Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 489 - 339: The New Moon Uprising Becomes Common Knowledge, Ancestor Dragon Seizes Half a Province on the First Day - Part 2

If she really were a female cultivator who had accidentally ingested a Ghost Poison and received such thorough detoxification, it would be considered an act of kindness.

Not to mention praise, even repaying the favor would be expected.

However, she was not.

All she knew was that she had been played.

Unable to accept her mission's abrupt failure, Wei Ziyuan hastily rose to her feet, glaring daggers at Tao Qian while forcefully suppressing the urge to pounce on him again.

Her actions from the previous night already deliberately contrived, such recklessness now could likely ruin her master's great plan.

Left with no choice, she dressed herself in the long robe and offered Tao Qian a curtsy, grinding her teeth secretly as she cooed, "Daoist friend, I shall repay your kindness in detoxifying me some other day."

She had intended to speak with a softer voice, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it came out husky and rough, as if her throat had dried up.

Of course, she knew the reason. After speaking, she turned and left.

Behind her, the insensitive Tao Qian added salt to the wound, "Mr. Wei Daoist, drink more Jadescent Nectar when you return to moisten your throat. You indeed had a rough time last night."

Even with Wei Ziyuan's thick skin, she stumbled slightly upon hearing these words.

Yet as soon as she stepped out the door, she thought of a method for revenge.

Early in the morning, the other flag officers and grain officers within the Secret Realm had already gotten up, either practicing meditation, maintaining Forbidden Techniques, or discussing the mysteries of Dao beneath palace pavilions and monumental arches.

If Wei Ziyuan had returned discreetly, no one in this territory would have noticed her.

But she did the opposite, deliberately showing herself, bashfully and covertly slipping out, dressed in a male cultivator's long-sleeved robe, from Lin Shangguan's room.

All the flag officers who saw this were stunned, then revealed expressions of 'so that's what happened'.

Some of those with more nerve and loose tongues even made a few comments:

"A match of talent and beauty, Mr. Wei Daoist and Lin Shangguan are a perfect pair."

"Well spoken, I think so too."

"To seize the day for pleasure, they are truly an example for us all."

Of course, Tao Qian could hear the commotion outside his door, but he didn't care in the slightest.

He leisurely resumed his meditation and muttered to himself, "Why should I, Tao Qian, be concerned if it's Lin Runiu whose reputation is tainted?"

Dismissing the thought, he immediately began circulating the Spirit Treasure Great Volume to restore the Mana he had spent the previous day.

For any other cultivator, squandering Mana Source Energy as he had done would require days or even tens of days of arduous cultivation for a full recovery.

But Tao Qian cultivated the "Scripture of Salvation," one of Daoist's supreme Lifebound Scriptures, which could be replenished in a few hours.

Still, he found it too slow.

He reminisced about the time during his Foundation Establishment Realm when, if he exhausted his Mana, he would simply invoke the "Spirit Treasure Returning Immortal Technique" and replenish it in an instant; that was truly fast.

Of course, that was borrowed Mana.

...

The Demon Trap Pit did not bask in the fierce sunlight like the ground above.

Even at noon, it was just somewhat brighter.

Tao Qian's Mana completely restored, he left the side room. Thinking about continuing the task of refining the army's grain, he headed towards the mountains of Demon corpses.

The lingering aroma of yesterday's finely refined grains, mixed with the stench of blood, created a strange, slightly sweet smell that permeated the palaces and archways.

Tao Qian frowned at the scent and decided to work in one go today, refining away a large part of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood to clear the air.

It was at this moment when unexpectedly,

a figure broke through the perimeter of the Forbidden Technique and rushed in.

Everyone, including Tao Qian, could see clearly that it was one of the grain officers who had left the previous night.

At this time, the person's face was flushed with excitement, a sight that left no doubt in anyone's mind that he had encountered some great fortune, and he could barely contain himself.

As soon as he burst in, he raised his hands high and shouted:

"My fellow Daoists!"

"Great news, fantastic news has arrived."

"Original plans called for the rebel army of the whole province to rise up later today."

"However, due to an unexpected event, the army outside Shangyang City was discovered, and the leader, having no choice, decided to launch earlier."

"Once the order was given, all cities and counties across the province rose up in arms simultaneously."

"A righteous cause brings manifold help, a losing cause little; such is the principle of the Heavenly Dao."

"In just a few hours, our Ancestor Dragon Society has taken over key cities in the New Moon Province, including Red Spring City, Spirit Pond City, Wulinn City, Tianshan City, and more, totaling six cities, thirteen towns, and twenty-one counties."

"More than half of New Moon Province has fallen into the hands of the Ancestor Dragon Society's rebel army, and the Seven Evils Sect that has oppressed the New Moon People is about to be completely destroyed."

"My fellow Daoists, you have all made great contributions. The realization of our aspirations lies within today."

Overwhelmed by joy, and while shouting his speech, the Daoist involuntarily used his Mana.

