Longevity Chronicles

"Little Daoist, since you've passed this place and stumbled into this cloud and mist of Daughter Country, it must be the work of fate. Why not follow me to the banquet below and have a cup of daughter wine with me to celebrate? With the good fortune of a Spirit Treasure True Cultivation like you, our Queen will surely present a generous gift."

As soon as these words were spoken, this terrifying female cultivator who claimed to be the Queen of Daughter Country did not give Tao Qian a chance to refuse.

The next moment, light and shadow fluttered.

Tao Qian only felt the world around him change, and he immediately fell from the sky above.

Looking ahead, he found himself directly in the midst of a splendid and brilliant hall, where gold and jade pillars stood tall, and many palace musicians played immortal melodies inside a bead curtain made of jade. Beside the peacock screen, performers skilled in strange and enchanting arts were putting on a show. The main hall and both sides were filled with banquets, and there was a constant stream of laughter and joyous noise.

Tao Qian was clearly one of the latecomers and couldn't find a seat at first glance.

However, he had regained his senses now and was secretly complaining in his heart, devoid of any interest in feasting.

With just a cursory glance, he surveyed the guests within the "Daughter Country Banquet."

Being a Great Heterodox Sect, it was naturally incomparable to the scene of a group of demons run amok like on Iron Buddha Mountain.

The first thing Tao Qian noticed were the many human cultivators. Although their attire was diverse and their auras somewhat mixed, most seemed to be Heterodox individuals, with a few from Daoist and Buddhist sects or thousand-year-old families. The overall atmosphere was quite harmonious.

However, on the right side of the meat banquet, Tao Qian saw many spirit monsters and devils, most of whom did not even bother to conceal their true forms, revealing themselves openly, only shrinking a bit for the convenience of the feast.

In addition to this, Tao Qian sensed many powerful presences, and found himself having to shut down the perception in his mind.

Originally, Tao Qian thought that after being brought down by the Queen of Daughter Country, she would let him go and have a maid or female official guide him.

He made up his mind that he would take the opportunity to slip away.

But who would have guessed that not only did the Queen of Daughter Country not let him go, she even held on to him tighter.

Seeing the surprised look on Tao Qian's face, the Queen playfully winked at him, her charming voice entering his ear:

"You Spirit Treasure little Daoist underestimate this Queen."

"Others led by me would've been already weak at the knees, filled with bashful delight, yet you, a Daoist, are fully intent on escaping."

"This Queen has a pair of exquisite immortal eyes that can discern a sliver of fortune on all things in this world. Seeing you've just reached Qi Refining Realm Perfection, your aura rich with immortal spiritual Qi, and a No-leak Body well cultivated, your fate seems to soar through the clouds. That's why I impulsively decided to stop and invite you here."

"Don't be annoyed. You must be on your way to pledge yourself at Spirit Treasure Mountain Gate. It just so happens that I am good friends with Yunhua Immortal from your Spirit Treasure Sect."

"As a compensation for using some of your fortune to celebrate the founding of Daughter Country, I can directly recommend you to become a disciple under Sister Yunhua."

"How about that?"

These words seemed complex but were received by Tao Qian in an instant.

With the Queen of Daughter Country speaking to this extent, Tao Qian felt it would be unwise to refuse anymore.

It was not because of the string of question marks that had formed in his mind when he first touched the Queen of Daughter Country.

Nor was it for fear that this purely beautiful Queen would go to her best friend to complain if he refused.

"It's hard enough to get through two disasters, to reach Mountain Gate and be able to pledge, possibly even be taught Sublime Dharma, maybe even clinching a spot as a True Disciple."

"If because of missing a cup of daughter wine, some mishap occurs, that would really be too foolish."

With these thoughts, Tao Qian put on an official and polite smile, then nodded his head to show his willingness.

In the next moment, the two figures finally appeared slowly.

At first, nothing.

But soon, all the guests in the banquet, whether they were cultivators, devils, or other alien species.

All noticed the young Daoist person being personally led by the Queen of Daughter Country into the hall.

With a "whoosh," all eyes were upon them.

The Queen of Daughter Country seemed naturally like that, or perhaps simply regarded herself as a senior to Tao Qian.

Under so many gazes and without any reservation.

