Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 35 - 33: Brass Bell, Nascent Soul Escaping Skill

A spectacular and eerie performance, coupled with a story that sounded incredibly real and believable, left most people without any suspicion of the Fierce Ghost merchant before them.

Even because of this interlude, the dozen or so customers who crowded around began excitedly picking out items from the stall.

According to the Fierce Ghost Dwarf, these were the treasured relics from the tomb of a "Qi Refining Realm cultivator," a rare find indeed.

Under normal circumstances, Tao Qian should have left by now.

After all, the place reeked, the cries of those disgusting strange insects had just ceased, and he had a slight conflict with the Fierce Ghost Dwarf.

But Tao Qian's feet seemed nailed to the ground, unmoving.

His golden vertical pupils watched the Fierce Ghost wiping its mouth corner and comforting its belly, his thoughts spinning a few times, faintly guessing the creature's condition.

Its claims were half-truth, half-false.

"This Fierce Ghost is mutated from a human cultivator, and this is likely true, as such cases are extremely common in the Cultivation World."

"But it vomiting these insect eggs is probably due to contact with the infant demon corpse blood, causing the mutation; seeing how skillfully it handled it, it's clearly not its first time."

"That is to say, it has been over three days; this guy is doomed."

"Still resorting to deception now, perhaps to gather more Joyful Money to seek medical help, but alas, it's a dying struggle."

While Tao Qian speculated, his eyes also scanned the stall.

He did not believe the story the Fierce Ghost Dwarf told, but he trusted his own Extraordinary Perception.

Many items on the stall gave him a similar "thrill," he now knew was actually the infant demon death aura.

But amidst the subtleties, he sensed a faintly different fragrance.

Hidden amidst the infant demon death aura, extremely weak, but distinctly different in Tao Qian's perception.

Tao Qian squatted down and casually picked through the items, pretending as if nothing had happened, as if the accident had merely resulted from his hand slipping.

The Fierce Ghost Dwarf glanced at him, chuckled sinisterly, and also tacitly did not drive him away, thinking to itself:

"Who knows where this mixed dragon whelp came from, triggering my mutation sickness and making me waste a Red Flame Fruit."

"Just wait and see what you choose, I'll be sure to extort a good sum from you, hmm."

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

Of course, Tao Qian was unaware of the mental gymnastics of the Fierce Ghost merchant right before him, plotting to fleece this fat sheep.

Pretending as if casually, Tao Qian quickly picked out two items.

An iron flute rusted over and a brass bell, both musical instruments, revealing his related interests.

Quite reasonable, making it hard for anyone to hold any suspicion.

As Tao Qian picked up the items and signaled the Fierce Ghost merchant to ask for the price.

The creature opened its large mouth, its sharp teeth clacked together with a click, its bloody tongue flapping as it said:

"Noble guest, your taste is indeed excellent. Both of these items are ancient treasures. Although their names are unknown, each possesses divine abilities and are sound attack instruments of considerable power."

"If the noble guest likes them, give me 500 Joyful Money, and you can take them."

The price had just been announced when Tao Qian's classic national curse also immediately reached his lips.

Other customers also cast surprised looks.

The reason was simple; the price was too steep, outrageously so.

Usually, items of unclear origin, poor quality, and indeterminate powers, usage, and prohibitions did not sell for more than a hundred Joyful Money.

The same was true in his workshop.

It's known that even some Book of Skills, if the price was too severe, would only sell for a few hundred cents.

Two mere items with a unique aura, labeled as "ancient objects," definitely could not fetch 500 cents.

Clearly, the stall owner was trying to extort like slaughtering pigs and shearing fat sheep.

Initially, upon hearing this price, the other customers also felt a common indignation, debating whether to suppress the stall owner to prevent him from wildly making up prices.

But as the customers looked up and saw Tao Qian's expression, thinking about the previous minor conflict, they suddenly understood.

Well, this dwarfish ghost sure bears petty grudges, now taking revenge.

The customers kept silent, and Tao Qian did not indulge the creature either, throwing the two items back onto the stall and scoffed:

"Seems like you, this green-skinned imp, are crazed for money. Wanting 500 cents for these pieces of junk, do you think I look like a fool who doesn't know any better?"

"They are just supposed to be cleaned up and used as decorative playthings. If you don't want to sell them, forget it, keep them for yourself to blow and listen."

With that, Tao Qian turned to leave.

Although he was very eager for those items, at this moment, he absolutely could not let himself be extorted. Losing money was a minor issue, but he feared agreeing might stir up troubles and let the almost-captured prey escape.

As expected, as soon as Tao Qian turned, the Fierce Ghost Dwarf panicked.

The mouthful of satisfaction was momentary joy, but it almost forgot it urgently needed Joyful Money.

The being was continuously paying the price of transformation within its body and had also gotten involved in the "Deceitful Objects Fake," inexplicably contracting a dreadful sickness.

Desperate to live, it was doing everything it could to make money, couldn't afford the luxury of losing face.

Thoughts flashing quickly, it shifted with a ghostly blur, grabbing Tao Qian's arm with its sharp claws, cautiously retaining him.

At the same time, the Fierce Ghost immediately displayed its shameless ability to bend and stretch, smiling with its mouth stretched wide, trying desperately to appear simple and honest, although its ghastly face was indeed hard to look at.

"Noble guest, don't be angry, don't be angry. I was agitated by that sickness, momentarily misremembered the price."

"But indeed, the quality of these two items is also not bad. Both possess an ability to disturb the mind, confound the soul."

"Esteemed guest, if you could figure out the usage and taboos, the value would surely be even higher."

