Longevity Chronicles

He spoke of that figure with wildly exploding hair and two fluffy legs swaying about, resembling a brusque and crude Daoist – it was none other than Duobao True Monarch. He had taken Tao Qian and his companions and directly teleported them to a distant cloud.

They did not enter any particular Cave Mansion, nor did he immediately send Tao Qian to undergo Foundation Establishment.

Instead, with a spell, he pulled the conversation between Yunhua Immortal and a group of Devil Immortal Daoists from afar, allowing Tao Qian to hear every word clearly.

After the Immortals in front of the Biyou Palace dispersed, Duobao True Monarch then looked at Tao Qian with a smile and spoke frankly,

"You've heard it clearly, Sister Yunhua's words are spoken in anger, but they are also true."

"If we are to talk about fate, you should have become her disciple."

"However, it was I who used some tricks to create the present situation. But this matter of master-disciple karma, if truly forced, is not good either, so I am willing to let you choose once more."

"I won't hide it from you. Among the third generation of disciples from Spirit Treasure Sect, all the female Immortals regard Junior Sister Yunhua as their leader, not just because of her wide connections and extremely pleasant temperament, but even more so because of her cultivation and her prowess in battle."

"Don't look at me for having the title of eldest senior brother; if Sister Yunhua was truly prepared, setting up one formation after another, especially her signature grand formation 'Spirit Treasure Nine Realms Immortal Extinguishing God Array,' even if I, along with several junior brothers and sisters, joined forces against it, we would inevitably meet our demise."

"If you truly could become Junior Sister Yunhua's disciple, it would be a great fortune indeed, and your Dao Path should be smooth in the future."

"Moreover, Junior Sister Yunhua also keeps a tribe of Qingqiu Fox Clan – those little foxes are individually stunning and extremely good at attending to people."

"Then there's also Junior Sister Yunhua's many intimate friends. You've already met two of them. Actually, there are many more. If you could become her disciple, later on, if you were ever involved in trouble, you wouldn't even need Junior Sister Yunhua to lift a finger. These aunties would naturally stand up for you… The benefits of this, indeed, are too numerous to count."

"But if you take me as your master, you won't have these good things, just a weary and solitary person."

Tao Qian listened patiently and politely throughout the ceaseless persuasion from the brusque Daoist standing before him.

Then, without any delay, he bowed deeply, performing the ceremonial acts of discipleship with great pleasure.

With nothing to hide, he then spoke frankly,

"Master used up all his tricks before saying these things, wasn't it just to show off your wily Divine Skills?"

"Showing off is one thing with other elders, but do you really feel accomplished showing off in front of a little Qi Refinement Realm cultivator like me?"

"After surviving the Three Calamities, I faced many difficulties. If not for Master's arrangements from the start, I might have met with disaster."

"Besides, on my way here, everything was clearly arranged by the Three Immortal Treasures. Having established my status in that Communication with Ghost wind and received a pile of meeting gifts, how could I possibly change my faction?"

"Junior Sister Yunhua's assessment isn't wrong, you do indeed have a heart black as coal. Aren't you just trying to see me in an awkward state, indecisive and troubled?"

As he spoke the last words, Tao Qian's voice carried a note of suspicion.

But when he looked at his new master, his gaze was filled with certainty.

Though they had just met, Tao Qian could already guess what kind of temperament his master possessed from many signs.

Only two words were needed to describe it.

Despicable!

From what those Devil Immortal Daoists had said, this master of his, known as "Duobao True Monarch," was also about to break into the Daoist Transformation Realm, a powerful cultivator.

But who could expect him to be playing childish tricks?

Caught out so suddenly, Duobao Daoist was not annoyed but instead burst into loud laughter.

His giant-like stature leaned forward slightly, his copper bell eyes fixed on Tao Qian, their brightness like lightning, as if capable of piercing through the many secrets within his body in an instant.

The next moment, he spoke with a smirk,

"Good disciple, don't belittle yourself; in the Cultivation World's wilderness, there are countless Loose Cultivators, and many have the chance to obtain the Spirit Treasure Root Skill, but not everyone can cultivate to the Great Perfection stage in such a short time after getting the Magic Skill. Not to mention, you have many talents, even capable of managing a feat like surviving the intensified Three Calamities."

"It's one thing for you to be so compatible with the Spirit Treasure Method, but who would have thought that you would also excel in the Secret Demon Sect's technique."

"Your master has predicted your demon refining methods using the divination arts, Secret Acupoints left empty, you sit alone on the fishing platform; though your methods are simple and crude, they strike right at the essence without any taboo. Truly marvelous, truly marvelous."

"I've also dealt with many Secret Demon Cultivators, although they are experts in refining and controlling demons. If limited to the Qi Refinement Realm, not even the vast Secret Demon Sect could find one who could compare to you."

"Tut-tut, it's lucky the Secret Demon Sect is gone, or they would have definitely come to compete with me for a disciple."

"It's no wonder that the Daughter of Devil God and Bai Qin claim that you are a Secret Demon Dark Child. It truly is very similar."

After Duobao Daoist finished speaking, he looked askance at Tao Qian.

His heart seemed to anticipate the little Daoist's face changing color, panicking, and then hastily defending himself.

Unfortunately for him, what he saw was Tao Qian's face, unchanged.

Even more, Tao Qian glanced back and smiled, "Thank you for the praise, Master. I'm not really good at this Secret Demon magic, it's just passable to observe."

Hearing these words, Tao Qian distinctly saw a moment of stasis in Duobao Daoist's expression, clearly choked by his response.

"This sly one, with truly thick skin."

Duobao Daoist thought this and seemed still not to give up.

