Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 491 - 340: Duobao's Poisonous Plan, Diverting Trouble Eastwards_2

But the initiative was all in Duobao's hands; it wasn't up to Tao Qian to decide.

Master and disciple sometimes did not see eye to eye, and Duobao never knew to hold back; he would unilaterally silence his beloved disciple and give him a lecture.

It was unclear if the message was too shocking or if Duobao was just busy at the time.

Usually, when Tao Qian sent a message, it didn't take long to get a response.

This time, Tao Qian had waited a full 15 minutes, just as the mana he had used up during the day had been restored.

From within the token, Duobao's voice came through, tinged with some complexity:

"My good disciple, after the Yang Sui incident, I knew your troublemaking ability was extraordinary, but I still underestimated it."

"Did you really think you could provoke the 'Outer Realm Yellow Robe'?"

"You're lucky you were clever enough not to recklessly invite Xuu Xun, or your Aunt Bai Yin or Aunt Yunhua to help you; otherwise, because of you, a great war could have erupted between our Spirit Treasure Sect and those of the Yellow Robe lineage."

"Though we are not afraid and might not necessarily lose, right now, your master, the old Sect Master, a host of second-generation ancestors, even the Heavenly Venerate himself, everyone is busy. Who has time to join a great battle? Don't let Master Yuan trap you; he died early and even when alive, he was just some eccentric homebody, unaware of how terrifying the Yellow Robe lineage can be."

"You should stop staying at that damned Ancestor Dragon Society. Come back to the sect; if not, the peaches on your Ascending Immortal Island will soon be gone."

"I heard that Aunt Pan Si loves to eat and she even moved her Pan Si Dojo next to your house. When you come back, make sure you don't walk into the wrong cave."

At this point, Duobao True Monarch paused.

Then, somewhat reluctantly, he gave Tao Qian a piece of advice:

"I know you have a kind heart and can't bear to see New Moon Province fall into the hands of demons."

"Solving this issue is simple, if you had known earlier, you could have taken out this 'Evil God's Offspring' called 'Ying Qingdi' with a single sword strike."

"It's a bit late now, but still not difficult. You don't need to bother with the Secret of the Toad Sect. Just go directly to the National Salvation Congress, reveal your identity as the Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, invite those unorthodox old folks from the Primordial Sect to New Moon. With your human Dao destiny, they will definitely fall for it. Then you can slip away."

"Let the Primordial Sect and the Yellow Robe lineage fight among themselves. Unlike us in Spirit Treasure, the Primordial Sect, now large and influential, can't easily start a great war. Those old monsters have been preparing for years, and Heavenly Venerate Yuanshi Tianzun can't sit still. Even if not only the Yellow Robe but also a few more Evil Gods joined in, the Primordial Sect wouldn't be afraid."

"Perhaps even that Descendant will end up being enlightened by the Primordial Sect."

Tao Qian knew that whenever Duobao True Monarch gave lengthy lectures, it also meant that the situation was grim.

Especially this time, his benevolent master had even remotely suggested a strategy.

It's just typical of Duobao, casually uttering a word, and resolving Tao Qian's worries.

Not only him, upon hearing this, the Master Yuan sculpture in his arms trembled, and red mist wafted out.

Master Yuan appeared and immediately blasted angrily at the Golden Radiance Token:

"Ptui! Shameless Duobao, talking bad about people behind their backs and looking down on me."

"Earlier I heard that the Primordial Sect and Spirit Treasure Sect seem amiable on the surface but are not at heart. Now it seems it's true."

"The next generation Sect Master of the esteemed Spirit Treasure Sect is actually encouraging his own disciple to sabotage people from the Primordial Sect, haha. If those old monsters from the Primordial Sect knew, they would probably all rush into Penglai Sea to drag you out of Golden Radiance Island and take you to Lingbao Heavenly Venerate for a judgment."

As expected from two old rivals, skilled in provoking each other after many years of squabbling.

After speaking, Master Yuan didn't wait for Duobao's response but turned to Tao Qian and said:

"Although Duobao is shameless, he has always been adept at scheming."

"His method of diverting disaster elsewhere undoubtedly works wonders."

"You might as well try it to avoid truly harming your fellow disciples from Spirit Treasure."

Seeing Master Yuan speaking up for him, Duobao, unusually, didn't retort.

At this point, Tao Qian should have followed the plan.

But inexplicably at that moment, Tao Qian felt an impulse and the mana inside him began to circulate the "Scripture of Salvation."

A moment of enlightenment related to his cultivation emerged.

