Chapter 280: Everything Is ...'s Choice

"Senior Sister Jiu, what was that golden light?"

Inside the card room on Little Qiong Peak, the young girl Yu Shi, dressed in training attire, quietly asked when the golden light of merit descended.

By the window, Jiu Jiu, sitting cross-legged on the sill, yawned lazily. She turned her head to look outside, the jade wine gourd in her hand swaying gently.

This wine gourd was a congratulatory gift from her grand-nephew, Li Changshou, after she achieved the Heavenly Immortal realm. It could hold several jars of fine wine and also enhance its flavor.

Jiu Yu Shi blinked and quickly said, "It was just there a moment ago, why is it gone?"

"That direction... oh well!"Jiu Jiu waved her hand, explaining dismissively, "That's the alchemy lab on Little Qiong Peak, essentially your grand-nephew Changshou's private cultivation place. He must have cooked up some new pills again.My dear junior sister, don't worry too much about it. Your grand-nephew is quite mysterious. He's just a junior disciple, yet... tsk tsk tsk, hehe."

"What's wrong with my senior brother?"Ling'e, who had been meditating on a couch in the corner, opened her lively eyes at the sound, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly as she quietly asked.

Jiu Jiu laughed, "There was a golden light just now... Uh, why is the Sect Master here?"

Hearing the words "Sect Master," Ling'e and Jiu Yu Shi also gathered by the window, looking up at the sky above Little Qiong Peak.

Ji Wuyou came quickly and left just as fast. After muttering something in the air, he floated away with his hands behind his back.He was only responsible for cleanup; whatever happened here was fine, as long as it didn't blow up the Immortal Ascension Sect.

"Did the Sect Master set up a formation here?"Jiu Jiu tilted her head, muttering, "I have a strange feeling that the Sect Master was covering for someone. How odd."

"You're overthinking it, Martial Aunt," Ling'e said softly. In her light green tasseled dress, she looked even more radiant and lovely. "How could Senior Brother have such great abilities to make the Sect Master cover for him?"

"Who can truly explain the ways of the world?"Jiu Jiu spread her hands. "It's like that year, before I took your senior brother to North Continent, I never would have imagined that today, I, your martial aunt, would be taken care of by your senior brother, a mere ordinary disciple of Little Qiong Peak.Look at me now: I drink your senior brother's wine, use his pills, feed his spirit beasts, and even sleep in his place.If your senior brother were to make some outrageous requests of me, I'd be too embarrassed to refuse."

Ling'e immediately placed a hand on her forehead. She couldn't help but feel that her young martial aunt was making excuses to launch an active offensive on her senior brother... or so it seemed.

Yu Shi wondered, "Senior Sister, aren't you an elder?"

"Silly child," Jiu Jiu raised a hand and gently patted Yu Shi's head. "When you grow up and gain cultivation, you'll understand how wonderful this grand-nephew is.What does it matter if he's an elder or not? Aren't those spirit-pill quality hunger-relief pills of his delightful?"

"They are! But is this grand-nephew Changshou truly that... amazing?"

Just then, a confident voice answered from outside the door, "Of course."

Jiu Jiu chuckled, muttering, "I knew it! The moment there's any activity on Little Qiong Peak, you just can't wait to rush over!"

Outside the pavilion, a graceful figure approached, accompanied by Jiu Jiu's teasing.She wore an ice-blue long dress, her delicate feet in light white cloth boots, her ankles adorned with ice-blue ribbons, and her long dark hair simply tied in a ponytail. She floated in with light steps.Her slender legs and wasp waist needed no further description. Her autumn eyes reflected clear water, holding a blend of heroism and tenderness. She was, naturally, the pure, immaculate, and cool fairy longed for by many disciples of the Immortal Ascension Sect...Youqin Xuanya.

"Xuanya greets both Martial Aunts," Youqin Xuanya bowed gracefully. Jiu Yu Shi quickly returned the greeting, while Jiu Jiu smiled delightfully.

