Longevity Chronicles
Chapter 654 - 424: Bu Chi Buddha Enjoys the Scenic Beauty, Desiring to Write a Love Letter for Tao Qian

Let's talk about what happened last time. Master Yuan posed as half a riddle man and lamented that he was one destined to die young.

Though his few words before the statue did boast his former renown quite prominently.

"Slashing Duobao, cleaving Xuandu... Well, originally I dared not speak the name of my true master, lest I invite his enemies."

"Now, it's probably not good to boast about your second master, either. While the Demons might not dare provoke, it might inadvertently invite a host of Righteous experts and strong people."

"Add to that the troubles I brought upon myself, the number of enemies has only grown."

Master Tao sighed as he spoke, his gaze fixed on his follower, Lian Jing'er.

The child entrusted to him by Daoist Xiao Hua had also grown over the years.

Little Age was still manageable, but Taisui, with his high talent, was bound to be a great help if he continued his cultivation.

And Lian Jing'er, this Mechanical Species, was even more so.

However, various signs along the way suggested that Lian Jing'er carried some secrets.

But the secret remained elusive for now; he still had to wait for this Mechanical Species' life to reach a certain stage.

"In this world, who doesn't carry some secrets?"

"After all, it's me who painstakingly raised you. Might be that I'll have to rely on you to save me someday."

Master Tao, who had got someone pregnant and was gradually entering the path of setting up a family, languidly stroked Lian Jing'er's mechanical cranium.

In response, Lian Jing'er swept a divine light of confusion and reported his taming results.

A series of mechanical sounds and a barrage of half-ancient, obscure words flooded his ears.

Fortunately, after spending a long time with Lian Jing'er, Tao Qian quickly grasped the essence.

"You mean to say, you have subdued and tamed the Outer Realm Source Species, and implanted a Secret Technique called 'Creation Poison' within it?"

"If this bodhisattva merges with other Bodhisattvas, could it use the power of creation to corrupt the 'Namo Nirvana Demon Buddha' that might be formed, or even outright destroy its incorporation into a Demon Buddha?"

After Tao Qian finished speaking, Lian Jing'er nodded in agreement.

Somehow, after pondering the matter, Master Tao found this method feasible and strangely familiar.

"Is the source of inspiration for this technique... me?"

"Indeed, according to the analysis of Brother Tao's many past successes, this method is most covert. There is roughly a three percent chance of corrupting the Demon Buddha during fusion and seizing its body, while the chances of breaking the merge of the eighteen Bodhisattvas into a Demon Buddha are over ninety percent."

Lian Jing'er's response suddenly choked Tao Qian.

Clearly!

This mysterious Mechanical Species had been gradually corrupted by the great Master Tao himself.

If such was the case with Lian Jing'er, Little Age and Shan Jiu were likely not spared either.

For now, the other two weren't found to have shown their potential.

"That's also good news!"

"A three percent chance is not low, considering the opponent is a Demon Buddha."

"Still, it might be best to employ the second method. Just ruining that Nirvana Demon Buddha, leaving only the Great Transcendence Bodhisattva untouched, wouldn't amount to much trouble after all."

While Tao Qian was pondering these matters, he suddenly heard Yunrong whispering nearby.

It was his sister, using the Heart Seal Technique to transmit her message, simply saying:

"The fish you've been waiting for has bitten the bait."

"Zhen, that Buddha's son who had the empty cicada as his master, has returned from Qiantang City with a flock of women and is now outside the Floating City seeking an audience."

Hearing this description, Tao Qian couldn't help but feel curious and puzzled.

Zhen Buchi was indeed a Buddha's son, but what did she mean by a flock of women surrounding him?

Even if he followed a demon monk, his entourage should be Heavenly Girls, Desire Slaves.

However, Tao Qian soon saw the reason for himself.

As he, Yunrong, and Zhen Ci'en left the Buddha Tower, he saw above Suzhou City a giant lotus pod emitting rainbow lights and exotic fragrances.

On it, there were around seven or eight women and a passionate Miao Monk.

These women, all cultivators as seen from their aura, came from distinguished origins.

Either True Inheritors of Great Sects or daughters of influential families, including Daoists and nuns from the convents. Sоurсеd dirесtly frоm МVLЕМРYR.

Their dresses varied in color—red, green, yellow, blue—their eyes flickering with emotion, seemingly infatuated with the young monk at the center.

This monk, judging just from his appearance, was not inferior to Tao Qian's portrayal of "Wu Gou."

Dressed in a bright red kasaya, his skin was fair and his features beautiful.

His face shone like the moon, his eyes held autumn dew, his lips as if glossed, and a cinnabar mole adorned his brow—handsome and peculiar, captivating all beings.

Such attire, if seen by Evil Cultivators, would undoubtedly lead to ridicule, calling him a devil monk, a "rabbit lord."

Of course, the weaker demons might not dare for this fetching monk only appeared fragile; a creeping aura from within hinted at his cultivation.

Cavernous Mystery Realm!

His appearance, cultivation level.

His origins and identity were self-evident, undoubtedly that of the Zhen Family's young master, the Unconcerned Buddha's son.

This person indeed had an extraordinary reputation in Suzhou City; seeing him arrive, the whole city shouted his name.

However, at this moment, what entered the ears of Tao Qian, Yunrong, and Zhen Ci'en were the words of the female cultivators atop the giant lotus.

Apparently, despite some dissatisfaction among them, there was no hint of hostility, no underhanded ruthlessness, just some sarcastic banter.

