Longevity Chronicles

Chapter 930 - 597: The Wild Gods Drive Tigers to Devour Wolves, Tao Buddha's Son Feeds the Heavenly Dao (2)

"Drive the tiger to swallow the wolf!"

"What a brilliant scheme indeed!"

...

If one's spiritual wisdom is slightly higher, they can discern this inexplicable shared mind, which must be hiding treachery.

Unfortunately, these are all rural Wild Gods, lacking great wisdom, but filled with cleverness.

Upon meeting, all felt it feasible.

Those slightly farther away couldn't act yet, but the Slaughter Ghosts within Cold County had all been refined, naturally without any constraint.

Under the simultaneous conveyance of "Spiritual Response Divine Oracles" by many Wild Gods, the county people, who were about to head home, suddenly all collectively headed towards the One-legged Divine Mountain.

By coincidence, they happened to block the Jiang Sisters' family who were planning to leave.

Before the latter could do anything, several actors stepped out from the county people.

They appeared to be old men and women.

Seeing Jiang Caiping and others, they came over in tears, knelt on the ground, and wailed one after another:

"Empress, Imperial Concubine, Crown Prince, Princess... we, the people, have yearned for you for so long that we've finally awaited your arrival!"

"Jia Qiuchi, this treacherous minister, despicable and shameless, plot to usurp the throne and will not die a good death."

"And this Seven Slaughter rebel army in Langya County, their leader, said to be surnamed Zhang, was originally a border soldier in Langya County. He actually worshipped an Evil God called [Seven Slaughter Bodhisattva], causing Evil Ghosts everywhere in the county, with corpses lying across the field. You saints must uphold justice for us people."

"The Gods we follow have all conveyed divine oracles, commanding us to serve the Crown Prince, restore Liang Country, and expel the treacherous ministers."

"Crown Prince... no, Emperor, why not use our Cold County as the beginning, first eliminate the Seven Slaughter rebel army, then trouble Jia Qiuchi, the treacherous minister."

"Good!"

"Excellent!"

"Hail to the Emperor!"

"Hail to the Emperor!"

With these elders shouting, thousands of county people kneeled together, starting a chorus of cheers.

This scene left the Jiang Sisters and Shi Beiniang dumbfounded, as if in a dream.

It's no wonder they were surprised; the contrast was too great.

Before, they had thought of restoring the country, but due to the Li family's unpopular rule, even with noble status, they were not welcomed anywhere, and some people even deliberately leaked their whereabouts to collect rewards from the Red Rope Army and other rebel forces searching for the sisters.

Who would have expected such a scene, only appearing in dreams, to come so abruptly?

And as the "originator," Tao Buddha's son was also momentarily surprised by the cleverness and performance of these county people.

The effect was so good, it was both laughable and tearful.

"It seems this realm is not only entirely different from the Longevity Realm in terms of scenery, but also the human heart is vastly different."

"Such a crude open conspiracy would be effective in the Longevity Realm, but not as good as this."

"It is reasonable, however, that those who survive in this broken world, regardless of age or gender, have likely learned early to act according to circumstances."

"Compared to them, the family just descending from noble positions might not be able to swallow their pride."

As soon as Tao Qian had this thought, the next moment it became reality.

Though very helpless, the Jiang Sisters, along with Shi Beiniang, could not refuse the people's plea for help.

On that day, the six-year-old Prince Li Xuan, supported by the people of Cold County, stumbled into starting the great undertaking of restoring the country.

...

The unexpected progress in the great undertaking of restoring the country came as a surprise.

Not in training the army!

Nor in stockpiling grain!

But in building the Peach Blossom Temple.

Promoted to "Empress Dowager" Jiang Caiping, directly using public resources for personal ends, her first Imperial Edict was to make the people of Cold County engage in large-scale construction to build a top-grade Peach Blossom Temple.

She spent another day ensuring all Wild Gods and True Gods in the county handed over Spiritual Objects as offerings.

On that night, a ritual was set up and a sacrifice was performed by the Jiang Sisters, the Peach Blossom Goddesses.

Though Tao Buddha's son was adept at trickery, this was the first time he was elevated so high and worshipped by thousands.

Initially, he thought that this small county town, dominated by some unremarkable Wild Gods, would yield nothing of value.

Surprisingly, there was something.

