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"Congratulations, Senior Brother (Junior Brother, Martial Uncle, Senior Uncle), on successfully overcoming your tribulation!"

As Old Daoist Qi Yuan weathered the ninth bolt of Heavenly Thunder and the Tribulation Cloud descended with immortal light to aid his ascension, the many Celestial Immortals and Qi Practitioners of the Immortal Crossing Sect offered their congratulations one after another.

Even Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e, suppressing the grief and anxiety in their hearts, offered their felicitations: "Congratulations, Master, on successfully overcoming your tribulation. May you henceforth enjoy immortal blessings and live as long as the heavens."

"Ha ha ha ha, many thanks to all my fellow brothers and sisters. This Poor Daoist has just overcome the tribulation and still needs to stabilize his realm. Once I have secured my cultivation, I will surely make amends!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was overjoyed. He had finally become an immortal, and having weathered nine bolts of Heavenly Thunder, it was not an exaggeration to call it Golden Immortal Aptitude.

After all, even Venerable Wangqing, who two years ago had beaten a Dragon Clan Celestial Immortal like a loach, was merely a Celestial Immortal himself. It was said that when he underwent his tribulation, he had only faced eight bolts of Heavenly Thunder.

Lesser Qiong Peak was about to rise.

However...

A glint of cold light flashed in Old Daoist Qi Yuan's eyes.

Now that he had become an immortal, it was time to deal with the matters of those years past.

"No rush. I've waited centuries; a few more years won't matter. The only concern is that Changshou and the others will need to be careful when they go out."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan knew that his enemies would surely set their sights on him again, and his disciples would likely be targeted as well.

As for the reason, it was nothing more than to lure him out of the sect. So he needed to warn his disciples to avoid going out as much as possible.

These thoughts did not occupy Old Daoist Qi Yuan for long. They flashed through his mind in an instant, and then he flew down from the sky.

"Oh? Where is Yang'er?"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan did not see Li Yang and felt a flicker of doubt.

Lan Ling'e hesitated and couldn't help but glance at Li Changshou. Seeing this, Li Changshou stepped forward and said with a chuckle, "Master, Junior Brother had an insight while watching your tribulation and rushed off to go into seclusion. I imagine the next time you see him, he might even have reached the Return to Dao stage."

How could Old Daoist Qi Yuan miss the little gestures between the two? His foolish disciple had likely run into some trouble, and they didn't want him to worry.

Thinking it over, the only possibility was that Immortal Pill.

But since his two disciples were hiding it from him, there was no need to expose them. He would observe carefully—if something truly had happened, he would swallow his pride and beg the sect for justice.

"Is that so? That's wonderful. I knew Xiao Yang was exceptionally gifted. Just watching me undergo the tribulation brought him enlightenment. In the future, he will surely achieve Golden Immortal or even Great Luo."

Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e replied with smiles, "Junior Brother (Senior Brother) has unparalleled talent and will surely live up to Master's words."

"Mm," Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded. "I have just overcome the tribulation and need some time to stabilize my cultivation realm.

Changshou, you have always been steady in your affairs. Make sure to lead Ling'e in diligent cultivation and do not go out without reason.

Back then, your master had some enemies still within the sect, so..."

"Disciple understands. I will not go out recklessly, and I will also keep Junior Brother and Junior Sister from doing so."

Before Old Daoist Qi Yuan could finish, Li Changshou bowed in acknowledgment. He knew this Great Desolation World was dangerous.

Look—now that Master's Dao Foundation had recovered and he had successfully become an immortal, the enemies were bound to show themselves, weren't they?

But these enemies would have to be dealt with. How to handle them, however, would depend on first checking on Junior Brother's condition.

Seeing the grave expression on Li Changshou's face, Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled inwardly.

"You don't need to be so tense. As long as you don't leave the sect, this person won't make a move against you. I will handle his matter myself."

When he spoke the words "handle," the usually kind and gentle Old Daoist Qi Yuan suddenly erupted with a vast and utterly pure Killing Qi, startling Li Changshou into a shiver.

'An illusion. It must be an illusion.'

Then he replied, "Yes, Master!"

Lan Ling'e had no mind for gossip either. She was deeply anxious, not knowing what was happening with her Senior Brother, and so she instinctively echoed the response.