"Brother Bu Chi, why are you staying so far from me today? Could it be that after having your way with me yesterday, you've grown tired?"

"Brother Zhen, there's no need to coax me. Having more years on you, Miss Chi would not stoop to such pettiness."

"If Zhen has moved on from there, then don't come over here. You say you know my heart, but how could you forget that I despise the powdered scent on the Wang family girls the most? I detest osmanthus, so common and overpowering, yet she adores those flowers, it's utterly vexing."

"Husband, don't come close to me either. Earlier, my sister asked you to play 'Phoenix Seeking Phoenix,' but you claimed your heart wasn't in it and couldn't strum that jade-stringed qin. Yet last night, you were quite in the mood, entertaining Sister Bai Que'er with your flute for hours on end, so joyfully."

"The sisters should be content. Luckily, Brother Bu Chi failed to marry the Devil Concubine and instead angered Shipi Arhat; otherwise, where would we stand?"

...

Previously, these coquettish female cultivators' remarks were hardly lethal.

Until one stern-faced nun suddenly spoke up, causing Bu Chi Buddha's complexion in the center to stiffen.

Then it shifted to a sorrowful hue.

Abruptly, he tore the nine-colored agate jade Buddha beads from around his neck, letting each bead fall, and sat himself down, ringing out a profound and resolute declaration.

"That's enough."

"I, Zhen Buchi, am but a worldly object that should have rotted away long ago, how could I let my mistakes incite resentment among you sisters, disturbing your peace?"

"I shall dissolve into nothingness right here, that is the only proper course."

"I only wish that after my death, this useless body, this vulgar soul, may emit a trace of Buddha Incense, forever accompanying these beauties."

"With this, I, Zhen Buchi, would be content."

Before the echoes of his words faded, a peculiar sound was heard.

To Tao Qian's amazement, a blaze of Red Lotus Karma Fire unexpectedly erupted from within Zhen Buchi, truly beginning to consume his Daoist Body Dharma Body.

In a flash, a translucent skeleton emerged.

It was clear to anyone that if the burning continued, Zhen Buchi would undoubtedly die.

Was he serious? Was he truly planning to end it all right here?

Tao Qian could see it, and the other female cultivators didn't even need to look.

As he made his move, as if experienced in such a situation,

they promptly executed their Sublime Dharma.

Here, the female cultivator nuns joined forces to extinguish the fire, and there sisters smeared medicine ointment. There were cries and consolations, the scene was a frenzy, almost performing the Yin Yang Joyful Path.

This spectacle left Tao Qian and his wife Yunrong completely stunned.

This whole family!

Were they here as guests?

Or were they flaunting these amorous affairs?

By Yunrong's side, Zhen Ci'en, blushing with embarrassment, could only telepathically communicate with them:

"Master, Great Master."

"Please do not blame us, my brother Ci'en is foolishly infatuated with love affairs, following the 'Love Monk' Path, hence these eccentric and foolish behaviors."

"These acts are all part of their path of cultivation."

"Just wait for a few moments, and they will come to their senses."

Indeed, as soon as Zhen Ci'en finished,

Zhen Buchi, now calmed by his sisters, restored his Taoist Body and traveled up into the Sky-reaching Floating Pagoda.

Though it was their first meeting, this monk, along with the women around him, stared at Tao Qian and Yunrong with an intense, admiring gaze.

Then, with palms pressed together, Zhen Buchi exclaimed,

"Monk Bu Chi, at your service. I've long admired the name of Daoist Wu Gou and Daoist Miao Yin."

"Had my master not delayed me for a few hours, I would have hurried back to Suzhou yesterday, fearing that even a moment's delay would have made me miss meeting you both."

"If it is convenient for you both, could you share with Bu Chi the love story of Ten Lifetimes of Resentful Couples?"

"Please do not misunderstand, it's not that Bu Chi wishes to pry into your secrets, but such exquisite tales of this world should not remain unknown amid the waves of the South Sea, they deserve to be known by all."

"If you are willing to share, Bu Chi will personally take up the pen to chronicle your story."

"To question what love is in this world, that compels one to vow life and death to each other."

"If the book can be accomplished, it should be titled 'Ten Lifetimes of Fate,' and should be printed in a million copies, a billion copies, spreading throughout the seventy-two provinces."

"You both must know, the cultivators' so-called defying the heavens to change fate, extending life by a thousand years, growing old with the heavens, are all nonsense, misfortunes come, the body dies and the Dao disappears, even if one was famous in life, a few decades after death are enough to be completely forgotten, not even a trace remains."

"But such a romantic masterpiece is different, not to mention ten or a hundred years, even a thousand years can preserve it."

"To inscribe 'Zhen Buchi' on it would be a tremendous fortune for me, please accept a bow from Bu Chi."

...

Throughout his journey, Tao Qian had encountered countless bizarre cultivators, grotesque beings.

He thought himself immune, able to handle any situation casually.

But this handsome monk named "Zhen Buchi" left Tao Qian unsure of how to respond for the first time.

His first instinct was to consider pulling out the Toad God Tile and smacking it against this monk's shiny forehead, for surely the Toad God would reward him heavily.

Fortunately, before Tao Qian could act, Yunrong telepathically stepped in.

"Dear brother, this fish was unlucky to be caught by you."

"Other demon monks might pose a challenge for me, but those who madly follow the 'Love Monk' path are powerless against our Jade Ring Mountain's Taizhen Miao Method."

"Whether you decide to squash him round or flatten him, it's all up to you, brother."