Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 168 - 161: The Xuanke Faction, Scripture Master Extortion (Vote for Monthly Pass)

Chapter 168: Chapter 161: The Xuanke Faction, Scripture Master Extortion (Vote for Monthly Pass)

After bidding farewell to the crowd, Song Lin returned to the Heavenly Emperor’s Secret Realm.

Looking at the restored Heavenly Emperor’s Secret Realm, Song Lin couldn’t help but ponder.

This secret realm no longer felt as tightly sealed.

The essence of Yunmeng Marsh ebbs and flows like tidal waves. It’s likely that after some time, the Heavenly Emperor’s Secret Realm will decline again, and Song Lin will emerge once more.

Though, by then, who knows what year or month it will be.

Regardless, the seeds planted today will inevitably yield extraordinarily delightful fruits in the future.

All that Song Lin had to do was reap the rewards.

Actually, the advantages of entering the Heavenly Emperor’s Secret Realm were quite evident—at least he didn’t have to wait as long anymore.

After all, the Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing Conference in Mei Mountain Jungle was about to begin.

To prevent internal strife before the election, the Taoist School would dispatch personnel three months in advance to oversee matters.

This period would be the safest and devoid of any internal conflicts.

If an election contender or someone with substantial votes were to die, it might even prompt the Heavenly Master to personally investigate.

When the jungle was initially founded, it wasn’t regarded as a Taoist Temple.

Instead, it was treated as a regional, integrative organizational body.

Ever since Song Lin learned of the Thunder Striking Mountain God’s exposé about Fire Cloud, he increasingly found this figure dangerous.

Now, the strategy to secure benefits depended on achieving Core Formation and having some degree of support.

Song Lin returned to the carriage interior, instructed the two companions to rest easily, and then returned to the real world.

The real world.

Song Lin awoke from his meditation.

It had been a long time since he paid attention to the real world.

Estimates suggested it had been three months.

During this period, it wasn’t that no demons had invaded.

Most of the invaders were handled by disciples, and Song Lin had only intervened once.

Such was the privilege of being the temple master.

After all, he was in a leadership position, and couldn’t possibly exert himself like he did during his days as a Taoist, climbing mountains in pursuit of demons.

Unless it was a major battle.

Song Lin would refrain from taking action, and so would Chi Hai.

Of course, not every Taoist Temple operated as easily as Song Lin’s.

Some temples required Taoists themselves to intervene, to the extent that they resembled lone soldiers with no support.

If nothing unforeseen occurred, wars would likely lead to the dissolution of such temples.

The Taoist School had been fighting demons for countless millennia, and over time had developed a system of cooperation, with each party adhering to their assigned roles.

Song Lin stepped out the door.

He arrived at the Master’s Hall.

Not far away, Gu Yuchan was cultivating Taoist cultivation skills.

Around him swirled dense Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, revealing a fantastical and kaleidoscopic scene.

After a long while, Gu Yuchan slowly concluded his cultivation.

"How do you feel?" Song Lin asked.

This was the first individual in the real world to cultivate Taoist skills.

It was also Song Lin’s first time imparting cultivation techniques from different systems to someone else.

"It’s quite good. I’ve completely converted my cultivation from the Qi Refinement Realm," Gu Yuchan said, his tone brimming with excitement.

His current cultivation level was at Qi Refinement Third Level.

However, these cultivation techniques had obvious drawbacks—namely, they depended heavily on resources. Cultivation advanced faster in areas rich in Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

Furthermore, constant Qi refinement left one’s understanding of the Great Dao shallow, rendering many profound mystical techniques inaccessible. Only simpler, more straightforward mystical techniques could be performed.

"I plan to establish a new position called Thunder Department Envoy. Their cultivation will focus on Thunder Skills, tasked with combating demons and ghosts. Do you have the confidence to take on this role?"

"I have the confidence, master!"

Song Lin handed the Taiji Thunder Escape True Technique obtained from the story realm to Gu Yuchan and formally granted him the private title of eighth-rank Thunder Department Envoy.

The Taiji Thunder Escape True Technique contained numerous thunder techniques of similar potency, although their forms varied widely, such as Palm Thunder, Sword Thunder, Talismanic Thunder, and so on.

As usual, Song Lin proceeded to meet with the Five Masters of the Three Capitals one by one.

In truth, there wasn’t much to discuss.

After all, only three months had passed.

The Taoist Temple currently faced no significant matters, nor were there many individuals seeking liturgy.

On the contrary, the Moon Brick business was thriving.

But that in turn had drawn considerable attention.

Though, as it was wartime with external threats outweighing internal discord, nothing had surfaced yet.

If it were peacetime, it was likely others would have revealed their predatory instincts.

"Yin Hua, send a message to the Masters of the Five Ghosts Temple and the Mountain Demon Temple."

Song Lin deemed it timely to form factions.

These two Taoist Temples were the weakest in strength, and the war had severely drained their foundations, making them forces worth recruiting.

Neither of the temple masters were particularly strong, falling short of achieving Divine Establishment Perfection, their levels comparable only to Lin Qing.

Soon, two elderly Taoists entered the hall.

"Greetings, temple master!"

Both greeted respectfully.

"You two don’t seem to be in the best of health recently," Song Lin chuckled.

"Ah, don’t even mention it. We nearly died a few days ago," the Five Ghosts Taoist said with a bitter smile.

Both their temples were in dire straits.

"I’ve decided to waive your Yin Soil rent. From now on, you may use it for free. If funds are tight, I can also lend you some money, with an annual interest rate of just ten percent."

