Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 261 - 239: The Demon Fog Returns, A New Journey Begins

Chapter 261: Chapter 239: The Demon Fog Returns, A New Journey Begins

"What? You ate people?" Qinghong was both shocked and furious.

His appearance was much more human than before.

Previously, his face was covered in fur, his pupils were square, making him look unlike a human due to cultivating the Ghost-faced Monkey bloodline.

In the past, he enjoyed eating human flesh, but after pledging allegiance to Song Lin, he shifted to relying on the laurel tree and consumed its essence leaves daily, becoming increasingly human-like.

Though he seemed to have regressed in a way, his cultivation had become far stronger than before.

Thus, Qinghong had always strictly forbidden his disciples from eating human flesh, even killing many violators to enforce the rule.

Some believed he abandoned tradition, but in reality, it was for the benefit of the sect.

Qinghong had thought most people understood his reasoning, but he never expected both his sons to take the lead in breaking the rules.

Opposite Qinghong stood two middle-aged men who appeared even older than him.

These two were Qinghong’s sons.

Both were cultivators in the Qi Refinement stage, holding important positions within the Taoist Temple.

"Father, eating a few people is no big deal," said the taller eldest son, Zhao Jie, defiantly.

"And besides, why do you listen to Song Lin? Is he really that strong? Can he even defeat the Taoist Master?"

"The Taoist Master? What do you mean?"

Qinghong sensed something amiss.

The Taoist Master?

Could it be that they were influenced by the Taoist Master?

"Father, I’ll be honest with you. It’s not just us. Many people within the Taoist Temple agree with us, and the relatives of the Observers from seven other Taoist Temples are also aligned with us."

Song Lin’s Three Refuges, Three Laws, and Nine Precepts separated cultivators from mortals, abolishing many institutions that interfered with the mortal world.

He transformed Taoists into true cultivators, rather than mere bureaucrats wielding spells.

This ironclad rule disproportionately harmed the relatives of the Observers, including the upper echelons of the temples.

Previously, these relatives leveraged their privileges to hold vast lands and wealth.

They led debauched lives, becoming grooms every night, and could kill at will with no fear of repercussions.

Now, with everything systematized, they could no longer benefit from their bloodlines.

They were no different than ordinary Qi Refining Taoists.

Zhao Jie could not comprehend why his father obeyed Song Lin’s orders and even declined the Taoist Master’s recruitment.

"Seven Taoist Temples?" Qinghong’s pupils contracted, realizing the magnitude of the situation.

Should he inform Master Song?

But this involved his own sons.

Others could be killed, but when it came to his own family, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Moreover, Qinghong was not someone raised within the sect’s systems; as a latecomer, he lacked deep faith.

Seeing his father wavering, Zhao Jie seized the opportunity and urged:

"The Taoist Master said there will be a grand gathering next month. By then, Song Lin will lead the elite of the Taoist Temple out, and the Taoist Master will personally kill Song Lin. With us acting as the inside agents, coupled with the leadership of the Three Capitals, we will surely dismantle Song Lin’s regime."

As Qinghong continued to hesitate, Zhao Jie grew anxious.

"Father! You always say the laurel tree and Moon Brick are far better than eating humans. But those belong to others—what if they stop giving them to us? Taking them for ourselves would be better, right? Moreover, eating humans doesn’t prevent us from absorbing the essence of the laurel tree; combining both must yield even better results!"

"But Song Lin has powerful backing!"

Qinghong feared Song Lin—after all, he was only in the Divine Establishment stage, standing no chance against a Core Formation master.

What scared him even more was Song Lin’s connection to Zhi Xin.

For no matter how strong Song Lin was, he could not surpass the Taoist Master.

Yet Zhi Xin clearly outclassed even the Taoist Master.

"Haha, Father, no need to worry; we have powerful backing too."

Lowering his voice, Zhao Jie whispered something into Qinghong’s ear.

Qinghong’s face turned pale with shock.

"Really?"

"Absolutely!"

Zhao Jie’s confidence came from promises made by the Taoist Master, and the Taoist Master’s backing by Zhengsi.

"Can those aligned with you be trusted?" Qinghong’s gaze flickered with hesitation.

"Of course. You’ll see ten days from now."

Dark currents surged, murder swept through the air.

...

Xuanke Temple, Little Golden Altar Cave Heaven.

Song Lin meditated, refining Flying Gold Crystal pills, transforming his Golden Core from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a melon seed.

After a long time, he ended his cultivation slowly.

"Phew, finally finished organizing everything."

Name: Song Lin

Realm: Core Formation Middle Stage

Cultivation Years: 120

Divine Skills: Golden Liquid Jade Liquid Rejuvenation Scripture, True Dragon Tiger Nine Immortals Scripture, Cloud Engraving Mysterious Character Jade Scripture, Xing Hepu Yingyang Book, Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, Innate Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Generalization True Technique, Taiji Xuanzhen Heavenly Master Seal Scripture, Heavenly Repairing Demon Seed Skill, Innate Eight Diagram Array, Six Yang White Gold Divine Thunder, Taiji Thunder Escape True Technique... Swordman Returning Pill Scripture, Dragon Nourishing Secret Method, Assassin Chronicles Invisibility Technique, Thirteen Palace Three Defects Five Shortcomings Changing Era Method.

