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Chapter 56: Bear Clan Bear Village

To avoid further trouble, Li Changshou left a pile of gold and silver treasures behind after thanking the girl. While the "iron tower" girl ran off to call others, he quietly slipped away without a word.

He didn't travel far. Using Earth Escape, he moved a hundred *li* and concealed himself inside the trunk of a large tree in a coastal jungle, from where he surveyed the village with his immortal sense.

It's often said that the land nurtures its people, but Li Changshou wondered if this village's land was somehow mixed with a "muscle-enhancing elixir." As his immortal sense extended, he observed groups of extraordinarily robust men and women diligently working. Their strength wasn't just typical; it was an indescribable, almost noble, kind of might. Everywhere he looked, he saw individuals with explosive muscles; their arms were as thick as his junior sister's waist, and children casually rolled around grindstones weighing several hundred *jin* as if they were toys. Apart from a few elderly people and children, most villagers were built similarly to the "iron tower" girl he had first encountered.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it," Li Changshou mused, "maybe this is just a village that champions muscular beauty." He smiled inwardly, multitasking as he observed the village and carefully assessed his immortal body and spirit, which were still in the process of full recovery.

His immortal sense proved far superior to his spiritual sense. Not only did it allow for a much greater range of detection, but the "images" he perceived were also significantly clearer and more vivid. Before his tribulation, Li Changshou's spiritual sense could reach a maximum of one or two hundred *li*, but the visuals were blurry; clear images were only possible within thirty *li*. Now, it was different. He could effortlessly extend his immortal sense to two thousand *li* away. For example, even from a thousand *li*, he could roughly distinguish the two figures wrestling on the forest grass and their approximate movements. *Cough*, it seemed they weren't actually fighting... But never mind those details; the crucial point was that his detection capabilities had been vastly improved!

Li Changshou's attention returned to the village a hundred *li* away. The girl who had cared for him for some time was now hurrying with a group of people towards the wooden hut where he had stayed, where they discovered the pile of gold and silver treasures he had left on the bed.

It had been over nine months since he left Duxian Sect. He could remain outside for a maximum of three or four more years, otherwise, his master and the sect's deacons would surely come looking for him. For this duration, he decided to find a remote island to continue his secluded cultivation. There was still much to accomplish; he needed to think clearly and meticulously schedule each task. Healing his injuries and consolidating his cultivation realm were, of course, top priorities.

He needed to find a way to conceal his immortal power and immortal body, replicating his original mortal Taoist physique. Since he had initially chosen to hide his cultivation as a trump card, he must adhere to this strategy. A sudden exposure would undoubtedly arouse suspicion from the Duxian Sect's higher-ups. Therefore, the development of the third version of the "Turtle Breath Calm Qi Art" had to be prioritized.

Moreover, Li Changshou faced an awkward reality. Although his strength had taken a massive leap forward after passing the heavenly tribulation, achieving the fabled "ascension," a significant portion of his previous defensive measures had become obsolete or severely diminished in effectiveness. For instance, "Soft Immortal Powder" and many of his poison pills were now somewhat redundant. While tranquilizers and poison pills had been crucial protective tools when his strength was limited, the effect of a poison pill now paled in comparison to a simple strike from him.

The numerous poison pills he had refined to counter True Immortals could only be stored away for use in specific future scenarios, or traded for valuable materials and herbs at a market town on the edge of the Central Divine Continent. The power of his bronze crossbow could be enhanced based on the user's magic power and immortal power level, making it worth keeping. He could later refine it with immortal power to unleash its full potential, allowing his paper effigies to continue using it. The Samadhi True Flame was similar, its power increasing with his strength, requiring only further cultivation to condense his immortal flame. His paper effigy transformation ability needed to be re-comprehended, as future paper effigies would possess more miraculous uses and incomparable power. His Five-Elements Escape Techniques could also reach a new realm, and his sword array artifact needed to be re-refined. Additionally, he could now create some powerful talismans he previously found impossible to draw, and his Luo Tian Treasure Umbrella could be imbued with stronger formations. The list went on.

Counting carefully, he realized he had a considerable number of tasks, and three or four years might not suffice. It was better to prioritize the most important ones first, starting with upgrading his most frequently used escape techniques.

