Chapter Seventy-Three: With a sweep of divine consciousness, a half-tone hummed softly...

Chapter Seventy-Three: With a sweep of divine consciousness, a half-tone hummed softly...

"This battle is crucial for my future fame and success," Ao Yi thought to himself as he gazed at the Duxianmen Mountain Gate, a place he once longed for but now viewed with a different sentiment.

He had come here to find Li Changshou.

Ao Yi didn't even know Li Changshou's specific title or position within Duxianmen, but he knew that today he must reclaim the reputation he had lost years ago with his own hands.

Although the "Great Dragon Showdown" during the Demon Subjugation Assembly was performed by Ao Yi himself, the credit was unfairly attributed to Li Changshou. Ao Yi felt that in order to establish an untainted reputation for himself, he must reverse the outcome of that showdown from when he was ten years old.

By doing so, he could also establish an image of "knowing shame and then being brave," propelling himself to greater heights.

He aimed to set an example for the Dragon Clan, to provide a role model for the descendants of the Dragon Clan, gradually lowering their excessive pride and thus saving the Dragon Clan.

Taking a deep breath, Ao Yi pondered how to address the situation. His five "senior brothers" from the Ji Sect had arrived at the outskirts of Duxianmen's grand array but didn't enter the mountain gate, instead releasing their respective auras.

The sudden visit of several alchemists from Jinao Island stirred up the entire Duxianmen, ringing alarms throughout the sect.

Initially, when the bells tolled, all the peak masters and elders who weren't in seclusion rushed to Poxian Peak. However, the vice headmaster and several elders felt that such a grand reception was unnecessary for a few relatively unknown alchemists visiting from Jinao Island.

Jinao Island was a renowned sect in the Primordial Era, while Duxianmen, in comparison, was somewhat obscure, unable to match its influence. However, being a branch of the Human Dao, Duxianmen couldn't afford to overly emphasize the reception of a few unknown alchemists from Jinao Island.

If a well-known figure from the Ji Sect had arrived today, such as Zhao Gongming, a senior disciple of the Ji Sect who cultivated in the Dongtian Blessed Land of Emei Mountain, then Duxianmen would have sent out a grand welcome party. But for a few celestial beings...

Soon, most of the peak masters and elders were sent back, leaving only about a dozen elders at the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Along with the vice headmaster Zhong Yu and several agile True Immortal attendants, they welcomed the alchemists from Jinao Island.

In Duxianmen, it was the male disciples with a poised appearance and solid foundation who served tea and water, in contrast to the mermaids who would typically do so in the Dragon Palace. This was one of the differences between a faction and a sect.

After exchanging pleasantries and before the discussion could commence, there was a round of hearty laughter, a standard protocol indicating the absence of hostility.

Observing the situation, Jiu Wu, who was well-informed, understood the customary procedure: the longer the laughter, the less hostile the intent.

The Primordial Era didn't have many light-hearted moments like these.

Once the laughter subsided, Zhong Yu, the deputy headmaster, spoke first, "Friends from afar, your presence truly honors Duxianmen..."

After a few pleasantries, the alchemists from the Ji Sect stated their purpose: they came to discuss Dao with Duxianmen.

All the elders of Duxianmen present smiled politely. Immediately, someone was sent to invite the several highest-ranking elders within the sect to join the discussion.

Discussing Dao was a common practice in the Primordial Era. It involved presenting one's understanding of Dao for comparison, exchange, and mutual improvement.

However, before the discussion could start, the Ji Sect put forward a rather absurd request...

A middle-aged celestial being among them spoke slowly, "During the previous Demon Subjugation Assembly, my junior brother, Ao Yi, was just ten years old. He was sent by the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace to spar with your esteemed disciple. He lost to your esteemed disciple's hands. Now, my junior brother has transcended his tribulation and ascended to immortality. He wishes to have another friendly match with your esteemed disciple. Would that be convenient?"

Hearing this, the Duxianmen elders exchanged glances. One elder smiled, "It's just a friendly match between young disciples; it shouldn't be a big deal. However, Prince Ao Yi is the Dragon King's heir, and his cultivation level far surpasses that of our young disciples. Now that Prince Ao Yi has become an immortal, there's no need for him to spar with a young disciple from our sect."

Upon hearing this, Ao Yi stepped forward, bowed to the elders of Duxianmen, and said, "To be honest, ever since that incident, I've had a lingering doubt in my heart. I'm afraid it might become a hindrance to my future cultivation. That's why I've come here today, hoping to spar with the esteemed disciple of Duxianmen once again. During our match, I will ask my senior brothers to seal my cultivation level."

