Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 247 - 225: Chaozhen’s Determination, Zhang Guolao the Immortal

Chapter 247: Chapter 225: Chaozhen’s Determination, Zhang Guolao the Immortal

Chaozhen Temple.

The temple was situated at the mountain peak, shrouded in mist and clouds. The figures of Chaozhen Taoists were concealed within the white smoke, appearing and vanishing at intervals, occasionally materializing.

Their forms would sometimes dissipate like smoke, and then the smoke would morph back into their physical bodies.

One defining trait of the disciples of Chaozhen Temple was their notable appearance: loose robes with wide sleeves, an air of immortality about them.

When walking outside, they didn’t even need to speak for others to immediately recognize them as cultivators.

Chaozhen Temple was an exceedingly rare Feather Transformation Ascension Taoist temple that focused on abandoning the physical body and transitioning cultivation toward the soul.

Upon reaching the late-stage of Fetal Breathing, they would begin Corpse Dissolution, attaching their souls to the white smoke to replace their physical forms.

This method was called Shedding the Shell for Chaozhen.

Before Song Lin took over Xuanke Temple, Chaozhen Temple had been the number one Taoist temple, boasting a fairly transcendent status, hence maintaining its long-standing neutrality.

Now that the alliance Song Lin belonged to was openly and secretly competing with Huoyun Taoist, Chaozhen Temple could no longer remain neutral.

Especially with Huoyun’s recent maneuvers, which sent waves of unease through the people of Chaozhen Temple.

Aside from Song Lin’s alliance, nearly all other Taoist temples had been subdued.

"Rumor has it the Taoist wants his disciple Hua Qing to take over our temple."

"Hua Qing?"

A Chaozhen Taoist remembered the white-haired youth.

He recalled how this person had entered the sect around the same time as Song Lin. Song Lin had already reached Core Formation, while this individual remained at Divine Establishment Perfection.

Was he now planning to venture outside for Core Formation cultivation?

The Chaozhen Taoist pondered.

"Is there really no room for negotiation with the Taoist?"

The Chaozhen Taoist held onto a thread of hope.

He neither wished for mutual destruction nor sought to antagonize either side.

Could it be that remaining peacefully neutral was out of the question?

"No way, the Taoist hasn’t responded but instead sent Zhao Wuji and Chen Cheng, two of the Five Masters, over with their entourage."

A Hall Master and a Transformation Master.

Both were late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

The old Five Masters of Chi Hai and Heluo had died, one assassinated for supporting Chi Hai. Now, among the original Five Masters, only Zhao Wuji and Chen Cheng remained.

The Three Capitals consisted of elderlies specially promoted by Huoyun, who, despite being Core Formation cultivators, were nearing their lifespans, generally lacking in combat prowess.

The Five Masters of Mei Mountain Jungle, however, were the main combat force.

This time, Huoyun dispatched two individuals, demonstrating how seriously he regarded Chaozhen Temple.

"Temple Master, should we surrender?"

"Exactly, at most we give up the position of Temple Master. He wouldn’t harm us otherwise."

The upper echelons of the temple began discussing fervently.

After all, Chaozhen Temple was different from other Taoist temples in that they had a Core Formation Temple Master.

All Core Formation Masters were registered with Yunzhou Society Commandery.

Core Formation granted a lifespan of a thousand years; theoretically, barring accidents, they could live a long time.

Yet whenever a Core Formation cultivator died, it would attract attention from above.

Even so, the Chaozhen Taoist had a differing perspective.

Everyone knew Chi Hai’s death was caused by Huoyun, yet no one came to investigate.

Even the Scripture Master’s death was shrouded in mystery, so how far could he—the Temple Master—possibly flee?

"Song Lin, Huoyun..." the Chaozhen Taoist muttered to himself.

It now seemed he had to choose between the two.

Huoyun was too unpredictable to be a viable choice.

Song Lin, by contrast, was known for his loyalty and treated his allies well. Yet, the downside was clear; he was only at the early-stage of Core Formation, far inferior to Huoyun in strength—a significant gap that even placed him at a lower stage than the Chaozhen Taoist himself.

Ordinarily, Huoyun would be the logical choice.

Thinking on this, the Chaozhen Taoist’s mind wandered to Jiuyou, Heluo, Tianwu... Song Lin was genuinely ruthless!

A sudden chill ran down the Chaozhen Taoist’s spine.

"Bad news, a massive group is arriving from the south!"

A Taoist hurried over.

"Let’s go! Gather your things—we’re heading to Xuanke Temple!"

In the critical moment, the Chaozhen Taoist made up his mind to ally with Song Lin.

Regret now coursed through his heart.

Had he known, he should have picked a side sooner. Fence-sitters were always despised.

He chose Song Lin for two reasons: first, he trusted Song Lin’s backing; second, he believed in the young man’s tenacity.

As a seasoned wanderer of the Jianghu, he had never met anyone with a harder fate than Song Lin. Everyone who opposed him ended up facing dire consequences.

