Chapter 44: Master, Actually My Senior Brother

"This... here...""Is this truly Little Qiong Peak, the place I know so well?"Inside a trapping formation on the outskirts of the alchemy lab, Daoist Qi Yuan, a newly appointed immortal of the Immortal Du Sect, with unfocused eyes and disheveled robes, stared blankly at the three paths before him.

It had been several days, and he still couldn't find his way out.

He had actually spent many years researching formations, but his proficiency in the art of formations was quite limited. After all, for the past few centuries, Qi Yuan had spent most of his time mending his spiritual foundation. Furthermore, his method of studying formations involved merely arranging formation diagrams a few times and memorizing the setup, considering that a minor achievement in comprehension.

Thus, facing this perplexing, interlocking formation...

"Which expert laid this formation on my Little Qiong Peak? Is there some scheme at play?" Old Daoist Qi Yuan murmured, trying to forcibly recall the paths he had previously taken in circles.

In a state of confusion and disorientation, Qi Yuan, amidst the chaos, found another new path.

Ahead, the forest was lush and green, devoid of the typical white fog found in mists, and the scenery was quite ordinary.

Qi Yuan cautiously stepped forward, and this time, he quickly made a new discovery.

A wooden sign hung from a tree branch ahead, with three large characters written on it:"Lost?"

Qi Yuan subconsciously nodded, then shivered, his eyes filled with vigilance.

Why did this handwriting look so familiar?

Old Daoist Qi Yuan stared at the wooden sign for a while, then saw another wooden sign hanging on a tree behind it. He took two steps forward; the surrounding scenery changed slightly, but the sign behind him remained.

Another sentence was written on that wooden sign..."Esteemed visitor, what brings you to Little Qiong Peak?"

"I live here!" Qi Yuan snapped angrily, but his hands couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Could it be...Could this be the legendary time rift?

According to ancient legends, innate beings entered a canyon and emerged tens of thousands of years later from the other end, unaware of the passage of time. Could such an absurd thing have happened to me, a humble Daoist?

Is Little Qiong Peak no longer the Little Qiong Peak it was when I was here? Has it been thousands of years since then?

Seeing another wooden sign behind, Qi Yuan once again followed the signs and stepped forward. Each time he stood before the next sign, the surrounding scenery would subtly shift, as if undergoing a spatial displacement—a clear sign of the formation's transformation.

Beyond one sign was another.And the handwriting on each of these wooden signs looked increasingly familiar to Old Daoist Qi Yuan...

It was as if a dark shadow followed him, whispering incessant questions into his ear, driving him closer and closer to a certain trap, yet he dared not retreat.

"Are you a disciple of my Immortal Du Sect, esteemed visitor?""This formation is solely to protect the vital alchemy lab, and it adheres to the sect's rules and regulations.""Alchemy lab? I seem to dimly recall my disciple mentioning it.""Did you trespass onto Little Qiong Peak without permission, esteemed visitor?""Trespass? I am the master of Little Qiong Peak!""Please do not harm any plant or tree here. This path leads to an open area without a soundproofing formation.""Huh? Is this an exit left by the formation layer?""This is just a supplementary directional sign.""The clearing is just ahead.""You've arrived. Please take three steps forward."

Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks, subconsciously holding his breath, and looked at a large tree ahead. With some suspicion, he took another three steps forward.

The scenery before him shifted again. A clearing surrounded by bushes appeared in front of Qi Yuan. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, a low table was set there, and a bucket of spiritual spring water was placed nearby.

"This... what is this place?"Seeing another wooden sign ahead, Qi Yuan walked over, looking at the handwriting on it, which was extremely familiar yet he couldn't recall where he had seen it...

"Esteemed visitor, please wait here for a moment. If I, a humble Daoist, am unable to arrive promptly, it means I am likely in seclusion or at a crucial stage of alchemy. If you cannot wait, you may use your immortal power here to shout for help or attention from outside. Little Qiong Peak sincerely welcomes your visit, but next time, please come directly to the entrance and do not accidentally trespass near the alchemy lab again. Respectfully, Qi Yuan, Master of Little Qiong Peak."

