Before the pill chamber, Li Changshou sat quietly in his reclining chair. His left hand was open, and within it, a wisp of blue flame burned slowly.
This wasn't the complete Threefold True Flame—displaying it openly didn't matter. After all, it had been three months since the Venerable Wangqing rewarded him with the cultivation method. Being able to produce the simplest "Qi Fire" was perfectly reasonable.
In terms of pure power, Qi Fire couldn't compare to even a third of the Gloomy Cold True Flame when fed the same amount of mana.
But once he combined Qi Fire, Essence Fire, and Spirit Fire into the Threefold True Flame, its power was estimated to be several times greater than the Gloomy Cold True Flame!
Li Changshou had already grasped the principles behind the Threefold True Flame's cultivation method.
Essentially, it involved nurturing three fire seeds from one's own qi, essence, and spirit, then fusing those three seeds into the Threefold True Flame. This fire could permanently reside within the body, burning away evil and purifying filth—granting the practitioner the protection of true fire.
What satisfied Li Changshou most was that the flame's power was directly related to the fire seeds condensed from one's essence and spirit.
In other words, the Threefold True Flame's power could increase as his own cultivation advanced. He wouldn't waste years mastering a technique that would become obsolete within a few years.
A white cloud drifted in from the horizon. Li Changshou clenched his left fist, extinguishing the Qi Fire with a pinch.
He rose and cupped his fists in a Dao salute toward the cloud.
The diminutive Taoist on the cloud smiled, peering down while maintaining a height of ten zhang. His voice came warm and measured:
"Senior Nephew Changshou. I've heard that three months ago, your trip to the East Sea was quite fruitful. Your handling of the Dragon Palace Second Prince's provocation was commendable—not in vain was my recommendation."
Li Changshou immediately offered a gentle smile. "Thanks to your generosity, Martial Uncle. This disciple obtained both a fire technique and a thunder technique. Today, I've prepared a modest banquet as a token of gratitude for your guidance."
Jiu Wu, who had only recently returned to the mountain, narrowed his thick eyebrows and grinned.
"Why do I sense... a trap?"
"Usually when I come here to mooch drinks, you're reluctant to give even a drop."
"You went to the East Sea only because I coaxed and tricked you. Could Senior Nephew Changshou be plotting against me with some poisoned pill?"
Li Changshou laughed despite himself. "I'm merely a disciple of Xiaoqiong Peak. You're not only a True Immortal of the sect but also from Potian Peak, a steward valued by all the elders."
"Even if I wanted to scheme against you, Martial Uncle, I wouldn't dare."
"Besides, this trip to the East Sea truly yielded immense benefits for your humble nephew."
As he spoke, Li Changshou produced two "luminous pearls" from his sleeve. "These are recording spheres—magic artifacts. I've improved them slightly into sound-and-vision spheres."
"One for you, Martial Uncle, one for me. The entire banquet will be recorded on these spheres. How about it?"
Jiu Wu was delighted. He leapt from the cloud with his hands behind his back, looked up at Li Changshou, and accepted one of the spheres.
"Let's see what medicine you're selling in that gourd of yours. Very well."
"After you, Martial Uncle." Li Changshou's smile only grew warmer.
Two low tables sat side by side beside the pill furnace. Little Ling'e's culinary skills—cultivated by her senior brother's training—were on full display. A lavish spread of food and wine covered one table, with three stacked wine jars nearby.
The two took their seats as host and guest, each placing a sound-and-vision sphere on the corner of their table.
Jiu Wu picked up a jade chopstick and tasted every dish and every jar of wine in turn.
"You're really just inviting me for drinks?" Jiu Wu laughed. "Could it be that each dish contains a different harmless herb, but combined they form some lethal poison?"
Li Changshou couldn't help but press his forehead with one hand, shaking his head with a sigh: "What kind of wind and rain have you weathered out there, Martial Uncle, to think so little of my intentions? I am not a bad person, after all."
"Ha ha ha, just joking!"
Jiu Wu waved his hand and picked up a wine jar to toast. The two drank with abandon.
Before long, half a jar of wine had gone down. Jiu Wu truly only touched half the dishes, leaving the other half completely untouched.
Li Changshou, meanwhile, leisurely sampled every dish, continuously praising his junior sister's culinary skills.
When both were slightly tipsy, Li Changshou brought forth the third jar of wine.
*'Here it comes. This guy's tricks are so predictable.'*
Jiu Wu chuckled inwardly, wondering what Li Changshou would do.
But Li Changshou said: "Martial Uncle, this is a gift of thanks from your nephew—Bone-Strengthening Poison Dragon Wine."
"Oh?" Jiu Wu raised an eyebrow. He used immortal power to bring the wine jar to a distance of several zhang and opened it there, then used qi to control a chopstick, dipping just a tiny amount of wine to sample between his fingertips.
Jiu Wu's eyes lit up. "Excellent wine!"