Quickly, the Chaozhen Taoist led the temple’s upper echelons and disciples to depart.

Such a mass exodus inevitably caught the attention of pursuers.

"Kill!"

Zhao Wuji led ten thousand Rampant Soldiers, a massive swarm that descended like a tide.

Under the night sky, no birds chirped, nor insects sang—only sporadic outbursts of explosions and blood-curdling cries echoed through the jungles.

...

The Upper Immortal World.

With a heavy slap from the Little Giant Spirit God, Li Chunfeng was struck into the earth on the spot.

But the onslaught didn’t end there. A volley of countless bolts of falling thunder rained down immediately after.

Then came the storm of red sword energy.

The area spanning several miles became a wasteland.

Earth sank ten feet deep, its soil scorched dark red by lightning.

The final blow—a technique named "Justice Three-foot Sword, Banish Evil Guard the Imperial Capital"—culminated in a semi-translucent, pale red Spirit Sword hundreds of feet long plunging into the ground.

This strike, though not as powerful as the previous gathering of Eight-direction Dragon Qi, was sufficient to kill Li Chunfeng.

This sequence of attacks left the surrounding spectators in stunned silence.

Especially Feng Ying.

Feng Ying, who prided himself as a Demon Thief, was naturally arrogant. Even when seeking help from Song Lin, he maintained a spirit of cooperation rather than submission.

Even knowing Song Lin had dismantled the Dragon Slaying Array, he looked down upon him inwardly.

He thought Song Lin wasn’t all that exceptional.

Crash!

At that moment, the earth cracked open, and a pitch-black figure flew out.

"Master, save me!!"

Li Chunfeng roared vehemently.

Instantly, winds stirred and clouds surged.

"Something’s wrong!"

Song Lin’s pupils shrank.

He hastily withdrew from killing Li Chunfeng, instead unleashing the Upper Pure Pearl to absorb him within.

Afterward, he instructed the others to enter the pearl as well.

Holding the pearl in his hands, Song Lin prepared to flee.

By then, it was already too late.

An unseen force locked onto him.

The sky grew dim, stars glittered brilliantly.

He was about to confront a famously powerful figure.

And Song Lin had no chance of winning.

Suddenly, the Divine Servant appeared before him, gazing at Song Lin with ancient, unyielding eyes.

"Why haven’t you gone inside?" Song Lin frowned.

"If you trust me, leave the pearl in my care and let me escape."

"Why should I?" Song Lin queried.

Among many ancient hidden immortals, only this old man proved hard for Song Lin to see through.

"By virtue of my earlier ability to appear out of thin air!"

Light burst from the Divine Servant’s eyes.

"Fine!"

Song Lin made his decision swiftly, retreating into the pearl immediately.

Clutching the pearl, the Divine Servant’s form began fading.

A moment later, a crack split open the void.

Out of the pitch-black rift extended a pale hand.

The hand paused upon sensing the empty ground before retracting.

Meanwhile, the Divine Servant had already appeared beyond the East Sea.

On a small island in the East Sea, Song Lin stood facing the Divine Servant, astonished. "This is the East Sea? It took less than ten breaths."

"This is Divine Footwork," the Divine Servant replied, resuming his expressionless demeanor.

"Who are you really?"

"I am one who descended from the Immortal Realm," the Divine Servant repeated his usual response, then turned to Song Lin with a rare ripple of emotion in his gaze. "Since you’ve apprenticed under the legendary Ghost Valley Master himself, you should know who he really is."

"Of course... I know," Song Lin thought to himself. I *am* Ghost Valley Master.

"Do you know Zhang Guolao? Zhang Guolao also trained under Ghost Valley Master."

"Zhang Guolao? What was his real name?"

Song Lin was familiar with the name, being one of the Eight Immortals, but he didn’t recall such a figure appearing among his disciples.

"His name was simply Zhang Guo!"

The Divine Servant’s eyes lit up, seemingly full of anticipation.

"Never heard of him. Are you Zhang Guolao?"

"Of course not. If I were Zhang Guolao, Yuann Tiangang would have already been dead."

Luo Gongyuan and Ye Fashan were not the strongest Taoists of the Golden Age of Tang.

That honor belonged to a mysterious figure named Zhang Guolao.

This individual’s whereabouts had always been unpredictable, their identity enigmatic.

Back in the day, Ye Fashan had revealed Zhang Guolao’s unfathomable nature to Xuanzong, warning that mentioning it could lead to death. Xuanzong didn’t believe him and ordered Ye Fashan to speak.

Helpless, Ye Fashan obeyed—and immediately collapsed lifeless.

Zhang Guolao later appeared, gently waving his sleeve to revive Ye Fashan.

That was Zhang Guolao’s sole recorded miracle in the mortal world.

Seeing that Song Lin wasn’t acquainted with Zhang Guolao, the Divine Servant returned to his taciturn state.

No matter how much Song Lin pressed, he remained silent.

"Forget it."

Song Lin returned to the Upper Pure Pearl.

He remembered that Li Chunfeng was still alive—did this mean he could extract information from him?

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