Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 296 - 215 Ma Yi Immortal Calculates Buddhist Sect, Tao Qian Learns Fishing Toad Technique

In the slum, within a rundown shack.

Tao Qian appeared suddenly and was immediately hit by the stench of blood filling the room. He ignored everything else and directed his gaze to the wooden plank bed in the center, padded with tattered cloth. There lay a woman, her body gaunt to the extreme, almost indistinguishable from a dried corpse, drenched and breathless long ago.

Bloodied stains covered the lower half of her body, propped up crudely on planks.

Standing before the bed were two girls, one dark and robust, wielding scissors, the other weak and frail, holding a basin of hot water, with eyes filled with terror, like a tiny mouse.

Seeing four unfamiliar figures suddenly shift into the room, the frail girl accidentally knocked over the basin of hot water and then turned to open the door and call for help, while the robust girl let out a loud yell after a moment of shock, then fought back tears and fear, brandishing the scissors at Tao Qian, who led the group.

Witnessing this scene, and thinking of the courage of the few half-grown children outside, Tao Qian couldn't help but nod his head.

Uncle Jade Toad certainly had a knack for choosing!

In that thought, Tao Qian immediately immobilized the two girls.

Little Age, who had already received the psychic message, stepped forward before anyone else, prying open the woman's mouth with his plump little hands. His round face puffed up, and with a gurgling sound, a stream of cool, sweet fluid brimming with vibrant life was spat out by Little Age.

He was a natural spiritual being, Taisui refined to perfection.

A mouthful of the spiritual liquid was enough to make those loose cultivators at the Foundation Establishment or even the Transcend Mortality Realm covetous.

Whether it was used for refining techniques or for direct consumption to augment one's cultivation realm, it was highly effective.

Healing the dead and mending bones was done with ease.

Of course, Tao Qian had many ways to save the lives of this mother and child, but none were as convenient and quick as Little Age's "saliva."

The next moment!

Those two girls, still immobilized but with eyes wide open, witnessed an unbelievable sight:

That plump child spat mouthful after mouthful onto their mother, and with a bright radiance that emerged, the mother's originally emaciated body visibly became plumper. Her halted breath resumed, and even her eyelids began to twitch, as though she might awaken at any moment.

Even more astonishing was the leader's bizarre "midwifery method" that manifest suddenly.

With a wave of his robe sleeve, an infant with a notably large head detached itself from the mother's lower half and fell into his hands.

Meanwhile, in this filthy, stinking room, sweet rain and Qingfeng inexplicably appeared, cleansing everything.

This scene was not only witnessed by the two girls.

Unbeknownst to them, the immobilization spell that bound those half-grown children also unraveled.

Pushing open the door in shocked rage, they all saw the miracle.

The other children simply had their eyes wide and mouths agape.

Only the eldest among them, more astute, immediately pulled his siblings to their knees, all of them kowtowing and saying:

"We thank the immortal for saving my mother and my tenth sibling's lives, thank you, immortal."

"May the immortal enjoy undying longevity and a peaceful and happy life."

Although the young boy seemed young and unlearned, it was clear the auspicious words he spoke were overheard from elsewhere.

Yet his sincere and heartfelt manner was unmistakable.

Tao Qian did not evade their kowtowing and after receiving it three times, he gestured for them to rise.

He pointed to the woman on the wooden plank bed, who was coming to her senses.

Prompted, the group of young boys immediately rushed to their mother's side, completely unaware of the infant in Tao Qian's arms.

The child had not yet cried since separating from the mother's body.

"Born with deficiencies, without soul, without spirit, deaf, dumb, and slow, with an ugly countenance and inferior talent—it seems to have gotten the full set."

"If it weren't for Little Age's spiritual liquid giving it life, this child would not have survived three breaths after birth."

"Uncle, is this the reincarnation body you have chosen?"

Tao Qian transmitted his thoughts through psychic messaging.

