Chapter 167: You Think I Might Have Lost, But...

“Cousin, those seniors have all left.”

Xiong Lingli looked up at the sky and murmured softly.

Li Changshou, who was meditating in the shadows beside her, nodded slowly without lifting his head, lost in his own thoughts.

Glancing at Youqin Xuanya, who was immersed in cultivation within the barrier, Li Changshou felt a slight twitch in his heart.

He was devising a type of immortal pill called “Ni Xiong Xin Dan,” planning to use it later to counter his poisonous junior sister’s toxic arts...

This time, the Fa Ye Bird Cage had helped his poisonous junior sister survive her heavenly tribulation, and since he had used her a few times before, he no longer felt indebted.

“Later, if she comes to Xiaoqiong Peak again, I’ll avoid her and won’t say goodbye.”

This way, he could gradually reduce their connections and avoid attracting more karma in the future.

As the “Wen Zi Jing” says: If friends are many, troubles cannot be avoided; if friends are few, disasters can be evaded.

“I... truly do not deceive myself!”

Li Changshou shook his head slightly in his heart, praying for a peaceful immortal path and a secure, long life.

As for the Fa Ye Bird Cage...

The departure of the various “Yuan Liu” great immortals marked the end of the main event at the Three Teachings Yuan Liu Assembly.

But for the immortal sects on the ground, various tedious aftermaths would follow.

The Empty Void Sect Leader’s worry about troublemakers was likely imminent...

Sure enough, as soon as the Three Teachings immortals dispersed, the sect leaders of the Xiaoyao Xian Zong from Ren Jiao and the other four immortal sects came together to seek out Ji Wuyou.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ji Wuyou called Li Changshou over.

“Changshou,” Ji Wuyou smiled and gave Li Changshou a meaningful look, “come and meet these seniors.”

“As the sect leader commands.”

Li Changshou stepped forward and performed a standard dao salute to the five elderly immortals before him, his forehead beading with sweat as he felt a bit nervous. He said,

“Disciple of Du Xian Men, Li Changshou... greets the five sect leaders.”

An old woman with a full smile spoke warmly first: “You certainly have good fortune.”

Naturally, she was referring to Youqin Xuanya’s declaration.

Indeed, these five did not touch his dao body, and even up close, they couldn’t see through the sixth edition of the “Gui Jue”... Li Changshou breathed a slight sigh of relief in his heart.

Then, the old woman continued warmly: “Changshou, do you know how many Ren Jiao disciples who might have perished in heavenly tribulation could safely pass it with your bird cage?

I know you don’t have the method to refine it, but could you bring it out for us to examine?

Perhaps we can figure out how to refine it, and then you’d have done a great deed. This poor daoist would offer a generous gift in return.”

A generous gift...

Li Changshou glanced at his sect leader, and Wuyou Daoist subtly winked at him...

What did that mean?

Li Changshou frowned slightly, more beads of sweat forming on his forehead: “Please... forgive me, seniors. I’m afraid I can’t produce this item.”

The old woman frowned: “Why not? Do you want to keep it for yourself? Or only use it within Du Xian Men?”

Another elder said in a low voice: “We of Ren Jiao’s six immortal sects are all one family. Hiding it like this... doesn’t seem right.”

Li Changshou looked again at his sect leader, but Wuyou Daoist looked troubled...

Well, the sect leader wasn’t very reliable, and his signals were too slow.

Fortunately, he had already thought of a way to respond.

Li Changshou quickly performed another dao salute, his voice growing softer and more helpless: “I dare not hide it.

But helping others pass heavenly tribulation would inevitably entangle one in karma...

Although this item is hard to refine, your sects surely have many master artificers who could replicate it without much trouble.

You seniors are sect leaders of great sects. Can you guarantee... that this item won’t spread beyond Ren Jiao?

I feel that if it spreads, and it helps good immortals achieve the dao, one could share in their blessings, but if it helps evil immortals, one would surely suffer their misfortunes.

In the upper volume of Du Xian Men’s ‘Wu Wei Jing,’ it warns...

To practice the way of non-action while acting, following the natural order...”

The five sect leaders frowned, suddenly at a loss for words.

The immortals of Du Xian Men listening nearby felt puzzled, but the elders nodded in agreement.

Especially Wangqing Shangren, who gazed at Li Changshou’s back with a touch of emotion in his eyes...

Ji Wuyou smiled and stepped forward two paces, positioning himself between Li Changshou and the five Ren Jiao sect leaders.

Li Changshou’s mind steadied a bit, knowing his sect leader was supporting him, which eased half his worries.

Later, if there’s a chance, he’d try to introduce the sect leader to the Great Mage—after all, the sect leader was a golden immortal, and he could handle errands for Doushuai Palace...

