Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 350 - 252: Duobao’s Scheme, Tao Qian Compensates with a Mountain

Demon City, Prince Zhao Mansion.

As soon as Ninth Prince Zhu Qi spoke, he revealed the incident at Lian Yulou.

Everyone at the banquet had their reactions, for they had yet to start feasting, precisely because they were waiting for the last guest, Lian Yulou.

Originally, everyone held a grudge in their hearts against the tardy arrival of this True Inheritor of the Evil Sect, but who would have thought that a twist of fate had occurred.

They were all significant collaborators with extraordinary backgrounds and, upon hearing the news, each began to form Dharma Seals, using their skills to perform predictions.

Quickly, the guests at the banquet, their auras enigmatic, all frowned, clearly, the result of their predictions was completely unexpected.

At Ninth Prince Zhu Qi's side, a Demon Cultivator shrouded in a black robe spoke first, his voice hoarse:

"How strange, how strange! I can only deduce that Lian Yulou has failed to overcome his tribulation, but cannot ascertain his current whereabouts, nor who has harmed him."

"Wait a moment, I shall return shortly."

After uttering these two sentences, the black-robed Demon Cultivator turned directly into a wisp of black smoke and vanished on the spot.

After he left, the discussions continued.

"The numbers of the Heavenly Mechanism are obscured, surely a powerful being has interfered from behind."

"Lian Yulou has an extraordinary origin, having been an Evil Sect Elder in a past life, reincarnated to re-cultivate and overcome the Nine Evil Tribulations. He could regain past life's mana and glimpse into the realm of Daoist Transformation. The Evil Sect placed great importance on him, and his past life's disciple, Zhuge Qingyi, is now also an Evil Sect Elder, with Ultimate Happiness Realm cultivation. Such an existence being harmed, the underlying matter involved is likely beyond our reach."

"To abandon the investigation? Then how should we deal with Xiao Chenzhou and his daughter? And what about the plan? Although Lian Yulou had no intention of participating, he was aware of some details. If he is subjected to a Soul Search, would not Your Highness's Great Plan be jeopardized?"

While several people at the banquet were exchanging words,

Suddenly, at Zhu Qi's side, the black-robed Demon Cultivator reappeared, and everyone present, including Prince Zhao, turned to look.

This Demon Cultivator immediately spoke, unexpectedly advocating to abandon the pursuit.

"Your Highness, I have already contacted the old master just now."

"The old master has used the 'Taishang Demon Pearl' for prediction, and Lian Yulou is not dead yet, only his mortal body is destroyed, and there's no hope for him to once again face the Nine Evil Tribulations."

"The one who obstructed his Taoist path is a Secret Demon Dark Child reincarnated in the world. This child has inherited from an old monster of the Secret Demon Sect, before whom Lian Yulou's previous life was no more than a junior... The old master said, there might be old grievances between the Evil Sect and the Secret Demon Sect here, which should have no relation to Your Highness's Great Plan."

"As for Zhuge Qingyi, Lian Yulou's Master, there's no need to worry either. It seems the Secret Demon Sect wants to rise again, they won't let others harm their painstakingly cultivated True Inheritor. Presumably, there are already Secret Demon Sect elders in hiding who have gone looking for Zhuge Qingyi."

"We need not do anything else, just detain Xiao Chenzhou, and if Lian Yulou is lucky enough to escape, Your Highness will have an explanation for him."

"The old master said, Your Highness's Great Plan is urgent and cannot afford delays, nor can we get involved in the grudge between the Secret Demon Sect and the Evil Sect at this juncture. Also, the tribulation energy of Lian Yulou's Evil Tribulation is terrifying; if we weren't sure that his ninth victim was Xiao Chenzhou, we wouldn't have dared cooperate with him."

"Moreover, there is no need to worry about Lian Yulou's Soul Search revealing Your Highness's Great Plan, after all, he was an Evil Sect Elder in his past life, a genuine Ultimate Happiness Realm cultivator, such an existence is not afraid of any Soul Search techniques."

With these words, everyone at the banquet seemed to come to a realization.

