After leaving Little Qiong Peak and rushing back to participate in the sect competition, Li Changshou specially went to the Hundred Mortal Hall to offer three “long” incense sticks to the portrait of the Sect Leader of Ren School.
The three incense sticks seemed to be of some use today…
When Li Changshou returned to the corner of the slope to maintain the Wind Speech Incantation, he heard that there was very little discussion about him.
The old immortals on the jade platform and the disciples in the valley were all watching the contest for the top thirty-six places… Li Changshou gripped the white jade flute and began to refine it slowly.
He took a few glances at Ling’e, who was waiting for her turn to fight, and noticed that she was in a good state. Since she had Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu to accompany her, he did not bother about her anymore.
Jiu Wu had already given the three hundred years’ worth of monthly allowance to Li Changshou, which were all precious materials for refining array formations.
With that “small windfall”, about… 0.3% of the plan to improve Little Qiong Peak’s overall array formation could be completed in advance…
However, Uncle-Master Jiu Wu’s promise to consider Li Changshou the winner had not been fulfilled. In a while, Li Changshou was going to make up for it by taking part in the battle.
Looking down at the white jade flute in his hand, Li Changshou could not help but wonder, How many treasures can I exchange this thing for?
Just kidding. If I really sold the Numinous treasure that Qin Wan had given me, I would be deemed as intentionally humiliating the Qi Refinement cultivators of Golden Ao Island. I would probably be hung up and beaten up.
The array formations are for self-defense, just like the poisonous pills. With the numinous treasure that will protect me, I can also increase my ability to protect myself…
Furthermore, ever since I ascended, I never had any treasures that could unleash my full abilities.
Once I’m done refining the white jade flute, I can add spiritual beast fur to the tip and use it as an Immortal Brush to exhibit my mystical ability in writing sutras.
When Li Changshou thought of that, the white jade flute in his hand shook twice, giving off a faint resistance. He quickly dispelled that wonderful idea and continued to use his mind to appease the jade flute’s spirituality.
I shall “tame” it before talking about the matter regarding the Immortal Brush.
The so-called Numinous Treasure referred to the treasure that produced spirituality and had the most basic spirituality.
However, due to the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao, a Postnatal numinous treasure could not transform into a living being, nor could it bear the Great Dao. Its power was far inferior to that of a Connate numinous treasure.
Connate Numinous treasures and Connate lifeforms mostly appeared in ancient times.
At that time, the Heavenly Dao had yet to be perfected. The treasures and living creatures born from the Connate Dao could directly come into contact with the Great Dao.
Lifeforms could cultivate and become stronger without restraint. The treasures also had the power of the Great Dao.
That was an era where one could pick up Numinous treasures during a casual stroll.
That was a time when even a random mountain could be an immortal residence.
However, it was also an era that was even more dangerous and dark.
The big shots were all ignorant and did not have any sense of shame. When they saw good treasures, they would say that they were fated with them. When they saw an immortal residence, they would say that they were destined…
If the other party did not agree to it, they would fight and the winner would call the shots.
Now, the best force to inherit that ancient legacy should be the Western Sect of the two Western Saints. If they were to say “I think you’re fated with the Western Sect.”, people would have to give in…
Li Changshou continued to refine the white jade flute.
Not long after, Ling’e floated over dejectedly from afar. She sat down beside him and sighed softly.
She had lost to an immortal seedling who was at the first stage of the Dao Requital realm and had lost her opportunity to make it to the top thirty-six places. “Senior Brother…” Ling’e cried out pitifully. “It’s good to save some pride for the disciples of the other peaks.”
Li Changshou said via voice transmission, “How many years have you been cultivating? You’re the youngest here. You’ve already made many senior brothers and senior sisters feel ashamed.”
It was probably a unique feature of the Little Qiong Peak.
Ling’e blinked and her eyes lit up. “Senior Brother, are you comforting me?”
“Let’s agree on three rules.”
“Okay!” Ling’e smiled gleefully and sat cross-legged on her meditation cushion. She wanted to slowly move closer to her senior brother.
The grass on the ground was almost bald…
Li Changshou transmitted his voice helplessly, “Now, you already have to copy the sutra 4050 times.”
Ling’e stopped in her tracks. Her large eyes were filled with a pitiful gaze.
She raised her hands and whispered, “Senior Brother, can you really bear to see your little junior sister’s hands… become crippled just like that?”
“I can bear to.”
“Pfft, I’ll just copy then.” Ling’e immediately turned to look into the distance.
