Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 39 - 37: Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva Arrives, All on the High Platform are Pretend Immortals

In the side room, before a coquettish maid, Tao Qian was holding the "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram," the feeling of excitement in him was like the grand ringing of bells, assaulting his mind and spirit.

The format information perceived by his abnormal soul became even clearer.

[Record Name: Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram.]

[Record Type: Alien.]

[Record Description: This method originates from the great Daoist sect "Spirit Treasure Sect," one of the orthodox sects of Daoism. It does not demand much in terms of disciples' natural talent but focuses on their fortune and disposition. Due to this, the sect has many disciples and a congregation of the strong. The Nine Truths Diagram is one of its basic and essential methods. Cultivating it, one can obtain the Spirit Treasure Source Qi and enter the Qi Refining Realm. However, practicing this method primarily focuses on one's disposition, and any slightest mistake will lead to a fall into the Demon Path.]

[Note One: Upon mastering this method and stepping into the phase of Qi Refining, your body will condense a Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Map, which will autonomously sense and lead you to the gates of Spirit Treasure Mountain.]

[Note Two: This method does not include prohibitions against actions, diet, or carnal desires, et cetera, but only requires maintaining vigilance over one's heart. One must always follow their heart's desires, and any deviation from this will attract demons from outer realms, leading them to tempt and devour the cultivator's spirit and will, until they are completely mutated and fall into the Infinite Demon Prison.]

[Note Three: Even during normal practice of this method, one must be wary of demons from other realms; if any demon infiltrates the body, the cultivator will no longer be able to cultivate an untainted Spirit Treasure Body, and all hopes of entering the Spirit Treasure Mountain gate will be dashed.]

[Note Four: The cost can be waived!]

As Tao Qian read this information, a strong sense of compatibility inexplicably arose and dominated his spirit.

Although it was not explicitly mentioned in the record description, Tao Qian knew.

Among the three basic methods, this one was most suitable for him.

Tao Qian felt a strong impulse to immediately buy it, but out of caution, and considering that his wallet was still quite full,

He put the book back into the jade box but did not let the maid take it away; instead, he turned to Miss Xiao Qing and said,

"Keep this book, then go fetch the 'Little Freedom Heart Scripture,' 'Fake Infant Secret Technique,' and 'Spirit Communication Record.'"

"Don't worry, I will make a decision very soon and won't send you running back and forth for nothing."

Tao Qian kept Miss Xiao Qing busy, but it was merely a precaution.

Within the rules, he looked over three more volumes, selecting a Buddhist Heart Sutra, a minor manual from a side sect, and another basic method from a great Daoist Sect, "Heavenly Talisman Sect."

About ten seconds later, Tao Qian saw his target.

The touch that seemed ordinary on the surface, and the feedback from the senses, surprised Tao Qian once again.

The Little Freedom Heart Scripture could waive some costs, and so could the Spirit Communication Record.

But the Fake Infant Secret Technique, coming from a significant heterodox sect, the "Ten Thousand Infant Sect," was completely cost-free. Did this mean Tao Qian was fit to join the Ten Thousand Infant Sect?

Tao Qian shook his head inwardly and silently refused.

Regardless of whether it was due to a suitable natural talent or the "Small Innate Nascent Soul Escape Technique" he had learned and the three strands of Nascent Soul Source Energy within him,

The Fake Infant Secret Technique, though free of cost, did not evoke in Tao Qian that strong sense of compatibility.

It seemed there was no further need for hesitation.

Tao Qian had made his decision, but still chose to maintain his persona, saying with a restrained vigor to Miss Xiao Qing,

"Just this 'Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram' then!"

"By the way, I've heard that you human cultivators are superb at crafting curious and bizarre fun things and love collecting strange articles. Bring the Exotic Treasure adjunct volume as well, and I'll pick out some items to take back as small gifts."

Upon hearing these two statements, Miss Xiao Qing, who had been embarrassed several times due to "Dragon Qi Derangement," immediately brightened up.

The word "sales" was indeed crucial.

Whether in his past life or this otherworldly place, it seemed to be the case.

About half an hour later, outside the Joyful Treasure Pavilion,

Tao Qian strolled out, sporting a half-dragon visage. Although covered with scales, any passerby could see the pleased expression on his face.

Behind him, Miss Xiao Qing, blushing, walked slowly and shyly like a lady.

The guests coming in and out witnessing this scene secretly cursed, "Damned dragon cub, just living off a dragon's face and without shame."

Of course, Tao Qian did not know of the passersby's resentment, nor did he care.

At this moment, his mood was joyful.

He concluded that even as a cultivator, one could not escape worldly desires, at least not for now.

"Spending money is indeed too joyful."

Tao Qian thought to himself, with the backdrop of nearly spending all the three thousand Joyful Money he had extorted from Old Fox.

It wasn't that he had inherited the spendthrift nature of his former body, but rather, the "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram" he bought was excessively expensive.

Just that one thick volume, which could serve as his Lifebound Scripture, had alone cost a full two thousand Joyful Money.

Tao Qian considered that, including the service fee for Miss Xiao Qing and the miscellaneous expenses for fetching and reading the books, there wouldn't be many hundreds left, so he might as well spend it all.

With this thought, Tao Qian's desire to shop was unrestrained, and he soon emptied his wallet.

Of course, his gains were substantial.

Apart from finally acquiring the essential method he wanted, the other items he purchased also significantly enhanced Tao Qian's capabilities.

"Only this included Joyful Bag is terribly ugly."

"Why embroider such a thing, depicting the Plague Golden Toad, if not to save some royalties?"

Tao Qian, while walking away from the Treasure Pavilion, complained about the item resembling an incense bag stuffed into his chest.

