Chapter 59: The Secret of Bear Village's Strength Pseudo

The visitor to Xiaoqiong Peak was Liu Yan'er, the companion who had traveled with Li Changshou to Beizhou.

Liu Yan'er had only just arrived when two senior brothers came chasing after her...

Under the willow tree, Lan Ling'e deliberately showed a hint of awkwardness, hoping these three big figures would leave soon.

But at that moment, the two senior brothers from other peaks were already locked in a tense standoff, the air thick with friction...

What was she supposed to do?

She truly didn't want to get involved in other people's business, especially when it had nothing to do with her senior brother.

Beside the low table that Lan Ling'e had brought out, three fellow disciples she barely knew—senior brothers and sisters—sat on three sides.

Sitting across from Lan Ling'e was the first to arrive, the senior sister from Dulin Peak, Liu Yan'er.

Lan Ling'e had initially thought this new senior sister who came looking for her own senior brother was a "dangerous character" like Youqin Senior Sister. But after chatting for a while, Lan Ling'e realized she had misunderstood.

This senior sister clearly had serious business with her senior brother.

The matter originated from the training assembly seven years ago, where Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi, who had gone to Beizhou together, fell for each other at first sight.

After returning to the mountain, the two exchanged messages via flying cranes and shared glances, and their feelings grew deeper over time.

Recently, Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi had decided to become Dao companions. They planned to register at Baifan Hall and officially cultivate together, either on Dulin Peak or Xiaoqiong Peak.

But unexpectedly, Liu Yan'er's junior brother—that is, the fellow on Lan Ling'e's left, Liu Si Zhe from Dulin Peak, an immortal seedling—suddenly stepped forward.

He opposed this union!

This was a crush that had endured for a hundred years.

From his early days as a disciple, Liu Si Zhe had followed his gentle senior sister of the same surname, always calling her "senior sister."

As he grew into a young man, he developed worries and harbored feelings for this lovely woman in his heart.

However, Liu Si Zhe felt that his cultivation was still shallow, and he couldn't protect his senior sister, so he kept these feelings buried deep inside. He trained hard and sought enlightenment, gradually making a name for himself within the sect.

By now, Liu Si Zhe ranked sixth among the current disciples, having reached the sixth stage of Fanxu Jing. He had received treasures from the sect and true teachings from the Dulin Peak master.

When he finally wanted to express his feelings to his senior sister, he witnessed...

His beloved senior sister was about to be taken away by a disciple from Xiaoqiong Peak!

Liu Si Zhe immediately declared his intentions to his senior sister, but Liu Yan'er was startled and promptly rejected him.

"Shidi, I have always regarded you as my closest shidi."

Unwilling to accept this, Liu Si Zhe kept pressing Liu Yan'er about her relationship with Wang Qi and even challenged Wang Qi to a duel in private.

As for Wang Qi...

Wang Qi was no weakling. After returning from Beizhou, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, and his once carefree nature had become more restrained. He had now also reached the sixth stage of Fanxu Jing, rising to eighth among the sect's disciples.

After consulting Liu Yan'er, Wang Qi respected her wishes and declined the challenge.

As a result, the situation grew more tense, with neither Liu Si Zhe nor Wang Qi backing down.

In recent days, this had even led to confrontations between disciples of Dulin Peak and Xiaoqiong Peak, drawing rebukes from the sect elders...

The matter had to be resolved quickly.

Liu Yan'er's visit to Xiaoqiong Peak was solely to find Li Changshou and have him provide testimony.

That way, she could explain clearly to Liu Si Zhe how she and Wang Qi had fallen in love at first sight.

Little did she expect that as soon as she arrived, Wang Qi and Liu Si Zhe followed right behind, creating this awkward and hostile scene.

Lan Ling'e looked at the low table, which was almost shattered by their auras, and felt a slight pang of heartache...

After all, this was something her senior brother had made by hand.

"Two senior brothers?"

"Hmm?"

The two serious and imposing faces turned toward her at the same time, making Lan Ling'e shrink back a little.

Lan Ling'e smiled and said:

"Could the two senior brothers wait aside for a moment?

We women have some things to discuss that aren't suitable for senior brothers to hear."

