Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 521 - 355: Daoist, Your Predicament Arrives, Smashing the Skull of Master Tao (New Year's Plea for Subscription and Monthly Tickets!)

Liang Shufang, this woman, originally a Green Bamboo Viper, cultivated the Demon Dao Scriptures, and her Red Yin Charm Dance was indeed a formidable Divine Power.

Once executed, it could rival the legendary Inverting All Living Beings Heavenly Demon Dance unique to the Taishang Demon Sect.

Even if a True Practitioner were to glance at it suddenly, they would fall victim to it if they weren't vigilant.

Relying on this technique, Liang Shufang gained quite a reputation in Shu, where some cultivators from notable orthodox sects, despite knowing they would be drained of their essence, willingly became her subordinates... After joining the Seven Evils Sect, her popularity soared thanks to these techniques, even the Mystic Turtle Saint Sa Hunhe from her own side had an affair with her.

She had assumed that, facing a Toad Sect cultivator, even if he could resist her Charm Dance, he would be distracted and quickly slain by her other three Daoist companions.

Who could have known?

This time, she faced her catastrophe.

Lin Runiu was not an ordinary secret of the Toad Sect, but a genuine outlier.

Her dance proved ineffective; with a sudden strike from the Wa Dang, her delicate features were destroyed, not to mention her Primordial Spirit fell into a daze and she fainted, revealing her true form.

The citizens of Shangyang City witnessed in the chaotic sky where immortals and devils battled, a large Green Snake, about thirty feet long, plummet to the ground covered in blood, a pitiful sight indeed.

"Liang Daoist!"

Seeing his beloved hit and stunned, Sa Hunhe was both shocked and angry.

Transforming into a Mystic Turtle, he charged forward.

Tao Qian, who had just split open someone's head, was even more delighted to see this.

His body surged with toad light as he held up the Wa Dang and advanced rather than retreated, like a brutish man, and loudly exclaimed,

"I've been waiting for you, let's see what this old turtle can do."

Meanwhile, Tao Qian did not dodge or evade and fiercely collided with Sa Hunhe.

To the onlookers, this Lin Runiu seemed to be flaunting his treasure, oblivious to the ferocity of the Mystic Turtle Saint.

Sa Hunhe, now just a huge turtle shell, quickly retracted his head into the shell, thinking smugly to himself,

"Hmph, relying on an exotic treasure, he thinks himself invincible."

"Though the treasure is fierce, it can only take effect if it hits the head. I'll just retract my head into the shell, then what can you do to me?"

"This reckless lad, clashing with my Mystic Turtle Shell thinking it's just a cultivation tool, has no idea that my shell is not only a magical treasure but also Divine Power. To refine it, I traveled from the Qiantang River to the sea, hunted hundreds of demon turtles for their shells, and then harnessed the dark energy of black water from the west to forge it, capable of shattering even a mountain."

"His actions are no better than pounding an egg against a rock..."

At the height of his smugness, a "crack" rang in Sa Hunhe's ears, accompanied by indescribable agony.

Tao Qian had used the Nine Toad Bead to forcibly shatter his turtle shell.

The Mystic Turtle Shell is an exotic treasure, indeed, but how can it compare with the "Nine Toad Bead"?

It is known that when the Ultimate Happiness Realm Elder, Primordial Demon True Monarch of the Taishang Demon Sect, used his precious magical treasure, the Great Strength Demon-Slaying Immortal Saber, and was countered by the Toad Pearl, he was forced to alter its course, significantly reducing its power.

With the nurturing of the Toad God Tile, the Toad Pearl's injuries fully recovered.

The action was indeed like using an egg to strike a rock; however, it was the Mystic Turtle Shell that broke.

Once a Lifebound Treasure is shattered, both the body and the Divine Soul suffer great damage.

Sa Hunhe's face contorted within the shell, as he involuntarily stuck out his head, crying, "The pain is killing me."

Then, sensing danger,

his worst fears were confirmed as a mocking voice rang from behind,

seeing the turtle stick out its head was too tempting; he'd join his friend in unconsciousness.

"Bang"

Before the words even finished, a blow struck the back of Sa Hunhe's head, following in Lady Green Snake's footsteps.

