The Sutra of Nothingness

When the three people present opened their eyes, they saw a bottle of pills emitting a five-colored light floating in the air. The little spirit also understood Shangguan Duo's meaning. There were three pills lying quietly in the bottle.

Each pill had an alluring fragrance, but Zhang Qingyuan dared not make any move and could only obediently stuff one pill into Shangguan Duo's mouth.

He had considered this idea, but due to the awe that mortals have for immortals, he could only blink and swallow.

As the elixir entered his mouth, it transformed into a warm green current that seeped directly into Shangguan Duo's internal organs, slowly smoothing out the chaotic meridians within him. With the flow of immortal energy, Shangguan Duo's dantian began to slowly circulate, its Dao principles moving like a puppy running wild.

"Old... there are three pills inside. It's all thanks to your help that I was able to escape danger. You can keep the remaining two! I think your daughter's aptitude is quite good. Perhaps with the help of this pill to improve her physique, she can also step into the ranks of immortals!" Shangguan Duo was still a little unaccustomed to the fact that he was indeed older than Zhang Qingyuan, but he quickly took back what he had blurted out and explained in a calm manner.

"It is our honor that we mortals can help the immortal escape his predicament. How could we expect any reward? We only ask that the immortal not blame us for ruining the immortal's body with mortal things!" Zhang Qingyuan hurriedly kowtowed and answered with fear, holding up the pill bottle. However, Shangguan Duo still heard his faint but restless heartbeat. Even his raised eyebrows and the corners of his mouth did not escape Shangguan Duo's eyes!

"Alright, I said I'd give it to you, so take it!" Although Shangguan Duo knew he was happy, since Zhang Qingyuan had chosen to keep it a secret, he didn't intend to expose him. He simply placed the bottle in front of him.

"Thank you for the medicine, Immortal! My Zhang family will follow you to the death!" Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhang Qingyuan didn't want to pretend any longer. He hurriedly put away the medicine and kept kowtowing to the little girl in gratitude!

"Alright, you can go out now. I need to rest and recuperate. I'll have to trouble you for the next few days! Don't bother me unless I call you!" Although Shangguan Duo disliked Zhang Qingyuan's actions, he thought about how many of his generation had embarked on the path of immortality in the same way. However, he still glanced at the little girl, wanting to avoid contact with Zhang Qingyuan.

"Respect the immortal's decree!" Zhang Qingyuan stared intently at Shangguan Duo, so how could he not notice Shangguan Duo's unconscious glance? With a quick glance, he pulled his youngest daughter and bowed as they left the room.

"Little Ringwraith, come out!" Only after realizing that Zhang Qingyuan had left did Shangguan Duo feel relieved enough to call out to the little Ringwraith.

"Mortals are truly lowly; even a mere celestial child in the Human Immortal Realm grovels like this." The little spirit couldn't help but speak as soon as it appeared.

"If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth! As a celestial artifact, you naturally don't understand the insignificance of mortals. Back then, I wasn't much better than him!" Shangguan Duo was already in pain all over, and hearing this made him even more annoyed. He ruthlessly shut the little spirit's words down!

"I really can't understand. In the lower realm, it takes a thousand years of arduous cultivation to reach the Mahayana stage, while in the immortal realm, those with high aptitude are born at the Human Immortal realm! My master was born at the Mahayana stage, and even the weakest mortal could be born at the Nascent Soul stage that you call it!" The little spirit was stunned by Shangguan Duo's words, but it was the first thing it could say.

"Alright, how are they doing?" Shangguan Duo asked impatiently.

"I won't die, but like you, I'm covered in wounds and will probably need a long time to recover!" The little Ringwraith could see Shangguan Duo's impatience. Although his tone was still reluctant, his expression was unusually solemn.

Shangguan Duo also noticed the change in the little spirit's expression. If even he, hailed by the three as having the most perfect immortal body, was in such a state, let alone the two of them, who were merely ordinary Xuan artifacts, and not even primarily defensive ones. To protect his safety, they bore the brunt of the damage, and recovery would likely be extremely difficult.

“I need to rest here for a few days. That old man is really humble. I know what he is thinking, but I am not familiar with anything here and cannot delay his child. So you should prepare more pills for them!” Shangguan Duo sighed heavily, his brows furrowed, his tone full of disappointment and sadness.

“You can do this…” The little Ringwraith couldn’t help but feel sorry for Shangguan Duo when he saw him like this. Although they had bickered all the way, he had watched him grow up and knew what he was feeling right now.

However, before the little spirit could finish speaking, a creak was heard and the door to Shangguan Duo's room was carefully opened!

"I didn't mean..." Shangguan Duo watched the little Ringwraith disappear in an instant, and immediately sat cross-legged, pretending to be very impatient as he spoke, turning his head towards the door. However, he froze on the spot before he could finish speaking.

"Your...Immortal, the mortal Zhang...Zhang...Zhang Youli has come to serve Your Highness in your washing and grooming." Zhang Qingyuan's youngest daughter, dressed only in her undergarments and pajamas, timidly shuffled in from the doorway.

Her face was flushed with shyness, her hands trembled as she held the basin of hot water, and her eyes darted nervously around on the ground, searching for something.

"Oh? What, you like this too?" It wasn't until the little Ringwraith's mocking voice rang out that Shangguan Duo finally recovered from his shock. He draped his clothes over Zhang Youli and was about to start cursing and causing trouble for Zhang Qingyuan when he saw the fear, terror, and grievance on Zhang Youli's little face.

"Sigh!" Shangguan Duo had no choice but to wave his hand and send Zhang Youli away safely.

"Don't try to be clever with me. This is a one-time opportunity, or I won't hesitate to kill some mortals!" Shangguan Duo's imposing voice rang out from the room. Zhang Qingyuan, who was standing far away, saw Zhang Youli being dismissed and was immediately so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Immortal, it was my daughter's fault for not taking good care of you. I will go and find you other young girls of suitable age. They will surely make you happy. Please forgive me and let my daughter serve you as well!" Zhang Qingyuan was so apprehensive that his voice trembled and he almost lost his voice.

"Stubborn fool! I told you, don't try to be clever, or I won't hesitate to kill you!" Shangguan Duo clenched his fists, his immortal aura surging, pressing down on Zhang Qingyuan so much that he couldn't move an inch.