Longevity Chronicles-Chapter 298 - 217: Heterodox Witch Jiang Ruyu, Demon City Giant Merchant Liu Hongsheng

The Longevity Heavenly Dynasty of today has suffered a great upheaval that has lasted for thousands of years, with demons entering the world and Western influence arriving. Every corner and territory was undergoing earth-shattering changes.

If one were to select the most bustling city within this region at this time, the answer would almost certainly be without suspense.

Although the Imperial City and Devil City also had some competitiveness, the number one spot belonged undoubtedly to "Demon City."

Lanterns bright, a ten-mile western scene.

Looking at this city after nightfall was just like the descent of the White Jade City from the heavens into the mortal world, transforming after being tainted by the worldly air.

However, these neon lights in Demon City mostly belonged to celebrities, rich merchants, and bigwigs.

For the commoners at the bottom, being able to rest early was a stroke of luck.

Medicine King Temple!

Another bustling territory within Demon City.

During the daytime, the tide of people surged; it was a marketplace similar to the City God Temple. While incense and popularity were not as grand as the latter, it was not much less.

After all, which poor mortal didn't have their headaches and fevers? If they could seek medical treatment, they would; if not, they would go worship at the Medicine King Temple, seeking peace and hope.

At late night, when the commoners had all dispersed, this place would usually turn deserted.

But today was somewhat different.

Inside the temple, a stick of incense burned at its peak, a spark fell, and, in an instant, two voices, a man's and a woman's, suddenly echoed loudly.

"Mixed Element Realm!"

"Lanterns Illuminate!"

First, a sudden sweep of azure radiance shone over the entire Medicine King Temple Market area, opening a barrier that could isolate the Mortal Human Race.

At the same time, the originally darkened market suddenly lit up with brilliance; numerous red lanterns inexplicably appeared, ascending and hanging high in various places.

In just two breaths of time, a transcendent territory was formed.

After that, lights continued to light up within this area, each one signifying the entrance of a visitor.

In a short period of time, the Medicine King Temple appeared to twinkle like stars, and upon closer look, the originally empty market had become extraordinarily lively, with various human and non-human forms appearing everywhere, clamorous and noisy, as if the daytime scene had reemerged.

Only now, instead of all being humans during the day, there were now many who were not.

"Such a lively scene, so many cultivators and demon and monster within the Demon City?"

Still looking like a peculiar young man, Tao Qian, leading three little ones, also appeared at the Medicine King Temple area at some unknown time.

Perhaps out of bad luck, the spot they chose happened to be where demon and monster, mountain spirits, and ghosts resided.

At a street corner, Tao Qian looked to the left.

He saw seven or eight roughly dressed male and female mages, unkempt and dirty, with a wild aura about them and emitting the odors characteristic of venomous insects. At a glance, one could tell that they were the kind of people who consumed raw meat and were experts in using poisonous skills and techniques from the Heterodox path.

Seeing Tao Qian look their way, the female mage leading them grinned, revealing a mouthful of black teeth. With a wave of her robe, she performed a trick, handing over a dirty large wooden bowl filled with various plump and venomous insects that had been cooked and gave off a tempting aroma.

"Try some, little brother, these are all virility-boosting insects, guaranteed to invigorate you," she said.

"If you can't find a place to quench your fire, sister here can offer her services."

As she spoke, the female mage began to peel away a corner of her blouse, exposing a sudden burst of spring.

Such a brazen style made Tao Qian pause in amazement.

However, the female mage's disposition was surprisingly good. After Tao Qian politely declined, she wasn't irritated and began to chew the venomous insects while displaying her charms to the other cultivators.

To avoid embarrassment, Tao Qian turned his gaze to the right.

There were about a dozen figures, all ghostly beings shrouded in black mist, revealing their ugly and terrifying true forms – hanging ghosts, hungry ghosts, skinless ghosts, human head ghosts, and the like.

However, they were not merely ignorant of their true forms; they had all practiced cultivation and, barely, could also be considered cultivators.

These were actually quite normal, until Tao Qian noticed even more alien beings.

Such as a giant, thirty feet tall, with red, naked flesh; a group of extravagantly dressed little people the size of a thumb; a dwarf monster wearing a kasaya with a head as big as a bucket; a centipede monster formed by hundreds of interconnected heads; a group of fair and beautiful women, but with only human skin remaining, carrying lutes in their arms...

Compared with them, the heterodox mages were normal, and the ghosts were normal too.

Tao Qian and his group were even more extremely normal.

As he looked around, Tao Qian saw even more strange, wonderful creatures.

Even as a Great Master like himself, he couldn't help but feel his horizons had been broadened at this moment.

"A dance of a group of demons, immortals with extraordinary aspirations."

"Although most of them can't be considered powerful, if I were to get serious, I could slap many to death with one palm."

"But these are all lifeforms from underneath the heavens... previously they dared not step into the Mortal World because of the Ancestor God Forbidden laws, but now that the prohibition has broken, they have all entered the world."

"Whether it's good or bad cannot be easily determined."

As these thoughts arose, Tao Qian suddenly became aware of something.

He looked up towards the sky, thinking: "Here it comes."

Almost at this instant, above the Medicine King Temple, two splendid beams of light burst forth.

When the light subsided, the figures of a male and female cultivator emitting strong auras appeared before the eyes of all the cultivators present.

The male cultivator was a gaunt young man dressed in the white robes typically worn by doctors, and with surprisingly handsome features. However, his demeanor and attitude emitted an evil aura, and a red mole between his eyebrows made him look even more demonic, not like a decent person at all.

And the female cultivator was even more eye-catching, dressed in red garments and trousers, her right hand holding a red lantern, her left hand wielding a red folding fan, her hair coiffed in a high bun—her beauty was above average, yet it was her pair of black eyes, as dark as ink, that exuded an imposing air.

