Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 70 - 68: The Pest Disasters are Settled, Meeting the Matchmaker Again

Outside Seeking Immortal City, amidst the howling westerly winds, a colossal iron monstrosity spewing black smoke and wailing noisily made its way from the distant mountains and across the flat fields. Suddenly, a cacophony exploded as thousands of emaciated people with their families frantically burst forth.

Seizing the moment as the steam train slowed down, they used every means to begin climbing aboard, with able-bodied youths boarding first, then pulling the elderly and weak up after them, desperately stuffing up children and packages.

Amid the process, cries, howls, and shouts were incessant; some made it onto the train, while others did not manage to squeeze on.

After all, it was just a steam train, how could it carry thousands of people?

Moreover, more civilians kept pouring out from the gaping holes in the city walls, those who couldn't get on the train had no choice but to cling to their families and gather together anxiously waiting for the next train while nervously watching whether a large army was coming from the direction of the city walls.

Even though everyone was uncertain how long the steam train would take to reach the provincial city, what accidents might happen en route, or what would be the situation upon arrival in the provincial city,

They couldn't concern themselves with much else, wanting only to escape the present Human-faced Worm Disaster plaguing Seeking Immortal County where people died at any moment.

The future was unclear, but at least there was still a light of survival in their eyes.

But in the next moment, that light was rapidly extinguished.

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Because the train, filled with people, began slowing down amid urgent wails and clanging noises until it came to a complete halt.

The train had to stop, for unknown to them, a person had appeared in front of the tracks.

It was a figure resembling a general, extremely tall with Black Gold Armor covering his body and revealing only a pair of black eyes, holding a Fangtian Halberd that dragged along the ground.

Even his mount was armored, and it was not an ordinary horse, but a creature like a devil beast with black flames on its hooves, a single sneeze causing black flames to erupt and vanish in the air.

With the appearance of the Black Armored General, a large number of figures in black gold continuously swept forward in a particular area.

Even as they advanced, they formed arrays as unstoppable as bamboo, filling onlookers with terror.

The driver of the steam train, already panic-stricken by the throngs of people clinging onto it, now seeing the scene ahead had no more concerns and obediently brought the train to a stop.

With this stop, at the back of the train,

All the civilians were stunned, then they began to wail.

Not long after, heart-wrenching cries echoed outside Seeking Immortal City.

"Oh, Heaven above, all we want is to survive."

"I can die, but my children cannot."

"Please, let us leave this place; we've done nothing wrong, we just want to live."

"My parents were eaten by those insect creatures, and my wife is gone, too; all I want is to save my daughter's life."

...

These howls couldn't sway the hearts of the general and soldiers.

They were the Demon Suppression Army, a new type of force trained by Ji Xianxian, the Governor of Southern Yue, using Daoist and Buddhist secret techniques. Besides having the power to suppress Evil Demons, each one of them had a will as firm as steel; the cries and pleas of the civilians did not affect them.

After assembling, they simply looked coldly at the thousands of fleeing civilians and shouted loudly:

"Return to the city!"

"Return to the city!"

Instantly, thousands of civilians were so shaken that they were dizzy.

Cries suddenly ceased, and colors of despair and fear spread everywhere.

Despite the recent failure of this Demon Suppression Army under Master Xiao at the Iron Buddha Mountain, it wasn't due to their combat. First, their numbers were too few, and second, the Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva was well-prepared, having set up the Hundred Demon Embryo Blood Refining Array in advance.

If this army had reached the tens of thousands, able to form the Demon Refining Array, even the Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva's true body would have been put to the test.

Since they had appeared, the civilians' plan to escape was destined to fail without question.

Looking at the desolation outside the city, there was Tao Qian, who together with Lin Xiaohua, Taisui Baby, and a sentient Alien Species, was about to be packed off by Master Xiao's maids.

Tao Qian suddenly stopped and immediately turned to look at Lin Xiaohua and the chubby Taisui Baby.

Just then, Xiao Hua Daoist also looked over and nodded directly, confirming to Tao Qian the previous statement.

Without hesitation, Tao Qian took out two copper tokens from his arms.

Then he turned to Master Xiao, who seemed somewhat troubled and unwilling to harm, and said:

"Senior Xiao, the reward I claimed is not the only one."

"I also accepted the mission concerning the Human-faced Worm Disaster in Seeking Immortal County. Xiao Hua Daoist is my good friend; knowing about the disaster here, he especially brought this Taisui Baby to draw out and eradicate all human-faced insects in the city with its Essence Blood, safeguarding nearly a hundred thousand civilians from harm."

"My only request is for you, Senior, not to harm the very Life of this baby, as it is a naturally born Spiritual Object that should not have its Dao Foundation damaged."

"If Senior agrees, we can proceed now, and I will accompany these four sisters to your residence. Just give me a quiet room, and I will immediately begin casting to determine the situation of that Immortal Infant."

"How does that sound?"

As soon as Tao Qian finished speaking, he immediately felt an approving gaze fall upon him.

Master Xiao, generous in spirit, cast an interesting glance at Tao Qian, and with a wave of her hand, the two copper tokens in his hand fell into hers.

