Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology

Song Lin gazed thoughtfully at Zhu Xuan's departing figure.

Who exactly is this person?

Judging by his demeanor, his background is undoubtedly extraordinary.

If nothing unexpected happens, he should be someone from the Heavenly Court.

Song Lin stared at the iron token on the table, deep in thought.

There were no patterns on it; it seemed to be a token left behind by Zhu Xuan.

A few days later, Song Lin selected twelve disciples to manage the temple and embarked on a journey to the Central Plains.

Along the way, he cultivated virtue and performed acts of compassion, offering porridge and medicine.

It was the beginning of Emperor Jianwen's reign, and in the early years of the Great Ming dynasty, stability was still elusive.

There were many starving people along the road—though this was not surprising. In the feudal era, there were no times without famine; even in times of prosperity, hunger persisted.

Song Lin's acts of healing without charge earned him great renown.

He also developed good relations with many Taoists from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

They even exchanged Taoist Skills.

Dragon Tiger Mountain practiced Summoning Ghosts and Gods, Imperial Techniques, and Talismanic Skills.

In this world, Dragon Tiger Mountain's Tao of Talismans wasn't particularly dominant; its strengths lay mainly in the first two skills.

The Imperial Technique, as its name implies, is a Sealing God skill, capable of consecrating and deifying living or non-living beings.

Song Lin thought of Qimen Mechanism Techniques.

If various rituals were replaced by the Imperial Technique and the Undying Mechanism Technique used internal divinities instead, wouldn't that perfectly address its flaws?

It seemed necessary to visit Dragon Tiger Mountain.

But before that, he ought to make a trip to Yanjing and establish a good rapport with Yan King Zhu Di.

The eighty-sixth year of the Western Ocean Record.

Song Lin traveled from south to north, and the name "Pure Yang Taoist" spread far and wide.

He witnessed magnificent landscapes and, at the same time, saw the decline and corruption of the Central Plains.

Forget about legitimate Taoist orders; not even decent demons could be found.

In the early years of Jianwen, Emperor Jianwen began raising the blade against the vassal kings.

The Jingnan Campaign was the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the Yongle Group.

Unknowingly, Song Lin arrived at Yanjing City.

He stood at the city gate.

Just then, a Taoist dressed in a yellow robe walked toward him slowly.

"Are you Senior Donghua? Do you have a token?"

Song Lin was utterly puzzled. How did this person know him?

A token?

Speaking of tokens, he remembered the plaque left behind by Zhu Xuan.

The Taoist took the token and respectfully said, "His Highness the Yan King invites you."

Song Lin's sharp eyes caught sight of the turtle and snake insignias on the token.

Now he understood the identity of that middle-aged man from before.

Traversing countless corridors, he reached the depths of the courtyard.

A man in a Mystic Robe stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Song Lin.

As he heard approaching footsteps, the man turned around.

It was truly Zhu Xuan.

Song Lin cupped his hands in a respectful greeting.

"Junior pays respect to Emperor Zhenwu."

This man was the North Emperor.

To clarify, Emperor Zhenwu, within the Near Ancient Myths of the Jade Emperor God System, was the North Emperor.

Going further back, the older North Emperor was actually the North Pole Great Emperor, also known as Emperor Ziwei.

Emperor Zhenwu was one of the Four Saints of the North Pole.

The full name of the North Emperor Black Law was the "North Yin Fengdu Taixuan Demon-Subjugating Black Law Spiritual Book," rumored to have been created by Emperor Fengdu, who himself was said to be Emperor Ziwei's underworld incarnation.

Thus, Song Lin thought of asking Emperor Zhenwu for the complete details of the Black Law.

In this era, the ancient figures had already faded away.

Taiyi God, Eastern King, Queen Mother of the West, the "Emperors" of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou, and the various Heavenly Emperors had all sunk into the river of history.

No one knew where they had gone.

"Just call me Yan King."

Zhu Di waved his hand, dismissing the attendants until only the two of them remained in the great hall.

"This time I've invited you here to ask for your help."

"What guidance does Your Highness have?"

Song Lin thought it might relate to the expedition to the Western Ocean.

"Find the Imperial Jade Seal. It is said to be located in the Western Regions. This trip to the mortal world is for that very purpose. In the future, you will serve as the representative of Loose Cultivators, traveling with the Immortals and Buddhists to various nations in the Western Regions. Are you willing?"

"I am willing. How many nations are in the Western Regions?"

"No fewer than eighteen—Golden Lotus Treasure Elephant Country, Java Country, Daughter Country, Sumatra, Safa Country, Zishan Country, Great Ge Lan Country, Kozhi Country, Golden Eye Country... Fengdu Ghost Country. Aside from these ancient nations, you may also face various dangers at sea. You must carefully consider this."

"No need to consider; I'll go regardless."

Song Lin laughed.

Why would he fear death?

After all, this was a story world; at most, he'd lose some memories.

"Such boldness!"

Zhu Di praised.