Li Changshou smiled calmly and waited for his opportunity to go on the arena…
Another day later, it was time for the exciting competition for the number of Heavenly Dipper places in the internal sect competition. It was also the end of the internal sect competition.
All the attention in the venue was attracted by Youqin Xuanya and the top ten immortal seedlings.
The guests and elders on the jade platform were also observing with interest, wondering if there could be any “experts” below?
Although Youqin Xuanya had outstanding potential, there were still too many uncertainties regarding her future growth.
No one knew if she could reach the Heaven Immortal realm.
Fighting for a while may not bring much glory but pursuing the pinnacle would be heroic.
Right from the start of the battle for getting into the top thirty-six places, which was the number of Heavenly Dippers, Li Changshou had been having a little hard time because the cultivation level he exhibited was at the first stage of the Dao Requital realm.
He relied on the Earth Escape to win three rounds. However, in the fourth round, he encountered Youqin Xuanya.
However, Li Changshou did not give anyone the chance to imagine the battle between the Spiked Mace of Little Qiong Peak and the Head Disciple.
The jade slip vibrated…
“I admit defeat!”
Youqin Xuanya, who was standing at the side of the stage, was stunned. Then, she cast a guilty look at Li Changshou.
Li Changshou was rendered speechless. Why did she feel guilty?
Forget it. I cannot understand the toxic Junior Sister’s thoughts.
Hence, Li Changshou stopped when he was in 18th place. His ranking was similar to what he had planned.
One of the disciples of the Little Qiong Peak was in 18th place, while the other was in the 39th place. The old Daoist Qi Yuan was probably going to offer incense to the few grandmasters of Little Qiong Peak whose demise had been confirmed, and pay respects to them.
The fights in the later stages were more intense than the previous ones. There were also more “highlights” of the internal sect competition. However, the scene of the Spiked Mace appearing abruptly had always been the pinnacle that the ones who showed up later would never pass…
In the end, Youqin Xuanya passed the obstacles and clinched the first place.
After Li Changshou finished watching the last battle, he immediately sneaked away using the excuse of bidding farewell to Ao Yi.
As expected… While Youqin Xuanya was making her victory speech, she said seriously,
“I can’t help but feel a little regretful about the internal sect competition this time. I couldn’t be in the arena with my senior brother whom I want to spar with the most.”
At that moment, Li Changshou, who was bidding farewell to Ao Yi, could not help but feel a little emotional…
Finally, he could predict a portion of the path that the toxic junior sister was going to take.
“Brother Changshou, just focus on your cultivation in the sect,” said Ao Yi. “Don’t worry too much… about some things.” Li Changshou took out a treasure pouch and said seriously, “There are a few paintings in here. It’s a masterpiece that I have made recently, which I’m rather proud of. There’s also a brocade pouch that might help you with your troubles. Remember, don’t open it in front of others.”
Ao Yi smiled and took out two communication jade tokens. He handed them to Li Changshou and said, “Brother Changshou, you can use these two jade tokens to contact me directly. Brother Changshou, if you have any… anything to say, you can use these to convey your message.”
Li Changshou grabbed the jade token. The two of them looked at each other and smiled. They bowed to each other on the cloud.
“The clouds are vast, the mountains are tall and the rivers are long. I will meet you again after parting with you today, Brother Yi.”
“Brother, I hope you will be in good health and undergo the Immortal Ascension soon. Golden Ao Island is located deep in the intersecting clouds between the South Ocean and East Ocean. Brother Changshou, if you are free, you can come to the island. We shall chat over some drinks.”
Then, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.
Ao Yi turned around and rode a cloud, rushing towards the people of Golden Ao Island who were waiting for him.
Li Changshou bowed again from afar. Han Zhi and the other “juniors” returned their greetings.
At that moment, Ji Wuyou, the Sect Leader who was sending off the people of the Golden Ao Island, nodded with a smile.
The Sect Leader looked at the young disciple in the distance who had brought about plenty of glory to the Immortal Du Sect this time. He thought about how he could let him overcome the Immortal Ascension Tribulation steadily…
Finally…
Li Changshou rode a cloud and headed straight for the Little Qiong Peak.
As soon as he landed on Little Qiong Peak, white clouds flew out of the valley at the foot of the Heaven-Breaking Peak. The disciples of the various peaks returned to the mountain…
Some people smiled, while others looked gloomy.
Li Changshou concluded. When he saw Ling’e and Jiu Jiu, who loved the Spiked Mace dearly, flying back together, he thought of looking for his master to report the good news.
Previously, many big shots had gone to Little Qiong Peak, but his master was still calm and composed!
