Chapter 516: Ling'e's Perfect Experience

On Black Pool Peak, Li Changshou slowly floated on a cloud, his immortal sense listening to the conversation nearby. He wasn't in a hurry to enter Black Pool Peak's grand formation.

Ling'e's elder cousin... words couldn't describe her.

"Ling'e, cultivation emphasizes Dharma, wealth, companion, and dwelling. You've become an immortal, so you should be ready to leave your master. Although my place is in the Three Thousand Worlds, not among the Five Continents, it's still a good place for cultivation. As a Human School disciple, you could benefit greatly from that."

"Cousin, about that..."

"Ling'e, look at how you live in this mountain, your spiritual aura is barely visible! Try this; it's a precious medicine made from a ten-thousand-year-old South Sea spiritual clam pearl, it will make your skin more radiant."

"Well..." Ling'e felt helpless. What she was currently displaying was merely a disguise; since there was a male immortal present today, she definitely couldn't reveal her true appearance and risk causing more trouble for her senior brother!

"Ling'e, come back with your cousin. Your peak doesn't even have a decent dwelling."

"Esteemed immortal..." Jiu Yushi, who had been keeping her head down, couldn't hold back anymore. She looked up, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "Sometimes, what you see is merely what others wish for you to see."

The veiled woman chuckled, "I haven't asked before, are you Ling'e's martial aunt... or did something go wrong with your cultivation?"

Jiu Yushi calmly replied, "On this peak, my aptitude is indeed the lowest; it's not that anything went wrong with my cultivation."

Ling'e hurriedly said, "Martial Aunt Yushi, please don't speak like that. You've only just entered the sect, and your cultivation progress is already quite significant." Then, Ling'e frowned, "Cousin, isn't it rather rude of you to speak about an elder in my sect like that?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the veiled woman laughed carelessly. "My apologies to Fellow Daoist Yushi; I speak rather bluntly, so please don't take it to heart."

Ling'e pursed her lips, her face stern, "Cousin, are you truly here to see me today?"

"Of course." The veiled woman took out a small folding fan, gently swayed it in her hand, and chuckled, "Why else would I come here, if not to see you? Ling'e, soon after you became a disciple, I attained an immortal opportunity and took a master. I've been diligently cultivating ever since, rarely venturing out. In recent years, fortune has turned in my favor. I've cultivated to become a True Immortal, had the privilege of hearing a master preach and impart teachings, and even found a Dao companion to cultivate with. I now have Dharma, wealth, a companion, and a dwelling. That's why I thought of coming to find you, to take you back and cultivate together."

Ling'e pondered for a moment, stroking her chin, then suddenly asked, "Really?"

The 'elder cousin' smiled, narrowing her eyes. "Why would I lie to you? You're not happy here, and I could use someone trustworthy by my side..."

Jiu Yushi couldn't help but interject, "It sounds like you want our Ling'e to be your maid."

The male immortal, who had been smiling silently at the side, now frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist, please don't misunderstand. Caiyao has no shortage of attendants. Throughout her cultivation, Ling'e is her only younger sister who has achieved success in the Dao. We came this time simply to invite her to cultivate in a better blessed land. I, though untalented, have accumulated some resources in my region. My father recently joined the rapidly rising Immortal Alliance."

As the male immortal spoke, he cupped his hands toward the sky and said, "Truth be told, my father even had a brief encounter with the current Heavenly Court Water God! Now that the Great Tribulation is brewing, our family is quite stable, and we can naturally provide Ling'e with a better cultivation environment."

Jiu Yushi: ...

Ling'e blinked and smiled, "Cousin, I am very content here, and I don't wish to go anywhere else. However, I still thank you for your kind intentions."

The 'elder cousin' sighed, "Ling'e, you're still as strong-willed as you were when you were little."

The male immortal said gently, "Sister Ling'e..."

"Fellow Daoist, please withdraw that address!" Ling'e's delicate brows furrowed, and she immediately reprimanded him, "Your Dao companion is my cousin; I have no relation to you whatsoever."

