Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 454 - 316 Taishang's Heavenly Inquiry into the Natal Destiny, Meeting the Princess in Front of Hidden Dragon Mountain

Lin Bujue spoke those few lines, and Tao Qian also understood in his heart.

The one called "Chen Jishan," the Human Demon Warlord, possessing the Ancient Demon Scripture, had set foot in the Cavernous Mystery Realm, and his command extended to over two hundred thousand Hidden Demons Army, supported by more than a dozen heresy and heterodoxy Evil Demon Cultivators.

Without a doubt, this was a formidable force, enough to dominate Shangyang City, and intimidate both the righteous and the wicked.

In the face of such power, even if Zhong Ziyang, a True Inheritor of the Taishang Dao, were present, he might not dare to intervene.

Even if he were to act, success was far from guaranteed.

Lin Bujue was a hero, but not the mindlessly self-sacrificing type; a senseless sacrifice was meaningless.

"With the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique still intact, the people from the seventy-two provinces, although mostly living hard lives, with numerous masters waiting to exploit them, at least had a chance to breathe,"

"But once the barrier collapsed, such horrifying events erupted."

"It's been less than a year, billions of people, at least hundreds of millions have perished, and the rate of decrease shows no sign of slowing..."

"If this continues, the nation and people may not be annihilated, but little by little disintegration will occur, eventually resulting in countless city-states of varying sizes as seen in the Ancient Era."

"Just like this New Moon Province; if our rebellion fails this time, in a few years, I fear it will turn into one of the Seven Evil Countries."

Upon hearing these words, both Tao Qian and Zhong Ziyang nodded in agreement.

What Lin Bujue had said was not alarmist, merely the truth.

Although Tao Qian also knew that at the end of every chaotic era, there are always generous and mournful individuals who stand up, many heroes and valiant figures who strive to save the nation and the world. After experiencing a period of agony, the dynasty unifies once more, and the people get a chance to rest and recuperate.

But the current state of the world was unprecedented.

Especially with the "collapse of the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique," which was a major issue.

Without this protection, the final outcome of the Mortal World was likely to be as Lin Bujue had described.

Tao Qian originally wanted to say something, but after some thought, he chose to remain silent, maintaining the image of a no-nonsense and pragmatic Lin Runiu.

It was Zhong Ziyang, however, who retracted his gaze from the Ba River and spoke up:

"No need to worry, Lin Daoist. Starting the uprising now is perfectly appropriate; even had we started a few days earlier, it would still have been successful."

"Mr. Ying Daoist is a Bright Lord, possessing the 'Emperor's Image,' not only inheriting the Ancestor Emperor's ambition to sweep the eight wildernesses but also aspiring to gather the scattered Ancestor God Fragments in this realm and reconstruct the Longevity Barrier... What's even more rare is that he also agrees with the actions of Tao Qian Daoist from Spirit Treasure Sect; this nation doesn't need an imperial system, nor does it have to restore the old title of the Longevity Empire."

"As for what kind of system to govern with in the end, it also depends on the abilities of our fellow Daoists in the Ancestor Dragon Society."

Tao Qian could tell that these words were actually directed at him.

Clearly, Zhong Ziyang also knew that the Loose Cultivator "Lin Runiu," though agreeing to join the Ancestor Dragon Society and take common action, had not truly accepted Ying Qingdi but was merely taking advantage of the opportunity.

There were many such individuals within the Ancestor Dragon Society.

And even more of those whose composition was more complex.

"My previous predictions weren't wrong; the Ancestor Dragon Society is an organization for reform with incredibly complex membership. Yin Qingdi, Zhong Ziyang, and Lin Bujue should be the core team, surrounded by cultivators and heroes of various complex origins. Ying Qingdi borrows the strength of the crowd to accomplish his goals while subtly winning over those who genuinely recognize him."

"This is also a pathway, but his methods are much stronger than those of the likes of Zhang Jiudeng. Let's wait and see, just wait and see."

As soon as these thoughts finished in Tao Qian's mind, Zhong Ziyang and Lin Bujue came over together.

They pulled Tao Qian aside, leading him towards another side outside Shangyang City, by the banks of the Ba River, toward a dangerous area.

That territory lay hundreds of miles from Shangyang, situated amidst mountains and waters, with towering and majestic strange peaks, where wild forests and mountains were filled with miasmic spirits and ghostly fogs. Aside from the Ba River flowing through, there was also the eight hundred miles Dragon Armor Lake nearby, with water vapor nurturing the area, making it exceptionally spiritual.

