Chapter 100 Men should be honest with themselves...
"Why isn't the formation set up by Fifth Senior Brother working?"
Perched on a large gourd, Jiujiu rubbed her forehead, chewing on the Spirit Bean that promised "elasticity, non-stickiness, enhanced vitality." Drifting aimlessly, she had already reached the airspace above Xiaojiong Peak.
Jiujiu was feeling a bit dizzy...
The protective formation around her dwelling suddenly malfunctioned, throwing her off guard.
After several unsuccessful attempts, she couldn't just let it slide!
As an advanced True Immortal in the later stage of Qi Refinement, though not well-versed in the art of formations, she had her unique way of breaking them — using her immortal power to shield herself and then just breaking through with brute force.
Soon, Jiujiu managed to repair the formation under her dwelling using her experience from years of labor on Xiaojiong Peak.
Now, none of the original protective formations around her attic were functioning!
Jiujiu couldn't help but support her head with one hand, thinking that formations, alchemy, and refining tools were too complicated.
Wanting to ask for help with the formations, she found out that Senior Sister, Second Senior Brother, and Master were out investigating the enemy.
Third Senior Sister went to accompany her Dao companion, Eighth Senior Brother went with his Dao companion, busy handling the aftermath of their fellow disciples who died in the battle.
Fourth Senior Sister and Fifth Senior Brother, whom she was closest to, were also out with the elders of the Bai Fan Hall to purchase materials to replenish the mountain protection formation.
Sixth Senior Sister and Seventh Senior Brother were in seclusion, helping each other heal, and it was said they had some kind of, hmm, mysterious technique where they could help each other and progress together...
Thinking of this, Jiujiu chuckled to herself, sitting on the gourd and flying towards the formation around Xiaojiong Peak.
She didn't come today just to get wine; she had important matters to attend to.
— To ask Changshou for help in fixing the formations around her attic!
Reflecting on her failed attempt to repair the formations, she thought maybe it was because Changshou wasn't there to ramble on and on...
Entering the isolation formation around Xiaojiong Peak, Jiujiu couldn't help but smile contentedly.
Under the tree meditating was Linge, and in the alchemy room was Changshou, but Senior Brother Qiyuan was nowhere to be found.
Xiaojiong Peak seemed completely unaffected by the unexpected disaster from before, as peaceful and serene as ever, with a hint of humor.
Jiujiu didn't disturb Linge who was meditating, flying straight to the alchemy room. The formation ahead closed automatically.
She noticed on the way that some areas in the woods near the alchemy room had cleared out, and a few new ponds had appeared.
Feng Shui?
Jiujiu blinked but didn't pay much attention.
Changshou had already noticed Jiujiu; he stood in front of the alchemy room, secretly stopping the Paper Dao People he had sent out yesterday to solve the problems in the South Sea. They were temporarily stationed in an inconspicuous corner underground in the East Victory Divine Continent.
Most of his attention returned to his body, showing a slight smile to the approaching Junior Uncle.
After a moment, Jiujiu explained her purpose a bit hesitantly, straightening the hair by her ear with her hand.
"Could you help me once... with compensation?"
"Junior Uncle, if you need help, I'll do everything I can." Changshou smiled. "Compensation is unnecessary.
The recent incident with the sect being attacked made me realize many things. If Junior Uncle ever runs out of wine, just come here."
Jiujiu's eyes brightened at once. "Are you trying to secure your position with your little Junior Uncle?"
Changshou shook his head hurriedly, intentionally keeping a straight face, and said seriously, "Junior Uncle, such actions are inappropriate. After all, there's a difference in seniority between us. Though seniority isn't a big issue, I've always regarded you as a respected senior."
"I didn't mean that, I meant relying on someone, not..." Jiujiu's face turned slightly red, her hands behind her back in a tangle, her clean face showing a faint blush.
Changshou couldn't help but chuckle softly at her response. Jiujiu suddenly realized she seemed to have been teased by this Senior Nephew and couldn't help but glare at Changshou, sternly saying:
"Follow me! Fix the formation!
Dare to make fun of your Junior Uncle, itching for a fight, huh?
Hmph!
I'm not only going to make you tired, but I'll also exhaust you to half death!"
