Chapter 46: My Junior Nephew, I'm Not a Wicked Person

In front of the alchemy lab, Li Changshou sat quietly in a recliner, his left hand open, within which a cluster of green flames slowly burned.

This was not the complete form of Samadhi True Fire, and it didn't matter if he displayed it openly. After all, three months had passed since Senior Forgetting Emotion bestowed upon him the cultivation method for Samadhi True Fire, so it was reasonable for him to have cultivated the simplest 'Qi Fire' (or 'Qi Flame').

The power of 'Qi Fire' alone, with an equivalent amount of magic power invested, was less than one-third of the Nether Cold Fire.

But once he combined 'Qi Fire', 'Essence Fire', and 'Spirit Fire' into Samadhi True Fire, its power was estimated to be several times greater than the Nether Cold Fire!

Li Changshou had by now also thoroughly understood the cultivation method of Samadhi True Fire.

Roughly, it involved cultivating three fire seeds using one's own Qi, Essence, and Spirit, then merging these three fire seeds into Samadhi True Fire. This fire could permanently reside within the Daoist body, burning evil spirits and purifying impurities, providing true fire protection from then on.

What satisfied Li Changshou the most was actually that the power of this fire was related to the fire seeds condensed from his own Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

In other words, the power of Samadhi True Fire could continuously increase with his cultivation level, and he wouldn't waste time on a spell that would become useless after only a few years of mastery.

A white cloud approached from the horizon. Li Changshou clenched his left fist, and the cluster of Qi Fire was extinguished.

Rising, he bowed to the white cloud.

The short Daoist on the cloud smiled, peered down, but remained at a height of ten zhang, and said gently:

"Nephew Changshou," he said, "I heard your trip to the East Sea three months ago was quite fruitful. You handled the Dragon Palace Crown Prince's provocation appropriately. It seems my recommendation for you was not in vain."

Li Changshou immediately revealed a gentle smile and said: "Thanks to your kind intentions, Martial Uncle, this disciple obtained both fire and lightning arts. Today, I've specially prepared a banquet as thanks for your guidance."

Jiu Wu, who had only recently returned to the mountain, immediately narrowed his thick-browed, big eyes and chuckled.

"Why does it feel... like a trick?

"Normally, when I come here to mooch wine, you're always quite reluctant.

"I had to coax and trick you into going to the East Sea. Are you perhaps planning to use a poisoned pill to scheme against me, your Martial Uncle?"

Li Changshou replied with a wry smile: "This disciple is merely a student of Little Qiong Peak. You, Martial Uncle, are not only a True Immortal within the sect, but also from the Potian Peak lineage and an esteemed deacon favored by the elders.

"Even if this disciple had any intention of scheming against you, Martial Uncle, I wouldn't have the slightest bit of courage to do so.

"What's more, the trip to the East Sea truly brought this nephew immense benefits."

As he spoke, Li Changshou took two 'Luminous Pearls' from his sleeve. "These are Dharma artifact recording orbs," he explained, "I've improved them slightly, turning them into sound and video orbs.

"One for you, Martial Uncle, and one for me. The entire banquet today will be recorded by these sound and video orbs.

"How about it?"

Jiu Wu immediately brightened, hopped down from the white cloud with his hands behind his back, looked up at Li Changshou, and reached out to take one of the recording orbs.

"I'd like to see what trick you're up to," he said. "Please, lead the way."

"Martial Uncle, please go first," Li Changshou's smile became even more gentle.

Beside the alchemy furnace, two low tables were set side-by-side. Xiao Ling'e's cooking skills, cultivated by her senior brother, were fully on display, with a lavish spread of dishes and wine, and three stacked wine jars on the side.

The two sat down, host and guest, and simultaneously activated their sound and video orbs, placing them on the table corners.

Then, Jiu Wu picked up a jade chopstick and sampled each dish and each jar of wine, one by one.

"Are you really just inviting me for a drink?" Jiu Wu laughed. "Could it be that each of these dishes and wines contains a harmless ingredient which, when combined, forms a powerful narcotic or poison?"

