Chapter 516: Ling E's Perfect Experience

On Heichi Peak, Li Changshou rode the clouds slowly, his immortal sense listening to the conversation nearby, and he didn't hurry to enter the great array of Heichi Peak.

Ling E's so-called "big cousin"...

It was hard to put into words.

"E, cultivation emphasizes method, wealth, companions, and environment. You've become an immortal, so logically, you can graduate from your master.

Over here with me, even though it's in the Three Thousand Worlds and not among the Five Parts Continents, it's still a decent place for cultivation. As a disciple of Renjiao, you'd gain quite a few benefits from that."

"Cousin, this..."

"E, look at how dull you've become living in these mountains!

Try this out—it's a treasure medicine ground from pearls of ten-thousand-year-old South Sea spirit clams. It can make your skin even more radiant."

"That..."

Ling E felt utterly helpless.

What she was showing now was just a disguise; with a male immortal present today, she definitely couldn't reveal her true appearance and risk causing more trouble for her senior brother!

"E, why don't you come back with me? This peak of yours doesn't even have a proper dwelling."

"This... immortal lady."

Jiu Yushi, who had been keeping her head down, couldn't hold back any longer. She looked up, her eyes carrying a hint of resignation. "Sometimes, what you see is only what others want you to see."

The veiled woman laughed. "I didn't ask earlier—who are you? E's senior uncle... but did something go wrong with your cultivation?"

Jiu Yushi replied calmly, "On this peak, I do have the lowest aptitude, but it's not because something went wrong with my cultivation."

Ling E quickly added, "Senior Uncle Jiu Yushi, don't say that. You've only just started, and your progress is already quite good."

Then, Ling E frowned and said,

"Cousin, isn't it a bit rude for you to speak about my sect's elders like that?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the veiled woman said with a casual laugh. "I apologize to you, Daoist Friend Jiu Yushi. I speak a bit bluntly, so don't take it to heart."

Ling E pursed her lips, her face stern. "Cousin, did you really come here today just to see me?"

"Of course."

The veiled woman pulled out a delicate folding fan and gently waved it by her side, smiling as she said,

"Besides coming to see you, what else would bring me here?

E, you joined your master not long ago, and I got my immortal opportunity around the same time, taking a master myself. I've been focusing on cultivation and rarely went out before.

In recent years, things have turned around for me. I've reached the True Immortal realm and even had the fortune to hear teachings from a great expert. Plus, I met a companion for cultivation, so now I have method, wealth, companions, and environment all set.

That's why I came to find you and take you back to cultivate together."

Ling E stroked her chin thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, "Is that true?"

The "big cousin" smiled with narrowed eyes. "Could I lie to you? You're not happy here, and I need someone reliable by my side..."

Jiu Yushi couldn't help but interject, "So, you want Ling E to be your servant?"

The male immortal, who had been smiling silently beside her, frowned at that moment and said,

"This daoist friend, please don't misunderstand. Cai Yao doesn't lack attendants.

She's been cultivating for a while, and you're the only one of her younger relatives who's succeeded in it. We're here specifically to take her to a better blessed land for cultivation.

I'm not much myself, but I have some resources in my circle. My father recently joined the flourishing Xianmeng, as well."

The male immortal bowed his hands toward the air as he spoke,

"Truth be told, my father once had a brief encounter with the current Water God of Heaven Court!

Now that the great calamity is brewing, my family is stable, so we can certainly provide Ling E with a better environment for cultivation."

Jiu Yushi: ...

Ling E blinked and smiled. "Cousin, I'm quite content here and don't want to go anywhere.

Still, thank you both for your kind intentions."

Cai Yao sighed. "Ling E, you're just like when you were little—always so stubborn."

The male immortal said warmly, "Ling E, my sister..."

"Please, daoist friend, don't use that title!"

Ling E furrowed her brows and scolded, "Your dao companion is my cousin, and I have no connection to you whatsoever."

The male immortal was suddenly at a loss for words, and Cai Yao frowned slightly, chiding,

"How can you speak to your brother-in-law like that?"

Ling E glanced to the side and said calmly, "I've already cultivated to immortality—do I still have to follow worldly etiquette?"

"Ling E, how can you be so rude!"

"Ha ha ha! Cai Yao, don't get angry."

The male immortal stopped her, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the multi-layered disguised Ling E, praising, "Truly worthy of a disciple from a great teaching—such remarkable demeanor.

It was I who was presumptuous. I'll offer a self-penalty of three cups later."