Liu Si Zhe and Wang Qi both looked at Liu Yan'er, whose eyes showed a mix of helplessness and urging.

Immediately, the two stood up and walked toward the lake nearby.

Wang Qi was quite thoughtful and set up a magic barrier under the tree.

Seeing this, Liu Si Zhe returned and added another thicker, stronger barrier around it.

Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly in the air.

Inside the barrier, Liu Yan'er felt utterly overwhelmed.

"Senior Sister Liu Yan'er, my senior brother has gone to sever mortal ties and won't be back for at least a year."

Lan Ling'e paused before adding:

"You could consult Youqin Senior Sister about this."

"I already went," Liu Yan'er sighed softly, "but Youqin Junior Sister is in seclusion, and I didn't dare disturb her. Now, this matter can only be clarified by Li Changshou."

Lan Ling'e was a bit puzzled. "But how would my senior brother's testimony that you two fell in love at first sight help?"

"My shidi is just stubborn like that," Liu Yan'er said with a bitter smile. "He thinks I'm using Wang Qi as an excuse because I don't want to hold him back from his immortal path.

But I really...

Oh, what am I to do? I even asked Uncle-Master Jiu, but she's in seclusion too.

And now Li Changshou isn't here."

Lan Ling'e was about to politely say that this had nothing to do with Xiaoqiong Peak,

But before she could organize her words, she suddenly felt the ground trembling...

Looking up, she saw the two senior brothers from other peaks already on the open ground in front of the grass hut, kneeing against each other in a test of strength!

Due to sect rules prohibiting private fights, any grudges had to be reported to Baifan Hall for official arrangements.

As immortal seedlings of the sect, Wang Qi and Liu Si Zhe were holding back.

They simply extended their left legs and pressed their knees together, their gazes fierce as if ready to devour each other!

Liu Yan'er immediately covered her forehead with her hand, not knowing how to smooth things over.

Lan Ling'e blinked, thinking that this scene...

Was just like the spiritual beasts in the back mountain enclosure fighting over mates!

A light laugh escaped her thoughts, and Lan Ling'e quickly came up with a plan.

She stood up, stepped out of the barrier, and shouted to the two:

"Stop fighting! This way, you won't even hurt each other!

Uh, no.

Please pay attention, senior brothers—the sect forbids disciples from fighting privately, and this is Xiaoqiong Peak territory.

Since you've come here, why not follow Xiaoqiong Peak's rules? Regardless of how Senior Sister Liu Yan'er decides, you two can first compete here to see who's superior.

What do you think?"

The two jumped back, though their knees throbbed with pain, they both acted unfazed and nodded.

Liu Si Zhe asked, "What rules?"

"My senior brother loves brewing wine," Lan Ling'e said with a slight smile. "Please, both senior brothers, have a taste."

A moment later...

With two loud thumps, Wang Qi and Liu Si Zhe both slumped onto the low table, their wine jars slipping from their hands—they had each drunk only about a third.

It was, after all, the diluted version of Jiu Ji's favorite beauty charm wine.

Liu Yan'er let out a soft breath and smiled gratefully at Lan Ling'e.

Yet, she didn't seem ready to leave just yet.

"Senior Sister Liu Yan'er, I have a method that might help you make a decision."

Lan Ling'e felt a bit helpless but gestured for Liu Yan'er to lean closer, whispering a few words in her ear.

Liu Yan'er frowned. "Is that really okay?"

"It's just to make Liu Shixiong realize it's hopeless. If he can even accept someone else's child, then we can think of other ways," Lan Ling'e said with a wink. "But remember to have Wang Qi get a witness first, so your reputation isn't damaged, Senior Sister."

"I've learned from you!

If this works out, I owe you a great debt, Junior Sister!"

Liu Yan'er stood up excitedly, bowed in salute, and Lan Ling'e quickly waved her hand.

Soon, this senior sister used two clouds to carry the drunken pair away into the sky, heading toward Dulin Peak.

"Really, everything always ends up involving my senior brother.

Is Xiaoqiong Peak's senior brother that idle?"

Completely unaware of the trouble she had stirred up, Lan Ling'e hummed lightly, picked up a handkerchief, and took the low table to the lake to clean it thoroughly.

