Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 88 - 83: Saint Heir Plan, Bestowing Fortunes

If you only looked at the outward appearance and demeanor, the sinister and ruthless leader of the Changchun Society seemed obviously far more dangerous than Hong Youhu, who resembled a young Daoist.

Yet at this moment, facing the furious Hong Youhu, the former didn't dare utter a single word in defense.

Falling to the ground, spitting blood, the face pale as he crawled back like a dog, still going to lick Hong Youhu's boots.

While licking, he kept banging his head with a "bang, bang, bang," until his forehead was bloody and mangled, and his whole face was becoming unrecognizable.

This scenario, if seen by someone unaware, would likely elicit sympathy for the leader's plight.

"Bang"

This time, he couldn't lick. Instead, his head was again stepped on by Hong Youhu's boot.

This unkempt, half-crazy young Daoist now looked at the Changchun Society leader beneath his foot with a reminiscent gaze and commented:

"Humiliation, abandoning dignity, such a familiar scene."

"Back then, in fear I fled from my foolish father, wandering through hardships, although I had the protection of my mother's resentful soul-turned-abnormality, which kept me from losing my life, I still had to rely on myself to make a name, and did as you did, serving as a dog for others, as a slave for those vile people, trading my body and even my soul, to reach where I am today."

"You fool, it seems you're not without redeeming qualities."

"Too bad, it's still not a reason for your survival."

Hearing a slight thaw in Hong Youhu's tone, the Changchun Society leader seemed to sense an opportunity and quickly began to explain himself.

"Your Honor, please understand, Xiao Meiniang's expedition against the Iron Buddha Temple did not utilize the Demon Suppression Army, nor even the scattered cultivators she recruited, not even the young disciples, which is why I was unable to receive any news."

"Judging from the many happenings on the mountain tonight, Xiao Meiniang must have had her own secret information channels, perhaps planting spies in the Iron Buddha Temple, or employing an expert skilled in 'Divination Techniques,' allowing her to completely target the Iron Buddha Temple, trapping the Beautiful Corpse and slaughtering the demons."

"If my guess isn't wrong, it's very likely those two strange cultivators that day, especially the loose cultivator who posted the notice to attract Xiao Meiniang, if he wasn't confident about uncovering the secrets within the Iron Buddha Temple, where would he get the courage to deceive Xiao Meiniang...?"

The leader's utterances, one after another, were entirely correct guesses.

From this, it's clear he indeed wasn't at fault.

Unfortunately, when he finished his defense and looked at Hong Youhu's face with difficulty through the corner of his eye.

What he saw was a face increasingly filled with disappointment, and eyes flashing with fierce killing intent.

Hong Youhu's fingertips moved slightly, the soul rope pulled, and a huge shadow emerged in the darkness, a mix of intense blood energy and stench emanating.

The leader felt the two arms he had just repaired beginning to ache again.

Just when he thought he had no chance of survival and was ready to fight desperately.

Suddenly, Hong Youhu's earlier words flashed in his mind, a bitter inspiration emerged with it.

Fortunately, he was also ruthless, realizing this might be the only way to live.

With a gritty resolve, he made his move.

"Ah"

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No one knew what the leader did, but he suddenly let out a shrill scream.

Immediately, accompanied by strange sounds, his scalp split open, and amid the glow of blood, a wisp of grayish breath leaped out, floating straight into Hong Youhu's hand.

The weak voice of the Changchun Society leader came at this moment: "Subordinate admires Your Honor's authority, please accept this thread of my true heart and soul, to serve as slave and servant in the future, obedient to Your Honor's orders."

At this scene, the always cold-faced Hong Youhu suddenly burst into neurotic laughter, first releasing the leader, then casually taking the wisp of soul energy to play around his fingers.

At the same time, he patted the leader's bloody head and, for the first time, spoke praise: "Good, good, you useless fool might not be competent, but at least you have some insight."

The leader heard this, realizing his life was finally spared.

