Chapter 115: Fellow Daoist, the Road Has Narrowed

“The Internal Gate Grand Competition…”

A light drizzle began to fall over Xiaoqiong Peak.

Li Changshou finished organizing the pills in his alchemy room and headed toward the thatched hut, pondering the unavoidable event within the sect that involved him and his junior sister.

On the surface, his cultivation was at the first stage of Return to Dao Realm, maintaining a ranking among the top twenty or so disciples in the sect.

To the sect, he was a promising immortal seedling who had strayed a bit from the path, preferring to focus on alchemy and array formations.

For Li Changshou, however, this position was just right—it kept him from drawing too much attention while still affording him decent sect benefits.

He kept a wisp of immortal sense fixed on Kuai Si Dao Ren, who was in seclusion on Xianlin Peak, and directed most of his attention back to the matters at hand.

“It’s time to go check on the poisoned ones.”

Youqin Xuanya had arrived yesterday and should still be there.

Over the past dozen years, Youqin Xuanya’s visits to Xiaoqiong Peak had become quite regular.

Roughly every two years, she would show up on schedule.

It was like a routine duty, maintaining their friendship.

Coincidentally, it was also because she hadn’t seen a certain senior brother in a while, leaving her feeling a bit empty inside.

In her view, Senior Brother Li Changshou was a model for her own cultivation, and seeing him more often helped her ensure she wasn’t straying from the right path.

Each time she came, Li Changshou would avoid her, letting Ling E handle the chatting, playing, and tea-drinking.

Only when Youqin Xuanya was about to leave and return to Potian Peak for her seclusion would Li Changshou appear, exchange a few words with her, and bid farewell.

This way, Youqin Xuanya would feel the visit was complete and wouldn’t keep looking back as she left.

The fine rain blurred the air, and mist rose gradually.

Li Changshou soon reached the lake’s edge, took some fish food, and scattered it on the water.

The distant mountains faded from view, while the nearby water rippled gently.

In the thatched hut behind him, within a double-layered array, cups and plates lay in disarray from a feast long finished. Three graceful figures were dozing off on Ling E’s bed after drinking.

Youqin Xuanya was in her usual spot at the foot of the bed, sitting and sleeping soundly.

Ling E lay on one side, while Jiu Jiu sat slumped against the bed, hugging a wine jug.

All three had ghost faces drawn on their faces with rouge, with Jiu Jiu’s having the most, naturally because she had lost the worst yesterday.

Li Changshou glanced at Youqin Xuanya’s cultivation.

She was at the sixth stage of Return to Dao Realm, just three stages away from her heavenly tribulation.

Li Changshou had a slight worry about Youqin Xuanya’s tribulation.

Based on her demonstrated aptitude, her heavenly tribulation would be at least seven bolts, possibly even eight thunder tribulations.

However, Youqin Xuanya’s accumulation of experience was still shallow, and if she encountered a tribulation like his own, she might not make it.

Although Youqin Xuanya didn’t bring him much “benefit,” she was still half a friend.

He decided to give her a tenth of the tribulation preparation set he had made for Ling E.

With a faint smile, Li Changshou monitored his master’s condition while keeping an eye on that enemy.

Comparing the two, Li Changshou felt a bit indignant.

Back then, the incident involving “Junior Brother Qiqi” and “Senior Sister Yan’er” had been uncovered by Ling E, revealing rumors about their master, their master uncle, and Kuai Si Dao Ren.

According to the rumor, their master and Kuai Si Dao Ren had clashed over a dao companion, leading to a private duel.

But earlier, Master Uncle Jiu Wu had mentioned something about an “ambush.”

Based on Li Changshou’s investigations over the past decade and the hints he’d gotten from his master, he had pieced together the original story.

Roughly a thousand years ago, on Xiaoqiong Peak, their master had three disciples. Once the disciples’ cultivation was on track, the master went off wandering to seek a breakthrough.

He left behind Senior Sister Wan Jiangyu and Junior Brother Qi Yuan.

They were both promising seedlings from that cohort, with Wan Jiangyu ranked around eighth or ninth, and Qi Yuan around fourteenth or fifteenth.

The two had grown up together like childhood sweethearts, and in the environment of Duxian Sect where dao companion pairings were common, they naturally developed feelings for each other.

Later, Kuai Si from Xianlin Peak fell for Wan Jiangyu at first sight. He pursued her relentlessly for over a decade without success and redirected his anger toward Qi Yuan.

He provoked and confronted Qi Yuan secretly, eventually challenging him to a fight outside, only to launch a surprise attack and severely injure him.

