Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 173 - 165: Banquet of Immortals at the Moon Palace, True Demon Offers a Toast (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chapter 173: Chapter 165: Banquet of Immortals at the Moon Palace, True Demon Offers a Toast (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Inside the secret chamber, Song Lin received the news.

"The Dragon Abyss Conference has concluded!!"

Not only that, but the Blessing Ceremony had sent messages a few days earlier.

In short, nearly two years of warfare had finally come to an end.

From the Demon Vanguard to the horned giant fish, the Green Sheep, and several waves of Great Demons, as well as over a dozen or two dozen waves of small demons.

Originally, Shanyin County had been a major county with a population of one million. Now, it had been reduced to just over two hundred thousand.

This war could truly be called a catastrophe.

"But why do I feel no sense of crisis?" Song Lin thought to himself.

If the common people heard this, they might gang up to beat him.

After all, he was the temple master, the most respected figure in the county, and the strongest in the Taoist Temple.

A war that could make a county’s most respected figure feel helpless and despair would be the apocalypse for everyone under him.

Not to mention ordinary people. Even the Taoists in the temple, aside from Song Lin, who was a hands-off manager, were all thinking about slaying demons and banishing evil day and night, even if there were no demons to fight.

The last time he saw Shi Yinhua, the guy looked as if he’d aged over ten years overnight.

"Ahem, let’s not think about that for now. Preparing for Core Formation is the priority,"

Song Lin said to himself.

The methods of Core Formation were clear as day; now, he could simply start the process.

Thinking of this, Song Lin closed his eyes and meditated.

He visualized a thread of Essence Qi as the seed, his body as the tripod furnace, his soul as the Divine Fire.

Under the tempering of the Divine Fire, the Golden Core was about to take shape.

Song Lin did not participate in the Blessing Ceremony.

That ceremony was bound to harbor unspeakable schemes.

Fortunately, he had mastered the Demon Seed Sky Filling Technique.

In a critical moment, he could immediately withdraw or even absorb the Heavenly Venerate’s powers in reverse.

Of course, he couldn’t use such a method yet.

Otherwise, it would only serve to bring the Heavenly Venerate’s gaze upon him. He would have to wait for a moment of utter chaos before employing it.

As time passed, the process gradually reached the right stage.

True Qi continued to grow stronger. The mind harmonized with the Qi, the Qi with the spirit, and the spirit with the intent.

The three fused with one another until they reached their peak.

If one were to divide the process into stages, he was already beyond seventy percent complete.

Another ten days passed.

The grand Mid-Autumn ceremony was about to begin.

"Ah, I’m still just a bit short,"

Song Lin sighed. If he had just a few more days, he estimated he could step into the Core Formation realm.

But it wasn’t a big deal. The Mid-Autumn Dojo Ceremony was a recognition event for everyone. All the upper echelons would be in attendance, under the scrutiny of all, with many experts present.

No matter how deranged Master Huoyun might be, he wouldn’t dare act against him in front of so many people.

Song Lin ended his cultivation and stood, walking out the door.

The first ray of golden sunlight pierced through layers of clouds, illuminating the Taoist Temple atop the mountain.

A faint golden light shone over the temple’s front plaza.

Taoists performed their morning and evening practices, chanting scriptures and cultivating.

After a period of leadership, the Taoists had gotten used to completing their daily routines.

From the battles with demons over recent months, it was clear that the temple’s atmosphere had improved significantly.

Though intrigue and schemes still existed within, when confronted with major issues, everyone united as one.

Among the practitioners, the most eye-catching figure was Gu Yuchan.

This young man’s breathing and Qi circulation had begun to manifest phenomena.

Currently at the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, his combat power rivaled that of older Taoists in this realm.

Not far away, Song Lin and Shi Yinhua observed from the side.

"Master Temple Brother, you truly had the foresight. I didn’t understand the importance of daily practice before, but now I see it clearly," Shi Yinhua lamented.

Everyone knew that the "raising gu" method yielded quick results. Most Taoist Temples went about things that way.

Switching to Song Lin’s approach might have been slower and more troublesome, but as it turned out, the disciples’ progress had been astonishingly quick after such training.

"It’s simple. The intent is to reduce internal consumption. Once the disciples’ skills catch up, the temple’s progress will enter a period of explosive growth."

Reducing internal consumption was not all that complex, nor difficult.

From a temple’s perspective, fairness and abundant resources were key.

From a personal perspective, character mattered most—being able to accept loss and compete healthily.

Accepting loss and engaging in competition were not contradictory.

