Since he had ascended once before, his cultivation base had advanced significantly, and he had fully comprehended the first volume of the Wuwei Sutra.
However, he had no immediate means to acquire the second volume, and cultivating his sect’s core scripture in secret carried its risks.
No secret stays hidden forever.
Leaving aside the various contingency plans and hidden cards Li Changshou had left behind, his ultimate safeguard was simply never to violate the core rules of the Duoxian Sect or act against its interests.
Take it slow.
The Wuwei Sutra was vast and profound, and the first volume contained an overarching summary.
By carefully studying and contemplating each word and sentence, he was bound to gain new insights.
Who knows? He might even come up with some new techniques.
In a hundred years, when his fellow sect disciples start facing their tribulations one after another, he could conveniently “coincidentally” undergo his tribulation to become an immortal. That would be the perfect time to begin studying the second volume of the Wuwei Sutra.
Returning from the meditation chamber to the alchemy room, he put away the paper avatar that had been sitting there for so long it could easily be mistaken for his real self.
Li Changshou sat down next to the alchemy furnace and slowly began refining it.
This furnace, known as the Thousand Poisons Hundred Metals Furnace, was a top-tier immortal treasure, a backup alchemy furnace belonging to Elder Wan Linjun.
Its body was forged from Hundred-Refinement Brightflame Gold, combined with over a hundred rare and precious materials. Even if it were used by an Earthly Immortal like Wan Linjun or even an ordinary Golden Immortal, it wouldn’t explode under high-energy refinement.
Upon closer inspection, the furnace’s dark metallic surface gleamed with a flowing aura of pure spiritual energy. Delicate carvings of a hundred poisonous insects and twelve venomous mythical beasts were etched into its exterior.
However, the furnace itself wasn’t toxic. On the contrary, it suppressed the volatility of poisonous pills during refinement, improving safety.
Originally, Elder Wan Linjun wanted to give Li Changshou an even more precious furnace—one that could enhance pill success rates and improve the quality of poisonous pills. But Li Changshou insisted on choosing this backup furnace instead…
This decision left Elder Wan Linjun deeply moved.
After all, the current era of the Primordial World was no longer like the remote past or ancient times. Treasures were scarce, and people valued objects more than cultivation methods.
A young cultivator who remained unfazed in the face of a powerful treasure was truly rare.
—Of course, Li Changshou had only chosen this furnace for its safety features.
After refining a batch of poisonous pills, he was quite satisfied with it…
Now, it was time to discuss the “wealth generation” plan with his master.
“For now, you’ll have to make do with these small formations for protection,” Li Changshou murmured. “Once I gather the right materials, I’ll make sure you remain safe and untouchable.”
Naturally, the alchemy furnace, not being a sentient spiritual treasure, offered no response.
Since he had been back for some time, it was about time to pay his second visit to Elder Wan Linjun at the Pill Cauldron Peak.
He couldn’t just take advantage of the elder’s generosity and then disappear.
‘Hmm… I should catch a few spirit fish and have Ling’e cook some dishes. I’ll also bring two jars of fine wine as a gift.’
With this plan in mind, Li Changshou strolled out of the alchemy room and soared towards the thatched cottage.
His spiritual sense easily pierced through the formations surrounding Ling’e’s residence, where he saw her napping at her desk by the window.
Her jet-black hair cascaded over her fragrant shoulders and slender waist, and her delicate robe outlined a graceful figure.
If not for the occasional giggle and murmured “Senior Brother,” which shattered the poetic atmosphere, the scene would have been mesmerizing.
Beside her hand lay an unfinished stone carving, depicting Li Changshou himself returning on a cloud…
“Not focusing on cultivation.”
Li Changshou shook his head but didn’t wake her. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and went to the lakeside stove to start cooking.
After two hours of work, a feast was ready.
He recalled how, when Ling’e first arrived at the mountain, she struggled with hardship after being accustomed to a life of luxury. It was during those years that he honed his cooking skills.
Later, he encouraged her to cultivate resilience and self-sufficiency, and after she began practicing fasting techniques, he passed his culinary skills onto her.
Carefully arranging the dishes into two meal boxes, he silently placed one beside his junior sister and the other in front of their master’s chamber.
Then, carrying a few dishes and two jars of wine, he took off at just the right altitude, avoiding the busier cloud paths of the sect, and headed for Pill Cauldron Peak.
He had barely left when Ling’e’s nose twitched, picking up the delicious aroma. She slowly opened her eyes.
“Eh?”
Smacking her lips, Lan Ling’e spotted the meal box beside her hand—along with the bamboo slip on top.
“Cultivation must not be neglected. Diligence leads to the path of immortality.”
At first, she was stunned. Then, a delighted smile spread across her face.
Her senior brother had been here!
And he had made her a meal!
Wait…
Something was off.
Lan Ling’e instantly stood up, propping her left elbow with her right hand and stroking her smooth chin in deep thought.
“Hmph! Senior Brother must be testing me—seeing if I still remember my lessons!”
With a flick of her finger, a talisman shot out from her sleeve and affixed itself to the meal box.
Then, she casually tossed the meal box out the window.
With a flash of fire from the talisman, the meal box exploded instantly.
Not a perfect response, but at least an excellent one!
Pleased with herself, Ling’e grinned and stepped out of her thatched hut, looking for her senior brother.
But soon, her gaze landed on an identical meal box placed in front of their master’s chamber.
Her victorious smile froze on her face as she raised a hand to her forehead and let out a small groan.
It was a meal her senior brother had prepared…
She hadn’t had one in years…
Why had she…?
Sigh. She had been completely conditioned by her senior brother’s lessons!
“If Master is in seclusion, he probably won’t even notice… The food is outside the formation anyway.”
Leaving it there would just be wasteful…
Ling’e glanced left and right, then tiptoed over to her master’s door and picked up the meal box.
“Master, I swear I’m not trying to steal your meal. You’re busy comprehending the Dao, and you probably won’t come out anytime soon. It would be a shame to let good food go to waste, right?”
Creak—
The wooden door slowly swung open.
There stood Daoist Qi Yuan, stretching lazily. He looked down at his little disciple and immediately broke into a warm smile.
“Ling’e, what are you doing out here?”
“Uh… Master…”
Ling’e’s face stiffened.
“Senior Brother made some food and asked me to bring it to you.”
“Oh?” Qi Yuan’s smile widened as he accepted the meal box. “It’s rare for you two to show such filial piety. I suppose I can eat before heading to Po Tian Peak.”
Ling’e turned away from her master, her lips quivering in silent agony.
I’m crying, Master… I’m crying inside…
She took a deep breath and casually asked, “Master, are you going to Po Tian Peak for something important?”
“Ahem.”
Qi Yuan straightened his posture and replied with feigned indifference, “Nothing much.
Now that I’ve ascended to immortality, I received a notice from Bai Fan Hall. There’s a small gathering of peak leaders once every ten years, and Little Qiong Peak is now eligible to attend.”
“Oh… wait, what?!”
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1