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

After Qi Yuan had survived the ninth Heavenly Thunder and the Tribulation Cloud sent down immortal light to help him become an immortal, the many immortals and Qi Practitioners of the Immortal Crossing Sect offered their congratulations.

Even Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e suppressed their grief and anxiety to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Master, on successfully overcoming your tribulation. May you enjoy immortal bliss forever and live as long as the heavens."

"Hahahaha! Thank you, fellow senior and junior brothers. I've only just succeeded in overcoming my tribulation, and still need to stabilize my cultivation. Once I've done so, I'll be sure to make it up to you all!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was delighted. He had finally become an immortal, and had even survived all nine Heavenly Thunders. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had Golden Immortal Aptitude.

After all, Venerable Wangqing, who had beaten a Dragon Clan Celestial Immortal like a loach two years ago, was only a Celestial Immortal. It was said that he had faced only eight Heavenly Thunders during his tribulation.

His Lesser Qiong Peak was about to rise to prominence.

However...

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

Now that he had become an immortal, it was time to settle the matter from back then.

"There's no rush. We've waited for hundreds of years; a few more won't make a difference. Still, Changshou and the others will need to be careful when they go out from now on."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan knew that his enemy had surely set his sights on him again. His disciples were likely to be targeted as well.

The reason was obvious: the enemy wanted to lure him out of the sect. So he needed to remind his disciples to avoid going out as much as possible.

These thoughts barely took Old Daoist Qi Yuan any time. They flashed through his mind, and then he flew down from the sky.

"Hm? Where's Yang'er?"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan didn't see Li Yang and felt puzzled.

Lan Ling'e hesitated and glanced at Li Changshou. Seeing this, Li Changshou stepped forward with a smile. "Master, Junior Brother had a sudden insight while watching you overcome your tribulation, so he hurried off to enter seclusion. Maybe the next time you see him, he'll already have reached the Return to Dao stage."

How could Old Daoist Qi Yuan have missed the little exchange between them? Something had probably happened to his foolish disciple, and the two of them simply didn't want him to worry.

After thinking it over, he could only conclude that it had something to do with that Immortal Pill.

Still, since his two disciples were hiding it from him, there was no need to call them out. He would observe carefully, and if something really had happened, he would swallow his pride and ask the sect to uphold justice.

"Really? That's wonderful! I knew Little Yang was exceptionally talented. He gained something just from watching me overcome my tribulation. He'll surely become a Golden Immortal Great Luo in the future."

Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e smiled and replied, "Junior Brother (Senior Brother) is peerlessly talented. He'll surely achieve what Master says."

"Mm." Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded. "I've only just succeeded in overcoming my tribulation, and I need some time to stabilize my cultivation and realm.

"Changshou, you've always been dependable. Make sure you and Ling'e focus on your cultivation, and don't go out unless necessary.

"Some of Master's old enemies are still in the sect, so..."

"This disciple understands. I won't go out casually, and I'll make sure Junior Brother and Junior Sister stay in, too."

Before Old Daoist Qi Yuan could finish, Li Changshou bowed and accepted the order. He had known the Great Desolation World was dangerous.

Just look at this. Once Master's Dao Foundation had recovered and he'd successfully become an immortal, his enemies were bound to come out, right?

But those enemies would need to be dealt with, too. As for how, he would first need to see how Junior Brother was doing.

Seeing Li Changshou's solemn expression, Old Daoist Qi Yuan smiled to himself.

"There's no need to be so tense. As long as you don't leave the sect, this person won't come after you. I'll handle his affairs myself."

When he said "handle," Old Daoist Qi Yuan, who was usually kind and gentle, suddenly released an immense, utterly pure Killing Qi. Li Changshou shuddered.

An illusion. It must have been an illusion.

Then he replied, "Yes, Master!"

Lan Ling'e wasn't in the mood to gossip either. She was worried sick and had no idea what was happening to Senior Brother, so she instinctively echoed Li Changshou.

