Chapter 132: The True and False Little Pill

People, after all, must endure the lashings of a cultivator's life to stand firm between heaven and earth, to vie with the sun and moon, and to seek a semblance of eternal peace.

Cultivation can never be smooth sailing, so we must strive to avoid karma.

Moreover, this world is always brewing with calamities, so we need sufficient strength and must experience some hardships in advance to survive those disasters well...

“Is this...

the reason why you, Senior Brother, were hung up and beaten by Master for two hours?”

In Li Changshou’s thatched hut, Lan Ling’e couldn’t help but chuckle through her tears, furrowing her brow as she looked at her senior brother lying prone on the straw bed.

The severity of his beating was the second worst she had seen since entering the mountain.

She didn't know what had come over Master; it had been ages since he lost his temper so badly.

“Senior Brother, what on earth did you do?”

“Heh, that doesn’t matter,” Li Changshou’s mouth twitched slightly. “Although there was a bit of an accident in the process, Master should be in good spirits now.”

“Hmm?” Lan Ling’e blinked lightly, a bit puzzled.

Originally, Li Changshou had planned to have Master go to the market town for a stroll, then arrange for a few female Qi refiners with lower cultivation to approach him proactively, thereby boosting Master’s confidence.

This way, it wouldn't invite any karma—just some casual conversation—and with him controlling the heart fire with his mind, it wouldn’t lead to genuine affection between them.

But he never expected...

The person went, the flirtation came, and the pill shattered;

Though it was only a brief moment, the sight of a group of female Qi refiners mixed with strange things swarming toward Master was truly...

Memorable and profoundly impactful.

What surprised Li Changshou even more was the sudden rampage of those spirit beasts...

If he hadn't reacted quickly, using the Paper Daoist to whisk Master away amid the chaos and then escaping via earth escape, they might have been left to cover the market town’s losses!

Xiao Qiong Peak couldn’t afford that.

However, this experiment accidentally revealed that Xin Huo Shao had an unexpectedly effective impact on spirit beasts and demonic beasts.

With this lesson learned, Li Changshou decided to seal away Xin Huo Shao for now and keep it as one of his trump cards, to be used later depending on the situation.

Indeed, after messing with reverse inquiry pills, it was time to stop.

But Li Changshou’s initial idea was to use Xin Huo Shao in battles to disrupt the opponent’s state of mind, achieving victory.

This attempt to help Master was also a ‘practical evaluation’ of the pill’s effects...

Moreover, the Xin Huo Shao that shattered this time was only a first-grade spirit pill;

He still had a few third-grade spirit pills of Xin Huo Shao on hand, and he wondered if they could affect the state of mind of experts in the Tianxian realm during a fight.

That, however, wasn't easy to test.

“Senior Brother, shall I rub your back for you?”

“No need, no need,” Li Changshou sighed. “This minor injury can heal anytime. This time, I was a bit careless in handling things, so let it serve as a warning.

You go and keep Junior Uncle company; don’t let her come over, or it’ll just add injury to insult.”

“Then... alright...”

Lan Ling’e glanced back at him repeatedly, still worried, as she left the hut.

Li Changshou inhaled sharply, lying there in silence as he took out a stone slab and began revising and improving the Steadfast Sutra.

Suddenly, a few chuckles came from the adjacent hut. Li Changshou swept his immortal sense over and saw his Master constantly changing robes, his whole demeanor radiating vitality...

Though there were twists and turns, all this fuss seemed to have achieved the desired effect.

In the secret chamber beneath the pill room, Li Changshou’s true body smiled slightly, glanced at the Paper Daoist in the hut that had taken the beating for him, and began his daily enlightenment practice.

Dong Mu Gong hadn’t appeared at the Sea God Temple for two consecutive years since his last visit to express thanks.

Li Changshou wasn’t in a hurry about this; his mindset remained very stable.

If he could connect with the potential stock that was Yu Di, that would be great; if not, it just meant his advice was too superficial, and later he could just go to Heaven Court to seek a minor official position or a divine role.

Gains and losses in all things are the way of the heavens.

Besides, two years was nothing; for existences above Jin Xian like Yu Di and Dong Mu Gong, it might just be the time for a single seclusion or a minor insight, not even enough to handle some major affairs...

What slightly reassured Li Changshou was that Elder Wan Linjun had safely returned from Bei Ju Lu Continent and even specifically summoned him to admire those few ferocious poisonous insects.

Afterward, Elder Wan Linjun went into seclusion to attempt refining an immortal sense poison pill; those two Paper Daoists remained by the elder’s side.