At that moment, the male immortal released a faint pressure of the Tianxian realm, sitting up even straighter.

Jiu Yushi's forehead beaded with slight sweat, and Ling E reached out to hold her wrist. She had been about to reveal her own realm to counter it but thought better of it and held back.

She needed to stay low-key and not cause trouble for her senior brother. Just get rid of these two.

All those years of copying the "Wen" scripture weren't for nothing!

So, Ling E put on her "professional fake smile," planning to respond to this man and woman with just "mm-hmm," "yes," and "that's right" from now on.

Just then...

A clear voice came from the side, reciting a poem:

"Within the peach blossom village lies the peach blossom hermitage,

In the hermitage dwells the peach blossom immortal.

The peach blossom immortal plants peach trees,

And trades peach blossoms for wine money."

Ling E looked up, her mouth slightly agape, turning her "wow" into a drawn-out "oh ah"...

Jiu Yushi was also stunned, seeing Li Changshou in this form for the first time and feeling as though the entire Heichi Peak had brightened up;

She suddenly remembered her status as a senior uncle and turned her head to look aside.

Cai Yao's phoenix eyes were fixed on him...

She felt that this male immortal arriving on the clouds had a tall and upright figure, a face like a jade crown, sword-like brows and star-like eyes without any sharpness, and well-defined cheekbones without any harshness. Instead, the faint smile on his lips brought a sense of peace and clarity to the mind.

There is a poem that praises:

Originally a steady guest in the immortal realm,

Suddenly seated before the Taqing Saint.

First among the immortals and gods of Heaven Court,

Great immortals of the three teachings bow and rise.

High-seated in the Holy Mother Palace,

At ease in Biyou or Yuxu.

Soon to be known as the Taibai Star Lord,

Everyone calls him the Steady Immortal.

Li Changshou made a grand entrance, dressed in a flowing white robe with his long hair swaying, instantly plunging Heichi Peak into a hush.

The aura he displayed was solidly at the late Tianxian realm, and his demeanor was truly extraordinary—words like "composed and graceful" or "elegant and carefree" could hardly capture even a fraction of it.

The male immortal beside Cai Yao suddenly stood up, blocking her line of sight;

Cai Yao quickly snapped back to her senses, steadied her dao heart, and also stood to greet him.

As for Ling E...

A wisp of white smoke rose slowly. Ling E's eyes turned into spiral circles, her body swaying like soft seaweed, and she leaned into Jiu Yushi's arms.

Her eyes misty, she murmured softly, "Senior brother..."

Li Changshou nodded at her with a smile, then lightly touched down, his boots landing steadily as his long hair and robe hem stopped swaying. He said warmly,

"The furnace of pills has just finished refining, so I couldn't go to the mountain gate to welcome you two. I hope you'll forgive me."

At that moment, a gentle breeze passed, carrying a faint fragrance from top-grade spirit pills on Li Changshou, which made the young male immortal perk up and gaze at him in shock.

A master of alchemy!

"Ling E," Li Changshou said with a slight frown, his tone unusually gentle, "sit properly."

Ling E quickly straightened up, her eyes wide as she stared at her senior brother, trying hard to make her little head work.

What... was going on?

Why wasn't her senior brother keeping a low profile?

Wasn't this the robe she had sewn for him over a year, which he thought was too showy and put away?

Could it be that her senior brother had taken a liking to her cousin?

Uh, that seemed unlikely—even with Yunxiao, her senior brother had hesitated for so long before tentatively developing feelings...

Ling E's face turned bright red as she whispered, "Senior brother, why are you here?"

Li Changshou chuckled. "It's not often that your family comes to visit, so no matter how busy I am, I have to make time to meet them."

Jiu Yushi hurriedly said, "I'll go get a meditation cushion."

"Ah," Li Changshou stopped her, saying gently, "Senior Uncle, please stay seated. How can we juniors make you do such menial tasks?"

With that, Li Changshou casually slid his thumb over the jade ring, and a flash of light appeared, placing a meditation cushion next to Ling E's.

Cai Yao and the male immortal looked over in surprise.

A post-heaven merit treasure-level storage artifact?

And one that seemed casually worn without any refinement?!

Li Changshou smiled and bowed his hands politely, without further small talk, and sat down directly.

He gazed at Ling E and reached out to adjust the position of her jade hairpin.

Ling E's shoulders twitched instinctively, feeling her senior brother's aura wash over her as a second wave of steam rose over her forehead...

Now, now, what on earth was happening today?

"You two, please sit," Li Changshou said without looking up.