Quickly bowing in joy, eager to demonstrate his value, he hurriedly said: "Your Honor, that Beautiful Corpse being forced by Xiao Meiniang to reveal her devil body might alert the Ten Thousand Infant Sect behind her; this could hinder our plans. Should we report to the Saint Heir and start sooner..."

He was immediately interrupted.

Hong Youhu, using that thread of soul energy, teased the Blood Beast squatting at his feet, speaking indifferently:

"The Ten Thousand Infant Sect is the most powerful sect within Southern Yue, that's true, but unfortunately their vision is short-sighted, thinking that accepting the Third Prince would make Southern Yue belong to them."

"Yet they overlook Ji Xianxian, the governor, a mortal world's sealed territory official, who, having tasted secular power and desires, cannot resist the temptation of longevity and domination!"

"The Saint Heir chose this man, confident that he has the chance to rise in this chaotic world and ascend to that throne, and thus became his strategist, offering the Great Lifebook Scripture, fully controlling him. If ordered west, he won't go east."

"Even if Xiao Meiniang really grew vigilant, wanting the Ten Thousand Infant Sect to intervene, she can't bypass Ji Xianxian and the Third Prince, she just offended the Third Prince, it can't be done."

At this point, Hong Youhu seemed to remember something, frowning slightly.

He retracted the soul energy and, with some seriousness, said:

"However, the appearance of Bai Qin Old Monk from Great Freedom Temple tonight was peculiar."

"If the terrifying monks of Great Freedom Temple have plans, the Saint Heir's and Tang Xianzong's plans might indeed fail."

"Anyway, since the arrow is already on the string, all our arrangements are nearly in place, just waiting for the plan to commence. Once Southern Yue plunges into chaos, Seeking Immortal County and the provincial city will be the best stages, convenient for Mr. Ji to establish merit and ascend according to the Saint Heir's arrangement."

"Now that unexpected events have occurred, I will hurry to the provincial city and inform the Saint Heir of all the details from tonight, to let the Saint Heir decide."

"As for that Taisui Baby, don't move recklessly; tomorrow night I'll personally take action to seize it, using it to exchange with the Saint Heir for all the resources I need to advance to the Transcend Mortality Realm."

Saying this, Hong Youhu picked up the mist rope, ready to leave with the Blood Beast.

Only before leaving, this somewhat manic young Daoist suddenly turned and patted the leader's bloody and mangled face.

Then, grinning, he said:

"The Saint Heir commanded me to lead the Seven Killings Pavilion, yet recently, he began to value the Changchun Society, which has extensive interactions with the secular world. He says this organization is of great use, even planning to sacrifice some interests to exchange for all the regional branches from other 'Saint Heirs.'"

"The Saint Heir once observed your fortune, thought of you as potentially valuable, so you might soon be heavily used, managing a larger Changchun Society for the Saint Heir."

"At that time, the two of us brothers must collaborate sincerely, to help the Saint Heir defeat the other Saint Heirs and seize the top spot."

"The saying goes, 'When one achieves the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.' We might also achieve longevity results."

"Hahaha..."

In the midst of insanity and laughter, Hong Youhu vanished into the darkness.

Only inside the Medicine King Temple, the leader of the Changchun Society, having lost a wisp of his heart and soul, meaning he had given up everything, remained with a sinister expression, bloodlight flashing in his eyes.

...

The next day, Tao Qian had just exited the quiet room when a variety of celebratory noises immediately reached his ears.

Even though it was early morning, many people were already feasting inside the Star-picking Pavilion.

Evidently, both the recruited loose cultivators and the young disciples were aware of Master Xiao's successful campaign against the Iron Buddha Temple last night.

Although they didn't participate, it didn't stop them from celebrating.

Especially with influential figures from the Fire God Temple, Lingxi Temple, Wind Thunder Cliff, Tianhe Sect, and other major sects all appearing at the Star-picking Pavilion.

For cultivators, this was considered a grand meeting.

