Second Plan for Helping Master Survive the Tribulation

Second Plan for Helping Master Survive the Tribulation

The moon hung over the western hills, and the cups and dishes lay scattered in disarray.

Li Changshou stood before the alchemy room, watching the direction Jiu Wu had left in as the smile gradually faded from his face.

He had, for the moment, stabilized this Martial Uncle.

Ever since that day in the Northern Continent, when Jiu Wu had given him that meaningful look, Li Changshou had known that this meticulous little Daoist had developed a certain "curiosity" about him.

Moreover, he had been quite close to Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu lately, asking her to help him with many things. That would inevitably arouse Martial Uncle Jiu Wu's even stronger "interest."

Curiosity and interest could easily develop into suspicion. That was a potential threat to him.

How could he eliminate the threat posed by Martial Uncle Jiu Wu?

Simple. Kill him.

Ahem. Just kidding.

He had no grievance with Martial Uncle Jiu Wu, and Martial Uncle Jiu Wu himself was immensely powerful, a respected deacon within the sect.

If anything happened to any of the Nine Immortals of the Wine Character, it would cause a massive upheaval throughout the sect.

Trying to ambush Jiu Wu would be nothing but courting death.

Of the remaining options, the safest and most reliable was to invite this Martial Uncle over and have an open, honest talk.

In front of Martial Uncle Jiu Wu, he would make an oath and promise never to do anything harmful to the sect.

Then, incidentally reveal a little of the cultivation he had hidden away, so Martial Uncle Jiu Wu would feel that he had already seen through this junior nephew of his...

That way, not only would Martial Uncle Jiu Wu stop dwelling on him, he might even gain a little goodwill from this senior of the sect.

This was considered taking the initiative—turning a future crisis into a small opportunity.

Li Changshou recalled every detail of his lengthy conversation with Jiu Wu. It was like a film playing in slow motion through his mind as he scrutinized it frame by frame.

The topics they had discussed, the pacing and direction of their conversation, even the subtle shifts in expression and demeanor—Li Changshou had repeatedly worked through all of them beforehand.

After confirming it once more, he should not have revealed any additional information, nor should he have given his Martial Uncle any other associations.

Could something I said have caused another misunderstanding?

Still somewhat uneasy, Li Changshou continued reviewing the conversation, savoring every word and sentence.

He touched his cheek again, recalling each of his prior movements and expressions, as well as the constantly changing look in Martial Uncle Jiu Wu's eyes...

There should not have been any mistakes.

A lovely pale-pink figure appeared at the edge of his vision. Li Changshou turned to look and saw Ling'e flying over the woods atop a white cloud.

Her three thousand strands of black hair danced lightly in the wind, while her pale-pink gauze dress reflected the red of the flowers.

With an empty bamboo basket hanging from her arm, she jumped down before Li Changshou. Her lightly made-up face, illuminated by candlelight, was indescribably delicate and charming.

"Senior Brother! How did it go? Did you settle that Martial Uncle?"

"More or less," Li Changshou replied with a smile. "Actually, this is just a minor aftereffect left over from our trip to the Northern Continent. As long as I don't go out and stir up trouble in the future, I won't draw the attention of such powerful seniors."

Lan Ling'e blinked. "Senior Brother, how did you do it? Did you reveal your hidden cultivation to Martial Uncle Jiu Wu?"

Li Changshou shot his junior sister a glare and transmitted helplessly:

"I revealed part of it. Otherwise, I couldn't have handled him.

"Haven't I told you countless times not to say such things aloud?

"Walls have ears, and even the wind has immortal senses. Of all the things I've taught you over these past ten years, you truly haven't grasped even thirty percent.

"For all we know, some Wind-Following Ear could be listening in on this place right now."

"Oh." Lan Ling'e puffed out her cheeks and said gloomily, "It wasn't like I meant to. I was just worried about you. I'm going to clear the dishes..."

She lowered her head and took two steps, then suddenly turned back, leaned forward, placed her slender hand on her senior brother's shoulder, and breathed orchid fragrance beside Li Changshou's ear as she whispered:

"Senior Brother, what realm are you actually at now? Have you already caught up with Master? Are you about to become an immortal too?"

"You guess."

Li Changshou glanced at her, then hummed a little tune as he strolled away from the small building with his hands behind his back.

Lan Ling'e made a face at Li Changshou, then ran off to clear the empty bowls and chopsticks.

At the same time, on the white cloud returning to Sky-Breaking Peak...

