Chapter 259: Golden Immortal Tribulation Countdown

"Don't overthink it. I just had a momentary lapse and leaned on your shoulder!"Jiu Jiu patted Li Changshou's shoulder. "There, all clean now!"Li Changshou smiled calmly. Jiu Jiu, feeling a touch of guilt, slightly drew back her neck, but then remembered her senior status as a martial aunt. She huffed lightly, acting as if nothing had happened.Only she knew how she had ended up leaning on him.

After seeing Martial Uncle Wan Jiangyu off to the cycle of reincarnation, Li Changshou and Jiu Jiu did not stay long in the Netherworld.

Before leaving, Li Changshou presented the "generous gift" he had prepared for his arrival to Ox-Head and Horse-Face.It consisted of a hundred spirit fish and sixty-six spirit beasts, fattened and ready for slaughter.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face initially declined the offer, but Li Changshou's gift of gratitude was like a spiritual cat that had burrowed into their hearts, continuously scratching...They were truly craving it.

Aside from cultivators, there were no living creatures in the Netherworld, and they rarely had the chance to venture outside. It had truly been years since they had tasted warm meat.The Wu Tribe particularly relished this.

There was a saying that the great war between the Wu and Demon tribes back then wasn't initially because the Demon tribe wanted to rule the earth or the Wu tribe wanted to dominate the sky.Instead, it stemmed from... eating.Many great demons who harbored animosity towards the Wu tribe were, in their past lives, objects of the Wu tribe's hunt.— One could only say that the Primordial World was truly wondrous, and the food chain unreliable.

After sending Li Changshou and Jiu Jiu off, Ox-Head and Horse-Face furtively returned to their duty station atop the tall mountain.

The two brought out their specialties, setting up a barrier to block external detection. They then built a bonfire, lit a large fire, and took out two spiritual beast orbs, looking at the two lines of text written on them:"Best grilled over common fire. Its meat is delicious; grill until the skin is slightly charred for optimal inner meat."

Opening the orbs, two spirit beasts, roughly the size of suckling pigs, dropped to the ground, their limbs bound with rope.Ox-Head and Horse-Face immediately got to work. In short order, they cleaned the spirit beasts and placed them over the fire to roast slowly.

"What's this?"Ox-Head looked at the two sachets that had fallen from the spirit beast orbs. He picked them up and saw labels on them:"Secret Seasoning, mildly spicy""Secret Seasoning, cumin fragrant"

"Are humans really so particular? Don't they just eat it once it's cooked?""Let's try it, let's try it! Today, we'll be human for a bit!"

A moment later, the two Wu Tribe experts squatting by the fire simultaneously exclaimed, "Delicious! Delicious!"An hour later, they finally took a bite.

Ox-Head first tore off a small piece of meat and tasted it, closing his eyes and chewing slowly.He suddenly turned and knelt on the ground, slamming his fist down with force, causing the mountain beneath to shimmer with light as layers of restrictions were activated.

Horse-Face frowned. Seeing this, he somewhat suspiciously tore off a small piece of hind leg meat, put it into his mouth, and chewed slowly.In an instant, the mane on his head stood on end, and his entire body seemed to be electrified. Two lines of tears streamed from the old horse's large eyes.

"Ox, this is too delicious!Ah, my bones and muscles feel as if they've expanded, but I'm ashamed to admit I don't want to share something this delicious with our tribe members."

"Horse, I hate it! I hate it!I've ignored human eating methods for so many years, missing out for all this time!"

Horse-Face's hands trembled as he tore off a second piece of foreleg meat. After chewing, he softly exclaimed:"These scheming humans, are they trying to mock the former Lords of the Earth with this method?Ah... no, I can't bite off so much at once.This seasoning left by that Human Celestial Immortal is truly incredible!"

"Uh, Celestial Immortal? Wasn't he a Primordial Immortal? I didn't look closely.Horse, can you finish yours?"

"Of course I can finish it, he concealed his realm... but now isn't the time to discuss that!Ox, we need to divide what he left equally."

"Impossible, unless you can defeat me," Ox-Head shook his head decisively. "You know I always like to take advantage of you. I definitely can't give in this time."

"Want to spar after we finish eating?""Savor it, savor it... Oh, this damned taste!"

Soon after, a large mountain beside the Sky-Splitting Pass began to shake continuously. The light of its restrictions flickered repeatedly, and two powerful surges of vital energy startled spirits for a thousand miles around!

A few human Qi Refiners passing by frowned at the sight. After paying their toll, they hesitated to proceed, filled with a sense of worry.This... was it reliable?

"Go ahead, don't worry! The two lords are just stretching their muscles; they won't harm you!"