The remaining Flag Officers and Food Delivery Officers, upon hearing the news, were initially stunned and then, one by one, exhibited the same expressions, cheering and responding eagerly.

Ancestor Dragon Society!

This secret society organization wasn't solely founded by Ying Qingdi. It was also the product of the dedication of people like Zhong Ziyang, Chen Xiyi, and Qi Daozhen. Although infiltrated by Demons and Ghosts like Yin Susu, Xu Wenkai, and Xiao Ling'er, there were also many Cultivators and Heroes upholding the ideal of salvation.

Those willing to take on the dangerous roles of Flag Officer and Food Delivery Officer were naturally individuals with great aspirations.

To suddenly hear such good news, it was only natural to be overjoyed.

Tao Qian would not spoil the mood and seamlessly blended into the atmosphere.

Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but feel worried deep down.

Especially when, before long, he also received transmissions from Lin Bujue and Lian Jing'er.

First was a brief and clear word from Lian Jing'er's Treasure Wheel transmission.

"Today, a secret organization within New Moon Province called the Ancestor Dragon Society launched a reform uprising and achieved great success."

"Within a few hours, they captured six major cities, thirteen towns, and twenty-one counties."

"Riding the momentum of their great victory in New Moon, the Ancestor Dragon Society's fame soared with this battle."

"Due to the ideas proposed by the Ancestor Dragon Society's leader, Ying Qingdi, the numerous provinces in the south have all expressed support for it."

"The National Salvation Congress has even informed the entire country, intending to send strong individuals to New Moon, aiding the Ancestor Dragon Society in unifying the entire province to create a coordinated front from north to south."

...

Compared to Lian Jing'er's message, the news communicated by Lin Bujue's invisible Child Ghost was much more detailed.

There were some details that might seem insignificant to others.

But for Tao Qian, these details were like alarm bells ringing.

"Did this uprising in New Moon really receive divine assistance?"

"One of the rebel armies of the Ancestor Dragon Society stationed outside of Shangyang City faced a failure due to a malfunction in the Thunder Skill Magic Artifact meant for the siege, which allowed an Elder of the Seven Evils Sect to discover them. This led to the annihilation of that rebel force and, through the Soul Search technique, the Elder uncovered the plans of the Ancestor Dragon Society... With such a major incident, this uprising was supposed to be a complete failure."

"But who could have predicted? That Elder of the Seven Evils Sect, while returning to deliver the message, unexpectedly encountered a sworn enemy and was killed. Although, before death, he managed to send out a secret signal, he nevertheless bought enough time."

"Ying Qingdi announced an early uprising, and suddenly launched the attack. The Seven Evils Sect along with those involved in heresy and heterodoxy, and century-old families, didn't have enough time to react. The majority of New Moon Province was taken."

"Sixty percent of all the Blood and Flesh Factories in the province were destroyed."

"The Seven Evil Divine Machines have thirteen or more of their own destroyed."

"Although Shangyang City has not yet fallen, it's already besieged by our forces. Beichan Temple and Xuan Dao Sect have taken action as well, blocking all the strong practitioners within the Seven Evils Sect."

"If things go as planned, the New Moon uprising will be successful, bringing hope to all people."

"Only Brother Zhong, Brother Chen, and a few others felt something was off about this. However, after a round of Prediction, they came back empty-handed."

"The best course of action now is to be prepared for the Seven Evils Sect's desperate attempts."

"The Prediction Hall's Daoists have foretold that the Seven Evils Sect will soon send Demons to secretly assassinate key members of our Ancestor Dragon Society."

"Mr. Lin Daoist, you in charge of the provisions, are a prime target."

"Be extremely cautious, remember this well."

...

After listening to the transmission from Lin Bujue, Tao Qian's attention was not on the supposed assassination attempts.

His focus was solely on the "accident" that didn't make sense.

An uprising that was meant to fail, strangely succeeded?

Was it just luck on the part of the Ancestor Dragon Society members?

While others might conclude as much,

Tao Qian knew there was something fishy.

"Here it comes!"

"Ying Qingdi's prayer technique with that TMD, is it starting to take effect?"

"The first accident, forcibly altering the outcome."

"The rest will probably follow suit, the Seven Evils Sect may be Evils, but they won't escape a doomed fate."

"But soon, it will be the turn of the entire Ancestor Dragon Society, as well as all the people of New Moon."

"What will the outcome be? An Outer Realm Evil God descending, devouring the entire New Moon?"

Tao Qian's mind was swirling with thoughts. Since he had entered the world until now, he had never felt so suffocated.

He had ways to deal with powerful enemies.

But there was no starting point with Ying Qingdi.

He had considered sending secret messages back to Penglai Sea, inviting his fellow disciple Xuu Xun, or even his nominal Master, Masters Ma Yi, Aunt Bai Yin, and the others, to outright use the Spirit Treasure sect's might to slay the Evil God... but he wasn't that reckless. What if by doing so, he inadvertently became part of that bizarre prayer technique's realization of a tragic ending?