Cai Yao and the male immortal subconsciously replied with thanks, sat down, and exchanged a glance before restraining their auras.

Especially the latter, who had seen some of the world and experienced the pressure of experts before.

At this point, the male immortal was certain that this young daoist was no ordinary Tianxian. That effortless composure and the aura of serene inaction...

The male immortal asked, "How should we address you, daoist friend?"

"Ling E's senior brother," Li Changshou replied warmly.

Cai Yao said softly, "Does the daoist friend not have a dao title?"

Li Changshou furrowed his brow slightly and said, "The reason we're interacting is because of my junior sister.

Knowing that you're her cousin is enough for me. We don't need any more connections."

Cai Yao's face showed a touch of embarrassment, unsure how to respond.

The male immortal was about to speak, but Li Changshou calmly turned the ring on his finger, making the male immortal swallow his words.

These disciples from forces that grew in the Three Thousand Worlds weren't fools.

The male immortal smiled and said, "Daoist friend, you're truly free-spirited. The Renjiao lineage is indeed remarkable.

Are you... skilled in the art of alchemy?"

"Just average, not particularly skilled. In Renjiao, there are many who surpass me in alchemy."

Li Changshou lightly turned the ring, and several flashes of immortal light appeared, placing a few porcelain bottles on the low table. The bottles were open, radiating immortal light but emitting no medicinal scent.

The male immortal looked down and was stunned.

Fifth- and sixth-grade spirit pills?!

What was even more outrageous was that these pills were in several casually shaped jade bottles, clearly made with a divine ability...

Attention to detail.

Li Changshou said indifferently, "You two came all this way to visit my junior sister. These mediocre pills are a small token of thanks for your visit."

"Thank you, dao brother," the male immortal said with a smile, not touching them himself but signaling for Cai Yao to put them away.

Just then, thunder rumbled, and the low table and ground trembled slightly.

In the "kitchen palace" set up by Bai Ze, Xiong Lingli—wearing a half-zhang-wide apron—lifted a large tray high and strode over with big steps.

She had received Li Changshou's voice transmission and was releasing her aura without restraint. A surge of blood energy shot up like smoke, her massive, sturdy half-witch body exuding a thick aura of danger.

She set the tray down, revealing a roasted spirit beast and over a dozen side dishes.

Then, Xiong Lingli bowed with her fists clasped and a dao salute to Li Changshou before turning and striding away.

"Would you two like some wine?" Li Changshou asked warmly.

The male immortal, now sweating profusely, nodded quickly, his face a bit pale.

Li Changshou took out two pots of immortal brew and began to offer toasts smoothly;

The male immortal was keen on building a connection, and Cai Yao was too flustered to refuse, joining in the drinking.

Throughout this, Ling E kept... steaming...

Today was undoubtedly the happiest day of Ling E's life.

It was simply because her senior brother's eyes never left her, his gaze so gentle and warm, like winter sunlight, as if it could melt her heart.

Especially, during chats with this stranger and her cousin, he would softly ask,

"Junior sister, would you like some of this?"

Before Ling E could pick up her chopsticks, her senior brother would pick up the dish and bring it to her mouth...

In the end, he would take out a handkerchief and gently wipe the corner of her mouth, saying softly,

"You're almost like a little cat face."

It was simply... driving Ling E crazy!

A pink halo appeared behind Ling E, her whole being hazy and her dao heart floating, as if she had turned into a pink cloud full of sweet centers.

Jiu Yushi, sitting beside them, turned her head away, a bit unable to watch.

The two guests across from them—the male immortal frowned slightly, and the female immortal looked envious...

Li Changshou handled both things at once, caring for his junior sister while toasting, having secretly added a bit to the wine to make the guests tipsy quickly.

The conversation naturally shifted, guided by Li Changshou, to the matter of "named disciples of Jiejiao."

Li Changshou laughed. "Jiejiao with its ten thousand immortals is truly one of the great teachings of the world!

May I ask, dao friend, under which immortal did you study?"

Gazed upon by Li Changshou, Cai Yao hurriedly said, "My teacher is the Jiejiao expert from the White Bone Cave on Skeleton Mountain... Shi Ji Niangniang."

"Why so hesitant?" Li Changshou asked.

"It's nothing, just..." Cai Yao lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, stammering "just" a few times but unable to explain.

The male immortal said with feigned ease, "Dao brother, you've seen through it. My Cai Yao's status as a named disciple came through some connections.

Still, she did hear Shi Ji Niangniang's teachings and met her once."