Li Changshou spoke with gravity: "It's brewed from thirty-six types of poisonous herbs and twelve kinds of poisonous insects, supplemented by Ganges River Old White Liquor. After three months of steeping, the toxicity has been perfectly neutralized. It nourishes essence, strengthens bones, and enhances masculine vigor."
"But there is one concern—I'm not sure if you can handle it, Martial Uncle. The potency is quite strong."
Jiu Wu and Li Changshou exchanged knowing glances. Both smiled in mutual understanding.
Both understood. Both understood.
Jiu Wu laughed: "What is there that I can't handle? I have a dao companion!"
"That is precisely why I brewed this medicinal wine. Martial Uncle, please."
"Pour it out! Pour it out!"
Jiu Wu's mood soared. He brought the medicinal wine back, took a small sip first, analyzed it carefully, then tipped his head back and gulped down a large mouthful. Instantly, he felt refreshed and invigorated!
"Just so happens Martial Sister Jiu Shi recently came out of seclusion. I'm truly not worried at all!"
"Don't drink too much at once, Martial Uncle."
"I'm a True Immortal—what is there to fear?"
The two continued their cups clinking. Jiu Wu was now slightly drunk, and the table was a mess of plates and cups.
"Little Changshou, tell me—how exactly are you planning to scheme against me?"
Jiu Wu hugged the wine jar and raised his eyebrow. "I'm almost done drinking and about to leave."
Li Changshou shook his head with a helpless laugh and sighed: "Actually, the real reason I invited you here, Martial Uncle, was to ask for your help."
"Oh?"
"Among the formation insights you gave me, there's a Nine-Light Bright Glass Formation. I've studied it with Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu for half a month but still can't set it up. I was hoping you could offer some guidance."
Jiu Wu was amused. The Nine-Light Bright Glass Formation was a trapping formation he had created. Even if Li Changshou intended to trap him with it, he could break it effortlessly.
"Let's go. I'll take a look."
Jiu Wu pocketed the medicinal wine, and both men took their sound-and-vision spheres to an open area behind the pill chamber.
On the ground lay eighty-one small bronze mirrors arranged in a mysterious pattern. Jiu Wu immediately spotted the problem and offered a few pointers to Li Changshou with a smile.
Li Changshou's face brightened with delight. He stepped forward and adjusted several mirrors according to Jiu Wu's instructions. The eighty-one bronze mirrors immediately shimmered with light as the trapping formation activated, enclosing both of them within.
Silver light filled the surroundings—no trees, flowers, or birds could be seen.
Jiu Wu remained unruffled, his eyes narrowing with a smile: "Changshou, is this your grand scheme? Trapping yourself here with me? Think you've vented your anger that way?"
"Self-deception isn't healthy, you know."
Li Changshou turned around with a smile: "Martial Uncle, you flatter me. How could your nephew scheme against you?"
As he spoke, a wisp of flame suddenly bloomed across his legs and arms.
Jiu Wu was stunned at first, then shouted: "Why are you on fire?!"
"Martial Uncle, why..."
Li Changshou cried out with a trembling voice and casually tossed his sound-and-vision sphere toward a certain direction.
In the blink of an eye, flames consumed him from every angle. His figure burst with a pop into a paper figure, instantly incinerated in the firelight.
Jiu Wu's eyes went wide.
The Spirit Fire of the Threefold True Flame?
The Paper-Cut Incarnation from the Thirty-Six Heavenly Arts?
This kid had already ignited the Spirit Fire? And possessed such an advanced divine ability?
No...
Jiu Wu spun around. Silver light filled the surroundings, and now he was alone in the trapping formation.
This kid had been using the sound-and-vision sphere to stain his reputation!
Jiu Wu suddenly realized what was happening, then chuckled and began methodically breaking the formation.
"Changshou, Changshou. You're still too green. What crime would you report me for at the Hall of Rewards and Punishments? Tsk tsk. I truly overestimated your cunning."
"I have plenty of friends in high places. Besides, this formation is my own creation—how could I not find the exit?"
As he spoke, Jiu Wu took several steps. The surrounding light and shadow spun rapidly, shifting from a silver-lit expanse into...
A gold-lit expanse.
The smile on Jiu Wu's lips froze. He lowered his head, counted on his fingers, and cursed: "Why is it another interconnected formation?!"
He hurried forward, quickly reaching another region of flickering starlight.
He walked again, only to circle back to the original silver-lit area.
He leapt into the air, but upon reaching the sky, plunged headfirst into the gold-lit expanse!
By now, Jiu Wu had realized this formation had been modified beyond his imagination. Escape techniques were completely blocked, and the base structure was indeed his own creation—the Nine-Light Bright Glass Formation!
This formation was something he'd painstakingly designed. Only a Heavenly Immortal could brute-force their way through!
Jiu Wu's five-foot-tall body trembled, the alcohol fumes dissipating as his mind raced.
From the moment Senior Nephew Changshou had Jiu Jiu deliver an invitation to this banquet, the scheme had begun!
When he'd arrived at Xiaoqiong Peak and checked with his immortal sense, he'd seen "Senior Nephew Changshou" sitting there cultivating Qi Fire. He'd subconsciously neglected to check whether anything was off about "Senior Nephew Changshou" himself!