Priorities were crucial; survival was paramount. What did ascension or becoming an immortal truly mean? Becoming an immortal merely transformed him from an ant into a slightly stronger ant. Ascension gave that ant wings, allowing it to fly, but it remained just a flying ant, now a more conspicuous target. The Primordial World had existed for countless, timeless years. Even with continuous tribulations, an abundance of powerful experts still remained. Above them were the Heavenly Dao, the Dao Ancestor, and the Six Sages. Below were ancient mighty figures, grand patriarchs of the three sects, remnants of the Witch and Demon races, rising human experts, and various reincarnated masters. Currently, he wasn't even a third-rate expert in the Primordial World; he was still very far from that. And most importantly, he was also extremely poor.

His immortal sense picked up a cacophony of noise from the distant village. The robust girl, clutching the pile of gold and silver treasures Li Changshou had left, squatted there, weeping inconsolably. "I truly didn't lose the immortal!" she wailed. "And I didn't sell him either!" Watching her cry on the ground like a child weighing two hundred *jin*, the surrounding "iron towers" and "vajras" mercilessly hurled accusations at her.

"We told you to look after the Sea God," someone scolded, "such a great Sea God, how could you lose him?" "Oh, so you just *had* to run out and call people?" another chimed in. "Couldn't you have just stood at the window and yelled, 'The Sea God's awake! The Sea God's awake!'? Why run around everywhere?" "We already told you he's the Sea God, not some immortal! Xiong Lingli, Xiong Lingli! Don't listen to your father's nonsense! Offending the Sea God is a serious matter! Quick, bring these mundane gold and silver items to my house, the village chief's, lest they displease the Sea God!"

"Xiong..." Li Changshou thought. The surname was quite fitting for such a truly "bear-like" physique.

The adults chastised the girl for a while before dispersing. They didn't punish her but instead began searching for their "Sea God" both inside and outside the village. Li Changshou continued his covert observation.

The village was undeniably unusual, which was the sole reason Li Changshou lingered a hundred *li* away rather than departing immediately. An anomaly often suggested a hidden demonic presence or, perhaps, a concealed treasure. The village was home to over a thousand humans who lived a relatively fulfilling life through fishing, hunting, and farming. The area also enjoyed favorable weather with no natural disasters. As for man-made disasters, even several thousand regular troops from mortal kingdoms or tribes might not be able to conquer this village, let alone small bands of mountain bandits or sea pirates.

However, the most perplexing aspect was that the vast majority of villagers, despite being ordinary mortals without cultivation, possessed physiques as robust as the girl's. This was truly unexplainable. Firstly, their nutritional intake surely couldn't support such builds. Furthermore, these people didn't seem to engage in any specialized muscle training. Among the possibilities Li Changshou considered, the most probable was the presence of a unique water vein or food source in the area, supplied in abundance. Often, such wondrous things, overlooked by mortals, proved to be valuable treasures for alchemy, artifact refining, array formation, or cultivation. Combined with the absence of any foreign Qi refiners, it was likely that the few individuals in the village who were at the Qi Refining or Spirit Transformation stages practiced some incomplete cultivation techniques, which wasn't uncommon in the mortal human world. This slightly piqued Li Changshou's interest, prompting him to remain a hundred *li* away for further observation.

After the strongmen searched the village in vain, the "bears" set out en masse. After half a day of searching with the full strength of Bear Village, an elder helplessly declared, "The Sea God has returned to the sea!" Consequently, the villagers, most of whom shared the surname Xiong, returned to the village and commenced a lively bonfire festival to bid farewell to the Sea God.

Li Changshou observed for three days. He also secretly investigated the water source, the villagers' common food items, and searched several hundred *li* of the surrounding area, yet found no abnormalities. Could it truly be an inherited physique? Unwilling to linger too long without discovering the source of the anomaly, he decided to depart immediately.

In the middle of the night, Li Changshou emerged from the tree trunk, transformed into a medium-sized fish, and plunged into the warm seawater, seeking his next secluded cultivation spot.

This area was in the southwestern part of Southern Jambudvipa, within the sphere of influence of the South Sea Dragon Palace. However, as the South Sea Dragon Palace was quite distant from the mainland and less active than its East Sea counterpart, this particular sea region was exceptionally calm and peaceful. Li Changshou quickly located a small, deserted island and began his secluded cultivation there, concealing his presence.