And the hundred thousand civilians in Seeking Immortal County, who had been living in fear, also received the good news, the oppressive atmosphere vanished, though it was not the season, many people set off fireworks or hung lanterns to celebrate.

In this lively atmosphere, Tao Qian, having participated throughout and experienced it intensely, felt a sense of hidden merit and fame.

He smiled, then headed towards Lin Xiaohua's residence.

In the past, due to Lin Xiaohua's impending death, the atmosphere was always filled with grief.

Until, thanks to Tao Qian's indirect reminder, Lin Xiaohua realized the truth; he would indeed perish once, but he would also usher in his marriage.

Though the guy still reluctantly shouted "Help me up, I don't want to get married" and such, inadvertently, kept talking about "Nian Nu, ah," "Mother-in-law is so scary" and such nonstop.

Even the little ones realized he no longer carried that deep deathly stillness.

Thus, the gloomy atmosphere was long gone.

As soon as Tao Qian stepped in, he heard the old unrefined man boasting about his glorious past to the two cunning alien species.

Even with Tao Qian's arrival, he didn't stop, still propping his mummified-like body, endlessly gloating, his face full of pride.

And the final lesson for today was spent in such an environment.

Lin Xiaohua, after all, was a disciple of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, one of the Twelve Major Daoist Sects, and at the age of thirty-nine, he definitely had rich experience.

The many things he spoke of seemed like boasting, but in fact, they were priceless experiences.

Tao Qian naturally listened intently, knowing that while they didn't touch upon specific cultivation techniques or divine skills.

But for a loose cultivator like him who had just entered the cultivation world, it was invaluable.

Until dusk, when a very weak voice suddenly sounded in Tao Qian's ear as he listened intently:

"In these three days, though you didn't travel outside, you've gained insight far beyond other loose cultivators or new disciples of major sects."

"But the Dao Path is arduous, and this Heavenly Talisman Sect's abandoned disciple, being taken away halfway, can't guide you further."

"Speaking of which, I, Lin Xiaohua, have lived in vain for thirty-nine years, always living reckless according to my temperament, and so did not make one or two friends. Unexpectedly, as this shell is about to perish, I made a new friend in you, Brother Tao."

"After tonight, I will give up the talismanic path and turn to cultivate the Ghost Path. Nian Nu claims I am a genius in the Ghost Path, so I might as well try it."

"The Ghost Path is strange, and all my external possessions will be useless, so I'll leave them all to you."

As he spoke, Tao Qian saw Lin Xiaohua reaching into his bosom with difficulty.

Then, he shakily took out a Primordial Pearl of unknown material, seemingly wrapped in countless talismanic scripts layered together, and handed it directly to Tao Qian.

Lin Xiaohua evidently cleared his Divine Soul's imprint in advance; at the moment it entered Tao Qian's hand.

Tao Qian's eyes suddenly widened with a "boom," revealing a space almost half the size of Shan Jiu's Leek Bag, suddenly appearing in his gaze.

And in this space, a myriad of alien objects, treasures, and books were neatly placed.

Any cultivator upon seeing it would know, this was undoubtedly a storage treasure bag that only a cultivator with significant backing and lineage could possess.

Lin Xiaohua's weak, yet slightly proud and boastful voice, sounded again:

"Brother Tao must be stunned, hahaha, this is the Mustard Seed Talisman Seed. It was a storage treasure bag my master once used, later gifted to me, causing quite a stir of envy among my fellow disciples."

"Once you have refined it, it can be hidden within your body, allowing your Divine Soul to control it, ensuring it won't be taken away."

"Inside are all the accumulations I've gathered throughout my cultivation years. As long as you don't squander, it will suffice you until the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Plus, there are some secret technique books from the Heavenly Talisman Sect; feel free to read, though refrain from cultivating them. I trust you, just find a chance later to return these things to the Heavenly Talisman Sect for me."

"Oh, and there are some surprises inside, should you encounter a strong enemy, using them might save your life."

...