"This wine really has quite a kick. As expected of Ganges Water Old Bai Gan—it really goes to the head."

Jiu Wu's cheeks were flushed. He was pleasantly drunk and swayed slightly, yet his eyes remained clear.

He had used a spell to keep his Primordial Spirit from becoming intoxicated.

As Sky-Breaking Peak drew near, Jiu Wu chuckled, though his heart was filled with emotion.

This Martial Nephew Changshou was already at the fifth stage of the Void Returning Realm! He could rank among the top few of his generation!

Reaching this realm after barely over a century of cultivation—his aptitude was among the finest!

Even rarer was his equally astonishing comprehension. When Jiu Wu had tested him on the Dao of formations earlier, he understood many things with only the slightest prompting.

Most rare of all was his excellent temperament. Compared to the likes of Yuan Qing, he was like the bright moon against mud.

Jiu Wu lowered his head with a long sigh and murmured:

"Though he did not say it, how could this poor Daoist fail to infer why he hid his cultivation?

"While drinking, he clearly hesitated to speak several times. Those subtle expressions he tried to conceal had already revealed the helplessness in his heart.

"Martial Nephew Changshou hid his cultivation because he certainly did not want to bring more storms and turmoil upon the already sparsely populated Lesser Qiong Peak. Even if it meant he himself would not receive the sect's focused nurturing, he did not wish to bring any unnecessary trouble to Junior Brother Qi Yuan.

"A good disciple. A good disciple indeed.

"If Junior Brother Qi Yuan fails his tribulation, I shall ask either Eldest Senior Sister or Second Senior Brother to come forth and take Martial Nephew Changshou and his junior sister into Sky-Breaking Peak together."

After sighing again and again, Sky-Breaking Peak was already right before him.

Jiu Wu glanced at his junior sister's pavilion and found that she had activated the Protection Array Formations. She should already be resting.

"Later, I should have Junior Sister bring some Classics to Martial Nephew Changshou.

"Mm, another day, I'll speak with the Elder of Teaching Transmission. For such an immortal seedling, beginning cultivation of the Wu Wei Scripture before becoming an immortal should not be a problem.

"Lesser Qiong Peak...

"Junior Brother Qi Yuan has taken in a fine disciple. It truly makes one envious."

With a shake of his head and a sigh, Jiu Wu returned to his own pavilion, casually activated the surrounding formations, then drifted to the bed where a faint lingering fragrance remained and sat down to cultivate.

Two more days passed after Li Changshou's nighttime talk with Jiu Wu.

Li Changshou finally confirmed that this Martial Uncle had not done anything further.

That brought him considerable relief. His life of cultivation had at last returned to the calm that had lasted for the previous hundred years.

These small disturbances had all arisen because of two tiny stalks of Immortal-Resolving Grass.

Now that the Melting Immortal Pill had been refined and the disturbances had subsided, Li Changshou was fairly satisfied with both the process and the outcome.

That afternoon, in the alchemy room, Li Changshou wrapped one Melting Immortal Pill in a layer of specially made sugar coating.

At this point, the preparations required for the First Plan could be considered a complete success.

Then Li Changshou looked at the extra eleven Melting Immortal Pills he had refined, divided them into three portions, and carefully put them away.

Few people refined such things, but for those with no hope of becoming immortals, they were treasures that could evade heavenly tribulations and prolong one's lifespan. If he had the opportunity, he could go to some bustling market towns and sell a few, exchanging them for other precious materials to refine formation foundations.

Of course, he also needed to keep two as backups.

Though he now had an eighty-percent confidence of surviving the heavenly tribulation, and that confidence would slowly rise as his preparations accumulated...

And though his junior sister's chances of success when she challenged the immortal realm in the future would surely exceed sixty percent...

Still...

The affairs of the world were unpredictable. No one could say what might happen later.

Keeping one extra Melting Immortal Pill for himself would at least ensure that even if a heavenly tribulation went mad in the future, he could survive.

Leaving one Melting Immortal Pill for his junior sister would, at the very least, allow her to copy Master's plans for his old age.

As a disciple and a senior brother, he could only help them this much.

Yet as Li Changshou looked at this Melting Immortal Pill, he sank into thought again...

What if—he meant, what if—Master could not even withstand the first heavenly tribulation, and a single bolt of heavenly lightning reduced him directly to ashes? What then?

"Though the First Plan is already complete, I should carry out the Second and Third Plans at the same time.

"If Master suddenly has an epiphany and can smoothly survive the heavenly tribulation to become a proper immortal, that would naturally be best."

