Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 349 - 251 Tao Qian Deceives Hongshang, Finally Passing the 1st Calamity

Haotian Divine Mirror!

The treasure of Jade Ring Mountain that suppresses fortune, even the Outer Realm Evil Gods can be immobilized, let alone a group of demons without much wisdom.

Previously, a beam of Haotian Divine Light had directly captured Lian Yulou.

Now, more than a dozen beams of Divine Light fell from the sky, thousands of Outer Realm Heaven Demons were frozen in place at once.

Each of them still maintained the motion of fleeing, nearly all clutching clumps of Lian Yulou's flesh and blood, their expressions and postures looked as lifelike as ever.

Just a breath, really just a single breath away.

Had they not been so greedy and fled early, they truly would have been able to enter the world and cause havoc.

Alas, they encountered Tao Qian, who was shameless.

Despite already having borrowed the Divine Light once, he still went and pleaded with Yunrong with soft words, and managed to coax that Kitten Demon, who ran in front of her grandma to borrow another dozen beams.

It was also fortunate that Yunrong had considerable clout on Jade Ring Mountain; Tao Qian's scheme, in the end, succeeded.

He appeared completely oblivious to any sense of wrongdoing; previously mocking Xiao Hua Daoist for sponging off others, now he did the same, and even more gleefully than Xiao Hua Daoist, indeed in this world all truths can't escape those two words "real fragrant."

Seeing the scene before his eyes, Tao Qian let out a chuckle and blinked as he counted the crowd of demons.

"Very good, no one has sneaked away, not a single one is missing."

"My fellow Heaven Demon brothers, since you were the ones who first fell for this person's deceit and broke the deal's oath, you can hardly blame me."

"The rewards I promised earlier, I'm afraid I can't give them out."

"But I'm not a vindictive person; I won't take this opportunity to crush you with the Refining God Seal, or swallow you up. I just had to trouble you for a wasted trip."

"The next time there's a good deal, I will summon you again, and may we cooperate happily."

As he spoke, a black vortex emerged once more.

Tao Qian waved his hand, bundling thousands of Outer Realm Heaven Demons into a large bundle, and immediately sent them back to the Outer Realm.

What a pity for these Power Demons, Eye Demons, Death Demons, Scorpion Demons... they fought hard, and not only did they miss the enticing Demon Pills, they didn't even get a drop of water or a bite to eat, and just like that, Tao Qian sent them back.

It was indeed their own fault for breaking the oath first, so they couldn't blame Tao Qian for not giving any rewards.

They could only look at Tao Qian with resentful eyes before leaving; if they were not immobilized by the Divine Light, it's likely that thousands of mouths would have started cursing at Tao Qian.

Had this been Tao Qian when he first entered the Cultivation World, still very thin-skinned, he would have felt ashamed before such a spectacle.

Now, Tao Qian just curled his lip, not caring in the slightest.

These Outer Realm Demon Lords, by nature, they are greedy, and that could never be changed.

Though he may have offended them this time, Tao Qian suspected that if he summoned the demons again and repeated the old trick, there was a high chance it would work.

Surely, while foreign demons could be treated this way, the group that had already been subdued in his service still needed some kindness.

With the thousands of duped victims gone, the stand-ins became very apparent.

Tao Qian swung his sleeve, and the unadulterated Demon Pills rolled out—Substitute Demon, Joyful Demon, Empty Demon, and others—each claimed one or two, gladly took their shares and ate, then they all transformed into Demon Light and, in a flash, burrowed back into the gourd Tao Qian had used for so long it began to show patina.

Before returning, the Demon Lords didn't forget to leave sweet words.

"Thank you, Master!"

"Master is generous!"

"If there's another errand like this next time, don't forget us, Master!"

"May Master enjoy immortal blessings and live as long as the heavens!"

Below, what was once a mountain had turned into a mass of minced meat. Lian Yulou, severely injured and still held by the Divine Light, was watching all this with an expression of astonishment and disbelief, also reflecting on how he had been tricked. If he could take on a human face right now, it would doubtlessly wear an expression that questioned life.

Although he had lost control of his body, it did not prevent him from forming thoughts secretly:

"I have seen many shameless cultivators, and usually, those who climb up from the bottom are without taboo and will do anything to succeed."

