Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 72: Demon Disaster, Rain Tiger and Cloud Dispelling Envoy (Seeking Follow-up Reading)

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Demon Disaster, Rain Tiger and Cloud Dispelling Envoy (Seeking Follow-up Reading)

The dharma altar stood with imposing dignity, incense curling in wisps.

Ziyuan presided as the Capital Management Master, with his entourage trailing behind him.

Murong Feng, the Patrol Housekeeper with green eyes and square pupils; Lu Qingshan, the diligent Estate Steward; Dao Wen, a guest steward with a kindly demeanor and white hair; and the chief and deputy archivists of the institute—these were all members of Ziyuan’s trusted cadre.

"Swear by blood and vow to the heavens. The matters of today must remain secret—if any should divulge, let ghosts and gods devour their flesh, and let their souls sink to the Netherworld."

Everyone dripped a drop of essence blood into the bowl, which Ziyuan used to prepare talismans before burning them. The rising smoke dissipated into the void.

This marked the success of their oath.

"Alright. From now on, we are allies," Ziyuan declared.

Murong Feng spoke excitedly, "My lord, shall we make our move?"

"Not yet—act cautiously," Ziyuan instructed. "Murong Feng! You oversee the Netherworld Fire Crow Army at the Taoist Temple and have a clear grasp of its affairs. What has Taixuan been up to recently?"

Taixuan, the dean overseeing the temple, was responsible for all major and minor matters within it and was widely regarded as the strongest candidate to succeed Jiuyou Temple Master.

"The people around Taoist Taixuan have shown no activity," Murong Feng replied.

"They must be confident," Ziyuan mused to himself. Turning to the group, he said, "No rush—let’s observe the situation first. I’ll give the order if anything arises."

"Understood," they responded.

With that, everyone utilized escape techniques and headed toward the Taoist Temple. ƒrēeNovelFire.com

In front of the plaza, over a hundred Taoists had already gathered.

Some rode clouds, others mounted Heavenly Horses whose hooves were immersed in vapor clouds. There were even some half-humans, half-demons.

A colossal dharma altar loomed ahead.

The altar, piled high with Five-colored Soil, was draped with five-colored cloth that blanketed the sky.

Lively chatter filled the air, the atmosphere abuzz.

Song Lin advanced along with Ziyuan and his associates.

"Greetings, Master Dean."

"Greetings, Taoist Ziyuan!"

The crowd offered their salutations.

Ziyuan approached an elderly figure donned in crimson robes, adorned with a jade talisman of the Supreme Three Five Red Official Evil-cutting variety hanging from his waist.

This was a more advanced version of the Alliance Power Talisman, typically reserved for the deans of the three institutes.

"Senior brother, long time no see," Ziyuan greeted warmly.

As the two senior brothers exchanged pleasantries, Song Lin surveyed the arrangement of the venue.

At the front stood four disciples of Jiuyou. Among them were Shi Yinhua and a woman.

The woman, strikingly distinct, bore a fiery red pattern on her brow that flickered like a demon’s flame.

The second row featured various stewards, including Wuj Ji, with whom Song Lin shared animosity. Wuj Ji was accompanied by disciple Chi Yang.

Not far away stood Lin Yang, positioned behind an Estate Steward. Both Lin Yang and the steward were rather portly—could they be family?

Wuj Ji’s gaze landed abruptly upon Song Lin, who was trailing behind Ziyuan. His expression froze momentarily, his eyes flashing with fierce killing intent.

Song Lin met Wuj Ji’s stare head-on, unflinching.

It seemed this man was affiliated with Taoist Taixuan.

A cluster of dark clouds converged overhead, taking on the likeness of Jiuyou Taoist—a poised and elegant middle-aged figure who appeared younger than his disciples.

Song Lin observed in secret. He hadn’t seen any sign of heavy injuries as described by Ziyuan—was it a ruse?

To Jiuyou’s right stood his second disciple, Gum Qingfeng. Song Lin glanced instinctively in his direction and nearly burst into laughter.

This man was blatantly ogling the temple master with a bewildered stare that practically screamed disbelief.

Aware of Song Lin’s glance, Gum Qingfeng turned to him and muttered irritably, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," Song Lin replied.

Internally, he cursed Gum Qingfeng as an incompetent ally. Was this really the caliber of Ziyuan Taoist’s subordinates?

"Silence!!"

The noisy crowd fell into immediate silence.

"Recently, the Core Formation Demon Rain Tiger and Cloud Dispelling Envoys have breached our borders. Taoist School has issued a command: these demons must be eradicated."

"Each slain Cloud Dispelling Envoy will earn one yin merit and one Taoist Merit. Killing the Rain Tiger will yield a thousand yin merit and two top-grade magical artifacts."

At this, the crowd buzzed with excitement, eager to unleash their strength.

Song Lin felt an overwhelming sense of danger creeping in. Rewards this generous could only mean the foe was unimaginably formidable.

Boom!

