Chapter 134: I... Have a Daoist Friend

Without the Xiongxin Pill, the income from their assets had suddenly shrunk by half.

Li Changshou gazed at the intricate array design diagram he had just completed, roughly estimating the quantity, quality, and value of the materials needed for refining the array base. He couldn't help but ponder for a moment.

His long-term plan was to transform Xiaoqiong Peak into a treasure, creating a comprehensive portable cave abode that combined offense, defense, living, and entertainment.

Now, the path to "treasure-ization" would require three steps.

For safety's sake, the first step was to turn Xiaoqiong Peak into a movable composite array focused on offense and defense, while meeting the basic requirement of being able to expand or shrink.

Since his immortal power wasn't sufficient to directly refine the entire Xiaoqiong Peak, he would have to rely on a Qiankun array to compensate, though such arrays demanded high structural integrity...

Li Changshou did some calculations:

"If I only rely on the monthly allowances from me, my master, and my junior sister, plus Xiaoqiong Peak's fixed quota, it would probably take about thirty thousand years.

If I go by the current speed of earning from refining and selling pills in the market towns, it would take around a thousand years or more..."

A thousand years might not seem too long, given his current lifespan, and Du Xian Men likely wouldn't fall within that time.

Still, Li Changshou wanted to complete it as soon as possible for a greater sense of security.

So, he spent half a day devising several methods to earn a little money—ones that wouldn't require leaving the sect, wouldn't expose his hidden strengths, and wouldn't disrupt harmony within the sect.

After careful consideration, Li Changshou dismissed several ideas in a row.

For example, things like "Xiaoqiong Peak Trapping Array and Illusion Array Tour" or "Xiaoqiong Peak Barbecue Villa" would interfere with his junior sister's and master's cultivation.

In the end, he settled on the option with the least impact and the smallest returns, quickly preparing the necessary items and placing them by the lake on Xiaoqiong Peak...

At least, he hadn't wasted that half day.

It was a wooden box about half a zhang tall, with one side open, containing a wooden carving of a "big-bellied cat." The carving's paint job was lazily done.

Beside the box stood a wooden sign that read:

This item is called the Xian Mao Bu Suan Tong;

In reality, it's a response bucket that provides some suggestions based on what you say;

Before use, please insert valuable items such as spiritual stones, treasures, or pills into the mouth of the Cat Immortal, and the bamboo slip with the response will appear below the box.

Note: By using it, you agree to the terms of the Xiaoqiong Peak Response Bucket; refunds are not accepted.

Sincerely, Xiaoqiong Peak's peak master, Qi Yuan.

'Who would fall for something like this?'

Li Changshou shook his head, secretly leaving a small strand of Chong Tong Spider silk on the box, then drifted away, returning to his pill room to continue refining pills and seeking enlightenment.

Inside the bucket, there were some subtle designs, holding forty-nine bamboo slips, each inscribed with words that were "not too bad" or ambiguous.

"I really don't have any talent for tricking people," Li Changshou sighed.

He then activated the black pill furnace and began adding the previously sorted medicinal ingredients.

Half a day later...

Li Changshou's mind stirred, and an image of the area in front of the bucket appeared in his thoughts:

A small head leaned in close, with delicate features and a charming face, framed by shoulder-length light brown hair. She examined the wooden cat inside.

Seeing that face so suddenly up close, Li Changshou didn't react at first.

But as she bent forward, her tight linen short-sleeved top...

Jiu Shishu!

At the same time, Li Changshou's targeted Wind Speech Spell picked up Jiu Shishu's muttering...

"Response bucket?

Who's getting tricked here? Just put out something like this and expect people to hand over spiritual stones?"

Jiu Shishu chuckled lightly, casually picking up a stone and tossing it into the mouth of the wooden cat.

Then, she said seriously:

"Response bucket, listen up. I have a little problem—how can I get more fine wine, delicious food, and handsome men?

Hmm... scratch that last one."

Li Changshou smiled slightly, his mind moving slightly as the miniature array in the bucket activated, shooting out a bamboo slip from the small opening below, which Jiu Jiu caught.