Ling'e, from the side, asked softly, "Senior Sister, were you startled by that golden light?"

"Yes," Youqin Xuanya nodded gently, then looked at Jiu Yu Shi and said quite seriously, "Martial Aunt Yu Shi just mentioned Senior Brother Changshou.There's truly no need to question it. Senior Brother Changshou is more than just amazing; in Xuanya's eyes, he should be the peerless Qi Refiner in this world.He is immensely knowledgeable and well-versed, not only understanding cultivation methods but also having a profound grasp of the Great Dao of Non-Action. He excels in formations, alchemy, calligraphy, and music. Moreover, he is skilled in worldly affairs, capable of handling everything comprehensively.And Senior Brother Changshou is most..."

"Senior Sister!"Ling'e quickly walked over and pulled Youqin Xuanya's soft hand. "Let's talk about these things upstairs. Don't say this in front of Martial Aunt Yu Shi."

Youqin Xuanya was somewhat puzzled. "But was anything I said incorrect?"

"Well, no," Ling'e blinked.How should she put this?She couldn't very well say directly that they needed to prevent Martial Aunt Yu Shi from developing feelings for her senior brother, could she...?

"Oh, come on!"Ling'e, paying no heed, directly used her coquettish charm, pulling Youqin Xuanya towards a side staircase.Although Youqin Xuanya didn't understand why and still had more to say, she allowed Ling'e to pull her to the second floor for a private chat.

By the window, Jiu Yu Shi's small face was filled with bewilderment. She looked at Jiu Jiu as if seeking help.

Jiu Jiu's eyes crinkled in a smile as she said, "Do you see it? The terrifying aspect of that grand-nephew Changshou."

Jiu Yu Shi became even more confused. "Could... Senior Sister explain in more detail?"

"Look at Ling'e and Xuanya. They are both rare cultivation talents in our Immortal Ascension Sect, and their looks and figures are beyond compare. Even I, as a woman, find them incredibly beautiful."As she spoke, Jiu Jiu glanced down at herself, sighing, "That's the only advantage I have."

Jiu Yu Shi was even more bewildered. "Does this have anything to do with Grand-nephew Changshou?"

Jiu Jiu laughed, "Haven't you noticed that Ling'e and Xuanya are both smitten with Changshou?"

"I did notice that..."

"Qi Refiners are not like mortals, where men have entourages of concubines. For Qi Refiners, a Dao companion is usually just one man and one woman."Jiu Jiu sighed, "See? Two women this beautiful are both enamored with Changshou. Do you understand how 'desirable' Changshou is now?"

Jiu Yu Shi's face showed understanding, and she nodded earnestly.

Jiu Jiu sighed again, "The crucial thing is that Ling'e and Xuanya are also on such good terms; there's no jealousy or rivalry whatsoever. For years, I, your senior sister, have wanted to see some drama, but I haven't been able to."

"Oh, right," Jiu Yu Shi murmured, "Now that I think about it, that's quite amazing."

"And here's what's even more amazing," Jiu Jiu spread her hands. "As far as I know, both of them have confessed their feelings to Changshou. Ling'e even made 'seducing' her senior brother her cultivation goal, and Xuanya always has Senior Brother Changshou on her lips.Even if Changshou were to have two partners, they would most likely agree without hesitation.But Changshou... he rejected both of them."

"Huh?"Jiu Yu Shi's beautiful eyes widened. "Are these two sisters... uh, these two grand-nieces, not enough? They're already top-tier women! Grand-nephew Changshou still isn't satisfied?"

"See, you don't understand, do you?"

"Please enlighten me, Senior Sister."

Jiu Jiu smiled calmly, shrugged her fragrant shoulders, and then sighed despondently. "Actually, I don't understand why either, but it also feels quite normal, something Little Changshou would indeed do.Perhaps Changshou is worried that having a Dao companion would be troublesome and lead to more karmic ties."

