Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 178 - 169: Climb High for a Distant View, Establish the Ambition of a Taoist between Heaven and Earth

Chapter 178: Chapter 169: Climb High for a Distant View, Establish the Ambition of a Taoist between Heaven and Earth

"Command!!"

After reading the final word, the creature instantly revealed its true form.

A pair of white snakes, one large and one small, danced in the air.

"Listen, everyone! Only slay the chief culprit. If the rest lay down their arms and surrender, I shall grant them pardon!"

Heluo’s voice resonated across the land.

"Brainless fool! A verdict cannot be overturned without evidence—can you even present any proof?!"

Song Lin was speechless; this excuse was far too lowly.

This case had long been resolved; there’s an old saying, "No double punishment for the same offense"—a principle upheld through time.

Once the punishment is served, the matter is closed; it’s impossible to drag someone back occasionally just to penalize them again.

Of course, reversal isn’t entirely impossible; at the very least, one must present evidence and escalate through the Taoist School.

Simply dispatching an executioner isn’t how things should work.

"Once and for all, I declare: everyone leaves immediately—only the chief culprit shall be punished!!"

The Netherworld Heavenly Snake gazed icily at the individuals below, utterly dismissive.

To him, these were nothing but a rabble.

If their morale could be dismantled through words, first killing Song Lin, then eradicating his loyalists, the rest would inevitably bow in submission.

The white snake’s body stretched over a hundred zhang, its massive figure weaving through dark clouds, emanating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Its ghostly green pupils locked onto the Taoist Temple’s people, its killing intent seemingly solidified, suffocating all within range.

Tianwu was at Core Formation level; Heluo was also at Core Formation.

However, Heluo was at the middle stage of Core Formation, naturally avoiding the vulnerability of Tianwu’s earlier ambush.

Just as Heluo thought his intimidation was yielding results,

The disciples of the Taoist Temple suddenly regrouped.

The sky filled with countless rampaging soldiers.

The Rampant Soldiers formed an array, led by eight oddly shaped Divine Generals, the foremost seemingly capable of perceiving all.

A host of ten thousand Rampant Soldiers formed an overwhelming formation, demon energy surging into the heights of the clouds.

"Excellent!!"

Heluo was infuriated. These people truly defy heaven’s order. Since they refuse to heed commands, he will allow them no reprieve.

Roar!!

Heluo let out a deafening howl.

Energy surged forth across a hundred miles, and the void gave birth to a long river.

The river flowed into a white vase,

which, upon closer inspection, was crafted from serpent scales.

This was the Netherworld Cold Water Bottle.

Heluo’s mana linked with the Netherworld, manifesting potent dharma water through the Cold Water Bottle.

With a slight shake of the bottle,

Splash!

Golden water poured out.

At once, torrential rain began to descend upon the outer world.

Subsequently, disciple Lu Dao exhaled a gust of Yin Wind.

Splash!

The golden rain drifted toward the Taoist Soldier formations.

"Raise the Wind Flags!!" Wang Ziyue commanded.

Among ten thousand Rampant Soldiers, a thousand were Yellow Turban Warriors.

Yellow Turban Warriors carried triangular flags on their backs.

Now, the Yellow Turban Warriors unfurled their Wind Flags.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Fierce winds surged forth, blowing the golden rain back.

The rain fell upon the mountains, transforming every living creature it touched immediately into pools of putrid liquid.

Fortunately, Xuanke Temple had relocated to the mountains, or this rainfall would have wiped out the common people entirely.

"Fire Flags!!" Wang Ziyue bellowed with fury.

The Yellow Turban Warriors drew forth Fire Flags, launching a thousand fireballs at the two colossal snakes. The dazzling flames scorched the earth, filling the air with heat, and vaporizing moisture into steam.

"Kill!" Wang Ziyue commanded again.

The Taoists beside him maneuvered the Soldier Formation Map.

Thereafter, the Rampant Soldiers showcased their signature skills.

Erlang’s infantry launched eagle-hound arrows; Rampant Soldiers unleashed yin energy, poison fire, and deadly bolts; Water Snake Soldiers wielded Heavenly Snake Essence; Erlang God summoned Insight Divine Light; the Seven Great Saints deployed red beads; Water-Fire Stick, Flying Knives, and countless other abilities emerged.

Dazzling bursts of dharma spiritual light painted a magnificent yet surreal scene.

"Interesting!"

The Netherworld Heavenly Snake chuckled.

The Netherworld Cold Water Bottle tilted once more.

This time, the water spewed forth was purple.

The range of the rainfall shrank, centering only around the two snakes’ vicinity.

As the dharma abilities collided with the rain, anything touched by the purple water vanished instantly without a trace.

Within the Netherworld Cold Water Bottle lay three types of Netherworld Divine Water: Shape-shattering Divine Water, Soul Erasing Divine Water, and Forgetfulness Divine Water.

Each type possessed distinct effects.

The purple water was specifically destined to obliterate mana.

Under the influence of Forgetfulness Divine Water, all spells rapidly lost effectiveness.

"Charge!!"

The bottle poured forth three hues of water, amplifying into torrential downpour.

Shielded by the tri-colored rain, the two enormous snakes erupted into the crowd.

With magic rendered powerless within the rainfall’s domain, the Netherworld Heavenly Snake swept through unhindered.

Its tail alone crushed droves of Taoist Soldiers, while the tri-colored divine waters claimed the lives of ten thousand Rampant Soldiers instantly.

Were it not for the Innate Eight Diagram Array, the casualties might have doubled.

"Release the Thunder!!" Wang Ziyue shouted once more.

The collective force of tens of thousands of Rampant Soldiers and dozens of Taoists culminated.

"It’s here!!"

Heluo’s pupils shrunk in sudden realization—this spell was Xuanke Temple’s famed technique, once used to devastate the horned giant fish.

Bracing himself, the tri-colored water transformed into triple-layered barriers above his head.

The pitch-black night sky flickered with bursts of radiant lightning, thunder roaring like the ancient beasts’ furious screams.

Looking upward, a sapphire-blue sea of lightning engulfed the area miles wide.

Countless electric serpents protruded from beneath dense, dark clouds.

"How’d it grow stronger again?"

Heluo shuddered, a suffocating sense of extreme peril flooding his heart.

BOOM!

The Rampant Soldiers were reduced to ashes, the Taoists lost their powers and fell to the ground, caught mid-air by the stationed Taoist disciples. The lightning sea deluged the Netherworld Heavenly Snake.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The lightning incessantly shattered the barriers of rain. Even though weakened, its immense power remained palpable.

"Master, save me!!" disciple Lu Dao cried in despair.

Ultimately, he disintegrated into dust.

The scales of the Netherworld Heavenly Snake were torn asunder, fragmenting into pieces.

"Lu Dao!!"

Heluo’s face twisted in rage; he had lost yet another trusted aide.

Both deaths were caused by Song Lin.

Not far above, only Song Lin remained in the sky.

Having observed the battle between his forces and Heluo, it seemed he’d reached his limit.

Heluo launched a Divine Dragon Tail Swipe, swiftly closing in on Song Lin.

"I’ve made up my mind: your soul shall be drawn out and trained into Taoist Soldiers, burning in flames for three hundred years!!"

As the tri-colored Divine Water cascaded like waterfalls, paired with the Netherworld Heavenly Snake’s tail strike, Song Lin—specializing solely in Taoist Soldiers—would surely meet his end.

Song Lin gazed upward at Heluo and shook his head slightly, saying, "Too weak."

The moment his words fell, his power surged, his robes flapping violently.

The pitch-black night sky unveiled a sun and moon in symphony.

The collision of opposing essences produced harmony as well as conflict.

Song Lin brandished the Five Thunders Heavenly Master’s Token.

The essence from his internal organs poured into the token, which radiated golden light.

What he recited, however, was the Taiji Thunder Escape Technique.

Thunder—born of the axis of Yin and Yang.

The celestial phenomena of sun and moon, the symbiotic connection between man and heaven.

The thunder skill amplified to unprecedented heights.

BOOM!

Torrential rain blanketed the terrain.

The currents dispersed the tri-colored Divine Water.

Subsequently, a colossal black lightning descended.

The bolt was ebony in hue, originating from the Nine Heavens above, resembling a towering tree spanning the heavens and earth.

The lightning targeted the Netherworld Heavenly Snake beneath.

"Core Formation!!"

Turns out, Song Lin unknowingly ascended into the Core Formation Realm.

Yet the frightening aspect was this lightning’s suppressive force.

The Netherworld Heavenly Snake felt confronted by its natural predator—fear erupted from its deepest bloodline.

This was Dragon Thunder, alternatively termed Water Thunder.

The "Five Thunders True Method" describes Dragon Thunder as capable of summoning rain, alleviating droughts, severing Jiao-dragons, venomous snakes, evil mirages, and spirit monsters, as well as governing wind and clouds, and administering matters of the Water Mansion.

Belonging to the Jiao-dragon and venomous snake type, the Netherworld Heavenly Snake was naturally countered by it.

When Dragon Thunder struck the Netherworld Heavenly Snake, it instantly cleaved the serpent into two.

BANG!

The serpent’s corpse crashed to the ground, smashing houses and flinging dust into the air.

Thankfully, the Taoists below had long since evacuated; otherwise, there would surely be casualties.

Meanwhile, Song Lin advanced without hesitation.

At his waist, Cangyu slowly transformed into a Coiled Dragon, its menacing teeth flashing as saliva dripped while gazing at the Netherworld Heavenly Snake’s carcass.

The Coiled Dragon measured roughly five zhang, far from the legendary ten zhang, yet its cultivation was respectable.

Seeing the Coiled Dragon’s venomous fangs, the Netherworld Heavenly Snake’s hairs stood on end.

"You cannot kill me!! I belong to the Taoist Hierarch!!"

Heluo struggled with half a body, attempting to flee.

But the Coiled Dragon gently pressed him down, employing its Mountain Bearing Divine Skill, its weight immobilizing him entirely.

Heluo’s heart brimmed with regret; had he known Song Lin reached Core Formation, he would’ve fought to let Zhao Wuji take his place.

After all, this opponent was infamous for slaying Core Formation cultivators at will.

"The Taoist Hierarch? What of him?"

The Coiled Dragon bit down lightly and exhaled a vapor of ghostly green poison.

"So that’s it..."

In just three breaths, Heluo’s consciousness gradually faded.

At last, the mystery of Tianwu’s demise unraveled—but at a steep cost.

Under the corrosive green poison mist, the Netherworld Heavenly Snake’s body began to rot.

Song Lin casually picked up a treasure sword and pierced the serpent’s brow bone, twisting forcefully.

POP!

Green blood spurted forth alongside a cyan bead.

The Coiled Dragon moved swiftly, raising its head and biting onto the inner core.

"Eat it now," Song Lin barked.

A cultivator of this caliber could still hold hidden moves—there was no certainty of its demise otherwise.

The Coiled Dragon nodded, swallowing the inner core in one gulp.

Subsequently, Song Lin sent out messages summoning reinforcements.

Taking advantage of the moment before others arrived, Song Lin reflected on the battle.

This first fight at Core Formation claimed a middle-stage Core Formation cultivator.

Though it appeared effortless, it was indeed somewhat taxing.

Combining Taoist Soldiers with his own power was necessary to take down such an adversary.

Nonetheless, his abilities were now comparable to those of the Five Masters.

Soon, Shi Yinhua and others hastened over.

Seeing the corpse on the ground, Shi Yinhua expressed concern, saying, "Did the Hall Master die? If the Taoist Hierarch seeks accountability..."

"Then let’s stir things up to the maximum!" Song Lin declared boldly.

The Taoist Hierarch’s unwarranted assassination attempt was inherently illegitimate.

Were he killed, he’d die without evidence.

Now that he countered and retaliated, the scenario remained the same.

The key lay in facing the matter head-on—if it’s killing, then kill boldly. Escalate the matter as far as possible.

Song Lin advanced, retrieving the Netherworld Cold Water Bottle, while sending messages to Chi Hai. Simultaneously, he used the Jade Talisman given by Yun Xiao, recounting the event in vivid detail.

Either way—cause an uproar.

Now that he’d entered Core Formation, Song Lin was a legitimate Taoist School temple master.

Passing the threshold meant stepping directly into the role of a Standard Sixth-rank official, the true holder of the Upper Pure Five Thunder Talisman.

With the Upper Pure Five Thunder Talisman, he could participate in various ceremonial gatherings and activities within the Taoist School.

Beyond cultivation level, other criteria such as knowledge, reputation, lineage, and achievements determined further advancement.

Only as a temple master could one engage in elections and the division of interests within the Taoist School’s structural hierarchy.

The division of interests among Taoist communities was extensive.

Many mountains, rivers, spirit fields, and blessed lands were mobile properties.

Some belonged to the Taoist School, others to the larger Taoist community.

For instance, the three Land God positions Song Lin acquired earlier were one such example.

The competition took various forms: combat tournaments between temple masters or disciples; scholarly debates demonstrating profound cultivation and formidable mana; and eligibility disputes for claiming such assets.

The formats of rivalry were diverse.

Some distributions at higher levels involved complex stakes; high-level benefits required entry qualifications, such as those managed by the Taoist Alliance with the Upper Pure Five Thunder Talisman serving as a prerequisite.

Previously, Song Lin lacked the corresponding positions and strength to partake in matters beyond the temple’s purview.

Competitions for fame, personnel, techniques, mountains, rivers, and contributions to state affairs were all irrelevant to him—

Others addressed him as "Master Song," but in their hearts, perhaps they still perceived him as an ordinary disciple.

"Set a humble goal: transform Xuanke Temple into the foremost Taoist Temple. By the next Jiazi, when Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing arises, I shall claim the title of Taoist Hierarch!!"

Song Lin was on the verge of facing an impending storm.

Amidst the brewing tempest, his heart envisioned the future—audacious, boundless ambition.

Thus it was: ascend high to perceive afar, and encompass heaven and earth within one’s grasp.

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