Although Li Changshou had considered secretly providing Elder Wan Linjun with some of the ready-made Xin Huo Shao...

After careful thought, he dismissed the idea.

Elder Wan Linjun was quite proud, and Li Changshou also wanted to see what kind of immortal sense poison pill the elder could refine with his poison pill skills.

Plus, he could pick up a few to expand his arsenal of trump cards.

Over these two years, life in cultivation had finally returned to its usual stability.

After Lan Ling’e and You Du Shimei discovered the secret to improving efficiency, the spirit beast enclosure progressed impressively, completing in just over a year.

With a wave of his hand, Li Changshou waived that ‘spit debt.’

Once the spirit beast enclosure was built, Youqin Xuanya felt she had delayed her cultivation for too long, so she returned to her own cave abode for long-term seclusion.

In terms of self-discipline, Youqin Xuanya was quite good; previously, she had just fallen victim to Jiu Jiu Shishu’s peculiar technique.

Lately, Li Changshou had been thinking of asking Jiu Jiu a question...

Every day, she was lost in drunken haze on Xiao Qiong Peak; what was the point of the defensive array she had spent a millennium building for her pavilion?

However, Jiu Jiu’s cultivation style had always been like this—‘enlightenment doesn't come once, so eat and drink for a hundred years.’

Following one’s heart and acting freely was indeed the true essence of the Wuwei Scripture.

Overall, Jiu Jiu’s cultivation progress was about 30 to 40 percent faster than those ‘peers with similar aptitudes’ who cultivated daily in seclusion.

But achieving true desirelessness and inaction was extremely difficult; for Jiu Jiu Shishu, it was partly due to her excessive drinking.

There hadn’t been much noticeable activity from Xian Lin Peak; Kui Si’s disappearance hadn’t affected Xian Lin Peak much.

From top to bottom, from his widow to his disciples, they all viewed Kui Si’s death as the result of him recklessly picking fights and getting killed in return...

This saved Li Changshou a lot of effort, and he decided to continue monitoring Xian Lin Peak for another three hundred years.

If no one mentioned it again, he’d let it be.

If someone brought it up...

Then Li Changshou would have to plan again and completely resolve that karma.

Li Changshou had thought this period of calm would last until the grand Daoist event of the Three Teachings Origin Conference in Central Divine Continent, so he shifted his daily focus to enlightenment and improving the Turtle Technique.

Unexpectedly, peace had only lasted two years...

That day, Jiu Wu flew urgently from the direction of Dan Ding Peak, startling Li Changshou.

He had just given him two bottles of Xiong Xin Dan half a month ago, and it wasn’t yet time for delivery.

“Changshou! Quick! Something’s wrong!”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou stepped out of the pill room to greet him. “Take it slow, Shibo.”

Jiu Wu said urgently: “There’s a problem with the Xiong Xin Dan!

A Tianxian realm elder took it and today became muddled and deranged in behavior.

He’s currently being treated by the elders on Dan Ding Peak!”

Li Changshou frowned, immediately sensing the oddity.

Xiong Xin Dan was refined by him; every ingredient passed through his hands, and he had thoroughly checked the properties of each pill.

Moreover, over the years, nearly a dozen elders with dao companions had used it, and at least eleven or twelve veteran Zhenxian had used it to stimulate their aging mindsets...

It only had effects like ‘daydreaming’ and ‘emotional surges,’ and after his improvements, he had specifically reduced the amount of Love Stone Water.

Jiu Wu said: “This matter has alarmed the Supreme Elders—what do we do?”

“Shibo, are you sure the elder’s condition is due to our Xiong Xin Dan?”

“According to what the elder said, it seems to be...”

“Let’s go and take a look.”

Li Changshou rarely showed a serious expression as he jumped onto Jiu Wu’s cloud, and the two headed toward Dan Ding Peak.

On the way, Li Changshou’s mind raced, using his immortal sense to observe Dan Ding Peak and analyzing whether this was a deliberate scheme.

Once he landed, he transmitted a message to Jiu Wu with a few instructions, then headed toward a pavilion where seven or eight elders had gathered.

Fortunately, Elder Wan Linjun was there, which saved Li Changshou some explanations.

Jiu Wu announced: “Nephew Changshou has arrived!”

The elders in front turned around, most wearing worried expressions; some held a Xiong Xin Dan in their hands, likely analyzing its properties.

A disheveled middle-aged Daoist sat in a chair, head bowed in slumber;

Li Changshou quickly detected a trace of Bewitching Drunken Soul Powder—it was probably Elder Wan Linjun who had put him to sleep.

