-Calming Turtle Breathing Mantra”, looked up at the sky and saw the Golden Ao Island floating above the clouds.
He felt the pressure of a few Heaven Immortals and felt a little puzzled. He did not know where those masters had come from and why they were going to the Immortal Du Sect.
“It has nothing to do with Little Qiong Peak.”
Qi Yuan smiled and looked at the transmission talisman his eldest disciple had given him. He also felt that it was probably just a few experts who had come to visit him together, so he did not tell Li Changshou about it.
He continued to ponder over the hidden Qi technique that was created by his disciple.
Very quickly, the Daoist priest, Qi Yuan, restrained his aura completely. He excitedly cast a Manifestation Spell and turned into a tree stump.
After carefully detecting for a while…
“Indeed. It’s surprisingly safe.”