The male immortal was immediately put on the spot, and the 'elder cousin' frowned slightly, scolding, "How dare you speak to your brother-in-law like that?"

Ling'e glanced to the side and calmly said, "I've already cultivated to become an immortal; must I still adhere to those mundane earthly customs?"

"Ling'e, how can you be so rude now!"

"Hahaha! Caiyao, don't be angry." The male immortal stopped the 'elder cousin', a gleam in his eyes as he looked at Ling'e, who was concealed by several layers of disguise. He praised her, "Truly worthy of being a disciple of a great sect, her demeanor is indeed extraordinary. This humble Daoist was a bit presumptuous; I apologize here and will certainly punish myself with three cups later."

At this moment, the male immortal released a slight pressure of the Heavenly Immortal realm, sitting a bit straighter. Jiu Yushi's forehead showed a slight sweat. Ling'e raised her hand and pressed her wrist, originally intending to directly reveal her Dao realm to counter-deter them, but on second thought, she held back. She needed to stay low-key and not cause trouble for her senior brother. Just sending these two away would be enough. This immortal maiden's many years of 'stability scriptures' were not copied for nothing!

So, Ling'e put on a 'professional fake smile', preparing to respond to the man and woman with only three phrases: "Mmm-hmm," "That's right," and "Yes indeed."

Just then... A clear voice suddenly came from the side, reciting a poem:

"In Peach Blossom Hollow, there's a Peach Blossom Temple.In Peach Blossom Temple, there's a Peach Blossom Immortal.The Peach Blossom Immortal plants peach trees,And picks peach blossoms to exchange for wine."

Ling'e looked up, her small mouth slightly agape, and her "wow" turned into a long "ooooh-ahhh..." Jiu Yushi was also stunned, it was her first time seeing Li Changshou in such a manner. She felt as if the entire Black Pool Peak had brightened considerably; she suddenly snapped back to attention, remembering her identity as a martial aunt, and turned her head to look aside.

The 'elder cousin's' phoenix-like eyes stared straight ahead... She felt that the male immortal, flying on a cloud, had a tall and straight figure, a face like polished jade, and sword-like brows and starry eyes that showed no aggression. His distinct facial features did not add sharpness, but rather, the faint smile on his lips could bring peace to one's mind and dispel all distractions.

A poem praised him thus:Originally a steady guest of Duxian, suddenly he sat before the Taiqing Saint.Among Heavenly Court immortals, he holds the foremost position; among the Three Sects' great immortals, he commands their respect.In the Saintess's Palace, he has his own high seat; in Biyou and Yuxu, he is at ease.Soon to become the Star Lord Taibai, everyone calls him the Steady Immortal.

Li Changshou made his entrance with a graceful air, clad in a white robe with long hair flowing freely, instantly plunging Black Pool Peak into silence. The Dao charm he displayed at this moment was solidly late-stage Heavenly Immortal realm. His personal demeanor was truly extraordinary; words like 'calm and collected' or 'elegant and unrestrained' could hardly capture even a fraction of it.

The male immortal beside the 'elder cousin' suddenly stood up, blocking her view; Ling'e's cousin immediately regained her composure, thinking to herself how she had lost her bearing. She quickly calmed her Dao heart and also stood up to prepare for the greeting.

As for Ling'e... a wisp of white smoke slowly drifted up, Ling'e's eyes turned into spirals, her body swayed like soft seaweed, leaning into Jiu Yushi's embrace. Her beautiful eyes were like silk, her voice trembled slightly, as she softly called out, "Senior brother."

Li Changshou smiled and nodded at her. First, his toes touched the ground, then his heels landed firmly, his long hair and the hem of his white robe stopped swaying. He spoke gently: "A batch of elixirs just finished refining, so I couldn't go to the mountain gate to welcome the two of you. I hope you'll forgive me."

Just then, a slight breeze passed by, and a faint, pure fragrance, unique to supreme-grade spiritual elixirs, emanated from Li Changshou, causing the young male immortal's spirit to stir. He gazed at Li Changshou before him with a hint of shock. A grandmaster of alchemy!

