Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 438 - 302 Taishang Exotic Treasure Dun Yi Talisman, Evil Python Corpse Hides Moon Toad

Upon hearing Zhong Ziyang's transmitted message, Tao Qian's face did not show any sign of surprise or shock.

During the nine days when he had hung the Heavenly Lantern, aside from the major events concerning the Human Dao in the seventy-two provinces, he occasionally received some special information.

For instance: the terrifying changes occurring in the world.

The cause, the disintegration of the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique.

More and more evidence proved that this Forbidden Technique was not merely internal; it also had external effects, particularly in isolating certain invasions and contaminations from the Outer Realm.

Once the Forbidden Technique was gone, the number of "mystical phenomena" that the seventy-two provinces could neither understand nor solve began to explode.

Occasionally, instances like what Zhong Ziyang described would occur—Evil Gods from the Outer Realm would fall into a province, permanently altering the geography there.

Of course, any Outer Realm God that fell into the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty was dead, with none surviving.

They were either corpses or some kind of organ.

"The god of Changliu Mountain must be one of such cases, though I wonder if it's intact?"

Tao Qian pondered as he directly followed Zhong Ziyang.

Earlier, he had intentionally touched Zhong Ziyang's Dao Body, and the verification had already burst forth in the Record.

This adherent of the Taishang Daozhen had not cultivated the Dharma Eye Divine Power, hence he had not seen through Tao Qian's Ten Thousand Transformation Technique; Tao Qian could safely accompany him to Shangyang City in the New Moon Province.

The Record also explicitly stated: although Zhong Ziyang was scheming, his ambition and aspirations could not be feigned. He had never thought of forcibly snatching the Ancestor God Treasure obtained by Tao Qian; he only wanted to abduct Tao Qian and join him in assisting Ying Qingdi, especially with the ongoing planning of the "Shangyang Uprising."

After calculating together with another cultivator in their faction who was skilled in prediction, Zhong Ziyang confirmed that one of the keys to the success of the uprising was whether they could abduct Tao Qian back.

For this reason, he had rushed to Gao Ren City at top speed.

He did not hesitate to act ruthlessly, facing three enemies alone.

Tao Qian knew that this was also influenced by the Human Dao Destiny.

After all, out of the four options, Tao Qian had actually chosen Zhong Ziyang from the beginning.

After setting their plans, they quickly arrived at the front of Changliu Mountain.

Before even touching the gray-white clouds, Tao Qian saw Zhong Ziyang reach into his robe, and with a slightly proud expression, he took out a golden, supremely treasure-lit Spirit Talisman, and handed it over.

Tao Qian took it, and before a Record could burst forth in his mind, he heard Zhong Ziyang say:

"Mr. Lin Daoist, this talisman is called the 'Great Daoist Escape Talisman.' Not to boast, but among talismans like invisibility talismans, this one is the best. Even the Da Yan Hidden Fate Talisman from the Heavenly Talisman Sect, the Taiyi Invisible Talisman from the Canxuan Sect, and the Wonderful Qi Unity Talisman from the Spirit Treasure Sect are slightly inferior."

"Once Daoist wears this talisman, it can conceal your aura and fate completely. Evil Gods in the mountains or Corpse Slaves, neither will be able to detect any trace of you."

"As for myself, I have my own Mysterious Skill transformation that can also conceal all traces."

After saying this, Zhong Ziyang wiped his body, and indeed, all traces of his aura and fate disappeared without a trace.

After casting, he turned and started heading into the mountain.

At that moment, Tao Qian also sorted out the Record related to the Great Daoist Escape Talisman.

Immediately, Tao Qian's eyes widened slightly.

What a treasure!

Zhong Ziyang had not bragged.

The Spirit Talisman in Tao Qian's hands was not a single-use item, but a talisman treasure from the Taishang Dao.

Worn on the body, even cultivators of the Ultimate Happiness Realm could not discover him.

The only side effect: after wearing it, one's presence would be reduced to that of an ordinary person for the next 24 hours, and this could not be exempted.

It sounded seemingly useless.

But to Tao Qian, this Spirit Talisman was an essential treasure for going out and gaining experience.

In an instant, Tao Qian felt the impulse to keep this Spirit Talisman for himself.

