Longevity Chronicles

Inside the bridal chamber of the Guangping City Lord Mansion,

Tao Qian revealed his true form, conversing with the female cultivator Yuhong Duan who had come from overseas.

The background noise to their conversation was rather abnormal.

Tao Qian raised his hand to cast a spell to shield them, then addressed Yuhong Duan,

"Daoist Duan, leave this vile creature to me for disposal, and you may leave in peace."

"Head south, do not go north any further. The Northern Land Provinces are currently smoke-filled battlefields with warlords in chaotic warfare, and Evil Demons rampant. Given that you come from the Mystical Water Palace and are so kind-hearted, once you reveal your base, you're bound to be targeted by dark schemes."

Tao Qian had accidentally touched the woman's veil earlier and had verified it with the Record.

Yuhong Duan was a good person.

He had also heard of the Mystical Water Palace, one of the Overseas Immortal Islands, gathered by a group of loose female cultivators into a faction, whose practiced Magic Skills largely belonged to heresy and heterodoxy, but their actions classified them as part of the Righteous path.

There was a Ling Yu Elder in the Penglai Sea, who was also one of the palace's Elders.

Tao Qian's intervention also had this reason behind it.

But as soon as he had finished speaking, Yuhong Duan did not depart, not even moving a foot.

Staring at Master Tao, her eyes Flashing, it seemed she recalled something, first showing an expression of sudden realization, followed by joy.

"The Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, the First Heavenly Pride of the Daoist, Master Tao?"

This woman exclaimed excitedly, revealing Tao Qian's true identity.

Admiration immediately filled her eyes. Before Tao Qian could respond, she excitedly continued.

"The sisters in the palace would never believe that I have met Master Tao on this journey."

"Tales related to Master Tao have already reached all Immortal Islands in the South Sea. Except for a group of the Devil Clan who, because of Duobao True Monarch, bear hostility towards the Master, everyone else holds great reverence for you."

"One sister even attended the Immortal Peach Banquet you hosted not long ago. Not only did she eat a few Immortal Peaches but also secretly brought back peach cores to plant. Unfortunately, only one grew, and although the harvested peaches had some effects, they were sour and astringent, terribly hard to eat..."

Upon hearing this, Tao Qian immediately understood the girl's hint.

Luckily, he indeed brought with him quite a few Longevity Immortal Peaches when he left the Ascending Immortal Island.

If we go into the details!

Master Tao's relationship with Sister Yunrong progressed so quickly partly due to the Immortal Peach's contribution.

When idle, he often fed Peach to Sister Yunrong, naturally causing her favorability to skyrocket daily.

When the time was ripe, the good deed was done.

Now, to dismiss this little admirer before him, Tao Qian flipped his palm, and a Longevity Immortal Peach with Exotic Fragrance appeared.

In Gao Buxi's presence, Yuhong Duan was cold and haughty.

But with Tao Qian, she reverted to her true nature as a young girl.

Her small stratagem a success, she did not bother with pleasantries and grasped the peach, not to eat but to stash it in her bosom, clearly with the intention of returning to the Mystical Water Palace to show off in front of her good sisters.

At the same time, upon hearing the idolized True Master Tao Qian saying "leave quickly and head south," her body subconsciously began to obey and depart.

However, she quickly came to her senses.

Turning back to face Tao Qian, her face filled with indecision, she inwardly muttered:

"Master Tao is now considered the First Heavenly Pride of the Daoist, with countless Exotic Treasures on him, and his Daoist Field on Ascending Immortal Island in the Penglai Sea, which is even better than all our Mystical Water Palace's subordinate Immortal Islands combined."

"Besides, the sisters all say that although Master Tao is a disciple of Duobao True Monarch, his character differs greatly from his master's, uncaring whether he acquires or loses treasures, even willingly disintegrating such great treasures as the Mountain and River Map. It seems unlikely that he would covet a Water Mansion whose value is yet unknown to me.""

"Why not candidly confess, and if possible, to follow closely by the True Master's side, to glean some merit and fortune, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?""

Having thought it through, Yuhong Duan made her decision.

Then, she said:

"If I am not mistaken, Master Tao, you are likely assuming the identity of this beast from the Gao Family to do something for the Mortals, right?"

"If so, may Yuhong also take part in it, to contribute?"