Li Changshou couldn't help but put a hand to his forehead and sighed, shaking his head: "Martial Uncle, what hardships have you encountered outside to make you suspect your disciple's intentions like this?

"This disciple is not some evil person, after all."

"Hahaha, just joking, just joking."

Jiu Wu waved his hand and took the initiative to pick up a wine jar and invite a drink. The two drank heartily.

Before long, half a jar of wine was consumed. Jiu Wu indeed only ate half the dishes, leaving the other half untouched.

Li Changshou, however, slowly sampled all the dishes, constantly praising his junior sister's cooking.

When both were slightly tipsy, Li Changshou brought out the third jar of wine.

'Here it comes,' Jiu Wu thought, 'This fellow's tricks are truly easy to guess.'

Jiu Wu secretly chuckled to himself, eager to see how Li Changshou would scheme.

Li Changshou, however, said: "Martial Uncle, this is my thank-you gift to you: Bone-Strengthening Poison Dragon Wine."

"Oh?" Jiu Wu raised an eyebrow, used his immortal power to take the wine jar, placed it several zhang away and opened it, then used qi to control a chopstick, dabbed a tiny bit of wine, and gently sampled it with his fingertips.

Jiu Wu's eyes lit up. "Good wine!"

Li Changshou said seriously: "This is made from thirty-six kinds of poisonous herbs, twelve kinds of poisonous insects, supplemented with Ganges water and strong spirits, then refined. After three months of soaking, the toxins have been perfectly neutralized. It has the effects of nourishing essence, strengthening bones, and boosting male vitality."

"However, there's one thing... I don't know if Martial Uncle can handle it. This concoction is quite potent."

Jiu Wu raised an eyebrow at Li Changshou, and Li Changshou winked back at Jiu Wu. The two shared a knowing smile across the table.

They both knew.

Jiu Wu laughed: "What can't I handle? This humble Daoist has a Dao partner!"

"That's precisely why this disciple brewed such a medicinal wine. Martial Uncle, please."

"Switch to it, switch to it!"

Jiu Wu was in high spirits, retrieved the jar of potent medicinal wine, first took a small sip, carefully analyzing it in his mind for a moment, then tilted his head back and took a large gulp, immediately feeling refreshed!

"It just so happens that your Martial Aunt Jiu Shi recently came out of seclusion, so this humble Daoist truly has nothing to fear!"

"Martial Uncle, don't drink too much at once."

"This humble Daoist is a True Immortal, what is there to fear?"

Following that, the two continued to clink their cups; Jiu Wu was already slightly drunk, and the cups and plates were scattered.

"Little Changshou, tell me, how exactly do you plan to scheme against me, your Martial Uncle?"

Jiu Wu raised an eyebrow, hugging the wine jar. "I'm almost done drinking now and about to leave."

Li Changshou shook his head with a wry smile and sighed: "Actually, the reason I invited Martial Uncle here this time was also to ask for your help."

"Oh?"

"Among the insights on array formations you provided, Martial Uncle, there's a Nine Bright Lapis Lazuli Array. This disciple and Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu have been studying it for half a month, but we still can't set it up. I was hoping Martial Uncle could offer some guidance."

Jiu Wu immediately brightened. This Nine Bright Lapis Lazuli Array was a trapping formation he himself created. Even if Li Changshou wanted to use it to trap him, he could easily break such a trapping formation.

"Let's go, Martial Uncle will take a look."

Immediately, Jiu Wu put away the medicinal wine, and with Li Changshou, each took their sound and video orb and went behind the alchemy lab to an open space.

On the ground were eighty-one small bronze mirrors, arranged in mysterious positions. Jiu Wu immediately saw the crux of the problem and smilingly gave Li Changshou some pointers.

Li Changshou's face showed delight; he stepped forward, adjusted the positions of a few bronze mirrors as Jiu Wu had instructed, and the eighty-one bronze mirrors immediately flashed with light. The trapping formation had been activated, trapping both of them inside.