That’s what led to Wan Jiangyu venturing out alone to gather herbs for Qi Yuan.

As for the rumor Ling E had first heard:

Wan Jiangyu was furious at being treated like a prize to be fought over, so she left the sect to find their master, while Qi Yuan dueled Kuai Si and was badly defeated.

—This was actually a version spread by Xianlin Peak back then, favoring Kuai Si.

At the time, Wan Jiangyu and their master had no support; Xiaoqiong Peak had no elders or immortals, so they had to swallow the bitterness.

Now…

Senior Uncle Wan Jiangyu had met a tragic end in Beiju Luzhou, with only her remnant soul entering the six paths of reincarnation.

Qi Yuan had suffered damage to his dao foundation, struggled for eight or nine hundred years, and should have perished under his heavenly tribulation, but was saved by a pill from his eldest disciple, Li Changshou.

This made Li Changshou quite upset.

What upset him wasn’t Kuai Si’s despicability—he had encountered people like that in his previous life.

What bothered him were two things:

First, the sect’s handling of the matter minimized it, allowing Xianlin Peak to protect Kuai Si.

Now, Kuai Si was thriving, with a dao companion, aiming for Tianxian Realm and seeking longevity, while his master could at most reach Zhenxian Realm.

Second, just how cornered and helpless must Senior Uncle Wan Jiangyu have felt, forced by Xianlin Peak to go alone to the northern continent, with so many immortals in the sect yet no one to help.

But it didn’t matter.

If the sect wouldn’t punish the culprit, he, as the disciple, would step in and seek justice for his master!

There were already frictions and discord between the peaks, a conclusion Li Changshou had drawn from observing for two or three years after joining.

So, he wouldn’t deliberately target Xianlin Peak; at most, in the Internal Gate Grand Competition, if he faced their disciples, he’d be a bit harsher.

“As long as you make a move.”

Li Changshou narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at Xianlin Peak through the rain and mist, watching the figure meditating deep in the cave.

“Senior brother? When did you get here?”

A soft call came from behind, and Li Changshou turned to see Ling E stepping out of the thatched hut.

She was running her fingers through her smooth hair, her pretty face flushed from just waking up, and she smiled slightly at Li Changshou.

In the hut behind her, the other two figures were slowly stirring.

Li Changshou returned a faint smile.

Back then, the senior sister couldn’t protect her junior brother, and no one stood up for Xiaoqiong Peak.

But now, things were different.

A moment later,

“Tsk tsk, Little Changshou, Little Ling E.

What ranking are you aiming for in this sect’s grand competition?”

Jiu Jiu leaned against the doorframe of the thatched hut, a slight smile on her lips, arms crossed as she asked.

Ling E blinked and looked at her senior brother.

Inside the hut, Youqin Xuanya, who was nervously adjusting her dress, tiptoed slightly to peek outside.

Clearly, they were both very interested in Li Changshou’s ambitions.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment. He had originally planned to say he’d aim for around the top fifty to get most of the sect’s rewards, as striving for the top twenty wasn’t necessary.

But to play it safe, he hesitated slightly and reported an expected ranking:

“Secure one hundred and eight, aim for seventy-two… I suppose.”

A light laugh escaped Ling E.

Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes, while Youqin Xuanya, who had just tied her sash, gently furrowed her brow.

Youqin Xuanya thought to herself: ‘Senior Brother Li Changshou is excellent in every way, but he’s sometimes too modest and lacks confidence.’

Just as she was about to speak, her junior uncle beat her to it, hands on her hips as she started lecturing:

“Little Changshou, can’t you aim a bit higher?

Everyone on Potian Peak knows I’m close to you!

If you rank too low in the grand competition, you’ll make me lose face too!”

Ling E just chuckled nearby. Knowing that her senior brother had already passed his immortal ascension tribulation, she wasn’t worried at all about his performance.

“Senior Brother Li Changshou.”

Youqin Xuanya stepped out of the hut and looked at Li Changshou.

“The grand competition is still three years away, and I’ve hit a few snags in my cultivation lately.

How about I come over more often? We can spar and exchange techniques for mutual benefit.”

Li Changshou smiled and replied, “Youqin Junior Sister, just focus on your cultivation. By then, I’ll put in some effort and should manage to reach the Tiangang level.”

“Now that’s more like it!”

Jiu Jiu huffed, though still a bit dissatisfied, and added, “The sect’s disciples are fixed every two hundred years, so this grand competition is crucial—it determines whether you can stay in the mountain gate for further cultivation.

Ling E has been a disciple for a short time, but you’ve been one for over a hundred years.

You absolutely have to hold onto the top thirty-six!”