The two exchanged glances, surprise flashing in their eyes.

"But... addressing the symptoms doesn’t cure the root cause. If the strength of the Taoist Temples doesn’t improve, they will eventually decline again."

Song Lin handed each a booklet.

These contained his ideas for utilizing Water Techniques to refine the Five Ghosts and Mountain Demons.

The Rampant Soldiers were essentially a type of Mountain Demon Wood Guest.

The Five Ghosts Temple’s method for refining Five Ghosts was notably cruel.

First, they identified five individuals with matching birthdates and then gruesomely tortured them to death through burning, drowning, flogging, burial, and slicing—only then could the Five Ghosts be created.

The process for Mountain Demons was quite similar. There were multiple types, but they all involved transforming living humans into monsters.

"Where does the water for the Water Techniques come from?"

"From the Temple Emperor Seal."

The two looked at each other in consternation. Wouldn’t that make their disciples’ cultivation wholly reliant on Song Lin?

Eventually, wouldn’t they just become byproducts of Xuanke Temple?

Nonetheless, the technique had incredible advantages.

Only ordinary ghosts were required, along with minimal use of Water Technique, to refine both Five Ghosts and Mountain Demons—greatly lowering the mastery threshold for disciples learning these techniques.

"Do you feel I’m unworthy of the honor?" Song Lin seemed to see through their doubts.

"We dare not."

The Five Ghosts Taoist felt a vague sense of déjà vu.

Introducing new technique frameworks and building a Taoist lineage centered around himself—wasn’t this precisely the jungle’s tactics?

In the face of immense benefit, the two ultimately yielded.

What followed was an oath of loyalty—pledging unwavering allegiance to Song Lin.

They were no longer allies but bona fide followers.

Song Lin skillfully used Taoist skills from the real world to gather a cohort of supporters.

At that moment, an unexpected guest arrived seeking an audience.

"Report! Scripture Master, Taoist Zhao, seeks your presence!"

The three exchanged glances briefly, and Song Lin instructed the Taoist disciple, "Arrange a meeting in the front hall."

Song Lin left the two to rest where they were and followed the disciple to the front hall.

A scholarly-looking middle-aged man delicately savored his tea.

Sensing Song Lin’s approach, he spoke without looking up:

"Taoist, your business seems quite prosperous lately—Moon Bricks are selling like hotcakes."

"Taoist, you’re too kind, it’s merely a small operation," Song Lin replied, unbothered by Zhao Wuji’s disrespect, directly sitting at the main seat.

Zhao Wuji set down his teacup and stared intensely at Song Lin. His expression was calculating; this man clearly had a mind full of schemes.

"Still, Taoist, your scale is too modest. I have connections with the Emperor and Qingshan jungles nearby, and acquaintances in Yunzhou as well. If you offer me the Soldier Formation Map and Moon Brick preparation methods, we could share profits in a three-to-seven split. How about that?"

"I only get thirty percent?" Song Lin asked in return.

"No, you misunderstand—thirty percent would go to me. I still need to allocate resources and handle arrangements."

Zhao Wuji’s audacity nearly made Song Lin laugh out loud.

Did this man truly think Song Lin was easy prey? That his superior status allowed him to plunder as he pleased?

"Oh? And why, pray tell, should I agree?"

Zhao Wuji sat upright, his tone heavy and laden with subtle menace as he said:

"It seems you’re still too inexperienced, Taoist. I’m here as a representative of the Taoist leader. With the Phoenix Platform Conference on the horizon, the Taoist leader aims to test the waters among various contenders. If I return to him and ’happen’ to mention your refusal, who would he believe—me, or you?"

If Zhao Wuji twisted the facts and maliciously claimed that Song Lin intended to back someone else.

Combined with Song Lin’s reputation as a temple master with little depth.

It could easily result in Song Lin being forced into dangerous assignments again.

This was Zhao Wuji’s leverage, pushing him to brazenly extort Song Lin.

After all, Song Lin lacked profound foundations and deep networks.

Zhao Wuji assumed Song Lin would grasp the consequences and reluctantly comply.

But unexpectedly, Song Lin chuckled lightly.

"Ah, so you’re telling me I must support another candidate instead."

Song Lin called upon the Taoist disciple and whispered something in his ear.

Shortly afterward, the disciple returned with the Five Ghosts and Mountain Demon Taoists.

"Greetings, Master Song! Greetings, Scripture Master Zhao!"

Their choice to bow to Song Lin first said everything.

Zhao Wuji’s expression darkened.

"Scripture Master, if I publicly announce tomorrow my endorsement of Chi Hai, while claiming in private to the leader you coerced me into doing so, how do you think he’d react?" Song Lin’s smile was cold and sharp.

"You—do you mean to betray the Taoist leader?"

"I never said that. Aren’t you the one forcing my hand here?"

"Fine... watch yourself..." Zhao Wuji rose suddenly, preparing to deliver one last threat, only to be promptly interrupted by Song Lin.

"Leave! Or I’ll endorse you tomorrow instead!"

The Phoenix Platform Conference disregarded status or strength.

The rules revolved around votes, and votes dictated the King’s Way.

Votes carried power; hence, power should be leveraged boldly.

As long as future retaliation wasn’t a concern, switching allegiances recklessly posed no issue.

If it came to the worst, one could impose chaos.

If Song Lin was dissatisfied, he could simply announce his backing of Zhao Wuji the next day, laud Zhao Wuji for his contributions to the jungle—or rather, the sect—placing him firmly over the coals to roast.

(Vote request for Moon Bricks)

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