As Long as Your Skin Is Thick Enough

White clouds drifted lazily over the azure sea.

Just as when they had come to the Eastern Sea, a massive white cloud carried sixteen True Immortals and eleven disciples, while several Celestial Immortals guarded the four directions above as it floated toward the northwest, toward the sect gate.

They had left earliest, leaving the great swathes of white clouds far behind. The cloud path was incomparably spacious, without the slightest hint of crowding.

This was the third day after Li Changshou and Ao Yi's 'mad battle,' and the Demon-Quelling Assembly had successfully concluded.

The fake leader, Li Changshou, sat in a corner. He had now honorably stepped down, and no one paid him any attention.

The true leader, Youqin Xuanya, had performed outstandingly at the assembly. She had shaken all four quarters by defeating thirty-six Qi Refiners in succession, as well as four Dragon race disciples who had served as arena champions. Her fame had soared, and she was now surrounded by the stars, protected in the center of the white cloud.

Among Youqin's opponents that day, including those four Dragon race disciples, seven or eight had been at the first or second stage of the Dao Attainment Realm. Yet with merely her eighth-stage Void Return cultivation, she had relied on her unyielding spirit, the marvelous arts she had painstakingly accumulated;

as well as the set of flying swords in her hands, whose power and quality far surpassed ordinary immortal treasures, to fight battle after bitter battle and gnaw through those hard bones one after another...

What had supported her perseverance had not been the four immortal treasures tossed out by the Dragon Palace.

Before the gaze of the masses, she had placed those four immortal treasures before the senior brother who had previously 'suffered the Dragon race's bullying.' Then she returned to her seat and sat cross-legged in meditation, giving everyone a clear answer—

She did not fight for magic treasures; she fought for dignity!

We disciples of the Du Xian Sect are not people others can simply knead and squeeze as they please!

Our fellow senior brothers are not people just anyone can bully!

At the time, several emotional female Martial Aunts and Martial Uncles had immediately reddened their eyes.

Had Li Changshou not been the one dragged into this affair, he would certainly have given Youqin Xuanya a thumbs-up and said, "So cool."

But he was precisely that 'lucky fellow' who had 'suffered the Dragon race's bullying,' been shielded behind his junior sister, and finally received four immortal treasures for nothing...

That was rather awkward.

Those four immortal treasures were like four hot potatoes. Fortunately, Li Changshou reacted quickly and asked Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu, who was also of the Sky-Breaking Peak lineage, to temporarily put them away. Once they returned to the mountain, she would pass them to Jiang Jingshan, Youqin Xuanya's master.

Only then was the matter properly settled, without creating any further trouble.

Still, being protected and having someone stand up for him felt ever so slightly strange...

Li Changshou's journey to the Eastern Sea had not been without gains.

Over the past two days, match after match between Qi Refiners of his generation had broadened his ideas about fighting methods.

These Qi Refiners came from different immortal sects and cultivated different primary arts. Though all mainly focused on the Five Elements and Yin-Yang Dao arts, their variations were numerous and their combinations exceedingly complex.

Li Changshou had watched from the sidelines for two days and learned several highly useful 'little tricks,' enriching his paper effigy tactical system.

Broadening one's knowledge and increasing one's experience were also forms of cultivation.

Thanks to Youqin Xuanya's explosive performance, the Du Xian Sect had become the greatest winner of this assembly. Not only had it taken away one-third of the magic treasures, its sect's prestige had also received a modest boost.

At the next ceremony for accepting disciples, they might recruit a few more immortal seedlings because of this...

After Youqin withdrew, Li Changshou's fellow disciples of the same generation also took the stage one after another, but their best record was only seven consecutive victories.

That fellow senior brother who had said he would stand up for Li Changshou had won only three of four battles and never got to face the remaining young dragon arena champions.

Just after they left the Eastern Sea's territory, Jiu Jiu, who had once again become a well-behaved old immortal maiden, suddenly received a voice transmission from above.

She hurriedly rode her cloud into the air and went to her master, Venerable Wangqing.

Very soon, Jiu Jiu flew back down, her pretty face brimming with smiles.

She landed on the white cloud carrying the main group and placed a bottle of pills beside Youqin Xuanya.

Youqin Xuanya had overdrawn a great deal of mental energy earlier, and since the fierce battle two days ago, she had remained seated in cultivation.