"But this man, despite such a standing, with numerous Exotic Treasures on him, I heard that he was once dispatched by Duobao Daoist, the future Sect Master of the Spirit Treasure Sect, with three items... Hmm?"

"That makes sense now, the direct disciple of Duobao can be as shameless as possible—it's normal."

"This time, I, Lian Yulou, admit defeat. I shall first flatter and seduce him with benefits, and if it soothes his anger to mistreat me, so be it. Only when he lets his guard down and the Haotian Divine Light is gone, will I then abandon this Ultimate Happiness Tribulation Body and execute the Nine-Nine Returns to One Demon Worm Soul Splitting Technique. Hopefully, I can take this opportunity to escape with some of my True Spirit. Once I reach Prince Zhao's Mansion and survive the Ninth Tribulation, I can reclaim my past lives' powers and settle this."

Just as Lian Yulou finished his thoughts, Tao Qian, who had dealt with the group of demons, turned his gaze back to this true opponent.

At this point in the battle, Tao Qian could be said to have used almost all his methods, save for a few trump cards, he had employed everything available to him.

Yet even so, there were several moments he almost met with disaster.

Tao Qian looked at Lian Yulou in silence, his brows slightly furrowed.

He didn't speak or torture him, but appeared to be pondering something amiss, and the atmosphere took on an eerie turn.

The inconsistency that Tao Qian noticed, was that the aberration on his body, the Long-eared Parallel Teeth, had not disappeared.

"The Infinite Tribulation Method describes that if I successfully overcome the first disaster after entering the world, the aberration will vanish, and I will also reap some benefits."

"But now that I have completely defeated Lian Yulou, the aberration still exists. Could there be some unexpected development? Or do I have to kill him completely for it to count?"

"Hmm?"

Thinking this, Tao Qian suddenly seemed to have noticed something, his pupils slightly contracting.

The side effect of Innate Spiritual Sensing resulting in High Spiritual Vision, he saw something unusual once again.

He observed within the mountain of flesh and blood, invisible to the naked eye and unique to Lian Yulou's True Soul, tiny glimmers flickering.

Eager to try!

Agitating to act!

Seeing this, Tao Qian immediately understood the reason and guessed the intentions of the Evil Sect Elder who sought to rebuild his life.

As his heart sneered, Tao Qian suddenly raised his hand to take out the "Holy Embryo Bag," and said:

"Mr. Lian Daoist, I think by now you must have guessed at my true foundation."

"Alas, this matter was originally a misunderstanding. My visit to Demon City was merely for worldly experience, and I had not truly offended you, Daoist. It was you who, relentlessly, sought to kill me."

"But now that things have come to this, since we've forged a mortal enmity, I can't very well let you go either."

"This item is called the 'Holy Embryo Bag,' transformed from the relic skin of one of my deceased elders from Spirit Treasure Sect, and was jointly refined by Master Duobao and my Aunt Yunhua. Not only can it contain mountains and rivers, but it can also hold living creatures. Once a living thing enters, its life and death are in my hands. A mere thought from me is enough to start the refinement, and the Mixed Element Qi Unpolluted Great Prohibition inside will activate instantly. No matter how powerful you are, after a short while you will dissolve into clear water."

"The flesh and blood of this entire mountain, though devoured by a group of demons, still retains considerable strength. I would very much like to refine your remains into treasures, yet I lack the means and can't guarantee that you won't burst forth and kill me."

"Therefore, to eradicate any future trouble, I will simply send you into this Holy Embryo Bag to be turned into clear water, so you may depart this life with a clean conscience. In the next life, you better not seek me out again... oh, I almost forgot, the Great Prohibition set by my Aunt Yunhua even refines the soul. So, in this case, you will be completely annihilated, with no chance of reincarnation."

"Marvelous, marvelous, let's do that."

Tao Qian spoke with patience and a terror that revealed his petty, vindictive nature without reservation.

At that moment, Lian Yulou's spirit quivered violently.

Although his eyesight was vicious, he couldn't discern the specifics of the Holy Embryo Bag in his current plight.

Master Duobao!

Yunhua Immortal!

With these two heavyweights named by Tao Qian as guarantors, how could Lian Yulou not believe him?

In the next instant, when Lian Yulou watched Tao Qian throw out the Holy Embryo Bag, and as its mouth opened, a tremendous suction swept away the flesh and blood of the entire mountain, his fear of death and obliteration surged tremendously.

