Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 64: The 7-Year Agreement, The Business-Snatching Taoist

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The 7-Year Agreement, The Business-Snatching Taoist

Started off dead.

The person lying at his feet looked exactly like him—what else could it be if not death?

Song Lin focused on the status panel.

Name: Song Lin.

Type: Ghost

Realm: None

Taoist Realm: None

Divine Skill: Dreaming

This time it was a new body, and it didn’t inherit his Taoist Realm from the Real World. It seems that the manifestation of a soul’s descent varies.

At the same time, memories of this Karma Illusion Body emerged.

It must have been named Song Lin originally, that goes without saying.

Song Lin lost his parents at a young age; his older brothers and sisters died of starvation during a famine, leaving only him and his younger sister, Sixth Sister, to depend on one another.

The two of them lived in a small village at the foot of East Mountain, surviving as hunters.

Yesterday, Song Lin went hunting on the mountain and saw a fox beating a gong, a weasel drumming, jackals carrying a sedan chair, and a tiger acting as a guard—it was clear this was the legendary East Mountain Old Man patrolling his mountain.

Following the secret technique passed down by an experienced hunter, he smeared mud on his face and covered his eyes with leaves to blend in and sneak past.

But unexpectedly, the noise he made disturbed the ghosts and gods. In his panic, he fled blindly and ended up tumbling headfirst off a cliff.

Sixth Sister wiped her tears. She was still young, but from years of farm work, her skin was rough and darkened.

Having relied on each other since childhood, it was especially painful—she was set to be married next month. Fifth Brother had gone to the mountains to gather furs, intending to prepare an engagement dowry for her, but this trip had become a farewell for eternity.

"Sixth Sister, stop crying for now. Let’s take care of Fifth Brother’s burial first. I’ve found someone to make him a fine coffin. Fifth Brother worked hard all his life; let him leave with dignity," said a plain-faced man in mourning clothes, Sixth Sister’s fiancé, Zhou Da.

A few days later, Song Lin’s body was buried.

"No, this can’t continue—if this goes on, I’ll completely vanish in seven days!!" Song Lin suddenly remembered.

Not everyone can become a ghost. Unless buried in an Extremely Yin Land or consumed by overwhelming resentment at the moment of death, most souls naturally dissipate within seven days.

If he didn’t act fast, he would fail this world entirely.

That night, Sixth Sister saw Song Lin’s figure appear in her dream.

"Fifth Brother!"

"Sixth Sister, listen to me. Fifth Brother is not truly dead. Remember this—when you wake up, find someone to carve a wooden statue of me;

offer incense and make offerings at the beginning and end of every month. In seven years, dig up my bones, strip away the flesh, and place them in a jar. You’ll be able to see me again then."

After these words, Song Lin disappeared.

Ordinary ghosts cannot maintain dreams for long, nor can they interact with the Real World.

"I hope she believes me," he whispered.

After making his plea, Song Lin’s consciousness blurred, and he gradually slipped into a deep sleep.

...

In the Real World, Song Lin abruptly woke up.

Upon re-entering the story world, it was already a chaotic, nebulous state.

The method he taught Sixth Sister was a spirit-refining technique. Since there was no Extremely Yin Land, the process would take a much longer time.

"The time-flow ratio is one to six months. Seven years here equates to fourteen days—about half a month. Forget it; I should focus on enhancing my power first."

Name: Song Lin

Realm: Qi Refinement Realm

Taoist Realm: Twenty-four years (10/2000)

Divine Skills: [Moon Cultivation Great Witch]"Moon Cultivation Skill""Lao Mountain Five Skills""Guang Chengzi’s Qi Gong""Taiyin Secret Technique""Peace Xuanke Refining True Qi Technique""Yin Soul Paper Folding Skill""Simple Yellow and White Skill".

With twenty-four years of Taoist Realm, it definitely wouldn’t be possible to improve significantly in the short term.

Qi Refinement Progress was at one two-hundredth—this was a breakthrough point. Taiyin Moonlight True Qi greatly enhanced Spells.

With this in mind, Song Lin took out the Qiankun Cloth Bag and emptied out a heap of miscellaneous items.

Behind him, a haze of yin mist appeared, materializing two or three paper figures. The Pill Furnace ignited on its own, and Song Lin began placing materials into the Pill Furnace to refine Feather Transformation Pills.

