Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 473 - 330: Lin Runiu Takes Office as Grain and Grass Officer, Yin Susu Wants to Seize the Valley God Gui

The best talents had gathered hurriedly within the belly of the Nine Sons Ghost Mother and the Senluo Treasure Palace, only to disperse shortly after and wait for the opening of the Ancestor Dragon Congress.

An hour, neither long nor short.

Tao Qian had not waited long when he received a message from Little Age, Lian Jing'er, and the other young ones.

"Hidden Dragon Mountain has a Great Prohibition, unable to merge inside for now."

"Shan Jiu mentioned that Shangyang City has treasures to be picked up; we are heading to the city first."

Tao Qian promptly replied, instructing Yunrong to take care of it.

If it were someone else mentioning profits to be gained elsewhere, one might consider it a deceit.

But Shan Jiu was different, the Wild Leek Demon's fortune was peculiar; he never lied.

Tao Qian had personally experienced this in the Iron Buddha Temple; if Shan Jiu said there were treasures, there definitely were.

"However, unlike me and the disciples of the Nine Toad Sect, the opportunities Shan Jiu encounters always come with the disaster of bloodshed."

"This further proves that shortly after the Ancestor Dragon Congress, Shangyang City will plunge into war... With Yunrong looking after things and the three half-grown children who are no easy pickings themselves, there's no need to worry about their safety."

With these thoughts settled, a good half an hour flew by.

Then, in the next moment, a "clang clang clang" sound resounded directly throughout the territory of Hidden Dragon Mountain.

"The hour has come!"

Tao Qian stood up and pushed the door open.

Despite having some expectations, he knew today's Hidden Dragon Mountain Ancestor Dragon Hall would be exceptionally splendid.

Yet at first sight, he was still surprised.

It was just a few hours, and he didn't know how the Yellow Robed Eunuchs had managed it.

What should have been a territory of fire and gloomy winds was now filled with auspicious clouds and floating auspicious light.

Tao Qian, along with other visitors from all around the mountain, left their chambers and along the way saw fluttering flags, flying treasure covers, vases filled with immortal flowers, furnaces burning sandalwood, freshly served fruit on red platters, and piles of colorful candy... If that was all, it was merely a luxurious Daoist Field, nothing extraordinary and unworthy of gathering heroes and Daoists from all over.

Moving ahead, one could see corridors and pavilions interspersed with the Green Jade Square, every thirty feet marked by a thick yellow flag.

The flags were embroidered with golden letters, and upon closer inspection, they were powerful and provocative slogans pulled from texts like "Immortal and Mortal Debate," "Longevity Strategy," "Green Emperor's Uprising," and "Ancestor Emperor's Dao Validation Song," among others.

These flags were clearly well-refined and had become magic artifacts.

The small golden letters not only shimmered but seemed to have gained a life of their own, able to detach from the flags and recite themselves.

Such a grand scene indeed triggered reactions.

Many passionate, fiery cultivators immediately chose nearby spots to discuss, confirm, and even debate with each other.

This, in turn, brought forth even more astonishing phenomena.

Flag after flag seemed to absorb the intense emotions and energies released by the cultivators, with the treasure light growing more turbulent, gradually refining, and even in some of the most fervent flags, figures leaped out naturally to join the debates.

...

Even with his vast experiences, Tao Qian was taken aback at this moment.

What initially seemed like a luxurious Daoist Field upon closer inspection turned out to be a place of revolution.

In front of Ancestor Dragon Hall, inside and outside, it seemed everywhere was filled with impassioned heroes and reformers, buzzing with voices, extraordinarily lively.

In a daze, it made one feel like this corrupt era might finally be saved.

Tao Qian had seen the Secret Realm of All People of the National Salvation Congress, but now compared to it, the Ancestor Dragon Society seemed a notch above.

And this was peculiar, knowing that behind the National Salvation Congress stood the huge entity of the Primordial Sect.

Continuing forward, he entered directly into Ancestor Dragon Hall.

Inside, hundreds of people had already gathered, nearly all of them cultivators, among them not lacking strong figures from Cavernous Mystery Realm like Zhong Ziyang and Chen Xiyi.

Yet none could steal the spotlight from "Ying Qingdi," the highly charismatic middle-aged cultivator, leader of the Ancestor Dragon Society, who was currently surrounded in the middle, earnestly interacting with the surrounding guests.

This time, it indeed marked an unprecedented congress.

Besides numerous core members, there were representatives from various provinces.

Among them were representatives from significant forces like the Devil God Army Princess and Taiping Army remnants, along with others, more complicated ones.

Just like now, an old cultivator from the Transcend Mortality Realm with white hair and resembling a dying tree stepped forward, grabbing Ying Qingdi's hand, shaking it vigorously, his voice hoarse as he shouted,

"Mr. Ying Daoist, with so many difficulties in the mortal realm and storms brewing, after you save the New Moon Province, do not forget us [Hanxi Province]."

"I was the first Hanxi monk to join the Ancestor Dragon Society. For this New Moon reform, our Qingyun Sect is willing to offer years of accumulated resources and treasures, striving with all our might to help the Ancestor Dragon Society conquer New Moon Province. We only hope that after saving New Moon, the Ancestor Dragon Society can also fully support us Hanxi monks to initiate a Hanxi uprising, saving millions of locals."

Hearing these words, Tao Qian's brow furrowed slightly.

A strong sense of déjà vu arose, along with an unsubstantiated judgment.

This old man was an opportunist.

And the so-called "Qingyun Sect" probably was too.

Merely a small sect, a weak force, yet willing to gamble and optimistic about the prospects of the Ancestor Dragon Society joining them, hoping to use this connection to rise in status. Skillfully seizing the opportunity, it was quite possible that within decades, Qingyun Sect could leap to become a Great Sect; there were numerous success stories from ancient times to now.

With this thought, before Tao Qian could do anything,

Immediately, another striking female cultivator stepped forward; due to the difference between men and women, she did not grasp Ying Qingdi, but instead clasped her hands in salute, her face showing admiration as she said emphatically: