Longevity Chronicles

As a true practitioner of the Taishang Dao, one cultivates the life-bound True Method and refines the powers to prove Divine Abilities. One should be untouchable by evil demons, and falling to demonhood should be difficult.

Yet once one truly falls and mutates, it becomes very hard to stop.

Zhong Ziyang had entered such a state.

His Dao heart suffered continuous damage and completely shattered, vowing to slay Ying Qingdi.

Daoist Mei Su had intended to forcibly take Zhong Ziyang away, but the latter suddenly employed a secret technique, erupting in power without regard for the cost, and in a single effort stepped into the Ultimate Happiness Realm. Daoist Mei Su, his senior brother, was no longer his match.

Especially that lamp with leaping scarlet flames, the "Heart Lamp" that had not yet unleashed its power, had already turned three thousand miles of territory bright red.

The few strange cultivators exclaimed in shock,

"Taishang Primordial Life Returning Lamp!"

"This lamp condenses the cultivator's Dao Body Dharma Body, primal essence, True Spirit and true nature... Once invoked, mana surges and Divine Skills become invincible. Cultivators below the Daoist Transformation Realm who used this method could even instantly cross a major boundary, but after using this method, one would eventually reach the point where the oil is exhausted and the lamp withered, then true death of the body and vanishing of the Dao ensues, with reincarnation becoming difficult."

"It is said that if a cultivator in the Daoist Transformation Realm uses this method, they could directly channel mana from their past life to enhance themselves. Although they cannot contend with a Tribulation Immortal, they should be invincible among their peers."

"This is a secret technique of the Taishang Dao, I've heard of it but never seen anyone use it."

"Alas, Daoist Zhong's Dao heart has collapsed, leaving only a single vow. Unless he dies, no one can stop him."

...

While they divulged these secrets,

inside that scarlet sky, an unprecedented battleground unfolded.

These two were once like close confidants who understood each other as mountains and rivers do.

But now, they gambled with each other's lives.

On one side, Ziyang wielded his lamp, his body sprouting White Needles, and the already incomparable "Yin - Yang Micro Dust Array" rapidly expanded, grinding everything it passed into powder, scattering into the void.

On the other side, Ying Qingdi shed his clothes, revealing the true form of an Evil God's offspring. His body of Chaos flesh larger than mountains, with suppurating yellow eyes and meat pillar tentacles, was surrounded by a vast Evil Lake ocean, whose icy tides surged violently, brazenly crashing against the notorious aggressive array of the Taishang Dao.

For a moment, scarlet blood mist spread, needles flew chaotically, and flesh soared through the air.

No matter who it was or which side they were on, they could not get close.

Entering their midst was no different from seeking death.

Even Daoist Mei Su and the Fangcun Golden Ape had to retreat.

The little monkey loved to fight and was itching to join, but he was keenly aware that the two figures entangled in battle had feelings and resentments that did not allow for outsiders' interference.

Holding a dark gold staff, he scratched his head and said,

"What a pity, such a good opportunity for refining, yet I cannot participate."

"If I rashly interfere, I might end up being targeted by both of them. It's easy to fight that stinking pus-filled scab of a fish, but Brother Ziyang is now too fierce. If I get ground by his array, I might have all my golden fur stripped off. Not worth it, definitely not worth it."

Seeing how tense the situation was, everyone knew of the monkey's unruly nature and so left him alone.

While the two were fighting fiercely, Yuan Gong, who had watched the entire process from Tao Qian's embrace, sighed and once again transmitted his thoughts:

"Evil Gods are all disasters."

"That Zhong Ziyang, a cultivator and Daoist Doctor, was a talent of the Daoist sect and would surely step into the Ultimate Happiness, even having great hope for the Daoist Transformation Realm. Now it is truly a waste to perish here, despite the grandeur of the Taishang Daoist sect, this would surely bring them great grief."

"Young fellow, you should also leave quickly. Find a territory to make your breakthrough into the Cavernous Mystery first..."

Perhaps distracted by the shocking battle, Yuan Gong suddenly realized halfway through his statement.

His precious disciple had also undergone a major change.

Previously, two people had reacted very differently, one was Zhong Ziyang.

The other was Tao Qian.

Just Yuan Gong's phrase "If you can't save yourself, how can you save others?" was like a spark falling into an oil pan.

Completely igniting Tao Qian's spirit.

He, like Zhong Ziyang, couldn't accept it and instantly fell into demonhood, muttering to himself,

"It's too late, much too late."

"What am I cultivating, this 'Scripture of Salvation'? Stubborn and indecisive, if I cannot save myself, how can I think to save the people of this world?"

"Perhaps I should return to the mountains. Living in this mundane world only brings pain to myself and misfortune to the people. If I return to the mountains to participate in the ultimate battles, perhaps there's still a glimmer of hope..."

If there were anyone familiar with Tao Qian's experience here,

seeing his state, they would be shocked.

Usually thick-skinned and shameless,

he should not have fallen into demonhood due to self-blame.

Yet it happened to Tao Qian.

At this moment, the commotion inside his body was also quite strange.

It seemed like a transformation as well as a breakthrough.

Hideous mutations constantly sprouted on his body's surface, and although these signs of mutation were being extinguished by the Spirit Treasure Sublime Body, the source continued inexhaustibly. Especially as he seemed to have fallen into deep self-reproach, his features twisted and ferocious.

And within him, the immense human Dao fortune was like a flame in a furnace, generating the karma of all people, baking Tao Qian's spirit and soul.

The situation worsened as those Hundred Yellow Robed Lamas recited evil scriptures, transforming servants and followers, causing more and more human Dao fortune to pour into the Ancestor Dragon Society, especially Tao Qian's.

Different from the past, the fortune now was toxic; the fire of karma had become an all-consuming blaze, scorching Tao Qian's body and soul.

Such a punishment!

Seemingly casually mentioned with no alarming signs, in reality, the pain was not the slightest bit less than the torture Zhong Ziyang had inflicted upon himself by inserting one hundred and sixty thousand White Needles into his body to draw blood.