A beam of true spirit light, invisible to the naked eye, leaped from within his sleeves—it was the lazy, corpulent uncle, seated on the back of the Jade Toad.

There he sat on the forehead of this large-headed, spiritless infant.

Smiling broadly, he then proudly laughed and said:

"My dear nephew, your cultivation journey is still short; you have yet to appreciate the methods your uncle possesses."

"My calculation of divine skills may not match Brother Duobao, but I have cultivated the Nine Toad Scripture and have a bit of toad wisdom in my heart soul. It may not be of much use when contending with those gods of the Outer Realm, but there's no chance of error when finding the most suitable reincarnation body for myself."

"This infant was born with ten defects and should have died at birth. With my true spirit's investment, it has come back from the brink—there could be nothing more perfect."

Normally, Uncle Jade Toad would have stopped there.

But he continued, adding:

"I want you to understand, nephew, that reincarnating and recultivating isn't as simple as just starting over."

"If one wishes to truly return from the tribulation, one must mend all personal flaws. Otherwise, even if you recultivate ten times, a hundred times, you will still turn to ashes in the end."

"Sister Ma Yi had long planned a path for us Eight Immortals. Despite cultivating both the Spirit Treasure and Toad techniques, I was still unable to break through the Daoist Transformation Tribulation and needed the support of the Buddhist Law."

"The mother of this body, along with her nine siblings, though they now are of the Mortal Human Race, each has a connection with Buddha."

"I wish to borrow the Karma of my mother and siblings in this recultivation and obtain a Buddhist Law that can make up for my deficiencies."

"Once my true spirit enters this infant's body and I am officially born, all memories and past experiences will become obscured... After that, I will live as a person of the Human Clan, born with inherent imperfections, dumb and deaf. If my toad senses are not mistaken, I expect to encounter Buddha's grace along with my siblings and mother when I turn thirteen."

"On the day I acquire the Buddhist Law, it will be the moment my innate wisdom awakens."

"At that time, I will call upon you with toad wisdom, dear nephew. Remember to come and lead me, bringing me, my siblings, and my mother back to the Mountain Gate."

"Having gained benefits, I naturally have to look after this life's siblings and mother. How could I let them fall into the hands of bald monks?"

"At that time, you may have to confront the bald monks of the Buddhist Sect, but thirteen years later, my nephew, it likely won't be a problem for you."

His words sounded complex but were conveyed simply with a thought.

What Tao Qian hadn't expected was that Uncle Jade Toad's reincarnation and recultivation turned out to be so intricate—it even involved calculations against the Buddhist Sect.

This was indeed intriguing!

In the Cultivation World, it was always the bald monks of the Buddhist Sect calculating against others, often playing out scenarios of 'the praying mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the Yellow Sparrow behind.'

Spirit Treasure Sect disciples had surprisingly turned the tables and were quietly plotting against the Buddhist Sect.

"It sounds like this could be Aunt Ma Yi's doing?"

"And who knows what kind of schemes the other Seven Immortals have up their sleeves as they cultivate anew."

At the moment Tao Qian's thoughts stirred,

Uncle Jade Toad, half of his True Spirit already merged with the infant's head, gave his final instructions.

"After my reincarnation, do not linger here, nephew, nor is there need to cast spells to erase the memories of my brothers, sister, and mother."

"The traces left by you would be too conspicuous and easily noticed by those bald donkeys."

"Aunt Ma Yi has long since tampered with my True Spirit. Simply by spending one night with me, all sorts of traces and memories will be wiped clean by the Sea and Field Transformation Technique."

"There's also no need to worry about our safety; this family all has a connection with the Buddha and will face trials, but will also turn calamities into blessings when the right opportunity arises."

Having said these words, Uncle Jade Toad suddenly and violently turned over, finally falling off the back of the Jade Toad.

Most of his body merged into the infant's brain.

The Jade Toad then transformed directly into a faint light, shooting towards Tao Qian.