If Li Changshou had not realized that his master was sleeping soundly on the bed, he would have definitely been “impressed” by him.
However, before Ling’e could fly back, Li Changshou’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately sensed something.
There seemed to be another “prestigious guest” at the Sea God Temple, which had previously received the white-robed guests.
Hence, Li Changshou used the Wind Speech Incantation and sent a voice transmission to Ling’e, who was still more than numerous kilometers away.
“I suddenly have an epiphany. I’ll go into seclusion to cultivate first. Please entertain Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu.”
Ling’e immediately nodded in agreement. Li Changshou turned around and flew towards the Pill Chamber.
He sensed that there were many visitors in the Sea God Temple.
The gray-robed elder who had followed the Jade Emperor into the mortal world was standing beside the statue with his hands behind his back. He was leading two Heaven Immortal realm guards who were behind him.
Li Changshou calmed his mind and made a few deductions about the words that that person would say later. He secretly activated the paper effigy that was hidden under the temple…
At the same time, on the white clouds on the Golden Ao Island 1500 kilometers south of the Immortal Du Sect, Ao Yi pondered for a while and thought about it. At that moment, he could not help but take out the treasure pouch that Brother Changshou had given him.
He was interested in the masterpiece that Brother Changshou was proud of, not because he wanted to see Brother Changshou’s “brilliant plan”!
Hence, Ao Yi secretly rode a cloud and did not move. A few Golden Immortals and old Heaven Immortals from Golden Ao Island immediately cast a wisp of immortal senses, but they smiled and did not say anything.
I’m just looking at the painting…
Ao Yi coughed and took out two portraits. Two lines of annotations were written on the outer surfaces of the scrolls.
“When you’re excited, hot-blooded, can’t control yourself and want to express your thoughts, read this scroll.”
“When you’re dispirited and listless; When you feel that there’s no hope in this life and that you’ll no longer have another romantic interest, take a look at this scroll.”
Ao Yi thought for a while and opened the latter first. He first saw the poem about raising one’s head…
“When will spring and autumn end? How much do you know about my lingering dreams?”
As he opened the painting, Ao Yi’s gaze shifted. The young man’s face turned red. He subconsciously closed his eyes and revealed a little bit more of the painting. He carefully looked at the dozen or so beauties on the painting…
Is this the reason for the rapid reproduction of humans?
The human Qi Refinement cultivators are indeed unique…
However, to Ao Yi, who had not fully grown up, it was really too…
He heard a few exclamations coming from behind him.
“This artist is really meticulous. His portrait is lifelike. It’s rare for paintings to have such charm.”
“Not bad, not bad indeed.”
“From what I can see, it’s hard to be on par with the word ‘elegant’.”
“Although the women in the painting are not acting flirtatiously, they can make people fantasize.
We have lived for so many years. It’s rare to see paintings of such quality.” Ao Yi was embarrassed. He turned his head and saw a few Uncle-Masters standing behind him silently while judging him.
Ao Yi stuttered and was momentarily speechless.
The few Qi Refinement cultivators on Golden Ao Island, who were deliberately teasing Ao Yi, laughed.
Standing on the cloud ahead, the Heavenly Lord Qin Wan was also looking at them with a smile.
Although the young juniors beside him were curious and wanted to go over, they did not dare to be as casual as the Qi Refinement cultivators of the older generation.
“Junior Brother Ao Yi, open the other one as well.”
“Good things should be shared.”
“Come on, come on, come on…”
Ao Yi did not have time to stop them. He did not know how to stop them either. The other portrait had been taken by an old Daoist who was a Heaven Immortal.
The few of them moved closer. The old Daoist priest shook his hand and the painting was quickly unrolled… The lively cloud suddenly fell silent.
The corners of Qin Tianjun’s mouth twitched a few times.
An old Daoist priest silently rolled up two portraits and handed them to Ao Yi. The few of them appeared calm and composed. They lowered their heads and flew back to the cloud in front of them. Their eyes were listless…
Ao Yi opened it curiously and took a look. When he saw the words ‘Aged Beauties’ on it, he could not help but laugh. He did not dare to look at it for any longer. Only someone as wonderful as Brother Changshou can have such a bold and unrestrained mind!
Then, Ao Yi took the opportunity to take out the brocade pouch. He opened it and saw that there was a wooden sign inside. There were seven words written on it. “You can’t force it, so change it.”
Ao Yi pondered for a moment and sighed softly. Then, he perked himself up and put away the two paintings and brocade pouches. He flew forward and looked at Disciple-Niece Han Zhi. His gaze became clear and carefree.