Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 241 - 183 Heavenly Heart Soul Separation, Changle Perishes_2

Tao Qian, though he didn't ask, Li Changle also guessed what Tao Qian was thinking.

After all, on the brink of death, what secrets mattered anymore?

Without further suspense, he directly answered,

"Disciple nephew, you too have cultivated the 'Immortal Fish Technique', so you must know that in that fishpond, so long as you don't get hooked by the fish hook, all benefits can come without any cost."

"Other cultivators try every possible means but can't manage this, yet I am different."

"I possess a treasure known as the 'Heavenly Heart Soul Separation Square,' which can neutralize the Immortal Fish Dragon Hook. No matter how tempting the bait on the hook, I reject none and always when about to be caught, this treasure would automatically leap out to release me from the hook."

"It is because of this treasure that I was able to gain great benefits in a short time, living carefree for many years."

"Sadly, how could the path of cultivation ever be so simple? There must be a price, and delaying payment just meant when it came due after many years, I was already unable to pay, meeting my death and the end of my Dao, settling all debts."

Upon reaching this point, Li Changle seemed to become talkative,

a characteristic babble of those nearing death that was now manifesting in him.

Without waiting for Tao Qian to ask, he began narrating his own life story,

"To speak of my life, Li Changle, it was cheerful enough, born in an imperial family, with the intention to be a wise ruler upon succession. But sadly I truly lacked the ability, toiling away for over a decade, only to plunge the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty into deeper misery, squandering the legacy of my ancestors."

"Later, I changed my mind, to be an inept ruler, in which I was more adept."

"It's just a pity, the throne was soon lost as well, by the grace of my ancestors I survived, and turned to cultivation."

"My luck and fortune were extremely good, acquiring treasures and numerous benefits, and even being able to join the Spirit Treasure Sect... If only I had not been greedy, if only my Dao Heart had been more firm."

"Disciple nephew, you should know, although my master was very disappointed in me, before his reincarnation, he still left me with some life-saving measures. If I had resisted those Ultimate Happiness temptations and diligently practiced day and night, even the master of the Immortal Fish Technique might not have necessarily been able to do anything to me."

"I, Li Changle, am truly lamentable."

Perhaps it was because of the cultivation technique that Li Changle practiced, or maybe due to his cultivation realm,

Tao Qian could deeply empathize when he described these things.

With just a few words, he sketched out the lifetime of a cultivator who once was an Emperor, with extreme luck, but a weak Dao Heart.

Although on some details, Li Changle did not elaborate,

Tao Qian could also hear that this Alcohol and Meat Uncle didn't lack opportunities for survival.

On the contrary, he had multiple chances to preserve his path and life.

Yet every time, he failed to seize them.

Landing in his current predicament, truly, was his own doing; he could blame no one else.

After Tao Qian heard this, his face showed no change, as a junior disciple he clearly could not judge Li Changle.

Instead, showing the reaction expected of a disciple, after pondering, he asked again,

"Does uncle master know who exactly owns this fishing hook, and why they are so distinguished?"

"Even if uncle master has accumulated debts, would he now be taken away at the Spirit Treasure Mountain Gate, within our Sect, without anyone paying heed?"

As the words fell, Tao Qian locked eyes with a pair of dispirited, melancholic rotting fish eyes.

It seemed that his soul no longer had much strength left and the struggle was growing fainter.

"There's no need for you to ask anymore, disciple nephew. If I truly told you the identity of the fish hook owner, it might harm you instead."

"Just know that the owner alone has strength beyond your master."

"And he's also from a prominent background... Our Spirit Treasure Sect is indeed an overlord in the Cultivation World, but we are far from invincible."

"I have accrued so much karmic debt, the Sect and my master have helped me many times. Other than my death as a resolution to the karma, there is no other way."

"In the Mortal World, they say the master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Although this is simplistic, it's the ultimate truth."

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By this point, Tao Qian could clearly see

Li Changle's soul, little by little, being tugged and on the verge of being pulled from the colorful rotting Big Fish body.

He too knew his own end and had no strength left to resist,

but still used a weak voice to tell Tao Qian,

"My time has come, Li Changle. Thank you, disciple nephew, for listening to a dying man's ramblings. I wish I could leave you some benefits, yet I squandered my entire wealth."

"It's just as well, let me leave you with a few words."

"Disciple nephew, remember, there is always a price for cultivation, do not be too trusting in things obtained too easily. Beware that under the appetizing bait, there is always a sharp hook."

"Moreover, in cultivation, you cannot be excessively greedy or hasty. It is essential to solidify your Dao Foundation well to make brisk and forceful progress."

"You are currently in the most critical Foundation Establishment Realm. It was at this stage when I damaged my Dao Foundation, leading to my downfall."

