Chapter 43: As Long As You're Thick-Skinned

On the vast blue sea, white clouds drifted leisurely.

Just as when they had arrived at Donghai, a massive white cloud carried sixteen Zhenxian, eleven disciples, and several Tianxian guarding the four upper positions, floating towards the Xibei Mountain Gate direction.

They had set out earliest, leaving a large expanse of clouds far behind, with the cloud path wide and utterly uncrowded.

This was the third day after Li Changshou and Ao Yi's "mad" battle, and the Demon-Slaying Conference had concluded smoothly.

The stand-in leader, Li Changshou, sat quietly in the corner, having honorably stepped down from his role, now drawing no attention.

The true leader, Youqin Xuanya, had shone brilliantly at the conference, gaining fame across the land with her string of victories—defeating thirty-six Qi refiners and four arena masters from the Longgong dragon clan—making her the center of admiration on the white cloud.

Youqin Xuanya's opponents that day, including those four Longgong dragon clan members, totaled seven or eight with Yuan Dao Realm first- or second-tier strength. Yet, with her Fanxu eighth-tier cultivation, she relied on her unyielding spirit, diligently accumulated mystical arts, and the set of flying swords in her hand—far superior in power and quality to ordinary Xianbao—to endure fierce battles and defeat them one after another.

The drive that kept her going wasn't the four Xianbao tossed out by Longgong.

Under the watchful eyes of all, she placed those four Xianbao in front of her senior brother, who had been "bullied by the dragon clan," then returned to her seat to meditate in a lotus position, sending a clear message to everyone—

Not fighting for treasures, but for pride!

We, disciples of Du Xian Men, won't be pushed around easily!

My senior brother from the same sect isn't someone anyone can bully!

At that moment, a few emotional female Shishu and Shibo had tears welling up in their eyes.

If Li Changshou hadn't been the one involved, he would have surely given Youqin Xuanya a thumbs-up and said, "How cool."

But as the very "victim of dragon clan bullying," who was protected by his junior sister and ended up gaining four Xianbao for free...

It was rather awkward.

Those four Xianbao were like hot potatoes, but Li Changshou reacted quickly, asking Jiu Jiu Shishu from the same Potian Peak lineage to take them temporarily, to be handed over to Youqin Xuanya's master, Jiang Jingshan Shibo, once they returned to the mountain.

That settled the matter without any further complications.

Still, being protected and having someone stand up for him felt a bit strange.

This trip to Donghai wasn't without gains for Li Changshou.

Over the past two days, watching the duels among his peers had broadened his combat strategies considerably.

These Qi refiners came from various Xianmen, practicing different core arts, all based on the Five Elements and Yin-Yang Dao laws, but with endless variations and complex combinations.

Li Changshou, observing from the sidelines for two days, picked up several useful "little tricks," enriching his paper effigy's tactical system.

Gaining knowledge and experience was also a form of cultivation.

Thanks to Youqin Xuanya's standout performance, Du Xian Men emerged as the biggest winner of the conference, claiming a third of the Xianbao and boosting the sect's reputation slightly.

The next mountain-opening disciple recruitment ceremony might even attract a few more promising talents because of this.

After Youqin Xuanya withdrew, Li Changshou's fellow disciples took their turns, but the best result was only seven consecutive wins.

That senior brother who had vowed to avenge Li Changshou managed just three wins out of four fights, without facing the remaining arena master young dragons.

As they left Donghai's range, Jiu Jiu, who had reverted to her obedient fairy maiden persona, suddenly received a voice transmission from above.

She quickly flew up on her cloud to join her master, Wangqing Shangren.

Soon, Jiu Jiu descended from the air, her face beaming with a smile.

She landed back on the white cloud carrying the main group, placed a bottle of pills beside Youqin Xuanya—who had overexerted her spiritual energy and had been meditating since her battles two days prior—then walked over to Li Changshou, tilted her head, and scrutinized him for a moment before muttering,

"Strange, why did my Shizun praise you with two more words than he did for Xuanya?"

Li Changshou's heart skipped a beat.

Had Wangqing Shangren seen through his true cultivation?

No, if so, the elder would have questioned him for not contributing to the sect's glory, not praised him out of nowhere.

"Here, this is for you—my Shizun's reward, not part of the sect's official ones."

Jiu Jiu tossed a jade token to him, then sat cross-legged three feet away.

A few disciples perked up their ears to listen.

It was no surprise that Youqin Xuanya received a reward of pills from Wangqing Shangren, but Li Changshou had only fought once and lost—how did he get a reward?

The jade token likely contained some advanced Xianfa, after all, it was a personal gift from Wangqing Shangren.

Jiu Jiu narrowed her eyes with a smile, put on a serious face, cleared her throat, and said:

"My Shizun said that you handled the situation against the Longgong Crown Prince very appropriately.

That Longgong Second Crown Prince was full of malice, probably intending to let you beat him severely and lose to you on purpose, then use that as an excuse for Longgong to target our Du Xian Men.

Shizun said that if you hadn't spotted it early and used a feint to surrender first, we might not have made it back to the mountain this time.

He also mentioned that your Fifth Shishu brought you up several times in front of him, saying you're meticulous, cautious in your actions, and extremely reliable.

This time, choosing you as the leader of the disciples was spot-on."

A huge weight lifted from Li Changshou's heart.

Wangqing Shangren had actually...

Seen through the entire Longgong conspiracy!

As expected of a Tianxian's insight and perspective—it was worlds apart from their own as minor players!