Jiu Jiu looked at the words and read softly:

"Heart filled with many doubts, the answer lies within; don't forget the well-digger, and cherish as you go?"

Jiu Jiu blinked, murmuring, "That has a bit of meaning to it."

She flipped the slip over and saw the note: Please do not take away; return it to the side opening of the bucket. She casually shoved it back.

Naturally, she didn't recognize that it was Qi Yuan's handwriting.

Jiu Jiu thought for a moment, then took out a spiritual stone that was nearly depleted of energy and threw it into the big-bellied cat's mouth.

Then she said:

"I'll ask you another question. Lately, I've been hearing my Sixth and Fourth Senior Sisters complain about their dao companions. Is having a dao companion a good thing or a bad thing?"

In the pill room, Li Changshou pondered briefly, flicked his finger, and the miniature array ejected another bamboo slip.

Jiu Jiu picked it up and read softly:

"The immortal path is vast and ethereal, the human path clear and bright; immortals and mortals must part, so why dwell in worry...

Oh, that sounds really insightful!

This thing is quite accurate."

After murmuring, Jiu Jiu glanced around, set up a soundproof barrier, and carefully placed a high-quality jade into the response bucket.

She clapped her hands together in a proper manner, took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

"It's like this, Cat Immortal. I have a dao friend...

She's in debt to a nephew who's much younger than her and from a lower generation—owing so many favors that she doesn't know how to repay them.

What should she do?"

Li Changshou chuckled to himself, considering the value of that piece of jade, and this time gave her an "excellent" slip.

"Live freely and at ease, without obstacles or troubles; since you've stepped onto the immortal path, why worry about the way ahead?"

Jiu Jiu stood there, absorbing the words, then suddenly looked enlightened. She bowed respectfully to the Cat Immortal and turned away with a joyful expression.

'Probably only someone like Jiu Shishu, who's had too much to drink and... ahem, would fall for this.'

Li Changshou thought with a light laugh. That piece of jade was quite good—he could exchange it for some materials later.

However, to his surprise...

Two days later, Jiu Jiu brought along Jiu Luer...

Jiu Luer also had some troubles and asked about her own romantic fate, but she started with:

"I have a dao friend..."

Li Changshou, of course, didn't want to be unkind;

The slip he provided advised her to stay calm, focus more on cultivation, and remember that with confidence, nothing is impossible.

Jiu Luer pondered for a bit, then smiled sweetly, bowed to the Cat Immortal, and gracefully departed.

This time, the earnings were decent—Jiu Luer contributed several large spiritual stones.

In the following half month, Jiu Jiu and the other eight immortals came one after another, along with five or six true immortals from Potian Peak whom they knew. Li Changshou gained over a hundred spiritual stones and spiritual jades out of nowhere.

When he tallied it up, it nearly equaled his monthly allowance...

And each time, these people left satisfied, gaining nothing substantial, just confirming their own thoughts through this method. Li Changshou didn't incur any karma from it.

Could this method actually work?

He only needed to spare a thread of his mind occasionally, which wasn't taxing at all.

Li Changshou was a bit surprised and worked through the night to prepare three hundred and sixty bamboo slips. He expanded the bucket a little and made the internal arrays and restrictions more precise.

The content on the slips wasn't very complex and had no real meaning—it could be interpreted positively, negatively, or even biasedly.

It all depended on which answer the seeker was inclined toward in their heart.

For those with genuine dilemmas or confusion seeking solutions, Li Changshou had prepared three types of slips.

The first: noble helpers on the path ahead;

The second: step back for a broader view;

The third: look within your own heart...

Thus, the response bucket became more refined and quickly perfected. From then on, one or two people came to seek advice every day.

Li Changshou moved it to the back mountain forest of Xiaoqiong Peak to avoid disturbing his master's cultivation.

What amused Li Changshou was that most seekers would preface their questions with:

"I... have a dao friend..."

Another half month later, near dusk,

A familiar figure quietly appeared in front of the response bucket.

She wore an ice-blue long skirt, was strikingly beautiful but not one for casual smiles—it was Youqin Xuanya.

