Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology

The Emperor Sword struck down.

"No! Spare me!"

As death loomed, Zhengsi finally realized Song Lin was serious, and he hurriedly begged for mercy.

But alas, it was too late.

The Sword Qi severed his head, flowed through his limbs and bones, shredding both his body and Divine Soul.

Only a lifeless head remained, its eyes gazing emptily at the heavens.

Even until his final breath, Zhengsi couldn't believe Song Lin dared to act against him.

From beginning to end, Zhengsi believed the Taoist School was nothing but his family's private property.

Song Lin, or anyone for that matter, was simply a good servant or a bad servant at best.

Who could have imagined this servant would dare rebel against him?

"Audacious!"

Yunhai's eyes burned with rage, and the crimson glow from his third eye at his brow emitted a terrifying red light.

The crimson light surged forward, ready to shoot toward Song Lin.

"Who's audacious?"

At that moment, a cold voice from Yinqing reached Yunhai's ears.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Yunhai, compelling him to withdraw his Divine Skills instantly.

"Hmph. This seat does not want anyone breaking the rules. Do you all understand?"

Yinqing's voice echoed loudly, spreading across the four corners of the realm.

"Song Lin has won. Victory entails no responsibility, and he shall obtain the title of Mei Mountain Jungle Taoist! I will report this matter to the Taoist Alliance."

Yinqing's face darkened; someone had intervened earlier and even dared to seek vengeance.

It almost succeeded—a blatant affront to Yinqing's authority.

Luckily, it failed, and Yinqing refrained from impeaching the culprit, at least for now.

The crowd's gazes toward Song Lin turned peculiar. His bravery was indeed astonishing.

Some couldn't help but admire Song Lin.

What of being the Heavenly Master's son? Is it only acceptable for you to kill others but not for others to kill you?

Of course, such thoughts remained complaints uttered in private, not spoken openly.

"Utter foolishness. How will you all conduct yourselves in the future?"

Ziyun frowned and rebuked sternly.

"Don't you want to repay us? Then I leave it to you."

Zhixin smiled indifferently.

Ziyun didn't respond, feeling little emotion toward Zhengsi's death.

After all, he wasn't her child.

Her own descendants had long passed away due to old age, and her connections with other offspring weren't close. Her bond with Zhengsi was weaker than her ties to Spirit Talisman and Spirit Sword, since she was their great-grandmother after all.

Still, Zhengsi's death could be leveraged as an opportunity—an excuse to press Song Lin into forcing Zhixin's compliance.

For now, Song Lin couldn't be touched.

After all, the Taoist Alliance was already aware of this matter.

If Song Lin died within a few short years, wouldn't the Heavenly Master's reputation suffer?

At least until the next Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing, Song Lin had to remain unharmed, though arrangements could be made to target him otherwise.

Seeing Zhixin reveling in his triumph, Ziyun smirked mockingly.

"The person you favor is merely this—reckless and impulsive. One day, he'll perish, his Tao extinguished."

Ziyun didn't hide her derision.

Her words elicited no irritation from Zhixin; instead, he laughed lightly.

"Ah, Ziyun, oh Ziyun, you are truly wise, so wise that everything lands within your calculations. This old man pales in comparison."

Ziyun was puzzled by Zhixin's sudden praise, but then his tone shifted dramatically.

"But alas, you will never transcend being merely wise. Wise men abound in this world; you cannot comprehend what it means to be a great hero or a Great Grandmaster because you only see matters through the lens of self-interest."

"Ha! You are all just wise men! In this life, you will never grasp the magnanimity of a Grandmaster nor the essence of a great hero!"

Wise men may seize benefits and recognition in the constant games of life, but those who truly steer the tides of history are never among their ranks.

With that, Zhixin departed gracefully.

"A Great Grandmaster..."

Ziyun pondered deeply over his words.

What truly constitutes a great hero or a Great Grandmaster?

She didn't know, but she understood that strength reigned supreme, and fists spoke the loudest. She dismissed Song Lin's brashness as nothing but the behavior of a foolhardy brute.

The crowd dispersed, and today's events would become fodder for future tales.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This old man is thoroughly convinced. Now *this* is what it means to be bold and full of spirit!"

Earth Evil marveled as he spoke to Heavenly Slaughter.

If youths lack hostility, how are they different from walking corpses?

"You're mistaken. Song Lin isn't reckless, nor is he impulsive. His actions carry deeper meaning—he's setting an example for the people of Donghua, establishing the tone. Clearly, he's succeeded."

Heavenly Slaughter glanced at the people of Donghua nearby and remarked.

Today's events would leave an indelible mark in their minds—a legacy inscribed in the chronicles of the jungle's development, laying the foundation for an era of dignity and resilience.

"A single weak soldier weakens the army. A weak commander weakens them all."

Though it was merely one duel, to the people of Donghua, this event held significance capable of resonating for millennia.

Like Zhixin, Heavenly Slaughter recognized the aura of a Grandmaster, the demeanor of a great hero.

Many lacked the breadth of vision to comprehend transcendence beyond personal gain.

"Let's head back. We're getting old."

Heavenly Slaughter shook his head with a chuckle, and the two left shortly thereafter.

Song Lin arrived at the cloud where the Donghua disciples were gathered, summoning a carriage.

The reactions of the disciples needed no elaboration.

Aside from their exhilaration, an indelible resolve solidified in their hearts.

