Chapter Fifty: Selection of the Crossing Tribulation Land
In the early morning, Ling'e, who was fast asleep, was vigorously shaken awake by someone. Before she could fully regain her senses, she heard Jiujiu shouting excitedly:
"Hehe! My senior brother Jiangu has actually broken through his bottleneck by himself! Little Ling'e, remember to tell your senior brother, I'm going back to seclude myself!"
"Oh... huh? You broke through after just one sleep?" Lingle was still half asleep, opening her eyes to see Jiujiu searching for his shoes all over the floor.
At this moment, the young junior brother was quite spirited, taking another firm step towards the Celestial Realm in his cultivation. He rushed out of the thatched hut, jumped onto the gourd, and hurried towards the direction of the Broken Sky Peak.
"Remember to tell your senior brother, I'll come back to help him refine pills after I come out of seclusion," Jiujiu shouted back.
Lingle stayed by the bed for a while, yawning twice, before walking to the dressing table. Thinking about the little things this young junior brother did yesterday, a faint smile appeared on Ling'e's lips, followed by a sigh.
Life was truly comfortable after becoming an immortal.
"Sister apprentice," a voice transmission came into Ling'e's ears, and she instinctively responded, "Yes?"
Li Changshou continued the transmission, "I heard what senior brother said. I'm probably going to seclude myself for three months. After that, I might have to go out for a trip. Do you have any requests for medicinal pills? I might not be able to return for three to five years after leaving."
Senior brother... is going to go out to cross the heavenly tribulation?
Lingle was first delighted, then a bit unhappy as she pouted slightly. The joy was naturally for the happiness of her senior brother, but the unhappiness stemmed from the fact that her senior brother would be away for three to five years after leaving. She hadn't been away from her senior brother for that long since she came up the mountain.
"I don't have any requests. Senior brother, take care of yourself," Lingle muttered softly.
A slight laughter came through the transmission, and Li Changshou added, "When I leave, I'll wake up our master. Please ask our master not to shut himself in for these years. Remember not to wander around aimlessly. Keep my previous instructions in mind at all times and don't be careless to be taken advantage of by others."
"I know, senior brother. It's not too late to talk about these things when you come out of seclusion," Lingle's eyes flickered. "Could it be that you want to slip away directly?"
In the alchemy room, Li Changshou chuckled but did not continue the transmission.
He looked down at the faint green light in his palm. He hadn't expected to reach the ninth stage of the Return to Dao Realm much earlier than he had anticipated.
At this moment, there was a sense of... an impulse to ascend, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, constantly wanting to break through. Fortunately, he could still suppress it for now.
After breaking through to the ninth stage of the Return to Dao Realm, he would likely face the heavenly tribulation directly.
Crossing the tribulation would now have to be on the agenda.
Going out to cross the tribulation was a plan Li Changshou had made long ago. Firstly, he didn't want to reveal his own cultivation level, and secondly, he didn't want others to witness his heavenly tribulation.
After all, crossing the tribulation was his own matter, and the protective mountain formation had no effect on it. Crossing the tribulation in seclusion outside would have almost the same safety factor as crossing it inside the sect.
However, slipping out of the sect smoothly would also require some effort.
Li Changshou sighed softly, "Fortunately, there's Fish."
The rules of the Degree of Immortality Sect were strict, but most of them were for disciples who had not yet become immortals, regulating their words and deeds, urging them to cultivate, and protecting their safety.
Li Changshou was recorded in the sect's disciple register as an outstanding Second Stage Qi Refiner. There were strict restrictions on his travels outside the sect. This was one of the reasons why he chose to participate in the Great Experiential Meeting and go to the Northern Continent to search for medicinal herbs.
And for this time when he wanted to go out to cross the heavenly tribulation, Li Changshou had already prepared the reason to apply for leaving the sect from the Baifan Hall—every disciple was allowed to return home once to pay respects to their ancestors.
Entering the sect meant cutting off ties with the secular world. However, the human heart grew flesh, and the heart of the Dao also faced worldly tribulations.
The sages of the human race advocated loyalty, righteousness, courtesy, and filial piety to educate the masses. Although cultivators had severed their ties with the secular world and could not show filial piety to their parents who raised them, they should still go to their parents' graves to pay respects.
In this regard, the Degree of Immortality Sect had learned from many major sects in the Central Divine Continent and did quite well.