All around them was a silvery light, and the trees, flowers, and birds were no longer visible.

Jiu Wu was unhurried and instead narrowed his eyes in a smile, saying: "Changshou, is this how you plan to scheme?

"Trapping me here with you, just to vent your anger?

"Deceiving yourself isn't very good."

Li Changshou turned around and laughed: "What are you saying, Martial Uncle? How could this nephew scheme against you?"

As he spoke, a wisp of flame suddenly bloomed on Li Changshou's legs and arms.

Jiu Wu was startled at first, then quickly shouted: "Why are you on fire!"

"Martial Uncle, why..."

Li Changshou cried out tremblingly, and casually threw the sound and video orb in his hand in a certain direction.

In a flash, his surroundings were engulfed in flames, and with a puff, his figure turned into a paper cutout, instantly burning to ash in the firelight.

Jiu Wu's eyes instantly widened.

Spirit Fire from Samadhi True Fire?

Paper Effigy Transformation from the Thirty-Six Heavenly Transformations?

This kid, he ignited Spirit Fire so quickly? And such a profound divine ability?

No...

Jiu Wu suddenly turned around. All around him was a brightly lit silvery space, and now only he remained within the trapping formation.

This kid, he was actually trying to tarnish my reputation with the sound and video orb!

Jiu Wu suddenly realized, then let out a scoffing laugh, and unhurriedly began to break the formation.

"Changshou, Changshou, you're still a bit too naive. What crime would you accuse me of at the Hall of Rewards and Punishments?

"Tsk, tsk, truly, I overestimated your cunning.

"This Martial Uncle has many friends in high places.

"What's more, this array formation was created by me, so how could I not find its exit?"

As he spoke, Jiu Wu took a few steps, and the surrounding light and shadows rapidly shifted. From a place filled with white light, he stepped into...

...a place shimmering with golden light.

The smile on Jiu Wu's face instantly froze. He lowered his head and began calculating with his fingers, then couldn't help but curse: "How is it another layered array!"

He strode quickly and swiftly arrived at another star-flickering place.

He walked further, only to return to the initial silvery light-filled area.

He leaped up, but upon reaching the air, he plunged headfirst into the golden light-filled area!

By this point, Jiu Wu had already realized that this array had been altered beyond his imagination. All escape techniques were blocked, and the basic formation was indeed his own 'Nine Bright Lapis Lazuli Array'!

This array formation was something he had painstakingly devised, and only a Heavenly Immortal could forcibly break it!

Jiu Wu's five-foot-tall Daoist body trembled, his body's alcohol fumes dissipated, and he quickly calculated in his mind...

From the moment Nephew Changshou had Jiu Jiu pass on the message, inviting him to the banquet, this scheme had begun!

When he arrived at Little Qiong Peak, he had used his immortal consciousness to observe 'Nephew Changshou' cultivating 'Qi Fire', and unconsciously failed to check for any anomalies with 'Nephew Changshou' himself!

The banquet itself was just a cover; the real retaliation was this array formation.

Because it was a trapping formation he had created, he had confidently stepped inside, but forgotten that this kid loved to set up layered arrays!

But...

"So what if I'm trapped? What's the big deal?"

Jiu Wu sat down cross-legged. He was a True Immortal; what if he was trapped for a few months?

'This guy, is this how he vents his anger?'

Jiu Wu chuckled helplessly, but his smile suddenly froze on his face.

So... so hot...

His entire body's blood vessels seemed to be surging wildly...

He actually started sweating all over, and a surge of turbid Yang energy rapidly expanded within him...

Damn it, it's that medicinal wine!

How could it be so potent?

Jiu Wu felt as if his immortal body was burning, his rapid breaths were like spewing fire, and hot sweat began to pour from his entire body!

He immediately tried to expel the medicinal power, but found that the medicinal power had already invaded all his blood vessels!

Jiu Wu instantly stood up, hunched over, his eyes filled with anxiety.

