Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology

Mei Mountain Jungle.

On the third day after Zhengsi's retreat, he leaned lazily against a pillar of the Lake Heart Pavilion, casually observing the goldfish in the lake.

Two centuries of cultivation within the Mei Mountain Blessed Land had greatly enhanced his powers.

He came out of retreat a few days earlier than planned.

Soon after, the new Three Capitals approached him.

"So? Have all the notifications been sent out?" Zhengsi asked.

"Yes, the wager between the Taoist Master and Song Lin has been conveyed to all corners of the Taoist School."

"Good."

Zhengsi still remembered the humiliation of that battle years ago; today, he would make Song Lin pay it back—inch by inch!

By drawing attention with a spectacular wager, he would thoroughly cleanse his shame.

"Also, I've compiled all the records on Donghua Jungle."

A subordinate handed over a jade scroll.

"Thunder Pearls, pills, Dragon Nourishment Pills, Moon Bricks… and the Ghost Market—so it really was your doing."

The Ghost Market of Mei Mountain Jungle had likely been seized by this very group.

A yearly income of ten million stirred a flicker of greed even in Zhengsi's heart.

If he could seize it, ten million in wealth would enable him to accomplish countless objectives.

Moreover, Donghua Jungle's decade-long accumulation was estimated to exceed fifty million in surplus.

If he devoured this place, it would be an astronomical fortune.

"I must take it. You truly have a talent for amassing wealth."

Zhengsi gazed in the direction of Donghua Jungle.

In this past decade, Song Lin had ascended to the position of Mage, something that deeply astonished Zhengsi.

This man's growth was astonishingly fast, and his Mage status made it nearly impossible to strike against him.

Even if Song Lin refused, Zhengsi had no way of forcing his hand.

At this thought, Zhengsi turned to the others. "Has Song Lin agreed to it?"

"He has."

"Draft a Life and Death Contract. Once signed, deliver it to Song Lin. This matter needs to be set in stone without room for retreat."

"Understood!"

The Life and Death Contract was prepared in triplicate. Each party signed and sealed one copy, then all copies were submitted to the Taoist Heavenly Master, who affixed the Dharma Seal. Finally, the contract was filed in the Heavenly Dao Office for recordkeeping.

The remaining two copies were kept by the two participants for safekeeping.

Only then was it finalized.

"Understood."

Soon, without even meeting face-to-face, the contracts were fully finalized.

The date was set for ten days later, at the same old location: Long Night Platform.

This time, apart from the Heavenly Master, the Taiji Assistant Officer of the Central General Record Palace would also observe the duel.

After all, the statuses of the two participants warranted the attention of the Taoist Alliance.

Donghua Jungle, World in the Pot.

Song Lin calmed his breath and adjusted himself to peak condition.

He now possessed an array of combat techniques.

Ever since mastering the Nine-Transformation Indestructible Body, he could also employ Divine Skills like Three-headed and Six-armed and Fatian Xiangdi.

In addition, he possessed the Eight Sceneries Divine Sword Primordial Spirit, which enhanced the Eight Sceneries Divine Sword's power to rival an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

He also had Acquired Spiritual Treasures like the Emperor Sword and Yin Yang Gourd.

And the Innate Spiritual Treasure Eight Trigrams Furnace, among others.

Additionally, he had ten Thunder Pearls and countless Taoist Soldiers.

Calibrating his momentum to its zenith, he intended to strike decisively in a single move.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace could counter the One Qi God Transformation Tripod, while the Thunder Pearls could shatter spells from the Golden Jade Seal.

He would then use the Nine-Transformation Indestructible Body for close-quarters combat.

Victory had to be secured within ten breaths' time.

Ten days later.

Song Lin, accompanied by the Jungle's senior figures, boarded the Sun Jade Car and flew toward Xuanyu City.

The dim Xuanyu City was already packed with onlookers.

Betting on Song Lin and Zhengsi's duel had opened, with many placing heavy wagers.

Figures like Heavenly Slaughter and Earth Evil approached, asking if he was absolutely confident.

"Senior friends, don't worry. I'm perfectly fine," Song Lin replied with a smile.

Leaders from Tianling, Qimen, Five Qi, and Qingyun divisions came to meet him.

"Dear brother, be extremely cautious."

"We've prepared a feast to celebrate your triumphant return."

"Prioritize the greater good."

Not far away, Yunhai glanced at Song Lin, secretly sending him messages.

Perhaps feeling a residual hint of unease, Yunhai specifically instructed Song Lin not to act rashly. Even in victory, Zhengsi's life should be spared.

