Chapter Thirty-Eight: As Long as You Remain Calm, Nothing Will Happen
Puff...
Burp...
Whenever entering a new environment for an extended period, it's actually a good habit to check the "emergency exits."
Take the Baifan Hall of the Duxian Sect, for example. Apart from the main hall door that is frequently used, there are two side doors, one back door, and a rarely known small directional teleportation array, presumably leading to where the sect leader secludes himself.
As a little brat, Li Changshou had already scoped out these places during his second visit to the Baifan Hall with his master to receive the monthly offering.
And as for the territory of the Dragon Palace, leaving aside the fact that the dragons are a different race and have conflicting interests with various immortal sects in the East Sea, this place is already situated on a large array. Who knows if there's any killing formation hidden within this Water Lotus Platform...
So...
The first thing to do!
Shouldn't it be finding escape routes in case of a crisis?
Before the senior martial uncles said anything, including him, there were a total of eleven disciples present, and yet six of them picked up the fruits in front of them and started eating right away?!
What happened to your usual manners?
All of you are young talents of the Immortal Path, has the Duxian Sect been treating you unfairly or owing you something?
Or have you been enchanted with the "can't be at ease without eating grapes" curse!?
Ah, I give up...
There are even empty grape stems in front of several senior martial uncles...
"Never mind, it's none of my business," Li Changshou sat upright, seemingly unperturbed, closed his eyes, and focused as if nothing had happened. He had temporarily given up on this group of fellow disciples.
His divine sense spread out, autonomously searching for the "emergency exits" in this place.
On the way to the seating area, Li Changshou had already figured out the general terrain. Now, he was studying the properties of the Water Lotus Platform's array and any possible weaknesses.
Although water was everywhere here, wind escape technique seemed more suitable for escaping. Firstly, water escape was slower, and Li Changshou had only started practicing it over a decade ago, so he wasn't as proficient as he was with wind escape. Secondly, the wind was strong on the sea, and...
Puff! Bang!
Despite trying to suppress it, the double sound burst out helplessly after he gave up.
There was also the strange smell immediately permeating the air, accompanied by a slightly sour fragrance...
It must be because he took that rejuvenating elixir yesterday...
This sour smell, could it be from the hundred-year-old Anti-Aging Grass?
Damn.
Li Changshou opened his eyes slightly and looked towards the source of the sound, only to find that it was the handiwork of a senior martial sister.
And this senior martial sister was sitting calmly as if nothing had happened. If it weren't for her hands pressing down on the edge of her skirt with all her might, she truly seemed unperturbed.
The two junior martial brothers beside her were already so embarrassed that they didn't know whether to sit or stand, their lips trembling!
Actually, this was a lesson learned.
Luckily, the Dragon Palace was just teasing them and hadn't directly poisoned them or cursed them...
People, who hasn't been hypocritical before?
Although those at the sixth stage of Qi Refinement should have learned to control the impurities in their bodies long ago.
At this moment, there were twenty-seven people from the Duxian Sect present, with eight showing unusual expressions and three already making noises about the backdoor being compromised.
Qin Xuanya suddenly stood up and hurriedly walked to the two eldest senior martial uncles, whispering a few words to them.
These two senior martial uncles were broad-minded. Only now did they notice the small traps among the fruits in front of them.
Li Changshou felt a little helpless.
With such a team, where was the sense of security?
This level of teamwork was even worse than having a couple of paper dolls...
It would be better to go out less in the future and figure out a way to deal with Senior Martial Uncle Jiuwu, so he wouldn't cause trouble anymore.
Qin Xuanya glanced at Li Changshou and then bit her lip, her face slightly flushed, as she hurriedly returned to her seat and continued to meditate, trying hard to endure.
She was actually fine, just like Li Changshou, she only ate one grape.
But the difference was, Li Changshou did it intentionally, using his mana to let the grape release a hint of its medicinal effects inside his body, so he only burped.
Qin Xuanya didn't do that.
Puff...
Another brother lost control.
Puff puff...
Chain reaction?
Well, this junior sister's face was turning red, and she probably started to doubt life.
After all, in everyone's impression, young female immortals should be dignified and not fart.
Eh...
Excuse me, how much effort did you put into squeezing your anal sphincter to make that sound with a modulation and pitch change!
Li Changshou couldn't help but hold his head in his hand. He didn't expect to have the hidden skill of sarcasm.
It was purely forced out!
At this moment, a senior martial uncle transmitted his voice to the others, "Pay attention, there are some traps among the fruits in front of you. The Dragon Palace wants us to make fools of ourselves. Absolutely do not eat those grapes, and the wine next to them should also be avoided. The wine is made from these grapes!"
Wine?
Since he hadn't thought about touching the wine earlier, Li Changshou instinctively ignored the fine wine in the luminous cup next to him.
At the same time, he instantly felt a gaze fixed on him.
Following the direction of this gaze, Li Changshou saw Senior Martial Uncle Jiuxi trembling as he sat there, his big eyes staring at him pleadingly. He had even changed his sitting posture from crossed legs to sitting like a duck.
The wine glass in front of her was already empty, not a drop left!
This...
Personal preferences were understandable.
But...
Senior Uncle, why did you suddenly get up? And why did you come over here?
Li Changshou didn't have time to say anything. Senior Uncle Jiuxi rushed over like thunder and lightning, even bringing a cushion to put next to him, with an apologetic look in his eyes.
This look clearly said:
"Sorry, nephew! Senior Uncle will compensate you desperately when we get back!"