Ninth Prince Zhu Qi's gaze returned to the steaming basket. Xiao Chunjiao, who was no longer struggling, had a perverse smile slowly emerging on her beautifully devilish face, and then he definitive said:

"So be it, my dear fourth brother falling into my hands, I no longer needed Lian Yulou after all."

"Evil Sect, Heh!"

"Send the order, in three days, we will have an auspicious day."

"I shall host the 'Treasure Convention', inviting cultivators from all directions to come, whether they be human, devil, beast demon, or god and demon."

"This auspicious day should be celebrated by all. Open up all the granaries, provide relief to disaster victims, and build several more slums around Demon City. For refugees from all provinces, no matter how many come, I shall take them in."

"Let the banquet begin!"

...

Of the scenes inside Prince Zhao Mansion, Tao Qian naturally was unaware.

He had successfully overcome the first major tribulation upon entering the world after hammering Lian Yulou into a daze with a Refining God Seal and taking away his true soul.

But Tao Qian did not immediately return to Zhang Mansion, instead planning to turn back first to Heavenly Mother Mountain.

To clean up the traces left behind after the battle between the two, however, as he covered half the distance, Tao Qian suddenly stopped, remembering a critical oversight.

Worry immediately showed on his face:

"This is bad, Lian Yulou mentioned he was to attend Zhu Qi's banquet tonight. Having killed him now, isn't that alerting the enemy?"

"Could it be that those people have already began to predict my whereabouts and are coming to assassinate me?"

"Moreover, Lian Yulou's status might be even higher than my own in the Spirit Treasure Sect. With the disappearance of such a True Inheritor, wouldn't a horde of perverts from the Evil Sect come to kill me too?"

Tao Qian muttered, even considering whether to hide in the Spirit Treasure Sect for a while. What puzzled him, however, was that if these suspicions were true, his body at this moment should be sounding alarms, manifesting more anomalies.

Yet, there were none.

Aside from the great benefits and major changes brewing within him due to overcoming the first tribulation, there were no alarm signals, no premonitions of danger whatsoever.

As he puzzled over this, suddenly Yuan Gong's voice came, somewhat frustrated and helpless:

"Kid, there's no need for wild thoughts."

"You, as the True Inheritor of the Spirit Treasure Sect, the only direct disciple of Duobao, intercepted Lian Hongshang from attaining her Taoist path - how could Duobao ignore such a significant matter? You think the notoriety of the Evil Sect is for fun? If Duobao had not made arrangements in advance, allowing you to cause trouble and meddle freely, any Evil Sect Elder could have taken your life effortlessly from afar."

"If you're safe now, it means Duobao's plans have taken effect."

"If I'm not wrong, Duobao would use my Secret Demon Sect to deceive the Evil Sect and that good-for-nothing Ninth Prince."

"Both your false identities should have been exposed by now."

"It's just unknown how Duobao will deal with Lian Hongshang's disciple from her previous life. I heard there's some illicit affair between the master and disciple; knowing that her past life's master and current life's disciple has been harmed, that person is bound to go mad... Poor thing, even if an Ultimate Happiness Realm, once caught in Duobao's plan, the odds are not in favor."

""

Yuan Gong's words certainly comforted Tao Qian.

Even at this moment, Tao Qian, as if blessed with sudden enlightenment, began to do his calculations.

The "Secret Demon Formless Inversion Method" he had practiced could disturb the heavenly fate, and naturally, there was a corresponding prediction technique.

However, the way Tao Qian used it was extremely rudimentary, hardly worth mentioning.

One would think he couldn't figure out anything, yet he did make a discovery.

It was as if there was information in the mysterious workings of fate, waiting for him to retrieve it.

Almost immediately, Tao Qian learned of the schemes his master had made behind the scenes, which had been set in place from before Tao Da had left the sect and just after he received the Yuan Gong statue.

Yuan Gong's guess was indeed mostly correct.

Tao Qian brazenly killed Lian Yulou!

This should have raised the vigilance of the Ninth Prince's faction.

But under Duobao's arrangements, the blame was directed entirely towards an old grudge between the Secret Demon Sect and the Evil Sect.