"Very well, then I will take my leave."

Seeing that both disciples had agreed, Old Daoist Qi Yuan felt reassured and departed on his cloud.

Arriving at the thatched hut halfway up the mountain, Old Daoist Qi Yuan descended from his cloud and sensed that the aura within Li Yang's hut was somewhat unstable but showed clear signs of a breakthrough. He relaxed.

'Perhaps This Poor Daoist was truly overthinking things. Still, I need to observe a bit more carefully. As Changshou said, better to be steady!'

With that, Old Daoist Qi Yuan entered his own thatched hut to go into seclusion.

On the other side, Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e had only just arrived belatedly on their cloud. Lan Ling'e was anxious, but Li Changshou stopped her with a sound transmission.

"Master is watching!"

With that, they both cast a sidelong glance downward. The paper hanging at their waists, used to passively monitor spiritual sense and Immortal Sense, had already changed color—proof that their master had not believed their words.

Then Lan Ling'e said, "Well then, Senior Brother, I'm off to cultivate."

Li Changshou replied, "Mm. Watching Master undergo the tribulation gave me some insights as well."

Their voices were not loud and sounded perfectly natural. Then each went to their own thatched hut to cultivate.

After a short while, the door to Lan Ling'e's hut cracked open, and a small head poked out, scanning left and right. Then, grinning like a chicken thief, she grabbed some milk tea, made her way to the Spiritual Lake, pulled out a reclining chair, and lay down comfortably, swaying back and forth.

"It seems This Poor Daoist was overthinking things."

Seeing Lan Ling'e so carefree, Old Daoist Qi Yuan finally set his mind at ease. Li Yang truly had gained some insight. Then a sense of urgency rose in his heart.

"This Poor Daoist needs to cultivate diligently as well. If my disciple surpasses me, that would be a great loss of face."

Qi Yuan withdrew his Immortal Sense and began sorting through his gains, stabilizing his cultivation realm.

Lan Ling'e watched the test paper at her waist return to its original color and let out a long breath.

Several days later, after confirming that their master had not extended his Immortal Sense again, Lan Ling'e and Li Changshou quietly appeared and arrived at the thatched hut where Li Yang was staying.

"Creak!"

Li Yang seemed to know they were coming; the door gently opened, and the two slipped inside in an instant.

Then, they saw Li Yang's condition.

"Senior Brother!"

"Junior Brother!"

Seeing Li Yang's body covered in wounds like shattered porcelain, with arcs of lightning crawling across him, they both cried out in alarm. Lan Ling'e covered her mouth and began to sob.

"Senior Brother, what happened to you? Are you alright?"

Lan Ling'e wanted to throw herself into Li Yang's arms, but seeing his injuries, she dared not move recklessly.

Li Yang had appeared this time in his True Body, not to complain, but because he feared he might fall in the future and wanted to prepare them in advance.

"It's fine, don't cry. Be good!"

He first comforted Lan Ling'e, then spoke, though it was unclear to whom.

"This is Heavenly Punishment, a Dao Injury. There's no cure. Don't tell Master."

Li Changshou's heart pounded. He had known it would be something like this.

He then asked, "What exactly does this injury do to you? How can it be healed?"

Li Yang replied, "The effect of this Dao Injury is that one hour equals one year of my lifespan. As for how to heal it, I'd have to become a Golden Immortal, or get something like a Nine-Turn Golden Pill. But Senior Brother, don't bother trying."

What?

Both were shocked. Lan Ling'e exclaimed in alarm, "A True Immortal's lifespan is barely a 'single meeting'—doesn't that mean Senior Brother has less than three years to live?"

Saying this, Lan Ling'e broke down in helpless tears.

Three years. She couldn't even become an immortal herself, so how could she help her senior brother?

But Li Yang just smiled and reached out to pat Lan Ling'e's head.

"Who do you think your senior brother is? Such a genius—I could defeat immortals even before reaching the immortal realm, let alone after becoming one."

Lan Ling'e's face lit up with joy, and even Li Changshou felt a glimmer of hope in his heart.

"So you're fine, Senior Brother?"

"No."

Li Yang said proudly, "I can still live for twenty-nine more years."

Lan Ling'e: ...

Li Changshou: ...

Why did this scene feel vaguely familiar??