Longevity Chronicles

Chapter 952 - 612: The Demon Child Obtains the Plague God Umbrella, Spiritual Resonance Avatar Named Yupu

The Heavenly Furnace Demon Lord heard the vow and was overjoyed.

He thought this time he had struck gold; just three free treasure refinings in exchange for a significant promise from the future Revival Master of the Secret Demon Sect.

Even if the Secret Demon Child before him met misfortune and failed to ascend, it still wouldn't be a loss. After all, as a Talent Secret Demonic Child, capturing him to serve as a "Fire Burning Official" for five hundred years far exceeds the price of three treasure refinings.

The Demon Lord planned well, but he still fell into Great Demon Tao's cunning trap.

This one had thoughts swirling in his head, secretly musing:

"The infinite spiritual materials needed for this treasure from the All Heavens Secret Demon Nest, apart from the remnants of nearly shattered worlds like the Search God Realm, also require the flame divine objects and myriad artisan life forms... During the last forging of the Demon Nest, numerous ancestors captured a large number of 'Flame Demons' and 'Artisan Demons' to fill the core apertures of the Demon Nest."

"The Heavenly Furnace Demon Lord possesses both traits and has always been a target for capture by the ancestors, but as he had also attained the Dao, hiding in the Heavenly Demon Great Realm, it's impossible to catch him unless the ancestors all step forward."

"If success comes one day, luring him with just a single avatar into the Demon Nest might leave many subsequent troubles. Using this vow as a lure, I should refine both his true body and the entire Heavenly Furnace Demon Realm into the Secret Demon Nest. He wants me as a fire-stoker, and I want to turn him into a fireplace; our thoughts are mutual."

"Let's see what kind of treasure this old demon can craft for me."

As these thoughts concluded, the Heavenly Furnace Demon Lord, having received the promise, began refining the treasure.

He often tempered treasures for the Source Sea Gods, having seen all kinds of rare spiritual materials. The blood and flesh of the Heavenly Talisman Great Saint seemed ordinary to him, far from surprising.

Suddenly he opened his mouth and inhaled; like a storm sweeping through clouds, he drew chunks of mountainous flesh into his belly.

There, as the furnace door opened, it immediately reflected the inner scene.

Tao Qian, with keen eyesight, at once saw that within the belly of the Heavenly Furnace Demon Lord, apart from countless inter-realm spiritual fires, there resided millions of 'Artisan Demons', 'Flame Demons', 'Power Demons', and other Outer Realm Heavenly Demons related to forging.

In other places, these demons could wreak havoc, and a Demon Cultivator summoning even one would carefully tend to it for rewards.

But alas, here they were reduced to "Working Demons," bound within the belly of the old Heavenly Furnace demon, branded with numerous demonic runes, exploited recklessly, likely without any compensation, quite pathetic.

Tao Qian saw this clearly, and the million-strong army of demons under his command also saw it clearly. The strict military discipline immediately dissolved, and mocking comments spewed from these pampered demons:

"Wow, so many fellow natives; what happened to them? They all look awful, their aura weak, their Demon Thoughts not strong, quite pitiable."

"Hush, they're just pitiful demons, don't laugh at them."

"Alas, we Outer Realm Demons look fierce, but in reality, we bully weak life forms and suffer when we encounter strong ones."

"Isn't that the truth? The worst is when a clansman attains the Dao, knowing our roots, exploiting us ruthlessly, leaving no path to survival."

"Seems like our Master is the best, kind and honest, prepaying us before work, occasionally rewarding us with good demon pills; the Substitute Demon that followed Master first has not only ascended early to become a Three Body Demon but has completed a task and is nearly attaining the Dao, making demons quite envious..."

The Outer Realm Heavenly Demons communicated through Demon Thoughts.

The chatter of these demons turned into a storm, pouring into the belly of the Heavenly Furnace.

Instantly inciting unrest among the previously numb and stagnant Artisan Demons and Flame Demons inside, as a riot seemed imminent, suddenly the furnace world shook violently, exotic fires sprang forth, pervasive; before the furnace door closed again, a roar suppressing millions of demons echoed:

"Open the furnace!"

"Refine the treasure!"

The old Heavenly Furnace Demon, having attained the Dao, naturally possessed the divine power of Saying and Following.

Even if the millions of demons were unwilling, once the branded demonic runes lit up, they had to obediently begin working.

Soon after, the furnace door opened again, spraying forth treasure light.