To make it more believable, when Tao Qian blocked Lian Yulou from overcoming the Ninth Tribulation, Duobao Daoist also made a showy move against the Evil Sect Elder Zhuge Qingyi.

Of course, to outsiders, the one who took action was actually an infamous old demon of the Secret Demon Sect.

After digesting the heavenly mysteries that came to him unsolicited, Tao Qian blinked his eyes and couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Yuan Gong in his arms.

After thinking it over, he couldn't restrain himself and suddenly asked,

"Young master, did my master take a lot of treasures from your Secret Demon Sect back then?"

"Is that even a question? That scoundrel's name is Duobao. Wherever he goes, he would scour the land; what treasures could escape his covetousness?"

"Then, did my master also know the Ten Thousand Transformation Technique of the Secret Demon?"

"Know it? Not only did he know it, but he also practiced it extremely well. What about it?"

"Nothing, nothing, just asking."

"Young man, did you figure something out? Tell me clearly, what is that Duobao planning?"

...

Knowing there was no imminent danger, Tao Qian returned to Heavenly Mother Mountain with peace of mind.

Apart from symbolically eradicating traces, he indeed had to wrap things up.

This place, a beautiful land of spiritual mountain and beautiful water, had been chosen by Tao Qian to ambush Lian Yulou. After the great battle, it was left utterly devastated.

If it were someone else, they would most likely be powerless.

Destroying a spirit land is not difficult.

But restoring a spirit land is extremely difficult, even for a disciple of a great sect, let alone anyone else.

Even if it were possible, they would probably be unwilling to do so, as it would most likely require a significant sacrifice.

But Tao Qian, he could just do it.

First, with a wave of his sleeve, he released the Mountain Ghost Girl, an elf with Alien Charm known as the Mountain Ghost, who had been placed into the Holy Embryo Bag before the battle.

Perhaps due to her innate elf nature, as soon as she emerged from the bag, she shook off her daze in a few breaths and then saw the current state of Heavenly Mother Mountain.

She let out a "waah".

The Mountain Ghost Girl collapsed onto the black panther, crying bitterly.

Her cries were so mournful that they could make onlookers feel heartache and listeners shed tears.

She turned her head and gazed at Tao Qian, not a shred of goodwill in her eyes. She looked as if she was staring at an unfaithful lover; she wished she had never seen this man, and that he had never come to this place.

This scene made Yunrong, who had at some point returned to Tao Qian's arms, unsure how to console her.

Tao Qian didn't expect the Female Charm to start crying on the spot and quickly said,

"Don't cry, don't cry, this is only temporary."

"This mountain was destroyed by me, I'll compensate you with an even better one."

As he spoke, Tao Qian pointed with his hand.

The Nine Toad Bead!

This treasure suddenly soared into the sky.

With a "quack" sound, the Three-legged Golden Toad appeared, opened its mouth and spat out a surge of auspicious and blessed treasure aura. Not only did it swiftly cleanse Heavenly Mother Mountain of the residual evil and demonic qi in a moment, but it also enhanced the foundation of Heavenly Mother Mountain, adding to its already spiritual beauty the potential to evolve into a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

Tao Qian, deeming the bare appearance displeasing, continued to cast the Sweet Rain Skill, Clear Wind Skill, Spring Thunder Skill, and more.

The next moment, Heavenly Mother Mountain was rejuvenated; one could see with naked eyes how lush greenery blanketed the entire mountain in the blink of an eye.

During this process, Tao Qian casually scattered some low-level spirit fruit seeds as well.

From the moment Tao Qian released the Nine Toad Bead, the Mountain Ghost Girl felt her eyes were not enough to take in everything.

She watched in awe as the destroyed Heavenly Mother Mountain quickly transformed into something even more beautiful and spiritual.

Being the daughter of Heavenly Mother Mountain, she had a natural connection with the land.

Therefore, she could clearly sense her "mother" quickly transition from sorrow and pain to joy and exuberance.

She hurriedly wiped her tears, got off the black panther, and was about to give a deep bow, expressing her gratitude to this peculiar Human Clan Cultivator.

But when she turned around, the youth cradling the Kitten had already vanished without a trace.