"Ling'e," Li Changshou gently frowned, his tone however was unprecedentedly gentle, "How can you sit so sloppily?"

Ling'e quickly straightened up, her beautiful eyes wide as she stared at her senior brother, trying to make her small head spin. "What... what's going on? Why is senior brother suddenly not being low-key? Isn't this the robe I personally sewed for senior brother for over a year, but which he considered too ostentatious and chose to put away? Could it be that senior brother fancies my cousin? Uh, that doesn't seem likely. Even with Sister Yunxiao, senior brother hesitated for a long time before tentatively showing interest..."

Ling'e's cheeks were flushed, and she softly asked, "Senior brother, why are you here?"

Li Changshou smiled, "Since a relative from your family has finally come to visit, no matter how busy I am, I must make time to meet them."

Jiu Yushi quickly said, "I'll go fetch a cushion."

"Oh," Li Changshou quickly stopped her, continuing gently, "Martial Aunt, please stay seated. With us two juniors here, how could we let you do such heavy labor?" After speaking, Li Changshou calmly slid the jade thumb ring on his thumb. A streak of light flashed, and a cushion appeared beside Ling'e's cushion.

The male immortal and the 'elder cousin' looked over, surprised. An acquired merit spirit treasure level storage artifact? And one that wasn't deliberately refined, as if casually worn?!

Li Changshou smiled and cupped his hands, expressing politeness without exchanging idle pleasantries, then directly sat down. His gaze fixed on Ling'e, he raised his hand to adjust the position of her jade hairpin. Ling'e's shoulders unconsciously twitched. Feeling her senior brother's aura wash over her, a second wave of steam instantly rose over her forehead... "What, what, what exactly is going on today?!"

"Please, both of you, sit down," Li Changshou said without raising his head. The elder cousin and the male immortal subconsciously thanked him and sat down together, exchanging a glance and retracting their auras. Especially the latter, who had seen some of the wider world and experienced the pressure of high-level masters a few times. At this moment, the male immortal had already determined that the young Daoist before him was by no means an ordinary Heavenly Immortal. The opponent's calm and composed demeanor, that serene and unhurried, self-contented aura...

The male immortal asked, "How should I address Fellow Daoist?"

"Ling'e's senior brother," Li Changshou said gently.

Ling'e's 'elder cousin' softly asked, "Does Fellow Daoist not have a Daoist title?"

Li Changshou frowned slightly and said, "My only connection with the two of you is through my junior sister. It's enough for me to know that you are my junior sister's cousin; there's no need for us to have further interaction."

The 'elder cousin' looked a bit awkward, unsure how to respond. Just as the male immortal was about to speak, Li Changshou calmly twirled the thumb ring on his finger, and the male immortal immediately swallowed his words.

Such 'disciples' who grew up cultivating in the Three Thousand Worlds were not foolish individuals. The male immortal smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist is truly uninhibited. The Human School's inheritance is indeed extraordinary. Is Fellow Daoist... proficient in the path of alchemy?"

"Mediocre, not proficient. There are many in the Human School whose mastery of alchemy surpasses mine." Li Changshou gently twirled his thumb ring. Several streaks of immortal light flashed, and a few porcelain bottles immediately appeared on the low table. Their mouths were open, and wisps of immortal light curled around them, yet not a single scent of medicine wafted out.

The male immortal looked down, his expression somewhat dazed. Fifth-grade, sixth-grade spiritual elixirs?! Even more absurdly, these spiritual elixirs were contained in jade bottles of various colors and patterns, clearly shaped casually by divine ability...

Li Changshou calmly said, "The two of you have come a long way to visit my junior sister. These humble elixirs are a token of my gratitude for your visit."

"Thank you, Daoist Brother," the male immortal smiled, not moving himself, and gestured for the 'elder cousin' to put away the elixirs.

