Chapter 188: Understood, All Understood

A moment ago, in the side hall next to Du Xian Dian.

Ji Wuyou, the Kong Xu Jin Xian and sect leader of Du Xian Men, who was in the midst of coughing up blood, suddenly detected an extraordinary Dao rhythm flashing within the mountain-protecting array before vanishing.

Though this rhythm disappeared swiftly, it was still captured by Ji Wuyou, who had not yet entered seclusion. Upon careful contemplation, this rhythm was truly exceptional, seeming to embody the profound truths of heaven and earth. It surpassed by many realms the Dao rhythms Ji Wuyou had felt from the experts of the three teachings at the Dao Yuan Assembly...

Ji Wuyou set down the spoon in his hand, halted the immortal fire beneath the medicine cauldron, and coughed a few times. As the sect leader inheriting the Human Teachings' Dao lineage, he naturally wouldn't make a fuss over such a minor matter. It was just a wisp of Dao rhythm, perhaps from some fortunate disciple who had unexpectedly obtained a treasure. To act with natural ease, without haste or agitation, and to govern through non-action—these were the marks of a qualified leader of a Human Teaching immortal sect...

Boom!

What was happening?

Suddenly, outside Du Xian Men, winds surged and clouds churned, with a vast heavenly might erupting from the direction of Xiao Qiong Feng, suppressing various areas within the sect!

"Cough! Cough, cough!"

Ji Wuyou nearly spat out blood on the spot. Through several layers of walls, he stared wide-eyed toward Xiao Qiong Feng. His powerful immortal sense as a Jin Xian immediately probed outward, only to be directly scattered by that heavenly might!

Such a situation... Such domineering heavenly might...

Ji Wuyou suddenly recalled the scene from long ago when he had undergone his Jin Xian tribulation. Yet, even back then, the heavenly might hadn't been this intense. If this were a Jin Xian tribulation, it was certainly no ordinary one!

Had the Forget-Emotion Jin Xian Tribulation arrived? But why on Xiao Qiong Feng?

However, this heavenly might came quickly and departed just as fast, vanishing in an instant as if it had only appeared to startle people.

Ji Wuyou wiped the blood from his mouth, walked to the windowsill, and with his form as light as a feather, soared out, transforming into a streak of golden light rushing toward Xiao Qiong Feng.

Although Ji Wuyou adhered to the Human Teachings' principle of non-action and fully respected the personal freedom of every cultivator in the sect, he still needed to go and see, ask questions, and figure out what had happened.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Wuyou arrived above Xiao Qiong Feng. He looked down, piercing through the layers of arrays surrounding the peak, and saw the figure standing in front of the pill room...

"You Qin Xuanya?"

At that moment, You Qin Xuanya stood there looking flustered, with a surge of pure immortal power beside her rapidly dissipating in all directions, transforming into streams of vital energy.

Ji Wuyou glanced down and immediately frowned. The source of that immortal power seemed to be the lounge chair, on which lay a thick paper figure that appeared to have been damaged.

You Qin Xuanya... and a paper figure? In the middle of the night, inside the Xiao Qiong Feng pill room array?

Ji Wuyou suddenly understood a bit, but it only made him more puzzled...

Could it be that because the newly ascended Zhen Xian, You Qin Xuanya, had accidentally damaged this mysterious paper figure for some reason, it had triggered the earlier heavenly might? How... could things be so chaotic?

"Cough, I really need to ask and get to the bottom of this."

Just then, figures flew out from the various peaks of Du Xian Men—the elders and peak masters hurrying to rendezvous with the sect leader.

Ji Wuyou was about to descend toward the pill room below when he heard a voice transmission enter his ear.

It said:

"Disciple Li Changshou reports to the sect leader: Earlier, I accidentally stirred up the heavenly might and nearly caused trouble, but the situation is now under control. Due to the urgency, I wish to inform you of the full details, sect leader. Please ask the sect's experts not to gather here, to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control!"

Ji Wuyou furrowed his brow slightly. As the sect leader of Du Xian Men, how could he dismiss the elders who had come to investigate based on a single disciple's voice transmission?

However, he then heard Li Changshou transmit again:

"Sect leader, do you still remember... that six-turn spirit pill?"

Instantly, Ji Wuyou's eyes lit up, and he truly understood something. He immediately broadcast his voice to all:

"Everyone, there's no need to come. The treasure I granted to You Qin Xuanya had a minor issue. Yes, just a minor issue."

From all directions, voices responded: "Understood, sect leader's order."

Soon, the figures returned to their respective peaks. Ji Wuyou, standing under the starry sky, set up an additional layer of immortal power barrier over Xiao Qiong Feng before slowly descending.

At that moment, Li Changshou stood in the underground chamber of Xiao Qiong Feng, his brows tightly knit and his thoughts racing.

This... how to handle it?

