Chapter 134: I Have a Daoist Friend

Without the Ambition Pills, the influx of wealth immediately shrank by almost half.

Li Changshou looked at the dense array design diagrams he had just completed. After roughly estimating the quantity, quality, and value of the precious materials needed to refine the array foundations, he couldn't help but ponder.

His most ambitious long-term plan was to transform Xiaoqiong Peak into a magical artifact, making it a portable immortal's abode that integrates attack, defense, residence, and entertainment.

Currently, this path to 'artifact transformation' required three steps.

To be on the safe side, the first step was to turn Xiaoqiong Peak into a mobile, composite grand array that combined both offense and defense, and to achieve the most basic requirement of artifact transformation: scalability—the ability to shrink and expand.

Since his immortal power was insufficient to directly refine the entire Xiaoqiong Peak, it could only be compensated by Qiankun (Cosmic) arrays. However, the Qiankun Dao had quite high demands on the inherent strength of the array foundations...

Li Changshou did some calculations:

"If I relied solely on my, my master's, and my junior sister's monthly stipends, along with Xiaoqiong Peak's fixed allocation, it would probably take thirty thousand years.

If I relied on the current speed of accumulating wealth by refining and selling pills in the market town, it would probably take over a thousand years..."

A thousand years, while not long given his current lifespan, and the Immortal Du Sect certainly wouldn't collapse within a millennium.

But in any case, Li Changshou still wanted to complete it as soon as possible to gain a greater sense of security.

So, Li Changshou spent half a day formulating several ways to earn minor wealth without leaving the sect, exposing his trump cards, or disrupting harmony within the sect.

After comprehensive consideration, Li Changshou successively dismissed several ideas;

For example, 'Xiaoqiong Peak Trapping and Maze Array One-Day Tour' or 'Xiaoqiong Peak BBQ Resort' — these would disturb his junior sister and master's cultivation.

In the end, Li Changshou kept only one plan with the least impact and lowest profit, and casually made the objects needed for this plan, placing them by Xiaoqiong Peak's lake.

He considered it half a day well spent.

It was a wooden box, half a zhang tall, with an open side, inside which sat a wooden carving of a 'big-bellied cat', so unpainted it looked lazy.

Beside the wooden box stood a wooden sign, on which was written:

*This item is called the Immortal Cat Divination Barrel;*

*But it is actually a Strategy Barrel, which will offer advice based on what you say;*

*Before use, please deposit valuable items such as spirit stones, magic treasures, or pills into the Immortal Cat's mouth. A bamboo slip with advice will then appear at the bottom of the wooden box.*

*Note: Use implies agreement to the "Xiaoqiong Peak Strategy Barrel" terms of service. Refund service is currently not available.*

*Respectfully submitted by Qi Yuan, Peak Master of Xiaoqiong Peak.*

"Who would fall for this?"

Li Changshou shook his head, secretly leaving a small piece of Dual-Pupil Spider silk inside the wooden box. He then floated away gracefully, returning to the pill room to continue refining pills and comprehending the Dao.

Inside the barrel were some subtle mechanisms, holding forty-nine bamboo slips, each inscribed with vague phrases like 'not too bad' or 'ambiguous'.

"I really don't have a talent for scamming people," he mused.

Li Changshou sighed, activated the dark pill furnace, and began placing the previously prepared medicinal ingredients inside.

Half a day later...

Li Changshou's mind stirred, and a scene before the wooden barrel appeared in his thoughts:

A small head peered over, with delicate features and a charming face. She had light brown, medium-short hair and was scrutinizing the wooden cat inside.

Seeing that face so close, Li Changshou didn't immediately react.

But as she leaned further down, her taut hemp short-shirt...

Junior Aunt Jiu!

Simultaneously, Li Changshou's directional wind-whisper spell conveyed Junior Aunt Jiu's murmurs...

"A Strategy Barrel?

Who are they trying to fool? Setting this up and expecting people to hand over spirit stones?"

Junior Aunt Jiu chuckled softly, casually conjured a small stone, and tossed it into the wooden cat's mouth.

Then, she solemnly declared:

"Strategy Barrel, listen carefully. I have a small problem: how can I get more fine wine, delicious food, and handsome men!

Hmm... the last one can be omitted."

Li Changshou's eyes immediately crinkled into a smile. With a slight mental command, the miniature array within the wooden barrel activated, and a bamboo slip popped out from a small hole at the bottom of the barrel, which Jiu snatched.

