Chapter 318: Little Qiongfeng's Longevity Powder Peach, Three Immortals Island Fairy's Suspicion

Little Qiong Peak, underground secret chamber.

Two artifact lamps, crafted from luminous pearls of the East Sea, were lit, imbuing the narrow, windowless room with an ethereal, transcendent ambiance. A paper effigy was tossed out; it picked up an erhu and began to play the melancholic and soothing melody of "Moon Reflected on Er-quan Spring." On the table were several Peaches of Immortality, their spiritual energy shimmering around them.

Li Changshou picked up a dagger and slowly rotated it around a peach, making the thin peel come off in a continuous strip, a feat ordinary Golden Immortals couldn't achieve. He decided to peel the peach, not because he thought the skin lacked nutrients, but simply to let the nearby paper effigy know that his peaches were abundant.

—Li Changshou's Mundane Diary.

He took a bite of the tender, juicy peach flesh. As tendrils of spiritual essence slowly spread in his mouth, a sensation of immense comfort washed over him, making Li Changshou let out a few soft moans. Truly a Primal Spiritual Fruit—what a texture, what a flavor! It was, indeed, slightly less appealing than the experience of his paper avatar eating Peaches of Immortality on Three Immortals Island.

Recalling this, the image of that fairy peeling peaches appeared before Li Changshou's eyes; her movements were incredibly gentle and delicate. A ray of sunlight illuminated her hands; the peach flesh itself seemed far less crystalline than her fingertips...

Li Changshou raised his forehead and vigorously shook his head. Karma, karma; peaches, peaches.

Slowly, Li Changshou finished the peach. He put the pit away and carefully pondered its effects. One bite of a Peach of Immortality, and one understood what a spiritual fruit truly was. The profound Dao charm it contained seemed to carry the residual essence of the Great Dao from the dawn of creation.

Li Changshou quickly summarized:If his master ate this peach, it would certainly boost his cultivation and could extend his lifespan by several hundred to several thousand years, without causing any harm.It would also be fine for Ling'e to consume two. It would extend her lifespan, enhance her cultivation, purify her immortal power, make her immortal body spotless and her immortal posture light and graceful, and even whiten and moisturize her skin, making it smooth and radiant...Indeed, the benefits were numerous.

Li Changshou had transported the peaches back to the sect three months ago. Only today, after repeatedly confirming that his acquisition of the peaches hadn't been exposed, was he ready to distribute them. Calculating the time, the "Lifespan-Extending Wine" he had previously brewed was now ready to be taken out of the cellar.

Li Changshou looked at the three remaining Peaches of Immortality on the table. He had originally intended to eat a few more himself, but he realized that for his current cultivation level, these peaches offered no significant effects beyond being delicious. So, he decided to leave more for Ling'e and the others. The so-called Lifespan-Extending Wine was, naturally, a fruit wine brewed from Peaches of Immortality, which, through Li Changshou's efforts, retained eighty percent of the peaches' spiritual power.

He had brewed two jars of this fruit wine in total: one for Martial Aunt Jiu, and the other for Martial Uncle Jiu Wu, Martial Grand-Aunt Jiang Liner, and Patriarch Oblivious Old Man. Counting carefully, Martial Aunt Jiu alone would benefit from the equivalent of three Peaches of Immortality... Hmm, this was quite necessary. What if his "exceptionally benevolent" junior martial aunt got too thin without enough nourishment!

Li Changshou went directly to the hidden wine cellar outside the alchemy room and took out the two jars of fruit wine. He unsealed and opened the jars. He dipped a finger in, carefully analyzed the liquid, and found that its medicinal properties and spiritual energy were even stronger than he had anticipated. Not much of its "nutrients" had been lost.

Li Changshou fetched several small wine jars and divided one of the jars of wine into three portions. He then took out a paper crane for communication and invited Martial Uncle Jiu Wu over. He handed him these three small jars of Lifespan-Extending Peach Wine, repeatedly reminding Martial Uncle Jiu Wu to present the other two small jars to his master and mistress.

"What kind of wine is this?" asked Jiu Wu. "You look so nervous."