Perhaps because Li Changshou's mind was tense and thinking too quickly, several options immediately surfaced in his heart:

Option A: Use the You Qin Xuanya-exclusive treasure person;Option B: Employ his usual tactic of revealing a small part of his hand;Option C: Physically persuade with an iron hammer approach;Option D: Play the 'Human Teaching little mage' identity card...

Options kept emerging in Li Changshou's mind, but after brief consideration, he rejected them one by one.

You Qin Xuanya was only at the Zhen Xian realm. Even if he spun a flawless tale, with her upright nature and poor acting skills, any lie she told would never convince the sect leader!

Exposing part of his hidden cards to make the other side think they knew the full truth? This method was useful, but it depended on the context. The earlier heavenly might must have aroused the sect leader's deep suspicions, so he had to properly explain its source!

Laying hands on the sect leader? Although he had just self-severed his cultivation to solidify his Dao foundation, making the sect leader's pressure on him feel quite faint, that would be utterly misguided and a loss of the bigger picture for a minor gain!

Better to just lay it all out.

Li Changshou chuckled bitterly in his heart...

Currently, he had just deceived Mosquito Daoist, gained the appreciation and trust of the Jade Emperor of Heaven, gotten involved in the affairs of the Three Heavens, and was already secretly clashing with Western Teachings...

If the fact that the Human Teaching little mage and South Sea Sea God was Du Xian Men disciple Li Changshou were exposed through the sect leader's words, it would bring endless hidden dangers.

This protective guise couldn't be discarded lightly.

Especially since the sect leader, this Kong Xu Jin Xian, was an uncontrollable factor.

No choice, this time he had to...

Choose option E!

Expose the minimum of his own cards!

At that moment, as the sect leader landed in front of the pill room, a complete plan formed in Li Changshou's mind. He immediately raised his hand and took out the array control jade talisman.

Activating the thirty-six array foundations, he started the upper core arrays of Xiao Qiong Feng.

Laying a deceptive array to divert the sect leader's attention.

"Hmm?"

Seeing the sudden mist enveloping the area around the pill room, Wu You Dao Ren, who had just arrived, furrowed his brow even deeper.

This array seemed quite remarkable.

You Qin Xuanya quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Disciple pays respects to Grandmaster."

"Hmm," Wu You Dao Ren nodded lightly. "What just happened here?"

You Qin Xuanya pondered for a moment, feeling a bit bewildered herself.

"I came to see Senior Brother Li Changshou. He suddenly had an epiphany and sat on the lounge chair, then... he just... deflated rapidly and turned into this paper figure."

Wu You Dao Ren pressed: "How exactly?"

You Qin Xuanya whispered: "He just leaked air, shrank quickly... and became this paper figure."

"Ha, ha, ha! Cough, cough!"

Wu You Dao Ren was amused by You Qin Xuanya's description.

He raised his hand to summon the paper figure, examining it closely as he chuckled: "This is a divine ability called Jian Zhi Cheng Ren, but this paper figure is somewhat unusual..."

"Disciple Li Changshou pays respects to the sect leader!"

A call came from inside the pill room. Ji Wuyou and You Qin Xuanya looked over to see a wisp of smoke emerging beside the large black furnace, transforming into Li Changshou's figure.

Li Changshou hurried forward and bowed deeply to Ji Wuyou.

"Why did you come from below?" Ji Wuyou asked with a smile.

Li Changshou replied quickly: "I had a sudden insight and feared disturbing Junior Sister You Qin, so I left the paper figure here and went underground to meditate and cultivate."

Ji Wuyou didn't press further on that and focused on the key issue: "Li Changshou, what exactly happened just now?"

Li Changshou frowned, lowered his head, pressed his lips together, and spoke with a hint of hesitation mixed with suppressed impulse: "Sect leader, I... don't really dare to say..."

"Speak up. What's there to be afraid of?"

Ji Wuyou stood with his hands behind his back, saying calmly: "Is there anything I can't handle?"

Seeing the sect leader's stern gaze, Li Changshou sighed and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a jade token, which he held out with both hands.

Ji Wuyou initially moved to take it, but upon a closer look, he stepped back half a step!

The sect leader's face turned pale in an instant. He hurriedly bowed to the jade token, sweat beading on his forehead...

The jade token bore the Dao rhythm of Tai Qing Sheng Ren!

He had only felt such a rhythm before on the jade talisman held by his master, Du E Zhen Ren.

And that jade talisman was the core inheritance of Du Xian Men—the "Tai Shang Wu Wei Jing"!

Li Changshou, still holding the jade token, asked hurriedly: "Sect leader, why are you bowing?"

"Li Changshou! You must not breathe a word of what I said earlier!"

Ji Wuyou said firmly, then turned to You Qin Xuanya: "And you, Xuanya, don't repeat what I said about 'what I can't handle'! Cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough... Xuanya, don't just stand there—quickly come and bow to the jade token!"