For new disciples who came from the mundane world, there would be outer sect officials responsible for their affairs. Every ten years, these officials would visit the parents of new disciples to provide them with financial assistance, inform them of the disciple's situation in the sect, provide some medicinal pills and talismans for dispelling diseases and avoiding disasters, but they wouldn't help them increase their lifespan.
Life and death were predestined, and fate had its limits. The Degree of Immortality Sect was also unwilling to get involved in too many unnecessary causes and effects.
After the disciple's parents passed away, the sect would notify the disciple and allow them to return home to guard their parents' graves for three years. From then on, they would completely sever their ties with the secular world...
Eighteen years ago, Li Changshou received a notification from the sect that his parents in the mundane world had both passed away.
Under the care of the Degree of Immortality Sect, they were originally ordinary pastoralists from a nomadic tribe in the Southern Continent, both living to over a hundred years old without any illness or disaster.
Li Changshou actually didn't have much impression of his parents in this life. After all, he was taken up the mountain by his master at a young age. However, by going up the mountain, he secured a carefree life for them in this world, without illness or disaster.
When he received the notification from the sect, Li Changshou wanted to go to their graves immediately. However, due to preparing for his upcoming tribulation, he temporarily postponed it.
But there was some trouble in this.
During the three years of guarding the graves, if the outer sect officials who were busy traveling around happened to pass by the disciple's hometown, they would need to check on the disciple's situation...
Regarding this matter, Li Changshou had also made some preparations. He had long established a good relationship with the "elders" in the Baifan Hall who were in charge of the disciples' affairs.
True friendship.
These elders were not the same as the elders mentioned earlier.
Most of the elders in the Baifan Hall were old true immortals in the sect. For example, the elder Ge, who was in charge of handling internal and external affairs; the true elders of the Degree of Immortality Sect were all practicing in various peaks and couldn't be bothered with trivial matters. Only those who had reached the Celestial Realm could obtain such a title.
Three months later;
Li Changshou woke up his master who was in seclusion and told him that he wanted to return to his hometown to guard the graves, intending to let his master take care of his junior sister more.
Senior Master Qi Yuan naturally agreed, without much thought, and even advised Li Changshou to let go of his worldly worries early and focus on the path of immortality.
Lingle was a bit reluctant. She asked softly, "Can I... accompany you to guard the graves, senior brother?"
"Guess," Li Changshou squinted and smiled, and Lingle immediately knew the answer, lowering her head in response.
As they bid farewell amidst the mountains and rivers, Li Changshou caught several spirit fish from the lake, put them in his sleeve, and flew towards the direction of the Broken Sky Peak.
Lingle stood by the lake, quietly watching her senior brother's figure, silently wishing him a safe crossing of the tribulation, and then returned to her thatched hut to cultivate...
At the Baifan Hall, Li Changshou, familiar with the place, found the elder he knew well and mentioned that he wanted to return to his hometown to guard the graves. Elder Wei, who was on duty that day, readily agreed.
"Changshou, I remember your family is in the northeastern area of the Southern Continent. There happens to be an outer sect official going to the Southern Continent for business tomorrow. Let him take you along."
"Um," Li Changshou took out a few spirit fish from his sleeve, "Elder, there's one more thing I'd like to ask for your help with."
"You little guy," Elder Wei smiled, taking the fish wrapped in a water bubble and fetching a porcelain jar to temporarily keep the fish.
Everyone had their preferences—some loved wine, some loved delicacies, especially such difficult-to-cultivate and delicious fish like the "Liwei". Elder Wei said, "Tell me, what's on your mind?"
"Disciple wants to take this opportunity to train in the Southern Continent for a few years," Li Changshou said in a low voice. "Could you please not let the outer sect officials go to my hometown to check and also refrain from bringing me there?"
"Sure, go ahead," Elder Wei picked up a bamboo slip in front of him. "We've just saved a bamboo slip. You're a promising cultivator. Your future is limitless. Remember, don't cause trouble, don't violate the sect rules, and don't be attached to the prosperity of the secular world, lest you be led astray by worldly desires."
Li Changshou repeatedly agreed, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your help, Elder!"
"It's nothing. Go ahead, the sooner, the better."
Elder Wei waved his hand, handed a disciple's token for leaving the sect to Li Changshou, and then reminded him to avoid going to crowded places in the secular world to prevent being affected by mundane impurities.
