Longevity Chronicles

The appearance of the Exotic Treasure known as "Spirit Treasure Rejuvenation Mirror", which began to reflect upon the causes and effects of the past, was of utmost tension and displeasure to the entity that had possessed little monk Hui Xin.

Next in line was Tao Qian himself.

For many of the scenes that came before, he had nothing to hide, but the most crucial moment – the one Tao Qian had deliberately led Bai Qin to Body Seize him, step by step – involved his greatest secret. Tao Qian was unwilling to reveal it under the watchful eyes of millions.

Even though that scene wasn't explicit and couldn't reflect the Recollections in his mind.

Yet, even mere traces, Tao Qian still preferred not to show.

At that time, after Bai Qin underwent purification by the Human Dao Destiny, losing much of his Demon Thoughts and obsessions, he had grown considerably weaker. However, Bai Qin was oblivious to the peculiarity of Tao Qian's Soul, unaware that Tao Qian was completely immune to hostile possession by alien forces and swallowing of Primordial Spirits. Tao Qian had long known this from Recollections in various alien writings such as the Exotic Fire Elixir Scroll and the Secret Demon Refining God Skill.

Leveraging this, Tao Qian exhausted all of his tactics, step by step weakening and infuriating the Bai Qin Demon, tempting him to come and seize his body. Only then did he successfully Survive the Three Calamities.

Had Bai Qin been calmer at that time and only fled the Secret Acupoint Platform, even if he couldn't completely cleanse the relic, he could have taken most of the fruits of victory and left all the karmic troubles to Tao Qian.

Sadly, Bai Qin judged the Beautiful Corpse as too greedy, yet who was to say he himself wasn't the same?

After all the meticulous scheming, hoping to achieve complete success, it ended up being all in vain.

While Tao Qian was reflecting on this, the Spirit Treasure Rejuvenation Mirror had also reflected most of the past events to clarify the entire process.

It seemed that the immortal mirror, too, wished to protect its owner's child, for the projection stopped abruptly as soon as the Bai Qin Demon revealed his true face.

All that followed was obscured by a veil of misty clouds.

Tao Qian breathed a sigh of relief and, upon thinking of something, a hint of schadenfreude surfaced on his lips. Along with the rest of the audience, he looked towards where little monk Hui Xin sat with eyes full of condemnation.

Although Tao Qian did not yet know the reputation of the Spirit Treasure Rejuvenation Mirror, he could infer it by the reactions of powers and Cultivators, including Li Shantong from the Infant Sect.

With the support of this immortal mirror!

He, Master Tao, instantly cleansed himself of all karmic troubles.

And the Great Freedom Temple, suddenly struck by this blow, immediately experienced what it meant to be the target of public criticism and censure.

Then, naturally, the one who spoke after Qin Wuxiang was the old rival of the Great Freedom Temple, the Demon Buddha Temple.

After all, the Exotic Treasure's projections included a scene where Bai Qin made his move against the Beautiful Corpse. Even his comments were truly recounted and resounded through this realm.

For instance, Bai Qin said that the Beautiful Corpse refined everything but regrettably did it all mediocrally.

He also mentioned that the biggest pity about the Beautiful Corpse was that she was from the Guanyin Temple, yet she didn't refine the Guanyin Method well.

Combined with the scene of Bai Qin using the "Bu Jue Guanyin Root Seal" to sneak attack the Beautiful Corpse Primordial Spirit, the effect was optimal.

Instantly, the Beautiful Corpse's Master was so enraged that his Buddha Fire surged greatly.

Whirling around, he summoned the Black Light Bodhisattva Dharma Image to strike once more, and at the same time, he bellowed,

"Tian Mozi, you shameless bald donkey, it's your disciple who's the real fool."

"If you're going to cultivate the Buddha, then cultivate the Buddha, if you're going to refine demons, then refine demons, but you just had to use the guise of the Buddha to fall into demonhood, entangling yourself in obsessions. And then, in an attempt to whitewash your deeds, you disingenuously concocted a grand plan to escape tribulation, which is utterly laughable."

"The mystery of the Human Dao Fortune is not so easily trifled with. Now that you've provoked backlash, I can't be bothered to seek out your reincarnation. Without the assistance of the Buddha Bird Relics, you are surely being burned by karmic fire at this very moment, cleansed thoroughly in flame."

