Chapter 152: Pretending to Be Injured — From Entry to Giving Up

Li Changshou suddenly fell ill.

This happened to be the day before the Hall of All-Encompassing Affairs was scheduled to notify disciples who had reached the Heavenly Star ranks in the sect's grand competition, as well as the twelve disciples recommended by the elders, to attend a meeting at the hall.

Li Changshou had timed this perfectly.

In fact, Li Changshou had obtained accurate information by monitoring various parts of the sect with a Wind Whispering Spell, learning that the disciples would be summoned the next day.

He figured the main conference would be held within six months.

Did they want to select him as a team leader?

And put him in the spotlight again, adding more trouble to his life?

Li Changshou would absolutely not fall for the same trick in the same way twice!

This time, Li Changshou preemptively "fell ill" and made thorough preparations, devising a series of countermeasures.

Ling'e quickly called for Jiu Jiu, who then promptly brought Fifth Senior Brother, who rarely entered seclusion, to Little Qiong Peak.

Inside the thatched hut, Li Changshou lay on a straw bed, his face pale, his breath weak, his entire being conveying profound weakness.

After a careful diagnosis, Jiu Wu first breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"It's not a serious injury. He merely failed to break through a cultivation barrier, which consequently harmed his primordial spirit, causing his Dao foundation to become unstable."

"In this condition, he must not use his magical power or primordial spirit."

"However, with seven or eight years of recuperation, he will gradually recover, with no lingering issues. Rest assured."

Although Ling'e knew her senior brother was deliberately feigning illness, she couldn't help but ask Jiu Wu, "What if he uses his magical power?"

"It could easily damage his Dao foundation," Jiu Wu pondered for a moment. "It's best not to use it at all."

From the bed, Li Changshou, his lips pale, feebly uttered:

"Ah, I merely wished to advance a small step in cultivation, but I didn't realize I was pushing too hard… *cough, cough, cough*…"

Jiu Wu pondered for a few moments, "I'll go find Elder Wan and ask for a pill to stabilize your primordial spirit. The ones I refine are of lower quality and not as reliable."

Ling'e quickly asked, "Would that help my senior brother recover sooner?"

Li Changshou inwardly smiled, feeling that he hadn't spoiled his junior sister for nothing.

Jiu Wu stated gravely, "It's difficult. This type of injury requires rest. The pill will only prevent his condition from worsening during recuperation."

Ling'e let out a soft sigh, but was actually slightly relieved.

Jiu Wu quickly became busy, going to request the pill and report the matter to the Hall of All-Encompassing Affairs, saving Ling'e from running around.

Li Changshou lay on the bed, his simulated magical power appearing slightly chaotic.

Later that evening, his master also heard the news and anxiously came to meticulously diagnose Li Changshou, almost forgetting that his eldest disciple had already survived his heavenly tribulation.

Fortunately, Daoist Qi Yuan found Li Changshou's injuries were not severe, so he didn't ask further questions and returned to his seclusion.

Feigning illness seemed like a minor matter, but for Li Changshou, it held significant importance.

Elder Wan Linjun's visit was already within Li Changshou's expectations.

After a careful examination, Elder Wan Linjun reached a similar conclusion to Jiu Wu.

This was a huge endorsement of Li Changshou's feigning skills!

"You... must not move recklessly," Elder Wan slowly said. "You'll recover after six or seven years of recuperation."

"Don't be impatient when breaking through barriers. Your aptitude is already above average, your comprehension is high, your character is good, and you're well-presented. You'll definitely be fine."

"If I manage to refine such a pill later, I'll bring it for your appraisal."

Li Changshou was quite touched, but inwardly he wanted to remind the elder: *Elder, it seems you've gone down the wrong path with these primordial spirit toxins, and you're almost perfecting this detour, creating a whole new category of poisons…*

Thus, after leaving numerous recuperative pills, Elder Wan Linjun returned to Pill Cauldron Peak, no longer overly concerned about Li Changshou's injuries.

Next, Li Changshou anticipated…

It was highly probable that several elders from the Hall of All-Encompassing Affairs would come together.

Elders within the sect who had received Ambition Pills would also come in groups to Little Qiong Peak to visit him.

This feigned illness should earn him a good stash of pills, which he could later secretly have his paper effigy sell in the market town to continue replenishing his seemingly bottomless spirit beast enclosure.

In reality, it wasn't the spirit beast enclosure that was bottomless, but human desires… and appetites.

As Li Changshou expected, after Elder Wan returned, several "Spiritual Fish" elders from the Hall of All-Encompassing Affairs came together, felt Li Changshou's wrist, and advised him to rest peacefully.

Before long, Heavenly Immortal elders came in twos and threes.