At the same time, a soft voice was heard:

"Seeing you execute the Sacrificial Sword with decisive killing intent, it was unexpected that your nature is actually a seed of righteousness, no wonder you were able to practice the Spirit Treasure Root Skill."

"Don't worry, since this Taisui Baby is willing to offer its flesh and blood, the plague of human-faced worms will be resolved here and now."

"This little one will not suffer any harm, and I, Master Xiao, will grant it some benefits."

"As for this abandoned disciple of the Heavenly Talisman Sect..."

At this point, the expression of this outrageously powerful expert from the Ten Thousand Infant Sect suddenly furrowed as if they had witnessed something inconceivable.

Then, pondering, she said, "I see, I almost failed to notice."

After these cryptic words, Master Xiao then gestured for her four maids to take away Tao Qian, Lin Xiaohua, and that sentient alien species.

She herself, with the Taisui Baby, instantly appeared outside the city.

Her gentle, motherly aura of a female fairy immediately dispelled all negative energies.

Without a glance at the fierce Demon Suppression Army, she waved her sleeve and brought thousands of civilians back into the city. Her infinitely tender voice then pierced into the ears of almost a hundred thousand citizens within the next moment: "Everyone, be at ease, the worm disaster will be eradicated forthwith."

It was a magical and yet perfectly natural change.

Once Master Xiao spoke, the atmosphere of fear that had lingered over the city for three long days instantly vanished.

A few breaths later, a scene that filled all the citizens with joy and tears unfolded:

Those patients who were weakened and near death from being parasitized by the "human-faced worms" suddenly had the tumors on their necks burst open. Inexplicably, the parasites voluntarily emerged and even before leaving, returned the essence blood they had consumed back to the mother bodies.

The source of this eerie event was none other than the top floor of the Star-picking Pavilion.

Master Xiao was seated in meditation in the pavilion that seemed to pluck stars from the sky. In front of her was a Jade Table with a Jade Plate on top of it containing a piece of meat that resembled "jelly", surrounded by a ring of translucent liquid. This exotic fragrance which was unbearable for almost any living creature began to permeate outwards.

And under the drive of some secret technique, once diluted, it began to cover the entire Seeking Immortal County.

It was this fragrance that drove all the human-faced worms madly to it, and in their desire to consume more essence, they instinctively regurgitated the essence blood they had already sucked out.

At the time of the human-faced insect's rampage, in front of the Jade Table, the plump baby called "Little Age" was looking pitiful, with chubby hands covering its own little behind. It was apparent where the piece of flesh was cut from.

Perhaps the incision was a bit too harsh; the lovable features of the baby were wrinkled together, as it sobbed and sniffled.

That pitiable sight even made Master Xiao feel a pang of sympathy. Her fair and soft palm gently smoothed over the baby's head, petting it as she comforted: "There, there, you were so brave when you were cut, and now you turn so aggrieved. If those junior cultivators saw this, they might think I'm taking advantage of you."

"Since I promised you benefits, here you go."

Before the words fell, a rich and milky "Source Qi" suddenly emerged from Master Xiao's palm.

Suddenly flushed with this Source Qi, the previously distressed Taisui Baby immediately widened its eyes, and its face embarrassingly showed a look of relief.

Then it crouched down like a little kitten, all smiles and blissfully lazy, as it enjoyed the Source Qi massage from the Great Cultivator.

That sight made Master Xiao both amused and sentimental.

"I hope Du Du is alright!"

"The madwoman Beautiful Corpse, she has provoked Guanyin Temple not enough, and now she's provoking my Ten Thousand Infant Sect. What exactly is she planning..."

...

While Seeking Immortal County was jubilant over the resolution of the insect disaster.

The isolated upper area of the Star-picking Pavilion, designated as Master Xiao's residence.

Tao Qian hardly had time to catch up with Lin Xiaohua, immediately entering a quiet room, sitting cross-legged, starting to communicate with his Puppet Body from a distance.

To avoid disturbance, Tao Qian's true body went into seclusion for three days, and the Puppet Body also found an excuse to close off for the same duration.

Now was precisely the time to come out of seclusion.

At Iron Buddha Mountain, within Peach Blossom Courtyard, the door of the quiet room opened with a "creak".

Tao Qian, controlling his Puppet Body, revealed a face full of exhaustion and disappointment.

As soon as he stepped out the door, sure enough, a pink glow shot towards him.

With pink peach blossoms dancing in the air, the figure of Nongyu Immortal Pan Hongniang appeared.

There was no need for Tao Qian to put on any realistic, impressive act, as Pan Hongniang instantly saw through the unchanged realm of her lover's cultivation. Coupled with his dejected expression, the outcome of his retreat to breakthrough spoke for itself.

Without needing to explain, Pan Hongniang moved in for a hug and tenderly comforted:

"Don't be disheartened, Fei'er, seeking a breakthrough through sudden insight has never been easy."

"If you really want to step into the Qi Refining Realm, I can help you."

"After all, we are not Daoist and Buddhist Practitioners bound by all those nonsensical strictures about heart and moral codes."

"If I let go of my Divine Soul to blend and Dual Cultivate with you, allowing you to absorb from me, tonight you can step into the Qi Refinement Realm without exerting the slightest bit of effort."

"Even though this will bring me nothing but harm and no benefit, if it makes Fei'er happy, I am more than willing."