Longevity Chronicles

Tao Qian had already guessed the ominous nature of the sites when he noticed the sudden, ugly change in the faces of Zhen Ci'en and the other beauties.

Combining their strange names, he realized those five strange phenomena must not herald anything good.

But Zhen Buchi remained oblivious. Seeing his sister disobey, he turned to urge the nun beside him to speak.

Unable to resist the persistent questioning of her lover, the nun had no choice but to say:

"Zhen doesn't know that these five strange phenomena are not places to visit."

"Even though they've only recently emerged less than a year ago and haven't spawned powerful Demon Buddha evil creatures yet, they're not something we should approach or provoke."

"I don't know much either, only about that Evil Country."

"Inside this territory, it is filled with the worst people from all directions."

"No matter what sin one commits or how massive the evil thoughts in their heart, as long as they go there, run for miles, and shout 'I wish to lay down the butcher's knife' they can enter that secret realm of evil, never to leave again."

"It is said that one's status within that country is determined by the strength of their evil thoughts, but even the lowest citizens there must be utterly devoid of humanity."

"Even if we have evil thoughts in our hearts, at most they are petty envies and resentments, never having lifted the butcher's knife, and even if we shouted that sentence, we could not possibly enter the Evil Country."

"Why make the trip in vain?"

Once the nun started, the other beauties chimed in one after another.

To dispel Zhen Buchi's idea, they all spoke of the great horrors.

At the same time, Tao Qian received a telepathic message from Yuan Gong:

"What these girls are saying is more or less correct. The Demon Buddha Temple stole the Buddha's secret methods, practicing and mixing them in perverse ways, resulting in these demonic territories spawning strange phenomena. Each place has its origin."

"For instance, Hidden Mountain corresponds to Da Zhao Temple's Bright Mountain."

"The Evil Country corresponds to Dharma Cakra Temple's Good People Country."

"These lands of evil sprung up with the rise of the Demon Buddha, and since Qiantang has become an Earthly Buddha Country, the emergence of these strange phenomena is normal."

"Indeed, they are not good places to visit, and I would advise others to avoid them."

"But for you, boy, my advice is useless, and I suspect upon hearing this, you'll certainly go."

After Yuan Gong finished, he fell silent.

Indeed, almost immediately, a change occurred within Tao Qian.

Ever since Tao Qian and Zheng Yin agreed on their plan, his Human Dao Destiny within him had been active.

At this moment, it suddenly boiled over.

Various visions transmitted to him.

Inside him, the "Yu Ding" and "Valley God Gui" stirred, wishing to refine all Demons and Evil Spirits.

In an instant, Tao Qian understood what these five strange phenomena truly were, as well as their causes and the disasters they might cause.

His eyes instantly became cold, and killing intent condensed within them.

After considering the situation and his own combat strength, Tao Qian quickly made a decision.

He then said to everyone, including Zhen Buchi:

"It seems fate has arrived."

"I had wondered why my wife and I were trapped in Qiantang."

"Now I know, aside from the connections with Ci'en and Zheng Yin, it is also because of these five strange phenomena."

"I need to visit these five lands to confirm what I have learned."

"Sorry for the trouble, everyone. With this Floating City to protect us, there should be nothing to worry about."

Since Tao Qian put it that way, no one else would object, and they all agreed.

Zhen Buchi, in particular, felt even better.

He was an expert at understanding women's thoughts and could tell the beauties were trying to scare him on purpose, so he didn't take those strange phenomena to heart.

Especially after Tao Qian spoke, he felt all the more convinced of this.

As such, his heart showed no concerns, as he looked out from the Floating City at the swirling clouds and passing mountains, sighing in his heart:

"This is true cultivation; with a group of beautiful companions, and close friends and kin, soaring through the sky and earth, wandering the worldly society, from Eastern Danqiu to West Taihua, wander the North Sea in the morning and Cangwu by dusk... Truly joyful indeed."

Alas, Zhen Buchi's romantic notions were soon completely lost.

Not just that, but within half an hour, this Bu Chi Buddha Son became completely stupefied by the scenes unfolding before his eyes.