The banquet itself was just a smokescreen. The real retaliation was this formation array.
Because it was his own trapping formation, he'd entered it with absolute confidence—forgetting that this kid loved setting up interconnected formations!
But...
So what if he was trapped?
Jiu Wu sat cross-legged on the ground. He was a True Immortal—even if trapped for a few months, what of it?
*'This kid vents his anger like this?'*
Jiu Wu laughed despite himself, but the smile suddenly froze on his face.
H-hot...
His entire body's blood seemed to be surging wildly...
Sweat was pouring from every pore. A turbid yang energy within him was rapidly swelling...
Damn it—the medicinal wine!
How could it be so potent?!
Jiu Wu felt his immortal body was practically burning. His mind conjured all manner of intimate images with his dao companion. His rapid breathing was like belching fire, and hot sweat poured from every part of his body!
He immediately tried to expel the medicinal energy, only to find it had already infiltrated every blood vessel!
The hem of his Taoist robe gradually rode up. Jiu Wu shot to his feet, hunched over, his eyes filled with urgency.
"Ch-Changshou! Let me out, quick!"
No!
This kid wanted to see him in this wretched state!
Endure!
He must endure!
He, Jiu Wu, was half-step Heavenly Immortal. Could he not overcome this bit of medicinal energy? Just think—Shi Shi was waiting for him back home. Once he returned, he could...
It was getting worse. He absolutely could not think about Martial Sister!
And he couldn't make a fool of himself—the sound-and-vision sphere was still recording!
He crushed the sound-and-vision sphere in his hand and resumed meditation, rapidly reciting the Calm Heart Formula and the Heart-Clearing Incantation...
Half a shichen later.
"Agh, I can't... this is the kind that gets into your bones. How can I possibly endure this!"
"Changshou!"
"Changshou! Your uncle admits defeat! I'll never scheme against you again—how about that?!"
No response.
Jiu Wu paced frantically, his immortal power straining to suppress the turbid yang energy as he stumbled through the trapping formation.
Suddenly, he spotted a wooden sign. Several lines of text were written on it. He hurried over to read.
This was...
"A Heavenly Way Oath? Opening with the Bright Resonance Oath-Recitation? That harsh?"
"'From this moment forth, without the explicit permission of Li Changshou, eldest disciple of Xiaoqiong Peak of the Du Xian Sect, disciple of Elder Qi Yuan, no arrangements may be made for Li Changshou to perform any task...'"
"'No information whatsoever regarding Senior Nephew Li Changshou may be disclosed to any living being, any artifact, any tool...'"
"'No...'"
"Ah—this is killing me!"
"The oath itself is fairly standard—just secrecy and a promise not to interfere. But the penalty for violation is abominable—losing one's masculine vigor!"
Jiu Wu stomped his foot in frustration, then hurled the wooden sign to the ground.
"I cannot be threatened like this!"
The diminutive Taoist slowly lay down, still suppressing the yang energy, clenching his teeth in endurance.
A moment later...
The little Taoist, eyes red, let out a hoarse roar. He rose to his feet, snatched up the wooden sign, and began reciting the Bright Resonance Oath-Recitation. The Heavenly Way immediately resonated, and rumbling thunder echoed above Xiaoqiong Peak!
After completing the oath of several hundred characters, the surrounding formations slowly dissipated, and the outer formations also deactivated entirely.
Jiu Wu looked around but couldn't find a single soul. Frantic, he leapt into the air and shot toward Potian Peak at full speed.
"Shi Shi!"
"Shi Shi, please don't be in seclusion, Shi Shi—"
After Jiu Wu departed, Li Changshou's form slowly emerged from the grass. He picked up his sound-and-vision sphere and carefully stored it away. With a flick of his sleeve, he merged the trapping formation into the surrounding grand array.
Walking to the wooden sign, he watched the words already beginning to rapidly fade. A faint, composed smile appeared on Li Changshou's face.
Temporarily handled.
...
Two months later, the agreed-upon day for joint pill refinement.
"Hey, Little Shou Shou, do you have any more of that medicinal wine you gave Fifth Senior Brother? Fourth Senior Sister says she wants to trade a few technique manuals for the recipe. You can pick any techniques you want."
"There's still half a jar over there. I'll organize the recipe and have it sent to you later. Just pick techniques with the strongest power," Li Changshou replied without looking up, continuing to sort through his herbs.
Jiu Jiu sidled over to the corner. "This one? It smells so strange."
"Mm, that's the one," Li Changshou said with a smile.
He was about to bend back to his work when he suddenly remembered something and called out: "Women must not drink this carelessly. It's a yang wine made specifically for men—women who drink it will have problems."
Clang!
A wooden ladle clattered to the ground, a small amount of liquid still splashing from it. Jiu Jiu stared at Li Changshou.
"This... if I drink it... what—what would happen?"
She'd already drunk it?!
Black lines covered Li Changshou's forehead. He couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Um... you'd probably just grow a beard? Maybe."