Longevity Candle

Chapter 139 The Old Snake King Transforms into a Dragon, A New Kingdom
High in the sky.

The spirits confront each other, and the old Kui Niu formally acknowledges this cat for the first time.

He didn't make another move, even though he knew the cat was already exhausted.

"Was it worth it?" the old Kui Niu asked in a deep voice. "You used to be one of us."

“Not anymore.” The tabby cat raised its head and said, “I no longer seek immortality; now I seek immortality.”

"Is there a difference?" Old Kui Niu frowned.

Immortality, isn't that just being an immortal?

Immortals, aren't they simply those who live forever?

“Different.” The tabby cat slowly shook its head: “Immortals can never be attained, and immortality can never be achieved.”

Old Kui Niu narrowed his eyes, not thinking that the tabby cat was talking nonsense to him.

At his level, although he was unwilling to accept reality, he had no choice but to face it.

Becoming an immortal is difficult.

Immortality is elusive.

That eternity is too ethereal and elusive, yet many spirits pursue it.

"Since you realize it's impossible, why bother asking?" the old Kui Niu asked.

“Because, even if you become an immortal, you can never truly become an immortal.” The tabby cat looked at the sword in its hand: “I always thought this was an immortal sword, my most precious treasure. Now, this sword is not even as valuable as a mortal tree branch.”

He casually tossed aside the immortal sword, which flew away like a long rainbow, eventually landing next to Jiang Yunmeng.

Jiang Yunmeng and Li Qingchen were together, looking up at each other, listening to their words and silently memorizing them.

The tabby cat, now without its ancient sword, was covered in blood, but its aura was almost on par with that of the old elf.

He no longer needs the ancient sword.

He had long since become the immortal in Old Wang's heart, but he could never become the immortal in his own heart.

They were seeking immortality from Old Wang, not from themselves.

The tabby cat's eyes were like the sun and moon, radiating a divine light, and its aura seemed to blend seamlessly with the heavens and earth.

"You are destined to fail." The old Kui Niu shifted its gaze and looked down.

The Dragon Blood Serpent had already suppressed the old Serpent King, and the newly grown dragon scales on its transforming body were forcibly ripped off by its sharp claws.

In the distance, several illusory figures stood guard, their magical power surging, forcibly blocking the flow of water.

The earth froze at that moment, and earthen walls rose up to block the flood.

It's impossible to travel south by water!
A piercing scream echoed through the night, and in the void, streaks of celestial light, like shooting stars, pierced through the air.

"I cherish the peace and tranquility, and in accordance with the Lord of Peace, I hereby renew the Book of Peace."

"I will use my own body to uphold peace."

"With the way of the sword, I cleave through the darkness and lead the light of peace."

"All worldly affairs are illusions, only peace is true..."

Rays of immortal light converged into a torrent, and Qi cultivators raised a new chapter of peace.

The ancient Taiping Book has reappeared, though it has lost its ancient illumination, it still possesses their magical power.

"The Taiping Dao Qi cultivators are a truly laughable bunch."

High above, the majestic figure of an elf looked down, and the celestial light shone even brighter, while the earthen walls stood tall and imposing like mountains.

The torrent of celestial light crashed against it, constantly dissipating and vanishing.

Even though they had entered the path of immortality, their magical power was too weak; they couldn't even compare to a young elf.

In the mortal realm of heaven and earth.

The old dragon glanced at you indifferently: "You've lost."

"It's not over yet," Jiang Zhu said calmly.

“Oh? Old Dragon remembers, there’s also the Jingwei bird, but she’s too young. She can’t help in this kind of fight,” the old dragon said.

“It’s not her,” Jiang Zhu said. “She’s here.”

distance.

"Yunmeng." Li Qingchen said solemnly, "Let's begin, let's unveil the grand era."

"it is good."

A pink bead appeared in Jiang Yunmeng's palm, and she was about to infuse it with magic power.