"Do not reject me immediately, Master. Yuhong is not one of those women seeking fame or acting arrogantly and impulsively. The reasons I wish to do this are, first, I cannot bear to see Mortals here suffer under the Gao Family's tyranny and second, I sense an opportunity for entering the Dao within."

At this point, Yuhong Duan paused.

Then she took something out of her personal treasure bag: a token crafted from some sort of Spiritual Shell, coursing with water light and rich in Immortal Qi.

"This item is known as the Sweet Spring Spirit Talisman, the Command Token for the core of a nearly ancient Water Mansion at the bottom of the South Sea."

"Some days ago, I left the palace to gather materials such as Merfolk Pearl, Shell and Jade to refine a Water Technique, but unexpectedly, fortune struck, and within the corpse of a whale that must have been dead for at least a hundred years, I found a Secret Book and this token."

"The Secret Book is called 'Bi Xu Immortal Origin Scripture,' left behind by the widely known Overseas Wanderer Immortal, Master Bi Xu, nearly a thousand years ago. And within the Secret Book, it is said that the Master also left behind a 'Sweet Spring Water Mansion' filled with numerous resources and treasures that could lead later generations to successfully enter the Dao.""

"My Mystical Water Palace cultivates with freedom, not limiting our paths, thus Yuhong has decided to switch and cultivate this Immortal Origin Scripture.""

"However, to enter that Water Mansion, you must first grind open the Forbidden Technique on the token, which requires something specific: merit and fortune.""

"Because of this, Yuhong has been traveling north, wholeheartedly doing good deeds and saving Mortals, in hopes of accumulating enough fortune to open the mansion and cultivate the scripture.""

Yuhong Duan spoke sincerely.

At the same time, she perfectly explained why a female cultivator from overseas would take the trouble to come to the large Northern Land province to endure hardships.

She, too, was a Seeker.

After listening, Tao Qian did not suspect the genuineness of her excuse. The woman was not deeply cunning, had a good nature, and seemed to be a determined and lively female cultivator.

What Tao Qian instinctively doubted was the so-called opportunity.

"Fortune coming to the door?"

"Both the Great Lifebook Scripture and a Water Mansion prepared with provisions and treasures, could it be another fishing ploy?""

Evidently, Master Tao had become somewhat reactive to such events.

On one hand, he communicated telepathically asking Yuan Gong if he had ever heard of this Bi Xu True Master, while on the other, he reached out to Yuhong Duan and said:

"Daoist Duan, if you trust me, may I take a look at that Command Token?"

"Of course, there's no problem."

Before Yuan Gong could respond, Duan Yuhong had already stuffed the Command Token into Tao Qian's hand.

Afterwards, the transmitted messages of the former and the Record of the latter burst forth in Tao Qian's mind at the same time.

"He really exists!"

"Bi Xuzi is a representative figure among the Overseas Wanderer Immortals, with a cultivation at the Daoist Transformation Realm, extremely adept in Water Techniques. It's rumored that in combat, he could easily harness the power of a good half of the Southern Sea to inundate cities and submerge nations; he's ferociously brutal."

"What's even more incredible is that this person became a Daoist through being a Loose Cultivator, truly a heaven-sent prodigy."

"Regrettably, his ability to take in disciples is truly terrible; his numerous disciples are either useless or ingrates."

"After he died facing his calamity, he didn't leave a proper Daoist lineage behind, only his good friend Jialan Bodhisattva once said: 'Bi Xuzi has arranged for the inheritance of his lineage, which can emerge after hundreds of years.'"

"If this rumor isn't wrong, it seems it should manifest in this young girl."

"Learning from his lesson, Bi Xuzi set up a test of merit and fortune to select a hearted kind-hearted heir of the next generation, which seems reasonable."

"At first glance, this girl's talent and aptitude seem quite ordinary, but upon closer inspection, it's clear that she possesses the Water Destiny Life Chart and also has certain perseverance and indomitable spirit, indeed fitting to inherit Bi Xuzi's Daoist lineage."

The Record that Tao Qian scrutinized was almost no different from what Yuan Gong was saying.

This Duan Yuhong, what good fortune she's stumbled upon.

Stepping outside and picking up a Daoist lineage.

After pondering for a moment, Tao Qian returned the Command Token to Duan Yuhong, nodding as he said:

"Daoist Duan is a person of fortune, this Command Token is indeed left by Master Bi Xu."