Jiu looked at the inscription on it and read softly:

"When your heart is full of doubt, the answer lies within. Do not forget those who dig the well; cherish every step you take?"

Jiu blinked, murmured twice, and mumbled, "It actually makes a bit of sense."

She flipped the bamboo slip over and saw "Please do not take; return to the hole on the side of the barrel" written on it. She casually put the slip back.

She naturally didn't recognize that it was Qi Yuan's handwriting.

Jiu thought for a moment, then pulled out a spirit stone whose spiritual energy was nearly depleted, and tossed it into the big-bellied cat's mouth.

Then, Jiu said, "I have another question for you. Lately, I always hear my Sixth Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Sister complaining about their Dao companions. Is the matter of Dao companions good or bad?"

In the pill room, Li Changshou pondered briefly, then flicked his finger. The miniature array once again ejected a bamboo slip.

After Jiu picked it up, she read softly:

"The immortal path is ethereal, the human way is clear. Immortals and mortals eventually part; why bother with distress...

Oh, that sounds so reasonable!

This thing is quite effective!"

After murmuring to herself, Jiu turned her head to look around, set up a sound-isolating barrier, and this time, carefully placed a piece of top-grade beautiful jade into the Strategy Barrel.

*Clap, clap!*

She formally pressed her palms together, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

"It's like this, Immortal Cat, I have a fellow Daoist...

She owes a nephew, who is much younger and of a lower generation, so many favors that she doesn't know how to repay them.

What should she do about this?"

Li Changshou couldn't help but laugh. For the sake of the beautiful jade, he gave her a 'top-tier' bamboo slip this time.

*Free and at ease, without obstacles or worries. Since you've already embarked on the immortal path, why fret over clarity?*

Jiu stood there contemplating for a moment, then a look of sudden realization appeared on her face. She respectfully bowed to the Immortal Cat and then, with a spring in her step, turned and left.

'Probably only Junior Aunt Jiu, whose mind is clouded from too much drinking... *cough*, would fall for such a trick,' he thought.

Li Changshou chuckled inwardly. The beautiful jade was quite good; he could exchange it for some precious materials later.

However, what Li Changshou didn't expect was...

Two days later, Jiu brought over Wine Deer...

Wine Deer also had troubles and sought advice regarding her own romantic fate, but she started by saying:

"I have a fellow Daoist..."

Li Changshou naturally couldn't be mean;

The bamboo slips he gave were mostly encouraging her to relax, focus more on cultivation, and that with confidence, nothing in the world would be difficult.

Wine Deer pondered for a moment, then broke into a sweet smile, bowed to the Immortal Cat, and floated away gracefully.

The income this time was quite good; Wine Deer offered several large spirit stones.

Over the next half month, four of the 'Jiu' (Wine) Nine Immortals came one after another, as did five or six True Immortals from Potian Peak who were familiar with them. Li Changshou effortlessly gained over a hundred spirit stones and spiritual jades.

He calculated that it was almost equivalent to his one month's stipend...

Moreover, each time, these people left satisfied, having gained nothing tangible, but merely confirming what they already thought in their hearts. Li Changshou didn't incur any karma either.

Was this method truly viable?

He only occasionally expended a wisp of mental energy, which wasn't tiring.

Li Changshou was somewhat surprised, so he worked overnight to produce three hundred and sixty bamboo slips, expanded the wooden barrel's capacity, and refined the arrays and restrictions within it.

The content on the bamboo slips was not very complex and had no concrete meaning; it could be interpreted positively, negatively, or even subjectively.

How it was interpreted depended on which answer the seeker's heart leaned towards.

And for those who genuinely had difficulties or doubts and came seeking solutions, Li Changshou also prepared three types of bamboo slips.

The first type was "noble benefactor on the path ahead";

The second type was "step back, and the sea becomes vast, the sky limitless";

The third type was "still need to ask your own heart..."

Thus, a nearly perfect Strategy Barrel was rapidly refined, and one or two people began seeking advice from it daily.

Li Changshou moved this item to the forest behind Xiaoqiong Peak to avoid disturbing his master's cultivation.

What Li Changshou found interesting was that most people who came for advice would preface their query with:

"I... have a fellow Daoist..."

Another half month later, as dusk approached.

A figure familiar to Li Changshou quietly appeared before the Strategy Barrel.

Dressed in an ice-blue long dress, she was exceedingly beautiful but rarely smiled. It was naturally Youqin Xuanya.

When he first saw her, Li Changshou thought she was there to cause trouble, but Youqin Xuanya quickly performed several familiar actions...