Qi Yuan's hands trembled, and he stumbled back two steps, his back hitting a tree trunk.His retreat path had unknowingly been sealed off.

"This... this was set up by me?" Old Daoist Qi Yuan's eyes widened. He looked as if he had seen a ghost; his slight tipsiness instantly vanished, and as his gaze swept the surroundings, he felt a slight dizziness.

Could I have encountered something evil?No, that's not right. Could this be due to the turbidity of a 'Turbid Immortal'?Just now, when I was drinking, a senior within the sect reminded me that Turbid Immortals are susceptible to being contaminated by earthly qi, and their Dao hearts are prone to demonic obstacles.Could it be, could I simply be a demonic impediment of the true Daoist Qi Yuan?

Old Daoist Qi Yuan's hands began to tremble slightly. He rushed back to the wooden sign, staring at the words written on it, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The handwriting on these wooden signs...It was, it was indeed his own handwriting!

His foot slipped, and Old Daoist Qi Yuan plopped down onto the ground covered with fallen leaves, his gaze vacant, eyes unfocused, and his disheveled grey-white hair looked even more tangled.

Time rifts, Turbid Immortals, demonic impediments...Time rifts, Turbid Immortals, demonic impediments...

"Who am I, a humble Daoist? Could I truly be just my own demonic impediment?""No, that's impossible. I am definitely not a demonic impediment; I am Qi Yuan.""I am Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan is me. I have entered a time rift; I cannot be a demonic impediment!""No, no!""No, no...""No—"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan clutched his head with both hands, suddenly letting out a loud cry. This startled flocks of birds near and far on Little Qiong Peak and also made a few figures passing through the distant sky look curiously at Little Qiong Peak's forest.

Suddenly, a slightly surprised female voice came from the side:"Master?"

Qi Yuan's shout stopped abruptly, and he asked with a trembling voice, "Ling'e?"

"Master, are you trapped inside the formation?"

"Are you truly Ling'e?"

"Yes, Master. Could your disciple be mistaken?"

"No, no, you might be a demonic impediment... my demonic impediment..."

Outside the formation, Ling'e, who had just arrived, couldn't help but palm her forehead."It's over. Senior Brother has ruined Master."

She let out a soft groan and immediately came up with an idea, quickly saying, "Don't move recklessly; there are many formations in here! And don't walk towards the direction of Ling'e's voice. If you leave this small area, you won't be able to hear outside voices! Your disciple will go in and find you now! But it will take your disciple some time to find the formation's path to your location. Only Senior Brother can unravel this formation here; he set all of this up. Master, please wait patiently for a while."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan paused slightly, then soon heard the sound of "Aiya!" coming from outside.

Just now, what did his little disciple say?Senior Brother?Was this set up by Changshou?

Old Daoist Qi Yuan's eyes were filled with doubt, and as he became lost in thought, he gradually calmed down.

Half an hour later, Lan Ling'e, covered in bits of grass and fallen leaves, and with a slightly bruised and swollen face, appeared before her master with a wry smile, bowing to him in a Daoist salute."Master, your disciple has come for you."

Qi Yuan couldn't help but stare intently at Lan Ling'e. Ling'e calmly performed a few small spells, all of which Old Daoist Qi Yuan had taught her previously."Master, it's truly Ling'e..."

Qi Yuan sighed slightly in relief and said with a wry smile, "What exactly is going on?"

"Mmm," Ling'e bit her lip and pondered for a moment, thinking how she could smooth things over for her Senior Brother.

She quickly took out a treasure pouch, walked swiftly to the low table, and retrieved two cushions, a teapot, and porcelain cups. She smiled and said, "Master, please come and rest for a bit. Allow your disciple to slowly inform you."

Qi Yuan's eyes still held a hint of suspicion, but as he sat on the cushion and watched Lan Ling'e's familiar tea-making technique, several layers of doubt in his heart receded.

The forest was quiet, with only the rustling sound of the gentle breeze blowing through the treetops.Looking up from here, because of the surrounding trees, the clear blue sky seemed to be reduced to only this small patch...