“Changshou, is there an antidote for Xiong Xin Dan?”

“This poor Daoist has taken one and felt fine—why does it have such hidden dangers?”

“Everyone, please don’t worry,” Li Changshou bowed in salute. “May I approach and examine this elder’s condition in detail?

Though my cultivation is shallow and my skills in the Dao of Pills insufficient, since I refined the Xiong Xin Dan, I might be able to discern something.”

Elder Wan Linjun spoke: “Let Changshou have a look.”

The other elders immediately cleared a path, and Li Changshou bowed again before stepping forward cautiously.

He didn’t display any immortal power; instead, he placed one hand on the sleeping elder’s arm and focused his senses.

Soon, Li Changshou had a clear idea. He turned to Jiu Wu and said:

“Shibo, when you presented the pill, did you instruct that one should not take any other pills with similar properties within three days of taking Xiong Xin Dan?”

Jiu Wu nodded promptly: “I haven’t forgotten any of the items you warned me about, nephew.”

Li Changshou nodded slightly and said: “Please, esteemed elders, bear witness and help search this elder’s storage treasure for any remnants of Xiong Xin Dan.”

Before the others could speak, Elder Wan Linjun stepped forward: “I’ll handle it.”

The other elders swallowed their words.

The dominant figure of Cold Face Peak was online, intimidating as ever.

Although searching another’s storage treasure was quite rude and forcibly opening it might damage the restrictions, Li Changshou knew he had to clarify this matter immediately to avoid being wrongly blamed.

Quickly, Elder Wan Linjun dispelled the restrictions on the storage treasure, searched inside, and retrieved a jade bottle, pouring out three pale blue pills.

Li Changshou beckoned one over with a wave, pinched it between his fingers, then shook his head and stepped back without saying more.

The other elders rushed forward to examine the remaining two pills’ properties and infer their effects, soon changing their expressions slightly...

“Who refined this pill?”

“It looks just like Xiong Xin Dan, but the Xiong Xin Dan refined by Nephew Changshou has balanced and upright properties. These two pills, though, carry a hint of evil aura.”

Elder Wan Linjun snorted coldly and was about to act, intending to wake the sleeping elder.

He had finally found a promising junior, only for someone to frame him like this!

“Elder!”

Li Changshou called out hastily, “Elder, please hold.”

Elder Wan Linjun said firmly: “How can I not be urgent? The one who recklessly refined this pill has harmed others and unjustly damaged your reputation!”

Li Changshou gave a bitter laugh, secretly observing the expressions of the elders present, and sighed:

“This matter shouldn’t be spread around.

The one who refined this pill must be a senior in the sect, likely because my cultivation is too low and the production of Xiong Xin Dan too scarce, so they analyzed the recipe and made it themselves.

I never intended to profit or gain fame from Xiong Xin Dan; I originally just gave it to Jiu Wu Shibo to bolster his ambitions.

Later, because the elders had needs, Jiu Wu Shibo offered it up.

In fact, I put a lot of effort into this pill, to the point of neglecting my own cultivation, but it’s truly not easy to refine.

So, the root of this issue lies with me.”

Elder Wan Linjun frowned, about to speak, but Li Changshou continued:

“I’ll work with Jiu Wu Shibo to offer the Xiong Xin Dan to the Hall of Universal Affairs, and from now on, it will be distributed by the sect.

Please, esteemed elders, quietly inform the other elders who need Xiong Xin Dan not to seek it from Jiu Wu Shibo anymore—just go directly to the Hall of Universal Affairs.

I still have some pills in my furnace, so I’ll take my leave first.”

With that, Li Changshou bowed and turned to leave.

The elders snapped back to attention and called out:

“Changshou, don’t be upset; we’ll give you a proper account of this.”

“Changshou, perhaps it’s best not to submit the pill to the Hall of Universal Affairs...”

But Li Changshou didn’t look back.

In this context, he displayed the aloof pride of a ‘youth skilled in alchemy.’

“Hmph!”

Elder Wan Linjun slammed his copper staff on the ground, making the other elders jump.

“After living for tens of thousands of years, you’re all still not as good as this junior!

If I find out who refined this fake pill and caused harm, I won’t let them off!”

On the other side, as soon as Li Changshou flew out of Dan Ding Peak on his cloud, Jiu Wu hurried after him.

Before Jiu Wu could speak, Li Changshou whispered: “Jiu Wu Shibo, I recall there’s a sect manager on Dan Ding Peak named Liu Feixian...”

“That’s right—what about it?”

“Shibo, lean in closer...”

Li Changshou bent down and whispered a few words into Jiu Wu’s ear.