Should she call her master to go watch the spectacle at Dulin Peak?

Nah, better not stir up more trouble, or her senior brother would scold her again when he returns.

"Stinky senior brother, what's wrong with taking your junior sister along to sever mortal ties? I could even help kowtow for you!

Seriously...

Next time I go to sever mortal ties, I'll drag you along whether you want to or not. Hmph!"

...

Two thousand li southwest of the Duxianmen mountain gate, near the sixth heavenly spiritual vein.

"I wonder if Lan Ling'e has caused any trouble."

Li Changshou awoke from meditation and murmured to himself, his eyes calm.

His realm was steadily consolidating. Although his cultivation hadn't improved, his strength was growing visibly.

He checked the webs he had set up around him and the various warning arrays, then switched to another cave to continue his seclusion.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since he arrived at the outskirts of Duxianmen.

Though he was right outside the mountain gate, he didn't want to return too soon. Besides the three years of guarding the tomb, he had to account for travel time and do what a fourth-stage Fanxu Jing disciple should.

After more than three years away from the sect, the immortal seedlings on various peaks had probably advanced another minor realm or two.

Showing himself at fourth-stage Fanxu Jing would keep him in line with the mainstream disciples—just enough to enjoy most of the sect's benefits without drawing too much attention.

As the day to return drew nearer, Li Changshou felt increasingly restless.

As the saying goes, even a penny can stump a hero; his current assets were sorely mismatched with his cultivation level.

It was like in his past life playing games, getting a level-up package but no good equipment to use.

Where could he get some treasure materials?

Improving Xiaoqiong Peak's composite great array required a lot of treasure materials.

Enhancing his own means of defense would need even more...

If only he had an endless supply of spirit stones.

Li Changshou rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought.

He had once considered the idea of Duxianmen's spirit mines, thinking of branching off a small vein to solve the spirit stone problem.

But he felt that would be unethical.

Duxianmen had nurtured him for so many years, and now that he had some strength, he didn't want to be their enforcer, let alone secretly mine their spirit stones.

That wasn't just shearing the sect's wool—it was straight-up stealing their meat.

"Go to the nearest market town and sell some poison pills or immortal pills?"

Li Changshou thought for a moment but decided it wasn't necessary.

He suspected he might have a "trouble-attracting" constitution.

During his tribulation, he miscalculated the heavenly dao and endured two heavenly tribulations, even provoking heavenly punishment.

Badly injured by the punishment, he fled westward inside a fish.

—Because he sensed figures approaching from the east at the time.

Yet, that massive fish was caught by mortals and brought ashore!

He had just encountered a bear village and ended up with the reputation of a sea god.

At the time, he was in his original appearance, his disguises all destroyed in the tribulation. The god statue built by the bear village a year ago was of his true face...

If he went to a market town full of demons and spirits, wouldn't that cause even bigger issues?

Oh, right—his statue should have fallen by now, right?

Since he hadn't shown any signs, it must have.

Li Changshou calculated with his fingers, and his face froze. Then, his whole body was covered in black lines...

What the heck!

Ahem, a young immortal shouldn't swear.

What was going on?

How did he suddenly have over a hundred statues?

And how had the incense merit accumulated so much without him noticing? It was even more than what he got from slaying a great demon!

What was this about?

Because he carried small items that shielded heavenly calculations, he could only sense the worship scenes by actively divining.

Could it be...

Perhaps...

Maybe...

"Village chief (or settlement leader, city lord, sir)!

I found out the secret to why the people in Bear Village are so strong!

They worship a sea god every day!

Ever since they started worshiping this sea god, not only have they become stronger, their fishing hauls have doubled, and their clan has no illnesses—it's incredibly effective!"

"Quick! Let's make one too!"

Imagining this scene, Li Changshou's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

What... what should he do?

If he said he never meant to compete with Western Cult for incense merit, would they believe him?

What poison could take down a saint?

Had he already half-sealed his fate?

Li Changshou tilted his head back, and a tiny shadow flew out of his open mouth—it was his yuan spirit escaping in shock—but he quickly sucked it back in...

He had to think of a way, must think of a way!