"That you've picked it up is also the arrangement of this senior; as long as you can pass the test, not only will you be the master of the Sweet Spring Water Mansion, but you will also be the keeper of the Bi Xu Immortal Origin teaching."

...

Although Duan Yuhong had received an opportunity, she had her doubts about its authenticity.

But now, having the endorsement of the First Heavenly Pride of the Daoist sects, she no longer doubted it and was overjoyed.

At this moment, thoughts tumbled in Tao Qian's mind, and he started strategizing rapidly.

The current situation!

The group of demons in Guangping City, the Gao Family, and this Gao Buxi... Tao Qian could kill them all in one night, leaving none behind, if he desired.

But what would happen after that?

The Gao family members had a bloodline sensing ability; if Gao Buxi died, it would surely alarm the True Lord of a Hundred Demons Gao Yang, and then he could only continue to flee.

But where would he flee to?

Return to the Mountain Gate?

Hide in the Penglai Sea, cultivate in peace, proceed orderly to Ultimate Happiness, then achieve Daoist Transformation?

If he had done this after finishing his business in the Demon City, it indeed would have been feasible.

But now, it was no longer possible.

The reason was simple, Tao Qian had already comprehended the Dao.

Throughout his journey of cultivation, he had successively received the Innate Dao Seed, Nine Extreme Immortal Spirit Qi, Spirit Treasure Taishang No Leaking Body... and then the Spirit Treasure Sublime Body.

Undoubtedly, he possessed extraordinary talent beyond ordinary cultivators.

But his cultivation had not been for long, and he had already caught up to his senior brothers and sisters like Xuu Xun and Yang Jie, who had been practicing Dao for many years; in terms of mana, he was even surpassing them, which no matter how abnormal the talent, could not be achieved in such a short time.

The secret lay in the deeds that Tao Qian had performed in the past, the miracles created, and the fortune gained.

Not long ago, upon successfully comprehending the Dao, Tao Qian vaguely understood:

When he would set foot into the Ultimate Happiness Realm.

And when he could advance into Daoist Transformation.

With all these responsive feelings, Tao Qian also had a vague goal in mind; his actions had their own logic, no longer aimlessly drifting with the flow.

But before truly "saving people," he still needed to cultivate and prepare, waiting for the opportune moment to mature.

Just like now, he wanted to first gather the Nine States' Twelve Treasures, and then save the Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen.

"The name of the Devil Concubine Yuan Mingzhen is known throughout the world."

"With the Heavenly Phoenix Body and the Spring and Autumn Chariot as bait, by that time, Qiantang Province will likely gather a plethora of powerful demons. To say 'Cavernous Mystery walks everywhere and Ultimate Happiness as plentiful as dogs' would be an exaggeration, but there will surely be more than a handful of Ultimate Happiness Realm strong people gathered, not to mention the numerous warlords, and more than one Extraordinary Army."

"I now have some Divine Skills, but to snatch Yuan Mingzhen and the Spring and Autumn Chariot out of that situation would be a fool's dream."

"The situation is different from New Moon Province; that is just an ordinary province, with a weak presence, and the Ultimate Happiness Realm powerhouses exist only in the Seven Evils, Beichan, and Xuan Dao sects, restraining each other."

"Qiantang Province will catch everyone's eyes, with powerful individuals converging."

"If I am to act and have any chance of success, apart from creating an unbeatable new persona, I also need to borrow a mighty power, use others to eliminate enemies, and ultimately reap the benefits of a fisherman."

"It's not easy to save from surrounding demons, so I'll blend in with the group of demons."

"In that case, there could be no more convenient way than to join the ranks of the Gao Family."

Having settled his thoughts, Tao Qian's gaze swept back and forth between Gao Buxi and Duan Yuhong.

Within Duan Yuhong's excited demeanor, Master Tao gave a nod, agreeing to let her join.

Only the plan was quite surprising.

With full apology, Tao Qian spoke:

"I was originally planning to use the group of demons under my command, coupled with some other means, to control this Gao Buxi."

"Since Daoist Duan is willing to join, that's even better, and more flawless."

"Yet I must impose upon you somewhat; not only will you have to act as the public wife of this beast, but you will also have to play the role of a vicious and jealous woman who has turned from Dao to Demon."