It seemed that Zhong Ziyang sensed his thoughts and, feeling somewhat uneasy, he turned his head back and cautioned:

"Mr. Lin Daoist is not a disciple of my Taishang Dao. Using this talisman comes at a great cost."

"However, there's no need to worry. After crossing this mountain in less than half an hour and taking off the Spirit Talisman after leaving the mountain, the cost will be much less."

Clearly, Zhong Ziyang was also aware of the logical flaws in those two sentences.

Without waiting for Tao Qian to reply, he went ahead into the mountain.

Fortunately, Tao Da, the Great Master, was only a little covetous and didn't genuinely want to snatch the treasure.

Actually, with Tao Qian's abilities, he didn't need the aid of this Spirit Talisman.

Using the Spirit Treasure Sublime Body obtained through the Third Method Transcend Mortality, forged by the Infinite Tribulation Qi, and further enhanced by the Taishang No Leaking Body, he was immune to all techniques, mysteriously unsurpassed.

Even using a common "Invisibility Technique" with Tao Qian's capabilities would have great effects, and when combined with the Secret Demon Sect's Formless Inversion Technique, he could hide all traces of his aura and fate without this talisman.

However, doing so would expose his identity.

Tao Qian had no choice but to slap the Spirit Talisman onto himself.

In an instant, the world in front of his eyes transformed dramatically.

Everything seemed to slow down, becoming distant.

He himself seemed to become an outsider to the world.

Not part of the Three Realms, not touching the Five Elements.

"Truly a remarkable item."

Tao Qian sighed again as he followed Zhong Ziyang, and before entering the mountain, he still had the leisure to look back at Jade Demon True Monarch Gao Zhan, who was chasing after them.

He clearly saw that after wearing the Spirit Talisman, the thousands of lustful and evil eyes of this Ultimate Happiness Realm powerhouse all simultaneously showed confusion and doubt.

Clearly, the Spirit Talisman was effective.

...

The two passed through the gray-white clouds and entered the mountain.

Immediately, they encountered an unexpectedly scenic view: a mountain surrounded by water, secluded rock valleys, numerous bizarre peaks, murmuring streams, cascading waterfalls, and everywhere one could see tall ancient trees that several people would struggle to embrace together. At several nodes where Source Qi and Spiritual Qi converged, numerous temples, pavilions, palaces, and fortresses could be seen.

"A truly spiritual mountain, worthy of the name Changliu."

Both Zhong Ziyang and Tao Qian had this thought.

At the same time, they also immediately harbored doubts: what about the calculated Outer Realm Evil God's corpse polluting this mountain, creating countless Corpse Slaves and Demon Servants?

Before they could take action, a question arose.

Two people almost simultaneously sensed something and looked up toward the depths of Changliu Mountain.

They heard a piercing roar filled with death's aura, a sound that no living creature on this earth could make.

From the pit in the mountain, a massive shape suddenly surged forth.

Before, Tao Qian and Zhong Ziyang had seen the true form of the Jade Demon True Monarch Gao Zhan, which was like rotting maggot flesh, as big as a mountain.

But now, compared to the massive being before them, it was far smaller.

This corpse was even taller and larger than a mountain.

Its primary color was gray-white, mixed with dark purple and blood red.

Its decaying body was covered with bone spurs as long as spears, each one several yards long, and each adorned with natural patterns resembling certain characters or symbols.

At the end of its body were three organs resembling reproductive openings.

From one hole, a gray-white liquid gushed out, evaporating into fog as it touched the air.

From the second, a woeful green blood sprayed, which soon seeped into the mountain; far from harming Changliu Mountain, it instead enhanced its foundation and made its Source Qi even richer.

The third hole was even more remarkable, expelling a mix of corpse pieces, pus, unknown skins, eerie stillborns... even various Spiritual Treasures greatly damaged by corrosive spiritual energy.

And at the forefront was a face, twisted and swollen with pain and slack with torment.

On its forehead were eyes, green and filled with resentment and reluctance, though their color had faded.

This corpse!

This Evil God!

It resembled an overly fat, or perhaps excessively bloated in death, monstrous snake covered in spines.

Even from such a great distance, Tao Qian and Zhong Ziyang could faintly feel the taint of evil Source Qi.

In Tao Qian's mind, a Record directly erupted: [Suffering from the invasion of the Evil Python's Source Qi... As the Evil Python has perished, exemption granted.]