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles east of Fengdu City.On the large gourd flying towards the boundary of the Netherworld, after bidding farewell to the 'Moo-Neigh' masked guest, Li Changshou read a scripture on alchemy with a faint smile on his lips.Since he was concerned for Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu's safety, most of his attention remained focused there, guarding her.After all, his junior martial aunt was the type of woman who needed rare protection, and no mistakes could be made.

Jiu Jiu asked, "Changshou, are we going straight back now?"Li Changshou smiled. "It's rare for us to come out. It's not too late to return to the mountain after we visit the family where Martial Uncle Wan Jiangyu will be reborn.""Alright!" Jiu Jiu grinned, happily agreeing.

However, after flying for a while, Jiu Jiu mused for a moment, then asked, "Um, where is that family located?"Li Changshou paused.It seemed she, too, had the habit of 'forgetting immediately' and 'losing track of things the moment she thought about them'.

"First, we'll exit the Netherworld, head straight to Southern Continent, and then look for them. I've noted the approximate location, so we shouldn't get lost."

Jiu Jiu raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "Tsk, coming out with Little Changshou, I truly don't have to worry about a thing. I'll leave everything to you then!"Li Changshou smiled without speaking, continuing to read the alchemy scripture, mentally calculating how many more small items he could prepare for his tribulation.

They traveled east, exited the Netherworld, and headed towards the Southern Continent.Jiu Jiu piloted the large gourd for two days in total, arriving near a large coastal city in the eastern part of the Southern Continent.The family into which Wan Jiangyu was to be reborn was that of the city's garrison general.

With a sweep of his immortal sense, the bustling cityscape reflected in his Dao heart.A sudden realization arose within Li Changshou. It was as if a voice told him to seize this opportunity to explore the mortal world, to complete the last trace of imperfection in his Dao heart.At this point, his certainty of successfully transcending the tribulation was only ninety-seven percent. No matter how much more he prepared, he couldn't reach his ideal ninety-eight percent, precisely because there was still a slight incompleteness in his Dao heart.

Li Changshou said, "Martial Aunt, let's walk around in the mortal world for a bit.""Alright," Jiu Jiu agreed, slinging her Evil-Slaying Ruyi Sword onto her back. She and Li Changshou landed in a peach blossom grove outside the city, each concealing their aura, and headed towards the large city.

As Jiu Jiu walked on the ground, Li Changshou noticed that she was still wearing her comfortable soft grass sandals.Li Changshou's personal standard for dress and appearance was simply ordinary cleanliness.Jiu Jiu, however, was completely unconcerned with such matters, which was fortunate as immortals possessed immortal spirit bodies and were inherently spotless.

Upon entering the city, Jiu Jiu looked around with great curiosity, while the mortals, in turn, curiously observed the young woman..."So tall...""How was she born...?""And that gourd on her back!"

Jiu Jiu had cultivated for over a thousand years, yet her visits to the mortal world were few, mostly staying in the mountains.Today, in the secular world, she was quickly drawn to its bustling activity. She peered here and there, observed some strange mortals, and even stopped before a roadside beggar, offering two spirit elixir beans.The beggar then cursed her, "Don't put just anything in my bowl! What, are you trying to poison me?"Jiu Jiu scoffed but didn't argue with the mortal. She continued with light steps, searching for the most prosperous area.

She bought a colorful mask and put it on, then quietly crept up beside Li Changshou, suddenly appearing with a "Wah!"She also stopped before sweet sugar-coated hawthorns, unable to resist wiping the corners of her mouth with her small hand, asking if she could trade two jade stones for two skewers.

Li Changshou watched from the side with a gentle smile, his gaze peaceful. It was entirely...The feeling of an old father taking his young daughter shopping.

Jiu Jiu played around on the street for a while, attracting many gazes, but remained oblivious.She then caught the scent of food from nearby and pulled Li Changshou to a restaurant not far away.But soon, Jiu Jiu, who had left with high spirits, returned disappointed.Having grown accustomed to the spiritual beasts raised in the mountains, these mundane flavors of the mortal world were indeed somewhat uninteresting.

At this point, Jiu Jiu also noticed that Li Changshou seemed to be in an unusual state.His gaze was hesitant, his pupils unfocused, and his own Dao charm seemed to flicker in and out of existence...This was clearly a sign of gaining insight.

Although Jiu Jiu usually enjoyed mischief, she was quite serious at moments like this.First, she subtly retreated half a step, following behind Li Changshou. Then, she pulled out a sheathed short blade, holding it in her hand, and released a wisp of immortal pressure to deter the surrounding mortals, safeguarding Li Changshou.