A total of eight who had taken Ambition Pills and were not in seclusion came to visit, subtly inquiring if there were any Ambition Pills left.

Li Changshou was naturally prepared and gave one to each of them.

By this point, the sect's high-ranking members were aware that Li Changshou had injured his primordial spirit and Dao foundation due to overly hasty cultivation.

Ordinary disciples, however, remained unaware, as this matter did not concern them.

However, the turn of events began to exceed Li Changshou's expectations the moment Youqin Xuanya rushed over.

"Senior Brother Changshou!"

Outside the thatched hut, Youqin Xuanya, in an ice-blue long dress, frowned deeply.

She quickly approached the bed, her beautiful eyes filled with worry as she looked at the pale Li Changshou.

Ling'e, by the bed, quickly said, "Senior Sister, you don't need to worry. My senior brother just had a minor setback in his cultivation. The elders have already diagnosed him, and he will recover after resting."

Youqin Xuanya nodded gently, her gaze fixed on Li Changshou's eyes.

For some reason…

Li Changshou's eyes had met those of the Human School's Senior Brother and the Jie School's Senior Outer Disciple without feeling any panic. But now, Li Changshou felt a slight flutter of panic in his heart.

*Oh, the trouble…*

Then Youqin Xuanya said softly, "Senior Brother, I know."

Li Changshou's Adam's apple bobbed. *What did she know now?*

"You're rushing your cultivation because you want to bring glory to the sect at the Tri-Sect Source Convergence Assembly."

Li Changshou: "…"

*That, truly wasn't the case.*

"Senior Brother Changshou, you don't need to rush. As this generation's chief disciple, Xuanya will carry your expectations and give her all to fight for our Immortal Ascension Sect!"

Li Changshou felt a sigh of relief. If that was her only understanding, then it was fine.

"Junior Sister Youqin…"

"Senior Brother, don't speak! Just rest and recover!"

Youqin Xuanya quickly leaned down, gently pressing on Li Changshou's shoulder, her long hair falling in front of him.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, and her gaze was resolute!

"Xuanya will certainly not disappoint Senior Brother Changshou!"

Li Changshou showed a relieved smile…

*Good, the deviation this time isn't too severe.*

Youqin Xuanya stayed for two hours before taking her leave, leaving behind many pills as she departed.

However, no sooner had Youqin Xuanya left than Jiu Jiu, who had previously run off and not returned, arrived from the direction of Shattered Heavens Peak, riding a large gourd.

What startled Li Changshou was that beside the large gourd, there was a somewhat unfamiliar figure…

This person's aura was restrained, revealing no fluctuations whatsoever, and they appeared slightly thin and small, with a somewhat darkened forehead.

But upon seeing this person, Li Changshou's heart immediately thumped. He truly wanted to rush out and hold his Junior Uncle back…

Elder Qilin!

One of the sect's two Golden Immortals, from the ancient Qilin race!

Li Changshou did not yet know Elder Qilin's story, but this person's discernment and cultivation were absolutely incomparable to Elder Wan's!

He had already completed the improved sixth version of the "Tortoise Breath Serene Qi Art," which might allow him to conceal his cultivation from this elder… But his "illness," which was a disguise on top of his superficial cultivation, would definitely be seen through by the elder at a glance!

*What to do?*

*How did Junior Sister Youqin's 'toxicity' transfer to Junior Uncle today?*

*How did Junior Uncle manage to persuade this elder, the guardian of the Daoist Scripture Hall, to leave his post?!*

*Is this elder also part of the 'grand plan' faction?*

*Ahem, these aren't very important anymore,* Li Changshou quickly realized…

*No matter, he had already considered this possibility!*

If he hadn't prepared a way to deceive a Golden Immortal within the sect, he wouldn't have made such a "dangerous move" that could easily expose his true capabilities.

He secretly gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, calculated the subsequent aura fluctuations, the changes in the Tortoise Art, and the different manifestations of multiple layers of disguise, then directly…

…self-injured his primordial spirit!

There was a muffled *thump*, Li Changshou's primordial spirit vibrated, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, indicating he had sustained a minor injury!

The weakness he had previously shown now emanated from him, truly from within!

This was the highest realm of feigning injury—true injury!

Ling'e, by the bed, had no idea what had just happened. Junior Uncle had already led the elder to the front of the thatched hut, and Ling'e quickly went out to greet them…

Then Junior Uncle Jiu Jiu's coquettish voice rang out:

"Elder, please come quickly and take a look! You're so powerful, just a casual touch for this guy and he'll definitely be fine! The Tri-Sect Source Convergence Assembly is imminent, and he's an outstanding disciple of our sect. This is a big event he might only encounter once in his life, so it would be good to let him join in the fun."