In the distance, clouds filled the sky, and a nine-colored beam of light shot straight into the heavens.

A woman in palace attire, riding a nine-colored rainbow, instantly transformed into a celestial deer.

Nine-colored rays of light swept across the void, and boundless magical power illuminated the ancient Yunmeng Marsh, where ferocious beasts roamed, swamps stretched endlessly, and poisonous insects were plentiful.

bang
As the rosy light passed, the earthen walls crumbled, the earth split open, and the floodwaters surged away.

High in the distance, the majestic elven figure was swept away, turning into bright points of light in the darkness.

The Dragon Blood Serpent, which was suppressing the Old Serpent King, was also enveloped in the rosy light and forcibly separated by it, being thrown south.

"Nine-Colored Deer!"

Roars echoed across the sky as the elves glared angrily at the celestial deer.

The old Kui ox lowered its eyes and turned to leave.

The old dragon unconsciously tightened his grip, shattering the wine glass: "When did she ever side with you?"

"I have no idea," Jiang Zhu shook his head, also surprised.

The Nine-Colored Deer actually chose to help. All along, the Nine-Colored Deer has been a member of the Way of Heaven on the surface, a lazy old elf who goes through the motions without putting in any effort.

This time, she clearly didn't hold back, directly rewriting the course of the battle.

The nine-colored deer, with its four hooves treading on the air, drew water from the Qingjiang River and galloped southward.

The old snake king hurriedly followed, and the thunder in the sky grew even louder, and the rain became even more torrential.

The river channel was opened up, and the river water surged, like a winding dragon, connecting with the Chihe River in the south.

expensive

A resounding dragon roar echoed, the blood of the true dragon had been completely integrated into his body, and the dragon energy of the nation's destiny from afar also followed, merging with the old snake king.

Dragon scales grew, sharp dragon horns were filled with wisps of lightning, and four claws grew from its belly.

Flood dragon!

Freed from its constraints, the old snake king officially transformed into a dragon, riding the clouds and soaring through the mist, commanding thunder and rain.

These are all the supernatural powers and techniques of the dragon, and also a divine gift bestowed upon us by heaven and earth.

The old snake king rode away on the clouds, hovering over the land of Ningguo, and the cultivators of the Taiping Dao were all in a frenzy.

dragon!
Even if it is just a dragon, it is inspiring and makes people worship it.

Under their watchful eyes, the old snake king, absorbing the dragon's energy of the nation's destiny, plunged headlong into Jiang Yunmeng's body.

The dragon gathers the hearts of the people and condenses the nation's destiny; strands of the dragon's aura, representing the nation's destiny, converge here.

Jiang Yunmeng's dragon aura surged above his head: "I proclaim to heaven and earth, Jiang Yunmeng of the Way of Peace, who has subdued the dragon and determined the fate of the nation, shall be the new emperor!"

Dragons have always been legends, more mysterious than any other mountain or sea spirits, and naturally imbued with a sacred aura.

"The overall situation is settled," Jiang Zhu said.

The old dragon said, "It's not over yet; the chaos continues."

"It's almost over." Jiang Zhu's body grew faint until it disappeared.

After the mortal realm vanished, the old dragon, with a gloomy face, returned to the south.

The green lamp was placed back in Yigu City; the old snake king did not take it with him.

No one saw the Nine-Colored Deer; it vanished into the void, and no one knows what it was thinking.

The tabby cat went to Taiping Road and followed Jiang Yunmeng to heal her injuries.

His injuries were severe; as the old Kui Niu had said, it would take him a thousand years to recover once he drew his sword.

The old Kui ox was also in bad shape; its injuries would truly require five hundred years to heal.

However, he had a free remedy that shortened the healing time.

With popular support, Jiang Yunmeng, together with the spirits of Taiping Dao, created a celestial artifact.

The artifact that seals immortality! Within the range of this immortal artifact, magical power is reversed, returning to the path of martial arts, and killing does not incur karmic consequences.