Then Jiu Jiu walked over to Li Changshou, tilted her head, studied him for a few moments, and muttered, "Strange. Why did my master use two more words praising you than she did praising Xuanya?"

Li Changshou's heart abruptly tightened.

Had Venerable Wangqing seen through his true cultivation level?

No. If that were the case, the Venerable should be questioning why he had not fought to bring glory to the sect, rather than praising him for no reason...

"Here, take this. It's a reward from my master for you, and it doesn't count toward the sect's rewards."

Jiu Jiu tossed over a Jade Card, then sat cross-legged three feet away from Li Changshou.

Several disciples pricked up their ears to listen.

There was naturally nothing to say about Youqin Xuanya receiving medicinal pills as a reward from Venerable Wangqing. But Li Changshou's record was only one battle and one loss—why would he receive a reward too?

The Jade Card should contain some high-grade immortal method, since it was a private reward from Venerable Wangqing...

Jiu Jiu smiled with narrowed eyes, feigned solemnity, cleared her throat, and said:

"Master said that you handled the situation extremely well when facing the Dragon Palace Crown Prince.

"That Second Prince of the Dragon Palace was full of bad intentions. He likely wanted you to beat him badly enough to lose to you, then have the Dragon Palace use that as a pretext to make trouble for our Du Xian Sect.

"Master said that if you had not seen through it early and used a feint, admitting defeat before he could, our group might not have made it back to the sect gate this time.

"Master also said that Fifth Senior Brother mentioned you to her several times. He said you were meticulous in thought, cautious in action, and exceptionally dependable in handling matters.

"Having you lead the disciples this time truly was not the wrong choice."

The huge stone in Li Changshou's heart instantly dropped.

Venerable Wangqing had actually...

Seen through an entire grand conspiracy staged by the Dragon Palace!

Worthy indeed of a Celestial Immortal's height and vision—her perspective was vastly different from that of little shrimps like them!

Although, after meticulous analysis, Li Changshou had previously concluded that the Dragon Palace Crown Prince wanted to humiliate the Dragon Palace in reverse, thereby turning around the Dragon Palace's current unhealthy atmosphere...

Who would have thought there was such logic behind it, such vicious calculation!

Li Changshou immediately reflected on himself and realized that his standing had never been high enough. From the very beginning, he had assumed that the Dragon Palace would not dare directly target the Three Teachings Immortal Sect. At most, they would let Ao Yi kill an unimportant junior disciple like him during the matches to vent their anger.

Hm?

Thinking carefully, there seemed to be plenty of holes in Venerable Wangqing's reasoning too.

Forget it, forget it. Judging from the outcome now, Venerable Wangqing's analysis was extremely beneficial to him.

This Venerable...

Was wonderful!

So warm!

So considerate!

Several disciples showed looks of sudden understanding, while a few True Immortals wore expressions as if they had known all along. Most cast approving looks at Li Changshou.

He had gained another wave of goodwill for no reason at all...

That was still better than ill will.

After returning to the sect, there would likely be rather generous rewards again, though Li Changshou had already received the Wu Wei Scripture in advance...

Li Changshou lowered his head and glanced at the Jade Card, discovering that it recorded a profound Lightning Method: the "Luo Tian Yang Lei True Scripture."

After considering it briefly, Li Changshou sent a few words to Jiu Jiu, then handed the Jade Card back.

Jiu Jiu immediately stared at Li Changshou with shock written all over her face.

In nearly a thousand years of immortal cultivation, she had never heard of anything so absurd!

A sect elder had bestowed a treasure, yet the junior actually wanted to pick and choose—and even asked her to inquire whether this Lightning Method could be exchanged for a cultivation method for the Samadhi True Fire, which would be more helpful to alchemy!

Li Changshou naturally knew this was somewhat improper. But first, he had his relationship with Jiu Jiu, and second, he truly had a pressing need for the Samadhi True Fire.

If he could get hold of the Samadhi True Fire, his strength would make a tremendous leap...

For that, he could only thicken his skin.

"Honestly, Master is going to scold me to death!"

Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes, snatched the Jade Card away, and flew angrily into the air. Yet halfway there, she resumed her well-behaved appearance.

Before long, Jiu Jiu successfully returned. She wrapped two Jade Cards in a handkerchief and tossed them to Li Changshou while no one was paying attention.