But he was even more miserable, for before he hit the ground unconscious, Tao Qian casually summoned a Magic Sword and beheaded him.

Together with the body, the Storage Treasure Bag and the Mystic Turtle Shell were snatched by Tao Qian.

First time's a charm, the second's a pattern; the first strike against Liang Shufang was tentative, without a beheading or a thorough search, but the second time he was experienced and could not let go of the belongings of a Cavernous Mystery Evil Cultivator.

In addition, given his wonderful body's resistance to all evil invasions, his range of techniques, and having his personal old master with him, he was certainly not afraid of the evil sorcery or demonic techniques arranged on the Mystic Turtle Saint's personal treasure bag.

"This time around, I'm probably going to make a killing."

Master Tao, having defeated two Cavernous Mystery opponents in a few breaths, held the Wa Dang aloft and looked around triumphantly.

His eyes sparkled with a cold light, making it clear to anyone watching that this ruthless individual was choosing his next target.

Outside the city was total chaos, a mix of gods, demons, buddhas, ghosts, and strange creatures, lights flashing, all ensconced in chaos.

Regardless of alignment, all were engaged in a killing frenzy.

Many daring individuals even attempted to strike at some of the most famous and powerful figures stealthily, by casting a vicious spell, using a poison or issuing a ghostly flame, or wielding sinister swords and demon blades; they all knew they were unlikely to harm those great disciples of the major sects, but what if?

If a sneak attack succeeded, it would be a great achievement.

Lin Runiu was a target for many an Evil Demon, with dozens of bizarre creatures planning to make their move while the four Cavernous Mystery elites were besieging him.

But little did they know that in an instant, two would fall.

The other two, Qin Wuxiang and Zhou Yingchun, seemed to have known the danger all along and kept their distance.

A group of Evil Demons, right then, all wanted to back away.

Alas, where was there still time?

Tao Qian's gaze shifted, locking onto All Demons, and he let out a chuckle before saying, "Gentlemen, don't leave, let's get a bit closer."

Before his voice even faded, Toad Light surged again.

In the blink of an eye, Tao Qian, one hand holding a Wa Dang and the other a Magic Sword, appeared in front of the first Evil Cultivator—this person was a middle-aged practitioner, dressed in a fluffy red magic robe, with a Fire Crown on his head, yet with a face sly as a monkey's, and treachery written all over it. He held a stark white bone fork and had a red gourd at his waist, from which he had already removed the stopper, and was emitting a bright red Poison Smoke, serving as both concealment and a means of attack against foes.

Unfortunately, for Tao Qian it meant nothing at all, his spiritual vision piercing through its origins, his wonderful body immune to the fierce toxicity of the fire and smoke.

"Heh, Daoist, you're truly unfortunate. Looking at your appearance, you must have cultivated the Heterodox booklet 'Fire Rat Secret Cave Scripture.' Having such a good inheritance yet refusing to follow the Righteous, how did you end up in a Demon Cave like the Seven Evil Sects?"

"Now evil power has come upon you, your doom has arrived."

In these two sentences from Tao Qian, it was almost as if he had written the words "I am your doom" on his face.

The Evil Cultivator whose origins he had pointed out was at the Transcend Mortality Realm and seemed to possess no common methods and mana.

Alas, even though Tao Qian wasted words with him, letting him hurriedly unleash techniques like Hundred Rats Soul Devouring, Red Rat God Execution Needle, Enchanting Red Smoke, and other Divine Powers, he still could not break through Tao Qian's defenses, let alone block that invisible Divine Light that flew towards him, smashing straight at his forehead.

With a "bang," the Evil Cultivator known as "Red Rat Daoist Mao Zhang" had his head burst open, and his Primordial Spirit was annihilated.

His personal treasure bag, too, fell into Tao Qian's hands.

He guessed that the rest of the things inside were of no importance, but that volume of 'Fire Rat Secret Cave Scripture' was somewhat interesting.

According to his identity as a Spirit Treasure True Inheritor, he really should not regard such Heterodox booklets.

Just like Zhong Ziyang, who had also started a ruthless slaughter and, being of a similar status, let these spoils of war fall without even glancing at them.

This was due to a difference in temperament.

Tao Qian had quite a few quirks—fond of collecting rare items, be they Magical Treasures, Dao Scriptures, or whatnot.