A parasol-shaped treasure flew out, unfurling in mid-air.

It appeared to be a gigantic parasol seemingly made from tanned human skin, with the canopy covered in Plague-collecting and Poison-seizing Secret Rune Divine Spells, and the ribs pure white and immaculate, capable of repelling all-world plague and poison, containing a small secret realm within it that cleanses all filth and subdues all evil wherever it goes.

The old Heavenly Furnace Demon seemed quite satisfied with this treasure, yet introduced it in an offhand manner:

"This treasure is named the Plague God Umbrella, tempered from the Heavenly Talisman's blood and flesh, Divine Origin Qi, and Great Dao essence. Not only is it indestructible, but it can also collect all world's plague toxins."

"Within the parasol is a small inner world brimming with the Seizing Plague and Poison Origin Qi refined by the Heavenly Talisman Great Emperor. Combined with the Plague God Exorcism Spell on the canopy, it can be used for offense or defense."

"You, Secret Demon Child, have quite the fortune; this treasure is already top-grade, very versatile."

After the introduction, the old demon closed the belly furnace door again.

He cast spells to escape outside the realm, and before leaving, he nagged Tao Qian:

"Remember, you only have three treasure refining opportunities, and regardless of whether you use them all, once you become the Secret Demon Sect Master, you must fulfill your promise and allow me unrestricted viewing within the All Heavens Secret Demon Nest."

"Additionally, you young one should properly teach your subordinates; your million Heavenly Demons have been spoiled rotten by you, with no respect for hierarchy, what a disgrace."

Tao Qian listened to this, smiling, as he watched the old Heavenly Furnace demon depart.

Soon after, he mentally criticized the old demon with no reservations while looking at the Plague God Umbrella with glee.

"Hehe, the old demon is truly shameless, being an 'Artisan Demon' who serendipitously attained the Dao, yet after climbing to a high position, not only does he not help his clansmen but oppresses them worse, including the related Flame Demons, Blood Demons, Spirit Demons among these Heavenly Demon races."

"Overexploitation will lead to rebound eventually, yet he has the face to critique my demon-leading techniques."

"Being forthright, prepaying rewards, the Drawing Pie Skill, mixing favor with authority... which of these is not more brilliant than you?"

"However, your refining methods are indeed exceptional."

Upon speaking this last line, Tao Qian reached to capture the Plague God Umbrella.

In the blink of an eye, he refined it, fully understanding its nature and usage.

Immediately, he beamed with joy, praised:

"Capable of attack and defense, it can even perform large-scale group Divine Skills, truly a wonderful treasure."

"The first gain after entering the realm, extremely satisfying."

...

As they say, blessings bring disaster, and just as Tao Qian was rejoicing, feeling relaxed with the Divination Worm as his major reliance.

Who would have expected that with this slight relaxation, disaster would strike unexpectedly.

He didn't even have time to open the Plague God Umbrella to experience its power.

The mind suddenly became drowsy, and then a familiar gentle voice called out: "Junior Tao, Junior Tao..."

Tao Qian instinctively opened his eyes to see, and the flickering light and shadow before him indeed revealed a woman walking out.

This woman wore a wide robe with large sleeves, extraordinarily beautiful with an innate grace. Although she appeared pale, as if gravely injured, that unmistakably familiar spiritual resonance could not be faked.

Great Demon Tao, who is also Tao Qian, was utterly certain at this moment:

This woman is precisely Xie Lingji.

Or rather, she must be one of Xie Lingji's avatars.

Just as he was confidently about to act, the woman's figure dissipated like an illusion, followed by an overwhelming sense of impending crisis that made Tao Qian's heart skip a beat.

At a second glance, the world had truly changed in appearance.

White flesh surged, and red ropes fell like rain.

The wild laughter of Lord Red Rope echoed:

"Hahaha... So that's how it is, this Secret Demon Child actually went to the Daoist sect as a spy and seemed to have fallen in love with a Daoist fairy because of it."

"Immortal and demon are different, such karma is destined to be a fateful bond. Witnessing such a grand scene was worth the cost of depleting my original essence to cast a forbidden technique to frame you."

Before this fellow's laughter could resound.

The world shifted once more, and a fish-basket phantom flew in, capturing this small world completely within it.

Then those terrifying "Heavenly Intent Killing Needles" fell like raindrops, seizing the moment of Tao Qian's hesitation to fully pierce his body.

Fish Basket Guanyin's true form, teleported over.