Looking around, Song Lin noticed that most people gathered around Zhengsi.

Zhi Xin and other Taoist high-ranking officials stood beside the Heavenly Master. When their gazes met Song Lin's, Zhi Xin gave a slight nod, his eyes filled with encouragement.

Beside them stood Ziyun, though Song Lin could discern the subtle discord between them.

In an instant, it clicked for Song Lin—Ziyun might pose a problem!

At that moment, a golden pillar of light pierced through the clouds, as a celestial ship sailed through the skies.

A purple-robed, golden-crowned elder with white hair and verdant eyes descended.

"Taoist Yinqing!"

The Taoist assembly greeted the elder warmly.

This individual, a Taiji Assistant Officer from the Central General Record Palace, was well-known.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while.

This time, the Heavenly Master did not attend in person.

Instead, he sent the City Lord and others as envoys to receive representatives from the Taoist Alliance.

The Heavenly Master's relationship with Zhengsi was special, so to avoid suspicion, he chose to abstain from attending.

"Song Lin, Zhengsi, step forward," Yinqing summoned the two.

"I'll ask one last time—are you both willingly here to resolve this grievance?"

"Of course."

"Willingly!"

Both nodded.

"Good. Then let it begin."

Yinqing waved his hand, and everyone flew toward Long Night Platform.

Long Night Platform stood suspended in the void.

On the vast, barren stage, only the two of them remained.

Unlike previous duels of magical skills, this time it was a life-and-death confrontation.

"We meet again."

Zhengsi smirked.

"Enough talk!"

Swish!

Song Lin charged forward, the Emperor Sword slicing forth brilliant serenity sword energy.

Simultaneously, eight divine swords formed a sword array, unleashing a radiant torrent of multicolored sword light.

The sky seemed to rain shooting stars.

Gazing at the dazzling spectacle, Zhengsi's eyes glowed blood-red. His hair transformed into a dark crimson hue, his skin an eerie alabaster.

A thick layer of blood armor enveloped his body.

This was the Infinite Shura Demon Path—Netherworld King Armor.

Boom!

The serenity sword energy sliced down, shattering the platform within a thousand-foot radius, yet it left only faint white marks on the Netherworld King Armor.

Boom! Boom!

Raindrops of swords swallowed Zhengsi, shattering his armor and reducing him to a mass of blood and gore.

"Dead?"

"No! Look!"

Fresh blood coalesced once more into Zhengsi's form.

Infinite Demon Path—Asura Reincarnation.

It was Zhengsi's turn to attack.

Fire erupted from his eyes, forming an endless inferno.

Within the hellish flames, blood-red light surged, as countless hideous Yakshas and evil ghosts emerged to battle Song Lin's Taoist Soldiers.

Fortunately, the platform was vast, giving them ample room to fight.

The two fought hundreds of rounds.

Yin Yang Flying Knife and Emperor Sword clashed, countered by the One Qi God Transformation Tripod.

Song Lin's techniques, known to others, were deftly neutralized.

The only surprise was his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, though it didn't change the overall equation.

"A pity. Your talent is impressive. Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

Ziyun observed their battle, speaking aloud.

"If you can use it twice, you can use it a third time. Besides, if I ascend to the Primordial Spirit realm, won't you all gain a powerful ally? The Holy Might Taoist School gaining a Primordial Spirit cultivator would only thrive further. Consider the bigger picture."

Yet Ziyun had deceived Zhi Xin.

After forcing Zhi Xin to use a Secret Technique to perfectly fuse her soul with this physical body.

She still intended to find an opportunity to kill him because Zhi Xin was ultimately a flaw left by her past self.

For Ziyun's path to the Great Dao to be flawless, she was willing to betray her conscience and bear infamy.

"Why not let Song Lin kill Zhengsi?" Zhi Xin countered.

"Impossible. As long as I'm here, I'll rescue him time and again… year after year, like maggots clinging to bone…"

Boom!

"What's this? An Innate Spiritual Treasure?"

Suddenly, a massive Eight Trigrams Furnace materialized in the sky.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace spewed yellow Six Ding Divine Fire, incinerating all Taoist Soldiers and Yakshas.

The furnace struck the One Qi God Transformation Tripod, sending it flying.

Song Lin's body radiated golden light as he gripped the Emperor Sword and thrust it at Zhengsi—using the same lethal move.

But Zhengsi was ready this time.

The Golden Jade Seal floated before him, unleashing countless spells.

Boom! Boom!

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Divine Thunder Red shattered the onslaught of spells.

"There's more!"