"Let's return. We still need to reclaim Mei Mountain Jungle. Oh, Yin Hua!"

"Disciple present."

"Mei Mountain Jungle has fifteen Taoist Temples in total. We don't have enough people to seize them all at once. Spread word upon your return, saying I intend to settle accounts with them."

"If they wish to pass on their titles or voluntarily request to withdraw from the jungle, let them go without objection."

The enemies were numerous, and Song Lin couldn't be bothered to individually discern friend from foe.

Let them go wherever they wished.

Among Zhengsi's loyalists, only the Mei Mountain Five Masters remained.

These individuals would inevitably return to Xuanyu City, Yunhai, and others would likely follow. Song Lin had no intention of blocking their paths.

Let them go wherever they chose.

Killing was inconvenient now, especially since some had achieved Core Formation.

Divine Establishment cultivators could be slain without issue.

"The remaining individuals—handle them as you see fit. Do not acknowledge any of their privileges. Only through assessment can they acquire corresponding rights. If necessary, you may deal with certain instigators."

"Understood."

Song Lin gazed at the Three Capitals and Five Masters.

The group departed for Mei Mountain Jungle.

Song Lin once again laid eyes on familiar Taoist Temples and the peaks housed within them.

At the sight, his heart couldn't help but reflect.

Years ago, this place had been something he could only look up to in awe.

Who were the enemies back then?

Jiuyou? What was Jiuyou's disciple's name again? He couldn't recall.

Previously, two individuals were like mountains insurmountable. Now, Song Lin could crush them with two fingers.

Even the towering Fire Cloud was no longer an opponent to him.

With Meilin County unified under his rule, Song Lin had effectively further consolidated Donghua Jungle.

The group slowly descended.

News of Zhengsi's death reached Mei Mountain Jungle; the well-informed fled quickly, while the hesitant stayed, only to find Song Lin appearing in person.

Under the lead of an elderly man, the remaining crowd greeted Song Lin.

"Greetings to the Taoist Master!"

The foremost individual looked somewhat familiar, though Song Lin couldn't quite place them.

"Rise."

Song Lin nodded mildly before flying to the Taoist Master Hall.

As expected, the belongings there had already been emptied.

The Mei Mountain Blessed Land had long lost its power and was ruined.

"Such waste of resources."

Song Lin sighed with regret.

A ten-to-one time acceleration rate, if combined with the Monster Chronicles, could have amplified his cultivation speed immensely.

Though perhaps not significantly faster, it would at least expedite the accumulation of powerful Magic Treasures.

Yet story worlds couldn't directly exchange for Taoist Realm advancement.

At most, they could grant Divine Skills, and mastery of such skills was linked to real-world experience.

If Song Lin cultivated a peerless swordsmanship in a one-to-one time world for a thousand years, upon exchange, it would amount to just over three years of real-world Taoist Realm progress.

Thus, shortcuts were not viable.

Unless, of course, the sword technique advanced—if Heaven Sword Skill evolved into Divine Sword Technique, then its exchange would correspond to the real-world Taoist Realm-grade Divine Sword Technique, not degrade back into Heaven Sword Skill.

The matter with Zhengsi concluded without the anticipated turbulence. On the contrary, the eerie calmness was unsettling.

But this aligned with Song Lin's predictions; no trouble would plague him for the time being.

During this period, Shi Yinhua and the Three Capitals and Five Masters remained busy handling Mei Mountain Jungle affairs.

Within a secret chamber, Shi Yinhua reported on the current situation.

"Reporting to the Taoist Master, Mei Mountain Jungle comprises a total of fifteen Taoist Temples. Excluding those who have already departed, there are three hundred Qi Cultivation, twenty-five Divine Establishment, twelve hundred Taoist disciples, and three thousand servants remaining."

"Nine thousand acres of spirit fields, five thousand acres of Yin Soil, seven hundred shops, and resources such as Soul Resurrection Grass and Lingzhi are available. Total annual revenue is approximately nine hundred fifty thousand, falling short of expenses."

"Without the Ghost Market, Mei Mountain's finances are truly dire?"

Song Lin asked curiously.

"Not exactly. It's mainly because Zhengsi drained Mei Mountain's centuries-old reserves for his cultivation, though this has worked in our favor."

The remaining fifteen Taoist Temples were impoverished to the extreme; even so, they still had to supply resources to the jungle's core.

The lower-level Taoist disciples and servants had borne the brunt of suppression, toiling day and night forging coins, practicing alchemy, and refining artifacts.

Following Song Lin's guidance, Shi Yinhua swiftly eradicated the culprits responsible for exploiting the Taoist disciples and lower-level Taoists, winning over broad support. Shi Yinhua even refrained from taking a share for herself, redistributing the ill-gotten gains amassed by those culprits among the victimized Taoist disciples and Taoists.

She abolished hazardous tasks and cruel practices related to alchemy and ghost refinement.

This series of reforms inspired overwhelming gratitude from the jungle's masses—even those from mutant factions were eager to volunteer in the restructuring process.

Of course, this came at a price, as a significant number of elites left, especially with Shi Yinhua granting unconditional pardons to defectors. Followers of Fire Cloud and Zhengsi's faction were virtually nonexistent.

"Excellent. Maintain this course. We don't need so-called elites; only fellow practitioners committed to unity.

"Understood."

Shi Yinhua exited.

Meanwhile, in Xuanyu City...

Yunhai approached the Heavenly Master's Dojo with unease in his heart.