"Cha-Changshou, nephew! Let me out quickly!"

No!

This guy wants to see me in such a pathetic state!

Endure!

Must endure!

He, Jiu Wu, was already a Half-Step Heavenly Immortal; couldn't he withstand this much medicinal power? Just think, Shi Shi is waiting for him at their dwelling; once he returns, he can naturally...!

It got even worse. Absolutely cannot think of Martial Sister!

And I absolutely cannot make a fool of myself. This guy's sound and video orb is still recording me!

Casually crushing the sound and video orb in his hand, Jiu Wu sat down in meditation again, rapidly reciting calming incantations and heart-cleansing spells...

Half an hour later.

"Oh my... this is indulging in pleasure, how can I endure this!

"Changshou!

"Changshou! Martial Uncle admits defeat! How about I never scheme against you again?!"

No one responded.

Jiu Wu anxiously paced in circles, his immortal power suppressing the turbid Yang energy, walking erratically within the trapping formation.

Suddenly, he saw a wooden plaque with several lines of writing on it, and quickly leaned in to read.

"What is this?"

"A Heavenly Dao oath? Starting with a Revelation Oath Spell? So ruthless?

"From this moment onwards, without the permission of Li Changshou, the Du Xian Sect's Little Qiong Peak disciple and Disciple of Daoist Qiyuan, I shall not arrange any matters for Li Changshou...

"I shall not reveal any information concerning Nephew Li Changshou to any living being, any Dharma artifact, or any tool...

"I shall not...

"Hiss! This is killing this humble Daoist!

"The content of this oath is quite ordinary, just secrecy and no arbitrary arrangements in the future;

"But the consequence for violating the oath is so malicious: to forfeit one's vitality!"

Jiu Wu stomped his foot in exasperation, but instead knocked the wooden plaque to the ground.

"How can this Martial Uncle submit to such coercion from you!"

Immediately, the short Daoist slowly lay down, hunched over, continuing to suppress the surge of Yang energy, enduring with gritted teeth.

A moment later...

The short Daoist, with reddened eyes, let out a roar, stood up, pulled the wooden plaque to him, and began reciting the Revelation Oath Spell. The Heavenly Dao immediately responded, and a muffled thunder echoed above Little Qiong Peak!

After reciting the hundreds of words of the oath, the surrounding grand formation slowly dissipated, and the outer formations also completely shut down.

Jiu Wu turned his head, searching, but found no one. He eagerly leaped up and swiftly rushed towards Potian Peak.

"Shi Shi!

"Shi Shi, please don't go into seclusion, Shi Shi—"

After Jiu Wu left, Li Changshou slowly emerged from the grass, picked up his sound and video orb, carefully put it away, and with a flick of his sleeve, integrated the trapping formation here into the surrounding grand array.

Walking up to the wooden plaque and looking at the rapidly fading writing on it, Li Changshou revealed a faint smile.

Settled for now.

***

Two months later, on the day they had arranged to refine elixirs together.

"Hey, Little Shou Shou, do you still have any of that medicinal wine you gave to my fifth senior brother? My fourth senior sister said she'd like to trade a few spells for the wine recipe. You can pick any spell you like."

"There's half a jar left over there. I'll write down the recipe for you to take back later. As for the spells, just pick the powerful ones," Li Changshou replied without looking up, continuing to sort the herbs in his hands.

Jiu Jiu leaned into a corner. "Is this it? It smells so strange."

"Yes, that's it," Li Changshou said with a smile.

Just as he was about to lower his head and continue working, he suddenly remembered something and spoke up: "Women must not drink this wine carelessly. This is a Yang-boosting wine specially prepared for men. Something bad will happen if women drink it."

Clang!

A wooden ladle clattered to the ground, with a little wine still spilled from it. Jiu Jiu stared at Li Changshou.

"This... I drank it... wha-what will happen?"

So fast?

Li Changshou's forehead was lined with black, and he couldn't help but let out a wry laugh.

"Well... you might just grow a beard? Probably."