[Record: Evil Python.]

[Record Type: Outer Realm Divine Spirit.]

[Record: This corpse is an Outer Realm God, which devours everything. Once tainted by its internal Source Qi, one will transform into an Undying Servant, obeying its will.]

[Note: Several months ago, the Evil Python participated in an Outer Realm war, was besieged and perished, coincidentally falling into this place through a crack in the celestial wall...???]

...

"Hmm? An Outer Realm war?"

Tao Qian's brows slightly furrowed, clearly not expecting such a secret to emerge spontaneously in the burst of Records.

But this 'secret' was relatively speaking; to Tao Qian, it wasn't much of a secret at all.

Ever since he knew of the "Absolute Strife," Tao Qian had speculated:

The powerhouses above the Daoist Transformation Realm in this realm might, whether willingly or unwillingly, go to the Outer Realm to battle those Evil Gods.

Elders known as Absolute Immortals like Wu Chao, Three Stars, Golden Silkworm—such slim chances of survival would probably have to be wrested from these Evil Gods.

Of course, these were all speculations.

A genuine Evil God's corpse was an unprecedented sight.

And it was this long-dead Evil God's corpse, now undulating and swaying, whose roar shook the entirety of Changliu Mountain.

Shortly after, the sound of drums thundered.

"Boom"

"Boom boom boom"

Amidst the roaring drums, countless figures of cultivators and demons erupted from the temples, fortresses, and forests within the mountains.

What should have been chaotic fighting between different races and sects of Demon Cultivators now strangely showed them working together.

It was as if an invisible will was guiding them, as many Divine Skills and Magical Treasures bombarded the Evil Python's corpse.

But upon closer inspection, the two realized,

These Demon Cultivators were not attacking the body of the Outer Realm Evil Python, but attempting to rid it of some "alien" matter.

Tao Qian and Zhong Ziyang, both cautious, despite relying on some powers, still chose to circle around the mountain at a distance, also to avoid possibly encountering the pursuing Jade Demon True Monarch Gao Zhan who might still enter the mountains.

Circling did not prevent them from witnessing clearly.

Upon seeing this,

Both wore a somber expression.

They noticed that the Evil God's corpse was riddled with scars, clearly besieged to death, and those wounds, sores, and holes stemmed from complex origins, not only from the Qi of other Outer Realm Gods but also noticeably from the Qi of cultivators of this realm.

Zhong Ziyang suddenly communicated telepathically:

"Mr. Lin Daoist, there may be trouble here."

"This Outer Realm Evil God is dead, but its corpse still harbors the True Spirit Will, using Corpse Qi to transform Changliu Mountain into a Forbidden Death Zone, planning to heal itself and transform into something like a Divine Corpse."

"Those remnants of dead injuries are easy to deal with, but some injuries are 'live,' and it can only further pollute and mutate all the Demon Cultivators within this mountain, turning them all into servants to use their power to clear those continuously damaging living beings from the Outer Realm."

In fact, Tao Qian didn't need Zhong Ziyang's reminder; his gaze was already locked on those living beings.

On the Evil Python's body, the huge wounds, resembling mountain caves or cavities, numbered in the hundreds.

From around thirty of these, living beings were present.

Either long worms with human heads and sharp claws, or bizarre little people with screw-like faces, or slugs constantly secreting corrosive pus... Tao Qian watched them all, then suddenly, as though sensing something, sharply looked at a sore on that corpse.

There, utterly corrupted, grey-white pus had accumulated, forming a lake.

Within that lake, creatures as big as calves, horribly decayed, outwardly resembling toads, were dealing with attacks from those Demon Cultivators turned servants, while also emitting a "croaking" sound that Tao Qian found eerily familiar.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, an item on Tao Qian trembled violently.

The Nine Toad Bead!

This highly precious Exotic Treasure from the Nine Toad Sect, used by Tao Qian to ram into the Heavenly Axe thrown from afar by Taishang Primordial Demon True Monarch Lingwa during the incident in Demon City, had been damaged and rendered unusable for some time.

However, on reflection, that collision had indeed been crucial, at no loss.

As the treasure stirred and combined with the Qi emitted by those toad-like creatures.

An incredible speculation spontaneously arose in Tao Qian's mind:

"Among those that besieged this Evil Python, was there a share from that Toad God?"