Hmm, this definitely wasn’t about finding a new treasure bearer for the Great Mage!

A white-haired elder chuckled: “In this vast Honghuang Three Realms, who can truly avoid karma?

Changshou, you’re overthinking this.”

“I’m not...”

Li Changshou paused mid-sentence, a hint of surprise in his heart.

For his immortal sense had detected that among the Chan Jiao’s Yuxu Palace immortals who had already left, one slender old immortal was returning with a flower basket...

Yunzhongzi!

This master artificer of Honghuang—was he also interested in the Fa Ye Bird Cage?

Li Changshou’s thoughts raced as he continued: “I’m not overthinking; I just feel that this item was entrusted to me by an elder before their passing. If because of it, I bring karmic obstacles to that elder’s reincarnated self, wouldn’t that be...”

“It won’t be as serious as you say,” another old woman sighed with a smile. “Just bring it out and let us take a look; that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, deliberately stalling for time until Yunzhongzi arrived.

When Yunzhongzi was still a hundred li away and seemed to be listening in, Li Changshou hesitated and said: “It’s fine to show it to you, but there needs to be a master artificer present.

If he examines it and says it can’t be refined, then please, sect leaders, don’t trouble me further.

I’ve only been on the cultivation path for about two hundred years and really... can’t handle it.”

Ji Wuyou laughed: “Don’t worry; these sect leaders are the pillars of Ren Jiao. How could they trouble a young disciple like you?”

Their back-and-forth left the others momentarily speechless.

The five Ren Jiao sect leaders began discussing among themselves, but before they reached a conclusion, a voice laughed from the air: “May this poor daoist take a look as well?”

As he spoke, Yunzhongzi’s figure flashed from a hundred li away, using the Qiankun Escape technique, leaving trails of afterimages in the sky that revealed his profound cultivation.

Yunzhongzi appeared, and Ji Wuyou along with the other five sect leaders, as well as the disciples of Du Xian Men and the neighboring sects, all performed dao salutes and greetings: “We greet the senior (Fude Golden Immortal, Shibo).”

In his heart, Li Changshou felt truly uneasy, worried that this great figure might see through his disguise and cause more trouble.

However, to his surprise, Yunzhongzi directly sent him a voice transmission: “Don’t worry; this poor daoist will help resolve this situation.

Earlier, when Xuandu Shixiong left, he instructed me not to reveal your identity.

This poor daoist owes Xuandu Shixiong many favors, so today, you can rest assured.”

Li Changshou sighed inwardly...

Indeed, with a backer, he could save so much effort.

Yunzhongzi chuckled lightly, holding his flower basket, and said: “Fellow daoists, no need for such formalities. Little friend Changshou, may I see that bird cage of yours that can withstand heavenly tribulation?”

Li Changshou maintained a hesitant expression, of course, to play his part fully.

Ji Wuyou coughed twice and glared at Li Changshou.

Li Changshou said in a low voice: “Please, senior, set up a barrier. I’ll show it to you.

If you say it can’t be refined, I’m sure the other seniors will believe it.”

A sect leader from Ren Jiao scolded: “You little disciple, why are you guarding us like thieves?”

Li Changshou looked troubled, but Yunzhongzi stepped forward with a smile: “What? Don’t you all trust this poor daoist?”

The golden immortals quickly said they dared not.

Yunzhongzi then took out a treasure vase and placed it aside, floating over to Li Changshou, grabbing his arm, and turning them both into a streak of light that entered the vase.

A crowd of cultivators gathered around, but no matter how they probed, they couldn’t glimpse anything inside the vase.

A moment later, a streak of light flew out and transformed into the figures of Li Changshou and Yunzhongzi.

Yunzhongzi frowned in thought, constantly calculating with his fingers, then sighed: “This treasure—I cannot refine it.”

The people around exchanged bewildered glances.

Yunzhongzi murmured: “This doesn’t align with the principles of artifact refining, nor with the intent of the dao. This item shouldn’t exist in the world.

From the time I began refining artifacts, I’ve created tens of thousands of treasures, but I’ve never seen anything so mysterious.

The dao is profoundly simple, and simplicity breeds complexity... I don’t know whether to call it wondrous or strange.”

The Ren Jiao’s six immortal sect leaders, the elders and disciples of Du Xian Men, and the Three Teachings immortals observing with their immortal senses—all showed expressions of surprise.

Even Yuxu Palace’s Fude Golden Immortal, Yunzhongzi, couldn’t replicate it?

Yunzhongzi sighed, took a jade talisman from his flower basket, and handed it to Li Changshou: “Today, this poor daoist owes you a favor. If you need anything later, use this to find me.”