Li Changshou: "…"

"Oh, you," Elder Qilin sighed, his voice filled with an elder's indulgence towards a junior.

The elder stepped into the thatched hut, glanced at Li Changshou by the bed, and then said, "It's exactly as you described, his primordial spirit was injured from attempting a breakthrough. No need to worry. If there's nothing else, I'll be going back."

Li Changshou weakly uttered, "Thank you, Elder…"

Elder Qilin calmly nodded. When he turned to look at Jiu Jiu, a benevolent smile appeared on his face again.

The elder arrived quickly and departed just as fast. Jiu Jiu, still mindful of etiquette, escorted the elder back to the Daoist Scripture Hall.

*Later, I'll need to have a serious talk with Junior Uncle.*

*Unaware for a moment, I almost had a good hand ruined by Junior Uncle.*

And after this elder left, the surprises continued, though this time it was just a small one.

Daoist Liu Feixian, the slightly plump daoist from Pill Cauldron Peak, arrived at Little Qiong Peak on a cloud, carrying some gifts. He offered a few words of encouragement to Li Changshou, then hastily departed.

Finally, with the night deeply quiet…

Ling'e, exhausted from the day, slumped beside the bed and couldn't help but quietly complain:

"Senior Brother, when did you get so popular?"

"It's probably a matter of temperament, I suppose," Li Changshou slowly exhaled, remaining on the bed, his heart filled with a sigh of lament.

From feigning injury to genuinely injuring himself, he didn't even know what he had gone through today.

But as long as it meant avoiding the Tri-Sect Source Convergence Assembly, this minor injury, which he could recover from with a bit of meditation, was merely a pittance of a price!

It was worth it!

Ling'e chuckled, "The most surprising thing today wasn't Senior Sister Youqin, but Junior Uncle."

"I also didn't expect her to be so dedicated, bringing in such a master from the sect. My injury is merely minor…"

Li Changshou shook his head, just about to grumble, when his immortal sense suddenly detected two figures flying from Shattered Heavens Peak.

Of these two figures, one was Youqin Xuanya, who had left earlier, and the other was…

It was…

A figure in snow-white robes, coughing intermittently, with a handsome and dashing appearance, and an aura of emptiness about him.

The sect master of Immortal Ascension Sect, the empty, *cough*, Daoist Ji Wuyou, the Carefree Daoist!

Li Changshou's mouth twitched. At this moment, he didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

He first breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this was more like it. Even if Junior Uncle was 'toxic' occasionally, how could her 'toxicity' surpass that of his 'poisonous' junior sister?

This somewhat put Li Changshou at ease.

Then came a wave of helpless complaints. For the first time in his life, he regretted that incident when Youqin Xuanya descended from the sky in North Continent. He regretted that his hand speed in performing Earth Evasion had been just a tiny bit too slow!

*Then again, are all these pretty junior sisters who usually just hang around Little Qiong Peak, eating and drinking, really so well-connected?! Heavens above!*

If he could deceive Elder Qilin, he could naturally deceive the sect master.

And by deceiving Sect Master Ji Wuyou, Li Changshou's injury was now firmly established.

Although there had been some unexpected turns, they were largely within Li Changshou's control. This feigned illness also served as a test of how effective his sixth version of the "Tortoise Art" was.

Later, he could pass on the third version to his master and junior sister.

However, Li Changshou's peace of mind didn't last for more than twelve hours.

On the second day of his feigned illness, forty-six disciples gathered in the Hall of All-Encompassing Affairs. The hall's protective restrictions were activated, and the disciples began to receive instructions regarding the Tri-Sect Source Convergence Assembly.

But after their meeting concluded, Youqin Xuanya and Jiu Wu arrived at Little Qiong Peak, one after the other, bringing Li Changshou the same news.

The sect master personally appointed him, recognizing Li Changshou's contributions to the sect and his dedication to the Tri-Sect Source Convergence Assembly, evidenced by his diligent cultivation and efforts to break through barriers before the event.

Therefore, Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya were specially designated as co-leaders for the disciples participating in this event, with all other disciples subject to their command.

Six black dots slowly appeared above Li Changshou's head. He whispered, "Is there a mistake?"

"No, this is the sect's affirmation of you," Jiu Wu chuckled. "Don't worry, Changshou, you'll definitely be ready for this assembly."

Youqin Xuanya nodded gently, saying, "Exactly, you'll definitely make it. The assembly will be held in twelve years. We just need to arrive half a year in advance."

Li Changshou's eyes widened, then slowly closed. He took a deep breath, chuckled wryly at the fickleness of the world, and sighed at… the impermanence of life.