Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 118 - 109: The Daughter Palace’s Legacy is Passed On, Life Extension during the Transit of the Longevity Star

Main Street of Yang County was bustling with a dense crowd of people.

Tao Qian, disguised as a Puppet Master, listened to the small group of low-level cultivators boasting for a moment but did nothing, his face expressionless as he passed by.

Where these cultivators hailed from, and why they boasted about Ji Xianxian—Tao Qian knew perfectly well. He understood that such spectacles must be prevalent throughout Southern Yue. Who could stop it? The trend was with him.

In a flash of thought, Tao Qian did not linger much in Yang County and quickly led two little ones out of the city.

After sensing that there were no array restrictions in the middle area, he directly used the "Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique."

Within a few breaths, eager to step foot on the first mountain peak that one must cross over to enter Meiling through the ancient road, Tao Qian, carrying many puppets, appeared in a hidden mountain hollow as a faint scent of infancy wafted around him.

He looked around at his surroundings, discerned the direction, and headed straight for a small path on the left.

Soon, the view before Tao Qian cleared, and he saw a broad, winding mountain path—an ancient road—unfold before him.

This ancient road was mainly paved with blue bricks and stone slabs. Besides the mottled marks of erosion by time visible everywhere, many marks from burns and cuts could be seen in the details, indicating that this long mountain path had weathered much over time. It was fitting to call it an ancient road.

While passing through Yang County, Tao Qian had heard about the origin of this "Meiling Ancient Road." It was said that a high official of the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty had been decreed thousands of years ago to split the mountain to create this road. In the process, an evil event occurred, and it was only through the voluntary sacrifice of one of the official's concubines that the road was completed.

Such ancient matters could not be pursued further, and standing beside the road, Tao Qian looked into the far distance to see that starting from the first peak of Meiling, the ancient road stretched across several peaks. On the fourth peak, there was a massive ancient boundary stele as large as a ceremonial arch and a solemn gateway resembling a city gate.

There lay the transit point.

Officially, it was a checkpoint for mortals to cross, but to Tao Qian's eyes, it was far more.

A strong palpitation in his mind reminded Tao Qian that there was an immensely large hidden array formation at the border area of Southern Yue.

However, without touching an array point or array flag, Tao Qian could not determine what exactly the array was, or what its function was.

"I originally wanted to escape directly into Fumin, but it seems that's not possible now; I'll have to cross the border by the usual means," he muttered.

Then, Tao Qian's gaze fell onto the mountain path.

It was already nighttime; the cool moonlight illuminated the mountain, which should have been a time of quiet and peace.

But it was not so here.

Dressed as a black-robed Puppet Master, Tao Qian standing on the mountain path did not seem eerie or strange at all.

Although the area could not be described as swarmed with people, it was definitely bustling.

Aside from cultivators like Tao Qian emitting unusual auras, there were also many merchant caravans and travelers, as well as families fleeing with their belongings, and even traces of many ghosts and alien species. Most hid their presence, fearing that normal people seeing them might scream in terror; they simply blended in and moved forward with the crowds.

Perhaps due to the Primordial Yang Sect or some other reason, despite such activity on the mountain path, there were surprisingly no conflicts or fights.

"Possibly, because those who come here, be they cultivators or ghosts and alien species, share the same goal,"

"That is to flee Southern Yue; once they cross Meiling, they can directly enter the neighboring two provinces. Although the situations there aren't great, they definitely are better than the current state of Southern Yue."

With this thought, Tao Qian smoothly blended into the group.

Due to recent drastic changes, the common people of the Mortal World had shifted from their initial amazement and desire to fear and terror, and now to numbness.

They had also acquired a basic ability to discern among the many different types of cultivators and alien species.

Like Tao Qian, someone solitary and accompanied by mysterious puppets, was most likely from heresy and heterodoxy. Since he appeared on the Meiling Ancient Road, there's no need for excessive fear, but it was also advisable not to get too close.

If it had been a cultivator from the Righteous path, perhaps some bolder commoners would even approach to ask for some chances or benefits.

Such risk-takers were not many, but they were not few either.

Tao Qian was pleased with the tranquility, but as he walked, because of his obvious identity as a cultivator, he eventually gathered together with other cultivators.

Most were low-level cultivators.

A few were at the Energy-Introducing Realm.

For convenience, Tao Qian also disguised his cultivation at the Energy-Introducing Realm, maintaining a quiet demeanor as he mingled with the group of cultivators, listening to the knowledge and news they shared.

Although the three lessons from Lin Xiaohua had already filled many of his gaps.

But he wouldn't refuse a chance to gain knowledge for free, learn about the real-time situations across different areas, and see various unique cultivators.

For example, a group of cultivators who had just joined the group attracted the attention of many peers, Tao Qian, and quite a few common folk.

They received curious and admiring gazes in abundance.

The group consisted of six people, each a young woman of striking appearance and distinctive charm, wearing pearl hairpins and flower-patterned face powders, dressed in colorful, bodice-hugging skirts, adding quite a bit of color to this mountain path.

Being the center of attention did not embarrass these six ladies at all; each of them was composed and poised.

Although there was no physical contact, Tao Qian easily sensed that all six female cultivators were at the Energy-Introducing Realm. The leading one seemed slightly cold and was only a step away from reaching the Qi Refinement Realm.

However, what truly caught Tao Qian's attention were the shoes of these six ladies.

Colorful, exquisitely beautiful, and emitting a similar unusual aura.

