Twelve Ancestor Dragon's Eyes flew into the Mountain and River Map in an instant, before Tao Qian, where the radiance of Human Dao surged tumultuously.
In a blink, the long-deceased Ancestor Spirit came back to life.
As a figure resembling both an old farmer and a scholar materialized, he bowed to Tao Qian and said with a smile,
"Daoist, you are truly extraordinary, personally measuring the Mountain and River Map and facing countless temptations, yet your Heart Soul remains untainted—truly remarkable."
The Ancestor Spirit, newly revived, was ready to exchange pleasantries.
At this moment, Tao Qian already had an epiphany and stepped forward to grab the Ancestor Spirit urgently,
"Old friend, spare the pleasantries for later; after this matter is settled, we will have ample time to catch up. Right now, not only is my master getting beaten in the Outer Realm, but the hard-eliminated tribulations of Human Dao are about to be tainted by those Twelve Emperors. How can this be tolerated?"
"Since you are resurrected, being the hidden hand left by the Ancestor Dragon of old, you must have measures to take."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Ancestor Spirit shook his head in denial.
As if urgently trying to clear the connection, he waved his hands repeatedly,
"Though we are acquainted, implicating me in such accusations is unjust."
"The hidden hand left by the Ancestor Dragon refers to those fleshly evil eyes and a Divine Skill within the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique called 'Human Dao Judgment', not me."
"I am a spirit of Fortune born from the prayers of all the people from Human Clan with many bodies and lives across ages, existing long ago."
"I have no connection to that Ancestor Dragon."
"Of course, my identity in many past lives had some agreements with that Ancestor Dragon; hence, I can also use his hidden hand Divine Skill."
Tao Qian thought he had guessed the essence, but upon hearing this, he realized he had misunderstood some things.
After pondering, he said with a dawning realization,
"If so, the Three Emperors' Decree sent by Miss Yuan was actually the Human Clan's Fortune, motivated by you in secret. The three ancient Holy Emperors also acted with the flow, sending the Heavenly Destiny Map to aid your resurrection."
"Daoist is indeed wise."
The Ancestor Spirit responded to Tao Qian and immediately took action.
Controlling the Mountain and River Map, it transformed into a Divine Light and departed from the cancerous Daoist Field, intending to return inside the realm.
At this time, the Twelve Emperors of Alchemist seemed to see some "catastrophe" and roared in vain to stop it.
Unfortunately, how could speed ever outpace the Heavenly Track?
This Divine Treasure sank once and merged into the Heavenly Track, heading back to Qiantang Province.
In Tao Qian's ears remained only the crazy and helpless roars of the Twelve Emperors and the proud laughter of his own master.
During this process, Tao Qian caught a glimpse of the Dharma Images of the Twelve Emperors and also made eye contact with each of their malignant eyes filling the Void.
These mutated emperors' eyes were similar yet different, quite complex.
The similarity was in their "desire" for Tao Qian's flesh and Divine Soul.
Previously, Tao Qian thought these twelve emperors wanted to devour him due to past enmities and obsessions; now it seemed there was more than that.
To them, he was an inexplicably irresistible and inescapable object of appetite.
While puzzled, the Ancestor Spirit beside him perceived his thoughts and explained directly,
"These Twelve Emperors, including the deceased Zhu Rizhao and Gao Huan, regardless of their reasons for becoming alchemists, ultimately fell and mutated."
"Though they succeeded in entering the Daoist Transformation Realm, they also lost their human forms, with almost no chance of reaching the Tribulation Immortal Realm."
"Unless they find a rare Divine Fruit in the world, consuming it would erase all karmic debts of the past, regaining their human forms, and breaking through the Tribulation Immortal Realm."
"For instance, in the depths of the Outer Realm Abyss, there's an Innate Divine Spirit who planted a Divine Tree. The fruits borne by this tree, if merely sniffed by any living being, can instantly extend life by hundreds of years. If consumed, not to mention other benefits, one's lifespan would instantly match that of a cultivator in the Daoist Transformation Realm... For filthy Daoist Transformation beings like the Twelve Emperors, consuming one such Divine Fruit might enable them to regain their human form."
"Unfortunately, being bound within the cancerous Daoist Field, no matter how much they desire, they cannot obtain such a fruit."
"Besides this type of Dao Fruit, there is another kind called 'Human-shaped Fruit', which occasionally appears in the world, offering even greater help."
"This type of beneficial fruit is from the Human Clan lineage, not only is its Dharma Body pure and undistorted, unstained and unblemished, but its Heart Soul is also exceptionally clear and natural, hence touching untainted by All Techniques, difficult for evil to corrupt... Should it be consumed, all karmic debts of the night would vanish, ascension to immortality accomplished overnight."
After revealing these secrets, not only Tao Qian was shocked but also Master Yuan by his side showed a surprised expression.
Tao Qian bent his head, examining himself, and exclaimed inwardly, "Good heavens! Eating me could make someone immortal? Am I a ginsengfruit in human form, or a longevity version of a saint monk?"
Yuan Gong also looked over his silly disciple, then rubbed his chin and muttered worriedly, "Goodness, what's this? This silly boy, so blunt and straightforward, turned out to be a real treasure. This secret must be well kept, must not be leaked; otherwise, if you end up with the Secret Demon Sect later, it would spell disaster."
After he spoke, seeing Tao Qian's puzzled look, he couldn't help but complain a bit more.
"What's there not to understand? Since you are such a precious fruit, those female cultivators in my Secret Demon Sect might not devour you out of respect for me, but they'll inevitably harass you a bit, sniffing and entangling, perhaps spending several nights; my old arms and legs couldn't stop them."
"My Secret Demon Sect's female cultivators are not as reserved as your Spirit Treasure Sect's aunties and sisters."
"Once setting their sights on you, they'd sleep with you by all means; aphrodisiacs and Enchanting Soul Demon Treasures are just common tactics."
Perhaps Master Yuan's description was too vivid.
As he spoke, it let Tao Qian foresee the tribulations he would truly face once he entered the Secret Demon Sect, causing him to force a bitter smile and shiver in chill.