Taking advantage of the crowd's bowing, Tao Buddha's son inside the Jade Pillow Divine Statue quietly opened his eyes, and following the guidance of the Divination Worm, immediately locked onto two items among the many offerings:

The first was also a divine statue, outwardly in the form of a Human Clan, with a gaunt figure, wearing a Black Gauze Hat, dressed in a padded jacket, disheveled and dirty, with eyes oozing pus and blood.

The second was a mummified corpse, appearing to be an aogou-dog, with a terrifying death stance, and still holding a pure white, peculiar Lingzhi in its mouth.

Both items exuded an ominous aura.

Even Tao Buddha's son could not decipher their true nature at first.

Fortunately, at this time, the Little Divination Worm had gradually invaded the entire Cold County.

In an instant, the secrets it glimpsed flooded into its master's mind.

"In the Great Abyss, there was an Acquired God Demon [Living Impermanence] that once descended into the Search God Realm to spread its teachings, developing its clan, and after plundering completely, departed, but left behind an Impermanence God Statue. This is a Divine Treasure with Extraordinary Power; as long as even one of its clan remains, this statue can possess corpses, roam a thousand miles at night, gathering resentful spirits... Once the statue is filled, it will manifest as a Living Impermanence avatar and escape this realm."

"In the Great Abyss, there is a hidden God Demon [Corpse Ganoderma], originally a spirit monster formed from a aogou-dog, which in a chance encounter deep within the Source Sea, declared itself a God Demon. Its specialty was 'Nourishing Corpse Ganoderma', and it once spread its teachings here, plundered and left, but left behind a mummified corpse. By night it becomes animated, seeking corpses to nourish the Ganoderma, which once cultivated, will transform into a God Demon avatar and escape this realm."

"The local Wild Gods of Cold County have long been oppressed by these two entities, seething but unable to speak out."

"Taking this opportunity, a chaotic and hurried transport brought them here."

"If during the day they can't be subdued, the two will call upon their true forms to descend by night."

After understanding this, Tao Buddha's son instantly knew why these two treasures had appeared among the offerings.

Clearly, these Wild Gods, who had long been tormented, could not compete for resources with these two, their rank and Mana far inferior. They could only watch with helplessness, but when opportunity arose, they simply brought them for sacrifice to the Peach Blossom God.

In a way, this was also a kind of test.

If the Peach Blossom God, transformed from Tao Qian, could not subdue the two, then this grand scene would naturally vanish into smoke.

Yet observing the arduous process the Wild Gods went through to transport these items, Tao Buddha's son even found it difficult to scheme against them.

Upon examining the other offerings, they were not to the level of the two items, but they were quite good.

This outcome once again rendered Tao Qian completely surprised.

However, after a brief contemplation, he understood the mystery within, laughing in his heart:

"These sly and cunning Wild Gods, fearing that this 'powerful God Demon' from the Outer Realm wouldn't exert effort, have harshly brought out some valuable things."

"Originally, these items were meant for them to consume themselves, unwilling to share even a sliver of the Source Qi of the Search God Realm."

"How foolish the Heavenly Dao of the Search God Realm is, setting rules with too many loopholes."

"As an outsider, I merely coaxed lightly and succeeded instead."

"It's fine, I'll first subdue these mixed soldiers and then plan for more."

"If it were other famous God Demons, it would be one thing, but what do these [Living Impermanence] and [Corpse Ganoderma] count as?"

With this thought settled, Tao Qian immediately gave the Jiang Sisters a response.

In the blink of an eye, the fake Peach Blossom Spirit Refining, the true Ten Thousand Demon Refining Spirit Array spread out.

All offerings, including those two items, were enveloped and set aflame with the brilliant Peach Blossom flame.

To avoid being exposed, Tao Buddha's son also forcefully ordered the Yin Yang Demons to quietly join in, acting as fire-tending children, while also suppressing the inevitable struggle and resistance from the two items.

Indeed, during the process, it happened.

Living Impermanence, reviving from the flames, immediately attempted to escape, only to be slapped back by the Yang Body Demon Child.

Corpse Ganoderma, being more cunning, intended to leave behind the Corpse Ganoderma in its mouth, recovering a wisp of Source Qi incarnation left in this realm, but was promptly pinned down by the Yin Body Demon Child, unable to escape.

From the outside, it appeared that the worshipped Peach Blossom God was accepting the offerings.

But the real scene was Tao Qian bribing the Heavenly Dao of the Search God Realm.

While burning offerings to the dazed Heavenly Dao Origin, concurrently shouting:

"One who eats from others has short mouth and reach... Having partaken in my tribute, there must be a sharing of benefits, more Mana, and generous permissions."