Longevity Strange Immortal
Chapter 76: The more unconventional, the better the talent

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The more unconventional, the better the talent

"Cough, cough, cough..."

A stifled wheezing sound emanated from the Bai Chao Daoist Temple, accompanied by a strong stench of decaying corpses. The cultivators entering and exiting bore expressions of fear.

Even though the temple tried to suppress news about the Daoist, rumors still spread like wildfire.

Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that Bai Chao Daozi’s condition was unstable—most likely a side effect of the outbreak of the Death Disease.

Every few days, piles of flesh and blood were carried into the temple.

Although most cultivators hoped for Bai Chao Daozi to withdraw from the struggle for the Medicine Field, they knew the field’s limited nutrients would eventually dry up—signifying the conclusion of the Induction Fate affair.

The temples of Mountain and Sea, Qingming, and Zhu Xi had their windows tightly shut, the Medicine Fields gradually abandoned, and their respective Daozi were all preparing for their Foundation Establishment.

Only the Bai Chao Temple remained bustling, with its daily demand for flesh and blood increasingly monstrous.

To say that Loose Cultivators were indifferent to this would be a lie—what childhood-stage cultivator could resist the allure of the Induction Fate?

The silhouettes surrounding the Bai Chao Temple grew in number.

The first Loose Cultivator to challenge Bai Chao Daozi appeared only after the Medicine Fields were nearly barren, standing in front of the temple and drawing a crowd.

As soon as Bai Chao Daozi showed a hint of weakness, Loose Cultivators would undoubtedly flock together to attack.

Wu Qu stood with a smile, bowing slightly, hands placed behind his back. Though moderately reputable, his cultivation had yet to reach the Perfect Puberty Stage.

Clearly, his attempt to seize the Medicine Field was a probe on someone’s behalf, testing Bai Chao Daozi’s limits.

Wu Qu specialized in a spell called "Universe Armor." Its most distinctive trait was the formation of a massive turtle shell, weighing over a hundred pounds, protecting vital areas without greatly impairing his agility.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

Having already collected Spirit Stones from over a dozen Loose Cultivators, Wu Qu knew that as long as he didn’t suffer a total downfall, he wouldn’t lose this gamble in challenging Bai Chao Daozi.

"Bai Chao Daozi, I am Wu Qu. I challenge thee for the chance to achieve Foundation Establishment."

Wu Qu repeated these words multiple times, but the Bai Chao Temple remained silent until a cultivator, pale as death, emerged from within.

"Wu Qu, the Daozi... invites you inside."

Wu Qu raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Bai Chao Daozi was too weak to engage outside? Perhaps he could even secure another of Bai Chao Daozi’s Spirit Stones. Without hesitation, he followed the cultivator into the temple.

The Bai Chao Temple then fell into prolonged silence.

The onlooking cultivators kept their gaze fixed on the temple in anticipation. Even Zhu Xi Daozi and Qingming Daozi ended their seclusion, choosing to observe from the sidelines.

Just as the crowd’s patience wore thin, a sudden, blood-curdling scream erupted from the temple, only to be abruptly cut off after half a breath.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Soon after, the grotesque sounds of a beast gnawing on flesh echoed forth.

The watching cultivators were horrified. When Wu Qu’s remains were carried out, only a turtle shell was left, its surface covered in bite marks.

The battle for the Medicine Field came to a decisive end.

Wu Qu’s death was like a basin of cold water splashed onto their ambitions. The hubris of seeking Foundation Establishment evaporated in an instant—life now seemed far more precious.

After all, breaking through to the Weak Crown Period without external assistance wasn’t impossible, though it would consume centuries and expose one to the Weak Crown Death Disease, damaging one’s foundation and rendering Core Formation unattainable. Yet it remained the main path for Loose Cultivators to pursue Foundation Establishment.

......

Seasons passed.

Ten months flew by like the blink of an eye. The output of the Medicine Field dwindled to almost nothing, the growth of spiritual materials came to a halt, and the fields lay abandoned one by one.

Nevertheless, Loose Cultivators remained camped near the Artifact Refining Shop, refusing to descend the mountain.

After all, opportunities were everywhere on Duozhi Mountain. Sometimes, they would come across a Fake Beast wandering alone or find hidden spiritual materials in obscure locations.

On the other hand, they were also curious about the results of the Daozi’s Foundation Establishment attempts.

"Dong..."

A bronze bell tolled from the mountain’s summit. The Loose Cultivators instinctively retreated a hundred meters.