In times of prosperity, that area would have been a spiritual mountain and beautiful water, attracting cultivators with the Way and virtuous folk.

Unfortunately, in these chaotic times, the millions of people in Shangyang City all knew that the nearby Deer Mountain, Grave Mountain, White Bone Mountain, Spider Mountain, and other challenging mountain ranges were the most terrifying, filled with ghastly spirit monsters, Evil Cultivators, and Demons, where even Cultivators who strayed in would face certain death.

Mortals who mistakenly wandered in were even more pitiable, unable to live or die as they wished.

The lakes and rivers like the eight hundred miles Dragon Armor Lake, the Ba River, the Black Sand River, and so on, though slightly better, were still limited. Not to mention the over one hundred and eight river pirates, the Water Ghosts and Water Demons that dragged people into the water to drown and devour them were everywhere, let alone those Evil Demon Cultivators and Alien Species Magicians who were up to no good, occupying some remnants of the Water Mansion at the riverbeds.

Of course, all of this had only appeared in recent years.

In the past, these mountain and water veins were rich in resources, available for the Mortal Human Race to utilize.

If this weren't the case, how could they have built the prosperous and grand city of Shangyang, which could rank among the seventy-two provinces, along the two banks of the Ba River?

"Lin Daoist, hold back for now, it's not that we don't want to kill these Demons and Ghosts; it's just that until the great undertaking is fulfilled, we need them to conceal our movements."

"The mix of demonic aura and Demonic Qi, along with some Secret Techniques, can completely mask our existence from the Demon alliance assembled by the Seven Evil Sects."

"Before coming here, I've already sent a message to Mr. Ying Daoist; with his wisdom and decisiveness, he will gather all fellow Daoists immediately to discuss the Great Plan."

"If I'm not mistaken, there's now a full assembly of heroes at the Ancestor Dragon Hall atop the Hidden Dragon Mountain, just waiting for the three of us to go and expose the filth of the Seven Evil Sects."

Zhong Ziyang and Lin Bujue took Tao Qian, flying through the mist, and into the midst of the evil mountains and waters.

Urging Tao Qian to restraint, of course, was the concern that "Lin Runiu," who hated evil, would kill all the encountered demons along the way.

While such action would be satisfying, it would undoubtedly reveal their tracks.

Tao Qian, upon hearing this, nodded in understanding.

After a dozen or so breaths, the three, like passing Loose Cultivators, winding and twisting their way, suddenly Tao Qian felt a sensation: there was a Barrier ahead.

Instantly, Zhong Ziyang sent a message:

"Daoist friend, there's a layer of 'Innate Great Yan Invisible Ban' up ahead, it can be considered my handiwork."

"When passing through this Ban, there will be some minor offshoots like Heart Inquiry; if Daoist friend has any concern, I can deactivate them beforehand."

"No need!"

Tao Qian replied directly without hesitation.

If it had been anywhere else, Tao Qian might have felt it somewhat impolite.

However, for organizations like the National Salvation Congress and the Ancestor Dragon Society, if there were no such Forbidden Techniques at the entrance, Tao Qian would only feel contempt.

Sure enough, as the three of them passed through the Forbidden Technique enveloped in a rainbow light, a Record burst forth in Tao Qian's mind:

[Currently undergoing the "Taishang Heavenly Heart Inquiry Life Destiny Method" test... No exemptions allowed!]

[Passed!]

The first Record made Tao Qian raise an eyebrow.

With his current Cultivation Realm, he was unexpectedly unable to be exempt from a small Heart Inquiry Ban, which was rather peculiar.

But on second thought, since Zhong Ziyang had proactively joined under Ying Qingdi, it was quite normal for Taishang Dao to offer some advantages.

With this technique in place, Tao Qian felt a bit more at ease.

If he couldn't exempt himself, then naturally the other members couldn't either.

"So that means! Despite the complex identities of the Ancestor Dragon Society's members, up to this point, there indeed is a common objective: to annihilate the Seven Evils Sect and smash the blood and flesh factories scattered throughout New Moon Province."

"That's enough, after all, that is my current objective as well."

Before Tao Qian could finish processing these thoughts.

Suddenly, the scene before him opened up widely, and an extraordinary mountain came into Tao Qian's view.