You Qin Xuanya was completely baffled but still hurried forward and bowed to the jade token.

This jade token was, of course, the "Tai Qing Dao Han."

Ji Wuyou hesitated, his expression a mix of shock and doubt as he looked at this young disciple who hadn't yet become an immortal, suddenly finding him... unfathomable.

Ji Wuyou asked: "Li Changshou, your connection with the Grand Mage..."

"Sect leader, the Grand Mage warned me not to speak carelessly about certain things."

Li Changshou sighed softly: "The heavenly might earlier was triggered when I opened this Dao Han for comprehension. It seems I made a mistake, causing the Dao rhythm to fluctuate. That heavenly might appeared to warn me not to continue in that direction..."

"So that's what happened," Ji Wuyou said, suddenly enlightened.

Then, Ji Wuyou gazed intently at Li Changshou: "Li Changshou, this Dao Han..."

"Sect leader, the Grand Mage instructed me..."

"I understand, I understand," Ji Wuyou nodded immediately. "Hurry and put this away. Next time you want to comprehend it, let me know in advance so I can come and protect you, to avoid another such disturbance. Li Changshou, what's your exact relationship with the Grand Mage? Is it alright to share that?"

Li Changshou glanced at You Qin Xuanya, who was utterly confused, her ponytail swaying gently and her ice-blue dress seemingly covered in question marks.

She had no idea what the sect leader and her senior brother were discussing.

"Sect leader, as for me and the Grand Mage," Li Changshou pondered, "we've only met a few times. I don't think there's anything too special about our relationship."

Nothing special?

Ji Wuyou smiled mysteriously and said: "I see. In that case, I won't ask more."

With that, Ji Wuyou took out a transmission jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Li Changshou: "Focus on your cultivation, Li Changshou. No matter the matter, big or small, you can inform me. I'll be on my way now. Remember, next time you study this treasure, be sure to notify me beforehand."

This...

The sect leader was unexpectedly easy to convince...

Li Changshou replied: "I will follow your instructions."

Ji Wuyou turned to You Qin Xuanya and admonished: "Xuanya, what happened today is known only to you, me, and Li Changshou. Don't let a fourth person find out."

"I will heed Grandmaster's teachings!"

Not only easy to convince, but he even handled You Qin Xuanya for him?

Li Changshou felt a subtle sense of emotion, watching the sect leader's潇oping departing figure, lost in thought for a moment.

If the opportunity arises, he should introduce the sect leader to the Grand Mage.

Such a good person, truly...

You Qin Xuanya looked at Li Changshou and whispered: "Senior Brother Li Changshou?"

"Junior Sister You Qin, please wait a moment," Li Changshou said with a bitter smile, gazing at her. "I'll handle some matters first and then explain to you."

"Senior Brother, attend to your business first," You Qin Xuanya said promptly. "I'll wait here."

"Alright," Li Changshou nodded, then closed his eyes directly, quickly activating the paper effigy under the South Sea Sea God Temple and hastily sending a voice transmission to Yun Xiao Xianzi: 'The junior is fine.'

In the temple, that beautiful and exceedingly generous Yun Xiao Xianzi had already spread out her skirt and sat on the ground, using her immortal power to salvage the paper effigy that had been damaged by the saint's Dao rhythm...

Understood!

Li Changshou's single explanation, and Ji Wuyou understood everything!

Earlier, Ji Wuyou had been puzzled about why Xuandu Grand Mage had asked his master, Du E Zhen Ren, to deliver a six-turn spirit pill to him for passing on to the young disciple Li Changshou of Xiao Qiong Feng.

Now, it all made sense, with profound implications.

To casually give away a scripture written by a saint meant their relationship was no small matter.

Though a six-turn spirit pill wasn't rare, a six-turn Yang-strengthening spirit pill was truly unusual and thought-provoking!

Clearly, the Grand Mage was very concerned about whether Li Changshou had any descendants...

Who would be so anxious and attentive to such a matter?

With this level of care, this concern, and even a scripture from a saint—if it veered off course, heavenly might would descend as a warning...

This was treatment even direct disciples didn't get!

Moreover, when Du Xian Men had faced disaster before, though his master Du E Zhen Ren had already appeared to resolve it, the Grand Mage had still taken his master to Jin'ao Island to settle things with the Jie Teachings...

Now, all these questions had a logical explanation!

It was almost certain: This young Li Changshou must be... a direct blood descendant of the Grand Mage, or even possibly an illegitimate heir!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Ji Wuyou coughed a few times, smiling faintly as he returned to the small room beside the main hall, sat in the armchair, and fell into contemplation.

Such matters couldn't be brought into the open; the Grand Mage surely disliked any publicity.

From now on, as the sect leader of Du Xian Men, he would have to secretly look after Li Changshou, not seeking merit, but ensuring no faults.