"I will come for you to avenge myself, seizing your beloved disciple and bringing him back to my Demon Buddha Temple, where he will be properly disciplined into another grand demon monk, free and unbound by nature."

Before his words had even finished, the Black Light Bodhisattva Dharma Image had already closed the distance.

Forced to act, Master Tian Mozi, now possessing the body of the little monk Hui Xin, had to summon the Arhat Dharma Form to clash with his foe.

As the two exchanged blows, Li Shantong, the Sect Master of the Infant Sect, who was purging the remaining demons from the battlefield, also found time to turn back. His fierce eyes with double pupils fixated on monk Hui Xin as he proclaimed loudly,

"Master Bai Qin, such clever scheming, using the great calamity of Southern Yue to trick me, Li Shantong. But since it's all due to a twist of fate, I shall not quibble with the reincarnated Master. However, from today onwards, I do beg that the monks from Great Freedom Temple visit Southern Yue less often, lest you find my Infant Sect unwelcoming to its guests."

Li Shantong was obviously acknowledging the merit in Bai Qin Demon's deceptive actions and decided not to pursue them further.

However, the relationship between the two parties had inevitably suffered a fracture.

As cordial as the Sect Master of the Infant Sect was, the millions of ordinary people, cultivators, and the demon beasts now fleeing like bereft dogs, all held a deep hatred for Bai Qin.

They couldn't see through much, nor could they grasp the whole picture.

The only thing they could see was an old monk, deeply rooted in demonic thought, who had schemed against all of Southern Yue. His actions seemed purely self-serving, aimed at aiding his own escape from tribulation and establishing his own lineage, Bai Qin Temple.

The last point was especially damning because the Spirit Treasure Rejuvenation Mirror, in reflecting this place, also happened to reveal Bai Qin's past causes and effects.

Chief among them was the tragedy of Tuo County from the days of yore.

In comparison, in the eyes of the common folk, Bai Qin had become the arch-demon among demons.

In that moment, public sentiment boiled over with relentless cursing and denunciation, as all people reviled him.

"The most shameless, does such a faceless monk truly exist in this world?"

"This monk hails from Great Freedom Temple, which suggests that the temple itself is no virtuous place, likely a sanctuary for filth, with each bald donkey there scheming daily how to deceive the world."

"Tuo County, ah! My great-uncle's father perished in that disaster. Oh, heavens, this demon monk not only brought calamity upon Tuo County but now wishes to endanger the entirety of Southern Yue. May heavenly thunder strike him dead!"

"I was fortunate to have read the county records of Tuo County from that year. The disaster was truly horrific, with houses empty and Bird Demons everywhere. In the end, it was a monk from Great Freedom Temple who rescued the survivors and for whom they erected monuments and built temples... Who knew that this was all part of a collusive plot? Is there no justice in this world?"

"As clear as day, the truth of the ancient tragedy is finally uncovered. Who knows if the souls of the departed can now rest in peace."

"Alas, everyone vies on the Dao Path. If Bai Qin's tactics had truly succeeded, they might have benefited at least several hundred million people of Southern Yue and the surrounding provinces. The outcome may be good, but the means employed are far from righteous, and he deserves this retribution."

"To calculate against the Human Dao for one's own Dao, Bai Qin devised this method to erase his own obsessions and demonic thoughts, to save the people of Southern Yue. Now, due to an ironic twist of fate, he inadvertently aided others."

"Pah! Baldies of Bai Qin and Great Freedom Temple, our Devil God Army will remember this—there will be retribution one day."

…

These exclamations and sentences made Tao Qian's heart secretly thrilled.

Since the time he was schemed against by Bai Qin and called "destined person," using his body to steal treasures, using his body to survive disasters, and in the end, still using his body to bear the consequences.

Now, hearing these curses and looking at the gleaming Buddha Bird relics in his hand, all the frustration and resentment accumulated in Tao Qian's heart were vented.

Just as Tao Qian wanted to hear more, suddenly, that elf-like girl suddenly leaned in, whispered in a tiny voice:

"Young Master, should we hurry and leave?"

"Even though Grandpa Taixuan, Grandpa Heavenly Punishment, and Grandpa Returning Immortal are all very strong, the baldies from Great Freedom Temple and Demon Buddha Temple are also frightening, and there's that sneaky Devil God. If they start to fight and it gets out of hand, you might be affected, Young Master. If those two baldies manifest their true forms, even Grandpa Heavenly Punishment might not be able to defeat them."