Jiu Yu Shi wondered, "How would that lead to more karmic ties? Aren't they already senior and junior siblings?"

"It's roughly like this: Look at Xuanya. She's currently just Changshou's fellow junior sister. So, if she encounters danger outside, Changshou would probably slowly fly over, devise a plan, and rescue her safely.But if Xuanya were to become Changshou's Dao companion, then Changshou would burst through the air in a flash, rushing to save her without a second thought.There's still a difference there, you see."

Jiu Jiu pulled out the stopper and tilted her head back to take a long swig.

Jiu Yu Shi lowered her head and pondered for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "What about you, Senior Sister? You must have taken a liking to Grand-nephew Changshou too, right?"

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough! Don't talk nonsense!"

Then, faint footsteps were heard nearby. Ling'e and Youqin Xuanya, their skirts swaying, arrived together and began asking Jiu Yu Shi about her cultivation progress over the past half-month, steering the conversation away from their senior brother.

Before long, the pavilion was filled with pleasant chatter and laughter.

A white-haired old Daoist, pretending to pass by, paused, turned, and went to the adjacent spirit beast enclosure with his hands behind his back to check on the spirit beasts' health.

This was Little Qiong Peak's once-in-a-century—Peak Lord's inspection.

'Lu Ya.'In the alchemy lab, Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back, observing the situation inside the door while pondering the task His Majesty the Jade Emperor had just assigned.How long had he been in heaven? And he was already doing the Jade Emperor's dirty work?Hmm...In his original plan, these tasks should have been handled by Daoist Wen Jing.Unfortunately, Daoist Wen Jing could not be exposed yet...How easy would it be to deal with Daoist Lu Ya and his Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger?Because of the existence of the Book of Seven Arrows with Nail Head, he now had another reason why his true identity couldn't be revealed.

In truth, eliminating Daoist Lu Ya, though difficult, was not impossible.Firstly, the risk was too great; one misstep and he would become Lu Ya's sworn, undying enemy.Secondly, the karmic ties involved were truly immense.

If, as the Daoist scriptures stated, the Great Dao had fifty, and the Heavenly Dao evolved forty-nine, then all unmanifested events were already part of the Heavenly Dao's evolution.If he eliminated Lu Ya, the script of the Investiture of the Gods calamity would inevitably change. This would cause massive 'chain reactions,' leading to countless unforeseen events.Li Changshou had no desire to scheme for the Investiture of the Gods; he was already trying to avoid it.Apart from divine positions, merit, and opportunities to obtain spirit treasures, there was nothing worth scheming for in the Investiture of the Gods calamity.

Of course, if viewed through Li Changshou's own understanding, the Great Investiture of the Gods calamity was merely a future possibility for the Primordial World at his current timeline.If Lu Ya were to disappear unexpectedly, this possibility would change.However, at the same time, the Heavenly Dao possessed a converging force that would re-converge various timelines, returning to the original possibility at some future point, thereby keeping the calamity largely unchanged...Well, everything was the choice of the Creation Jade Disc!

"This matter can't be rushed. It requires careful planning step-by-step, and it involves quite a lot..."

Li Changshou stretched, various complex thoughts swirling in his mind. Seeing his master loitering near the spirit beast enclosure, he thought for a moment, left the alchemy lab, and flew over on a cloud.

Xiong Lingli was enthusiastically following behind old Daoist Qi Yuan, meticulously recounting the story of each spirit beast, from breeding and delivery to raising and slaughtering, then cooking and the disposal of kitchen waste...

"Cousin is here!"Xiong Lingli spotted Li Changshou first and immediately waved excitedly.

Li Changshou smiled as he approached, saluted and greeted his master, then 'strolled' with him in the area.

Before long, Li Changshou led his master to the Little Qiong Peak Royal Card Room.