The embroidery on this incense bag was excellent, with some gold wiring added; the front bore the large letters "Joyful Treasure Pavilion," while the reverse boldly displayed the "Plague Golden Toad."

Tao Qian, from his past life, found this style quite familiar; it's common to receive small novelties and souvenirs after shopping in big stores.

Generally speaking, one would deal with these matters.

A bit annoying, but Tao Qian couldn't possibly refuse, especially since the incense bag was actually a storage treasure bag.

It was apparent that Tao Qian himself hadn't expected that the first legitimate storage treasure he obtained since he started his cultivation would be an incense bag embroidered with a festering giant toad.

Although the inner space wasn't large, barely able to accommodate an adult human,

the "storage capability" was indeed genuine. Aside from holding the thick "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Diagram," it also contained a sword Tao Qian had acquired from the Joyful Treasure Pavilion, several elixirs, some incense, and other various items he believed could be of use.

These items had drained Tao Qian's funds.

"Money spent brings peace, it's time to descend the mountain!"

Tao Qian muttered to himself, then promptly planned to leave Tengshe Town.

Having struggled through most of the night and with dawn approaching, he needed to return to his job as the scholar manager of the Chengyou Bookstore.

Saying this, Tao Qian was about to step onto the main street, crossing through the stream of human cultivators, demons, and monsters, to leave the bizarre Tengshe Town.

But just at this moment, the sky unexpectedly began to flash with Buddha Light, followed by a massive amount of golden mist floating from the cloudy depths.

Instantly forming a sea of mist, resonant Buddhist chants that turned all heads on Tengshe Mountain to listen started to spread.

From far to near, solemn and grave.

What was even more astonishing was the procession that emerged from within the mist, walking on air.

Numerous venerable monks and nuns lined up on both sides, carrying Buddhist altars, incense burners, treasure covers, scripture banners, flower curtains, and sounds of wooden fish and copper bells filled the air ceaselessly.

In the center, atop a lotus throne carried by eight robust, golden-torsoed monks, lazily lounged a figure bathed in Buddha Light, appearing much like a "Female Bodhisattva."

As the Buddhist chants neared, the striking Buddha Light directly illuminated the dark, beastly Tengshe Mountain like a parasitic alien.

Everyone involuntarily lifted their heads to gaze at the "Bodhisattva."

She had a dignified appearance, seeming to possess the utmost beauty of this world.

Her skin was whiter than snow, with fine brows and shaped eyes, wearing a treasure crown, her hair up in a high bun, draped with a large scarf, in a long skirt, adorned with earrings, arm bracelets, bracelets, luxurious and beautiful, with her Rainbow Robe and Jade Belt fluttering through the clouds, uplifting everyone's spirits, making people long to attend upon the Lotus Platform.

For a moment, whether human cultivators or demons and monsters, all seemed to forget to speak.

They all stared blankly at the Female Bodhisattva on the lotus throne.

Many of the weak-willed even fell to their knees, bizarrely chanting the heretical "begging the Bodhisattva for the charity of her flesh" over and over.

Tao Qian, blending into the crowd, kept his head down, daring not to make any noticeable movements.

He wasn't begging for any charity from the Bodhisattva; he just wished for the Female Bodhisattva to move on quickly.

At this moment, in his mind, it was as if dozens, if not hundreds, of war drums were being pounded with heavy mallets.

Thundering!

A strong pulsating sensation, an indescribable sense of imminent danger, made Tao Qian wish he could transform into the "Earth Element" and burrow underground to avoid this ordeal.

He felt as if the "Female Bodhisattva" above him was lazily observing the crowd below.

Soon, it would be his turn.

Just then, suddenly, from the highest point of Tengshe Mountain, a commotion also erupted.

A coarse and fierce voice cut through, but the owner undoubtedly possessed a terrifying cultivation, directly suppressing the Buddhist chants and reverberating across the entire Tengshe Mountain.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

"Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva, it's heard that you've recently defected from Guanyin Temple, stealing a great number of cultivation secret manuals and Buddhist treasures, and thus you were accepted by the Demon Buddha Temple of the hidden Demon Path sect and even permitted to practice the Blood and Flesh Secret Technique from the Great Book 'Demon Buddha Scripture.'"

"But after all, you are a defector from Guanyin Temple, not far from that great temple. Aren't you afraid that your former comrades will come and reduce your beautiful body to dust?"

Following this voice, the assembly of cultivators and demons then realized.

Atop Tengshe Mountain stood a structure akin to a pavilion of the Heavenly Palace.

Above it was a high platform stretching into the sea of clouds, where, at this moment, a sort of banquet seemed to be taking place.

Surrounded by immortal tunes, with hundreds of flowers in full bloom.

The seats were nearly full.

Each guest appeared distinguished, each radiating immortal aura, wholly unlike ordinary mortals.

A single glance revealed that this was likely a banquet of the Immortal Gods.

Yet Tao Qian, with his remarkable vision, after just one look, felt a storm surge inside him.

Other guests, he did not recognize.

However, one guest, a beautifully bodied woman resembling a sacred Snow Woman, had been seen by Tao Qian once before.

Just recently, at the base of the mountain.

Tao Qian had personally witnessed this woman's body riddled with dense pores as numerous, bright, flat objects resembling "pork tapeworms"—several meters long—emerged and fluttered in the air.

The depth of revulsion, which could reach one's soul, was something no one could easily forget in a short time.

Even though, at this moment, this woman's shell was intact, holier than a Bodhisattva's.

"If there's a so-called 'Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva' here, then that supposed banquet of Immortal Gods at the mountain's peak is probably just a gathering of horrific, bizarre pretenders to immortality."

"How unfortunate, I should have left earlier. Getting lost in shopping is deadly indeed."

Realizing some of the signs, Tao Qian couldn't help but start groaning internally.