Thinking for a moment, he continued to up the ante,

"I am not very worried about the Secret Demon Sect. Those rash fellows, who only know how to play with demons, are not worth my notice at all."

"Taoist monks are most troublesome," said the Daoist, "and though Demon Cultivators one by one are bold and unrestrained, in the eyes of us Daoist Cultivators, the most difficult to deal with are those bald ones from the Buddhist Sect."

"From what I've heard from the Guanyin Temple and Bao Yin Bodhisattva, as well as Bai Qin, they all say you have a fate with Buddha. There is no smoke without fire, and especially during the great disaster in Southern Yue, your ability to obtain the Buddha Bird Relics reaffirmed that statement."

"After my prediction, though obscure, I did glimpse some heavenly mechanisms."

"You are even more compatible with the secrets of the Buddhist Sect, and in the future, you will not only be able to open a separate vein for Bai Qin Temple but also enter Buddhism from Daoism and cultivate into the position of Great Freedom Buddha."

When Duobao Daoist said this, Tao Qian did not show any signs of impatience this time.

On the contrary, he appeared thoughtful, although somewhat inexplicably so.

Yet, for some reason, Tao Qian could tell that his present Master was not deceiving him.

Perhaps in Duobao True Monarch's prediction, it was indeed possible for him to enter Buddhism from Daoism.

Standing in place, after thinking for a moment, Tao Qian suddenly crushed all the numerous distracting thoughts that had begun to emerge in his heart due to Duobao's words.

With a light stamp of his foot, the 999 strands of Immortal Spirit Qi within him surged out immediately, and the Innate Dao Seed leapt out directly from the top of his head. Under the radiance, Tao Qian's Taishang Spirit Treasure No-leak Body also revealed itself. In an instant, within the auspicious cloud and mist, a true practitioner of the Dao road appeared.

With the Spirit Treasure Seal in one hand, Tao Qian spoke with the Nine True Spirit Sound:

"The disciple wishes to refine whatever Dharma he wants to refine."

"But if you, Master, continue to play these trifling tricks, I won't be able to restrain the restlessness within me, and right here I will have to build that Dao Foundation."

Such a scene, such a spectacle.

Finally made Duobao Daoist's face become solemn at first, then he laughed heartily:

"Good, good, to refine whatever Dharma you wish to refine."

"This thought is excellent. Carry this thought with you, and your Dao Foundation can be made."

As the sound of his voice fell, Duobao Daoist suddenly swung his sleeve.

Suddenly, the scenery of heaven and earth changed dramatically.

The sky above the Penglai Sea was originally decorated with auspicious clouds drifting and colorful mist flowing.

But at this abrupt moment, the sky darkened dramatically, many peculiar stars flickered, and this small heavenly realm seemed to directly border another world. A part of something resembling a gigantic tree trunk or a huge tentacle pierced through the star membrane, extending into this realm.

As it slowly descended over the Penglai Sea, branches spread and wrapped around, bursting with light, seeming to condense into one mysterious cave mansion after another filled with starlight.

If you follow it upwards into the deeper radiance, there seems to be many Immortal Palace Jade Towers and the dwellings of divine beings.

Any living creature in this world that catches a glimpse would surely give rise to the desire to explore and crave.

Tao Qian had time only to look twice, without the chance to do anything, before he was swept up by his Master with a wave of the hand.

At the same time, his Master's final words reached his ears:

"This is a piece of the Spirit Treasure Miao Tree's root from our Spirit Treasure Sect; all the disciples of our sect build their Foundation on it."

"My good disciple has a strong and steadfast Dao heart, and building the Foundation should pose no issues."

"Just remember, you mustn't let any flaw appear in your No-leak Dharma body, not even the slightest crack."

"If there is a leak, it will all leak out.

"Also, that Spirit Treasure Immortal Spirit Qi is extremely good, but you must not be greedy for too much."

"For every aspect of cultivation, there is a price to be paid."

"You need to weigh carefully whether you can afford that price."

With the final word from Duobao Daoist, Tao Qian's mind instantly filled with a Dharma filled with profound truths and vital acupoints.

In a moment, he knew that this was the Spirit Treasure Foundation Establishment Method for which Tao Qian had longed.

As he understood the Sublime Dharma, his body was already completely detached from the earth and sky, and suddenly he stood upon the roots of the Spirit Treasure Miao Tree that had come from the Outer Realm, piercing through the star membrane and hanging over the Penglai Sea.

Although called "root tendrils" by Duobao Daoist, what Tao Qian saw in front of him was clearly a wonderland.

Starlight twinkled and shone all around, surrounded by auspicious clouds and mists; while it lacked some auspicious beasts such as Immortal Cranes and Immortal Deer for adornment, the serene image made one want to immerse oneself within it.

Following the memory passed on by Duobao Daoist, Tao Qian knew that the way for the disciples of the Spirit Treasure Sect to establish their Foundation was to choose a suitable cave mansion here, to retreat and swallow the Spirit Treasure Immortal Spirit Qi, and to fill his No-leak Body.

"As expected of the Twelve Major Daoist Sects!"

"Who would have thought that Foundation building would be done in the sky."

"And what kind of Exotic Treasure is the Spirit Treasure Miao Tree, if just a part of its root is so immense and massive, what about the main body?"

Tao Qian muttered a couple of sentences and then strolled forward.

He'd not walked far when a mass of cloud and mist, full of Immortal Spirit Qi, bulged out to his right.

Tao Qian reached out to dispel the clouds and mist, and indeed, where the light emanated, there appeared to be a delicate Cave Mansion. On the outside, like a verdant tree hollow; inside, there seemed to be a pool of starlight, an Immortal Pond, its surface naturally generating a mist of cloud and mist, truly like the dwelling of an Immortal.

But on closer inspection, did this cave mansion already have a master?