Changshou bowed, then let Jiujiu go back, while he himself returned to the alchemy room to meditate.
Closing his eyes, he moved his consciousness to the Paper Dao People he had sent out.
To quickly resolve the issue with the South Sea Divine Sect, Changshou had made some adjustments to the Paper Dao People over the past few days, sending them out with the help of his Master.
This time, the ones sent out were:
Newly created Divine Paper Person No.1 and No.2 as the leader and deputy; Six Divine Paper People for various tasks such as travel, escape, fighting at critical moments, and several original versions of divine paper with miraculous powers. The firepower they carried consisted mainly of miniature formations, self-developed poison-tipped artifacts, and poison pills that were not used in the recent battle of the sect.
Purpose of Action: The aim is to make the South China Sea Divine Sect collapse naturally using peaceful and covert means as quickly as possible, thereby freeing oneself from this unstable 'bomb'.
In control, responsible for carrying a group of paper Taoists and paper people, the Heavenly Number Two, executes the Earth Escape technique, concealing oneself more secretly, while leaving a thread of consciousness to remain vigilant.
After completing these tasks from a distance, Li Changshou sits quietly in the alchemy room for a while.
Calculating the time, he gets up, changes into a clean robe, and checks the various items on his body, pondering if there are any areas where his preparation might be insufficient...
He has always been hesitant to go to the South China Sea, mainly for fear of being ambushed by members of the Western Religion. Perhaps the experts of the Western Religion are lying in wait over there.
But now, sectarian conflicts have begun to emerge; before it develops into a large-scale battle among mortals, Li Changshou must go and intervene.
Considering everything, Li Changshou has decided not to recall the paper Taoists he sent out this time.
Furthermore, to avoid causing more trouble, Li Changshou has emphasized the 'suicidal' attribute of these paper Taoists when adjusting them these days; allowing them to 'die' anytime and anywhere, and maintain their transformed forms, self-ignite, self-burn, directly turning into ashes, disposing of themselves once and for all!
As a man, one should be ruthless towards one's own paper people!
Moreover, Li Changshou unexpectedly discovered during his previous inspection that perhaps because of the ashes of the group of demon experts buried under Xiaojiongfeng...
Those old spiritual trees have revived again!
"Before the little trees grow up, I still have to rely on you guys."
Li Changshou smiled, sat in front of the alchemy furnace, quietly contemplating his subsequent plans.
Merit and karma, these two things are very mysterious, and their relationship is quite close.
Although merit and karma can offset each other, according to Li Changshou's understanding:
Karma is equivalent to poison pills;
Merit is equivalent to detoxifying elixirs.
Even if he prepares ten thousand detoxifying elixirs, he still doesn't want to swallow a poisonous pill!
Even if karma is offset by merit, there may still be some traces left on oneself;
Although he has passed the Immortal Tribulation and achieved ascension, his cultivation has already stabilized. He has begun to steadily advance step by step towards the realm of longevity.
But there is still a hurdle ahead of him in the future...
The Golden Immortal Tribulation.
Heaven and earth do not allow living beings to live forever; living beings are meant to experience birth, aging, sickness, and death; this is the way of nature.
If there is no death, how can there be proof of life?
Unless there is the protection of merit, and the Heavenly Dao feels that allowing oneself to live forever is beneficial to the stability of heaven and earth, one can avoid the Golden Immortal Tribulation.
If karma entangles oneself, facing the Heavenly Tribulation is almost a dead end, whether it's the Immortal Tribulation or the Golden Immortal Tribulation, it's the same.
Therefore, Li Changshou does not want to touch any karma, and the matter of the South China Sea Divine Sect must be dealt with as soon as possible.
He will inevitably make several preparations to constantly strengthen himself;
Although the Golden Immortal Tribulation is terrifying, and the records of it in various ancient books are extremely rare, there should still be an upper limit on its intensity...
With the accumulation of his own Dao and cultivation, as long as he surpasses the upper limit of the Heavenly Tribulation, he will naturally have a seventy percent assurance of transcending it.
The remaining thirty percent is the preparation outside of his own cultivation.
"Alas..."
Li Changshou sighed lightly in front of the alchemy room.
In the final analysis, one still needs to undergo arduous cultivation;
"Be lenient with oneself during cultivation, and sow a bit of bitterness for oneself during tribulation."