Zhengsi's expression morphed. His skin turned blood-red, and his body expanded to a thousand feet, morphing into a five-headed, thousand-eyed, thousand-armed Great Asura.

"Die!"

From the thousand eyes, Bone Melting Golden Light shot forth.

With a thousand hands, he clawed toward Song Lin.

"You're not the only one with that trick!"

Crack! Crack!

Fatian Xiangdi, Three-headed and Six-armed.

He wielded the Emperor Sword, Yin Yang Gourd, and the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Swords.

Clang! Clang!

The Nine Nether Shura Claws and Divine Light struck Song Lin's body, producing a cacophony of metallic clashes.

"What kind of dharma body is that?"

"And what dharma body are you using?" Song Lin retorted mockingly.

Using the Nine-Transformation Vajra Unbreakable Body's formidable defense and regeneration, Song Lin closed the distance and unhesitatingly severed most of the Great Asura's arms and eyes.

Then, gripping the Great Asura's ankle, he chuckled softly. "I have an orthodox dharma body. How dare your Netherworld Demon Technique impersonate greatness?!"

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!!

He swung the massive Asura body, smashing it repeatedly against the ground.

In three breaths, he had slammed it a hundred times.

Zhengsi was left a mangled, bloody mess, barely clinging to life.

Meanwhile, the One Qi God Transformation Tripod and Golden Jade Seal aimed their attacks at Song Lin.

Bam!

Song Lin reacted faster, summoning the Eight Trigrams Furnace to trap both artifacts.

Inside the inferno, Zhengsi was subjected to unbearable torment, howling in agony.

Through the open furnace, the external spectators were stunned.

"Song Lin, you beast! I won't forgive you!"

"I should say the same to you! How many lives have you taken over the years? They're waiting for you too, trash!"

Zhengsi's body regenerated into a blood orb, only for Song Lin to swing him around again and slam him into the furnace walls and ground, stoking the flames and shaking the heavens.

This cycle repeated over and over.

Zhengsi's once-prized regeneration now turned into a curse of torture.

Boom!

Eventually, even Song Lin couldn't endure the scorching heat any longer. Dragging the charred, barely alive Zhengsi out of the furnace, he stood triumphant.

By now, Zhengsi was a disfigured heap, completely devoid of strength to resist.

"Heh heh… You won't dare kill me. I'll return next time, and one day I will annihilate everyone in your family."

Zhengsi's mangled visage struggled to speak.

Lying paralyzed on the ground, his body was beyond recognition.

Song Lin pointed the Emperor Sword at the back of Zhengsi's head.

"Who says I wouldn't dare kill you?"

As the sword neared Zhengsi's skull, the onlookers couldn't remain silent anymore.

"No! Song Lin, stay calm!"

"Think of the greater good!"

"Hold back, you've already won everything—Mei Mountain Jungle is yours too. There's no need to…"

Friends and foes alike spoke out to dissuade him.

Friends out of concern, believing he shouldn't irreparably sever ties with the Heavenly Master.

Foes out of desire to keep Zhengsi alive.

Zhi Xin frowned deeply.

Reason dictated that Song Lin must handle this gently to leave room for reconciliation and to safeguard the grander picture.

But Zhi Xin also cast a teasing glance at Ziyun from the corner of his eye.

"Stop!"

Ziyun and Yunhai, ignoring Yinqing's rebuke, prepared to fly onto the platform to intervene.

Song Lin gazed around, meeting the eyes of the crowd. Time seemed to freeze.

He looked at Zhengsi, speaking as if both to himself and a warning to others.

"Reason tells me killing you is out of the question. They say I won't, and others insist I mustn't; the greater good demands that I endure, that I restrain myself, that I preserve decorum…"

Hearing this, Zhengsi sighed in relief.

But then Song Lin's tone shifted sharply.

His eyes shone with clarity, emitting a radiance as brilliant as the sun—resolute and full of fervor.

"No. I won't! I'll kill you anyway! The world is not governed solely by schemes and gain but also by morality and justice."

"Should all actions be measured by calculated profit, then what a suffocating life that would be! I, as the Donghua Ancestor, must leave behind stories for later generations—stories that inspire cheers and purge stifling anger!"

"Interests? Greater good? Intrigues? I only wish to kill you; this sword is for my disciples, for all living beings!"

"Die!"

The Emperor Sword swung down!

Serenity sword energy blazed forth, illuminating a thousand miles.

This was the blood sea of all living beings!

Soul annihilated!

......

(Last night's ten thousand words complete! The Tai Sword may be delayed, but it will never be absent.)