Foundation Establishment cultivators began to stride through the air, their gazes full of reverence for the mountain’s peak. Some had already begun to cultivate the Duozhi methods, aiming for promotion to the Fake Core Stage.

The rugged mountain path bore three figures descending toward the mid-mountain temples. On the left was Han Cai, unmistakable due to his massive size.

On the right was a burly man with legs resembling elephant limbs—this was none other than An Gang, the Chief Arrest Officer of Rong Town, who had also reached the Fake Core Stage.

The two escorted a female cultivator.

Her upper body was that of a middle-aged beauty past her prime, while her lower body consisted of countless hands and feet arranged in the form of a Lotus Throne, exuding an awe-inspiring gravitas.

They halted before the four Daoist temples, and the woman’s eyes glinted with an enigmatic gaze.

An Gang sighed deeply. None of the constables from his Government Office had claimed the Medicine Field, yet Han Cai’s disciple had unexpectedly risen to prominence.

He shook his head resignedly and then shouted in a booming voice, "The Daozi shall now receive their titles."

His voice echoed through the mountains, scattering the clouds that hung overhead with overwhelming Spiritual Power.

The doors of the temples opened.

Zhu Xi Daozi appeared first, donning a Daoist Robe and Magical Tools made of glazed silkworm threads.

His exposed skin was covered in mouths, all speaking in unison, "This junior pays respects to Wu Tu Temple Priest, Doctor Han, and Chief An."

Zhu Xi Daozi’s Acquired Dao Body—called the Hundred Tongue Birth Body—granted him enhanced efficiency in cultivation, prompting him to specialize in Mountain Spirit Qi.

The Wu Tu Temple Priest nodded approvingly at Zhu Xi Daozi in acknowledgment.

"Not bad, Zhu Xi. Your Spiritual Power is vast, and the nearby mountain’s abundance gives you at least a fifty percent chance of Foundation Establishment. Truly deserving."

Zhu Xi Daozi breathed a sigh of relief. A fifty percent success rate was far beyond ordinary.

Average cultivators relying on Induction Fate could only expect a thirty percent chance, which was why Rong Town sought to control the number of Foundation Establishment aspirants.

Qingming Daozi followed closely, moving sideways in an unusual gait.

The cultivators squinted and realized Qingming Daozi possessed four legs and four arms, with a face divided into two halves: one male, one female.

"The Innate Dao Body Yin Yang Twin boasts broad and resilient meridians, and the Middle Dantian resembles a Taoist gourd. The chance of Foundation Establishment is seventy percent."

"Thank you, Wu Temple Priest."

Qingming Daozi bowed deeply. Zhu Xi Daozi’s expression turned slightly tense.

Han Cai eagerly pointed toward the Mountain and Sea Daoist Temple, grinning as he exclaimed, "Here he comes! Take a look at my disciple Li Mo."

Li Mo emerged through a window, his eight thick spider limbs propelling him forward.

The Eight-Armed Spine Nerve had undergone Five Refinements, with spiritual materials prioritized for "Regeneration," "Durability," and "Toxin," barely completing the preparation of nine Magic Artifacts in time.

He had merged the Eight-Armed Spine Nerve into his kidneys, transforming into a seven-meter-long wolf spider post-Insectification.

Wu Tu tilted his head, scrutinizing Li Mo before cautiously saying, "Possessing the Innate Taoist Body Leakless Body coupled with an unknown Acquired Dao Body, your Spiritual Power is solid and pure, without a trace of impurity."

"There is no chance of failure in your Foundation Establishment—it is certain. Your talent qualifies as a natural Tao Seed."

Han Cai let out an eerie, cackling laugh, "Kehehehehehe..."

Zhu Xi Daozi’s expression darkened in defeat. Once thought to be a talent unseen in five centuries, he now found his light dimmed by his peers.

Qingming Daozi muttered oddly, "Still missing one."

A bare figure stepped out of the temple. Compared to the other three, he appeared utterly normal, without even a hint of rot—an imposing young man.

Li Mo’s brows furrowed as he suddenly noticed the tendril-like appendage trailing behind the young man’s head.

The youth struggled to leave the temple, dragging a mass of unnameable rotten flesh resembling a distorted moose statue.

Bai Chao Daozi resembled a newborn infant still connected by an unsevered umbilical cord—a sight that made one’s scalp tingle.

Yet Wu Tu gazed upon him with admiration, as if beholding a masterpiece, before calmly stating, "Truly worthy of the Acquired Dao Body Hundred Beasts Blood Body. Foundation Establishment... No, even Core Formation holds a thirty percent chance."