Jiu Jiu, Ling'e, and Youqin Xuanya were jointly guiding Jiu Yu Shi in meditation, teaching her how to circulate her breath and perceive the natural Dao resonance.The three of them were rare immortal talents among the sect's younger generation and former younger generation, with exceptional comprehension and aptitude, so guiding Jiu Yu Shi was naturally more than enough.

"Senior Brother Changshou!"The moment Youqin Xuanya saw Li Changshou, she seemed to glow. Calling out his name, she stepped forward, proactively going to meet him.

"Senior Brother... er, Master!"Ling'e had just been about to 'light herself up,' but seeing her master, she quickly wilted and bowed respectfully.

Jiu Jiu, standing by, gave a mischievous smile. "Oh, Senior Brother Qi Yuan, what brings you here?"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan cleared his throat and chuckled:"Just came to visit my two junior sisters.Well, there aren't many treasures on my Little Qiong Peak, but it's peaceful. If my two junior sisters lack anything while cultivating here, just tell me."

Jiu Yu Shi, hidden behind Jiu Jiu, quickly bowed and whispered, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Although old Daoist Qi Yuan's expression was calm, his arm within his wide sleeve trembled slightly a few times.Li Changshou stepped half a pace forward, just enough to shield his master's momentary lapse.

Li Changshou smiled, "Master, don't worry, your disciple has already made all the arrangements."

"Oh dear," Jiu Jiu said, looking calmly at the sky, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, your two junior sisters haven't had enough wine lately."

Qi Yuan hastily said, "Yu Shi hasn't even started cultivating yet, and she's still so young! I certainly wouldn't let her drink! Especially immortal spirit wine!"

Jiu Jiu blinked. Just as she was about to take advantage of Li Changshou, she couldn't help but feel a slight pang of guilt and quickly explained that she hadn't given any wine to Jiu Yu Shi...

Li Changshou chuckled lightly from the side, then took out a treasure pouch containing fine wine and spirit pills, which he had, of course, prepared for Jiu Jiu long ago.

After staying with his master for a while, Li Changshou left with him.It was clear that his master was quite satisfied, as he kept muttering softly on the way back:"She actually called me Senior Brother. How wonderful, truly wonderful."

Li Changshou gently reminded him, "Master, you should keep a younger mindset. Appearance is born from the heart."

Qi Yuan's face turned serious, and he rebuked, "What do you mean by that? Is your master that kind of person?I am already over a thousand years old! How old is she?"

"Well, Master, you need to look at this with a long-term perspective," Li Changshou chuckled. "This is how it is now, but what about a thousand years from now? Two thousand years from now? Three thousand years from now?Master, do you feel more accepting now?"

Qi Yuan was startled, but then he sighed despondently, waved his hand, and flew away on a cloud.

Li Changshou chuckled softly and turned back to the alchemy lab.Let Master be.

Li Changshou continued to ponder the matter of Lu Ya.This situation, like his own Heavenly Tribulations, was best not proactively engaged unless he had 98% certainty of success.But just because he didn't make a move didn't mean Lu Ya wouldn't move against him...

Li Changshou returned to his underground secret chamber, gazed at the 'Stability' character hanging on the wall for a moment, then looked at the spiritual treasure map that had recently been hung nearby.

In the end, it was still a matter of strength.And his current cultivation realm was improving very slowly; epiphanies only came about once every half month. Spirit treasures indeed provided a convenient path to enhance and strengthen himself.

Sitting behind his desk, Li Changshou took out stacks of paper figures and began making the latest version of paper Daoists. He then took up his brush and wrote the character 'treasure' on the back of each of these paper Daoists.

Half a month later, over twenty new paper Daoists, with strength comparable to late-stage Heavenly Immortals, stood neatly on the desk, saluting Li Changshou in unison.

Li Changshou snapped his fingers, and these paper Daoists simultaneously turned, jumping into the shoulder bag of a 'chariot' character paper Daoist standing nearby.The 'chariot' character paper Daoist transformed, becoming a young maiden, then used an earth-escape spell and vanished.Time to get to work!