Monster Chronicles: My Daoist Skill Comes from Mythology
Chapter 78: Subduing the Great Water Buffalo, Hero of Chaos.

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Subduing the Great Water Buffalo, Hero of Chaos.

"What? They dare come knocking on my door?"

General Shanli erupted in fury.

"No, it’s another group of people."

"Who?"

"A group of Rampant Soldiers arrived outside Xitan County. They tore down the temple, distributed the grain and wealth to the chaotic masses."

"I see. Solve this group first, then speak. Daring to demolish my temple." General Shanli snorted with rage.

A swarm of demons flew out of the waters, storming furiously toward the temple.

Outside the county city.

Three generals, alongside hundreds of beleaguered soldiers, set up camp. Nearby, there were thousands of ragged civilians.

The soldiers erected gruel stalls, distributing food to the civilians.

Some civilians, after receiving their portions, directly knelt down and kowtowed to the central general.

The general appeared not young, about forty years old, born with a face like a jade crown, lips colored as if painted.

Beside him stood two robust men—one black and stout, the other tall and thin—both vaguely acknowledging this refined general as their leader.

"Brother, where do we head next?"

"Let’s seek allegiance with the governor. After all, we share ties to the imperial family. He should accept us."

The refined general, named Chen Yixin, was of the Chen Dynasty’s imperial family. Due to upheavals across the land, he had raised troops hoping to defend orthodoxy.

Sadly, fate had not been kind; he was a hapless general who had traversed nearly the entire realm, losing a battle against the Huang Cao Army just days ago, and now leading civilians across the river to escape Huang Cao’s sinister grip.

Huang Cao was notorious in the north for his ruthless brutality, frequently massacring towns. Even the civilians, leaving their homes behind, were desperate to flee his clutches.

"Brother, we’ve offended General Shanli. Could this..." The tall and thin man hesitated aloud.

"Alas, there’s no choice. The temple’s occupants were too excessive. When so many people outside the city are starving, they still hoard provisions for profiteering. Let them come for me, so long as the civilians remain unharmed," Chen Yixin sighed, glancing around at his squad of defeated, ragged troops, his heart filled with anguish.

Time wastes away, this man aging, yet his great dream remains unfulfilled.

Even the smallest gods of mountains and earth would disdain a defeated and broken general like him.

Although he was of the imperial family, there were at least hundreds of thousands of those scattered throughout the land. In chaotic times, influence depended on armed forces; identity mattered little, or else the Emperor would not have been held hostage.

Perhaps sensing despondence in his two brothers beside him, Chen Yixin suddenly burst into laughter:

"No need to lose heart! Heroes rise from chaos; it may yet be our brothers’ time to shine."

"Kill!!"

At that moment, a dark cloud hovered across the sky.

On the cloud stood countless shrimp and crab soldiers, with a water buffalo leading them.

"They’ve arrived! A sign from the divine!"

Chen Yixin exclaimed in shock: "Everyone, assemble!!"

General Shanli wasted no words, leading his demon army straight down in a ferocious onslaught.

Demonic energy surged like wolf smoke into the heavens, painting the entire sky a blood-red hue.

Many soldiers were so terrified that their weapons slipped from their hands.

Though the martial arts of the three brothers were formidable, they still stood no chance against this swarm of demons.

Chen Yixin shut his eyes with despair, was today the end for him? He regretted deeply that his great mission remained unfinished, and orthodoxy remained unrestored.

"Kill!!"

"Who are you?"

Chen Yixin opened his eyes in confusion to see another group of fierce ghosts and gods arriving.

The number of ghosts and gods was even higher, swarming the hills, roughly double the count of shrimp and crab soldiers.

Dozens of beams of light descended from the sky, overpowering General Shanli before he could react.

Elsewhere, mortal troops arrived.

The battle was nothing short of a massacre on one side.

"Such tight formations."

Chen Yixin marveled, the ghost and god forces, though seemingly chaotic, coordinated with exceptional precision—well-organized, as though directed by a single mind.