"Dou Dou was hoping to bring Young Master back sooner to receive Master's reward."

Having just finished speaking, the treasured sword that had been the subject of her complaints immediately jumped up and gave the girl's head a tap with its scabbard.

However, at the same time, a warm and hearty voice of an old man also reached Tao Qian's ears:

"Now that you have survived the Three Calamities, all the benefits here have mostly been gained by you, along with having cleared the karmic troubles."

"Fortune and opportunities cannot be held for too long; otherwise, disasters will surely arise."

"If those two baldies really go mad, only the arrival of a True Monarch will resolve it. And if the Devil God joins in, the trouble will be even greater..."

"If you don't leave now, then when?"

With this reminder, Tao Qian thought for a moment, said something else, and then nodded to the girl.

Hearing his words, the girl immediately whooped with joy. She suddenly stooped and dived directly into the gleaming circle, clinging tightly to Tao Qian.

"Grandpa Taixuan, let's set off quickly."

"The most clever Zhong Dou Dou has successfully picked up Young Master to return to the sect."

As the girl's words fell, the golden circle suddenly leaped up—it was uncertain whether intentionally or not—but first harshly bumped that object calling itself "Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Needle," sending it reeling precariously.

It then moved under the Beautiful Corpse skin, before smashing through the Void and disappearing out of sight.

With the departure of the circle, the other treasures, a sword and a mirror, also leaped into the Void, leaving no trace behind.

Their decisive departure left behind the fierce and intense battle. Who knew how it would end and how Great Freedom Temple would cleanse their tarnished reputation?

…

After several breaths had passed, they remained within Southern Yue but completely changed their location.

Amidst the clouds, a gleaming golden circle broke through the Void, and as the golden light surged, two figures emerged.

It was Tao Qian and the adorable girl called Zhong Dou Dou.

Previously, the girl could only be considered to be close by. But now, she was completely nestled in Tao Qian's embrace. While there was no skin-to-skin touch, the posture was truly not one that ordinary mortals would take on.

Yet within this, there was no issue of carnal desires.

Why? One would know by listening to the girl's exclamations of joy at this moment.

The girl jumped in Tao Qian's arms, her face flushed with excitement as she shouted continuously:

"So thrilling, too thrilling!"

"Though we had to borrow the might of the three Grandpas, I never expected that I, Zhong Dou Dou, could flaunt my power in front of those terrifying baldies and Devil Gods, to toy with them. After returning, I must divide this story into nine chapters and forty episodes to show those who call me dumb, and I'll surely tell it dozens of times."

"Right, right, those sly foxes actually didn't lie, staying in Young Master's embrace feels so comfortable, and it really can increase one's cultivation level, it's truly miraculous."

"Although Young Master, you don't seem as handsome as those foxes' Young Masters, after looking at you more, you're definitely more pleasant to behold."

Zhong Dou Dou rambled on passionately, occasionally snatching a few breaths in his embrace when he wasn't paying attention, though it was unclear what she was absorbing.

Tao Qian, after listening, remained unusually speechless.

At this time, he already knew the cause and effect from the girl's narrative and which powerful being had intended on making him a disciple.

Because of this, Tao Qian found himself in a pleasant dilemma.

"According to Zhong Dou Dou, my future Master, who intends to take me as a disciple, is unfathomably strong, foreseeing that I could resist the Three Calamities, arranging for this girl to fetch me, and to prevent any accidents, helping me to settle karmic debts, even specially sending the Heavenly Punishment Demon-Slaying Sword, Taixuan Ruyi Circle, and Spirit Treasure Rejuvenation Mirror—three incredible divine treasures."

"With such treatment, it would simply be unacceptable for me not to take him as a Master."

"But the arrangements of the Queen of Daughter Country..."

This thought flashed through Tao Qian's mind.

At the same moment, a furious, familiar yell suddenly came from a mountain filled with gorgeous red clouds below:

"Yin Susu, you shameless demoness."

"Quickly return my nephew, otherwise today, I, the Queen of Daughter Country, shall flatten your Red Cloud Mountain and Sunv's Mansion."

The voice, along with the two sentences and the sound of enormous gushing waters, left no doubt—it was the Queen of Daughter Country personally demanding the return of her nephew from Devil God Princess Yin Susu at her mansion.

ps: Could I ask for a monthly ticket? Please feel free to give as you wish.