It was as if his whole being had shattered.

...

The Sky-reaching Floating Pagoda had arrived at Qiantang Province, Lingtian City.

The city, situated by the mountains and lakes, was still prosperous, populated with over three hundred thousand Mortals.

Although most of the warlords and rebels lured into Qiantang were seen as consumables and treasure materials by the Demon Buddha Temple, there were also some who slipped through the net.

Just a few hours ago, a rebel army known as the "Blood Tile Army" came to this central province.

Their leader was named Fa Zhao, an Evil Monk who practiced Dual Cultivation of Demon and Buddha, and commanded several thousand monk soldiers who were beasts in human form, all dressed in bloody robes, topped with red tiles, relentlessly violent and bloodthirsty, and insatiably greedy... Defeated in external provinces in the struggle for power, they fled to Qiantang. Having ties with a high-status demon monk within the Demon Buddha Temple, they were allowed into the province.

Unexpectedly, Fa Zhao was severely injured, mutated and fallen, killed his old friend, and his beast-like monks instantly lost control, seizing the opportunity to begin attacking nearby cities.

Lingtian City, unfortunately, was chosen.

At this moment, the scene that met Tao Qian and the others' eyes:

A city in ruins, with demon flames everywhere, and ditches along the roads filled with bones and mutilated limbs, with remains strewn all around...

Thousands of red-robed devil monks rampaged through the city, immersed in slaughter, searching every household for loot, while dragging beautiful women or handsome young men by their necks, forming a string, as if they were trophies of war.

The most eye-catching was the "Huge Monster" rampaging through the city, destroying all Forbidden Techniques.

This creature, humanoid in shape, wearing Mang Shoes, wielding a Zen Stick, its muscles coiled, its body, already beginning to rot, stood three meters tall. Half-dressed in armor and half in a Kasaya, with a huge head and a ferocious face, its mouth full of smelly, yellow-black tusks, and on its forehead, an additional, madness-filled, crimson Blood Eye.

On its chest hung a necklace of human skulls.

This person, although fierce, had already mutated and fallen, and his body bore many wounds emitting Demon Flame, showing deep Buddha Palm Seals and Prayer Bead Seals embedded in his flesh and organs.

Clearly, he had been badly injured in a fight with someone.

This might be why, at this moment, his body hunched over, and on his back, there was a large horse saddle, upon which sat three Transcend Mortality Demon Monks.

One chanted a certain Buddhist scripture, each character radiated light, transforming into a Dharma Seal that drilled into the monster's body.

Another used a secret technique with a steel spike to pierce through the back of its brain, constantly stirring the brain inside, causing it to wail, while simultaneously controlling the direction it moved forward.

Another brandished a steel whip flashing with lightning, carrying out punishment.

In these scenes, anyone could tell what was happening.

Tao Qian swept a glance, overflowing with killing intent, yet did not immediately strike these devil monks dead.

That would have been letting them off too cheaply.

Instead, he suddenly said aloud, "Amitabha Buddha!"

The Buddha's name resounded, and the Floating City descended.

A terrifying pressure fell, instantly suppressing everyone in the city other than the common folk, all the red-robed devil monks were pressed to the ground, their kneecaps shattered, prostrating in the filthy mud.

Even the Mutated devil monk was no exception.

"Devil monks and evil ghosts, committing such atrocities, you all deserve to die."

"Before you perish, this monk will have you first endure the punishment of Karmic Fire burning your souls."

Before the words fell, Red Lotus Karma Fire floated down from the Sky-reaching Floating Pagoda.

Finding a devil monk each, it began to burn them.

In the next moment, agonizing wails resounded throughout the city.

Compared to the pain of being sliced by swords and axes, or other cruel tortures,

Karmic Fire burning the soul was more painful by not just a hundredfold, but a thousandfold.

Just a short time ago, the Blood Tile devil monks who had been cruel and bloodthirsty like beasts, were now all contorted in the face, howling desperately for mercy:

"Spare our lives, please spare us."

"Kill me, I beg you Great Master to kill me."