At that moment, dark clouds rolled over the skies above Shanyin County and its surrounding mountain regions. Violent winds churned, transforming broad daylight into pitch-black night.

"Shanyin County Chronicles": Gengzi Year, when the heavens darkened once more.

"Everyone, act freely!"

...

High above in the skies stood an immense demon.

The creature resembled a cocoon, standing ten zhang tall and five zhang wide.

Its grayish-brown chitin glistened like polished metal, enveloped in blue-green vapor. At the cocoon’s head was a deep, flower-like cavity ringed with razor-sharp fangs.

Countless wisps of blue-green air spewed from its maw, clinging to the raindrops to form poisonous droplets. Any living creature touched by these droplets melted into pus.

Surrounding the cocoon was a swarm of infant-sized beings riding on black clouds, their skin hued a ghastly blue-green. Each had three eyes, four arms, and spewed black mist from their mouths.

These were Rain Tiger and the Cloud Dispelling Envoys.

Rain Tiger was no tiger, but a rain-dwelling insect refined into a monstrous entity.

"Feast, my offspring!" the Rain Tiger bellowed.

"At your command, hehehe!!"

Hundreds, then thousands of Cloud Dispelling Envoys descended upon the land riding black clouds.

In villages, they grasped their victims, clutching skulls tightly as their razor claws dug into heads to siphon brain matter.

When faced with fleeing victims, the envoys spat venom water to dissolve their prey’s limbs before consuming their brain fluid.

"Help me!!!"

"Monsters!!!"

"I’ll fight you to the death!!!"

Whether victims begged for mercy or resisted, the Cloud Dispelling Envoys remained merciless, consuming until their bellies swelled, splitting in two to multiply.

Their initial numbers of a thousand quickly doubled to two thousand.

As their ranks expanded, the rain’s toxic waters ravaged the land, claiming tens of thousands of lives across Shanyin County in mere moments.

"Charge!!"

Right then, an army of Rampant Soldiers charged headlong through the venomous rain.

The Xuanke Temple’s Taoists sprang into action.

Song Lin joined the mass as they flew beyond the temple grounds.

The skies were shrouded in darkness, and the once lively market street now contained only corpses—no surviving souls in sight.

The toxic rain washed over the bodies, causing them to rot gradually. The streets reeked of decay and pus, resembling the depths of hell on mortal soil.

Other Taoists scattered in different directions to fend off the onslaught.

Song Lin immediately summoned flames that condensed into a glowing cloud overhead, vaporizing the incoming toxic raindrops.

"Ah, I understand now," Song Lin muttered.

Surveying the streets littered with corpses and the horde of infantile demon creatures, Song Lin finally grasped the Taoist School’s purpose.

Though the Xuanke Temple couldn’t claim righteousness, acting with an edge of wickedness which bordered on the Demon Sect’s deeds, ordinary folks tolerated them due to a far graver menace—demonic invasions.

However debased the Xuanke Temple might be, it could never orchestrate the slaughter of tens of thousands in one night.

"Kekeke!!"

Suddenly, a Cloud Dispelling Envoy fixed its gaze on Song Lin amidst the rain and shrieked while hurtling toward him.

"Begone!"

Swoosh!

Song Lin unleashed his flying sword.

One clean slice decapitated the envoy.

It dissipated into green vapor, only to reform moments later.

"Hmm? Physical attacks have no effect?"

Evading another venomous spit, Song Lin slashed several more times, yet the demon regenerated as before.

Boom!

Finally, Song Lin conjured flames and hurled them forth.

The Cloud Dispelling Envoy shrieked, its expression venomous as it disappeared.

In a flash, it reappeared overhead amidst torrential poison rain.

Boom!

Again, Song Lin dodged, now gripping a bronze mirror that had emerged in his hand. A beam of golden light shot forth.

Under the vast glow, the envoy was reduced to ashes.

"What powerful magic artifact—Song Lin, is this the bronze mirror from your fortune encounter? It’s truly remarkable," remarked Gum Qingfeng from behind.

A red umbrella floated above Gum Qingfeng’s head, and beside him was a hazy silhouette of a woman.

"You’re skilled in both alchemy and soldier refinement—going from an insignificant disciple to a Taoist within a year. The opportunity you gained must have been more extraordinary than you let on, no?"

"You’ve been investigating me?" Song Lin’s brows furrowed.

Indeed, it was easier to deal with King Yan himself than with meddlesome juniors.

Figures like Ziyuan cared little for the luck of Taoist disciples, as everyone had their share of opportunities, but Gum Qingfeng, a mere junior figure, was a different story.

"You could say that," Gum Qingfeng replied, strolling up beside Song Lin with a smile. "You’re under Master’s command, and I’m technically half your superior. If there’s an opportunity worth sharing, I guarantee you’ll enjoy rewards beyond measure in the future."

"What are you but mere scum? Let your master speak to me directly, you fool!!"

Swish!

With a sneering laugh, Song Lin vanished in a few agile leaps.