Just then, a rumbling thunder was heard, and the low table and the ground trembled slightly. From within the 'Chef Palace' built by Bai Ze, Xiong Lingli, wrapped in a half-zhang wide apron, strode forward, holding a large tray high with one hand, and charging over. She had also received a sound transmission from Li Changshou. At this moment, she fearlessly released her aura; a plume of blood qi shot up like wolf smoke, and her massive, robust Half-Witch battle body exuded a dense, dangerous aura.

The tray was set down, carrying a roasted spiritual beast and over a dozen side dishes. Xiong Lingli then cupped her fists, bowed to Li Changshou, turned, and ran off.

"Would the two of you like to drink?" Li Changshou asked gently.

The male immortal, who was no longer feeling cold sweat all over, quickly nodded, his face somewhat pale. Li Changshou took out two pots of immortal brew and began to skillfully encourage them to drink; the male immortal was already intent on making connections, and the 'elder cousin' at this point had completely forgotten how to refuse, so she just drank along in a daze.

During this process, Ling'e repeatedly... steamed... For Ling'e, today was absolutely the happiest day since her birth. For no other reason, her senior brother's gaze had never left her, so gentle and warm, like the winter sun, seeming to melt her maiden heart. Especially, in between chatting with the male immortal and her cousin, her senior brother would gently ask: "Junior sister, would you like to eat this?" Before Ling'e could even pick up her chopsticks, her senior brother would pick up a dish and bring it to her mouth... Finally, he would take out a handkerchief, gently wipe her mouth, and softly say, "You're almost like a messy cat."

It was simply! Ling'e was going to die of happiness! A pink halo appeared behind Ling'e, her entire being hazy, her Dao heart wavering, as if she had become a pink cloud, filled with sweet, sugary core.

Jiu Yushi, seated beside the two, turned her head away the entire time, finding it a bit unbearable to watch. "This pathetic Ling'e."

As for the two guests sitting opposite, the male immortal frowned slightly, and the female immortal's gaze showed some envy...

Li Changshou managed both tasks without delay. While 'caring' for his junior sister, he continued to toast and encourage drinking. He had secretly tampered with the wine beforehand, adding more original brew, which quickly made the two guests slightly tipsy. Unconsciously, the topic was steered by Li Changshou towards the matter of 'Jie School's nominal disciples'.

Li Changshou chuckled, "The Jie School, with its myriad immortals, is truly a great sect of this era! May I ask which immortal's lineage Fellow Daoist joined?"

Under Li Changshou's steady gaze, the female immortal named Caiyao hurriedly said, "My master is the Jie School expert from Skeleton Mountain's White Bone Cave... Lady Shi... Shiji."

"Why do you seem guilty, Fellow Daoist?"

"Not at all, it's just that," Caiyao lowered her head, avoiding Li Changshou's gaze. She stammered 'just that' a few times but couldn't explain why.

The male immortal feigned nonchalance and laughed, "Please excuse us, Daoist Brother. My Caiyao's nominal disciple status was actually obtained through some connections. However, she did indeed listen to Lady Shiji's preaching, and had a brief encounter with her."

"Oh?" Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, his expression serious. "I enjoy alchemy, and I usually only move around the nearby market towns. I haven't been to the Three Thousand Worlds, so I'm unfamiliar with the ways there. My ancestral master, True Immortal Du'e, holds a status in the Dao Sect not far from that of Lady Shiji. Could Fellow Daoist elaborate a bit? I promise to keep it strictly confidential."

The male immortal seemed to suddenly regain his confidence and laughed, "Naturally, Fellow Daoist wouldn't know about these things. The Jie School is the largest sect among the Three Daoist Sects, with the most disciples, and indeed the foremost sect in the world. Because of the vast number of disciples, and most of them travel through the Three Thousand Worlds, they naturally befriend many rogue immortal experts. It's not difficult for these rogue immortal experts to invite a Jie School Immortal to preach or impart teachings once. According to the rules of the Primordial World, listening to a single sermon can qualify one as a nominal disciple. Over time, rogue immortal experts specialized in this task. The nominal disciple status for different Jie School experts has become openly priced. Furthermore, some Jie School Immortals, whose reputations aren't prominent and who aren't living comfortably, would use themselves as a lure to invite true Jie School experts to appear... To encounter Lady Shiji's sermon once and arrange Caiyao's participation truly cost me a considerable amount of effort."