"Oh?" Li Changshou raised an eyebrow and said seriously,

"I'm fond of alchemy and usually just move around nearby market towns, so I haven't been to the Three Thousand Worlds and don't know the ins and outs.

My sect's ancestor, Du E Zhenren, holds a position in Daoism similar to Shi Ji Niangniang's.

Could you explain in detail, dao friend? I promise to keep it confidential."

The male immortal seemed to regain his confidence and laughed. "You probably don't know about these things, dao brother.

Jiejiao is the largest teaching among the three of Daoism, even the greatest in the world.

With so many disciples, most of whom go to the Three Thousand Worlds, they naturally befriend many scattered cultivators. If those experts ask a Jiejiao immortal to give a lecture, it's not hard.

By the rules of the primordial world, hearing one lecture makes you a named disciple.

Over time, some scattered cultivators specialized in this. The named disciples under different Jiejiao immortals even have set prices.

Furthermore, some Jiejiao immortals with less fame, who aren't doing well, will use themselves as bait to invite true Jiejiao experts...

Arranging for Cai Yao to hear Shi Ji Niangniang's lecture took quite an effort on my part."

Cai Yao frowned slightly but said nothing, keeping her head down.

"Oh?" Li Changshou's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "The world is full of wonders. There are such arrangements outside.

Honestly, I have a scattered cultivator friend who wants to get a named disciple status under a Jiejiao saint to strengthen his background. This seems better than staying in sects like this.

How much effort did it cost you, exactly?"

The male immortal raised his hand and extended three fingers.

Li Changshou feigned sudden realization. "Just three post-heaven merit treasures, and you can get a Jiejiao immortal's named disciple status?"

—At this point, he was playing the role of an arrogant alchemist.

"No, no, dao brother, you misunderstand," the male immortal said with an awkward smile. "It's three hundred loads of pure spirit stones."

"Only that..." Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly as he sighed inwardly.

Now he finally understood why Honglian had collapsed;

And why Tongtian Jiaozhu had been searching for the Chaos Bell for so long, only for it to flee at the sight of him...

Jiejiao had spread itself too thin!

Such minor matters, previously overlooked, had become anchors dragging it down.

He decided to stop there. Pushing further might make things unstable. Knowing this existed was enough; he could investigate later.

The male immortal smiled slightly and leaned forward, whispering,

"Dao brother, in the Three Thousand Worlds, there are masses of experts lacking spirit medicines and many immortal forces lacking spirit pills.

With your skills, if we team up, we could have a Jiejiao inner disciple come lecture and take disciples in less than a century.

You're Cai Yao's sister's senior brother, and I'm Cai Yao's dao companion, so we should trust each other and achieve great things together.

Would you be willing to partner up?"

Earning spirit stones together...

Li Changshou shook his head calmly and smiled. "I refine pills only for cultivation and have no interest in spirit stones."

The male immortal's smile froze.

But then, Li Changshou added, "However, I could introduce a friend whose alchemy skills are passable and who really needs spirit stones.

Whether you can convince him depends on your abilities."

"Oh?" The male immortal's face lit up with a spring-like smile as he raised his wine cup to Li Changshou. "Thank you for the introduction, dao brother."

"You're welcome; it's just a small favor."

Li Changshou symbolically sipped from his cup.

He sighed inwardly. This time, he'd only investigate and not act—better to avoid Ling E's cousin's family.

After all, they were his junior sister's relatives.

"Senior brother..."

A call came from beside him. Li Changshou turned to see Ling E holding her breath, her eyes full of ripples, using her jade chopsticks to pick up a carefully selected piece of spirit beast meat with her other hand cupped below, slowly bringing it over.

Li Changshou naturally opened his mouth, smiled at her with narrowed eyes, and gave a gentle wink.

That day, Ling E's memories were hazy and filled with pink spots...

She only remembered the sunlight being warm, her senior brother's smile being warm, and when she woke up dizzy in the pill room, the stone slab in front of her was also warm.

On Jin'ao Island,

A transmission jade talisman shot from the South Sea, flying straight into the sky and vanishing.

Soon after, Duobao Daoist's figure flashed by as he dug a tunnel and headed toward a market town in Dongsheng Shenzhou;

On the way, as instructed in Li Changshou's message, Duobao Daoist carefully disguised himself, changing into fine clothes, altering his appearance slightly, restraining his aura, and preparing a batch of fourth- and fifth-grade spirit pills.

He had to see for himself who was dragging down Jiejiao's great destiny!