"In that case, I'll be off."

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

At the Thatched Cottage halfway up the mountain, Old Daoist Qi Yuan lowered his cloud and sensed that the aura inside Li Yang's cottage was somewhat unstable, yet clearly showed signs of a breakthrough. He finally relaxed.

Perhaps I really was worrying too much. Still, I should observe carefully for a while longer. Just as Changshou said, better to play it safe!

Then Old Daoist Qi Yuan entered his own Thatched Cottage to cultivate in seclusion.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e had only just ridden their clouds over. Lan Ling'e was anxious, but Li Changshou stopped her with a voice transmission.

"Master's watching!"

As he spoke, they glanced down out of the corners of their eyes. The paper hanging at their waists, which passively monitored their spiritual sense and Immortal Sense, had changed color. That meant Master hadn't believed their story.

Then Lan Ling'e said, "Senior Brother, I'm going to cultivate."

Li Changshou replied, "Mm. Watching Master overcome his tribulation gave me some insights, too."

They spoke in low voices, sounding perfectly natural, then went to cultivate in their respective Thatched Cottages.

Before long, the door of Lan Ling'e's Thatched Cottage cracked open, and a little head peeked out. After looking left and right to make sure the coast was clear, she grinned like a chicken thief and carried her milk tea over to the Spiritual Lake. She took out a reclining chair, then lay back comfortably and rocked it gently.

"It seems I really was worrying too much."

Seeing how carefree Lan Ling'e was, Old Daoist Qi Yuan finally relaxed. Li Yang really had gained some insight, and a sense of urgency welled up in him.

"I'd better get to cultivating, too. If my disciples catch up with me, I'll lose face terribly."

Then Qi Yuan withdrew his Immortal Sense and began sorting through what he'd gained this time, stabilizing his cultivation and realm.

Seeing the test paper at her waist change back to its original color, Lan Ling'e let out a long breath.

Several days later, after confirming that Master hadn't sent out his Immortal Sense again, Lan Ling'e and Li Changshou finally slipped out and went to the Thatched Cottage where Li Yang was staying.

"Creak!"

As if he knew they were coming, Li Yang's door opened quietly, and the two of them darted inside in an instant.

Then they saw Li Yang's condition.

"Senior Brother!"

"Junior Brother!"

Seeing Li Yang covered in wounds like a shattered porcelain doll, with arcs of electricity coursing around him, they cried out in shock. Lan Ling'e even covered her mouth and began to sob.

"Senior Brother, what happened to you? Are you all right?"

Lan Ling'e wanted to throw herself into Li Yang's arms, but when she saw his injuries, she didn't dare move recklessly.

Li Yang had appeared in his true form this time. He hadn't come to complain; he was afraid he might die in the future, so he wanted to prepare them in advance.

"I'm fine. Don't cry, there, there!"

First, he comforted Lan Ling'e. Then he spoke, though it was unclear who he was addressing.

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

Li Changshou's heart lurched. He'd known it was something like this.

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

Li Yang replied, "The effect of this wound is that every hour costs me a year of my life. 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 waste your effort."

What?

The two were stunned. Lan Ling'e was even more shocked. "A True Immortal only lives for one 'hui.' Does that mean you have less than three years to live, Senior Brother?"

At that, Lan Ling'e broke down sobbing.

Three years—she couldn't even become an immortal by then. How could she help Senior Brother?

But Li Yang smiled and reached out to pat Lan Ling'e on the head.

"Who do you think your Senior Brother is? I'm such a genius that I can beat an immortal before even reaching the Immortal Realm, let alone after I become one."

Lan Ling'e brightened, and even Li Changshou felt a flicker of joy.

"So you're all right, Senior Brother?"

"No."

Li Yang declared proudly, "I can still live for another twenty-nine years."

Lan Ling'e: ...

Li Changshou: ...

Why did this scene seem strangely familiar?