MSBITRS Chapter 69 V2

Effigy No. 2 scattered the powder. Effigy No. 3 stripped them of their storage artifacts.

Li Changshou conjured two balls of Samadhi True Fire and tossed them in.

The wooden fish tolled. The bell rang. Scriptures were chanted.

Li Changshou scanned the direction of the town—

Someone was watching from afar, but no one dared approach.

His divine sense swept the area within five miles, alert for any disturbances.

The Soul Capturing Pearl spun rapidly, drawing in the souls of the five men.

From the moment he counterattacked to the moment only ashes remained—

Less than a quarter of an hour had passed.

Li Changshou activated Earth Escape, sheathed his “sword,” retrieved his paper effigies, and collected the half-burned magical artifacts into a storage bag specifically for trash disposal.

With a flick of his sleeve, the remaining ashes scattered into the wind.

Reclaiming the improved Luo Tian Umbrella, he vanished into the earth, speeding northward.

Those investigating the area only caught a glimpse of his departing figure and heard a faint murmur—

“I told you… don’t force me to draw my sword.”

—

After confirming that the paper effigy’s celestial energy reserves were still sufficient, Li Changshou first traveled ten thousand miles north, then made a detour east before finally returning to Du Xian Sect.

That situation had truly been perilous…

Fortunately, that True Immortal had been careless, underestimating his opponent. He was too accustomed to using magic treasures to smash his enemies and hadn’t even exerted a fraction of his true strength before being taken down by the poison powder Li Changshou had discreetly released.

Now, Li Changshou had found a replacement for Soft Immortal Powder—Mesmerizing Soul-Drunk Powder.

The poison he had scattered when drawing his sword contained six different toxins. By the time True Immortal plummeted from the sky, he was already half-dead. What the Samadhi True Flame incinerated in the end was nothing more than his still-twitching primordial spirit.

“If I had been the one to let my guard down, I’d be the one dead now.”

Li Changshou reflected on this and took it as a lesson.

There was no sense of joy in winning the fight or looting his attackers’ possessions.

The very fact that he had been targeted meant he hadn’t been cautious enough—his actions had been reckless.

He’d write a self-reflection report once he got back. Next time, he’d have his master accompany him for a few more days when traveling.

But…

As he looked at the storage pouches tucked in his sleeve, packed with spiritual herbs, poisonous plants, and even young spirit beasts, he realized—he’d be busy for the next three to five years.

Wealth secures the path!

—

Rushing along his route, Li Changshou returned to the forest where he had initially left.

Peeking out from beneath the earth, the paper effigy swiftly set up the prepared wooden box and glanced at his Perception Stone, noting that it was faintly flickering with light.

Soon, he located his master’s hidden presence ten miles away and transmitted a message:

“Master, please withdraw your divine sense first.”

The elder Qi Yuan, who had been curiously observing the paper effigy, immediately complied.

Sure enough, the diamond-shaped stone stopped glowing.

The paper effigy swayed slightly, hunched its shoulders, and muttered:

“Small… small… small…”

A wisp of celestial radiance enveloped it, and the thickened paper figure shrank back into its compact form, carrying a small, bulging cloth pouch. With nimble movements, it hopped into the wooden box and even pulled the lid shut.

*”Alright, Master. Just take the box and pretend nothing happened. Let’s return to the mountain.

Next time, we’ll find a proper excuse to come out again.”*

Qi Yuan chuckled softly, rode his cloud over, and took the box.

Li Changshou exhaled in relief as his consciousness returned to his true body in the alchemy chamber.

That fragile, helpless, weak, and pitiful feeling—finally gone.

Nothing was as reassuring as his real body.

—

“What exactly would Senior Brother Changshou like…?”

Within Du Xian Sect’s Po Tian Peak, not far from the Nine Immortal Pavilion, there lay a secluded cave dwelling.

Though unassuming from the outside, the interior was meticulously decorated.

Stepping inside, one would first see an elegant reception hall. On the left was a lotus pond about ten feet wide, its bottom lined with spirit jade, the water shimmering with soft light. Beneath the lotus leaves, golden koi occasionally darted.

To the right was a spacious sitting area with meditation cushions, wooden couches, and decorative screens. Delicate curtains framed the space, while ink paintings of mountains and rivers adorned the rock walls.

Further in, the cave branched into two paths—one leading to the personal chambers of True Immortal Jiang Jingchan, the master of this abode, while the other led to the boudoir of her disciple: the leading disciple of Du Xian Sect’s younger generation, Youqin Xuanya.

At this moment, Youqin Xuanya, who had just emerged from a meditative state, was deep in thought…

Her master had once told her that exchanging gifts was an effective way to strengthen bonds.

She wanted to give Senior Brother Changshou a gift. She also hoped that, in return, he would gift her something as well—this would prove that he considered her a friend.

True friendships needed continuous interaction and shared experiences—something she deeply longed for.

But, until now… she hadn’t had a single close friend.

“My cultivation isn’t high. I only have some skills in earth escape techniques. If word got out, wouldn’t people laugh at me?”

Earth escape technique…

Youqin Xuanya blinked lightly. A thought sparked in her mind.

She turned toward her wardrobe.

The furnishings in her room were simple, but each piece was of exquisite craftsmanship.

She retrieved a jewelry box from the cabinet and, upon opening it, was met with a dazzling glow—inside were numerous treasures brimming with spiritual energy.

These were gifts from her father and mother before she left to seek the Dao at Du Xian Sect.

Though the mortal world of the Southern Continent was now tainted with worldly turbidity, and few cultivators dared interfere with a mortal ruler’s lifespan or fate, it did not stop these rulers from obtaining cultivation techniques through various means.

Nearly half of the human kings and emperors in the mortal realm had their own methods to extend their lifespans. The Youqin Kingdom was a prime example—a nation where both the royal family and its generals practiced cultivation, making it akin to a small immortal sect.

After searching for a while, Youqin Xuanya carefully selected a soil-colored spirit pearl.

It was not a magic treasure but a naturally-formed gem infused with the essence of earth energy. Though not a particularly rare treasure, it provided a slight boost to earth-elemental techniques—making it particularly useful for earth escape techniques.

Such naturally-formed spirit pearls were worth a hundred times more than crafted magical artifacts with similar effects.

“Would Senior Brother think this is too insignificant?”

She hesitated briefly but ultimately made her decision.

Taking a delicate silk box, she placed the pearl inside.

After some thought, she took a small handkerchief, pondered for half an hour over what to write, and finally settled on—

“For Senior Brother Changshou.”

Folding the handkerchief neatly over the pearl, she closed the box and smiled to herself.

Her steps felt a little lighter than before.