Longevity Strange Immortal
Chapter 181 - 41: Gathering of Taoist Inheritance, Golden Cauldron Sect

Chapter 181: Chapter 41: Gathering of Taoist Inheritance, Golden Cauldron Sect

The port bustled with people coming and going.

The Golden Cauldron Sect not only attracted numerous loose cultivators to the port, but also led to the arrival of sect forces that had past connections with the Sub-Device Sect.

The neon lights flickered, illuminating the thick fog shrouding the port in radiant splendor, making the road feel like a scene from an earthly paradise to the cultivators traversing it.

Whoosh.

A flower-decorated boat, dozens of meters long, glided across the sky. Onboard were groups of men and women, holding each other tightly, indulging in moments of fleeting joy.

As the Golden Cauldron Sect drew near, Nascent Soul Great Powers focused their attention on their respective inheritances.

Their lax governance of the port gave room for the intermingling of various powers, causing the prosperity of the port to rise to its zenith.

Every day, countless loose cultivators smuggled themselves in, swelling the permanent population to over three times its original size.

Notices for purchasing meat limbs hung in the air, interspersed with advertisements for various magic artifacts. Meanwhile, foundational transformation surgeries became mainstream.

A female songstress at the bow of a ship sang softly, her voice echoing through the streets and alleys.

"When I left, the flowers on the road were like brocade; today, the willows outside the building are green again."

"Pity the woman waiting in her secluded quarters, thinking of me as the crabapple blossoms bloom."

Street performers abounded along the roads, while the hundred-year recurrence of the Golden Cauldron Sect stirred the rise and fall of nearly a hundred Sub-Device Sect inheritances.

The port’s myriad forces were inevitably affected, with opportunities lurking in every corner.

Even without adhering to an inheritance, the increasing foot traffic in the port made business more lucrative; nearly every overlooked corner had loose cultivators setting up stalls to sell spiritual materials and miscellaneous items.

The port’s second level benefitted abundantly as well, particularly the Qingshan Tavern, where the aroma of wine pervaded the air.

Even though Corpse Wine lacked medicinal effects, it still drew many cultivators to purchase it, especially the Big Dream Wine, which allowed them to revel in drunken dreams.

Rumor had it that some loose cultivators specialized in reselling Big Dream Wine on black markets outside the port.

Among the throngs moving through the port, there were also a fair number of low-level cultivators, primarily from the childhood stage, seeking a stroke of luck during the Golden Cauldron Sect’s event.

Their bodies were riddled with marks of decay, and they typically undertook arduous labor at the port.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

The nine-layered small world of the Outer Disciple shook violently, stirring up clouds of dust.

The meteor belt where the port was located remained unaffected, though it brought about a gentle rain that caused loose cultivators to rush under roofs for shelter.

Buzzing voices filled the crowd, as people anticipated the imminent arrival of the Golden Cauldron Sect.

Many wondered how many Core Formation Artifact Refiners would meet their downfall within the Golden Cauldron Sect, as only a very few would ascend to the "Inner Door" buried deep underground.

The tremors intensified.

The single-layered small world roared continuously, unveiling a colossal eye, hundreds of meters in diameter.

This giant eye served as the mountain gate of Zone One’s inheritance, "Pupil Mirror," atop which stood magnificent Daoist temples housing thousands of artifact cultivators.

The mountain gate’s fleshly base reached deep underground, slowly moved by a deceit furnace pulling the Pupil Mirror along.

Loose cultivators gazed in awe.

To them, even a low-grade inheritance affiliated with the Sub-Device Sect was an unattainable dream; the status of even someone like Qingqiu Taoist as an odd-jobs worker was something worth fighting tooth and nail for.

"Zone One inheritance, Pupil Mirror."

The Daoist of Pupil Mirror called out loudly, activating the mountain protection array.

Though disciples of the middle-to-lower-grade inheritance were limited in talent and theoretically had no chance of achieving Inner Door status, they still participated in the Golden Cauldron Sect event, primarily seeking opportunities to ascend layers.

Even the top-grade inheritance of Zone Nine had ascended from Zone One thousands of years ago.

Pupil Mirror’s mountain gate left the single-layered small world, hanging upside-down on the rock wall of the central pit, awaiting the arrival of the others’ inheritances.