With a hundred arms moving in unison, many killing divine weapons struck down upon Tao Qian, who was nailed like a dead fish.

Good Bodhisattva!

Not a single wasted word.

It seemed she took the previous lessons to heart, seizing the opportunity of the ambush to first skin and dismember Tao Qian, then attend to other matters later.

Up until this moment, the "prediction and warning" from the Divination Worm finally tardily appeared in Tao Qian's mind:

"Lord Red Rope has convinced Fish Basket Guanyin to temporarily spare Him and used a secret technique to communicate, deducing you possess foreknowledge-type divine power and exotic skill."

"Fish Basket Guanyin first cast a secret technique to obscure heavenly mechanisms for three instants, then Lord Red Rope depleted more than half of his original essence, also casting the divine power forbidden technique 'Destiny Karma Body Observation Divine Spell.'"

"This spell has significant origins, being one of [Red Rope God's] attained divine skills, able to remotely summon the karmic body of any lifeform's fateful bond, causing all observers to temporarily lose their heart soul and all perception."

"The divine spell ranks extremely high, and with Red Rope God communicating across all heavens and examining the Source Sea, it genuinely captured a wisp of an aura from Xie Lingji's eighth avatar shell, manifesting as a phantom descending upon this realm."

"Came and went swiftly, known only by the name Liu Yupu, gravely injured, whereabouts unknown."

…

"Worm, you misled me, too late to say now."

Nailed alive onto the ground, Great Demon Tao shouted inwardly while immediately casting to struggle and counterattack.

Although there was only an instant of spare time, it was sufficient for him to utilize various measures.

First came a whistle, and dozens of Source Sea Demon Dogs instantly leapt out, half to entangle Fish Basket Guanyin, the other half planning to grab Tao Qian and flee. Though unable to carry away the whole body nailed down, they could dismantle the head, limbs, and torso to carry separately, reassembling them with spells later.

Unfortunately, this trick was ineffective.

Fish Basket Guanyin evidently learned from past lessons, seemingly putting in more effort and bringing in more divine origin qi and divine demon clans from the main body.

With an angry shout, tens of thousands of evil ghosts from the [Bodhisattva Group] capable of at least the Hundred People Slaughter and Thousand People Slaughter surged out, employing a human wave tactic to hold back all the demon dogs.

She saw also the million demon heads under Tao Qian's command rushing forward shouting "Save the master", and with her dharma body's hundred heads and thousand arms moving simultaneously, vast divine skills and exotic skills, as well as killing demon soldiers, swept forth, temporarily isolating even the million demons.

Another sound came from behind his head, wind approaching once more.

The Bodhisattva was amused with anger, scolding: "Good demon child, such a vile trick, where can it fool me a second time."

With these words, her main head suddenly twisted, using her face to forcibly strike the [Ten Thousand Desires Yin Yang Pillow], though it bashed her head bleeding, it avoided the disgraceful fate of falling into the ephemeral dream.

Despite having all his consecutive moves resolved, this did not stop Great Demon Tao from exerting his remaining strength, hurling the Evil-slaying Sword at Fish Basket Guanyin.

Then the demon sound rolled and echoed throughout the scene:

"Good Bodhisattva!"

"Though you cultivate a contrary Buddhist law, you are nonetheless a Buddha."

"Therefore, this time, you shall receive one 'Destroying Buddha' from me!"

Before the words finished, the sea-like sword intent entirely targeting the Buddhist sect aura was already unleashed.

The vast Fish Basket Secret Realm was filled with the Destroying Buddha Sword Qi.

But what surprised Tao Qian was, the next instant he heard not the anguished howls of Fish Basket Guanyin, but rather those of another, Lord Red Rope.

His pale white flesh, bound by endless red ropes, was forcibly pulled over by Fish Basket Guanyin to block before the sword intent.

Having cast a forbidden technique, he was extremely weak, incapable of even a struggle.

Though the Destroying Buddha Sword Intent did not specifically target Lord Red Rope.

Yet such a grand and ferocious sword technique struck him, unable to resist further, after a wail, he perished in an utterly straightforward manner.

This also meant that the domain demon god, Red Rope God, has lost all his investments in the Search God Realm.

And Great Demon Tao, for the first time, felt a sense of his own skills reaching their limits.

Seeing Fish Basket Guanyin swallow the thoroughly deceased Lord Red Rope into her abdomen, then come towards himself, he couldn't help but want to shout:

"I am doomed!"