A new Taiping army was established, with Jiang Yunmeng and Li Qingchen each leading troops to launch a counterattack.

Wherever the Taiping army went, their so-called supernatural abilities proved utterly ineffective.

How could the wondrous army they created possibly compare to the Taiping Army, whose martial arts were at their peak and whose true energy was vast?
Although the Path of Longevity and the Path of Following Heaven intervene in the mortal world, they ultimately never truly regard the mortal world.

They wouldn't delve into suitable methods for the sake of worldly matters.

They were even more unwilling for mortals to possess the power of immortals.

Meanwhile, the elves, like the peasants, devoted themselves to studying and spreading the Daoist arts to the mortal world.

If they were only interested in Jiang Zhu and Li Qingping before, Jiang Yunmeng's description of a glorious world completely captivated them.

The immortals and mortals are no longer separated, and they are moving towards a great world of integration.

Even mortals should have a chance to seek immortality.

The Taiping army split into two forces, and wherever they went, the people welcomed them.

Although Jiang Yunmeng is a woman, her fame has already spread throughout the world.

So what if the person chosen by the dragon is a woman?
Two Taiping armies, with Li Qingchen stationed in the south, decisively defeated the Rongguo's miraculous army.

Jiang Yunmeng then marched from north to west, leaving no survivors wherever he went, whether it was the northern grasslands or the allied forces of the western nations.

The northern spirits glanced at it reluctantly, but had no choice but to retreat back to the grasslands.

"Damn it, the Path of Longevity and the Path of Following Heaven are truly useless. Even their own old elves and great elves can betray them?" the White Wolf King cursed.

Pegasus sighed, "Let's wait and see, it's not over yet."

"Wait? How can we wait?" the eagle spirit roared. "If they can't obtain the national fortune, they won't be able to control the Green Lamp, and they won't make a move."

Without the suppression of national destiny, unless the Path of Longevity and the Path of Following Heaven have gone mad, they would forcibly take action against the Green Lamp.

“There is another way,” Tianma said.

"What method?" the White Wolf King asked.

"Establishing a nation on the grasslands, uniting with Western countries, and converging national fortunes—that's not bad," Tianma said in a deep voice.

"This……"

The elves were taken aback; perhaps this wasn't entirely unacceptable?

"Won't this leave any hidden dangers? Once the grasslands establish a kingdom, it's very likely that the same situation will occur as with the Ning Kingdom, where they can't tolerate us elves. Will they continue to offer incense and prayers?"

The eagle voiced its concerns.

They are the spirits of the grasslands, and they have always helped the grasslands maintain their tribes according to their own nature.

Only in this way can the grasslands remain under their control and continue to be a source of worship for generations to come.

"The nation's fortune has all gone to suppressing the evil spirits; the grasslands are still the same grasslands," Tianma said.

The elves fell silent, pondering the feasibility.

“If that’s the case, then why form an alliance? None of the Western countries are strong enough to fight, so why not just take them down directly?” said the Eagle.

“Yes,” the elves agreed.

They immediately ordered that the grasslands, having rested and recuperated for so many years, now had plenty of young and strong men and were fully capable of conquering the western countries.

Upon receiving the message, the Changsheng Dao and Shuntian Dao immediately agreed.

Rongguo did not send out any more troops; it was enough to just defend its territory.

With the withdrawal of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Yunmeng was able to fully unleash her potential.

She was far more bloodthirsty than Li Qingchen.

She spared no one from those Qi Refining families; wherever she went, she wiped them all out.

Do you still want a family that lasts for a thousand years, for all eternity?

Go dream in the underworld!

These families had long been deceived by the spirits of the mountains and seas and the immortal masters and Taoists.

What dynastic changes, what enduring families?

They abandoned Ningguo and embraced elves and immortal masters, all in an attempt to create an eternal family.

The emperor is too conspicuous; having a family that can last forever is more tempting than being emperor.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yunmeng destroyed this dream as soon as it began.