To reach Zone Nine, one would have to crawl tens of thousands of meters deep into the earth.

Even Zone Eight, which was the nearest, wasn’t a short journey; this demonstrated the significance of Zone Nine within the Sub-Device Sect.

The earthquakes persisted.

Gradually, bizarre mountain gates emerged from lower-grade inheritances.

The inheritance "Thousand-Year Vine," for instance, was constructed entirely of vines. Artifact cultivators required their spines to connect to these vines within the mountain gate, lest they risk being flung into the pits.

Most loose cultivators were encountering so many inheritances for the very first time.

They buzzed with discussions, and transactions at the port temporarily halted—even the Four Seas Refining Shop closed its doors.

Qingqiu Taoist stepped out of the Artifact Refining Shop, accompanied by three apprentice artifact cultivators.

Although there had been numerous conflicts initially, Li Mo’s standing at the Chaotic Burial Furnace only grew stronger over time, leaving no room for dissent.

One of the apprentice artifact cultivators, Xue Di, couldn’t help but ask, "I’ve heard the Daoists from various inheritances have all reached the Transformation Core stage—does Daoist Qingtian have any chance of entering the Inner Door?"

"It’ll be dangerous, but as long as Daoist Qingtian is involved, the next Golden Cauldron Sect should be guaranteed," another replied.

Qingqiu Taoist didn’t respond, her gaze fixed intently on Zone Eight.

Based on her understanding of Li Mo, his outward display of strength was just the tip of the iceberg; this Golden Cauldron Sect would undoubtedly shock the Sub-Device Sect.

Li Mo had already given Qingqiu Taoist advance notice.

If the event dragged on too long, Qingqiu Taoist could independently contact the Heart Beast Black Market to funnel resources to the Futu Hermit.

"That’s unlikely—Daoist Qingtian would never settle for staying behind others," Xue Di said as he glanced at Qingqiu Taoist, puzzled by her perspective. Given Daoist Qingtian had just advanced to the Thirty Years Old Stage, was he truly planning to suppress his peers?

As they conversed, the mountain gates of mid-grade inheritances began to appear.

Zone Four inheritance "Blood Mountain Sea" consisted of a heaping mass of flesh, its surface pore-spewing pungent emissions.

Zone Five inheritance "Supreme Bone" resembled a giant tailbone.

Zone Four inheritance "Luochen Three Peaks" was ostensibly three peaks but was, in fact, three fused giant human heads where Daoist temples were seated on their faces.

Zone Six inheritance "Baili Fushan"...

None of these inheritances had Nascent Soul Great Powers presiding over them; Core Formation Artifact Refiners remained the backbone of the Golden Cauldron Sect, determining the foundation for the next hundred years.

The Nascent Souls surely had all migrated to Zone Nine.

Within the lower middle-grade inheritances, unseen Core Formation Artifact Refiners stood, their oppressive aura palpable even from great distances, indicating at least Transformation Core strength.

On the mountain gates’ summits, the Core Formation cultivators were all extraordinary talents.

"They’re here..."

A loose cultivator couldn’t help but mutter, as the lower middle-grade inheritances assembled, with the core top-grade inheritances of the Sub-Device Sect expected to follow suit shortly.

Taiping Qingmu was the first to emerge from Zone Seven.

Its Core Formation Daoist, a towering figure over ten meters tall, had limbs resembling tree branches constantly undergoing cycles of decay and regeneration, while its flesh resembled wood.

The mountain gate of Taiping Qingmu was a massive ancient tree, its surface richly adorned with wood attribute spiritual materials.

"Mu Daoist."

Qingqiu Taoist squinted. Based on her gathered information, Mu Daoist had reached the Transformation Core stage, possessing the enigmatic Three Path Body—a latent strength impossible to gauge.

"Zone Seven inheritance, Taiping Qingmu."

The cultivators at the port collectively held their breath, as Mu Daoist’s aura was overwhelming, appearing to sap vitality upon mere eye contact.

Unsurprisingly, Mu Daoist was bound to secure a slot in the Inner Door.

The Zone Seven inheritances "Falling Star Fire" and "Stone Embryo Stone" followed closely behind, though their Daoists’ aura seemed slightly inferior.