In a flash of realization, the old Daoist understood something.

The old Daoist looked around, then asked softly, "Is all this set up by your Senior Brother?"

Ling'e replied, "It should be said that Senior Brother designed it, and True Immortal Jiujiu, Martial Uncle from Potian Peak, carried out the actual setup."

"Oh, no wonder," Qi Yuan said with a wry smile. "So it was Junior Sister Jiujiu who helped set it up."

"Actually, Martial Uncle Jiujiu isn't knowledgeable in formations at all. Senior Brother told her, step by step, 'put this here, put that there.'"Ling'e paused, then lowered her head and said, "Master, have you really never noticed?"

Qi Yuan picked up his teacup and took a sip. It was indeed his favorite chrysanthemum and lotus seed tea."Noticed what? That you like your Senior Brother?"

"Aiya!" Ling'e's pretty face instantly flushed crimson.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan frowned and stared. "Do you not like Changshou?"

"Well... that can't be said directly. Your disciple would be too embarrassed..."

Ling'e quickly composed herself and said softly, "Senior Brother, he is actually quite extraordinary."

"Oh?" Old Daoist Qi Yuan's eyes held a hint of indulgence. He chuckled, "In your eyes, your Senior Brother is naturally extraordinary."

"No, Master," Ling'e raised her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Senior Brother, he is actually far more accomplished than you think. For example, the formations here are all interlocking formations created by Senior Brother using basic formation principles. Although Senior Brother asked Martial Uncle Jiujiu for help, if he had set this up by himself, it wouldn't have been any different."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was stunned once more.

Ling'e continued:"For over ten years since I joined the sect, Senior Brother has taught me a great deal. Many times, after your lectures, Master, I would be confused and not understand the principles, but Senior Brother would always come to explain the profound meanings to me. Often, Senior Brother could reveal the true essence with just a word or two, which is why your disciple has made such progress."

Qi Yuan frowned deeply, looking at Ling'e, unsure what to say for a moment.

Ling'e said softly, "Also, Master, look, what is your disciple's current cultivation level?"

Qi Yuan stroked his beard and mused for a moment, saying, "Ninth-stage Qi Refinement?"

Ling'e pressed her hands together into a sword-finger gesture, performed a complex hand seal, and her aura suddenly surged outwards. "And now?"

Qi Yuan's eyes widened. "Fifth-stage Soul Transformation! Ling'e, when did you—!"

Ling'e made a shushing gesture, then formed another hand seal, and the aura around her quickly retracted.

She whispered, "This is the Turtle Breath Calm Qi Art that Senior Brother taught me. It can conceal one's cultivation level. As long as a True Immortal-level individual doesn't physically touch you, it can hide your cultivation and even simulate any realm you wish to display."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan's face was left with nothing but shock.

"Master, Senior Brother has been with the sect for a hundred years, and you've spent most of that time in seclusion, striving to reach the immortal realm. Your understanding and care for Senior Brother have truly been too little."Ling'e picked up her teacup, holding the bottom with two slender fingers of her left hand and supporting the cup with her right, taking a gentle sip. There was no longer any hesitation in her eyes.

"While Senior Brother has been tricked by Martial Uncle Jiuwu into going to the East Sea, your disciple wants to explain all these matters clearly to you, Master. Your disciple has always been by Senior Brother's side, watching him do many things for you, Master, but you were completely unaware. And every time you saw Senior Brother, you either reprimanded him or spoke of how unworthy he was. Master, Senior Brother is likely not far from becoming an immortal himself now. And the Immortal Fusion Pill you used for your Weapon Dissolution, if your disciple's guess is correct, was made from Immortal Dissolution Grass that Senior Brother personally dug up from the depths of North Continent during the Great Cultivation Gathering several years ago, and then refined it. You worried about your immortal tribulation, Master, but Senior Brother was most concerned about your heavenly tribulation and put in a lot of effort for it. What you saw, Master, was just that Magical Grandpa Birdcage... In fact, Senior Brother also created more than ten treasures to resist heavenly tribulations in the past two years, but they all proved ineffective in subsequent tests. Your disciple has only seen Senior Brother frustrated a few times, specifically when he was squatting in front of those treasures ruined by lightning tribulations. The only time your disciple saw Senior Brother nervous was during the moment you, Master, underwent your tribulation."