Although Li Changshou had previously analyzed that the Longgong Crown Prince might be trying to reverse the shame on Longgong and reform its corrupt ways...

He never imagined there was such vicious scheming behind it!

Li Changshou immediately reflected on himself, realizing his viewpoint had always been too limited. From the start, he'd assumed Longgong wouldn't directly challenge the Three Teachings' Xianzong and would at most let Ao Yi kill an insignificant disciple like him to vent.

Wait?

On second thought, Wangqing Shangren's logic had some flaws...

Oh well, from the current outcome, this analysis was quite favorable for him.

This elder was...

Awesome!

Warm-hearted!

So thoughtful!

A few disciples nodded as if enlightened, while the several Zhenxian wore expressions of "we knew it all along," mostly casting approving glances at Li Changshou.

Gaining goodwill out of nowhere...

That was better than earning resentment.

Once back at the mountain gate, there would likely be more generous rewards, though Li Changshou had already claimed the Wuwei Jing in advance.

Glancing down at the jade token, Li Changshou discovered it contained an advanced Leifa: the Luotian Yanglei Zhenjue.

After a moment's thought, Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Jiu Jiu nearby and handed the jade token back.

Jiu Jiu stared at Li Changshou in utter shock.

In all her nearly thousand years of cultivation, she'd never heard of something so outrageous!

A junior rejecting a treasure from a senior and even picking and choosing, asking if this Leifa could be exchanged for a Sanmei Zhenyan cultivation method more helpful for alchemy!

Li Changshou knew this was improper, but first, he had his connection with Jiu Jiu, and second, he really needed Sanmei Zhenyan.

Once he obtained it, his strength would surge greatly...

So, he'd just have to brazen it out.

"Seriously, I'm going to get scolded to death by Shizun!"

Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes, snatched the jade token, and flew off in a huff, though halfway she resumed her obedient demeanor.

Soon, she returned successfully, wrapping two jade tokens in a handkerchief and tossing them to Li Changshou when no one was looking.

The Luotian Yanglei Zhenjue wasn't taken back;

The new jade token contained a method of similar grade, starting with four bold characters—

Sanmei Zhenyan!

Skimming the introductory explanation, which outlined the essentials of cultivating "essence fire," "spirit fire," and "qi fire," Li Changshou felt a profound sense of satisfaction.

Finally, he had it—this trip was truly worthwhile.

It might leave a negative impression on Wangqing Shangren, like being greedy or ungrateful.

But it was worth it!

Back at the mountain, he'd hole up on Xiaoqiong Peak and cultivate diligently.

Ignoring all outside distractions, he'd focus entirely on the Zhenyan scriptures!

Sanmei Zhenyan wasn't just for combat;

This was a widely circulated true fire in Daoism, renowned for its power and relatively low cultivation threshold, though obtaining its methods was no easy feat.

Once he achieved a basic mastery, he could follow an ancient text's instructions to use Sanmei Zhenyan to strengthen his divine soul and physical form, giving him more leverage against heavenly tribulations!

In the future, he'd only need to leave the mountain once more—

To undergo his heavenly tribulation!

If he passed it smoothly, he could live low-key in the mountains seeking immortality thereafter!

Feeding fish, tending flowers, refining pills, tinkering with arrays, teasing his junior sister when bored, and occasionally influencing that candidate for a Heavenly Court official position...

That was probably the idyllic life in the Great Wilderness he yearned for most right now.

Would troubles still drop from the sky?

Li Changshou glanced at Youqin Xuanya, who was under tight protection, and smiled faintly.

Once his "toxic" junior sister returned to the mountain, she'd likely receive the sect's utmost attention; that attention would, to some extent, become a restraint on her activities.

As long as he handled Wine Wushi Shibo later, troubles would have no way in.

Xiaoqiong Peak would surely return to its peaceful days!

As for Jiu Jiu Shishu, her frequent visits were actually a good thing—he could attribute any special pills or powerful arrays he produced after becoming an immortal to her help...

"What are you thinking about?"

Jiu Jiu sent a voice transmission with a mutter, then curled her lip. "You look like you're up to no good."

Li Changshou laughed. "Did you solve that wooden cube?"

Jiu Jiu grinned smugly, tossed back the now six-colored wooden cube, and said casually, "Finding the method was pretty simple. Give me something else to try."

Li Changshou nodded with a smile, pulled out a fifth-tier magic cube, and handed it to her.

Jiu Jiu stared at the dizzying block of colors, her forehead instantly lined with black lines, and quickly entered meditation to cultivate seriously for once.

...

Deep in Donghai, in the heavily guarded Crystal Palace shrouded by grand arrays, where shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and immortal flood dragons stood watch,

The main hall echoed with endless song and dance, a banquet celebrating the successful end of the Demon-Slaying Conference.

The finest young disciples from Dongsheng Shenzhou's Xianmen had fought over the few Xianbao thrown out by their Longgong, providing quite the entertaining spectacle for the Longgong experts.

The Dragon King lounged on a throne carved from crystal coral, appearing drunk as he reclined on a cushion woven from nine-winged dazzling gold silkworm silk—changed monthly—with several alluring sea nymphs gently fanning him, massaging his shoulders, pounding his back, and rubbing his dragon legs...

Such was dragon life: boring, comfortable, and tedious.

The Longgong civil and military officials toasted and chatted merrily about the human disciples' battles they had witnessed, their conversations full of delight.

Outside the grand hall, the young dragon clan prince, who had just awakened half a day ago, strode up the steps with firm resolve.

He, Ao Yi, the Second Crown Prince of Donghai Longgong, was about to undertake another... major deed!