This was precisely why he had chosen Song Lin as the envoy for the Western Ocean expedition.

"It's a shame we cannot intervene directly. At best, we can send a few minor divinities; otherwise, things would be simpler."

Due to the Heavenly Dao's constraints, Great Divine Ability users cannot wield their Divine Skills in the Lower Realm.

Even with the use of Divine Strike or Summoning Gods Skill, the power must remain restrained; otherwise, it would physically harm the one casting the spell.

"No North Emperor Black Law available?"

"What North Emperor Black Law? Never heard of it."

Song Lin explained its contents.

Cultivators practicing the North Emperor Black Law were akin to the Taoist School's special forces.

They were resolute and unimpeachable, enduring the harsh discipline of life-or-death rules while cultivating the most formidable North Emperor Battle Technique, summoning the Six Heavenly Demons for combat.

With mortal bodies refining the Heavenly Dao, cultivators bearing the Black Law could even interrogate Immortals and Buddhas.

Because of their long immersion in the Yin Department Ghost Path, only individuals with unwavering minds qualified.

Without mental fortitude, forget about what the demons might do to them—the very backlash from the rules would lead to their demise.

"That's what I've heard."

Song Lin spoke convincingly, but Zhu Di laughed aloud upon hearing it.

"Why hasn't this king heard of it?"

Song Lin felt an uneasy chill.

Could it possibly not exist in this era?

"Perhaps I heard incorrectly; living overseas, some tales get distorted…"

"No problem. What you said makes sense. This king indeed needs such a force. In that case, since you've proposed this, I'll assign it to you."

"I hereby appoint you as Nine Heavens Wind and Thunder True Monarch, to oversee all matters of the North Pole Exorcism Mansion regarding the Mortal World, and confer upon you Emperor Zhenwu's Xuantian Battle Technique. So decreed."

This time, Zhu Di spoke in the tone of Emperor Zhenwu.

In an instant, Song Lin seemed to glimpse a figure with disheveled hair and bare feet, stepping on a turtle and snake, flashing briefly before disappearing.

Song Lin straightened his face.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

A faint purple mark appeared on Song Lin's forehead.

[North Pole Ziwei Dao Pattern]: With this blessing, one can channel Emperor Ziwei's energy from the North Pole, receive acknowledgment from Emperor Zhenwu, practice the Xuantian Skill, remain impervious to evil, and be protected by Emperor Ziwei.

In addition, a mantra emerged in Song Lin's mind.

This was Emperor Zhenwu's Xuantian Spell, containing numerous Divine Skills.

"As for the North Emperor Black Law, give me time to carefully think it over. For now, remain here and focus on your practice."

Zhu Di turned away.

Upon returning, Song Lin sat in meditation, adjusting his breath as the purple mark on his forehead emitted radiance.

He sensed the Beidou Seven Stars in a mysterious connection.

Beneath the seven stars, an ancient and venerable Emperor Lord seemed to be standing guard.

Under the stars and the Emperor Lord's protection, Song Lin absorbed the distant Emperor Ziwei energy.

Empowered by this energy, his cultivation sped up significantly.

It even enhanced processes like Five Qi Refining and Pill Refining.

The eighty-seventh year of the Western Ocean Record.

The Yan King, under the pretense of restoring ancestral traditions, waged war against the southern regions.

Song Lin remained in seclusion, practicing the Xuantian Battle Technique.

The ninetieth year of the Western Ocean Record.

The Yan King's army marched south, broke through Yingtian prefecture, and ascended the throne.

The Xuantian God reclaimed his imperial seat, and at the same time, the North Emperor Black Law was perfected.

During this period, Song Lin returned to the Real World.

…

Reality.

A faint purple mark was prominently visible on Song Lin's forehead.

"It can even manifest in reality…"

Song Lin marveled.

This wasn't the first time; in fact, every time it came with empowerment.

From Moon Cultivation Great Witch, Golden Crow Yang Pattern, Emperor Seal, to North Pole Ziwei Dao Pattern, the mechanism behind this was a mystery.

But this was beneficial—having the Ziwei Dao Pattern drastically shortened the time to reach Great Perfection with Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

Absorbing the Emperor Ziwei energy allowed Essence, Qi, and Spirit to ascend effortlessly.

Soon, he would achieve Great Perfection with Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, and his cultivation would surge.

"Now that I've obtained the North Emperor Black Law, it's time to take action."

Song Lin mused.

After several years of seclusion in the story world, he had successfully improved some of the flaws in the Qimen Forest and Five Qi Jungle.

He planned to convene a gathering that included people from both forests, the Yin Spring Palace clan, the Evil Exorcism Altar, and others.

During the gathering, Song Lin intended to establish rules.

It would no longer be a loose coalition like before.

This gathering would set the tone based on past experiences, advancing to seize power within the Taoist School or retreating behind closed doors to form an independent system, resisting orders from above.

What differed this time was the absence of a system for forming a new Taoist order.

Those seeking status? They could only rely on their strength!