"However, I presume my brothers Duobao and Senior Sister Yunhua have already prepared for you the top-grade Inner and Outer Refinement Method, which must use the heavens and the earth as the furnace, creation as the craftsman, all things as fuel..."

When Li Changle spoke up to this point, Tao Qian's attention was immediately captured.

After his entry into the Sect, the master only told him to wait for the True Inheritor's grand ceremony, awaiting the Ancestor Master's Teachings.

Not a single bit of the magic skills beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm was given.

Tao Qian could only guess that since it wasn't given, there must have been some special arrangement by his Master.

What he hadn't anticipated was the sudden betrayal by Li Changle... The few sentences that hinted at the supreme Inner and Outer Refinement Method made Tao Qian listen intently and seriously.

Right after he had listened, Tao Qian watched with his own eyes as Li Changle's soul was fished out of his body by that hook.

As a cascade of twisted, multicolored lights flashed past, the Summoning God Technique was officially interrupted.

And in that moment, Tao Qian heard Li Changle's last faint testament,

"Nephew, since you have also cultivated the 'Immortal Fish Technique,' perhaps this Heavenly Heart Soul Separation Square will be of use to you one day."

"This treasure, I now give to you."

"Uncle is going!"

As soon as those four words were uttered, Tao Qian suddenly heard a whistling sound beside his ear.

In the blink of an eye, he saw a rainbow light shooting towards him from a great distance.

With his vision, Tao Qian could instantly make out that within the rainbow light was an ancient, mottled jade tablet, filled with various colors.

Its shape and aura were imbued with the feeling of a precious treasure from ancient times.

It seemed that because Tao Qian had also practiced the "Immortal Fish Technique," upon seeing this jade tablet for the first time, he felt a strong desire to possess it.

Additionally, his attention was still immersed in the marvelous Inner and Outer Refinement Method.

Ordinarily, Tao Qian should have reached out to catch the jade tablet.

After all, Li Changle had given a detailed description of this treasure.

From its effects, it was said to be heaven-defying.

Free ride on a treasure!

At least for one who'd cultivated the Immortal Fish Technique, it was indeed an unparalleled divine artifact.

Even if Tao Qian harbored reservations, he should first take hold of it, sense and inspect it a little, before making further plans.

But Tao Qian did not do so; staring at the approaching jade tablet, he heaved a deep sigh, and then suddenly sneered,

"Uncle Li Changle truly underrates me, Tao Qian, too much. No matter how good or marvelous this object is, with your example before me, how could I possibly afford to enjoy it?"

No sooner had he spoken than Tao Qian's thought was acted upon.

The Spirit Treasure Jade Purifying Bottle automatically flew out, and from its mouth, a stream of Pure Immortal Water shot out like an arrow, directly meeting the jade tablet.

The collision stopped the jade tablet's momentum in its tracks.

Tao Qian, still not satisfied, combined his fingers into a sword gesture, and summoned a ray of Selfless Sword Intent that he had not used in a long time and slashed towards it from afar.

With a "clang," the jade tablet appeared to sense Tao Qian's intentions.

It no longer approached, but instead reversed course along with the force of the Sword Intent, flying back toward the giant turtle shell of an island.

...

A few breaths later, on Turtle Spirit Island.

Li Changle's soul, which had been completely fished out by the Void Hook, struggled violently and just then caught sight of the Heavenly Heart Soul Separation Square flying back.

Initially, Li Changle's eyes revealed an intense color of disappointment.

Then came despair, venom, and extreme unwillingness.

"Failed, with no chance for rebirth."

"How could this be?"

"Is there really such a person with a Dao Heart so steadfast in the world, one who would refuse a treasure that can be had for nothing?"

"Such a person's existence makes me, Li Changle, seem all the more pathetic and pitiable, ha ha ha..."

In the midst of his muttering, Li Changle's soul suddenly burst into laughter.

Despair and unwillingness were swept away, replaced instead by a complex expression.

His rotting fish head abruptly raised, and his gaze seemed to follow the line and hook up into the indistinct depths of the Void, to that figure who was leisurely fishing with a rod, an indescribable silhouette.

He gave up struggling altogether, much like a true dead fish.

But deep within his soul, Li Changle was roaring with laughter:

"Good, this is great."

"Your Highness, you once boasted: once a being in the world cultivates the Immortal Fish Technique, they are fish in your pond for life, and they can never escape."

"I, Li Changle, truly wish to see whether you can eventually fish up this amusing nephew of mine?"

"What a pity, what a pity, I won't be able to see it."

As he laughed to the end, his final bit of will dissipated.

His soul seemed to rot away entirely, truly devoid of any vitality.