"This..."

The Duxianmen elders showed a troubled expression.

"It's not a big deal in itself," Vice Headmaster Zhong Yu chuckled, "Someone, go fetch Xuan Ya."

Immediately, a True Immortal attendant received the order and hurriedly left the hall towards the other side of Poxian Peak.

Ao Yi recalled for a moment and added, "The person I sparred with back then should not have been this disciple named Xuan Ya. I vaguely heard someone call him... Changshou."

"Changshou?"

"Which peak's disciple is he from?"

For a moment, the Duxianmen elders who had been in seclusion for many years calculated and looked puzzled, while the other elders, who were aware of the situation, smiled without saying a word.

Seeing this, Jiu Wu's mind raced.

"It seems that this Dragon Palace prince has come to the Ji Sect seeking revenge. Today, he's here to settle the score with Changshou! Changshou's current cultivation is probably only at the eighth stage of the Return to Void Realm, much weaker than Ao Yi, and the Dragon Clan's techniques are quite formidable. If I don't explain a thing or two for Changshou, he might be taken advantage of by this Dragon Prince!"

With this in mind, Jiu Wu immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly:

"Changshou is a disciple of Little Qiong Peak, the eldest disciple under Master Ziyuan. During the last East Sea Demon Subjugation Assembly, I recommended him to participate. But I've heard from my ninth senior sister that in that match, Prince Ao Yi actually won. Changshou missed a move and went beyond the boundary set at that time!"

The group of Duxianmen elders and the alchemists from Jinao Island all turned their eyes to Ao Yi...

Ao Yi pondered for a moment, his young face filled with gloom, and sighed, "No, I lost. No matter how you look at it, I lost. I was injured by the spells of this friend named Chang Shou. It took me over a month to recover, while Chang Shou was unharmed. He probably just let me off with half a move back then, to save face for the Dragon Palace. I came here today to settle this karma with Chang Shou and express my gratitude in person..."

His words were heartfelt.

A senior elder of the Degree Immortal Sect chuckled, "Jiu Wu, go call Chang Shou."

"Uh... Yes," Jiu Wu nodded, then quickly turned and flew towards the direction of Little Qiong Peak.

In the clouds, Jiu Wu had already devised several strategies. The elders inside the sect certainly didn't want to see their disciple lose. If Ao Yi falsely claimed his cultivation level to be at the fourth stage of the Reversion Realm, it would expose Chang Shou's true cultivation level, tarnishing the reputation of the Degree Immortal Sect. Jiu Wu resolved to convince Chang Shou to abandon the disguise and give his all in the upcoming confrontation.

However, to Jiu Wu's surprise...

His efforts were in vain.

Scanning with his divine sense, Jiu Wu found only Little Ling'e meditating in the grass hut by the lake. The spiritual energy around the alchemy room circulated peacefully, but danger lurked within...

He knew.

Jiu Wu didn't dare to enter the formation. Floating above the alchemy room, he exerted his divine power and shouted with all his might:

"Chang Shou!"

"Chang Shou!"

In the alchemy room, 'Li Chang Shou' lay reclined on the rocking chair, 'resting.'

However, his true body hid in the secret chamber underground, focusing his attention thousands of miles away on the paper Daoist figure...

As long as someone intruded into the outer formation, the jade pendant in his hand would tremble, awakening Li Chang Shou...

This was one of the major flaws of the paper Daoist at the moment: once outside the range of his divine sense, his consciousness had to rely entirely on it.

After shouting twice without receiving a response, Jiu Wu began to sweat profusely, spinning aimlessly in the air.

Little Ling'e peeked out from the grass hut and, recalling her senior brother's instructions, hurriedly called out, "Senior Uncle Jiu Wu! My senior brother is in closed-door cultivation!"

Hearing this, Jiu Wu stamped his foot on the cloud.

"Oh, darn! Why close the door at this time! What are we going to do now?"

Confused, Little Ling'e was about to continue speaking when Jiu Wu hurriedly flew away.

Closing the door in cultivation meant focusing solely on breakthrough, without interruption. Although it was unfortunate that Li Chang Shou was in closed-door cultivation, it could be explained upon returning.

However, as a disciple of the Degree Immortal Sect, Jiu Wu couldn't help but worry a bit more...