Three months later, Li Changshou's Dao injuries had fully recovered. Both his Water Escape and Earth Escape techniques had significantly improved, and he had re-cultivated the Samadhi True Flame, successfully condensing immortal fire. Five months later...

Seated within the reef cave, the immortal light around Li Changshou completely receded. His breathing no longer emitted any pure Qi, the compelling divine light in his eyes vanished, and the subtle fragrance on his body disappeared. Standing up, he lowered his head and observed himself for a moment, noting that there was no longer any fluctuation in his aura. He then walked to the side of the reef and stood quietly, observing the reactions of the marine creatures. Previously, due to his immortal pressure, fish and shrimp would scatter. Now, as he stood there, the marine life, after a brief disturbance, resumed their normal, leisurely frolicking.

After some thought, Li Changshou first simulated the aura of a seventh-stage Return to Void cultivator, then concealed that portion, and finally manifested the aura of a third-stage Return to Void cultivator. The third version of the Immortal Turtle Breath Calm Qi Art was now perfected. "After I go back," he mused, "I'll pass the second version to Ling'e."

Gently exhaling, Li Changshou was in a good mood. Unwilling to waste more time, he was about to return to the previously hidden cave to continue his cultivation. Just as he was about to turn, a streak of seven-colored precious light suddenly appeared in the northern sky. Li Changshou immediately scanned with his immortal sense and discovered that its source was Xiong Lingli's village. That village truly harbored something valuable! However, such a significant commotion would likely attract the attention of other Qi refiners. If he were to rashly go there, he might easily put himself in danger.

After some deliberation, Li Changshou retrieved a paper effigy from his sleeve and breathed onto it. The effigy shivered a few times, slowly animating, stretching its small arms and legs before leaping from Li Changshou's hand onto the sea surface. The little paper effigy took two steps on the water, then with a "whoosh," transformed into the figure of a middle-aged Daoist. It caught three treasure pouches tossed by Li Changshou, then turned and vanished into the seawater. Li Changshou returned to the reef cave, closed his eyes, concentrated, and focused his consciousness on the paper effigy clone.

He maintained a relaxed mindset. If he could simply acquire a treasure, he would; if it required more effort than just "picking it up," he would have the paper effigy withdraw. After all, as his cultivation realm improved, creating higher-grade paper effigies became more demanding. And since this was the mortal world, it was unlikely there would be any truly powerful magical artifacts.

At the corner of a sea island shaped like a giant turtle, located at the junction of the South Sea and East Sea: "Fellow Daoists," an old Daoist priest was saying, "this poor Daoist is truly not lying. On my way back last time, I coincidentally encountered someone who passed the Nine Heavens Divine Demon Tribulation. This poor Daoist thought he couldn't pass it, but unexpectedly, he did! After passing the tribulation, this person was even struck by divine punishment, and I thought he surely wouldn't survive, but... Fellow Daoists, guess what?"

By the treasure pond, an old Daoist priest was vividly recounting tales to over ten Qi refiners of similar cultivation. In a corner beneath the water of the treasure pond, Ao Yi had reverted to his true form as an Azure Dragon, coiled motionlessly at the bottom.

The Primordial World was truly terrifying. The nightmare still hadn't faded, but this time, Ao Yi had proactively requested his Dragon Mother to send him back to the territory of the Jie Sect immortals. Ao Yi knew that there were also humans among the Jie Sect, and he believed he could observe them to learn what the Dragon race lacked, especially their cunning and calculative nature.

The topic of conversation among the Qi refiners by the pond gradually shifted to the little dragon at the bottom. One person sighed, "The crack beneath the pond has already been sealed with a restriction. I wonder what this Dragon Prince disliked about our Golden Ao Island that he wanted to escape."

"He's just a child, unwilling to listen to elders; that's not unusual," remarked the old Daoist priest who had just recounted the anecdote about encountering the tribulation. He stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't worry, as long as we treat this Dragon Palace Prince well, he will eventually appreciate it and cultivate peacefully here." The Qi refiners all nodded in agreement. Ao Yi, in the pond, shifted his dragon head, but paid them no mind.

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