Calling it a mountain was actually inaccurate; it was a huge boulder protruding from the lakebed like a mountainous range, rugged and steep, with holes riddled all over. Although it was overflowing with Source Qi, without stop, it was eerily barren with not a single plant growing on its bald, pitch-black surface, except at the summit, where a massive palace loomed.

Just a few glances were enough for Tao Qian to understand why there were no plants on the mountain. The body of the mountain was filled with holes, big and small – the large ones could hide dragons and phoenixes, the small ones could harbor tigers and leopards. Every time the mountain wind blew, regardless of the size of the holes, they all spewed out earth fire.

Such a marvelous and dangerous land was not only inhospitable to plants but also to spirit birds and devil beasts.

"What an Earth Fire Demon Mountain!"

Tao Qian exclaimed involuntarily, as Lin Bujue took the opportunity to introduce it.

"This mountain is called Hidden Dragon Mountain. In earlier years, there actually was a dragon here. A ground spirit fire dragon accidentally lost its way, found a path, and emerged from the earth to settle on this mountain."

"Later, a group of Evil Cultivators heard about this and plotted for years, stealthily setting up a 'Five Poison Demon Flame Soul Refining Array.' Daoist friend should know this array; named after the Five Poisons, its more vital ingredient is actually human bones. Without human bones to fuel the Demon Flame, this array wouldn't be much of a threat."

"To set up the array, those Evil Cultivators slaughtered over a dozen mountain villages in the vicinity to gather the necessary spiritual materials. They then trapped that fire dragon for a month, brutally refining it, drinking its blood, eating its flesh, extracting its bones, and skinning it. Each of their Cultivation levels soared, with the leader, Five Poison Scholar Gongsun Liang, stepping into the Cavernous Mystery Realm in one stroke."

"These people then took control of the mountain, thinking they had the credentials to found their own sect. They built halls and monasteries on the mountaintop, laid down layers of Forbidden Techniques using the might of the earth fire, and established the Fire Dragon Sect, with everyone claiming to be an ancestor."

"It was just then that Brother Ying, who was cultivating and training in this region of Ten Mountains and Eight Waters, learned of this. That very night, he went up the mountain and slaughtered that group of Evil Demons."

"Since then, Hidden Dragon Mountain has become the secret base of our Ancestor Dragon Society."

"Daoist friend, watch as fellow Daoist Heroes of the Ancestor Dragon Society are now coming from all directions."

As Lin Bujue spoke, Tao Qian looked around.

Indeed, the Great Prohibition surrounding Hidden Dragon Mountain gleamed endlessly with bursts of light, each representing someone arriving.

From all directions, without pause.

Some came alone, some in groups of twos and threes, some even came in groups of a dozen or more.

In a moment, Tao Qian felt as if he had returned to the scene he saw when he first arrived at Penglai Sea's Ten Thousand Immortals Coming to Biyou Palace.

Of course, it was nothing in comparison, neither in Cultivation nor in numbers.

But there was another aspect that made Tao Qian take special notice.

It was the vigor!

Every single person Tao Qian saw at that moment, regardless of gender or age, exuded an exuberant and uplifting energy.

Even the most apathetic individuals, simply by being among these people, would inevitably be influenced and inspired.

The Spirit Treasure Sect's Ten Thousand Immortals, each a True Cultivator, Immortals among men.

The members of the Ancestor Dragon Society, each one a reforming hero, a Mortal Hero with aspirations.

Watching them, Tao Qian, though it was only his first time and he had only glanced briefly, already understood why the Primordial Sect considered Ying Qingdi a top contender amongst the Hidden Dragons.

It was easy to understand, even he, Master Tao, felt a reaction being there, the Human Dao Destiny surged within him, involuntarily prompting an impulse to declare on the spot his intention to join the Ancestor Dragon Society.

Fortunately, Tao Qian suddenly noticed something.

His gaze sharply locked onto a group that had just passed through the Great Prohibition.

People?

Perhaps not quite.

For among the few female cultivators upfront, Tao Qian recognized one.

Not just recognized, but could even claim to know every detail of the other's shapely body.

"Devil God Princess! Yin Susu!"

Tao Qian's expression revealed his surprise.

Clearly, he hadn't expected to encounter a great enemy with whom he had a vendetta and Karma in Southern Yue, outside the capital of New Moon Province in the Northern Land.

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