She turned her head to look around, set up a barrier, gently exhaled, and... deposited two immortal spirit stones!

Li Changshou, who was refining pills, couldn't help but look serious. Immortal spirit stones were very valuable. Had Junior Sister Poisonous encountered some major problem?

However, what Li Changshou didn't expect was...

"Immortal Cat, I... I have a fellow Daoist."

Youqin Xuanya said softly:

"She doesn't know what's wrong, but lately she occasionally feels restless, and the image of a certain senior brother appears in her mind. When she has free time from cultivation, the first thing she thinks of is going near that senior brother.

Even if she can't necessarily see him, just being near him makes her feel more at peace.

My friend deeply admires this senior brother and looks up to him as a role model, but her master... her master says that this might be a sign of romantic feelings, which has left her very confused.

Immortal Cat, what should she do?"

Li Changshou: ...

Taking this opportunity, he should hint to Youqin Xuanya not to waste her thoughts on him.

Li Changshou quickly selected a 'top-tier' slip from the collection and ejected it using the array.

"The immortal path holds many beautiful things; do not be bound by form. Attain good fortune tomorrow; the Grand Dao will be achieved amidst laughter."

After reading the bamboo slip, Youqin Xuanya immediately looked thoughtful;

She quickly understood something, a relieved smile appeared on her face, and she bowed to the big-bellied Immortal Cat.

"Thank you, Immortal Cat, for your guidance."

With that, she turned, ascended on a cloud, and flew with a smile towards her personally created Chess and Card... *cough*, Royal Casino.

'Junior Sister Poisonous must have understood something,' he thought.

Li Changshou pondered. That bamboo slip just now wasn't ambiguous; it simply meant to cultivate diligently, that the Grand Dao was attainable, and there were even more beautiful sceneries ahead on the path.

However, Junior Sister Poisonous's thought process had always been unique and unconventional, so Li Changshou didn't know what effect his bamboo slip would truly have...

Another half day later, Elder Jiu Wu floated over, frowning.

This senior uncle didn't seek a divination or advice, but instead circled the item twice.

Then, the senior uncle understood something and laughed:

"Little Changshou's contraption isn't bad. It's a good thing that he can actively offer advice within the sect; his cunning little brain wasn't wasted."

Li Changshou couldn't help but transmit a voice message, "Senior Uncle, I can hear you."

"*Cough*, I have things to do, things to do. This time I just came on behalf of the Hall of Sundries to take a look. I'll go back and report now."

With that, Jiu Wu quickly ascended on a cloud and rushed away, moving quite swiftly.

With Senior Uncle Jiu Wu helping to manage the Hall of Sundries, the Strategy Barrel was legitimately preserved.

In the days that followed, one or two people came daily to seek advice, mostly from Potian Peak;

The reputation of this Strategy Barrel had not yet spread far.

Li Changshou's gains were quite substantial.

After all, this was a no-cost business; its success depended entirely on a single slip, much like the temple custodians in the South Sea Sea God Temple.

And Li Changshou soon came up with new ideas for accumulating wealth.

He built a simple isolation array around the Strategy Barrel. Each time, by placing five spirit stones into the wooden box that activated the array, the array could be opened for half an hour!

Of those five spirit stones, Li Changshou earned four.

Of course, he also left himself a 'backdoor,' allowing him to hear anything said to the Immortal Cat at any time.

Two months later, the melancholic and dispirited Liu Feixian also floated over. Seeing no one around, he pulled out five spirit stones, placed them in the wooden box, and activated the array.

This True Immortal Steward of Danding Peak, considered a 'model immortal' in the slightly plump community, silently sighed, took out two bottles of pills, and placed them into the Immortal Cat's mouth.

"Junior Brother Qi Yuan... oh no, Immortal Cat.

I... have a fellow Daoist.

He previously did something foolish, succumbed to greed, and encountered some mishaps.

Now, he gets beaten up occasionally while walking on the road. Once, while cultivating in his cave, he mysteriously fell asleep and woke up naked, tied to a tree...

My friend knows he made a mistake and sincerely wants to make amends, but suffering like this makes it impossible to cultivate peacefully. What should he do?"

Li Changshou chuckled speechlessly, then flicked his finger slightly, giving him an encouraging bamboo slip.

But just as he finished, Li Changshou instinctively frowned.

A sudden premonition. Something must have happened with the South Sea Sea God Sect. And this time, a hint of blood color suddenly appeared in Li Changshou's heart.

A blood-red aura lingered...

He performed a quick divination...

It was an ominous sign!