Then this senior uncle sat three feet away from Li Changshou, but with a gentle touch of his left hand under Li Changshou's Daoist robe, Li Changshou's robe began to flutter gently—rising and falling, rising and falling...
And accompanying this rhythm, there were sounds of puff, puff, burp, burp coming from where Senior Uncle Jiuxi sat.
The nearby Sister Cong was struggling not to laugh, her lips almost bitten through!
Li Changshou, seemingly unaffected, couldn't help but mutter, "Ah, there aren't many people here yet. Let's set up two small soundproof and isolation arrays here. The Dragon Palace probably won't say anything. After all, we still need to discuss how to respond to the formations and strategies of various sects during the sparring matches later."
Instantly, a junior sister who had eaten grapes caught the signal and loudly exclaimed, "Let's discuss how to arrange our formations next!"
As she spoke, she casually pointed upward, using her immortal power to directly open a transparent barrier that enveloped the twenty-seven people.
The senior martial uncle who first reminded them couldn't help but sigh, "Hurry up and deal with it! Seriously!"
Instantly, more than ten people looked quite embarrassed, and the sounds of puff and burp continued incessantly.
Li Changshou glanced at Senior Uncle Jiuxi beside him and found that the latter was looking at him with a disdainful expression, as if to say, "How can you, a child, be so unreasonable?"
The sounds from her side hadn't stopped, and Li Changshou's Daoist robe continued to flutter and fall.
Li Changshou looked up at the sky expressionlessly.
Junior Uncle, have you ever seen someone farting make their clothes billow like this?
Finally, after a "busy" period, calm was restored.
The neighboring seating area also saw figures sitting down one after another, the representatives of the Jiejiao Sect from the Dongsheng Shenzhou.
The two leading immortals bowed politely to the members of the Duxian Sect after arriving. The two senior martial uncles from their side responded with forced smiles, returning the gesture politely, and they all took their seats.
Hearing that there was no longer any sound from within the soundproof barrier, a true immortal from the Duxian Sect raised his hand and dispelled the barrier as if nothing had happened, saying casually, "Remember what we just reminded you of, and don't make any mistakes."
The disciples of the Duxian Sect responded in unison, "We will follow the teachings of our senior martial uncles (martial aunts)."
At this moment, a sea breeze blew from the Duxian Sect to the Donglin Gate of the Daoist Sect.
Several young disciples from the Donglin Gate stumbled and staggered forward.
A bright-eyed and white-toothed girl's face changed suddenly as she shouted loudly, "Third Senior Uncle, there's a demonic aura!"
A female immortal laughed and scolded, "Don't be so paranoid. That's just the sea breeze."
"There are so many shrimp soldiers and crab generals below, and there are clams standing beside them... Let's not talk about this. This is the territory of the Dragon Palace."
Immediately, the eight clam girls who had been enduring patiently, who were already on the verge of bursting into laughter, surrounded themselves with immortal light and retracted into their shells, and the eight pure white shells swayed.
Li Changshou observed the reactions of his fellow disciples with interest, gathering a lot of information.
For example, Xuanya was genuinely innocent. Her neck was so ashamed that it turned pink, and she was even trying to breathe hard, attempting to recover from the "disaster" she caused.
And the senior martial uncles and aunts who had lived for over a thousand years were all old hands. They remained calm and composed, without any hint of abnormality.
A senior martial uncle from the Duxian Sect transmitted his voice to the other twenty-six people in real-time, "As long as we remain calm, nothing will happen."
The disciples adjusted their state instantly.
Li Changshou withdrew his gaze from observing his fellow disciples and looked at Jiu, who had already returned to his seat. Then he shifted his gaze to the large clamshell closed beside him.
Did these clam girls hide because they were afraid of being hit?
Without the noisy accompaniment of the prehistoric percussion band, he began to concentrate on studying the operation principle of the array here and the fastest escape route in case of an emergency.
...
"The idle wind blows past the courtyard, I sing loudly on my own. Unconsciously, the immortal forest is desolate, as I brew wine and sway in the blue waves."
Above the white clouds, amidst the short song, the newly minted immortal disciples of the Duxian Sect returned somewhat tipsy from the banquet.
First, Daoist Qiyuan landed in front of his own disciple's door and shouted twice, only to find no response. He then glanced at the diligent disciple who was meditating in seclusion, and with a swaying motion, he returned to his own grass hut.
Just as he was about to push open the door, Daoist Qiyuan seemed to think of something and chuckled, "I've been in seclusion for the past ten years and haven't had a proper stroll around the Little Qiong Peak. Let's go see the scenery around here. The inheritance left by Master, I've managed to guard it temporarily."
With a light sigh, Daoist Qiyuan floated towards the nearby woods.
If this old Daoist had taken one more step forward and pushed open the wooden door in front of him, he would have seen a letter left on the table; and not just one, but the same letter was placed carefully on the table, on the cushion where the old Daoist was meditating, on the bed, and even on the beams of the room where he could see them when he looked up.
Li Changshou was afraid that his master wouldn't see them.
But Li Changshou had also miscalculated. The drunken master didn't go directly back to his favorite small house...
The contents of the letter were actually very simple, just congratulating the master on becoming an immortal, then explaining that the disciple had been sent by the sect to the East Sea and would take about seven or eight days to return. Finally, he cautioned the master not to go to the back, where many mazes and trapping arrays had been set up near the newly built alchemy room.
When he left, he had activated most of them...