At first, Li Changshou thought she might be here to cause trouble, but Youqin Xuanya soon performed a few familiar actions...

She glanced around, set up a barrier, took a deep breath, and... inserted two immortal spiritual stones!

Li Changshou, who was refining pills, couldn't help but look serious. For Youqin Shimei to use something so valuable, what major issue had she encountered?

Yet, to his surprise...

"Cat Immortal, I... I have a dao friend."

Youqin Xuanya said softly:

"She doesn't know what's happening, but lately, she's been feeling restless at times, with thoughts of a senior brother popping into her mind. Whenever she's idle from cultivation, the first thing she thinks of is going near that senior brother.

She doesn't always see him, but just being nearby calms her thoughts.

My dao friend holds great admiration for this senior brother and sees him as a role model, but her master... her master says this might be the stirrings of romantic feelings, which confuses her greatly.

Cat Immortal, what should she do?"

Li Changshou: ...

Seizing this opportunity, he decided to hint to Youqin Xuanya to stop fixating on him.

Li Changshou quickly selected an "excellent" slip from the bunch and used the array to send it out.

"The immortal path holds many wonders; don't be bound by form. Tomorrow brings new fortunes; laugh your way to the great dao."

Youqin Xuanya read the slip and immediately fell into thought.

She quickly understood something, smiled in relief, and bowed to the big-bellied Cat Immortal.

"Thank you for the guidance, Cat Immortal."

With that, she turned and rode the clouds toward her own... poker... ahem, the royal gambling house.

"Youqin Shimei should have gotten the message," Li Changshou murmured. The slip he gave was straightforward: focus on cultivation, and the great dao awaits, with even better prospects ahead.

However, Youqin Shimei's way of thinking was always unique and unconventional, so Li Changshou wasn't sure how effective his hint had been...

Half a day later, Jiu Wu flew over with a furrowed brow.

This shibo didn't seek a slip or advice; he just circled the thing a couple of times.

Then, this shibo figured something out and laughed:

"Little Changshou's idea with this thing is pretty good. It's helpful for the sect to have someone offering advice like this. That sneaky little mind of yours isn't wasted."

Li Changshou couldn't help but transmit his voice: "Shibo, I can hear you."

"Cough, I have other matters to attend to. This was just a visit on behalf of the Bai Fan Hall. I'll head back to report now."

With that, Jiu Wu rode the clouds and hurried away, quite swiftly.

With Jiu Wu Shibo smoothing things over at Bai Fan Hall, the response bucket was now officially approved and could stay.

In the days that followed, one or two people came to seek advice every day, mostly from Potian Peak.

The bucket's reputation hadn't spread yet.

Li Changshou's gains were quite substantial.

After all, it was a business with no overhead—the good or bad of it all came down to the slip, much like the priests at the South Sea Sea God Temples.

Soon, Li Changshou came up with another moneymaking idea.

He built a simple isolation array around the response bucket. For five spiritual stones placed in a box, the array could be activated for half a shichen!

Out of those five stones, Li Changshou would pocket four.

Of course, he left himself a backdoor to hear anything said to the Cat Immortal at any time.

Two months later, Liu Feixian, looking gloomy and listless, floated over. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, placed five spiritual stones in the box to activate the array, and put two bottles of pills into the Cat Immortal's mouth.

This slightly plump Dan Ding Peak true immortal in charge sighed quietly and said:

"Qi Yuan Shidi... oh, no, Cat Immortal.

I... have a dao friend.

He did something foolish earlier, driven by greed, and it led to some accidents.

Now, whenever he's out, he gets beaten up for no reason. Once, while cultivating in his cave, he inexplicably fell asleep and woke up stripped and tied to a tree...

My dao friend knows he was wrong and wants to make amends, but this constant torment is making it impossible to cultivate peacefully. What can he do?"

Li Changshou chuckled and flicked his finger, sending out an encouraging slip.

But as soon as he finished, Li Changshou instinctively frowned.

A sudden sense of impending blood—something must be happening at the South Sea Sea God Temple, and this time, it was an ominous sign!

He quickly performed a divination...

It was indeed a harbinger of disaster!