“Junior Uncle is right!”

Li Changshou bowed sincerely, took a breath, and said seriously:

“In that case, I’ll be a bit bolder this time.

Secure seventy-two, aim for thirty-six!”

Jiu Jiu was deeply moved and gave Li Changshou a thumbs-up. “Although you can’t use poisoned pills or illusion drugs in the grand competition, and there won’t be space for arrays,

if you go all out, you can definitely do it!”

Ling E stood nearby with her hands behind her back, looking up at the sky as if uninterested.

“Senior Brother Li Changshou,” Youqin Xuanya stepped forward slightly, her eyes shining brightly, “what are your expectations for me?”

“As the chief disciple, you should naturally…”

Li Changshou paused, realizing his words might put pressure on Youqin Xuanya, so he changed it to: “Aim for the top three.”

“Hmph!”

Jiu Jiu snorted coldly, her aura flaring up aggressively.

She said fiercely, “Xuanya is going for first place. That’s the only way for the chief disciple to truly earn the title.”

Li Changshou laughed. “Combat isn’t just about cultivation; reaction in battle, matching divine abilities, and the number of treasures all play a role, and the last three might even have a bigger impact.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou suddenly paused.

His immortal sense detected that Kuai Si Dao Ren on Xianlin Peak had stood up and was walking toward the cave entrance.

Outside the cave, three young disciples were reporting on matters related to the grand competition.

Li Changshou’s thoughts raced, and he smiled casually before adding:

“If you don’t mind, Youqin Junior Sister, why don’t you come over tomorrow? We can spar for a few days.”

Youqin Xuanya immediately smiled. “Then, I’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, Junior Sister.”

Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya exchanged bows and shared a smile.

Youqin Xuanya didn’t think much of it; she was simply delighted.

Li Changshou, however, was considering that if Kuai Si Dao Ren was going out this time, then…

The first witness for his alibi was already in place.

Based on his understanding of the three people in front of him, the second witness for his alibi would soon volunteer.

“In that case! Ahem!”

Jiu Jiu put her hands behind her back, striking a pose like a master, and stepped forward twice. “Then I’ll reluctantly come over and guide you for a few days.

Remember to prepare your thank-you gifts—I want one hundred Sugar Bean Pills and ten portions of good wine!”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile.

In his master’s hut nearby, the weary Qi Yuan stood in the doorway. Hearing the laughter outside, he smiled faintly, then lowered his raised hand.

Afterward, Qi Yuan sat back on his meditation mat and continued his cultivation.

Li Changshou noticed this and thought for a moment, forming a plan.

Although revenge was important, helping his master regain his spirits and enjoy the rest of his life was equally vital.

After all, Li Changshou wasn’t seeking trouble with Kuai Si Dao Ren just for venting; he was simply righting a wrong for his master.

Kuai Si Dao Ren didn’t disappoint Li Changshou.

This Zhenxian who had been cultivating in the mountains for over a decade promised each of his disciples a top-quality treasure before the grand competition.

So, the next day, Kuai Si Dao Ren left the mountain and headed north toward a familiar market town.

Li Changshou wouldn’t miss this opportunity he’d waited over a decade for. He sent two paper effigies on their way, each carrying spares.

The other side flew ahead, while the paper effigies followed covertly with earth escape, trailing for two full days until they reached a market town near the border of Beiju Luzhou.

—To carry out an assassination, the farther from Duxian Sect’s mountain gate, the better.

The place was a mix of demons and humans, bustling and full of those doing shady deals for quick gains.

After a brief thought, Li Changshou began executing his second plan.

Half an hour later…

While Kuai Si Dao Ren was in a familiar treasure shop, selecting some dubious magical treasures for his disciples, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the street corner.

The daoist froze, his immortal sense locking onto the figure, his eyes puzzled.

The person was cloaked, but his face and build were identical to Kuai Si Dao Ren’s—down to the last detail!

However, his cultivation was only barely at Zhenxian Realm.

Although he was trying to inflate his aura to mid-Zhenxian, anyone with a keen eye could see through his feigned strength.

What was this?

“How dare you! Impersonating me here—you’re asking for death.”

Kuai Si Dao Ren told the shopkeeper he’d be back soon, then quickly stepped out, concealed his aura, and tailed the figure. Soon, he left the town and chased on a cloud.

Meanwhile, on Xiaoqiong Peak.

Li Changshou gestured invitingly to the strikingly radiant Youqin Xuanya.

“Go ahead, Junior Sister… and remember to hold back a bit today.”

Youqin Xuanya composed herself, bowed to Li Changshou, and immediately charged forward with her sword.