Longevity Chronicles

There, something extra had appeared.

Incredibly hidden, yet Tao Qian was somewhat exceptional today.

Reliant on the Innate Sense given by Senior Sister Lingji and his highly developed spiritual vision, he could see things other cultivators could not.

For instance, a thread of True Spirit?

Inside the giant toad's body, in a rotting tumor, there was a faint figure hidden.

This person was plump and white, with a face full of prosperity, wearing a blue Daoist robe, playing with a string of spirit treasure coins, sitting on a Jade Toad's back, his demeanor resembling a rich man from the Mortal World who was always smiling, and looking rather naive up close.

"This is my Uncle Jade Toad's True Spirit?"

No wonder Tao Qian couldn't help but doubt.

It was because this person, Master Jade Toad, was drastically different from the current ferocious and fierce one-horned giant toad.

Just by looking at the demeanor, who would have thought that such a naive true man, after death, could transform into such a horrifying appearance?

But the following incident left Tao Qian with no choice but to believe.

It was after this thread of True Spirit appeared that the already strengthening Immortal Corpse's energy surged once again.

And as the initially confused True Spirit of Jade Toad began to awaken, some of the long-silenced energies within the Immortal Corpse emerged, bringing a surge of intense premonitions of danger that suddenly dominated Tao Qian's mind.

"This is bad!"

Tao Qian didn't have time to think further as he fiercely slammed down his Demon Suppressing Stick, piercing through the rotten flesh of the giant toad, looking almost like another mundane delicacy—frog meat skewer.

At the same moment, Tao Qian's other hand reached out and directly dug out the tumor.

When Uncle's True Spirit was in hand, a new record immediately burst forth in his mind.

Master Jade Toad had been a powerhouse of the Ultimate Happiness Realm during his lifetime, and even if Tao Qian had searched thoroughly, he couldn't have seen any secrets.

But with just a thread of True Spirit, that was immediately apparent.

[Record Name: Master Jade Toad.]

[Record Type: Cultivator.]

[Record: This is a thread of True Spirit from Elder Master Jade Toad of the Spirit Treasure Sect, who was killed by an Outer Realm Divine Corpse during a fierce conflict at the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference with seven other immortals. He was supposed to be completely dead, yet the Divine Corpse from the Outer Realm had a calculating scheme, contaminated their corpses with Corpse Poison, and took away a thread of their True Spirit. They've been imprisoned in the Outer Realm for many years, the True Spirit somewhat dazed and currently awakening.]

[Note One: Master Jade Toad was originally an abandoned disciple of the heterodox Toad Sect and joined the Spirit Treasure Sect under the Sect Master, but as the Sect Master was too busy to teach, all affairs of instruction were handled by Ma Yi Immortal on his behalf.]

[Note Two: Among the Eight Immortals, Master Jade Toad ranked fifth in strength; however, due to his lazy and gentle nature, he was often considered the least powerful. The Eight Immortals could have reincarnated for another cultivation, but the other seven obstinately chose to participate in the absolute contest to strive for a chance to enter the Daoist Transformation Realm. The attempt ended in failure, and Master Jade Toad deeply regretted not persuading the other seven.]

[Note Three: Devouring this True Spirit will grant ninety percent of Master Jade Toad's memories.]

[Note Four: No penalty for devouring!]

...

Tao Qian directly ignored the third and fourth notes.

Is this some kind of joke?

He was certain that including his Master, Duobao True Monarch, probably every Elder of the Spirit Treasure Sect, and possibly even the Ma Yi Immortal accompanying the Sect Master, were watching the developments on the Island of Eight Immortals from hidden locations.

If he, Tao Qian, dared to devour a thread of his own uncle's True Spirit, he was afraid that instantly, the Heavenly Punishment Sword would fly forth to decapitate his head.

Besides, consuming True Spirit was something only evil cultivators did; how could he ever commit such an act?

What Tao Qian was really concerned about now were the deeper secrets he glimpsed from Jade Toad's True Spirit.

Not complicated, he summed up in a blink:

"Participating in the absolute contest of the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference requires going to the Outer Realm, or possibly confronting Outer Realm Divine Spirits?"

"The Eight Immortals had the Sect Master, but the Immortal Master Ma Yi handled the mentorship, so there's definitely Ma Yi's faction engaging in these behind-the-scenes maneuvers... wow, playing off disciples, even sacrificing a talented cultivator like Brother Xuu Xun as bait."

"The Eight Immortals could have reincarnated for another cultivation cycle, but they were too stubborn, choosing to risk participating in the absolute contest with an aim to ascend to the Daoist Transformation Realm, ending in collective failure."

"Among the Eight Immortals, Master Jade Toad was the laziest."

As these thoughts settled, Tao Qian also cast an odd glance at the chubby true man sitting on the back of the Jade Toad within the tumor.

No mistake, the disposition matched the appearance.

Just as this idea arose in Tao Qian's heart, suddenly, a very honest voice rang out in his mind:

"Kid, I see something off in your eyes; you must be bad-mouthing me."

"Which family's unfortunate child are you? State your name; once I free myself, I'll report your behavior."

The sudden hearing of these two sentences left Tao Qian shocked, and the next moment, he was eye to eye with a pair of small eyes.

Who could have expected?

A thread of True Spirit could also communicate with a person?

A cultivator of the Ultimate Happiness Realm could be this terrifying?

Wasn't it said he was under the control of the Outer Realm Divine Corpse?

These doubts surfaced in Tao Qian's mind while he absentmindedly looked at the giant toad impaled on his Demon Suppressing Stick, which unbeknownst to him had already recovered and started to struggle mightily to get off the stick, unleashing a terrifying power that nearly tipped over the Sky-Supporting Ancient Ape, who was usually renowned for his strength.

Since Master Jade Toad's True Spirit had awakened, didn't it mean that the other seven immortals had too? Then the battle situation would…

Indeed, as Tao Qian looked elsewhere on the island,

The truly inheriting candidates, who had just made a powerful show of strength, got entangled with the Immortal Corpse once more.

Even their treasures had been snatched back.

Unlike before, the restored Immortal Corpse, besides its intrinsic massive strength, now could also wield many fearsome Divine Skills.