The short Daoist, holding the three jars of wine, sniffed curiously and chuckled, "My master and mistress don't drink much normally. Why don't you just keep it all for Little Jiu?"

"I've already prepared a portion for Martial Aunt Jiu," Li Changshou said with a smile. "This wine can extend lifespan. I happened to acquire some spiritual herbs and refined it. Martial Uncle, please don't ask too many questions. This is merely a small token of my filial respect for Martial Grandfather and Martial Grand-Aunt. It will probably be difficult to get more in the future."

"Alright, then!" Martial Uncle Jiu Wu agreed with a smile, without asking another word. Although spiritual medicines that extend lifespan were extremely precious, somehow, even if Li Changshou had presented two bottles of pills and claimed they were Grand Pure One's Nine-Revolutions Golden Elixirs, Jiu Wu wouldn't have found it surprising... He had become numb to it; there was no helping it.

Watching Jiu Wu depart on his cloud, Li Changshou carefully observed with his spiritual sense for a while. Only after seeing Martial Uncle Jiu Wu deliver the two small jars of Lifespan-Extending Wine into the Oblivion Abode did he feel somewhat relieved.

'I wonder when Martial Aunt Jiu will emerge from seclusion...'

No sooner had Li Changshou's thought settled than the mountain breeze carried a faint yawn from a distance. His spiritual sense swept over the area. To his surprise, a window on the second floor of the Chess and Cards Room was pushed open, and a graceful figure was vigorously stretching. Her large eyes hadn't even fully opened yet, but she had already subtly twitched her nose, as if sensing something, and her small mouth made a few smacking sounds...

"Wine..."

What a nose, truly unmatched.

Li Changshou chuckled twice. He poured the remaining jar of Lifespan-Extending Wine into a silver flask and gracefully departed.

Inside the Chess and Cards Room, the old woman responsible for looking after Jiu Yushi used Earth Evasion and disappeared. Jiu Yushi had only just begun her cultivation journey. The spiritual power of the Peaches of Immortality was too potent; she wouldn't be able to handle even a mouthful, so she had to miss out on this opportunity...

Flying on a cloud to the vicinity of the Chess and Cards Room, Li Changshou chuckled: "Martial Aunt, out of wine again?"

Jiu Jiu, who had been listlessly sprawled on the second-floor windowsill, jerked upright. Leaning out, she looked eagerly outwards, her gaze quickly locking onto the flask in Li Changshou's hand.

"Little Changshou!"

Jiu Jiu cheered, her eyes filled with emotion. She leaped from the windowsill, her hands extended forward like a hungry cat pouncing on prey. Li Changshou felt a mischievous urge. He swayed slightly, taking half a step back, and put the flask back into his storage artifact. Jiu Jiu had pounced too eagerly. With an 'Ouch!', she landed face-first in the grass behind Li Changshou, sliding half a *zhang* forward and crushing countless blades of grass; the local area was particularly devastated.

For some reason, Jiu Jiu lay perfectly still, feigning death and remaining silent. It was exactly like... falling down somewhere and just staying sprawled there for a while.

"What's wrong?" Li Changshou asked gently. He conjured a white cloud and gently lifted Jiu Jiu's body.

"Ah..."

Jiu Jiu, still face down, sank into the white cloud. Her limbs stiffened, and she began a lifeless monologue:"I'm clearly an elder, yet I have to rely on a junior like you to support me. Ah, what a failure as an immortal...""I've cultivated Dao for so many years, but compared to you, I've accomplished absolutely nothing. Ah, what a failure as an immortal...""My martial brothers and sisters are all paired up. My junior martial sister even reincarnated with her fated lover and karma. Then I look at myself... Ah, what a failure as an immortal."

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, feeling that his martial aunt was indeed under too much pressure. Just as he was about to offer comfort, a small hand reached out from the cloud.

"So, hurry up and give me some wine so I can drink myself into oblivion!"

Li Changshou: ...Martial Aunt's layered tactics.

"Martial Aunt, let's talk about something serious."

"Hm?" Jiu Jiu made an effort to look up at Li Changshou. Seeing the serious expression on his face, she quickly shed her despondent and disheveled demeanor, and leaped out of the white cloud, sitting cross-legged.

