Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 299 - 218: Tao Qian Peeks at Secrets, Treasure Surrenders Itself

Five Cavernous Mystery Cultivators with distinct identities suddenly descended upon the Medicine King Temple.

The tension that had been holding between the Changchun Society and the White Lotus Sect was instantly diffused, when Black Armored General, who had clearly practiced some Slaughter Demon Scripture, intervened between them. Whatever he said caused both sides' expressions to ease.

Observing this change, the cultivators below had an epiphany.

This duel was likely no longer going to be witnessed.

Although none dared to comment on the two powerful forces or the five Cavernous Mystery Cultivators, whispers began to spread, stirring a restless dissatisfaction in the air.

Tao Qian found the scene intriguing. Previously, within the Mountain Gate, he had seen numerous Cavernous Mystery practitioners and quite a few from the Ultimate Happiness Realm.

But he had somewhat forgotten—

The words "Cavernous Mystery"!

In the Cultivation World, they signified a cultivator of great ability.

In any major province, one could dominate a territory.

If someone like the Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva from a Great Sect were to emerge in the Cavernous Mystery Realm, the audacity and arrogance would be beyond reproach.

Of course, this was Demon City, not an ordinary territory.

However, those five above seemed to be identities not far inferior to the Beautiful Corpse.

With the three days of remedial lessons previously given by Xiao Hua Daoist, Tao Qian gained a bit of knowledge about the many commonalities of the Cultivation World and its major sects and powers.

"Lotus Heart Temple, one of the major Buddhist Temples, is also a gathering place for nuns in the Cultivation World, often mentioned alongside Guanyin Temple, though not as renowned. This Master Jing Yin's Buddha Light behind her is pure, the essence of Buddha refined. Yet judging from her aura, she still seems to be slightly inferior to Bao Yin Bodhisattva, whom I encountered in Fumin Daughter Country." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"As for that barefooted girl in white, claimed to be a Heterodox Loose Cultivator, though more likely a practitioner of both Buddha Demon paths while curiously exuding a trace of Daoist aura. Heh, likely an old senior deliberately assuming the form of a young girl—if one truly believed her, they'd likely fall prey to her ruse."

"These two must have been invited by the White Lotus Sect to mediate and persuade."

"Does that mean the latter two were invited by the Changchun Society?"

With that thought settled, Tao Qian, who had earlier glimpsed many secrets, immediately turned his gaze toward the merchant Liu Hongsheng and an Elder from the Xiu Family, disguised as a merchant.

No need to channel Immortal Spiritual Qi to summon the Dharma Eye, merely allowing the Innate Spiritual Resonance Sensing to bring forth the High Spirit Vision, he naturally observed the two.

At first, nothing seemed amiss.

But not long after, Tao Qian caught a glimpse inadvertently.

The merchant known as "Liu Hongsheng," with the decent head of a Human Clan member, suddenly transformed into a gruesome rat head with no skin or fur, covered in bloodied ooze, pierced with copper coins, ancient coins, items of gold and jade, and even some banknotes stuck to it.

It seemed due to this, he occasionally twitched from the itchiness, his crimson eyes blazing with ferocity.

"According to the gossip among the low-tier cultivators around, this man has a mysterious background. Clearly a great Cavernous Mystery Cultivator, he mingles with the Mortal Human Race daily, engaging in trade like any other, without using any Divine Power, yet his dealings are more successful than the next."

"He has opened banks, founded factories and large corporations, and within just a few years, has become the foremost Great Merchant within Demon City."

"From the looks of it now, his true form should be that of a Swallowing Gold Rat, only it's unknown what kind of Sorcery he has cultivated. Now he seems on the brink of Mutating and Falling, let alone stepping into Ultimate Happiness, he is likely only years away from death and the disappearance of his path."

The thought had barely settled in Tao Qian's mind,

When he suddenly caught sight of the Elder from the Xiu Family. The clean robe concealed a body that vanished, replaced by a blob of squirming black flesh with yellow, lusterless eyes embedded, and mouths filled with tusks, constantly seeping a sticky and nauseating substance. The surface extended countless tendrils waving and wriggling.

In terms of external forms, the body of the Elder from the Xiu Family was far more horrifying than that of Liu Hongsheng.

But what was strange was, Tao Qian did not see any signs of Mutation or Falling.

There was only one explanation: the true form of the Xiu family was naturally thus.

"The Xiu Family, a true millennia-old noble clan with a history said to predates even the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty."

"Among the vast territories, only the Zhang Family and the Si Family could rival the Xiu Family."

"One reason why these clans can contend with the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demon powers is greatly due to the contribution of these three families."

"The true form of the Xiu family is so bizarre!"

"This should be a shocking secret to most of the Cultivation World."

"But to the numerous powers and mighty cultivators, it probably counts as common knowledge."

As he thought this, Tao Qian, with his newfound knowledge and once more stunned by the weird and wonderful of the Cultivation World, was using the benefits given by Senior Sister Lingji to secretly peer into the secrets of the five Cavernous Mystery Cultivators.

Inside the Medicine King Temple, the lack of a witnessed duel left the crowd of low-tier cultivators increasingly impatient.

And finally, some dim-witted juvenile devils or unrestrained Evil Cultivators began to murmur complaints:

"What happened to the promised duel? Just like that, it's over? Are we being toyed with?"

"Come on, I still want to see what the life-and-death struggle of Transcend Mortality Realm cultivators looks like?"

"Hah, it's said that He Sen can't be killed, and that there's no one Huang Lian Saint Mother can't eliminate. Come on, start fighting!"

"I was even considering joining the Changchun Society before, but now it seems they are not so impressive."

...

As the atmosphere turned more turbulent and many cultivators and Demon and Monster species were about to leave,

Suddenly, it appeared the two above had finally reached an agreement.

Both smiling and nodding at each other, they addressed the crowd below in turn, saying:

"Thank you all for coming from afar to witness our scheduled duel."

"However, it's better to resolve enmity than to hold grudges. Just now, we have resolved our misunderstandings and have a major announcement to make."