MSBITRS Chapter 50 V2

At the Hundred Affairs Hall, Li Changshou skillfully navigated his way to a familiar elder and expressed his desire to return home to pay respects at his family’s grave. The elder on duty that day, Elder Wei, readily agreed.

“Changshou, I recall your home is in the northeastern region of the Southern Continent. Coincidentally, there is an inner sect steward traveling there tomorrow. He can take you along.”

“Well,” Li Changshou retrieved a few spirit fish from his sleeve, “Elder, I have another small request.”

“You little rascal.” Elder Wei’s face lit up with a smile as he accepted the spirit fish, which were still wrapped in water orbs. He took out a porcelain jar and carefully placed the fish inside.

Everyone has their preferences—some enjoy wine, others savor fine cuisine, and these fish, the exquisitely rare and delicious liwei, were a prized delicacy.

Elder Wei chuckled. “Go on, what’s your scheme this time?”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to train in the Southern Continent for a few years,” Li Changshou lowered his voice. “Would it be possible to avoid having an inner sect steward check on my hometown? And… also not have them escort me there?”

“Fine, go on,” Elder Wei picked up a bamboo slip. “Saves me from writing another record.

You have great potential in cultivation, and your future is boundless. Remember—don’t cause trouble, don’t break sect rules, and don’t get too attached to worldly pleasures lest they cloud your path to immortality.”

Li Changshou bowed deeply. “Thank you, Elder, for your generosity!”

“It’s a small matter. Go now and return soon.”

Elder Wei waved his hand and handed Li Changshou a jade token for travel. He also cautioned him to avoid densely populated areas in the mortal world, lest the worldly aura taint his Dao foundation.

His concern for Li Changshou was genuine—after all, over the years, he had received more than a hundred spirit fish…

Many disciples used their ancestral grave visits as an excuse to wander the mortal world for a few years. If caught by the sect’s stewards, they’d merely receive a reprimand and have their monthly allowance docked. Elder Wei had seen it countless times before.

A few spirit fish were a fair trade for ensuring that Li Changshou’s ancestral visit wouldn’t be officially recorded—meaning no one would be sent to check on him.

To Elder Wei, this was nothing more than a young disciple wanting to experience the mortal world.

But to Li Changshou, this was a crucial and necessary step in his tribulation transcendence plan.

Leaving Po Tian Peak, Li Changshou flew south on his cloud. Before long, he arrived at the sect’s gates.

After presenting his travel token and stating his reason for leaving, the gatekeeping immortals reminded him to be cautious outside. Li Changshou expressed his gratitude and flew beyond the sect’s boundaries.

The thousand-mile perimeter around the sect was still considered part of the Dusian Sect’s domain. Several vital spiritual mines lay to the south.

Li Changshou flew another two thousand miles before landing in a dense forest. There, he spent two days in a hidden spot, carefully ensuring that no one from the sect was following him. Only after confirming his safety did he activate his Earth Escape technique and continue southward.

Throughout his journey, he used Earth Escape to pass through mountains and Water Escape to traverse rivers.

He witnessed battles between cultivators, infighting among mountain demons, a secret tryst between an uncle and his sister-in-law, and the brutal warfare of thousands of mortals.

He traveled ceaselessly, observing everything while remaining unseen—like a wandering ghost.

He passed through one ten-thousand-mile stretch after another.

Half a month later, he arrived at the northeastern region of the Southern Continent, near the Eastern Continent’s border—a vast prairie.

Following the sect’s records, he easily located his parents’ graves on a hillside.

The tomb was built with great care, clearly at a considerable expense. The corner of the tombstone bore the Dusian Sect’s emblem, and the inscription read: “Erected by eldest son, Changshou.”

Weeds had grown thick around the site. Li Changshou took out a short blade and meticulously cleared the area.

Then, he knelt before the tomb, offering fruits, meats, and fish he had prepared along the way. He burned two rolls of yellow paper, lit three incense sticks, and bowed deeply four times.

A lingering burden in his heart lightened.

He then chose a discreet spot near his parents’ grave and sat in meditation, fulfilling his duty of mourning.

Seven days later, he resumed his journey, heading toward his chosen tribulation site.

Where would it be?

The Eastern Sea—but specifically, the section bordering the Southern Continent.

Because it lay within the mortal world’s domain, few cultivators ventured there. The mortal world’s dense aura deterred them, and only minor demons roamed the area.

Most of humanity’s destiny gathered in the mortal world of the Southern Continent, and to avoid disrupting this fate, even the Dragon Palace had little presence there.

A remote island at the edge of the mortal world, hidden in the vast ocean—such a place was perfect for transcending tribulation!

From his storage bracelet, Li Changshou retrieved a pouch labeled “Earth-12.” Inside was a collection of eyebrow pencils, face powders, and self-made cosmetic materials.

For the first time in both his lifetimes, this great cultivator meticulously disguised himself.

The key to altering one’s appearance had several principles. Relying solely on illusions or transformation spells was far too simplistic in Li Changshou’s view.

First, he physically changed his features with makeup.

Next, he donned an ultra-thin, moisture-retaining silk mask.

Then, he applied an illusion technique to appear as an old Daoist.

Finally, he cast a transformation spell to solidify his new identity.

This way, even if a master cultivator saw through two layers of disguise, they would still not see his true face.

Among cultivators, using simple illusion spells was common and unremarkable.

After half a day of preparation, Li Changshou had transformed into a stern-looking old Daoist. Silently, he disappeared into the ground, heading east to find a secluded place to transcend his tribulation.

Meanwhile…

At the border between the Southern and Eastern Seas, on an immortal island shaped like a massive turtle, divine light shimmered.

In a treasured pool at the island’s edge, a recently arrived “island pet”, a young azure dragon spanning dozens of feet, peered cautiously from beneath the water’s surface.

Bubbles escaped its mouth as its golden eyes narrowed.

‘Perfect timing.’

Today was the Grand Luo Golden Immortal’s lecture, and all the nearby immortals had gone to listen.

‘Hah! They’d never expect that by the age of six, I had already memorized all four seas’ water routes!

From here, I’ll head for the Southern Continent, hug the coastline, and make my way to the Eastern Continent.

The mortal world’s aura will mask my presence, and once I reach the Eastern Continent’s border, I’ll slip in undetected.

If the Dusian Sect refuses to take me in, I’ll seek out the Three Teachings’ great sects in the Central Continent!’

The azure dragon smirked, its body shrinking to just three feet in length.

Silently, it slithered through an underwater crevice and disappeared into the depths.

But as it left the island’s boundary…

At the island’s far edge—where the rock formations eerily resembled a massive golden turtle’s head—two enormous, terrifying eyes cracked open ever so slightly.