Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 413 - 289: Ultimate Happiness True Master Xiu Zhonglin, Qiankun Treasure Boat's 7 Fragrant Chariots

Tao Qian was always quick with his words, never missing a chance to show off whether he was right or wrong.

He had disparaged Duobao before, and even sneered at the Heavenly Venerates.

But now, facing a barrage of ridicule from his own convenient master, he couldn't immediately retort and truly was shut up.

Reflecting on it, it was indeed his, Master Tao's, fault.

When he left the sect, Duobao had specifically instructed him to go to Demon City, where great benefits awaited.

Indeed, it had turned out that way, with treasures like the Mountain and River Map naturally qualifying as huge benefits.

Duobao's original "prediction" had ended with Tao Qian acquiring the treasure.

As for what followed, his confrontation with the owner of the Immortal Fish Technique and the shockingly abrupt conclusion—perhaps Duobao was then preoccupied with opposing Zhuge Qingyi of the Evil Sect, and that's how he lost track of Tao Qian, allowing such a major disaster to occur.

However, this wasn't entirely Duobao's fault.

Who could have expected?

A cataclysm unseen in over two thousand years would manifest in this manner.

It seemed somewhat playful, but it was actually inevitable.

Tao Qian was merely caught up in it.

At its core, it resulted from the collapse of the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique, leading to widespread chaos as demons rampaged and society crumbled beyond imagination.

Billions of citizens had long lost their sense of belonging to the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty and the Emperors. When Tao Qian stepped forward, covertly leveraging the power of the Ancestor God Treasure, he gave a gentle push, and the deed was done.

Of course, Tao Qian couldn't defend himself in this way.

With a wry smile, just as he was about to ask his convenient master for guidance, a red smoke wafted from his chest, coalescing into Yuan Gong.

Those crimson eyebrows arched up, and his ape-like face was especially lively as he started mocking Duobao True Monarch.

"Ha ha ha!"

Before a word was spoken, the hearty laughter spread for miles.

"Despite your usual boasts, Duobao, claiming to calculate everything under the heavens, how come you couldn't handle this fine child when he had just left the Penglai Sea for a few days?"

"They're just alchemists, right? If those old monsters like Li Wanshou had personally come, your cowardice might have been excusable. But to be frightened by a bunch of crazy descendants, reeking to high heaven?"

After these words,

Yuan Gong suddenly turned his head, looking at Tao Qian with a gaze full of admiration and amazement, and ignoring Duobao at his side, he directly made an offer:

"Kid, how about switching to my Secret Demon Sect?"

"Using the power of the Mountain and River Map and Li Wanshou's fishing hook to tug isn't a big deal, but the courage to smash such a treasure, abolishing the national title and imperial system of the Longevity dynasty, and striking a blow to the alchemists—"

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"Lawless, rebellious, with astounding audacity, you're unmistakably a natural-born Secret Demon Child."

"Come, if you're willing to switch from Dao to Demon, I'll pass on the heritage of the Secret Demon Sect to you. In a few hundred years, you'll be the Secret Demon Sect's Revival Master."

"And remember, if you're willing to switch sides, the encirclement by the alchemists can be resolved in an instant."

Perhaps Yuan Gong genuinely admired the way Tao Qian pulled the rug out from under the alchemists, and he thus offered extremely generous terms.

Given his status and temperament, there couldn't be any lies in his words.

This meant that if Tao Qian really agreed to switch sides, he might indeed become the next Secret Demon Sect Master.

And not just any master, but the Revival Master, with an extremely high future status.

What was strange was that despite clearly hearing Yuan Gong brazenly poaching him, Duobao Daoist remained indifferent, the talisman offering no response at all.

It was Tao Qian who looked somewhat solemn, then he bowed to Yuan Gong and said seriously:

"To have received Yuan Master's instruction along the way is an honor, and I trust my master wouldn't mind me addressing you as such."

"However, I'll have to decline the offer to join the Secret Demon Sect. I have received transmission from the Heavenly Venerate and cultivate the 'Scripture of Salvation,' the fundamental teaching of the Spirit Treasure Sect. In this life, I am a disciple of the Lingbao and cannot become the Secret Demon Revival Master."

"Of course, I've practiced plenty of Secret Demon magic, and while I owe a debt of gratitude, I also bear the consequences. Should you have any commands in the future, Yuan Master, I will lend my full support."

After Tao Qian said this,

Neither Yuan Gong nor Duobao showed any surprise.

Yuan Gong even seemed to have anticipated it, as if his previous enthusiastic recruitment had been an illusion.

He merely shook his head regretfully, and then, speaking to the talisman of Duobao, he snorted coldly: "Duobao, congratulations on finding another treasure. Since it's not happening this time, old Ape will wait for the next. No matter what tricks you play, just don't go overboard and risk this good child's life."

With that, Yuan Gong turned back into red smoke, returning to the statue.

And as for the talisman, Duobao Daoist clearly did it intentionally, while Yuan Gong had not yet completely returned, a few triumphant laughs sounded: "Heh heh, my title is Duobao, and finding treasures is nothing new. Red Brows, don't bother with your wishful thinking."

After the laughter, the talisman then turned to face Tao Qian.

The tone became unusually serious, and said directly:

"My good disciple, listen well. It might be because of your own strength as well as the force of Daoist Transformation from Li Wanshou, that my predictions went wrong, but there's still no remedy beyond reach."

"After all, you're a disciple of Duobao, an inheritor of the Spirit Treasure, and shouldn't be harmed by a bunch of stinking dog shit."

"It's quite timely. You're currently in Anqing, and nearby, within eight hundred li, there's a Heavenly Sorrow Mountain where one of my Spirit Treasure refuges, the Seven Ruins Cave Heaven, rests."

"The refuge was established and overseen by your seven uncles, whom you've already met in the Penglai Sea."

"Hurry to the Seven Ruins Cave Heaven and hide there, do not come out."

"The Ancestor Emperor once signed a contract with our Great Sects, which has been handed down through the alchemists. The blood descendants of the old monsters like Li Wanshou could easily destroy the Seven Ruins Cave Heaven, but they dare not do so. Just stay hidden and do not go out; it's also a good chance to digest what you've gained from your cultivation tribulation."