Naturally, these Daoists had also reached Transformation Core level.

No interaction occurred between the inheritances; decades of seclusion for the Golden Cauldron Sect ensured not a shred of negligence and vulnerability.

The Core Formation cultivators’ attention shifted to Zone Eight, their gazes tinged with faint wariness.

Moments later, waves of heat surged through the air.

The mountain gate, resembling a stream of drifting sand, exited the small world, representing Zone Eight’s inheritance, "Burning Sand Land."

The Daoist of Burning Sand Land was "Burning Eyes True Monarch," whose skin was composed of countless grains of sand with viscous lava flowing through its gaps.

Burning Eyes True Monarch snorted coldly.

He noticed the other inheritances continued watching Zone Eight’s entrance instead of him, sparking an ignoble fury within.

"Qingtian..."

Burning Eyes True Monarch spat out the name.

He recalled hearing of Daoist Qingtian during his seclusion—a prodigy of unparalleled talent, even in the Fake Pill Stage, recognized as likely to ascend to the Inner Door.

Burning Eyes True Monarch doubted the Fake Pill Stage could stand against the Transformation Core Stage.

Even with the Five Dao Body, the disparity in cultivation levels would guarantee a crushing defeat.

In his view, Daoist Qingtian’s reputation might lead to his sect’s swift elimination in the Golden Cauldron Sect trial—or even his death and the dissipation of his Dao—were not unrealistic outcomes.

Were it not to avoid offending the Chaotic Burial Furnace, Burning Eyes True Monarch might have attacked personally.

While he pondered, the other Daoists unleashed surging auras—not as a provocation, but as an emotional reaction.

The port buzzed with commotion.

Just the silhouette of the mountain gate from the eight-layered small world drew thousands of loose cultivators to the streets, focusing on the entrance.

Burning Eyes True Monarch instinctively turned to look, observing a mountain of piled debris gradually approaching.

Compared to the other Daoists, Li Mo appeared far more relaxed.

Two eyes shut, seated cross-legged in front of the main hall, his massive frame was densely covered in tattoos, his forehead bearing the Yin Yang Tai Chi Cave God Eye.

What caught Burning Eyes True Monarch’s attention was the dozens of Core Formation cultivators from the Chaotic Burial Furnace willing to obey Daoist Qingtian.

It was noteworthy that Core Formation cultivators generally possessed higher cultivation than Daoist Qingtian, while the Transformation Core cultivator "Three Mountains" within the same sect deferred to a Fake Pill Stage Daoist.

Li Mo ignored the multitude of gazes fixed upon him, remaining in meditative cultivation.

Most Daoists unfamiliar with Li Mo couldn’t help but feel he was unworthy of his reputation.

The Chaotic Burial Furnace detached from the eight-layered small world, clinging to the rock wall. Faint rustling noises emerged from its base as mountain rocks crumbled.

Since the Qiong Mountain Deceit Furnace explosion, instability frequently arose.

Burning Earth Sand remained near the Chaotic Burial Furnace’s side. Burning Eyes True Monarch, breathing heavily and staring with vile intent, sought to gauge Li Mo’s true strength.

Li Mo became aware of the Deceit Furnace’s disturbances sealed within the Chaotic Burial Furnace, and his consciousness returned.

According to Old Earth True Monarch’s account, this was still caused by the Deceit Furnace formed from Qiong Mountain; the Nascent Soul Great Power’s corpse was far too terrifying.

Had Li Mo’s Core Formation not caused the mountain’s elevation to rise by nearly twenty meters, Old Earth True Monarch might’ve had to exhaust vast resources attempting to suppress it.

The cultivators’ focus shifted to the Chaotic Burial Furnace. Just as they began to react, Li Mo suddenly opened his left eye.

The left eye transformed into a full moon, its clay-like pupil marked with resemblance to a meteor’s surface.

"Great Darkness."

The Chaotic Burial Furnace plunged into pitch blackness.

It lasted merely half a breath before the mountain gate restored itself, calming the Deceit Furnace’s agitation.

Li Mo returned to meditative cultivation.

Burning Eyes True Monarch’s pupils contracted; despite the mere hundred-meter gap, he hadn’t been able to discern Li Mo’s movements clearly. This man was anything but simple.