Venerable Wangqing had not taken back the "Luo Tian Yang Lei True Scripture."

And on the newly given Jade Card, the engraved magic incantation was of a similar grade to that Lightning Method. Its opening bore four great characters—

Samadhi True Fire!

After carefully reading a few lines of the opening explanation and learning the essential principles of cultivating 'Essence Flames,' 'Spirit Flames,' and 'Qi Flames,' Li Changshou's heart was immediately filled with satisfaction.

He had finally obtained it. This journey had truly not been in vain.

Perhaps this matter would leave Venerable Wangqing with negative impressions of him, such as greed and dissatisfaction.

But it was worth it!

After returning to the mountain, he would settle down on Lesser Qiong Peak and cultivate honestly.

With ears deaf to matters outside the window, he would devote his heart to studying the True Fire Scripture!

The Samadhi True Fire was not only for injuring enemies.

This was a relatively widespread type of True Fire passed down through the Daoist schools. It was famed for its great power and relatively low cultivation threshold, but obtaining a cultivation method for the Samadhi True Fire was quite difficult.

Once his Samadhi True Fire reached minor accomplishment, he could follow the method recorded in an Ancient book and use it to strengthen his divine soul and Dao body. Then he would have a few more chances of confidence when facing the heavenly tribulation!

From then on, he would only need to leave the mountain one more time—

To undergo the heavenly tribulation!

If he could successfully pass the heavenly tribulation, he could thereafter seek immortality quietly in the mountains!

Feed fish, raise flowers, refine pills, ponder formations; when bored, tease his little junior sister, and when idle, perhaps even do some ideological work on a certain candidate Heavenly Court civil servant...

That was probably the Primordial Wilderness life he most yearned for at this stage.

Would trouble fall from the sky?

Li Changshou glanced at Youqin Xuanya, who was now being tightly protected, and could not help revealing a faint smile.

After Poisonous Junior Sister returned to the mountain, the sect would surely give her the highest degree of importance. To a certain extent, that importance would also become shackles restricting her movements.

As long as he dealt with Martial Uncle Jiu Wu later, trouble would have nowhere to find its way in.

Lesser Qiong Peak would certainly return to its former peace!

As for Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu, it was actually a good thing that she came by often. That way, once he became an immortal and produced some special pills or set up some formidable formations, he could claim that Martial Aunt had helped him...

"What are you thinking about?"

Jiu Jiu muttered to him through voice transmission, then curled her lips. "You look like you're up to no good."

Li Changshou smiled. "Have you solved that cube?"

Jiu Jiu immediately smiled smugly and tossed back the cube, whose six colors had already been restored. Calmly, she said, "Finding the method was fairly simple. Give me something else."

Li Changshou smiled and nodded, taking out a five-layered Rubik's Cube and handing it to Jiu Jiu.

Looking at the dazzling blocks and colors, Jiu Jiu's forehead immediately filled with black lines. She hurriedly entered meditation and cultivation, becoming seriously devoted to it for once.

In the depths of the Eastern Sea, within the Crystal Palace on the seabed, covered by a grand formation and heavily guarded by Shrimp Soldiers, Crab Generals, and Immortal Flood Dragon Soldiers.

Song and dance continued in the main hall, where a grand feast celebrated the successful conclusion of the Demon-Quelling Assembly.

The most outstanding young disciples from the immortal sects of the Eastern Continent of Divine Grace had fought back and forth over the few magic treasures the Dragon Palace had thrown out. This gave the Dragon Palace's many experts considerable enjoyment.

The Dragon King sat upon a throne carved from crystal coral. As if drunk, he reclined sideways against a soft cushion replaced once every month and woven from the silk of Nine-Winged Radiant Golden Silkworms. Several charming sea maidens beside him gently fanned the Dragon King, kneaded his shoulders and back, and massaged his dragon legs...

Dragon life was just this boring, comfortable, and dull.

The Dragon Palace's civil and military ministers raised cups and exchanged toasts, discussing the scenes of Human Race Disciples fighting that they had witnessed. Every one of them spoke with great delight.

Outside the great hall, a young Dragon race man who had awakened only half a day ago looked resolute as he climbed the steps.

He, Ao Yi, Second Prince of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, was about to do another... great thing!