"Directly saying Chang Shou is in closed-door cultivation might make people think he's avoiding a fight. Plus, why would a disciple at the fourth stage of Reversion Realm be closing the door for no reason? It's bound to upset some of our elders... What should I do? Unfortunately, we're also bound by the oath not to reveal any secrets about Chang Shou... Ah? Formation!"

The formation outside the alchemy room of Little Qiong Peak, designed by Chang Shou and set up by Jiu Jiu, was a manifestation of Chang Shou's proficiency in formations.

Jiu Wu's eyes lit up, and he had an idea.

Returning to the Degree Immortal Sect hall, Jiu Wu, alone, came back, causing the expressions of several elders to turn grim.

The previously jovial hall quickly fell silent.

"Jiu Wu, what's going on?" asked Zhong Yu Ren, the deputy head, calmly. "Why didn't that disciple come over?"

"Reporting to the Deputy Head," Jiu Wu bowed his head, "Unfortunately, Chang Shou's nephew is currently in closed-door cultivation to break through the realm. I dared not disturb him, fearing that he might deviate from the critical moment of enlightenment."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yu Ren smiled and looked at the several immortal elders from the Jiadao Sect, sighing, "Please forgive us, fellow Daoists. Our disciple Chang Shou has been diligently cultivating recently and has entered closed-door cultivation."

"Then let Prince Ao Yi choose any disciple from our sect to spar with. How about that?" suggested Zhong Yu Ren.

At the side, recently arrived Qinxuan Ya, dressed in a red dress and carrying a big sword on her back, stepped forward. Just as she was about to confront Ao Yi directly, she was secretly pulled back by her master. Alongside her, Jiang Jingshan frowned at the sword hanging from Ao Yi's waist...

Jiang Jingshan sensed the spiritual artifact's fluctuations.

Ao Yi stepped forward again, pondered for a moment, and hesitated.

Seeking a confrontation with that guy from back then was a plan he had pondered for a long time. Moreover, he had already spoken out about it. He had also confided in several senior brothers, harboring shadows in his heart because of this incident.

Choosing another person was absolutely out of the question...

His plan couldn't be disrupted like this!

"How long will it take for him to finish his closed-door cultivation?" Ao Yi asked softly, then added, "I'll wait outside the mountain gate until he breaks through, after you senior brothers have finished discussing."

This steadfastness of Ao Yi moved the group of old and middle-aged cultivators present.

Observing quietly, Jiu Wu saw that an elder was about to speak up, most likely to ask him to find a way to awaken Chang Shou...

"Cough!"

The short Daoist rushed to speak first, taking two steps forward and bowing:

"Reporting to the Deputy Head and all the elders and seniors! Although Chang Shou's nephew is in closed-door cultivation, his expertise lies not in spellcraft, but in... formations!"

Thinking about how to avoid the oath he had made back then, Jiu Wu introduced the formation set up by Li Chang Shou and activated by Jiu Jiu outside the alchemy room on Little Qiong Peak, proposing another plan for the sparring...

"Ah, Chang Shou, Senior Uncle can only help you here."

...

Moments later, a cloud flew over Little Qiong Peak.

Two immortals from the Degree Immortal Sect, accompanied by the old Daoist from Jiadao Island, and the two girls, observed from a distance on the cloud.

Hanzhi watched Ao Yi's back and asked with concern, "Does Junior Uncle Jiu Wu know how to break formations?"

"It's okay," the old Daoist waved his hand. "The formations here don't seem particularly profound. How can they trap Junior Uncle Ao Yi?"

Hanzhi couldn't help but cover her forehead with her hand, and the girl beside her also looked worried.

Below, Jiu Wu guided Aoyi as they slowly descended outside the grand formation of the Dan Chamber on Little Qiong Peak.

Jiu Wu made a gesture inviting Aoyi, and together they stepped into the formation... 

Just at that moment,

the Paper Daoist, who had been strolling around Linhai Town, immediately turned and headed to the nearest inn.

He rented a room equipped with various types of formations, then set up several layers of formations himself. He had the Paper Daoist sit there, as if he were meditating. With several porcelain bottles in hand, he closed his eyes, and Li Changshou's consciousness was instantly pulled back into his body.

Who's breaking the formation? With a gentle sweep of his divine sense, Li Changshou's forehead was adorned with black lines. What the... What's going on? But before his consciousness returned, Aoyi and Jiu Wu, in that instant, found themselves staring at that wooden sign...

"Lost your way?"