Abilities: Emperor Seal (inactive), Qi Control Six Voids, Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill.

Items: Dragon Mansion Jade Gourd, Five Thunders Heavenly Master Order, Taiji Thunder Seal, Temple Emperor Seal...

Cultivation increased to 120 years.

At thirty years old, possessing 120 years of lifespan was decent enough.

Song Lin quickly organized his cultivation techniques.

They were broadly divided into three types: Thunder Skills, Swordman Techniques, and Taoist Soldier Skills.

Thunder Skills fell into the category of conventional spells; Swordman Techniques were at the Wind Hero level, enabling swift movements with the Wind Sword and using Heavenly Escape Sword Technique for high-intensity combat.

As for Taoist Soldiers, the Little Giant Spirit God, combined with Fatian Xiangdi’s Three-headed and Six-armed technique, was the ultimate trump card.

The Purple Mansion could easily be toppled if caught off guard.

Regarding items, he possessed a lower-grade Taoist device, the Dragon Mansion Jade Gourd.

"It’s about time to test the blade."

With everything prepared, it wouldn’t make sense to let them sit idle.

Song Lin thought.

Whether it was the Great Demon or a treasure emerging, Song Lin had a gut feeling there might be an opportunity.

Such instincts usually proved accurate.

Ever since he cultivated the art of divination, his gut feelings had never failed him.

Danger often came with chance.

Moreover, Song Lin predicted a colossal crisis within the alliance.

He calculated several divination pitches, revealing a dire omen.

Swoosh!

A black mist gathered into Taoist Soldiers.

"Greetings, Altar Master!"

The Taoist Soldiers knelt on one knee.

"Stand. Summon Wang Ziyue and Shi Yinhua over."

The Taoist Soldiers disappeared, and not long after, Shi Yinhua and Wang Ziyue pushed open the door.

"I’ll be heading out on a mission next month and will take some people with me."

"Will we be going too?" Wang Ziyue asked.

"No, you both will remain at the Taoist Temple."

Shi Yinhua was the Chief of the entire alliance, indispensable to the Taoist Temple.

Wang Ziyue’s Little Giant Spirit research was ongoing, while the Thunder Mansion Ghost Soldiers and underworld messengers were entering the production phase.

"With me gone, the Taoist Temple might face a crisis. You must keep watch."

"What kind of crisis? Is it the Huoyun Taoist?"

"It is him, but more so the traitors within the Taoist Temple. They reject the precepts, yet are bound by our strength; if I leave, these individuals will surely act."

Though Song Lin couldn’t divine the specific culprits, he could easily deduce the source of the Taoist Temple’s crisis through sheer intuition.

Internal turmoil was inevitable.

And it wasn’t difficult to guess, as most allies weren’t newly cultivated disciples—many were dismissive of the precepts, often feigning compliance while secretly undermining them.

"Traitors?"

Shi Yinhua pondered briefly, understanding the situation, and sneered, "Very well, we’ll treat it as cleansing poisoned blood. Let them come; none shall leave alive."

Song Lin frequently said, "Crisis is also opportunity."

"True gold fears no fire. Slogans are meaningless without blood and fire to forge unwavering faith."

"Good. You understand." Song Lin nodded slightly.

Both individuals were adequately tempered, capable of handling affairs even in his absence.

Ten days later.

Dark clouds shrouded Yin Mountain; countless Ghost Soldiers guarded the area with severity.

"Where is Song Lin?"

A resonant voice echoed across the land.

Song Lin emerged from his retreat.

Behind him were Guu Yuchan, Yan Jiuge, and twenty-four Qi Cultivating Taoists.

The group rode the wind through layers of dark clouds, arriving before a one-horned Taoist.

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

"Haha, I’ve been promoted to Department Director now," reminded Merit Officer Yangji, his single eye glinting mischievously.

"My apologies—greetings, Department Director."

The Taoist in the lead was Tianjie. Last time at the Yin Mountain Ghost Mansion, he had been the Hall Master, but now he was promoted directly.

Clearly, no one remains static forever.

"Alright. Everyone has arrived; let’s go!"

Tianjie waved lightly, and the ink-like dark clouds contracted, enveloping the group as they departed.

Song Lin surveyed his surroundings, noticing many familiar faces.

The Taoist Masters included Huoyun, Lu Mingyang, and an unfamiliar individual.

The Observers largely comprised strangers—some exuded chilling yin energy, others radiated righteous aura, and some were half-human, half-demon.

There were also hundreds of Divine Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators.

This operation far surpassed the scale of the Yin Mountain Ghost Mansion event.

While pondering, Song Lin suddenly locked eyes with Huoyun.

Song Lin met his gaze steadfastly, showing no trace of fear.