So, I Chose Immortality

"Little Yang, you've reached Void Refining!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sounded doubtful, but was actually certain, and the man was overjoyed as well.

"Yes, Master, your disciple has reached Void Refining First Stage."

Li Yang confirmed Old Daoist Qi Yuan's question, and at the same time released his aura—clearly and unmistakably Void Refining First Stage, and even a very stable one at that.

"Good, good, good!"

Three cries of praise, and Old Daoist Qi Yuan laughed heartily: "Ten years, from a mortal to Void Refining First Stage—truly a peerless immortal seed! This Poor Daoist never thought he could take in such a gifted disciple; heaven truly favors This Poor Daoist!"

This second disciple had achieved Void Refining First Stage in just ten years. If he could maintain this momentum, perhaps in a hundred or two hundred years, he really could transcend the tribulation and become an immortal.

By then, Lesser Qiong Peak would be a peak with an immortal in residence.

At this thought, he turned to look at Li Changshou, and his expression shifted—nose not nose, eyes not eyes.

"Changshou, tell me, as the senior disciple brother, you've been cultivating for over a hundred years, and you're still at First Stage Void Refining..."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sensed the aura Li Changshou was emitting, and his reproachful words caught in his throat, turning into uncertainty.

"Void Refining Third Stage?"

"Yes, Master. The journey to the Northern Juru Continent gave your disciple many insights, and my accumulation was already sufficient, so in these six months, I've reached Void Refining Third Stage."

Li Changshou spoke seriously, yet with a hint of showing off, making him seem like a disciple not yet old in front of his master.

"Hahaha, good, good, good."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was so delighted he didn't know what else to say, only laughing heartily and repeating his praise. He hadn't expected this senior disciple to finally have a breakthrough.

It seemed that going out for training really helped with cultivation progress. Perhaps he could arrange more trips for Changshou, Li Yang, and Ling'e in the future.

For no apparent reason, the three of them suddenly shivered, especially Lan Ling'e, who had to rub her arms—making it even more obvious.

"Ling'e, your cultivation doesn't seem to have grown at all!"

"Huh?"

Lan Ling'e had no time to adjust; who knew her two senior brothers would be such sneaky ones? So in response to her master's words, she just stepped forward, hugged his arm, and acted spoiled.

"Master, look at your disciple's cultivation—it's very stable too, and I'm about to break through!"

Lan Ling'e's aura was steady and deep, clearly built on a solid foundation, not a lie.

"It's fine, Master isn't blaming you.

Besides, my Ling'e is a genius. Ten years after joining the sect, she's at Spirit Transmutation Second Stage, steadily advancing toward Spirit Transmutation Third Stage. Though she can't match your second senior brother, she's still much better than your senior disciple brother..."

With these words, he praised Lan Ling'e to the heavens and belittled Li Changshou to the ground, while Li Yang just grinned on the side.

This warm atmosphere could only be found on Lesser Qiong Peak.

Thinking of this, a glint of cold light flashed in Li Yang's eyes.

This was his master, and the head of Lesser Qiong Peak's family. He didn't want his master to end up like in the original story.

'Perhaps I should contend with It as well.'

Li Changshou seemed to sense something, turned his head, and glanced at Li Yang, but found nothing unusual. Still, he didn't want to be nagged like this.

"Master, Junior Brother just emerged from seclusion and said he sensed an opportunity in the southeast direction, so he hopes your disciple can accompany him. I wonder..."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan's expression immediately turned serious upon hearing this.

"Yang'er sensed an opportunity?

If Heaven grants it, one must not refuse it.

In that case, Changshou, as the senior disciple brother, you will go with your junior brother.

Opportunities always come with some danger. The two of you can look out for each other and be safer."

Li Yang and Li Changshou both bowed in unison: "Yes, Master!"

Ten thousand miles outside the Immortal Crossing Sect, Li Yang and Li Changshou rode clouds, a hundred miles apart from front to back. Yet even so, it didn't hinder their telepathic communication.

"Senior Brother, I must thank you again for coming to pick me up!"

"You and I are called senior and junior brothers, but in truth, we are like blood brothers. There's no need for thanks in picking you up."

The two of them even had to be modest in their telepathic messages, adhering to the principle that courtesy never hurts. After exchanging pleasantries for a good while, Li Changshou finally began to inquire.

"Junior Brother, this time, when it comes to alchemy, are you truly confident?"

"Of course I am. I think Senior Brother is too!"

Since the Melting Immortal Pill was meant for Qi Practitioners who failed their tribulation, it naturally followed that Qi Practitioners before becoming immortals could also refine it—just that without sufficient skill, the success rate was low.

Thus, on Lesser Qiong Peak, both Li Yang and Li Changshou could refine this pill.

But compared to Li Changshou, Li Yang was more suitable.

This was mainly for two reasons: first, Li Yang had the cultivation of an Origin Immortal; second, Li Yang excelled at alchemy—his 'Golden Pill' was the best, and poison pills came second.

These two points were something Li Changshou could never catch up to, no matter how hard he tried.

"I can do it, but refining an immortal-grade pill will cause quite a stir, and I only have two Immortal Tribulation Grasses on hand—failure is not an option.

Junior Brother, you've already crossed the Immortal Ascension Tribulation, so you should understand that for us human Qi Practitioners, our lifespan cannot exceed three thousand years before attaining immortality. This is a fixed law of the Great Dao.

For any post-natal being seeking longevity, the Immortal Ascension Tribulation is an unavoidable trial and ordeal.

But when the Heavenly Thunder falls, it's a judgment of life and death.

Since ancient times, who among those who have crossed the tribulation to become immortals could claim absolute certainty of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation?

And what about our Master?

He suffered an injury in his early years, damaging his Dao Foundation. His Divine Soul's power is even weaker than that of an ordinary Return to Dao Ninth Stage cultivator by half, and his cultivation base isn't even stable.

You know, Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu, who joined the sect years after our Master, is already a True Immortal now, while our Master is still stuck at Return to Dao Ninth Stage. With that kind of psychological gap, it's already remarkable that his Dao Heart hasn't collapsed.

But our Master isn't just our Master—he's also the current Peak Master of Lesser Qiong Peak, the only Peak Master in the Immortal Crossing Sect who hasn't achieved immortality. When the Elder Peak Masters hold council, they don't even bother to notify Lesser Qiong Peak..."

Li Changshou's voice grew choked as he spoke. He couldn't fully empathize with the pressure his Master bore, yet even he felt an immense weight—one could only imagine how Old Daoist Qi Yuan felt.

Li Yang remained silent as well. He understood.

After a long pause, Li Changshou steadied his emotions and continued, "Do you know, Junior Brother, our Master doesn't want to suppress his realm, nor does he want to gamble on achieving immortality when his lifespan runs out.

Master..."

Li Changshou's voice hitched, "Master has already entertained the thought of seeking death under the Heavenly Tribulation, intending to fight for that sliver of a chance with a heart resolved to die.

So, if we don't find another way, facing the Heavenly Tribulation, Master's situation is utterly hopeless.

But with the Melting Immortal Pill, facing the tribulation, Master's chance of survival can reach ninety percent."

Having said this, Li Changshou stopped and turned to face Li Yang, who was a hundred li away.

Even across a hundred li, Li Yang could feel his Senior Brother's seriousness and gravity.

"So, when I say all this, Junior Brother, do you understand? We cannot afford to lose!"

Li Yang, a hundred li away, replied with equal solemnity, "Senior Brother, I understand. That's why... I chose to become an immortal!"