As it entered his body, Tao Qian's mind erupted with a Record: "Acquiring Fishing Toad Technique... Learned!"

"As you, my nephew, are willing to take on karma, I, your uncle, mustn't be stingy."

"This Magic Skill is a secret not taught outside of the Nine Toad Sect."

"I suppose you also understand that a complete set of Nine Toad Beads are supreme treasures for attack and defense, coveted even by Cultivators in the Ultimate Happiness Realm."

"What you don't know is that the Nine Toad Beads attract each other; now that you possess one and have entered the world, sooner or later you will encounter the other bead's mark."

"With this Secret Technique, you can instantaneously hook the Toad Pearl, and no matter how well others refine the bead, they won't be able to resist."

"Of course, others know this Secret Technique too, not just me; several other undying elders within the Nine Toad Sect's forbidden ground also do."

"If, by bad luck, you meet their disciples... you'll have to use brute force."

"The hour has come!"

"Your uncle is off!"

As his voice faded, Uncle Jade Toad's True Spirit fully merged into the foolish, deaf, and mute infant.

Almost instantly, the previously still infant,

At that moment, opened his eyes.

Infused with a True Spirit, this once soulless and spiritless baby was transformed from death to life, finally becoming a true person.

Though the infant's head was somewhat oversized, its skin excessively wrinkled, and it was a bit too ugly,

An infant was, after all, an infant, and its clear, large eyes looking up were quite adorable.

However, as Tao Qian gazed at the infant, he inexplicably felt a sense of urgency pushing him to leave.

Knowing it was an illusion, Tao Qian quickly realized,

"I've entered the world amidst tribulation, and trouble can strike at any moment."

"As for my uncle who came with plans for reincarnation and cultivation, he needs to grow up quietly alongside his nine elder siblings and mother of this lifetime."

"Great!"

"This is as if the fates find me too troublesome and want me to leave quickly, so I don't bring them any trouble."

Once Tao Qian realized this,

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he felt somewhat indignant as he turned the infant over and patted its bottom three times.

Then, without further delay, he placed his uncle back into the arms of the woman who was waking up and beginning to sit up.

Originally, Tao Qian had intended to leave some money and food behind, or perhaps directly bestow some Cultivation Techniques and Treasures, to ensure the family could defend themselves.

But having heard Uncle Jade Toad's instructions, he understood he could spare these gestures.

After returning the infant, Tao Qian waved his sleeve and disappeared from the dilapidated shed along with Little Age, Lian Jing'er, and Shan Jiu.

...

Tao Qian had not gone very far, nor had he truly left the slum.

Instead, he returned directly to the alley where he had previously encountered trouble, intending to take a final look before leaving.

But just as he led the three children to a stop,

The side of a hut suddenly burst apart, with a muffled bang and the sound of bones and internal organs being crushed, as a seemingly tall but extremely feeble figure flew out, directly towards where Tao Qian and the four of them stood.

Simultaneously, Tao Qian's mind surged with numerous feeble perceptions.

This showed that at least five or six Cultivators had suddenly appeared before him.

"How precise?"

"Trouble is here already?"

Tao Qian was startled and looked up.

Where the hut had been instantly leveled, as well as on the adjacent muddy dirt path, stood several figures.

Most of them were feeble commoners.

Among them, six people were Cultivators.

And one of them immediately caught Tao Qian's eye, standing only a few steps away.

This was an extremely obese, towering man wearing a Yellow Robe, white pants below, and a scarlet belt tightly fastened around his waist, bulging with fat. He had a broad nose, red lips, drooping eyes, and a mouth full of tusks, exuding an incredibly pungent stench.

That alone wasn't what made him noteworthy.

What drew Tao Qian's attention was the bisected body lying under his feet, missing an arm and a heart.

Both the arm and the heart were in the hands of the hulking man.

ps: More updates to come. Continuing to ask for double monthly votes, where one vote counts as two. Thanking everyone in advance.