"What serious matter?"

Li Changshou took out the flask and handed it to Jiu Jiu. He chuckled, "This is the highest quality fruit wine your nephew has ever brewed. I originally brewed two jars. One was sent to Martial Grandfather and Martial Grand-Aunt, and this jar is for Martial Aunt, as a token of my respect. Remember, don't drink it like ordinary immortal wine. Its effects are extraordinary. It's best to consume it in three separate portions, entering seclusion after each."

"Mm..." Jiu Jiu blinked, gently pursed her lips, and a slightly unnatural expression appeared on her pretty face. Her gaze suddenly shifted from the flask to Li Changshou, and she quietly asked, "Little Changshou, tell this martial aunt honestly, do you... have some ulterior motive towards me?"

Li Changshou was somewhat caught off guard. He chuckled, "Martial Aunt, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"No ulterior motive?"

"Martial Aunt, what are you feeling so disappointed about?"

"Heheheh," Jiu Jiu giggled, pursing her lips. Then she cleared her throat and said with a serious expression: "I was thinking, if you *did* have an ulterior motive, I might just half-heartedly agree to your advances. After all, you seem quite good, and then I could openly ask you for wine in the future. Always freeloading off you like this, my Dao Heart is almost getting demonic impurities! Or you could just find something for me to do, like helping you plant beans or something!"

Li Changshou considered this, then said, "Martial Aunt, you really don't need to feel bad. But since you brought it up, I do happen to need some help. However, there's no need for physical labor like planting beans. You are a beautiful fairy, one of the few in our sect; you can't possibly go swinging a hoe and doing manual work. How about this... Martial Aunt, could you help me collect some thousand-year-old spiritual tree sap? I need it for making paper effigies. But please keep this matter confidential, Martial Aunt, and never mention it to anyone else."

Jiu Jiu pouted and suddenly complained with a wronged expression, "You really have the heart to make this martial aunt work!"

"Well..."

"Heheh, just kidding," Jiu Jiu quickly brightened. She patted her chest vigorously. "Don't worry, nephew, collecting tree sap will be this martial aunt's official job from now on! Are thousand-year-old ones enough? I know some peaks have ten-thousand-year-old trees that are almost turning into spirits!"

Li Changshou silently averted his gaze, mentally reciting the 'Hundred Beauties in Old Age' chart to clear away any distracting thoughts.

"Martial Aunt, remember to drink it in three portions. There are also three other original brews here."

"Mm, mm! Let this martial aunt have a taste first... Goodness, what kind of wine is this? It tastes so different. Did you add medicine to it?"

Li Changshou: ...No medicine, just a few Peaches of Immortality—the kind born from a Primal Spiritual Root. Li Changshou hadn't expected that Peaches of Immortality would be so remarkably effective for cultivators below the Golden Immortal realm!

Jiu Jiu, who had just finished her seclusion, drank wine with the potency of one Peach of Immortality and immediately re-entered a meditative state. Her immortal power surged boundlessly within her, propelling Jiu Jiu through one minor realm after another.

After Jiu Jiu entered seclusion, Li Changshou asked his master to consume one. Old Daoist Qi Yuan was originally still more than half a Profound Immortal realm away from the True Immortal realm. But after consuming the Peach of Immortality, he instantly ascended, officially reaching the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm—the True Immortal realm. And just like that, his path reached its end. He had cultivated to the peak of his immortal life!

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sat there, not with joy, but with a wave of emptiness and helplessness. He looked down at his hands. He had reached the True Immortal realm, but his strength was only equivalent to the late Profound Immortal realm of the Heavenly Immortal path... His inherent lifespan hadn't increased much; it seemed to be the same as when he first entered the Mortal Immortal realm. The lifespan increase from realm advancement was even less than the lifespan bonus from consuming the Peach of Immortality; the latter added approximately six or seven hundred years... Was this, then, the entirety of his life?

Li Changshou hadn't expected that advancements in the Mortal Immortal realm wouldn't increase one's lifespan. He quickly had his master consume a second peach. The effect on cultivation was no longer very significant, but his lifespan limit was again extended by several hundred years. The Peaches of Immortality were indeed quite effective at extending life. So, Li Changshou silently took out a third peach...