She still dragged him toward the most prestigious seats, which was enough to make Tao Qian wonder if he was being treated as an "auspicious mascot."

Soon, Tao Qian was pulled by the Queen up to the small banquet separated by bead curtains.

Just as Tao Qian entered, he felt fortunate for having shut off his soul perception.

Because the imposing figures seated at the banquet, nearly ten in total, each emitted an extraordinary aura and presence that was extremely remarkable.

Several of them were no less formidable than the "Queen of Daughter Country."

For instance, there was a female cultivator who evidently came from a Buddhist Sect, draped in a white robe, with a solemn and Buddha-like appearance, her bare face turned toward heaven.

Or an old man dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, wearing a Ge Cloth on his head.

Then there was a being that, despite being nothing but a skeleton, still dressed to the nines, with red light flashing in the eye sockets.

As well as a girl clad in a red robe, whose eyes appeared capable of ensnaring souls and seizing spirits.

The remaining guests also radiated powerful energies, at least existences that Tao Qian currently had no ability to contend with, but none could compare with these four.

The Queen of Daughter Country had just led Tao Qian to his seat and had yet to do anything when suddenly the girl in the red robe took the initiative to look over.

First, she stared at Tao Qian with keen interest non-stop, then her gaze landed on Little Age and Lian Jing'er standing behind him.

Especially upon seeing Little Age, the girl couldn't help but extend her delicate tongue and lick her lips.

Then, without any attempt to conceal the sound of her swallowing, she directly said to Tao Qian:

"Little Daoist, is this Taisui Baby yours?"

"Delightful, it truly is too delightful."

"Would you be willing to make a trade with me, to hand over this baby in exchange for anything you desire? This girl can give it to you."

These words reached him, and Tao Qian's brow immediately furrowed, nearly refusing without a second thought.

The girl in the red robe had sharp eyes and discerned Tao Qian's intention.

But she did not back down; she cast another truly captivating glance that was meant to freeze Tao Qian's soul in an instant.

At the same time, she began naming her price.

"Don't be so quick to refuse me, little Daoist. For a small Qi Refining Realm cultivator like you to encounter someone like me willing to trade, you can say you've stumbled onto great fortune."

"In this Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, in this Cultivation World, there is little that this girl cannot get her hands on."

"If you desire cultivation, I can assist you in breaking through both Foundation Establishment and Transcend Mortality within a month, and even gift you many Magical Treasures and Killing Devices, as well as introduce formidable mentors to you. Even advancing to the Cavernous Mystery Realm in the future will not be too difficult."

"If you desire pleasure, I can grant you a large territory, armed forces, civilians—everything included, letting you taste what it's like to be a Human Emperor."

"How about it? Name your conditions, this girl only wishes to taste the fragrant meat of the Taisui Baby today."

"Boom"

With each word the red-robed girl uttered, Tao Qian's mind became more dazed.

Listening to her offer, he even began to feel a strong impulse to agree.

It was only when he suddenly shivered that a beating pulse and awareness emerged in his mind.

"Record: Currently subjected to Heavenly Demon Chaotic Divine Sound, an art from Devil Gods... The cost has been waived!"

"Boom!"

Almost immediately, key words in the Record made Tao Qian's eyes widen in shock.

Just as he was about to do something, the body of the Queen of Daughter Country blocked his view.

Her giggles suppressed the confounding Heavenly Demon Chaotic Divine Sound that involuntarily took control of souls.

At the same time, Tao Qian heard the Queen's voice, tinged with a trace of dissatisfaction.

"This little Daoist is a disciple of my close friend, Yunhua Immortal, a True Practitioner of Spirit Treasure True Cultivation, and is not some Loose Cultivator from the wilds that you can bully at will."

"As the Daughter of Devil God, you are indeed accustomed to having your way, but surely you wouldn't dare to provoke my Sister Yunhua, right?"

"Didn't you come to reunite with your beloved, Tang Xianzong? I heard his current situation is not too good, so why aren't you, demoness, rushing to your Prince Consort's aid instead of lingering in my residence without any reason?"

PS: This chapter includes an excerpt from Journey to the West concerning the Queen of Daughter Country and the holy monk; a childhood memory, barely knowing what is good for him.