Li Changshou murmured to himself, feeling that this sentence could also be included in the subsequent versions of the "Stability Sutra."
With a slight chuckle, Li Changshou soared into the sky and flew slowly towards the Broken Sky Peak...
Just now, when someone heard this sentence, it didn't matter.
At this point, his visible cultivation level is at the eighth stage of the Return to Void Realm, and it's only natural to start worrying about the Immortal Tribulation.
...
"Are you really going to make a move?"
In the depths of the South China Sea, on a sea surface near a certain fairy island.
A young-looking Ao Yi stood in front of a slightly higher-cultivated girl named Han Zhi, raising his head slightly, looking at the three fellow clan members in front of him.
In the fairy island, many human cultivators flew into the air, leisurely watching the conflict here.
The cause is actually very simple;
Ao Yi and Han Zhi were taking a stroll in the South China Sea and happened to come across the little cousin brother, the Second Prince of the South China Sea Dragon Palace, who was born and hatched almost at the same time as them.
At this moment, three dragon sons with horned heads and dressed in brocade stood in front of Ao Yi.
The one in the middle, although thin and weak in stature, with narrow eyes, and not as handsome as Ao Yi, had one point that Ao Yi couldn't compare to...
This person has a normal body size, standing at eight feet tall.
He is the Second Prince of the South China Sea Dragon Palace, Ao Mou.
Today's matter is that Ao Mou mocked Ao Yi, saying that he disgraced the dragon clan. Ao Yi originally didn't say anything, just wanting to take Han Zhi away and not willing to conflict with his fellow clan members.
But how could Han Zhi bear to see her own master's nephew being wronged?
With a retort, a light reprimand, the three dragons became angry, arguing with four sentences, not agreeing with five, and raising fists by six;
Onlookers chattered, causing inquiries from all directions, making it quite lively!
In short, both sides got into a conflict and agreed to have a showdown at sea.
When Ao Yi asked, "Are you really going to make a move?" Ao Mou sneered twice, gesturing for his two entourage dragons to step back.
At this point, Ao Mou's cultivation level is similar to that of Ao Yi. The two have similar bloodline powers and are both sons of dragon kings.
Although Ao Yi has been cleansed once, he has also gained a lot of benefits from the sect;
Ao Mou is confident in his profound and wonderful divine powers, wanting to teach a lesson today to the 'second cousin from the senior branch' who has brought shame to the dragon clan.
At this moment, the two dragon sons faced each other on the sea surface, and then began to fight.
The fight was quite intense, and both sides were evenly matched. However, Ao Yi soon gained the upper hand and suppressed Ao Mou.
However, Ao Mou remained calm and activated his divine powers, disappearing instantly from the sea surface.
In the water, he is invincible!
Divine power: Dragon Swimming in Water!
Ao Yi's eyes narrowed, and the ice and fire around him gathered momentum. His gaze searched the sea surface constantly.
He has experienced this feeling before...
Suddenly, several figures appeared on the sea surface, all resembling Ao Mou, holding long spears and long swords, charging towards Ao Yi!
However, Ao Yi remained calm. With a stomp on the sea surface, waves of seawater turned into blue dragons, smashing and bombing around him, shattering all these figures!
Layers of waves surged on the sea surface!
At this moment, Ao Yi suddenly leaped towards the left rear, raising his hand to clench his fist, and then turned this instinctual punch that would seriously injure the opponent into a palm!
With a loud bang, several water columns rose on the sea surface, adding to the chaos.
When the splashing sea water fell, looking at where Ao Yi's figure was...
At this moment, Ao Yi's feet were three feet above the sea surface, and his collected long hair lightly swayed behind him;
His left hand was behind his back, and his right hand was extended forward, grabbing Ao Mou's neck and lifting the eight-foot-tall slender dragon son into the air.
Ao Mou's eyes widened, trembling as he said:
"How did you find my figure..."
Ao Yi said indifferently: "Your kind of divine power is far inferior to my good friend's."
With that said, the image of that courteous and knowledgeable human cultivator appeared in Ao Yi's mind again. He casually threw Ao Mou, who was holding him, to the side.
"Go, apologize to my nephew."