Jiang Yunmeng personally escorted them to the underworld; if they refused, their souls would be scattered.

The mountain and sea spirits and the immortal masters have already abandoned them, so naturally they cannot come to save them.

Time flies, and another year's peaches ripen.

Jiang Zhu picked a peach, brewed a pot of wine, and sat down in the peach grove.

A woman in palace attire walked slowly, exuding an aura of holiness.

"How leisurely," the nine-colored deer murmured.

"I can't compare to your leisurely pace," Jiang Zhu said with a smile. "Why did you lend a hand?"

"I'm friends with the tabby cat, and I feel that the Way of Peace is not bad," said the Nine-Colored Deer.

Jiang Zhu smiled and said, "Because of Jiang Chenxi?"

"That's partly true. After all, she came from Yunmengze. Becoming emperor is a way of giving her an explanation," said the Nine-Colored Deer.

"If you come to my side now, aren't you afraid that I'll target you too?" Jiang Zhu said.

"This world is vast, who doesn't have a few friends?" the Nine-Colored Deer said calmly.

Jiang Zhu nodded. To be a friend of the Nine-Colored Deer, one must be an old elf.

There are many spirits in the world, and he has not yet come to know them all.

“Jiang Yunmeng still has other methods. Even if I don’t intervene, it will still succeed.” The Nine-Colored Deer added, “Do you know Jiang Yunmeng’s backup plan?”

"I know." Jiang Zhu nodded, but did not elaborate.

The Nine-Colored Deer remained silent, wanting to know, but since Jiang Zhu didn't say, she didn't ask.

She changed the subject, asking, "Why has Gu Qingxu become like this?"

"Because of Lao Wang," Jiang Zhu said.

"Old Wang?" The Nine-Colored Deer turned its head and glanced at the forest: "That old cripple buried on the mountain?"

"Hmm." Jiang Zhu drank his wine, looking up at the west: "This mortal world, you can never stay long enough."

“But you don’t have much time left, Jiang Yunmeng can’t stop them,” Nine-Colored Deer said.

“It is precisely because we don’t have much time left that we are so attached to it, just like how you are so obsessed with immortality,” Jiang Zhu said.

"So, you're still attached to the mortal world?" the Nine-Colored Deer asked.

"That's it."

The Nine-Colored Deer was silent for a moment, then said, "How about I take you to hide for a while? In a few hundred years, they might forget about it."

"Would you forget something important just because you've had a good night's sleep?" Jiang Zhu asked casually.

The Nine-Colored Deer sighed softly, turned around and said, "If you survive, I will come back to find you and listen to Old Wang's story."

"Then I'll wait for you," Jiang Zhu said with a smile.

He won't die; even the fate of the nation can't kill him, at most it can only suppress him.

The Nine-Colored Deer left; it seemed she had only come to remind Jiang Zhu, or perhaps she wanted to learn about Old Wang's story.

But in the end, he didn't ask any more questions, allowing Jiang Zhu to enjoy his last moments of peace.

Time flies, flowers bloom and fade, and peaches ripen again and again.

A new nation has risen; the Ning Kingdom has passed away, and a new nation has been established, named Ming.

It symbolizes a candle illuminating a humble land, a nation with humbled eyes, and a peaceful and prosperous world that brings light and hope to all.

In the mundane world, "brightness" signifies the illumination of the sun and moon, the end of war, and the arrival of peace and light.

With everything in ruins and in need of rebuilding, Jiang Yunmeng ordered a period of rest and recuperation. At the same time, he ordered that Tianyun Mountain be renamed Baiyun Mountain, and that a sacrifice to Zhuzhao Youying be held on the summit of Baiyun Mountain three years later.

She then sent a message to the Longevity Path and the Heavenly Path, informing them that Qingdeng would also be there. Qingdeng's identity was that of the messenger of Zhuzhao Youying.

(End of this chapter)