Clearly, the ladies' shoes were all Exotic Treasures.

Many cultivators were also drawn to these six pairs of "exquisite embroidered shoes," but none were as discreet and polite as Tao Qian. They stared at the ladies' feet like yokels who had never seen the world.

In the crowd, a middle-aged cultivator with an honest face obviously couldn't stand those layabouts and took the opportunity to slap the back of his own disciple's head who was also sneaking peeks, then half scolded, half complimented the girls, saying,

"Look, keep looking and I'll gouge your eyeballs out."

"These female fairies must be from the Daughter Palace, originating from a remarkable background. Despite being a heterodox sect, each of the female fairies in the palace is kind-hearted and acts gently. The Daughter Palace Master is highly respected and her good reputation has spread throughout Fumin. It is said that even the Bodhisattvas of the Guanyin Temple often invite the Daughter Palace Master to discuss Taoism."

"You layabouts, if you look a few more times, beware of shortening your lifespan, hmph."

With these flattering words, the cultivator made the girls burst into joyful laughter.

The layabouts then turned their heads away, no longer daring to sneak peeks at the girls' embroidered shoes.

It wasn't fear of shortened lifespan that deterred them, but the worry of offending a powerful heterodox sect.

This so-called "Daughter Palace" sect wasn't particularly powerful, but since its master could visit the Guanyin Temple, it surely wasn't weak.

For these ordinary cultivators present, truly offending them would likely lead to no good.

At this moment, the crowd had reached the top of the mountain peak on a large stone square.

For some reason, the six female cultivators from the Daughter Palace simultaneously stopped, either because the middle-aged cultivator had flattered them or perhaps it wasn't such a big secret.

The leading cold female cultivator suddenly pointed at the stars above and then softly said,

"Since all of you are traveling with us and are all within the Meiling territory, there seems to be a connection."

"There is a sporadic blessing here that happens every few years, which even includes our Daughter Palace and nearby sects know of, as do some well-informed mortal families; so there's really no need to keep it a secret. If you are fortunate enough, perhaps some of you will also have a gain later."

After saying these two sentences,

Suddenly, many people who heard her stopped in their tracks.

A group of cultivators, including Tao Qian, and even some passing mortal civilians, all cast curious and expectant gazes.

The female cultivator didn't keep them in suspense and continued,

"The Meiling territory, every three years, occasionally has a 'Longevity Star' transit."

"The duration is very short, only about thirty minutes."

"During that time, the sky will drop an alien object called 'Longevity Star Peach,' which is delicious and can extend life when eaten."

"Hiss,"

Not surprisingly, upon hearing this, everyone immediately widened their eyes, their faces showing an uncontrollable expression of thrilled desire.

Whether mortal civilians or cultivators, their expressions were exactly the same at this moment.

Lifespan!

Faced with this word, even in the Cultivation World, few could remain calm or indifferent.

Seeing the crowd's excitement, the female cultivator hurriedly continued,

"Everyone, don't become too greedy; I haven't finished yet."

"As is known, there is always a price to pay for cultivation."

"The Longevity Star Peach sounds wonderful, but the cost is extremely severe and frightening; you all better hear it out first."

"If this item descends, one must catch it with bare hands; other objects, whether gold, stone, wood, jade, or other rare materials, are useless, touching them will cause immediate rot and disintegration. After catching it with a person's hand, one must swallow it immediately; if not eaten within ten breaths, the peach will disappear."

"You can't fight over this fruit. If you eat a peach that was taken by force, not only will it not increase your lifespan, but you will mutate, fall, and turn into a demon; even immortals cannot save you."

"Each peach can extend one's life by one year."

"Whether one can catch the peach when it descends is predestined; those without enough blessing, even if they wait a lifetime, will never obtain a peach. There was a wealthy mortal who learned of this and moved his family to these mountains to wait, but every time the Longevity Star transited, it was never their turn; instead, hunters and travelers passing by often caught a peach in front of them."

"One day, seeing his own elderly servant catch a peach, he couldn't restrain himself and snatched it from him, only to mutate into a fierce beast instantly after swallowing it and devoured his whole family."

"Additionally, there is one iron rule: if a demon, Evil Cultivator, or magician catches a Longevity Star Peach, there are only two outcomes after swallowing it; one is reduced lifespan, the other is mutation and falling into demonhood; it's impossible to increase lifespan."

"These rules and costs are teachings from hundreds of years of blood and tears."

"Believe it or not, it's unrelated to us."

"The location where the peach descends is uncertain, and it could be anywhere within the Meiling territory. Everything depends on karma; everyone may do as they see fit."

With that, the female cultivator led her junior sisters aside to quietly wait.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the area had bright, eager eyes, and their breathing became much quicker.

If it wasn't for the concern about decorum, they would probably have started cheering already.

Tao Qian, among them, looked at the expressions of the people around him and couldn't help but silently think, "This female cultivator's words probably fell on deaf ears, as most people likely only remembered the phrase 'each peach extends life by one year.'"

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At the same time, Tao Qian also marveled, "The Cultivation World truly contains all wonders; does such a supernatural spectacle as this heaven-sent Longevity Star Peach really exist?"

More curious thoughts then sprouted in his mind.

Tao Qian also wanted to see what the scene of a Longevity Star Transit looked like. What would that so-called Longevity Star Peach look like? What would its effects be? Was it truly as magical as described?

ps: More updates to follow.