"Quick, do it — kill us. We are beasts; we are the scum of the earth; now is the best time for revenge, kill us."

"Kill me, as long as you kill me, I'll give you anything."

Despite the devil monks' frenzied shouts, nobody wished to make a move to end their suffering.

This province had become an Earthly Buddha Country, and the people had gained some understanding, knowing the power of the Buddhist Sect's Karmic Fire.

Killing these devil monks would, in fact, be letting them off too easily.

Despite these scenes, the city had not much genuine gratitude, as most commoners did not dare to look up at the Sky-reaching Floating Pagoda.

Those with greater courage also held a look of fear in their eyes.

Seeing this scene, everyone was puzzled.

Tao Qian, who could comprehend the hearts of men through the Human Dao Destiny, naturally could see this.

But he did not explain, and simply descended from the Floating City.

He did not use any light-weighted technique, allowing his pure feet that did not touch any filth to land into the bloody mud.

This action by Tao Qian turned Zhen Buchi, who was previously in a state of numbness and breakdown, back to his senses.

This deluded person subconsciously shouted,

"No!"

After shouting, he realized it was not right.

But he had no intention of taking it back, only a full face of sorrow, incessantly sighing,

"Why has it come to this? Why has it come to this?"

"Great Master, if you wanted to save those in suffering and adversity, a display of Sublime Dharma Powers would suffice, why should your pure Wu Gou Buddha Body be tainted with the filthy blood of the mundane world?"

Tao Qian, of course, ignored Zhen Buchi. Once in the city,

Looking at the devastation in front of him, he took a deep breath, said nothing, but simply rolled up his kasaya, and started helping the city dwellers as though he were just another common person: rescuing the injured, burying the dead, cleaning up the filth, and repairing houses.

At first, although the commoners were astounded by the actions of this Buddha's son, who seemed as if a true Immortal Buddha had descended to the earthly realm,

The fear in their eyes, and even the hatred, did not diminish in the slightest.

Wherever Tao Qian went, the people avoided him as if he were a snake or scorpion.

It wasn't until 15 minutes had passed, and seeing that he had no pretense and even the multitude of immortal concubines and Female Bodhisattvas from the Floating Buddha Treasure had also come down to assist in disaster relief without any deceit, that the people gradually approached.

After another thirty minutes, because Tao Qian did not use any Divine Powers, even voluntarily blocking the dust-free effect naturally provided by his Spirit Treasure Sublime Body,

Tao Qian gradually was covered in mud and blood, his body covered with sweat and dust, looking wretched, with many cuts and bruises all over. He looked nothing like the figure of a Wu Gou Buddha Son, but more like a dirty monk who had rolled in the mire of corruption.

These changes made Zhen Buchi, who still refused to descend from the Floating City, even more saddened, continuously crying out phrases like "wasting God's gifts," "a vessel of purity defiled."

But the city dwellers, on the other hand, let down their guard.

The leader among them stepped forward, an old monk official worn with age.

His body frail, his face etched with sorrow, his white eyebrows seemingly forever furrowed.

He bowed to Tao Qian with shaky respect and uttered the Buddha's name.

Then, he inquired,

"From where has the Buddha's son come? Where does he wish to go? What does he intend to do?"

Tao Qian seemed to have been waiting from the start for this old monk to appear and ask.

Now hearing this, he immediately responded with all due respect.

Then he began to speak, answering and, at the same time, revealing the old monk's background.

"I am Wu Gou, from the South Sea."

"Venturing into the mortal world for cultivation, to save myself and to save others."

"I come to this precious land with no other purpose but to single-handedly eradicate the Evil Country, allowing the wicked to first pay their karmic debts and then taste the fruits of their evil actions."

"I ask Jialan the protector for a convenience, to open the gates and allow this monk to enter."

"After the destruction of this country, if Jialan the protector has nowhere to go, this monk could introduce you to some options. Whether it's Free Temple or Guanyin Temple, I have some influence."

The utterance of these sentences instantly revealed surprise on the faces of Zhen Ci'en and the multitude of women from complicated backgrounds.