It was in that moment that the Haotian Divine Light, seemingly reaching its limit, flickered a few times and then dimmed completely.

Yet at this time, Lian Yulou realized that only three pieces remained of his vast tribulation body.

Although these three pieces were the largest chunks of meat, together they only accounted for one percent of the tribulation body's mass.

This meant that even if Lian Yulou were to use the Nine-Nine Returns to One Demon Worm Soul Splitting Technique to escape to Prince Zhao Mansion and successfully endure the Ninth Tribulation, he could only reclaim one percent of his lifelong mana.

Lian Yulou's heart was filled with bitterness.

But he knew he had no other choice.

"Hesitation invites disaster!"

With a sudden resolution, Lian Yulou initiated the spell with this thought.

The three large pieces of flesh, floating toward the Holy Embryo Bag, exploded violently.

Subsequently, three rays of True Spirit brilliance flashed and fled in three different directions.

After all, the secret techniques of Evil Sect contained profound mysteries.

Except for revealing traces at the moment of Soul Splitting, the three rays of True Spirit then completely vanished, eluding even Tao Qian's soul search.

If at this time, Lian Yulou truly split and fled in three directions, there might still be a chance for him to escape.

But with immeasurable losses already incurred, he was loath to spend another large portion of that one percent of his lifelong mana.

Seeing that Tao Qian seemed unaware of the presence of his True Spirit, greed overtook him, and the two True Spirits heading elsewhere suddenly turned back, fusing again with the soul heading toward Prince Zhao Mansion.

Alas, Lian Yulou, focused solely on escape,

Was completely unaware that Tao Qian leisurely released several Star Zha Demons behind him.

Just as his True Spirit was about to enter the territory of Demon City,

Abruptly, a terrifying voice transmission reached him.

"Lian Hongshang!"

Unsure if it was a name from a past life or the Nine True Spirit Sound uttered by Tao Qian, his soul involuntarily paused.

He then saw a streak of starlight sweeping across the land, appearing instantly before him.

It was the Secret Demon Child—the inheritor of the Spirit Treasure True Inheritor—bearing a sinister smile as he faced him, while forming the Secret Demon Refining God Seal capable of smashing Outer Realm Heaven Demons and pulverizing True Souls alike.

"This is a trap?"

"You deceived me!"

As Lian Yulou came to a shocking realization, he let out a bitter roar.

At that moment, Tao Qian's Refining God Seal had already smashed upon his last remaining True Spirit.

Struck by the seal, Lian Yulou's True Spirit did not perish but immediately fell into a daze, and Tao Qian, with a sweep of his robe, collected it.

It was then that the peculiar features of long ears and parallel teeth on Tao Qian's true face disappeared without a trace.

As he reverted to his original appearance, a tumultuous surge began within Tao Qian's body.

"Heavenly Venerate above, your disciple has finally endured the first tribulation."

Elated, Tao Qian voiced this without delay, and with a flash of starlight, vanished from the spot.

...

Meanwhile, in a location that seemed far but was quite close for a Cultivator, the residence of the Ninth Prince, Zhu Qi—brightly lit.

Amidst the absurd, exotic night banquet underway in Prince Zhao Mansion,

Around a massive steamer, the host, seated at the head of the table, was a young man with an unusual beauty, garbed in a black dragon robe.

The esteemed Prince Zhao himself, the Ninth Prince of the current dynasty,

Was watching with pleasure the sultry yet valiant woman trapped within the transparent steamer.

His gaze held no kindness; it was filled only with deep malevolence.

This was perfectly natural, after all, the woman was none other than Princess of West Capital, Xiao Chunjiao, who had played a cruel trick on him on his wedding day, using the Exotic Treasure "Taiyin Xuan Nu Locking Dragon Needle" to lock his 'dragon root' and subject him to a great humiliation.

The piercing wails and twisting body of Xiao Chunjiao as she was being steamed to death, along with the rich aroma that filled the air, brought him an immense sense of pleasure.

However, abruptly, he sensed something.

His brows furrowed, he turned his head toward the direction where Tao Qian had just disappeared, and suddenly uttered words that caused a change of expression among the powerful Cultivators present.

"Lian Yulou, something has gone wrong."