He didn't conceal it and spoke to both Duobao and Master Yuan:

"I came to New Moon Province, presumably by the will of Heavenly Venerate."

"Just now a premonition arose in me; this place, and this person Ying Qingdi, are both my calamity and my blessing."

"Here, I shall step into Cavernous Mystery and may even find the opportunity for my Daoist Transformation."

"In the future if I wish to ascend to the Daoist Transformation Realm, I cannot leave this place, nor can I use this cunning method of diverting disaster."

After these words were spoken, Master Yuan and Duobao fell silent together.

After a while, Duobao's voice finally came from within the Golden Radiance Token again:

"I almost forgot, you've been transmitted the 'Scripture of Salvation'."

"If it's a directive given by Heavenly Venerate, then it must be correct."

"You just wait, I'll perform a calculation for you before I teach you."

"Truly, it's tough being your master, kid. Last time in Demon City, I went wielding a sword to help you chop down an old demon of the Evil Sect, then did calculations for alchemists on your behalf, and now I still have to predict the movements of the Outer Realm Evil Gods... Had I known it would be this exhausting, I should have handed you over to Junior Sister Yunhua; she's the one born to worry."

As his voice faded, the Golden Radiance Token became still, clearly indicating Duobao True Monarch had turned to perform a calculation of the Heavenly Mechanism for Tao Qian.

Master Yuan seriously looked Tao Qian over, burst into red mist, and returned to the statue.

About 15 minutes later, the Golden Radiance Token suddenly trembled.

A voice, much more tired yet more surprised, emanated from the token:

"This time's prediction holds both good and bad fortunes."

"The good lies in the fact that the Outer Realm Yellow Robe cannot invade the current world anytime soon, nor can it project its avatars. At most, it can use its malignant power to fulfill the wishes of its descendants."

"The bad part I cannot share with you; it's a matter of great peril. If I were to tell you, I fear it might claim your life."

"My good disciple, you must seek blessings for yourself."

"You practice the 'Scripture of Salvation,' meant to save others as well as yourself."

After the last sentence, the Golden Radiance Token went quiet.

Clearly, Tao Qian's makeshift master was ready to wash his hands of it.

Just as he thought this, suddenly, a truly final sentence rang out from the token:

"An unexpected gain from the calculation!"

"In ten breaths, someone will come to assassinate you."

"They are mere chickens and dogs, not worth mentioning."

This abrupt tip caused Tao Qian to immediately become alert.

Duobao mentioning they're not worth it but still mentioning it implied that the assassin must carry some significance.

Knowing that in a few breaths, someone would come to kill him, Tao Qian intended to immediately seek a secluded territory, convenient for the assassin and himself.

It would prevent the impact on the Secret Realm's flag officers and food delivery officers during a potential grand battle.

However, such actions would unavoidably leave traces, and since his palace was already quite remote, he was prepared, and a mind catching another off guard could handle it, even if the opponent were a cultivator at the Perfection of Cavernous Mystery. If he seized the opportunity, a swift conclusion could be possible.

"This new disguise of mine, brand new, has had no time to arouse enmity."

"Those coming to assassinate me must be from the Seven Evil Sects, as Lin Bujue and others had warned."

"Indeed, they say the position of a grain officer is dangerous, and true it is."

With these thoughts in his mind, Tao Qian did not hesitate to take out the Nine Toad Bead and the Toad God Tile.

While he considered himself the Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, his methods of combat were more intricate.

But wearing this Toad Sect disguise, everything was simple and crude.

Use the Toad Bead to protect the body!

Use the Tile to smash foes!

Unless the assassin was from the Ultimate Happiness Realm,

they would surely faint upon encountering him.

Sending an Ultimate Happiness Realm cultivator to assassinate a grain officer?

Haha, not even the Spirit Treasure Sect would be so extravagant, let alone the Seven Evil Sects, a local evil path of the New Moon Province?

...

Ten breaths passed in a flash.

Just at the tenth breath, a sudden throb transmitted through Tao Qian's mind.

But the Dutian Divine Thunder Flag concealed in his arms showed no signs of activity.

Apparently, the Seven Evil Sects assassin also had some tricks up their sleeves, managing to silently elude the Great Prohibition of the Secret Realm.

To facilitate their actions, Tao Qian simply summoned a Substitute Demon, transformed it into his likeness, and let the Demon pose as if deeply "Concentrating and meditating" in strenuous cultivation.

His true self, however, hid nearby.

His eyes developed double pupils as he activated his spiritual vision.

Following the heartbeat sensation, he looked toward the origin, curious to see what sort of chickens and dogs the Seven Evil Sects would send to assassinate him.