Qi Yuan waved his hands repeatedly, saying quickly, "Changshou, don't give any more to your master! Enough, enough! Save such a treasure for your junior sister!"

"Master, your disciple still has some," Li Changshou said with a serious expression. "This item came from the Heavenly Courts. Master, please don't mention it to anyone; your disciple went through considerable effort to acquire it. Keep this one for now, Master. Once you've fully digested the effects of the other two, then consume this one."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was instantly filled with emotion. He sighed, "The only two correct decisions this master has made in this life were accepting you and your junior sister as disciples..."

"Master, don't overthink it," Li Changshou said with a chuckle. "There's still a long road ahead. If you go to the Heavenly Courts and earn some merit, you can increase your lifespan again. So, in a little over ten years, Master, you can report to the Heavenly Courts. Your disciple can secretly arrange for you to see if you can get a position as a mountain god or local earth god, and have your jurisdiction placed near the Immortal Ascension Sect. That way, Master, you can cultivate in the mountains while also receiving merit to extend your lifespan."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was stunned. "That can be done?"

"Naturally," Li Changshou chuckled. "Just let your disciple handle the arrangements. Master, relax and just focus on your cultivation. And if you want to chat with your martial aunt... *cough*, with Martial Aunt Jiu Yushi, then go chat."

Li Changshou didn't directly say the latter half of his thought—If one's immortal life balance runs low, we can always start over from scratch. At most, we'll just give Lady Meng some extra benefits so she'll give the ladle a few more shakes when serving the soup.

After reassuring his master, Li Changshou took a stroll around Ling'e's thatched hut. Finding no signs of Ling'e emerging from seclusion, he placed a treasure pouch containing three Peaches of Immortality by her hand and left a note.

Afterward, Li Changshou went to the spiritual beast enclosure. He greeted Xiong Lingli, who was currently bonding with a spiritual beast awaiting slaughter, and casually tossed a peach to her. Xiong Lingli giggled, wiped the peach clean, and took two bites.

"Thank you, Cousin! Wow, this peach is so sweet!"

"Mm, eat it all," Li Changshou said from the side, and then began to openly observe her. Soon, Li Changshou noticed an anomaly within Xiong Lingli: Within the young girl's towering, iron-like physique, the spiritual energy that should have transformed into magical power was inexplicably turning into vital essence!

Rip—

Xiong Lingli's body visibly swelled by several sizes, directly tearing apart her original battle skirt! Beneath her bulging muscles, surges of raw, ancient aura reverberated...

"Cousin!" Xiong Lingli's eyes widened, and she anxiously exclaimed, "Lingli got stronger again!"

"Mm," Li Changshou nodded with a smile, saying, "The world is dangerous; being a bit stronger isn't bad."

Xiong Lingli's mouth drooped, her adorable face filled with grievance. She tilted her head back and burst into tears with a 'Waaah!', like a five or six hundred *jin* child...

Li Changshou comforted her with a few words, then rode his cloud back to the alchemy room. He took out another paper crane for communication. This time, he intended to invite Youqin Xuanya for a chat...

Meanwhile, on Three Immortals Island; inside a warm pavilion, enveloped in mist and draped with countless curtains.

The fairy meditating slowly opened her eyes. She gazed dreamily at a portrait hanging on the wall for a moment, then gently pursed her lips and chuckled... Immediately, she sighed. She, too, was somewhat perplexed as to why her state of mind had become so subtle.

'Could it be that Grand Martial Uncle is plotting something?'

She pondered endlessly, always feeling that she shouldn't be like this, yet she was. Despite much thought, she found no answer, and her state of mind became troubled. That figure became clearer in her heart.

'Never mind, I'll go ask my master for guidance to clear my doubts, lest I make some mistake. If I have indeed developed such feelings, I will certainly not shy away. But if someone else is manipulating this, wouldn't that lead to him being falsely hopeful?'

As her thoughts churned, the graceful figure of the Cloud Fairy vanished. A gentle breeze swept by, leaving behind only one or two soft sighs.