This elder's concern for Li Changshou was not false; after all, over the years, Li Changshou had sent over hundreds of spirit fish...
It was quite common for outer sect disciples to return to their hometowns to wander around for a few years after sweeping the graves. If they were caught by outer sect officials during their visit to the mundane world, they would only receive a scolding and have their monthly stipend deducted. Elder Wei had long been accustomed to such matters.
A few spirit fish in exchange meant that this elder wouldn't record Li Changshou's request to go out to sweep the graves. Therefore, there would be no outer sect officials going to check on him.
In Elder Wei's eyes, this was nothing more than a young disciple wanting to enjoy the secular world. It was not a big deal. However, for Li Changshou, this was a crucial part of his plan for crossing the tribulation and had to be achieved...
One small step.
Half a month later, in the northeastern part of the Southern Continent, not far from the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, was a grassland.
According to the information provided by the sect, Li Changshou easily found the graves of his parents on a hillside. The grave was meticulously constructed, clearly requiring a significant amount of wealth. There was even the mark of the Degree of Immortality Sect on the corner of the tombstone, and the inscription read 'Established by the Eldest Son, Changshou.'
There were many weeds growing around the grave. Li Changshou took out a short knife and carefully cleaned the area around the grave.
Then, he knelt in front of the tombstone, offering the fruits, meat, and fish he had prepared on the road, burning two rolls of yellow paper, lighting three sticks of incense, and kowtowing four times, easing a bit of his emotional burden.
Afterwards, he found a inconspicuous corner not far from his parents' graves, where he sat in meditation and practiced, serving as the guardian of his parents' graves.
Seven days later, Li Changshou once again prepared to embark on his journey to the chosen location for crossing the tribulation.
Where was his chosen location?
Actually, it was in the East Sea, but in the Southern Continent's section of the East Sea.
Because it was within the territory of the mundane world, there were few Qi Refiners there, and the area was mixed with mundane impurities, with only a few minor demons causing trouble.
Most of the human luck of the Human Clan gathered in the mundane world of the Southern Continent, so the Dragon Palace didn't station many troops there either.
On the edge of the mundane world, there was vast sea. Finding an inconspicuous small island was the best location for crossing the tribulation!
Li Changshou took out a treasure bag labeled 'Twelve Places on the Ground' from his wrist bangle. Inside, he took out... a pile of eyebrow pencils and cosmetics, as well as the materials he had developed for disguising...
Then, this man, for the first time in his life, began to dress up meticulously.
There were several basic principles for disguising one's appearance. If only illusion techniques or transformation spells were used, Li Changshou felt it wouldn't be enough.
He first used physical methods like cosmetics to change his appearance, then applied a specially made ultra-thin moisturizing silk mask, and then used illusion techniques to transform into an old Daoist. After that, he cast an illusion technique...
In this way, even if a master saw through his two layers of disguise, they still wouldn't see his true appearance.
Most Qi Refiners who traveled outside would use illusion techniques; it was nothing surprising.
After half a day of tidying up, Li Changshou transformed into a cold-faced old Daoist and quietly left, using Earth Escaping Technique, heading towards the East Sea to find a secluded place to cross the tribulation.
At the same time...
At the border between the South China Sea and the East China Sea, there was a fairy island surrounded by immortal light, resembling a giant turtle.
In a corner of the fairy island, in a treasure pond shaped like a giant clam, a newly arrived "Island's Pet", a small cyan dragon tens of meters long, slowly observed his surroundings with newly surfaced eyes.
Bubbles escaped from the dragon's mouth, and his slightly squinted eyes narrowed even further.
'Very well.'
It was the day when the Great Luo Golden Immortal gave a lecture again, and all the nearby cultivators went to listen.
'You probably didn't expect that I memorized the four seas routes when I was six years old.'
'Since then, I've set off for the Southern Continent, sticking to the southern coast towards the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, using the impurities of the mundane world to cover my tracks, then landing at the border between the Southern Continent and the Eastern Continent, and sneaking my way to the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.'
'If the Degree of Immortality Sect doesn't have the guts to accept disciples, this prince can also go to the Three Teachings and Nine Streams in Central Divine Continent!'
The little dragon smirked, gradually shrinking his body, soon becoming only three feet long, and swam towards a crevice at the bottom of the water.
As he left the range of the fairy island, at the end of the island, in an area that looked like the head of a golden turtle, a pair of terrifyingly large turtle eyes opened slightly...