The two stood in confrontation high above in the sky, with many figures emerging behind each of them simultaneously.

The surrounding cultivators couldn't help but realize,

Both of these Transcend Mortality Realm cultivators had extraordinary identities.

One was the leader of the Changchun Society from Demon City, an organization that brought together various Nine Streams of Loose Practitioners. Usually inconspicuous, it actually possessed considerable combat power, with its reach extending deeply into both the Mortal World and the Cultivation World.

The second was the Squad Leader of the White Lotus Sect in Demon City. In the matter of rebellion, although the White Lotus Sect couldn't compete with the Taiping Army or the Devil God Army, they took a much more tenacious approach. Starting many years ago, the White Lotus Sect had been constantly rebelling and being suppressed but had never truly vanished.

Under normal circumstances, these two major forces shouldn't intersect much, let alone come into such direct conflict.

A prearranged combat duel?

One misstep and it would not only cost one side their life and Daoist extinction,

but it might also trigger an all-out war between the two forces. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

If it really came to that, it could directly lead to a major disaster; after all, both sides were large forces capable of mobilizing a great number of cultivators, not just minor sects or schools.

Many, like Tao Qian, were similarly puzzled.

Not far away, some people started to inquire and discuss.

Given that it was a place where dragons and snakes mixed, there must be people who were well-informed.

"Come, come, come, the betting starts now."

"The Changchun Society's 'Evil Doctor Immortal' has cultivated a sublime Dharma for health preservation and life extension, also known by the moniker of Undying Doctor Immortal. I hear that even the Cavernous Mystery Realm would find it almost impossible to take his life."

"And that Huang Lian Saint Mother, her Lotus Subtle Dharma is no ordinary skill, and while she may be branded with heresy and heterodoxy, in reality, she has a subtle connection with the orthodox Buddhist Sect. Her odds of winning are also incredibly high."

"Good, I'll bet on Huang Lian Saint Mother, but I'm more curious about how these two became enemies. They should have nothing to do with one another, right? Does any Daoist friend know the secrets behind this? If you can clear the confusion in my heart, I'll reward you with a Banana Spirit, a charm proficient in all kinds of pleasures. Daoist friends who are interested shouldn't miss out."

"Give it to me, this poor Daoist happens to know the details of this matter."

"It's quite simple actually, and it seems that everything might be settled tonight."

"As fellow Daoists may know, within the bounds of Demon City lies Ten Thousand Demon Square, a large trading place close to several provinces and even to the entire Longevity Heavenly Dynasty's cultivators. Any who are free would be willing to go there to conduct their trade."

"But recently, for some unknown reason, that square and His Highness the Ninth Prince have had some grievances. At last, the Ninth Prince relented, allowing other forces to come to Demon City to establish a second square with its location selected right here at Medicine King Temple."

"For some reason, this fortunate development is somehow connected to both the White Lotus Sect and the Changchun Society; it seems that the Evil Doctor Immortal and Huang Lian Saint Mother are the intermediaries, and thus a life and death enmity was born."

"Whoever wins gets to collaborate with the Ninth Prince to establish this Medicine King Temple Market."

"Hiss!"

As an interested individual finished speaking, a wave of astonished gasps swept through the crowd.

Any cultivator with a bit of experience knew the significance of a trading square.

Although the biggest share of this market was probably in the hands of the Ninth Prince,

just the scraps alone were enough to pique the interest of large forces like Cao Gang, Changchun Society, and White Lotus Sect, which exist both in the Mortal World and the Cultivation World.

With such a temptation, it's no wonder these two would come to blows.

"So, who will be the victor?"

Just as the cultivators were privately speculating,

Above Medicine King Temple, two terrifying auras were about to collide.

A "Cultivator's Conflagration" was set to unfold.

Yet at that moment, Tao Qian suddenly furrowed his brows and turned his head to look into the distance.

"More people are coming, and they're all very strong."

"Altogether five, all from Cavernous Mystery."

No sooner had Tao Qian come to this realization,

than five streaks of terrifying aura tore through the sky, swiftly arriving above everyone's heads.

At that instant, everyone felt as if five great mountains had suddenly pressed down over the sky,

No one dared to cause trouble at this time; they could only help but lift their heads to look at the five figures.

They were an elderly nun with Buddha Light bursting from the back of her head, a barefoot young girl in white garments, a short merchant clad in gold robes holding an abacus, a solemn-faced scholar in a long robe, and lastly, a general shrouded in black armor.

The aura of these five was as terrifying as mountains, leaving the thousands of cultivators and Demon Alien Species present deeply shaken.

Tao Qian's brow furrowed slightly, but before he could do anything, the crowd's discussions once again provided him with answers.

"Lotus Heart Temple's Master Jing Yin, the Heterodox Witch Jiang Ruyu, Demon City Giant Merchant Liu Hongsheng, an Elder from the Xiu Family Xiu Beihai, the Black Armored General under the Ninth Prince... How could these five have come together, and why did they come to Medicine King Temple tonight?"

"Hah, isn't it obvious? We've been played, that Changchun Society and White Lotus Sect never intended to truly go to war with each other."

"One side spread rumors to attract our attention to witness this, while on the other hand, they must have sought out these influential figures to negotiate at the Ninth Prince's Mansion."

"Now that the influential figures have arrived, it seems that the matter of establishing the market has already been settled."

"If nothing else, it looks like the Changchun Society and the White Lotus Sect, with their reach across dozens of provinces in the depths of the Longevity Heavenly Dynasty, plan to cooperate with the Ninth Prince to open this Medicine King Temple Market."

...