The Feather Transformation Pill was a low-grade Spirit Pill. With hundreds of years of accumulated experience, he could almost produce the pill flawlessly.

After consuming the Feather Transformation Pill, Song Lin would need to search for a formula for a pill with even greater potency.

Three days later, as a strange fragrance filled the air, five Feather Transformation Pills were successfully refined.

During this time, Song Lin also took a month-long leave from the Taoist Temple, using the excuse that he was seeking opportunities for Qi Refinement outside.

...

The official road.

The rapid sound of hoofbeats cut through the dusty trail.

Carriages and travelers moved back and forth along the official road, while the tea stands at roadside inns were bustling with merchants.

The scorching sun beat down, making people sweat profusely. A cool, refreshing tea was the perfect remedy for this sweltering heat.

Clip-clop, clip-clop!

An eight-foot coal-black steed stopped in front of the inn, drawing everyone’s attention.

What a fine horse!

A young man dressed in a tight green outfit dismounted. His hands were empty, and his waist weaponless—a curious sight to behold.

The merchants, sharp-eyed as ever, immediately judged from his attire that he was undoubtedly a skilled expert. Otherwise, who would dare show off in this bandit-infested region?

"Innkeeper, bring me a bowl of your best chilled tea," Song Lin said, scanning the lively tea stall. Tossing a piece of silver on the counter, he added, "And set me up with a private table!"

"Right away!" The tea-brewing old man nearly popped his eyes out at the sight of the silver coin.

Song Lin found a seat and took a sip of the chilled tea. It was slightly bitter at first, but the lingering flavor was rich and sweet.

This place was the border between Shanyin County and the Huling Mountain Range. His goal was to cultivate in Hu Mountain.

Training in the Taoist Temple had become too conspicuous—who emerges from seclusion with newly refined True Qi just like that?

Qi Refinement was hard work. It often required traversing famous mountains and great rivers to gather all the necessary resources.

Even after acquiring the ingredients, they might not be sufficient. Hence, constant travel was inevitable.

Nearby, small groups of people were chatting.

"There’s been another outbreak of smallpox recently."

"What?"

A wave of astonishment ran through the crowd.

If smallpox spread, it would be a catastrophe in the Mortal World!

Yet, for such a major disaster, how could they have not heard about it?

"But here’s the strange thing—the smallpox doesn’t affect adults, only children. Many children in our town have already succumbed to it."

"Doesn’t the government issue announcements? What about the Taoists from the temple? With them around, the plague should be stamped out quickly."

"Don’t worry; a master has already stopped the smallpox," said a stout merchant conspiratorially.

Hearing this, the crowd finally calmed down.

One companion rolled his eyes and retorted, "You fool. I said so already—what’s a mere plague compared to the Taoists of Xuanke Temple?"

"Heh, you’re wrong there. It wasn’t the Taoists from Xuanke, nor any other Taoist School. It was a traveling master who calls himself Master Medicine Dragon, specializing in curing diseases. Right now, he’s set up a school in Liuu Ji to take on disciples."

"So it’s Master Medicine Dragon, huh? Let me tell you—just a few days ago, I had a terrible headache. After drinking some of his talisman water, I was cured instantly!"

"Hmm?" Song Lin’s interest was piqued by their conversation.

A roaming Taoist? And stealing business on top of that?

He could smell the stench of yin merit in the air.

Eradicating immoral temples and destroying unorthodox cults could also yield yin merit.

This so-called Master Medicine Dragon, brazenly setting up shop on Xuanke Temple’s territory and recruiting disciples—it was a blatant provocation.

Shouldering the mantle of justice or lending a helping hand would usually be welcomed by the Taoist Temple. After all, dealing with troublemakers earned their gratitude too.

But operating like this for personal gain, even taking disciples and spreading teachings—what else could it be but poaching and profiteering?

"Come to think of it, I don’t have any yin merit yet. Guess I’ll pay a visit and see what’s going on..."

A Taoist must earn at least ten yin merits annually—a duty that comes with the privileges of their status.

Song Lin mounted his horse and galloped in the direction of Liuu Ji.

...

(Note: Xuanke Temple is a side sect, not part of the Demon Path.)

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