"How about this, take two hundred Joyful Money and it's yours."

During this exchange, the Fierce Ghost Dwarf suddenly reached out with another claw, eerily stretching it to grab both the rust-spotted Iron Flute and Brass Bell from the stall.

Then, it took out a soft piece of silk cloth, wrapped both items in it, and handed them to Tao Qian.

Seeing that the atmosphere had peaked, Tao Qian no longer continued to force the act.

He reached into his chest and took out two pages worth a "hundred yuan," engraved with exquisitely eerie Joyful Gold Banknotes.

Once Tao Qian got those items, he maintained his demeanor, scoffed coldly, then turned and left.

The transaction was complete, and while both parties were delighted, deep down, they both cordially wished each other well.

Tao Qian took the items and did not linger in the area, driving away the Green-scaled Demon that was about to pounce on his head and then returned to the main street of the workshop.

He found a loft along the street, paid a Joyful Money, and quickly acquired a spacious quiet room for rest and contemplation.

He sat down cross-legged and confirmed with his perception that there were no prying eyes around.

Suddenly, Tao Qian chuckled, took out the silk cloth from his bosom, and unfolded it directly.

His palm first grabbed the misshapen rusted Iron Flute, squeezing with his fingers, accompanied by a crackling and hissing sound.

In no time, the Iron Flute was gone, leaving only a small piece of iron slag cleansed of the infant demon death aura, which Tao Qian discarded to one side.

Next, Tao Qian looked at the brass bell, which was still in fairly good condition and about the size of a baby's fist, with eyes full of surprise.

His palm also grasped it, gently emitting Source Qi to expel the infant demon death aura attached inside.

Upon contact, a sense of perception instantly arose in Tao Qian's mind.

Oddly enough, it wasn't information about the bell but another spell.

[Name: Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique.]

[Record Type: Deceitful Objects.]

[Record: This technique originates from the Heterodox Great Book 'Infant Scripture' and is one of the numerous escape techniques. Although called a minor technique, it is a lifesaver for cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Realm. This technique requires refining a breath of Nascent Soul Source Energy; once mastered, it allows one's body to emit a fragrance naturally, making bees, wasps, and even fierce animals not assault, birds not snatch, and the gates of heaven and earth wide open to the eye without significant barriers, as free as fish in water, following the heart's desire and for the cost of one breath can escape hundreds of miles.]

[Note 1: A cultivator practicing the Infant Scripture perished in the wilderness, and before his death, he scattered his Nascent Soul Source Energy into his Essence Blood. All his Divine Skills and magic were also imprinted in his blood. Unfortunately, this method does not last long, and all imprints nearly vanished due to wind, rain, and the scorching sun, only this escaping technique remained preserved in the bell's inner wall for a few days.]

[Note 2: Refining the corpse blood inside the brass bell allows one to immediately learn this escape technique, but it comes with contamination from the corpse blood, and there's even a chance of being seized by a cultivator's Heart Demon, resulting in body snatching.]

[Note 3: Even if not body-snatched, and contamination is countered, once you learn this escape technique, you must not eat grains or touch meat. Violating this would transform you into something like an infant demon or Devilish Infant.]

[Note 4: Exemption from contamination, body snatching, and dietary restrictions.]

"Great escape technique!"

Tao Qian, clutching the tarnished Brass Bell, wore a face brimming with joy.

After a night of hustling, he finally got his wish, successfully finding a bargain for the first time.

This technique called the "Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique," although deemed a minor technique,

To Tao Qian, was genuinely a treasure.

Of course, that's assuming all costs were exempted.

Had he still needed to handle the contamination, the risk of body seizing, and the prohibitions against eating grains and meat… all these troubles, Tao Qian would only find himself conflicted, thinking the bell was as tasteless as chicken ribs but too precious to discard.

But now, Tao Qian felt couldn't be more perfect.

"If not for this gain, after returning, I'd still have to go and hunt those Earth Centipedes, one by one consuming them to practice the Earth Element Manual."

"Hard training yields only a few miles of Subterranean Evasion and reaching the Great Achievement Realm would only extend it to several tens of miles—an extremely mediocre effect."

"But this Nascent Soul Escaping Skill is different; using one breath, I could escape hundreds of miles. If my Source Qi is abundant, wouldn't I escape even farther?"

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and the next moment, Tao Qian acted.

Given all costs were exempt, what was there to hesitate about?

His fingers suddenly tightened, and with a burst of massive power, the brass bell was crushed into powder.

Immediately, an utterly bizarre event occurred:

From the brass powder, strange tadpole-like blood-red symbols crawled out. They wriggled and hopped, emitting a faint Exotic Fragrance that was refreshing and reminded one of a newborn baby—a pure and clean scent.

However, the characters seemed demonic, having a life of their own, rabid and aggressive, burrowing deep into Tao Qian's skin.

Before Tao Qian could stop them, in the blink of an eye, they succeeded and buried deep within his flesh, disappearing with a flash of blood.

Simultaneously, a hoarse voice emerged in Tao Qian's mind.

The voice urgently and crazily chanted cryptic mnemonics, trying to penetrate deep into Tao Qian's Soul.

However, before it could succeed, a force beyond description or imagination surged from deep within Tao Qian's Soul, shattering the bizarre Heart Demon.

Tao Qian, like those previous times, shivered intensely.

Then, Tao Qian felt something extremely special.

His mind inexplicably gained some new memories, carrying a technique called "Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique."

The entire content of this technique, specific facets, cultivation experience, and more were all complete.

It was as if Tao Qian himself had chanted it many times, difficult even to forget.