As the army approached, a young general in a blood-stained white robe reined in his horse near Chen Yixin’s group.

"Thank you, General, for your assistance. I am Chen Yixin, these are my second brother Zhou Ding and third brother Yang Lie. May I know the General’s esteemed name?"

"Su Qing of the East Mountain Army! Here today to punish General Shanli. Whose subordinate are you?"

"We..."

Chen Yixin recounted everything truthfully and without reservation, momentarily throwing off Su Qing who had intended to extract the information through coercion.

High in the sky, the battle concluded.

On the dark clouds, Song Lin appeared with his dharma image, along with divine figures, examining a large water buffalo before them.

Facing the crowd, the water buffalo flopped onto its stomach in surrender: "Kill or cut me, do as you please."

Song Lin laughed aloud, "Who wants to kill you?"

"Allegiance spares life!" Xi Fang interjected at the opportune moment.

"To you? I didn’t even swear allegiance to King Ann Liu. You might as well kill me."

"Are my forces not sharp enough?" Song Lin asked. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

The question left the water buffalo momentarily dumbstruck. Indeed, the attack had been devastating; even King Ann Liu’s navy did not possess such strength.

"So what? Could a few thousand defeat King Ann Liu?"

"What if one day this number multiplies several times over, with all East Mountain Temple priests proficient in the Refining Soldiers Technique?"

Man fears death, and demons are no exception. The water buffalo mused, realizing that prolonging life beat dying: "Water Buffalo Jin Dasheng pays respects to the master."

"Good! From now on, you’ll hold the title of Altar Master. You, along with Yuann Hong, will each lead a thousand Rampant Soldiers."

Below, mortal armies and temple priests stormed the county city, the county magistrate surrendered, and the forces settled at the county government for a temporary respite.

The first thing upon entering the city was manifesting the dharma body.

Above the sky appeared a colossal dharma image, standing ten zhang tall, hands on the ground, stretching legs to the heavens.

"East Mountain God manifests, blessings upon you all!!"

Soon after, the temple priests entered the city distributing grain and using the Water Technique to heal the injured civilians.

"Long live East Mountain God!"

"Long live East Mountain God! East Mountain God expels the demon ox!"

"This..."

On the dark clouds, the water buffalo gawked in disbelief. Had it been bought over just like that? A few days ago, it was General Shanli hailed in praises, and now it was being called a demon ox?

Outside the county government, Song Lin reverted into a normal human form, though he could not manifest the dharma body, he could still take human appearances.

"East Mountain God!" Su Qing reported, while outside waited Chen Yixin’s group.

Hearing the three brothers’ deeds, Song Lin was genuinely surprised.

Crossing the river with civilians, opening storehouses to distribute grain... such acts of virtue still existed in these chaotic times?

"This Chen Yixin is of the imperial family, with talent for leadership and a benevolent heart. How about selecting him for assistance?" Song Lin asked the group.

"No way, this man’s apparent virtue reeks of pretense," Xi Fang immediately objected.

Yuann Hong, who rarely spoke, suddenly voiced his opinion: "This subordinate thinks he’s quite righteous."

"Righteousness is useless," Hann Jie remarked.

Others chimed in, the majority unsupportive, especially since Chen Yixin belonged to the imperial family.

Historically, no imperial families ever revived a fallen dynasty. Such was merely a vain dream.

Moreover, of what use was righteousness? In this chaotic world, only deceit, cunning, and shamelessness won the day.

If instead of escorting civilians across the river, Chen Yixin had driven them to cover his retreat, perhaps he’d garner slightly more support.

Better to pick any ordinary person than this man.

"It shall be him!" Song Lin did not heed the group’s opinions.

"Altar Master, why..." Xi Fang began but quickly stopped himself, not daring to question Song Lin’s orders.

"This man is indeed talented. Trust in my judgment."

A figure like Chen Yixin—unyielding and driven by idealism—easily earned Song Lin’s favor, bringing a touch of light to this human-devouring chaotic world.

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