At this moment, Li Changshou's heart was filled with wisps of Dao charm...*Is my Dao truly the Dao I yearn for?*He asked himself this question as he ambled through the large city, pondering, savoring, listening, watching, and reminiscing...

"Wòwòtóu, four for one coin!""Vegetables, cheap! Cheap, all vegetables!""Mommy, I want roasted melon!"

Unconsciously, he arrived at a market. Li Changshou's steps were casual, drifting along, seeking his own opportunity.He didn't think of any particular precedents, nor did he have many reservations at this moment. His only thought was to, for the sake of stability, gently manage any insights or directions he found.

Jiu Jiu quietly followed for a while, and soon discovered a small problem...The Dao charm emanating from this junior martial nephew, how could she not understand it at all?What in the world?

Jiu Jiu blinked. This was the first time she had sensed Li Changshou's Dao charm, and it was obscure and difficult to comprehend. Although it originated from the same source as her own Dao, it was vastly different.A single tree bears a thousand flowers, but each core is distinct.Yet, her, a martial aunt, couldn't comprehend Little Changshou's Dao charm, which was quite telling!*What's going on? Is Little Changshou broken?*

Jiu Jiu's lips twitched, and a competitive urge inexplicably arose within her. The more she couldn't comprehend it, the more earnestly she began to try and understand.And so...She, too, gained insight.

As Li Changshou walked, he had roughly understood where the shortcomings in his Dao heart lay, and he emerged from his enlightenment.*I came from the mortal dust, seeking immortality through the Dao.*He was just a mortal, and he didn't need to suppress his inner thoughts, nor did he need to believe that "this matter is useless for cultivation" and thus repress his nature.Indeed... the character 'stability' had already been written into his very nature, occupying a rather central position.

In his previous life, he often heard it said that where there are people, there is *jianghu* (the world of martial arts and society);The truth he now needed to understand was precisely this: all living beings possess 'humanity', and wherever there is humanity, there is the mortal world.The Dao is not the true self; innate nature is the true essence.

That last trace of Dao charm was now complete.Li Changshou smiled peacefully within, as if he could see a great door before him.Just taking half a step forward and pushing open that door would lead him to a whole new realm of life...Immortality was within reach.His tribulation transcendence had entered the pre-launch phase.

Li Changshou gathered his thoughts, returning from his enlightenment, ready to begin the final preparations for his tribulation once he returned to the mountain.Just then, a wisp of Dao charm surged from behind him.He turned to look at Jiu Jiu and found his junior martial aunt surrounded by Dao charm, with immortal power surging within her body, and a hint of confusion in her large eyes...*Why is Martial Aunt also about to break through her realm?**Is the Great Dao Comprehension Method of the Mortal World this effective?*

Li Changshou did a quick calculation with his fingers and immediately understood: it was the Dao charm he had inadvertently leaked while comprehending his Dao heart that had affected Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu.Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu was already at the peak of the True Immortal realm. Taking one more step now would likely lead her directly into the Celestial Immortal realm.This time, Martial Aunt's breakthrough also required utmost caution.

Li Changshou's immortal sense scanned various parts of the city, quickly locating a general's mansion. He saw the young madam, her belly slightly rounded, being supported by maids as she strolled in the courtyard.Two paper effigies leaped from Li Changshou's sleeve, directly sinking into the ground at his feet and disappearing.Following this, a layer of mist appeared around Li Changshou, enveloping Jiu Jiu, who was deep in enlightenment, with immortal power. He then used Earth Escape to take her away from the area, heading directly to the East Sea nearby.The turbid qi in this place was mixed, and breaking through here could easily defile his junior martial aunt's unblemished immortal body.

This could be considered a case of an accidental success.

Finding a small island in the East Sea, Li Changshou set up two layers of formations. He then whispered into his junior martial aunt's ear:"Martial Aunt, you can enter secluded cultivation here. I will guard you.""Oh," Jiu Jiu responded, and soon closed her eyes to concentrate. She sat down within the formation, a strange sense of calm settling in her heart.

Li Changshou divided his attention: one part of him used a paper effigy to protect his junior martial aunt, while his main body, in the secret chamber beneath his alchemy room, began inspecting his prepared 'Tribulation' treasure pouches.One by one, the pouches appeared and vanished in his palm, each containing ample necessary items for tribulation transcendence, such as magical treasures, artifacts, elixirs, and miniature formations.Once Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu completed her breakthrough, he could then invite the Grandmaster to descend and protect him during his own tribulation.This was considered an 'excellent employee benefit' he had earned from consistently working for the Human Sect, slightly more upscale than the protection team during Lord Forgetfulness's tribulation...Just a little bit.