Teaching them to accept loss meant making peace with failure, not holding grudges in defeat, and refraining from underhanded schemes in private. Such behavior was disgraceful and damaging to unity within the sect.

"Currently, we have around fifty Qi Refining cultivators. As for Divine Establishment practitioners, still five."

"No rush. I’ll go to the jungle for a meeting later. Avoid coming out unless necessary and wait for my word. By the way..."

"Bring over the merit ledger. I suspect there might be some need for negotiation."

If the Jungle Grand Commissioner Institute missed anything, the merit ledger could serve as evidence.

"Understood!"

Shi Yinhua produced a thick book, recording each individual’s merits, time, location, and every detail of the demons encountered, all meticulously noted.

Though the Institute had its own records, oversights were inevitable.

With the ledger in hand, Song Lin waited briefly. Before long, the Five Ghosts Temple Master and the Mountain Demon Temple Master arrived.

"Greetings, temple master!"

They bowed deeply.

"Dispense with courtesies. Let’s go together!"

The three flew into the sky, disappearing beyond the horizon.

The Mid-Autumn Dojo was a dharma assembly organized by Master Huoyun. It wasn’t as grand as the Evil-Punishing and Demon-Exterminating rituals.

This was Song Lin’s first time attending such a grand event.

...

Mei Mountain Jungle.

Taoist Peak.

Atop the summit ceremony venue, nearly twenty individuals were present, primarily Mei Mountain Jungle’s high-ranking figures and a few temple masters who had arrived early.

Most of these people were supporters of Huoyun—or at least had given verbal promises to vote in his favor.

Huoyun and Zhao Wuji were on their way.

"Song Lin said this to you? Are you certain?" Huoyun glanced at Zhao Wuji, his gaze profound.

"Yes. Song Lin said he holds a debt of gratitude to Chi Hai and thus chooses to support him," Zhao Wuji replied with his head bowed.

"Very well. Are there any other candidates running?"

"None. No one wishes to contend with the Taoist’s authority; only Chi Hai stands in opposition."

"Understood." Huoyun’s expression darkened as he cast a cold glance into the void,

knowing full well that certain factions in the Jungle were dissatisfied with him and had thus pushed Chi Hai forward.

As they conversed while walking, the two quickly arrived at the meeting hall.

Huoyun pushed open the door, his face immediately shifting to a polite smile.

"Welcome, everyone!!"

Huoyun said with a beaming smile.

"Has everyone arrived?"

Before anyone could respond, a new group appeared in the sky.

At their forefront stood Chi Hai.

Seeing everyone’s gaze turn toward him, Song Lin felt a twinge of helplessness.

He couldn’t help it. The moment he arrived, he ran into Chi Hai. Now, to Chi Hai, he was undoubtedly labeled as one of his supporters.

The group took their seats.

Since this was a large dharma assembly, Chi Hai attended with his true body; anything less would have been seen as disrespecting the other Taoists.

Huoyun maintained a calm demeanor, lightly coughing a few times.

"During the Mid-Autumn Festival, how could we lack the presence of the bright moon? Everyone, please step into the Moon Palace."

With a wave of his sleeve, Huoyun beckoned.

A full moon appeared above the main hall.

Its light was pure and tranquil, like a mirror suspended high in the sky.

The surrounding space transformed.

Glittering laurel trees encircled them, and the air was thick with Taiyin Qi.

Overhead, the moon hung like a disc, while the ground beneath their feet was paved in creamy white jade.

Clouds scattered like silk, auspicious vapors filled the space.

A celestial maiden in golden silk and luxurious garments flew out from the moon.

She carried jade wine in amber cups, immortal fruits, dragon gall, and phoenix liver on trays, presenting them before the gathered guests.

"Clearly fake," Chaozhen Taoist muttered under his breath beside Song Lin.

"What did you expect? That there would be a real Moon Palace?" Song Lin replied, speechless.

"Hah, dragon gall and phoenix liver? They’re just snake gall and chicken liver. This facade is pointless; they might as well hand out some actual rewards. An old man like me has work to do!" Chaozhen Taoist rolled his eyes.

"You’re not wrong there."

The banquet was as full of superficial flattery as ever.

Song Lin even went to toast Huoyun, the two engaging in a round of polite pretense.

Amidst the feast, subtle verbal sparring also occurred, but Song Lin and Chaozhen Taoist simply enjoyed their rare moment of leisure.

"I am Qinghong, greetings to Master Song,"

Suddenly, a strange Taoist with square eyes and a hairy face approached with a wine cup.

"You’re too kind, Taoist. And you are?"

"The temple master of the True Demon Temple!"