With a sigh, Li Changshou rose to his full height, slipped the sugar-coated Melting Immortal Pill into his sleeve, and leisurely left the alchemy room.

Half an hour later.

Li Changshou stood outside the place where his Master was in seclusion. He cleared his throat, made a Daoist salute toward the door, and called aloud:

"Master! This disciple wishes to seek guidance on several difficult questions of cultivation!

"This disciple deeply regrets disturbing Master's pure cultivation!"

The wooden door quickly opened, and Old Daoist Qi Yuan emerged with a smile, waving Li Changshou over.

"Come, let us go to the lakeside. In recent years, your master has also neglected to guide you properly."

Li Changshou sighed faintly inwardly.

Master had opened the door so quickly. He clearly had not been meditating just now.

Was it already difficult for him to enter meditation? It seemed the heavenly tribulation truly was not far away.

Master and disciple arrived beneath a willow tree by the lake. Qi Yuan took out two meditation cushions, and they sat facing one another.

Qi Yuan said gently, "Whatever doubts you have, speak freely."

Then Qi Yuan's gaze dimmed, and he sighed. "If your master cannot overcome this heavenly tribulation, I may not have another chance to guide you like this in the future."

"Master, what are you saying?" Li Changshou said with a smile. "You will certainly survive the heavenly tribulation.

"Didn't Master always say before that if one lacked even this much confidence, how could one face the hardships and trials bestowed by the Great Dao?"

"You, with your greedy fear of death, are actually lecturing your master now!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sternly scolded him.

Li Changshou narrowed his eyes in a smile, then quickly got to the point and asked about the doubts he had encountered in cultivation.

The first three questions Li Changshou asked were fairly ordinary, all difficult points one would encounter while cultivating in the Void Returning Realm. Qi Yuan explained them to him in detail.

But with the fourth question, Li Changshou asked how one should interpret the phrase, "Spirit returns to spirit, qi returns to qi; the five qi begin anew, and the Cyclic Heaven follows one's will."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was taken aback by the question, then sat quietly by the lake and pondered it.

Li Changshou did not stop there. He proceeded to ask three more questions that were clearly beyond the scope, leaving Old Daoist Qi Yuan unable to answer any of them.

He did not intend to embarrass his Master. He merely wished to subtly remind him that if he encountered a bottleneck in cultivation, he could seek a way forward from these aspects.

At this moment, Old Daoist Qi Yuan believed his chances of surviving the heavenly tribulation were slim. He wanted to teach his disciple as much as possible, so he carefully considered his understanding of each question, not daring to mislead him.

Gradually, Qi Yuan himself fell into deep contemplation.

Before long, Old Daoist Qi Yuan closed his eyes and focused his mind.

A while later, a few petals began drifting around Old Daoist Qi Yuan. This was a phenomenon that often appeared when someone about to undergo a tribulation entered meditation to cultivate.

Only, the petals around Old Daoist Qi Yuan were extremely pale in color, and even their outlines were somewhat incomplete...

Li Changshou cautiously set up a simple soundproof protective barrier beside his Master, then turned and went to busy himself before his own grass hut.

This was the main portion of the Second Plan—do everything possible to improve Master's own strength and deepen Master's comprehension and understanding of the Great Dao.

Ah, if only I could give Master a small portion of the epiphanies I had every few days.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly and began preparing the supplementary plan for this scheme.

And the supplementary portion of the Second Plan was something else...

Li Changshou took out the Treasure Pouch marked "Mystic Thirty-Two," removed strips of purple wood three feet long and six six-foot-long rods of seven-colored metal, then began tinkering away with his head down.

Falling Thunder Wood: a precious material commonly used in setting up lightning-element formations, capable of guiding the Power of Thunder.

Thunder-Containing Seven Divine Irons: likewise precious materials commonly used in setting up lightning-element formations, capable of storing and dispersing the Power of Thunder.

According to the "knowledge" Li Changshou currently possessed, most of the destructive force of a heavenly tribulation upon a cultivator came from the Power of Thunder, while only a smaller portion came from the damage caused by the impact of the Great Dao.

If he could create a "Secondary Transfer Lightning Needle" that, when the heavenly tribulation struck the tribulation-crosser's body, drew most of the Power of Thunder out from within them, perhaps it could increase the chance of successfully surviving the tribulation.

And theoretically, it would not cause the heavenly tribulation's power to increase.

No matter what, a method was worth trying.

PS: Every update is a big chapter. Please vote and recommend!