Ling'e looked at Old Daoist Qi Yuan, who sat there as if turned to wood, his eyes vacant.

"Master, Senior Brother is truly extraordinary; this is not just your disciple's wild talk..."

Slowly, Ling'e recounted what she knew about her Senior Brother.Although she withheld many details due to Senior Brother's instructions, there was no exaggeration in her words.Qi Yuan gradually came back to his senses, asked Ling'e to perform the Turtle Breath Calm Qi Art once more, then looked at the various immortal pills and poisonous pills Ling'e carried. The old Daoist then sat there, lost in thought again.

A moment later.Qi Yuan asked uneasily, "Ling'e, you said for Master... What should Master do? When your Senior Brother returns, should I praise him?"

"Master, it's best if you pretend your disciple said nothing to you today, as if none of this happened, and carry on as usual," Ling'e said with a smile. "Later, when Senior Brother comes in to get us, just take your whisk and swat his backside... But don't actually hit him hard. Every time you try to hit Senior Brother, Master, he actually deliberately reveals an opening for you to catch him."

A few black lines appeared on Qi Yuan's forehead, and he said with a wry smile, "Am I really that useless as a Master?"

"Uh," Ling'e quickly exclaimed, "Master, you are wise and mighty! Your immortal powers are boundless!"

Qi Yuan hesitated, saying, "So, Master should pretend not to have heard any of this from you?"

"What Senior Brother wants most is for others not to pay attention to him, so he can quietly make a fortune," Ling'e pouted slightly. "Your disciple even has to deliberately act a bit foolish and confused in front of him now, otherwise, he'll definitely gradually distance himself from me..."

Ling'e changed the subject, beginning to list how Li Changshou usually bullied her, his junior sister, attempting to alleviate the gloom in her master's heart.

Soon, Qi Yuan was amused by her, laughing heartily, and his spirits were once again revitalized."You, you! Hahahaha!"

Qi Yuan stood up and walked to the side, looking at the various arrangements of the formation here that he couldn't comprehend, careful not to let his young disciple see his slightly moist eyes at that moment.

"As a Master, I was too selfish, only thinking about undergoing tribulations and going into seclusion. Alas, after bringing your Senior Brother into the sect and imparting cultivation methods to him, I just kept going into seclusion, repeatedly. Now that I've passed this heavenly tribulation, I originally planned to properly guide you and your Senior Brother in cultivation, only to discover that I was the one who had always been looked after. Enough, enough. Master won't interfere anymore; I'll just let things be. With disciples like you, your Master can now bring comfort to all the Ancestral Masters of Little Qiong Peak!"

After speaking, Qi Yuan turned to look at Ling'e and smiled, "Moreover, my little disciple has now become so sensible."

Ling'e smiled sheepishly and mumbled softly, "To be worthy of Senior Brother, your disciple has been working very hard."

"Oh?""Uh, Master, drink your tea, it's already cold! Please, Master, don't expose anything your disciple said today!"

"All right, all right. Let's both play dumb and put on a show in front of your Senior Brother," Qi Yuan said, sitting back at the low table and taking out his whisk. "Later, when Master disciplines your Senior Brother, you can also lend a hand and try it out."

Ling'e's eyes immediately lit up. "Can I, Master?"

"Of course! He's been treating Master like a fool for so many years; naturally, I must properly teach him a lesson!"

Lan Ling'e instantly cheered and was eager to try.

Qi Yuan added, "Don't worry, Master will soon enter seclusion to comprehend the cultivation method of the Turbid Immortals. From now on, you and your Senior Brother can do whatever you like with Little Qiong Peak."

With that said, Qi Yuan looked at the tea before him, and at the old face reflected in it, he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle softly.Truly...Wonderful, beyond words.