Caiyao frowned slightly, said nothing more, and kept her head down.

"Oh?" Li Changshou's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "The Three Realms are vast and full of wonders; there's such a practice out there. To be honest, I have a rogue immortal friend who also wants to become a nominal disciple of a Jie School Saint. This would indeed establish a deeper background than in an ordinary immortal sect. I wonder how much effort Fellow Daoist specifically expended?"

The male immortal raised his hand, extending three fingers. Li Changshou feigned enlightenment, deliberately saying, "Just three acquired merit spirit treasures, and one can gain the background of a Jie School Immortal's nominal disciple?"

"No, no, Daoist Brother, you've misunderstood," the male immortal awkwardly chuckled and explained, "Three hundred piculs of pure spirit stones are sufficient."

"Only that much..." Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, his lips slightly pursed, and he sighed softly in his heart. At this moment, he finally understood why the Red Lotus collapsed; and why the Chaos Bell, which Grandmaster of Heaven had sincerely sought for so many years, would start fleeing for its life the moment it saw Grandmaster of Heaven's shadow... The Jie School had spread itself too thin! These seemingly insignificant matters, previously ignored, had become the 'weights' dragging down the Jie School. He decided to stop here; asking more would make him unstable. Knowing that such things secretly existed, he could investigate later.

The male immortal sitting opposite him smiled slightly, leaned forward, and whispered, "Daoist Brother, in these Three Thousand Worlds, there are many masters who lack spirit herbs, and numerous immortal sects that lack spiritual elixirs. With Daoist Brother's ability, if we were to collaborate, within a century, it wouldn't be impossible to invite a Jie School inner disciple to preach and accept disciples individually. Daoist Brother is Caiyao's sister's senior brother, and I am Caiyao's Dao companion. We should naturally trust each other and accomplish great things together. Is Daoist Brother willing to join forces?"

"To earn spirit stones together..." Li Changshou calmly shook his head and chuckled, "I only refine elixirs for cultivation; I have no interest in spirit stones."

The male immortal's smile stiffened. But then, Li Changshou added, "I could, however, introduce a friend who's decent at alchemy and quite short on spirit stones. But whether you can persuade him will depend on your own abilities, Fellow Daoist."

"Oh?" The male immortal once again displayed a spring-like smile, raised his wine cup, and offered a toast of watered wine to Li Changshou, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Brother."

"You're too kind, it's merely a small gesture." Li Changshou symbolically sipped from his wine cup. He sighed inwardly, deciding this time he would only investigate and not intervene, avoiding Ling'e's cousin's family. After all, they were his junior sister's relatives.

"Senior brother..." A call came from the side. Li Changshou turned his head and saw Ling'e holding her breath, her eyes brimming with moisture. With her right hand, she held jade chopsticks, picking up a carefully selected piece of spiritual beast meat, while her other slender hand cupped underneath, slowly bringing it closer. Li Changshou naturally opened his mouth, smiled faintly at Ling'e with narrowed eyes, and gently winked.

That day, Ling'e's memory was hazy, filled with pink light spots everywhere... She only remembered that the sun was warm that day, her senior brother's smile was also warm, and when she vaguely woke up in the alchemy room, the stone slab placed before her was also warm.

Golden Ao Island;

A jade talisman for transmitting messages shot through the air from the South Sea, flying straight upwards and vanishing into thin air. Not long after, Daoist Duobao's figure flashed past. He dug an earthen tunnel and headed towards a market town in East Victory Divine Continent; while traveling, Daoist Duobao carefully disguised himself as instructed in Li Changshou's letter. He changed into brocade robes, altered his appearance slightly, restrained his Dao charm, and prepared a batch of fourth and fifth-grade spiritual elixirs. He wanted to see exactly who, and how, was dragging down the Jie School's great fortune!