After another successful strike, he did not pause and chased after the next person.

This person appeared more normal, a young cultivator of the Human Clan, about thirty, with a pale complexion and clean-shaven, holding a banner in one hand and a sword in the other. His aura was quite clear, not like those of Demon Magicians, and having witnessed Lin Runiu—who resembled a fierce Demon—killing three in a moment and flying toward him, he was instantly so terrified that his three souls trembled and his seven spirits shook.

Two Cavernous Mystery Realm and one Transcend Mortality Realm had died before him, and he was merely a Transcend Mortality Realm—how could he fight back?

He quickly bowed and pleaded loudly, "Mr. Lin Daoist, hold your hand, I am 'Master Xuanbing Feng Jinguo' from Wu Jun Province in Hongya County. Although I belong to a Side Door, I am not among the Evil Cultivators. I heard there were Evil Demons running amok here, especially came to assist, friend, please do not harm me by mistake."

The battlefield was chaotic, and if it had been anyone else listening to him say this, combined with his clear and correct aura, perhaps he might indeed have been fooled by this rascal.

However, the one who had set his sights on him was Tao Qian, and a disaster could not be averted with mere words.

Indeed, the very next moment one could hear Tao Qian's unapologetically mocking voice:

"Pah! Your aura disguise isn't bad, but your steps are unstable and your eyes show wickedness, your divine essence imbued with lechery, you clearly cultivate Absorb-type Magic Skills. These in themselves aren't much, but the stench of resentful souls on you is detectable from miles away, you must have absorbed at least thousands of women to their deaths."

"You, too, are doomed."

"Bang."

The one called Master Xuanbing, Feng Jinguo, did not get the chance to hear the full words. At the moment Tao Qian mentioned the disguise, the Toad God Tile had already exploded his skull.

With a sweep of the Magic Sword and a purging with Divine Thunder, the man's body and Divine Soul simultaneously turned to ash.

Tao Qian didn't bother picking up the spoils, moving on to the next.

In no time, as time passed on the battlefield outside Shangyang City, certain tendencies began to appear.

Many Evil Demons started to become terrified, unable to suppress the rising fear and desire to flee.

And the source that led them to this was partly due to Tao Qian.

Or rather, Lin Runiu, who had completely changed his title.

Previously, this alias of Tao Qian within the Ancestor Dragon Society, had titles such as "Nine Toad Secret Child," "Shadowless True Man," "Valley God Incarnate."

Now, all these had been abandoned.

On the battlefield, the surviving Cultivators, whether they were from the Ancestor Dragon Society or from the Seven Evil Sects, had given him a new title.

Master Skull Smashing Lin Runiu!

As the name implies, this True Master favored smashing people's skulls.

And once he hit, one would immediately faint, then be decapitated, killed, with their path extinguished—all in a moment.

Having witnessed his ruthlessness, those who had disputes with him on Hidden Dragon Mountain like Yin Susu, Xu Wenkai, Zheng Zhongxiong, Xiao Ling'er, and others, no longer held resentment, instead feeling some relief.

It was fortunate that back then they were on the same side; they took a blow from a Wa Dang, lost face but kept their lives, not at all a loss.

The Sword Demons, Deceitful Objects, and Alien Species on the battlefield, however, weren't so lucky.

Smashed, meant dead.

No matter whether it was Cavernous Mystery Realm Evil Demons or Foundation Establishment Qi Refining Realm Magicians of the Seven Evil Sects, as long as the words "your doom has arrived" were heard, they would be scared out of their wits, knowing their end had come.

This person was so ferocious that alone would be fine, yet he also had numerous wicked amusements.

As they say, to kill one need only nod, and once dead, there are no complaints.

Yet this Skull Smashing Master, before killing, would humiliate them, point out their origins, speak of their pity, mention their doom, and then smash their skulls and take their Lifebound Treasures.

Barely 15 minutes had passed since the battle started, and already dozens of fellow Daoist Demon Cultivators had fallen at his hands.

Such vile and merciless behavior—far from a Righteous inheritor, he was more of a Demon than any Evil Demon.

PS: First update of the year, another one will come tonight. I ask for your monthly tickets, and I wish everyone a happy new year.