Li Changshou held the jade talisman, knowing it was Yunzhongzi helping him out of respect for the Great Mage...

He recalled that in the Fengshen Great Calamity, Yunzhongzi was one of the few Three Teachings experts who truly considered the lives of mortals;

As a Chan Jiao golden immortal, aware of the heavenly mandate to support Zhou, he still went to Chaoge City to offer a wooden sword to King Zhou to eliminate Daji, all to prevent widespread suffering.

This Fude Golden Immortal ultimately didn’t end up on the Fengshen List, thanks to his deep blessings...

Using the electrostatic shielding method to make this old immortal doubt his own artifact refining skills—was that a bit unethical?

But Li Changshou had no way to explain it; he only knew a bit about it and wasn’t some Faraday Great Immortal reincarnated or Schrödinger Golden Immortal reborn.

“Oh well!”

Yunzhongzi chuckled lightly, his face showing a hint of disappointment, as he picked up his flower basket and flew into the clouds, shaking his head and sighing as he left.

By now, with Yunzhongzi vouching for him, stating that the item’s principles were inscrutable and couldn’t be replicated, and even owing him a favor, no one would press the issue further...

But for Li Changshou, it still wasn’t enough.

As soon as Yunzhongzi left, Li Changshou sighed softly, summoning the two Fa Ye Bird Cages with a wave of his hand, holding one in each hand as he lamented: “Everything started because of you, and now I’ve disappointed all you seniors. I’ve been at fault.”

As he spoke, spiritual power surged from his hands, and the two bird cages shattered into pieces.

The surrounding immortals hadn’t expected him to do this, and his movements were too fast for even their high cultivation to stop.

Ji Wuyou shouted: “Ah! Don’t do that! You could use it yourself!”

“Changshou, don’t destroy such a wondrous treasure!”

“This!”

“Changshou!”

Li Changshou showed a resolute expression, then tossed out dozens of talismans and spewed forth a sea of spellfire, instantly engulfing the scattered parts of the bird cages...

In no time, only a few ashes remained on the ground.

These two Fa Ye Bird Cages, which had originally cost less than a hundred spirit stones to make, were shaken into dust by Li Changshou, with the ashes scattering in the wind...

Leaving no trace behind.

Li Changshou performed a dao salute to the seniors and said: “I’ve been rude just now; please don’t blame me, seniors. My mind is unsettled, so I’ll meditate to calm it.”

With that, he sat back beside Xiong Lingli, closed his eyes, and focused, fully restraining his aura to counter the immortal senses probing him.

On the other side, the five Ren Jiao sect leaders looked embarrassed, none daring to approach, and instead went to Ji Wuyou’s side.

“Wuyou Shidi, we’ve offended you this time,” the old woman took out two storage treasures and sent them over with immortal power. “Consider these as compensation for that young disciple.”

“We only wanted to examine it, but we never thought we’d ruin Changshou’s tribulation tool. These treasures are our way of making amends.”

“Wuyou Shidi, please bring Changshou Shizhi to visit our Xiaoyao Xian Zong later.”

“Here are two items that can protect the primordial spirit during heavenly tribulation. Though they don’t compare to the cage, they can serve as compensation.”

Ji Wuyou didn’t refuse, furrowing his brow with a hint of reluctance as he accepted them on Li Changshou’s behalf.

The five Ren Jiao sect leaders didn’t linger, offering their apologies and hastily leaving...

Li Changshou sensed the immortal senses observing him quickly withdrawing and felt a bit relieved in his heart.

Now, the Fa Ye Bird Cage had fewer risks, though he couldn’t let his guard down yet.

When Jiuwu Shibo brought over the compensation from the five sect leaders, Li Changshou frowned and accepted it, sighing softly...

Acting required consistency from start to finish; he had to look like he’d suffered a great loss.

In reality...

His assets had suddenly grown substantially. While in the vase earlier, Yunzhongzi had given him over a dozen spiritual treasure-level items and some acquired spiritual treasure-level trinkets.

They were just casually refined items from Yunzhongzi.

Compared to what Yunzhongzi had given, the sect leaders’ compensation was naturally inferior, but those two items for protecting the primordial spirit during tribulation were quite rare.

Lanqie’s tribulation gift package had just gotten even richer...

Suddenly, a surge of energy came from the South Sea Sea God Temple.

Li Changshou diverted part of his mind to the main idols in the Sea God Temple and saw a familiar burly figure striding in from the temple gates.

Why was Zhao Daye here again?

And it wasn’t just Zhao Daye; he was pulling along a young girl, chattering away: “Little sister, listen to me; this Sea God is incredibly wise. If he agrees, I’ll teach you that wonderful technique—hit someone, and they won’t dare complain!”